The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 251

“There should be somewhere nearby where we can stay.”

It seemed Ash was tired as well.

At Nina’s suggestion, their destination changed from the ducal manor to a hotel.

Count Conwell’s estate had so many galleries that it was called a paradise for artists, and people with refined tastes frequented it often.

It was only natural that there would be many hotels catering to the wealthy.

Since they had not yet passed through the busiest district, they were able to find a hotel quickly.

“Honey, let’s get two rooms. It’d be better if you sleep with Ian.”

“…I can’t leave you alone. Using a room by yourself would be dangerous.”

Worrying about her safety in a luxurious hotel with dozens of staff.

It felt overprotective.

‘…When was it that you treated me like dirt.’

She didn’t harbor any particular ill feelings toward Ash, but every time she faced how different he had become from before in their daily life, she couldn’t help feeling a bit sullen.

She pouted briefly.

“We can just get rooms right next to each other. If anything happens, I’ll shout, so don’t worry.”

“But—”

“That’s enough, there are staff everywhere.”

Hotels used by the wealthy had strict security.

Staff patrolled the corridors every hour.

Furrowing her brow, Nina nudged his hesitant back forward.

If nothing had happened today, that would be one thing, but.

“He’s planning to have a legitimate child and throw you away, that’s why—!”

Richard had provoked Ian with base words, poking at the anxiety that had taken root in his heart.

And those words were not something he had heard only today.

Ian had once said that he had heard something similar from Richard before.

‘What Ian is anxious about…’

…was not being abandoned. More precisely, it was whether he might be a nuisance who drove a wedge between herself and Ash.

That was what he feared.

Thinking about that, maybe it would be better for all three of them to sleep together, that thought crossed her mind too.

But if they shared one room on a day as sensitive as today, might he not notice the subtle distance between herself and Ash?

Nina accepted the key Ash handed her and whispered in a small voice.

“I think it’d be good for you to stay with Ian tonight. You know what I mean, right?”

How he had ended up fighting with Richard.

From what she had told him in broad strokes, Ash would also know that Ian, unlike his outward appearance, carried anxiety inside.

“Ian, I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams.”

“…Good night, Aunt.”

Nina lightly kissed Ian’s cheek as he greeted her while rubbing his sleepy eyes, then stepped into the room.

A luxurious room far too spacious to be used by one person alone.

After a long, exhausting day, she was finally alone.

“Huu…”

Nina let out a sigh as she removed her cumbersome accessories one by one.

“Suddenly, I’m craving a drink…”

After regressing, she had deliberately avoided alcohol.

She had suffered because of the ultimate dark history she had made while dead drunk.

So at most, she only ever drank a glass or two of wine, or a flute of light champagne.

But today, for some reason, she craved alcohol.

More than Henry’s success, which she had wanted so dearly, the wounded expression Ian had worn while arguing with Richard kept lingering in her mind.

What should she do.

“Tsk, such a pain to get dressed up again…”

Since many people came and went, there was no strict dress code, but if she went down in comfortable clothes, wouldn’t she get turned away at the entrance?

“…Well, there’s no helping it.”

After a brief consideration, she decided to go straight down to the lounge.

At this rate, she would toss and turn anyway.

* * *

After washing up and getting ready for bed, Ian changed into comfortable clothes and then asked Ash directly as he came out.

“…Uncle, is it true that you and Aunt didn’t get along before?”

Ash flinched as if he’d been hit in a sore spot, and at his startled expression, Ian’s eyes darkened like a pitch-black night.

He had wanted to ask that all day.

Whether everything Brother Richard had said to him was really true.

But judging by his uncle’s reaction, it seemed that at least ‘some’ of what Richard had said had been true.

“I don’t know what Richard said, but it’s all my fault.”

Just like ‘that day’, Ian murmured in a voice tinged with a sigh as he looked at the faint guilt that surfaced in Ash’s eyes.

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