When My Husband Cheated On Me, I… - Chapter 2

As soon as we sat down, dinner was served on the table, appropriately prepared. Everyday conversation was exchanged, accompanied by the quiet clinking of tableware. The meal, not long in duration, ended with a sip of wine to finish.

It was a perfect dinner. To anyone looking, we must have seemed like a couple overflowing with affection. As if to prove that the rumors from earlier in the day were nothing but nonsense.

Feeling much better, I clutched my pounding heart and headed toward Hayden’s room.

Tonight, there was a task for us as husband and wife.

Following him into the room, Hayden looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression. I lowered my head a little, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“I’m here to help you change.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you, Winter.”

Hayden handed me the jacket he was carrying over his arm. Next came his vest, and the neatly tied necktie came undone and slipped into my hands.

“I, um, received word that Elder Madam will be coming up to the capital soon.”

“Mother?”

I nodded with a small smile. Suddenly remembering her letter, my chest tightened a little, but I didn’t show it.

“She wrote in a postscript… that she hopes to hear good news…”

Embarrassed, my voice grew smaller without meaning to. His hands, which had been undoing the cufflinks on his shirt sleeves, came to a halt.

“So, about that… Today is our conjugal night.”

For a moment, I wondered if a proper wife was allowed to make such a request to her husband. My face burned hot.

My face must have turned red; I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at him, so I lowered my gaze. At the edge of my vision was the hem of Hayden’s shirt.

“Oh. Our conjugal night.”

A slightly flustered voice came from above my head. My eyes lingered on Hayden’s shirt buttons, which were always fastened so neatly.

The very bottom button was fastened incorrectly.

This morning, even as he was getting ready for work, I was sure it had been buttoned properly.

“Sorry, Winter. I’m just so tired these days… I don’t think I can tonight.”

Hayden gently pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. His almond-shaped eyes drooped downward. It was the expression he always made when he felt sorry.

Unable to look away from the hem of his shirt, my fingertips trembled.

Why would he have needed to take off his shirt outside? And to the point where he had to button it back up in a rush, missing a button.

It was just one button, but the odd sense of discomfort washed over me.

“Please understand, Winter. Okay?”

Hayden tilted his head and tried to meet my eyes, almost playfully.

“……”

“Winter?”

When I hesitated without answering, Hayden followed my gaze.

The large hand resting on my shoulder undid the buttons, as if it was nothing special.

Starting with the misplaced button, he unbuttoned them one by one, from bottom to top. For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off that movement. My stomach churned, and it was hard to regain my composure.

“…Of course, Hayden. Work has been hectic lately.”

It was only after he took off his shirt that I finally snapped out of it and replied.

“That’s right. Even if we tried tonight, I wouldn’t be able to satisfy you.”

Hayden smiled sheepishly and handed me the problematic shirt. Blankly, I gathered the clothes he had taken off.

Satisfy… His words felt hollow.

“You never really liked that kind of thing anyway.”

Did I not?

My palms were growing damp.

‘The story that Master is meeting another woman.’

The servants’ voices, speaking in low, gleeful tones, echoed in my mind. It wasn’t their own business, so they’d spoken with extra delight.

‘Usually, you can tell in bed. Suddenly refusing intimacy, or showing no enthusiasm at all.’

The idle chatter of the ladies at social gatherings came to mind as well. What was my relationship with Hayden like? Had it always been this lukewarm from the start? Lost in the past, I shook my head.

Hayden couldn’t possibly do such a thing.

Just like all the rumors that followed noble families, it was surely one of those stories that had nothing to do with the facts.

Every distinguished household had to live with such gossip.

Whether the rumor was true or not didn’t matter. They were just stories that made for pleasant talk and lively ears, giving people something to fill their days.

‘So there’s no need to be swayed.’

Hayden wasn’t that kind of man. I was the one who knew that better than anyone. I was his longtime friend, and now his wife.

As I carefully folded his discarded clothes, I recalled images of my affectionate husband. My hands pressed out the wrinkles with care.

“……”

“Well, I’ll go back to my room now. Dear, you must be tired, so get some rest.”

Placing the neatly folded clothes on the sofa, I quickly spoke before the silence could stretch on any longer. I strongly wanted to leave and return to my room.

“Wait.”

Just as I was about to turn around, Hayden grabbed my arm and stopped me.

“Don’t go, Winter. Let’s sleep together tonight.”