<p>After a long period of unrequited love, I ended up as a duchess in name only.</p>
<p>I endured a cold marriage, hoping that one day Ains would finally notice me&hellip;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Please&hellip; let&rsquo;s get a divorce.&rdquo;</p>
<p>I was exhausted from a love that would never be returned. The conclusion of a one-sided love could only be disastrous.</p>
<p>&ldquo;But I have a condition. I want a substantial amount of alimony.&rdquo;</p>
<p>More than anything, facing death, I needed money to cure my illness. So, I decided to get a divorce.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Though there were lingering effects, my illness was treated, and I was ready to live my life.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Cecilia, why did you hide the fact that you were sick from me?&rdquo;</p>
<p>But for some reason, the once indifferent Ains started clinging to me.</p>
<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t need to worry about the illness. It&rsquo;s already been treated.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Treated? Do you think someone who&rsquo;s fully healed would cough up blood?&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s just a lingering effect.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be ridiculous. Do you think I&rsquo;ll believe that?&rdquo;</p>
<p>His once arrogant eyes now showed signs of anxiety and unease. It was the same look I had seen countless times before, right before I decided to leave him.</p>