When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 3

If happiness wasn’t going to last, I should have savored it more. Reilly squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the scene unfolding before her.

The sight of Theo confidently introducing Anna as his mistress was so jarring, so out of character, that she could barely process it.

“…What exactly is going on?”

Seeing Theo smiling and standing so intimately with another woman made her head spin. A dark cloud seemed to pass over Reilly’s face.

“Reilly, don’t worry. Anna is just my mistress. You are my only wife, the one who will carry on the Prinz family line.”

Reilly felt a cold understanding dawn on her, finally grasping his obsession with having a child. She didn’t want to believe it, but she realized she was valued only for her family’s name and influence, nothing more.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to let him go. He had already taken up too much space in her heart.

“…Since when? How long has this been going on?”

“Oh my, didn’t you know? It’s been over a year now.”

Anna’s casual revelation that the affair had been going on for over a year made Reilly’s brow furrow. She had only been married for a little over a year herself. That meant their relationship had started even before their marriage.

“My dear, you are the only one I love.”

It was a lie, a blatant deception. But she found herself unable to say anything. She couldn’t bring herself to shout at him for betraying her, for not telling him to leave and never come back.

She had nowhere to return to, and she lacked the courage to break free.

“Surely, you’re not thinking of bringing her into the house.”

“Of course not. I’m thinking of setting her up in a separate house, so you can focus on taking care of yourself.”

Keeping two households. Theo’s words were like a hammer blow to Reilly’s heart. Anna smiled, looking at Reilly with a brazen attitude from the safety of Theo’s arms, as if to emphasize her superior position.

“Please take good care of me, Duchess Reilly.”

“I’m not feeling well, so I’ll go inside now. I’m feeling dizzy…”

At Reilly’s words, Theo rushed to her side, concern etched on his face. His actions were driven by the fear that something might happen to the baby.

Seeing his reaction, Reilly couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

‘The baby… All you care about is the baby. The baby born from me…’

Leaving Anna at the door, he escorted Reilly to her room. As always, he looked at her with seemingly affectionate eyes, held her hand, and kissed it.

“My dear, you are the only one for me.”

Even knowing his words were false, she desperately wanted to believe them. She wanted to believe she was the only one he loved, blinding herself to the truth even as she witnessed it with her own eyes.

After that, Theo visited Anna every day.

However, he never stayed out overnight. He returned to her side as always and fell asleep, and Reilly pretended not to notice, even though she knew.

Her belly grew bigger and bigger.

* * *

Reilly’s spoon froze mid-air as she was eating in her room. She grabbed a tissue, spat out the food in her mouth, and began to examine the remaining food.

Recently, the food had tasted off. And today, the taste and smell were particularly repulsive, making it impossible for her to eat any more. She pushed the plate away and stood up.

‘Again, the taste is strange.’

Reilly, feeling increasingly unwell, made her way to the kitchen. She frowned, wondering why she couldn’t see any of the maids.

Unsure of what was happening, she entered the living room and found Anna sitting comfortably at the table, as if she owned the place.

Theo had promised her that Anna would never set foot in the Duke’s residence. This place was supposed to be only for Theo and her.

Anna, who had been sipping tea, smiled brightly when she saw Reilly looking at her.

“Madam, why aren’t you eating…?”

She set down her teacup and gracefully rose from her seat, approaching Reilly. Judging by her clothes and jewelry, it seemed Theo had been showering her with gifts again.

“Then why are you in my house?”

“Oh my, didn’t the Duke tell you? He asked me to take care of you since your pregnancy is making things difficult.”

Anna maintained her smile, as if unaware of the tension in the air. Reilly scoffed inwardly and said:

“Did your husband ask you to do the work of the maids? I appreciate the thought, but don’t you have any self-respect?”

She brushed past Anna, whose face had hardened, and headed back to the kitchen. She examined the food, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

‘How on earth are they preparing the food these days?’

It wasn’t just a one-time occurrence. She had not only thrown up, but she had also experienced a severe stomachache that required a doctor’s urgent attention.

Reilly frowned, scrutinizing the ingredients, but they all seemed perfectly normal.

“Ah! I added some health-boosting herbs to the food.”

“…Did you prepare this?”

“I guess it didn’t suit your taste. I worked so hard to prepare it…”

Anna, who had followed her into the kitchen, lowered her head and began to tremble. Reilly frowned at her sudden display.

“Anna, what’s wrong?”

“Duke…”

At the sound of Theo’s voice calling her name from behind, Anna rushed to him and embraced him, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I specially prepared food for the Madam’s health… But she said it tasted disgusting and turned the kitchen upside down.”

“That’s right, it smells disgusting.”

Reilly stated matter-of-factly.

“Reilly, you’re being too harsh. Anna was only thinking of you…”

Without missing a beat, Reilly confidently scooped up a spoonful of the food and held it out to Theo, saying:

“Then, you try it.”

Anna looked at Reilly, surprised. Theo approached without suspicion and sniffed the food. He took a spoonful and tasted it, but his expression remained unchanged.

“…Ha, Madam. What exactly is wrong with the taste?”

“Isn’t it strange?”

Reilly burst out laughing. She could still detect a strange smell and a repulsive taste that stung her nose. But Theo didn’t seem to be lying, and his expression didn’t change at all.

“I’ll just take care of my own food from now on, so don’t worry about it.”

“But Reilly, Anna went to the trouble of preparing food for you.”

“…So? Did anyone ask her to?”

Theo spoke as if she was being overly sensitive. Anna shook her head, clutching Theo’s sleeve as he took her side.

“Can’t you be a little more understanding?”

“How much more understanding should I be? Tell me. There are plenty of maids, so why is she even allowed in this house?”

“Reilly, that’s not what I meant. I did it all for you.”

Her teeth clenched at the words that it was all done for her benefit. She tried to calm her breathing, thinking of the baby in her womb. Soon, Reilly’s lips tightened at the sight of Theo’s disapproving expression.

“Do as you please. It seems like nothing Anna does will ever be enough to please you.”

Theo turned his back on Reilly and stormed out of the kitchen.

* * *

Anna visited the Duke’s residence every day, ostensibly to take care of Reilly.

“It’s such a pity that the Duke can’t be by your side more often.”

Reilly understood why Anna was bringing this up. It was because Theo was now alternating between the annex [a separate building or extension of the main house] and the study where Anna stayed every night, instead of the main building.

‘That woman probably doesn’t know why he sleeps in the annex.’

She must be under the illusion that he stays by her side because he loves her. Reilly had forbidden Theo from entering the bedroom immediately after he brought Anna into the picture.

There was no need to explain it, so she simply didn’t bother.

『It’s for the baby. So, I hope we can sleep separately for a while.』

『I’ll just sleep next to you.』

『No. I don’t think I can sleep with you.』

Theo’s face hardened at Reilly’s firm words. But he was worried about the baby’s well-being, so he eventually agreed to her request.

“The Duke should be here with you at times like this, right?”

Reilly didn’t respond to Anna’s words. They weren’t worth acknowledging. Anna seemed to be deliberately trying to provoke her, constantly making snide remarks without tiring.

“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. The Duke came to my place yesterday… He even bought me flowers. He’s so romantic.”

Anna knew which topics were sensitive for Reilly. And Reilly was beginning to understand Anna’s intentions.

She could see it in the way Anna looked at her: a mixture of confidence and a sense of superiority, believing she had captured Theo’s heart.

Even though it had become something that wasn’t very important to Reilly anymore.

“He whispers that he loves me every night.”

Anna, unashamed, continued to chatter endlessly. Reilly silently sipped her tea, ignoring Anna’s provocations.

Even though Reilly didn’t react, Anna didn’t give up. She continued to talk about the Duke, trying to make Reilly feel insecure and miserable.

When Anna’s tea, which had been steaming, had cooled down, Reilly smiled and asked:

“So, what did he give you this time?”

“Pardon?”

“The Duke has always given you whatever you wanted after spending the night with you, as if it were a reward.”

Reilly set down her teacup and gently stroked her belly. Anna’s lips trembled, her smug expression faltering.