I Only Want Your Child - Chapter 10

“If you don’t want to answer for breaking the agreement between Baldomer and Heister, then at least fulfill the bare minimum of your duties as a husband, Kallion.”

Realizing the implication behind her words, Kallion frowned.

“If you’re not capable of even that much, it would be better to formally apologize to House Heister.”

As she spoke, she deliberately glanced below his waist, and his expression twisted at once.

He spent a long moment steadying his breathing as though wondering whether he had heard her correctly, then let out a hollow scoff.

“There’s no way I could get aroused by you, Juliana.”

His lips twisted mockingly.

“That would not be a fault on my part.”

Then he drove the point home with a dry, emotionless expression.

“It’s yours.”

Despite hearing words that were humiliating to her as a woman, she merely met his gaze steadily.

Contrary to what he was saying, in her previous life, even though their relations had been purely out of obligation, he had been remarkably passionate and enthusiastic whenever they shared a bed. Enough that, in those moments, she had mistaken it for affection.

Forcing those old memories from her mind, she continued calmly.

“You understand better than I do what this marriage means, so I will not belabor the point.”

This should be enough.

As the heir to the house, he couldn’t disregard an agreement made in his family’s name. Not unless he intended to relinquish his position as heir.

Juliana turned away from him as he ground his teeth. She also didn’t forget to throw out one final remark indifferently.

“As for your advice that I take a lover, I’ll give it some positive consideration.”

With those words, she left coldly.

She could feel his sharp gaze following her back, but she paid it no mind.

* * *

It wasn’t long before word came from Kallion.

Apparently, he didn’t even want to see her face, because he had sent a subordinate to deliver the message.

Though that subordinate happened to be Layla.

I quietly looked at Layla seated across from me.

As always, Layla wore a false smile as she conveyed his message.

“Lord Kallion asked me to tell you that he will keep your next appointed date.”

At her businesslike words, I brought the teacup before me to my lips and replied indifferently.

“I see.”

Layla watched me drink my tea without much reaction, then carefully spoke.

“Madam, I’m sorry about what happened that day.”

My dry gaze settled on her.

It was obvious the apology wasn’t sincere. She still didn’t regard me as the lady of this estate or as Kallion’s wife.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find it insolent, but at the same time, I no longer wanted to waste my emotions on the two of them.

My sole purpose was to have Denion. Nothing more.

“Miss Layla.”

At my calm voice, Layla stared at me.

I met her gaze without wavering and spoke clearly.

“I don’t care what sort of relationship you and Kallion have, or what the two of you do. There’s only one thing I want—for him to keep his promise to me.”

Layla’s brow stiffened slightly at my words.

Watching her expression visibly harden, I gave a faint scoff.

“I’m talking about sharing a bed.”

At my blunt words, Layla clenched the fist resting on her lap, as though something had suddenly surged up within her.

Then, after hesitating in silence for quite some time, Layla finally forced the words out.

“…Do you really have to go that far?”

I had been swallowing my tea when I looked at her in puzzlement.

“He was forced to marry the daughter of his enemy house overnight. You may have feelings for him, but every day must feel like hell to him.”

I simply stared at her as though telling her to continue.

She glared back at me with guarded eyes and continued without restraint.

“To force a man like that to share your bed. As a fellow woman, I can’t understand it. Do you really want to have him so badly that you’d force him into it? Don’t you feel sorry for him, having to sleep with a woman he doesn’t want?”

I had stayed quiet to see how far she would go, and what came out of her mouth was truly absurd.

Rather than angering me, it was almost funny.

Force him to share my bed? Force myself on him?

And I was supposed to feel sorry for that man?

Suddenly, an impure impulse that had been buried inside me began crawling upward.

What expression that man she pitied so much had worn when he held me in my previous life.

How, contrary to his cold words, he had held me with such impatience and hunger. How many times he had thrust himself into me, again and again, and how deeply he had indulged in his desire for me.

An urge boiled within me to expose every last detail before this woman who knew nothing.