My Ex-Husband Is My Neighbor - Chapter 3

~ Chapter 3 ~

“Hyugo.”

Because of their sudden eye contact, Catherine had no choice but to remain silent.

Hyugo’s lips opened at the sound of her low voice. His eyelids blinked quickly.

His eyes which seemed to be shaken, loosened and became calm after some time.

Catherine didn’t realize it until she saw him.

‘So all this time, I really missed Hugo.’

I thought I had forgot everything about us, but I didn’t. It was nothing more than burying my alive emotions inside me.

But Catherine was not conscientious enough to show such a fresh feeling on her face.

She approached Hyugo with a calm face.

Hyugo’s face, which she saw again for the first after a while, was refined. His jawline looked sharper and beautiful.

‘You must have had a hard time in the battlefield.’

Upon divorce from Catherine, Hyugo left for an upcoming battlefield.

Catherine knew all about how he rolled and held out on the battlefield.

And I wanted to help him even a little, so I pretended to be an unknown man who wrote a letter.

Thanks to this, the supposes eight-year-long war was reduced to four years, and Hyugo made a brilliant contribution.

Ironically, she was able to help Hyugo because she was lonely in her past life.

Hyugo didn’t entrust Catherine with any of the land’s work. Therefore Catherine, who had a lot of time, read all kinds of books, newspapers, and information papers published in 50,000 places.

Information related to war was also learned through newspapers that had been published in considerable detail and books published by scholars after the war.

It was one of Catherine’s proudest things after reversing time.

“It’s been a while, Catherine.”

The locked voice was filled with fatigue. The awkwardness that had not been felt for four years, was unexpectedly scattered after his words.

“Long time no see, Hyugo.”

“I can see that you’re doing well.”

Hyugo said, sweeping back his hair that poured forward his forehead. Catherine was surprised by the way he spoke with disappointment.

Before she returned, Hyugo was a man who did not know how to express his feelings. He always hid his true feelings and showed Catherine the least she was expecting.

Catherine was a little amused by his attitude in an unexpected situation.

Hyugo came closer to Catherine. And after coming closer, there was a dark shadow over her head.

When standing in front of her, Catherine’s eyes were staring on him, and Catherine’s eyes were filled with him when he stood in front of her. It was not just because he’s big.

For Catherine, his presence was just like that.

“I’m glad you’ve been doing well.”

Catherine was perplexed with Hyugo’s different attitude. Saying that he was relieved that she was doing well, yet his voice showed visible disappointment.

Anyway, it was her turn to talk.

“I heard you had a hard time in the war. I’m glad you’re back safely.”

“Are you really glad?”

“Yes. I’m telling you the truth.”

When I heard that he went to war, I stayed up a few nights worried about his safety and security.

He spared no money in order to receive news from the battlefield sooner than the military personnel.

But Hyugo doesn’t know about that.

“You said that you’re glad that I’m back?”

Hyugo asked back again, as if talking to himself. His mouth wriggled. Catherine changed the subject while reflecting on whether she made a mistake or not.

This was because, she might burst out how she missed him when he was absent for four years.

“What brings you to the capital city? Didn’t you hated living in the capital city?”

I remember the day I first met Hyugo.

Hyugo stepped into the capital society to find a marriage partner.

Unlike other noblemen who usually seek bride after coming of age, he only showed his face when he reached 22 years old, a bit too late than what was commonly done.

It was just because of money. Hyugo didn’t have the money to cover the living expenses of the capital social season.

He was 22 years old when he barely made up for living expenses for a season, and thanks to him, he was able to watch Catherine’s debutant.

Catherine remembered the first time she saw Hyugo.

He was wandering around without mixing with the dancers.

Catherine’s overly pretty face and stiff but polite attitude which did not match the outdated clothes caught her attention.

‘So I initiated the talk between us.’

Catherine approached him because it seemed like he was about to go back after standing in one place in the pillar until the party was over.

At first, it was only mere curiosity.

No matter how awkward I was next to him, he didn’t talk to me, so I did a trick that wasn’t the known Catherine’s attitude.

The second time was because of her pride.

– Is lemonade good?

Catherine laughed reminiscing it.

“Catherine?”

Hyugo called her. Catherine woke up from her thoughts and looked up at Hyugo.

“I’m sorry, I thought about something else for a moment.”

“Oh, must be because I am not that happy to talk with.”

Hyugo blamed himself rather than her, diverting her focus from him.

“It’s about life in the capital, but I also don’t hate it.”

She continued to talk.

“Really?”

It was unexpected, but Catherine quickly accepted it.

Four years is enough time to change a person’s personality.

If you travel around the desolate battlefield, you may miss the flashing capital society.

‘Hang on. Does that mean Hyugo will participate in social events?’

Catherine’s heart sank.

During this period, the most important purpose of coming here was social events.

Mainly to find a partner.

Ladies and gentlemen came to find a partner for their children, whereas young men and women attended the banquet to find their own partner.

Getting a house in the capital during the social season meant that an unmarried man would put his face on a social event, which meant that he would soon jump into finding a companion.

In particular, there was only one reason why people like Hyugo who was not interested in capital central politics, would stay in the capital during the social season.

Catherine’s feelings ran wild. I couldn’t calm down.

Even though I had promised to let go of Hyugo, I was still pained to think of Hyugo, who stood side by side with a woman who was not me.

“I’m your neighbor, so I look forward to your kind cooperation, Catherine.”

Hyugo reached out without knowing Catherine’s heart.

Low but soft bass remained in his voice. Catherine raised her head at an attractive voice which caught her ears’ interest from a distance.

Catherine clenched her fist not to get caught in her agitation.

She managed to swallow the question of how he moved next door.

“You have to move your things, but I took up too much time. I’ll be on my way now.”

It was when Catherine passed Hyugo’s hand who was reached out to her, waving his hand.

“You left your stuff in the mansion.”

Hyugo caught her.

The wrist that was held for a short time was hot. Catherine clenched her hot wrist and asked.

“Things?”

I wouldn’t have had anything to take care of because I got married in a hurry and divorced in a haste at the same time.

Hyugo searched in his coat.

Hyugo’s large hand held a little teaspoon, unbefitting of his aura.

Hugo stuck a golden teaspoon with a rose-shaped handle in front of Catherine.

“It’s something you left behind. I couldn’t throw it away because it wasn’t mine.”

It has already been four years ago, and you still have that teaspoon. Wasn’t that amazing?

Didn’t that teaspoon jacket come out of the inside pocket?

I can’t pinpoint, but his behavior was doubtful.

When Catherine hesitated, Hyugo held her hand.

With such his natural touch, Catherine only looked up at Hugo.

He stretched Catherine’s hand and put a teaspoon on it.

“See you next time, Catherine.”

Hyugo smiled. It was a sad smile that poked Catherine’s heart.

“Hyu…”

Hyugo turned away from Catherine, who tried to ask after him reflexively.

Hyugo moved to his house besides Catherine’s next door without regretting whether she was only kind to him at the beginning.

Catherine shut her mouth while alternating between his distant wide back and teaspoon.

The teaspoon was warm.

***

Hyugo went into an unorganized study. He sat on a chair with his high back and leaned back.

“I am going in.”

I wanted to rest, but an uninvited guest appeared. It was his assistant John, who grew up with Hyugo since childhood.

“Did you meet her?”

Looking at Hugo’s darkened face, John asked.

“Yes, I met Catherine.”

“How does it feel to see her again?”

Hyugo opened his closed eyes and turned his head back. And look straight at John.

“It was good.”

John, who was lightly smiling to him, became awkward and clicked his tongue.

“How can you like it? As soon as you got married, you got divorced and asked for a letter!”

John doesn’t like Catherine.

This was because he watched from the side what Hyugo decided because of Catherine, and how hard it was for him.

Even if John would put his friendship with Hyugo behind all things, Catherine was still a bad person.

Catherine seduced Hyugo to marry her and demanded divorce after their first night.

There was no good reason or opportunity.

And he even proudly wanted to return the dowry.

The dowry she received from the Count of Bedwigo at that time was poor, but Catherine acted as if she had paid a great sum of money.

At that time, Hyugo paid more money than the dowry he received.

It is no exaggeration to say that he gave all the property of his own family. She also owe him more than what she could imagine.

“You still don’t know, do you? About the dowry…”