The End of a Fake Marriage

Chapter 04. The Stone That Rolled In

Well, I’m going to go straight to the office anyway.

Phew. Renee stood with her back straight and took a short, deep breath.

“The period is two years. I will prepare the contract myself. “There will be no loss.”

You don’t know how absurd it was when he suddenly came to me and said that my situation was miserable and that he would help me, but then suddenly asked me to marry him.

A contract marriage that I thought was ridiculous.

However, Renee, who was in a miserable situation, had to accept it, and the two-year contract period passed in an instant.

When I first signed the contract, I had no idea how I was going to survive the two years.

Of course, the time was not that easy.

Alexander and Renee were so busy that they barely crossed paths, but whenever they did, they fought like crazy.

From one to ten, they were like people who didn’t agree on anything, just like when they first met at the age of twelve.

“It’s strange when you think about it. Why me?”

Alexander said he needed a fake partner to avoid the queen’s pressure for marriage.

“Someone who knows me well enough that I can use them well without feeling any guilt and that’s you.”

‘After eight years, why was he spouting such nonsense with a sincere face?’It was a pitiful tongue that couldn’t follow his sanctified and dignified appearance.

However, even if that bullshit was sincere at the time, the fact remained that there was no need for Alexander to choose Renee.

Observing him closely, she realized he was the type of person who could pick and choose anyone he needed. Whether it was a partner, a subordinate, an adoring woman, or even friends and followers, countless people looked up to him, hoping to be associated with him in some way.

“Even if it was just for two years, there would have been plenty of people willing to enter into a contract marriage with him… “

“So why did he come looking for me?” No matter how much she thought about it, it was an inexplicable occurrence.

“…Then again, how could I ever understand that guy?”

“It could have been a sudden whim or impulse, or perhaps it was because I was considered disposable, as he put it. Trash to be used and discarded.”

But regardless of the reason, this contract marriage benefited Renee.

She would be labeled a divorcee, but that was a minor blemish compared to what she had gained. She wasn’t the kind of person to sweat the small stuff.

“……So, let’s at least finish well

.

Let’s get this messy contract marriage over with so I can go back to being me.

Just as I was saying this to myself, a nervous voice called out urgently from outside.

“……Look around! Is the car in the lobby? Seriously, what if Alexander gets to work first?”

Glancing out the window, Renee shook her head as she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Oh yes, I had forgotten about you.”

“Nina Chambler.”

One more good thing that came out of the divorce. It was soon over with Alexander’s strange and foxy step-sister.

***

“What should I do, it’s an emergency! Alexandre is arriving a day early! Oh my god. Melinda! Come help me quickly. Hurry!”

Nina, who woke up late and had been very lazy, woke up in a hurry when she heard the shocking news that her attendant belatedly delivered.

At Nina’s scream, her faithful maid, Melinda, jumped up and brought the yellow dress she had prepared in advance.

“Here, miss! Here you go!”

The S-shaped dress, which extremely emphasized femininity, was Nina’s favorite design.

I heard that after the war, designs that prioritized practicality and comfort were emerging. However, that was only applicable to the working class.

This design, which emphasizes winding curves and splendor by tightening the airway with a corset, was still a privilege enjoyed only by aristocrats and bourgeoisie who could afford time and money.

“Art Deco? Tell me not to laugh. How dare you impose such a vulgar and dirty tone?”

“The design, where you couldn’t tell where the waist was, the colorful patterns that made it hard to tell whether you were in the East or the West, and the slightly short skirt length that exposed the ankles were all symbols of poverty.”

Nina had no desire to participate in that poverty.

Yes, this is how I acquired the wealth… …

“Baby, you need to take a deep breath!”

“Yes. Okay… … Ugh! “Inhale!”

Nina’s face, holding her breath and enduring the pain, turned bright red and then gradually began to turn white. It was so tight that it was difficult to breathe.

‘Should I ask Melinda to loosen the corset a little ……?’

Just as I was about to tell Melinda to stop because I thought it wouldn’t work, a mirror caught my eye.

The woman in the mirror, with her pale face as white as a sheet, had an impossibly slim waist and sensuous, graceful curves. Seeing that, Nina’s mouth snapped shut.

“This is enough……”

Nina thought of the woman at Alexander’s side at once.

“A hillbilly from nowhere who had dared to take up the position of hostess at the Chambler’s.”

“All she had to show for it was a pale face and a body that was so shabby and unkempt……”

Nina gritted her teeth and fought back a gasp. She’d take this much to keep what she had, any amount.

“Miss, are you all right?”

“…… Uh, yeah. I’m fine, I’m fine. Whoa. Come on, let’s go. I have to get to work before Alexander. He’s going to be surprised, isn’t he?”

“Yes, miss!”

Nina and Melinda dressed up and hurried to go outside.

As they struggled down the stairs in their narrow skirts, they spotted a group of kittens huddled together.

Melinda paused, glanced at Nina, and then squinted.

“No, they’re here again, they’re annoying! Get away! Get away! Get away!”

When it was just the tabby mother cat, she’d scurry away with a wave of her hand, but the kittens were young and not moving fast enough.

Nina stared in disgust at the three bundles of fluff rolling around in a huddle.

It was bad enough if they were cats, but the thought of Renee Hazlin owning them made it even worse.

“Melinda, what are you doing, get rid of them. They’re gross, come on, okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Yes, miss!”

At Nina’s command, Melinda glanced around for a moment, then swung her legs up. She was going to kick them away.

Ouch!

Under the threat, the mother cat bared her teeth, but Melinda, mocking the small animals, stretched out her foot vigorously.

“No, I tried to stretch out.”

“Melinda Gosling!!”

If only the harsh voice hadn’t grabbed Melinda.

“Ugh! “Oh, it’s Mom!”

Startled, Melinda staggered backward and fell on her rear end.

Nina, whose eyes were wide open, quickly supported Melinda and shouted at Mrs. Andrea in a stern voice.

“Andrea, Melinda fell! Apologize right away! hurry!”

Andrea, who was coming down the stairs, stiffened her face at Nina’s ridiculous request.

The status of the mansion manager was on a different level from that of other residents. They were part of the family, loyal servants who the owner could trust and entrust with the house.

With the case of Andrea, who had started as a laundry maid and was lucky enough to attach herself to Nina Chambler and become her trusted maid. And now, to bow and apologize to Melinda, who had become Nina Chambler’s personal maid, was beyond belief.

That’s also when he fell backward in surprise while trying to do something wrong.

“Melinda Gosling.”

Mrs. Andrea swallowed a sigh as she looked down at the curly-haired brown maid with narrowed eyes. This girl was a constant troublemaker every time Miss Nina brought her to the Kaliba townhouse. To be precise, Nina Chambler and Melinda Gosling were a troublesome pair.

Mrs. Andrea quickly composed herself after a brief sigh and said, “Miss Nina, did you not see Melinda attempting to kick Madam’s cats?”

“Of course. Melinda was only trying to clear them out because I struggle with my cat allergy,” Nina replied.

Andrea’s face tightened further. This implied that Melinda’s actions had either been permitted or directly ordered by Nina.

“What if the cats had really been hurt…?”

Miss Nina was a girl with no sense of responsibility. What on earth made her so arrogant and conceited? Even though she was a member of the Chambler family, the true masters of this place were Alexander and Renee Chambler.

Moreover, claiming a sudden allergy to cats was beyond belief.

Swallowing another sigh, Andrea softened her tone slightly, attempting to reason with her. “Miss, you claim to have a cat allergy?”

“Yes. Cough, cough! It’s hard for me to breathe right now. Surely you don’t doubt my words, do you?” Nina retorted.

Andrea silently vowed to the heavens that this was the first time in the past two years that this supposed allergy had ever happened.