I No Longer Have Love to Offer You - Chapter 25

“If you’ll have me.”

Ricardo immediately regretted his words upon seeing Mirabelle’s tear-streaked face.

He’d long been aware of Mirabelle’s special feelings for him. But as long as his heart belonged to Marietta, he couldn’t return those feelings. Yet here he was, proposing while taking advantage of Mirabelle’s affection.

Worse still, this was merely one step in his plan to eventually make Marietta his own.

By the time he proposed to Mirabel, Ricardo had already concluded that stopping Ludovic and Marietta’s marriage or changing her mind would be difficult. But even if they married, divorce remained an option.

To separate Ludovic and Marietta and then marry her himself, he needed to win Marietta’s heart while she was still married. Not through any illicit affair, he wanted to unite with Marietta with no shadows between them.

But to win her heart, he needed to stay close. And how best to ensure Marietta remained aware of him? The answer: marry Mirabelle.

As Mirabelle’s husband, Ludovic couldn’t bar Ricardo from their new home. By remaining near Marietta as before, his chances of winning her affection would increase.

In this calculation, Mirabelle’s feelings held no weight.

Ricardo’s mind overflowed with thoughts of his future with Marietta to the exclusion of all else.

Mirabelle likely wouldn’t find a decent partner if she started looking now anyway. Better she marries him than end up with some undesirable man.

These self-justifications couldn’t mask the bitter aftertaste Mirabelle’s tears left in Ricardo’s mouth.

But spoken words couldn’t be taken back.

To assuage his guilt, Ricardo played the role of devoted fiancé showering her with gifts, arranging dates, demonstrating through actions that Mirabelle came first. By their wedding day, he believed the worst was behind them.

Though he knew Mirabelle’s position meant she’d never call off the marriage, reality held unpredictable surprises. Now that fear was gone.

Moreover, after prioritizing Mirabelle until now, he could devote more time to Marietta.

In these thoughts, Ricardo completely forgot: marriage brought corresponding obligations.

“I want a white marriage.”

He’d never forget Mirabelle’s face when she said this—eyes wide with shock, complexion pale. Her small fists clenched at her chest trembled slightly, knuckles whitening from the force.

“I… want us to be proper husband and wife.”

Uncharacteristically direct words from Mirabel, who typically deferred to others’ opinions over her own.

“…I’m sorry.”

What else could he say?

Regardless of his feelings, as her husband he should have embraced Mirabelle and fulfilled his marital duties. But Ricardo’s fastidious nature couldn’t bear such falsehoods.

Marietta alone should know his embrace.

So despite his guilt, he stubbornly held his ground. Children too were a topic to postpone—he never intended to remain Mirabelle’s husband long.

Feigning sleep, Ricardo turned his back on Mirabelle in bed.

Thus, he never knew what thoughts crossed her mind then, nor with what emotions she gazed at his rejecting back.

And without ever truly understanding Mirabelle’s heart, Ricardo arrived at their parting.

“I want a divorce.”

Words spoken to Mirabelle after Ludovic and Marietta’s divorce was finalized. After listening to Marietta’s daily complaints about Ludovic and subtly encouraging their separation finally seizing his chance.

Without hesitation, Ricardo spoke those irrevocable words.