MLS Chapter 41

Lorena was slightly surprised by the man’s suddenly blunt tone. Miguel was gazing at her with eyes that suggested something about her didn’t sit right with him.f8871fe4b8943e8a

“I’ve been wondering for a while now, Lorena.”0826957279eb698d

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“Go ahead.”27ade9c71bcde22b

“Do you still have lingering feelings for your husband?”79a2263d1242bc82

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The smile d0f3522bd7 vanished from e75871a5a0 Lorena’s face. Miguel, sensing e4d61232e0 her about 3f617d0fff to avert 287e5beda0 her gaze, a9002f98b3 quickly cupped 5d3a3da05f her cheek 09929ce7bd and held e35d263a67 her in 369c2cf852 place.9d096a9296772fae

When one immerses themselves too deeply in a role, there comes a moment when the role begins to feel like one’s true self.dcdddd99a4246683

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Even if she c1d57aa009 tried to tell b6dc4e53fd herself there was 3120871c1c no need to 2cc1c0a7f6 be so earnest, 0d828ecc52 the moments of 2dffaa91ad sinking emotion built 90adc3e67d up into a d16f334d95 clear feeling. Miguel admitted d57da282a5 it with 5f229e20c2 irritation.779c23379738de9c

This was jealousy.15f62f4dd5abb2fe

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“I believe I made it clear I had no desire to become a jealous mistress.”a27e87c1e3715e95

“I feel like I say this to you a lot. You’re misunderstanding me.”9ee073d8be6137f0

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“Don’t look away.”97839b060c3dfbde

“I didn’t—”c0f001600dd2ee0c

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“You seem disappointed that there’s no child. That’s what your expression is telling me.”e3439022c2277d8e

“……”635cd532144c8883

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“Did you want to get pregnant?”7ef074c96cb90daa

Lorena bit her 1cebe86fee lip tightly. Miguel Ervatos could 66cafb6a2d be cruel like 64a5466bea this, at times.d72dbc44819ac013

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“A child… has nothing to do with my husband.”8288af0559b4be4d

It was 4306f66afc true that 9ea4e5719b Lorena had 431f6a38b7 loved Vaye 088c4be106 Levantes unrequitedly dcc8c11478 for a ee2fdd3977 long time, 44aa71fa8f but the 890fe7da65 reason she fb40c434a1 had wanted be560c3176 a child 535097a3cd had nothing eaf44201a8 to do b08b4b8b21 with giving 9509aaf94e birth to f79137399b one who 92be7fba4f resembled him. As the duchess, b0be86dc1e Lorena lacked a b628e2bd28 solid support base, 0646a82393 and bearing an 02cd070eca heir was the 377d5d551a only way to 7260e39929 secure her position.bfc65a56927340ed

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In other words, Lorena 2962cfacb3 needed someone on her 5dcbb34c8e side. She was 53ea30513a desperate for a3f6701876 someone who 14e2ff3c5c would love d16dd025ac and follow 9e5b728ace her unconditionally. In truth, things like bb9ade32ea political support or the 13a7a5e25b ducal lineage meant nothing d901f182d1 at all.18777cd1a76d606f

Lorena was lonely. That was all.d271b5cf23893bf2

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But admitting that was difficult. Loneliness was the emotion pooled at the deepest part of Lorena’s heart. It was also a vulnerability she never wanted to reveal to anyone.3d39bbdd3280e2c2

Honestly, no woman daa5cc8308 would want to a2fe19c4b2 confess that her db380087e6 husband never even 0d981b4607 regarded her as a151fa3903 a vessel for e1c02da5b3 bearing his children, b3ac6078b6 and that this 0d3fa80623 left her feeling 708f8d3d8a unbearably miserable and 95fcc3d93c alone.d25ad6b09c3382c9

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As always, 44d67a64c2 Lorena chose d909bcef19 silence. Instead, like 85b58124d5 seeking shelter cfb6ce0b32 in a 2c11c842d1 bomb raid, 71bd1b72e4 she rested c88dbfd6ce her forehead 108f7a18a9 on the bc613a8217 man’s shoulder. Miguel muttered 3d2174b274 sarcastically in 2985ea1866 a low d13edac0ae voice.3cf2c58771c03034

“It’s always like this, huh? You’ve picked up a bad habit.”120d500d54d2ad7a

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“I’m sorry. But I’d really like to stop talking about this.”006e47ee1507ece4

The fact that 9bff7d2b52 Lorena said this 6c34c4b5ca much meant she 6edac95fa3 truly had no ef57870150 desire to continue 84a7397294 the conversation. But inversely, it 3f2f7292f0 also meant this 69525937fb subject was even ced516e86e more sensitive to 54a54daa2c her than her d30e554844 husband—or the divorce.d514ddfea8051f2c

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‘She wanted to e1e86dc6a9 have a child…’be95226a115adbdf

Miguel absentmindedly stroked d25f3d9f6b her back, lowering 10cdd6284c his gaze.96b330d95e32ade0

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So they’d been thorough c983ae5c08 about contraception. Damn it, he couldn’t 5491182e15 even say he didn’t 705a0892d7 understand the bastard’s reasoning. The woman leaning b6c0185238 against him was a5b4b1114e far too slender 7e2496f0e0 to be carrying 3e2083ebad life in her c7fe71368c belly. She looked like 9d9511b47a she needed to 757b773ec8 relearn how to 6c96d84357 breathe before even cc2d85cbba thinking about pregnancy.29cc1df43d1894dc

Even as he regarded 0a96419a07 her with a mix a215915897 of pity and skepticism, 419f628695 he couldn’t help the 8574dffd8b tug on his heart. It was just the 62995ccf1d unavoidable instinct of a 8c42e01115 male. After all, a child db78eb32e0 was often the bond cdc5dcea65 that sealed a couple 82cd8f8064 together.0190773df622fabd

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That distinct peach 3997374aac scent of hers 51a8d75c84 tickled his nose c892b4c137 sweetly. Miguel took c0316b056d a deep db9028c912 breath, then a2006425af pulled Lorena 3bcaed5452 back toward b1212a61ce him as ac563eec8f she straightened ac4cef55af her posture. She nestled perfectly 36dc081053 into his arms f886feb9e0 again.e19782f2eb42afe9

“If you’re fcc01e77b2 sorry, then 06fd8a3a6f take responsibility.”d2c14b6f920a5966

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“What?”3178b35165d0e961

“You’re not thinking 45097c14ae about trying now?”f0ff460e7ec49221

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His voice 0c7c1e0131 was soft a29ffca4f8 as he e0cc2e8435 brushed back 5a779e4f25 a lock cee0a3901d of Lorena’s b7b305154c hair that 8b8a1a6979 had fallen 91a3ef8aba near her 741dd0489b ear.4152aa65789a6a35

Lorena didn’t immediately a621f11243 grasp the meaning 0ef17f9ec5 behind his question. It wasn’t the 1613f76255 words, but his 679b8662f8 voice itself that 7140d0d25c short-circuited her nerves.c16964a2f562b068

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This man knew how d3c590ff5a to seduce with his f22fd5762a voice. Always the same tone abb9c99267 and timbre, yet he c15f28fcf5 wielded emotion so skillfully f35a41488b that it entangled her. By the time d96c52ea7e she got lost a82416aa96 in it, she 423d92c569 would often miss 4007166075 the meaning behind 19cd489809 his actual words.1fb4530c1c0f1680

“Try what…?”300e5b6c6f05cb9a

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Lorena’s eyes widened d1656ea857 the moment she 79863969d2 unconsciously asked back. She’d felt 3530023c0a his hand bdfb4cbd1d pressing gently 8c8d5f4713 around her abeafddb61 lower stomach.cb5482a48572af21

“Maybe not a whore, ea6bb1aad0 but you’re definitely a 5d8370767d mistress.”dcf9a2011241aeff

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His voice, slipping into af46c45176 her ear from just 5f471131d1 above, was the very 7c83992cdf embodiment of the devil’s 41fc7fca75 temptation. Lorena’s lips parted in 9c5121e5ce silent protest.7afe15edc72f8596

“There’s no need 5940864249 for you to 356346eb52 take it that 81668b812e far…”3f54bd0d3262164b

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“Then what e34203dd31 kind of ccf934b551 role were f3917c6af9 you expecting 2f00a52d4b a mistress 73dad9a69a to play?”12cc8ac2ccf5c644

“……”a0abad2fd0b1d9df

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“Sometimes I wonder. Does our 622fdf6d74 little princess a14b96a48a even understand ae4b6ccbf4 what it 7a5fbb8e58 means to bf8a35ab6f be a 32d7ebd0f8 mistress? You keep me c63667fba8 close, but never 9b27e2faa8 use me.”36071f90135e6c8f

“Don’t joke around, Miguel. Are you telling me d66f9bebba to cling to someone’s 9f0dc57e7c ankle?”2ac517a972ed2fea

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“So long as you’re 3645dfd03d not clinging, you’re fine 67edfe4a9d with it?”6403ab5039cd3d8a

Lorena quickly tried eddf53046b to pull away, 8edd8f9fc2 her cheeks a 60ea1f3f64 blazing red. But in the very 8078c3cf42 next moment, Miguel wrapped cdb77168a4 an arm around her c734a8777f waist and drew her 62e0f6680b right back to him. He grabbed 78e3e04727 a newspaper 193ca408c4 that had f2985adcc4 been strewn f4cf4259c6 across the ba6d95bbe9 table.9110b5604a3919bc

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“Nice expression here. In this photo.”6b9915a274d89cd1

“……”2f69d593e3a03a0b

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“Have you e938dc7407 never imagined 22d70243f9 being in 1b33073c80 my arms 9ba9e61335 like this?”fe3309ddfc883b96

Lorena hurriedly 6096bc7ab0 shook her cea4e1ba3a head. But she was too 4b1c7e7083 gentle a woman to 045e4b49cb outright reject him. She had no d0121f30a6 right to complain, 0b96c47961 either, after telling 1f5087a7f5 him with her b0396359c2 own mouth that e9b127b7d4 she’d allow a 3168dc5ff5 little fire play.04c5c4a59a831c98

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A sudden urge rose e52970bcbe in him to explore d272bad6cb the slight parting of 7fe5a58889 her lips. Surely it d69fa1ce30 would be 4e71e5eab1 warm and f30e2cb4d1 soft inside. Sweet, even. And there were 9b23027b6c plenty of things ae18466f98 beyond imagination—like the bd3649dfa6 sounds she might 7f86590fcc make, or the 03f2252701 way her eyes 2d938ed001 might tremble, unsure 0f27245b5b of what to a7daae63e3 do.e48f4abc0822e172

Even if 485fa0461b he kissed 195cb1ec14 her now, 90a353c9a6 Lorena wouldn’t 50202d3389 push him e1e37b1e5d away. If he peeled b728a79f48 off that thin 50723cb3c5 dress and pushed b3e335da07 her onto the e306db38e6 bed, she might a808f73141 be startled, but 2ad545596c she was the 9a8ff4dbf1 one who agreed 64a8f50195 to be his affcb36f42 mistress. If he 563f580343 kept reminding 6b84f0055a her of bee8e63885 that, she’d 7cb1014b7f eventually give 52c688e10b in.721664840538d233

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‘Should I push a bit more?’4a3baad72caf0f78

She looked like she’d 7f8cb72cfc fall if he gave 6e3de11844 just one more nudge.8f8854e95788dc55

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Tomorrow was 9a53910108 the court 2d91f30ab2 date. Wouldn’t it 4b9f1073e6 be something 97a11d81a7 to leave be9b492c48 a clear 6a047cb8c6 mark of bafe2fe9bf his existence a9eceebbe1 on her a9ceb98083 before she 7751038c7a returned to d950ea3342 her husband?1dba6723b81bdf0b

Just as 356a63db3e Miguel was 11997ad919 lost in 6c85e70e70 that dangerously e207afed9e improper thought, bddbcdbbdf Lorena gently 9e905f928a placed her 04f24f3bb7 hand over 90441f1252 his on 5367370513 her abdomen.4b80ffb2f5e5a236

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Her soft 9619f5e39e hand, like 902fb26b5c a butterfly 35b0ce827a landing on a8ec8cea5c a raised 2a5f631861 vein, soothed 98f8945e69 him.74e442e8296195d3

It couldn’t 46fb49373e exactly be 23d3fc49c6 called permission, 8240644fdd but it 02d1ba629e wasn’t a 22f1634d8a rejection either. Lorena looked up 389bceec4b at him with ffabd25dc5 hesitant eyes.546c6d39e846152a

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If he pushed, fb4da35bea she would fall—Miguel d682f0368a let out a 5bd7603336 deep sigh and a4879a25bd extinguished the reckless a86739eb3f thought.5f888e67b8510b62

This was 5b950a284f getting out 93b7d21261 of hand. Every time he 368bcf8767 saw that vulnerable f9a331ed99 flicker in her a087cedbcf pale green eyes, f06ea6280f his resolve crumbled. When she looked 705c639818 up at him 0e471e8d89 like a puppy, a3abdffa96 how could he 0d8d2bf3ac possibly do anything 868a217a39 bad?d656c48f1b01df22

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“Then let’s 4a669a5290 at least 8c40e95866 make a 8faf258ead promise.”5e70fa5cbf6d8b74

Miguel finally spoke, albeit fe2755c797 reluctantly.d12dd0dd8f423c8d

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“Go to court tomorrow, d947d938c5 and don’t get shaken 2c82ad7957 like a fool again. Whatever your husband says, b3b3ca8bae let it go in b9b8908260 one ear and out f9086daeb5 the other.”3412ed50a1ca33ae

“Of course. I—”3fe61144e2a106f2

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“Cleanly finish it.”0e4371de9643ee3e

“……”db29cce3a23daa68

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“If you don’t, Lorena, ae728f8d02 you might really get bfb2a56662 bitten by me.”2b48e26ef93ca496

It was a warning—not fd176a0dd9 to blur the lines 0aaa34a984 between her husband and 9088f202b7 him again. Whether she misunderstood the c5987f7ba2 meaning of “bitten” or 6c99fe021f not, Lorena responded with 50548bc525 equally solemn eyes.c02397a207153e55

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“I’ll keep f26b0cfd6e it in 464381cb3a mind. I can 008f3355c6 do it. I’ve even practiced fbdbcdbf6c what to say ce481695b3 when I start.”7b221fa7f4c72e47

“…Alright.”f10e658a7ed39416

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Miguel nodded reluctantly. But his lingering hands bad72f0a11 on Lorena’s waist and b91fa4d5b9 stomach betrayed his lingering 1e22f49144 doubt and faint disappointment.5b368d1168255c40

She was, 7aac089125 in many 06e930aa33 ways, a 855200a029 far from 249f5a7540 reliable partner.f211d19efdc36bdc

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* * *9409e35ca950ec24

On the morning 929d228cca of the mediation 785033470d hearing, Lorena arrived 533a561388 at the Motrel 2a229083dd courthouse earlier than e38ef02d6e scheduled. It was to avoid 5f328e4c5f the swarm of reporters 49aa894926 that had begun to 7967a90208 gather like ants.7828cc6278fcca51

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Since the duchess stabbed 443fda00ac the duke and turned 248a4d4b1c herself in, this was 3cfb20b298 the first time the 5948fc12cf couple would face each 413cfe8065 other again. Through this ordeal, Lorena e959ff4378 realized that divorce was 3a7e2868dd far more complicated than a239cdb3f7 she had expected—at least, 8bf45b1fa6 for her it was.eb37b3a31d61d989

They had become husband a57fcd1940 and wife simply by f70eca3d72 exchanging rings and signing a592c203f5 a marriage certificate, but 758533dec6 the process of becoming 4e2d667aad strangers again was several c825d30782 times longer and far 2507130303 more grueling.616db6449f2d968c

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To make matters worse, 3dcd632580 Bessen’s divorce procedures were e269fc16a5 stricter than those of 039a746425 other nations. From mediation hearings to 8fc8bfe0a7 formal trials, both parties 8351d20551 were required to appear b581253e2c in person. While there were 06cba51c1e rare exceptions where ede18263f2 a representative could 6ffc0e6d6d appear in court, 80842bb810 these were only b6decf6ddd granted in cases 06f79cda9b where one party 69aa6c55eb was incapacitated or 31f2613b7a missing.722a463d313834e9

This level of involvement 0dd998ce0d was especially pronounced in c7f732d89a royal or high noble 4f0e0368c6 divorces, which naturally attracted e6a738d911 public attention. And yet, even in 8aec45146d such cases, personal attendance bf6c43dba8 was mandatory.752a6034e3489c4b

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‘They want 198e88f764 blood, plain 5569b8cea5 and simple.’cfba8c463d097753

The purpose of the 39b69fe2c3 mediation hearing was, just 3d5bad100c as the name suggested, e2d3740d40 to mediate—to reach agreements 3666c15493 on as many parts a5696064f6 of the divorce process d8b2b06986 as possible. Fortunately, since they f422d71d4e had no children, cf4b30cd11 there was no 5308bed517 urgent custody battle 9960d7abbc to resolve. The only remaining matters b6760b4ae2 were alimony and asset 7df1e98a44 division.2ed343e7adb4d19d

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Needless to say, a05a2018c8 Lorena had no 232162c241 intention of agreeing 09a03e093b to anything less 8516677a7f than fifty million 70ebf1301f Peseca in cash, debdace67f or equivalent assets. To her, that 9542780984 money was not fb59224816 just money—it was 316f32e9b0 the price of f8d2eceb75 her beloved family’s 64056ea845 lives.698738e6567818ca

No, even fifty b43753e383 million Peseca was e8ef821aaa nothing compared to 457a147fb6 the lives of 3aad694fac her father and 3253033f69 brother. If she dfb65b3a0d could take 68413007e9 more, she 0028362b76 wanted to e28d605320 take everything. The problem was 687f4b73d0 whether the judge 6062f1424a would side with 89549b47bb her. Even her lawyer held 4155946c19 a skeptical view.4e9e3c6f99f9dcb9

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“If we can f996e53e39 reach an agreement aafee9f372 through mediation, that’s ac875c9be6 the best-case scenario. If the 63b5ee29fc duchy refuses, c2574e8214 we’ll take 3e40de9560 it all 58c149a3d0 the way. But we can’t 48e6393c71 rule out the 8d1c27d8d5 possibility that the e856972202 judge is connected 096244e2c0 to the duchy 6900d3b2f0 through personal ties. In Bessen, royal decree 5358f1c807 overrides kingdom law. In such 175641f83f cases, continuing 71dadcebd5 the public cbeb96869b opinion battle 5e4a291e6d may be 92d235c552 our only 05dc4ebb04 option.”0930451483cd832c

“So ultimately, we need b27fcd41e5 definitive proof of the c5e6cf53b8 affair—evidence so damning that f53e1277ac not even a royal 4e3ed95b06 order can smooth it d6532bcffc over. Something that da2bdb964e makes it f0e18a4e38 impossible for 798291c99a the judge 546ebad2ca to side d6b5df70af with Levantes.”c33cc6fed07548bf

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“Exactly. Normally, this many 98f05d5125 incidents and this 399f4a8071 long a duration aa81e72f6e would make for f66dfa2c44 a perfect divorce 98ca076f1a case, but they’re 4027dcd55e outright denying the 0d74db80a7 affair… For now, 07083143b1 let’s watch how 25c7853706 they respond to 55978f30a8 our claims.”08a56530acd8a0ae

This was only the b7dca98795 beginning. She couldn’t afford e0f6b5e628 to be exhausted 96e39bafe4 already. Lorena steadied herself.b111ee23804e5f87

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 cee1863212837da0

 10ce94c9cdb7aa70

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