Chapter 10
“So even the perfect you got played by that woman twice.”
The one who spoke first was Cernia.
Kaiden silently took out a cigarette.
The reason he had brought Irene here today was to test her social anxiety. If her symptoms were severe, it would interfere with his future plans, so it was a necessary step.
But that was not the important part.
Irene could not hear from one ear.
It was a secret he had not expected at all. She was far more skilled at hiding things than he was.
“Yes. I was completely fooled.”
Kaiden muttered quietly as he lit the cigarette.
From approaching Irene, to dating, to marriage—everything had been under his control. He had always believed he held the upper hand. But that was a miscalculation.
“Why don’t you use this chance to bring up her hearing issue and divorce her within a few days? She’s useless to keep around anyway.”
“You’re quite emotional, Cernia. You know there is nothing more foolish than that.”
“Me? Are you in any position to say that?”
Cernia let out a dry laugh.
“In the end, Kaiden, you were the one blinded by that woman. That’s why everything turned into this mess, isn’t it?”
Kaiden scoffed and slowly exhaled smoke.
Blinded by a woman.
The Duke had said something similar. Maybe he was right. Illegitimacy and hearing loss—if he had just looked more carefully, he would have noticed everything. But he had missed it, fooled by her gentle and innocent eyes. He had believed she was harmless.
A faint, twisted smile formed on his lips.
He had been ruined by a woman like that.
He did not want to admit it, but the results in front of him clearly proved his mistake.
“Do you know how you look to me? Like a sinking ship. I can’t just stand and watch, so I’m trying to stop you.”
Cernia was not entirely wrong.
The Duke would have used her hearing issue as a reason for divorce. But the situation had changed now. The Duke’s final card was now in Kaiden’s hands.
He had no intention of letting this marriage end in meaningless ruin after causing such losses. He intended to use it until the end.
Kaiden crushed his half-burned cigarette in the ashtray. His eyes remained fixed on the dining room where Irene was.
“Watch carefully today. Who is the one sinking.”
* * *
Irene could no longer focus on the conversation.
She tried not to care, but her gaze kept drifting toward the terrace. Kaiden, who had said he would return soon, was still with Cernia. The two standing side by side looked too natural.
Irene forced her eyes away. But the question that had been building inside her finally burst out.
“Um… is there any business between Kaiden and Miss Cernia?”
“Well… I do know they were once engaged.”
“Hey. Isn’t that a bit too honest to say in front of his wife?”
Another man scolded him jokingly. The two men argued briefly, but their words became unclear.
So it wasn’t just her imagination. They really were close.
Irene clenched her fingers.
Maybe they had once been lovers. And since Cernia was now a business associate, she probably knew many things about Kaiden.
Like how his business was shaken after the illegitimate scandal… and how he recovered from it.
“Lady Hegwins, don’t worry too much. Even if they seem close, they don’t cross any lines.”
“Please stop talking. I apologize on his behalf.”
“It’s alright.”
Irene smiled gently, pretending nothing was wrong.
Dwelling on the past would only hurt her.
Even if she didn’t know everything about him, the time she spent with Kaiden had been happy.
And right now, she was Kaiden Hegwins’ wife.
She looked at the wedding ring on her left hand.
Even after learning she was illegitimate, he had never mentioned divorce.
Kaiden always returned to her side.
As long as that did not change, there was no reason to be anxious.
“Talking with Kaiden took longer than expected.”
Irene flinched.
She could not hear the words clearly, but she recognized Cernia’s voice. Looking up, she saw Cernia had returned to the dining room. Kaiden was also coming back.
Irene greeted him with a bright smile.
“Kaiden, you’re back? Come sit.”
But Kaiden only looked down at her silently.
Something about his gaze felt cold. The atmosphere was strange.
Kaiden stood behind her chair.
“Did everyone enjoy the meal?”
He smiled smoothly, but it did not feel the same.
Then—
“Actually, today was not just a simple social gathering. It was also arranged for my wife, Irene.”
The room fell silent.
Irene’s expression stiffened.
This was the first she was hearing of it.
“As you all know, Irene has not participated in social life for three years.”
“That’s right. It’s been a long time. Did something happen during that time?”
Cernia glanced at Irene.
Before Irene could answer, Kaiden interrupted.
“Yes. While talking with Irene, did you notice anything unusual?”
“Hmm… she didn’t really look people in the eye. She wasn’t like that before.”
“Now that Miss Cernia Taylor mentions it, that seems true. She really avoids eye contact.”
“She sometimes needed things repeated two or three times.”
“She also seems to misunderstand speech often…”
One by one, the comments continued.
Irene’s face gradually lost color.
All of their observations were related to her hearing. Things that would not have happened if she could hear normally.
Cernia narrowed her eyes.
“Lady Hegwins. Would you like to explain?”
All eyes turned to Irene.
The suddenly quiet dining room felt unfamiliar.
Did Kaiden know… and bring this up on purpose?
Her heart began to race.
She looked around while clutching her skirt. Everyone was waiting for her answer.
Her tightly closed lips trembled.
“Lady Hegwins?”
Cernia tilted her head.
Even though Irene knew she had to speak, her lips would not move.
In noble society, physical disabilities were not well accepted. That was also why her previous marriage with Enzo had ended.
Even though her hearing had improved compared to the past, prejudice remained. Especially among closed-minded nobles.
And more importantly, Kaiden’s business had already been shaken just because she was illegitimate.
If it was revealed that she also had a hearing impairment…
He would become a subject of ridicule.
All because of having a “wrong wife.”
And the end would be divorce. Just like with Enzo.
She did not want to repeat the past.
Irene swallowed her trembling breath.
“I…”
But the moment she met Kaiden’s eyes, her resolve collapsed.
His golden eyes were cold—completely emotionless.
If he still believed it was social anxiety, he would have defended her. He would not be silent like this.
“…I’m sorry.”
Her voice echoed clearly in the silence.
“I’ve been hiding something from you.”
Her body curled inward.
“I can’t hear from my right ear… I couldn’t tell you.”
Kaiden… I was afraid you would leave me.
I was afraid this happiness would disappear.
The words rose to her throat, but she swallowed them.
She lowered her head.
In the end, there was only one thing she could say.
“I’m really sorry…”
