Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 541: Go conquer the day

The next morning, Roseline woke as usual, though a quiet tension lingered beneath her calm expression.

Ever since Hugo had asked her to move back into his room, she had been far more cautious around him. He was acting like his old self again, gentle and composed, almost as if the recent strain between them had never existed. Yet that sudden shift unsettled her more than his anger ever had.

She found herself watching him without meaning to. Every glance, every small change in his tone, and every unreadable smile made her wonder what he was thinking.

"Do you want to say something?" Hugo’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts.

Roseline blinked and forced a small, awkward smile. She shook her head quickly. "No, nothing."

Hugo studied her carefully. He did not look convinced. "I know you do. Ever since I asked you to move back, you have been observing me quite closely."

The faint smile on his lips never wavered, and that calmness only made her more anxious. There was something deliberate about the way he was behaving. It was as if he had chosen this softness for a reason.

In truth, Hugo had decided that if he wanted to keep track of Roseline’s movements, he needed to change his approach.

Anger had only pushed her further away. If he continued to show frustration or suspicion, she would grow more guarded. So he had chosen patience instead. He would stay close, remain gentle, and watch carefully.

The night he failed to find her still lingered in his mind. He had returned home certain that Roseline had gone to meet Collin. He could feel it in his instincts. The only problem was that he had no idea where they had met. That missing piece of information irritated him, but he refused to show it.

"Are you wondering how I suddenly changed my mind?" Hugo asked, turning fully toward her.

Roseline stiffened at the directness of the question. For a moment, she felt as though he could read her thoughts with unsettling ease. Her heart beat faster, and she feared that if she said the wrong thing, he might see through everything.

Instead of denying it, she gave a small nod.

Hugo watched her carefully. For weeks, he had kept his distance from her. His disappointment had not been subtle. He had allowed her to see his frustration and had let the silence between them stretch painfully long. The tension in the house had grown heavy, suffocating at times.

And now, after those strained days, he was suddenly calm again. Attentive. Almost affectionate. It was as though the storm had passed overnight.

Roseline could not understand it. People did not simply forget their anger without a reason. Especially not Hugo.

"I realized something," he continued softly. "Keeping distance does not solve anything. If there is something wrong, it is better to face it."

His tone was steady, reassuring even. But Roseline could not shake the feeling that there was more behind his words.

She lowered her gaze. "I did not expect you to change so quickly."

A quiet chuckle escaped him. "People can surprise you."

That answer only deepened her unease.

Roseline remembered the sharpness in his voice just days ago, the way he had looked at her with restrained disappointment. Now his expression was unreadable, composed and almost warm. It felt unnatural, like a carefully worn mask.

Hugo stepped a little closer to her. Not threatening, not forceful, simply present. "You seem nervous," he observed.

"I am not," she replied too quickly.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, though his smile remained. "You do not need to be."

But that was exactly what frightened her. The absence of visible anger did not mean the absence of suspicion. If anything, his calmness suggested calculation.

Hugo, on the other hand, was measuring her reactions carefully. The way her shoulders tensed, the way her eyes avoided his. He knew she was hiding something. The question was not whether she had met Collin. He was already convinced she had. The real question was what they were planning.

For now, he would wait. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Roseline folded her hands together to stop them from trembling. She felt trapped between relief and fear. Part of her was grateful that the cold distance between them had disappeared. Living in constant tension had exhausted her. Yet this version of Hugo, patient and observant, felt far more dangerous.

He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. The gesture was tender, familiar. "Do not overthink," he murmured.

Roseline forced another faint smile, though her thoughts were racing. If he truly suspected her, he was hiding it well. And that made her realize something unsettling.

The battle between them had not ended.

It had simply become quieter.

"I’ll take a moment," she said quietly before excusing herself to the bathroom.

Hugo remained where he was, his gaze following her until the door closed with a soft click.

The instant it shut, the warmth drained from his face. The gentle expression he had been wearing vanished, replaced by something far darker and colder. His eyes hardened as he turned his attention to the bedside table.

Without hesitation, he reached for her phone.

He picked it up and unlocked it with practiced precision. His movements were calm, controlled, almost mechanical. He did not bother checking her inbox or call records this time. He had already done that the previous night while she slept beside him. And to his frustration, he had found nothing.

Roseline had cleared everything.

Every message. Every call log. Every trace that might have led him to Collin.

The memory still irritated him.

"You can be smart," he muttered under his breath, scrolling briefly through the screen, "but I am smarter than you, Roseline."

There was no anger in his tone. Only certainty.

Running his finger onto the screen precisely, he quickly made a few changes.For a moment, he simply stared at the screen, his jaw tightening.

Then he placed the phone back exactly where he had found it, adjusting its position with careful attention so that nothing looked disturbed. Even the angle had to be right. He could not afford suspicion now.

Footsteps echoed faintly from behind the bathroom door.

In an instant, his expression shifted again. The darkness faded. His features softened. By the time the door handle turned, he was seated calmly, looking as though he had not moved at all.

Hugo had wasted enough years of his life trusting the wrong people. He had believed promises that meant nothing. He had ignored instincts that warned him otherwise. That weakness had cost him more than he was willing to admit.

He would not make the same mistake again.

When Roseline stepped out of the bathroom, her face appeared composed, but there was still a trace of unease in her eyes. Hugo noticed it instantly.

He offered her a small, reassuring smile.

Inside, however, his mind was already calculating his next move.

This time, he would not confront her without evidence. This time, he would watch, wait, and gather every piece of truth himself.

And when the moment came, he would be ready.

If Roseline thought she could outmaneuver him, she was mistaken. He did not need proof immediately. He only needed time. And patience was something he had learned the hard way.

***

Kathrine had been running late for work as usual, and the sight of her rushing around the apartment made Ethan smile.

She moved quickly between the bedroom and the living room, trying to fix her hair while searching for her bag at the same time.

"Calm down, babe. It’s not like you’re going to miss a train," Ethan said casually, leaning against the wall. He was already dressed in his simple casual wear, car keys spinning around his finger.

"You still have twenty minutes. And since I’m driving you, it will only take ten."

Kathrine paused mid-step and looked at him. A small, relieved smile spread across her face. "Thank God I have you, Ethan. I wouldn’t have managed all this alone."

He chuckled. "You say that every time you run late."

Back then, Kathrine had not cared much about punctuality. She never completely ignored it, but she had not stressed over it either. If she arrived a few minutes late, it did not bother her much.

But things were different now.

Ever since Norma joined the office, Kathrine had become more alert. Norma had a way of pointing out even the smallest mistakes, especially if they came from Kathrine. She never missed a chance to highlight delays or errors in front of others.

And Kathrine refused to give her that satisfaction.

"Come on," Ethan said, picking up her bag and handing it to her. "Let’s go before you start panicking again."

They stepped out together, and within minutes they were inside the car. Ethan started the engine and glanced at her. She was still adjusting her blazer and checking her phone for the time.

"You really need to relax," he said gently as he drove onto the road. "You’re doing great at work. One strict colleague doesn’t change that."

"It’s not just that," Kathrine replied softly. "I just don’t want to give her any reason to criticize me."

Ethan nodded, understanding. "Then we’ll make sure you reach early. Problem solved."

True to his word, he drove smoothly and quickly. Within ten minutes, they pulled up near her office building.

"See?" he said with a proud smile. "Right on time."

Kathrine leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You’re my hero."

"Go conquer the day," he replied.

She stepped out of the car feeling lighter than before, grateful that at least one part of her life felt steady and supportive.

Ethan watched her enter the building, and this time when he started the car, his gaze became serious as he drove away.