CH 14.1

14. Don’t you dare covet mine (1)

“I feel sorry for Joshua. Please divorce him.”

Kelly Eurecia was a character born and raised in contempt as the government’s daughter.

She had endured everything for so many years.

She might seem perfectly kind on the outside but So-hee knew that there was a tiny spark hidden behind that gentleness.

The strong spirit Kelly had been suppressing all this time would challenge her to say this in front of Ariad.

“You don’t love Joshua, Ariad.”

“How can you be so sure of that, Kelly?”

“We all know it’s an arranged marriage in the first place. In addition to that, you are more interested in other men.”

As she looked into the depths of Kelly’s blue eyes, So-hee felt that the female protagonist she created would never back down to a fight

“I don’t know why Joshua is trying to keep this relationship despite being aware of the bad rumors himself. He should be  the one divorcing me, instead.” So-hee also pondered without avoiding her gaze.

If So-hee retreated and obeyed Kelly from here on, Ariad’s unfortunate fate in her dream would surely repeat itself which would threaten her position as the heroine that she worked so hard for.

She needed to go a little harder.

“Kelly, did you bring this gift for Joshua?”

So-hee could barely lift the larger box on the table with his hands since it was too heavy.

Kelly must have put all her heart into Joshua’s gift in comparison to the shabby, small box she had just given Ariad.

“Don’t you think you’re crossing the line, Kelly?” So-hee asked pointedly and Kelly bit her lower lip.

“Whether I’m more interested in other men or not, you don’t have the right. I’m still Joshua’s wife.” She added, spitting out each word with emphasis.

Hopefully, Kelly’s ears heard every word.

“I don’t care about hearing a bad rumor regarding myself. What made you think I needed advice from you, Miss Kelly?”

Kelly’s pupils trembled in fear for a few seconds before she regained her composure.

Her will and determination turned fiercer than before.

“Ariad. I like Joshua so much that you can’t even begin to imagine.”

Well, So-hee wasn’t backing down at this point, either.

She didn’t want to go this far because she felt weaker compared to pretty women in particular, but it should be natural for her to be affectionate to Kelly since she was the heroine she made herself.

It felt like she was being mean to a kid she raised.

Nevertheless, making a living was more important to her.

So-hee untied the gold ribbon on top of the big box she was holding.

Kelly’s voice trembled a little when she demanded, “What are you doing? I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.”

When So-hee opened the box, the cookies, which were neatly stacked one by one on a paper bag, spilled on the bed.

“You must have loved him so much to wrap these cookies carefully enough.”

“Please put them back in.”

“Why? Do you feel bad that I messed with your gift for my husband?”

“Please put them back in, Ariad.”

So-hee grabbed a bunch of cookies sprawled on her lap with her right hand and slowly lifted them.

“Miss Kelly. Like you, I also feel dirty about someone else touching what’s mine.”

So-hee threw the cookies to the ground, smashing them into pieces, and they made a mess on the marble floor.

“Joshua is mine, Kelly.” Ariad’s purple eyes gleamed fiercely. “Don’t you dare covet what belongs to me!”

Kelly ground her molars as she stared at the crushed cookies in silence.

If So-hee looked at it objectively, Ariad was the wicked woman in this situation.

Oh.

Was she too strong when the food was innocent?

Well, she could just say that they were looking at the cookies together.

Too focused on her conversation with Kelly, she wasn’t immediately aware that someone else was there, watching the scene.

When she turned her head to see where that intense gaze her subconscious had felt came from, she didn’t expect that person leaning against the door.

What?

Since when had Joshua been here?

So-hee’s pupils shook when his blood-red eyes scrutinized her.

Had Joshua caught what she said earlier?

She could hear the ‘click-clack’ sound of his shoes echoing through the walls as he casually strode toward the shattered cookies.

The sun made his black shoes glisten in the sun as it crossed the room and halted in front of him.

The instant Kelly noticed his presence, her sapphire-colored eyes went large and her pupils trembled.

“There was a customer.”

Kelly couldn’t even bring herself to raise her head when she jumped up.

A black shadow cast over her as Joshua looked down at the top of her head.

She closed her eyes and murmured. “I want you to divorce Ariad, Joshua.”

Her hot cheeks blazed in chagrin.

“Why are you talking to Ariad about divorce?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“No, I’m not sorry, I’m just dumbfounded,” Joshua said coldly but his lips still held a gentle smile. “I’m the one who doesn’t want the divorce.”

“….” Kelly didn’t respond, her head still lowered.

“Please don’t bother giving that to Ariad and come to me next time.” Joshua tapped her on the shoulder. “——and if you’re done, you can leave.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Joshua.” She replied tearfully.

When she raised her head, Ariad could see tears streaming down her face.

Joshua didn’t seem to have the slightest interest in her.

He just sat there lightly on the wooden chair Kelly had occupied just now.

As she watched the situation objectively, So-hee could read Kelly’s face so clearly.

She clenched his teeth to suppress the sound of her whimpers before escaping the suffocating space.

Then, silence filled the spacious room.

“Poor thing,” Joshua said pitifully.

“What?”

“Oh, did I say it out loud again?”

“If you talk to yourself a lot, I think that’s a problem.”

Shaking off his troubled expression, Joshua burst into laughter.

Joshua cast her a mysterious glance as So-hee continued to stare at the door where Kelly left.

Sohee made Kelly’s character love Joshua but she ended up stealing her position as the female lead.

Seeing her cry made her feel a little uncomfortable.