Husband Stolen Twice – Chapter 2

Author: B0ucha

Chapter 2: The Unfinished Novel

A room adorned with a lavish chandelier. A woman with soft pink hair lay sweating, unconscious on the bed.

“…So the child was lost?”

“Yes, unfortunately, it seems there was a miscarriage.”

“Hah.”

At the physician’s words, Eric let out a deep sigh. Without even glancing at the woman on the bed, he turned his back and headed for the door.

“My lady will be fine. She’s showing signs of recovery and should wake soon—”

Bang. Before the physician could finish, Eric had already stormed out.

“Tsk. Still, she’s his wife. How can he be so indifferent?”

Clicking his tongue, the physician gazed down at the unconscious Rose. She seemed pitiable beyond words. Who in the empire didn’t know that this marriage had only happened because of her desperate pursuit? At that moment, Rose, who had been lying as if dead, twitched a finger and slowly began to open her eyes.

“My lady! Are you awake?”

‘My lady…?’

A stranger’s voice reached her ears. When she opened her eyes, a middle-aged foreign man was speaking to her.

“You’ve awakened after three days.”

Three days… She tried to recall her last memory before losing consciousness.

‘I remember the building collapsing…’

The ground had caved in and the building fell. She was certain she had died—but it seemed she had been rescued.

‘…I wanted to die.’

She had been living a life that made her wish for death. Betrayed by her trusted friend, abandoned miserably.

‘…Where am I?’

It was too luxurious to be a hospital, and it was strange that the foreign man was speaking fluent Korean.

“Where… am I?”

Even her voice sounded off. It was higher and more clear than usual.

“Pardon? This is your room, my lady. Are you alright?”

The physician looked at her with concern. That she didn’t even recognize her own room…

“My… room?”

She looked around in confusion.

‘A room this luxurious? Compared to my tiny studio…?’

While looking around, she caught her reflection in the mirror—and froze. Why was there a stranger staring back at her?

Speechless, she stared at the mirror, then slowly got up. The physician warned her not to move yet, but she ignored him and staggered toward the mirror.

“What… What is this?”

The reflection showed a delicate and beautiful woman—entirely unlike her old self. Her legs gave out, and the physician rushed to support her.

“Lady Wens, are you alright?”

Did he just say Lady Wens…?

Even in her daze, she remembered a name from a novel she had read. She wasn’t good at remembering names—but that one, she remembered clearly. The male lead she used to curse as a scoundrel.

‘…Of all people to possess.’

Grabbing her throbbing head, she became certain. She had possessed the body of the novel’s tragic female lead—Lady Rose de Wens.

Rose de Wens—that was the name of the character she had possessed. The only daughter of a fallen noble family, one that had long feuded with House Wens. According to the novel, Rose had fallen for Eric at first sight and pursued him relentlessly, causing her parents to fall ill with worry.

After the physician left, Rose sat blankly on the bed, trying to organize her thoughts. Unfortunately, she hadn’t read the novel carefully, so she couldn’t remember the details. All she knew for sure was that Rose had been deeply infatuated with Eric, while Eric himself had never reciprocated those feelings.

At that moment, a maid knocked on the door and entered.

“My lady, your bath is ready. I’ve added lavender petals, just as you like.”

“A bath? The physician said I shouldn’t take a full bath for at least two weeks and to just shower lightly… Besides, my monthly cycle isn’t over yet.”

Rose had no idea she had miscarried. The physician, seeing how disoriented she was, hadn’t told her and had instead informed only the head maid. At Rose’s mention of her “monthly cycle,” the maid’s face turned pale.

‘Just like the physician said—she may be suffering from short-term memory loss…’

The head maid remembered the warning: in some cases, the patient might even forget they had been pregnant. Unsure how to respond, she gave an awkward bow and quickly left.

“I did want a shower… Should I just sleep instead?”

Her body felt incredibly heavy, as if gravity itself were pulling her down. She started nodding off like a sick hen. Once she lay down, sleep overcame her almost instantly. Soon, the room was filled only with her soft breathing. It seemed like a peaceful night was about to pass.

Creeeak. Someone opened her door.

With the lights off and no sound from inside, it was clear Rose was asleep. Yet, the figure entered unbothered and strode directly to her bed.

He stood by her side, gazing silently down at her. His hair was still damp—he must have just bathed.

“She’s asleep.”

He gently touched her cheek and murmured. Rose, tickled by the touch, burrowed deeper into the sheets. The man slowly removed his robe, revealing a well-toned body that shimmered in the moonlight. Climbing onto the bed, he began caressing her.

“Mmm…”

Rose stirred and slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them groggily.

‘It tickles…’

Still half-asleep, she blinked. A blurry dark shape hovered in her vision.

‘What is that?’

Her hazy sight gradually cleared—and there he was. A man she’d never seen before, staring directly at her.

“Kyaaah!”

She screamed and dove under the sheets.

“Don’t scream.”

He frowned, clearly irritated, and grabbed her wrist.

“Wh-who are you?!”

Terrified, Rose glared at him.

“Don’t joke. Calling your husband a stranger?”

The man in Rose’s bed was none other than her husband, Count Eric de Wens.

“Husband…?”

Rose looked at him, unsure if he was telling the truth.

“My lady!”

The commotion brought maids and knights rushing in. Seeing the two on the bed, they froze in shock.

“Could you leave? I doubt you’re here to watch what a married couple does in private.”

At Eric’s sharp words, the staff awkwardly retreated. Rose now accepted the truth: this man was Count Eric de Wens—her husband.

‘So Rose really did chase after this man…’

He had the kind of looks that could easily explain her obsession. Eric swept back his dark hair and sighed, locking eyes with Rose.

“You said you’d bear me children.”

“…What?”

“You said you’d give me ten if I asked. But…”

Rose stared at him, confused, until his next words froze her in place.

“Three years into marriage, we finally got pregnant—and then you miscarried.”

Miscarriage…?

“Don’t fail again. I won’t keep sharing a bed with you forever.”

“…Did I miscarry?”

“You didn’t know? Hah.”

Eric frowned, clearly annoyed.

“When did it happen?”

“Three days ago—when you collapsed.”

Rose realized where she was in the novel’s timeline. The miscarriage happened right after she caught Eric cheating for the first time. The shock had caused her to lose the baby.

But why was he here tonight? Was this going to be one of those cliché redemption arcs?

‘…No, it’s not that.’

The moment she looked into Eric’s eyes, she knew. He wasn’t here to apologize or comfort her.

Especially not dressed like that.

She turned away sharply.

“…Please leave.”

She didn’t even glance at him. Wasn’t he concerned for his sick wife at all?

“No.”

Eric, unbothered, whispered into her ear and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Rose’s body tensed instantly.

‘I almost forgot—this is a tragedy novel.’

In the story, Rose clung to nights like this, believing they were signs of Eric’s love. But he never truly cared.

The original Rose welcomed his advances.

But the Rose who now possessed her body was different.

‘I woke up from a coma today, and he thinks this is okay?’

Eric’s behavior was beyond inconsiderate—it was revolting.

“If you won’t leave, I will.”

She shrugged off his arms and tried to get up. Eric pulled her back onto the bed and climbed on top of her.

“Just stay.”

That was all he said before getting up and storming out. Rose averted her eyes, embarrassed by the view. Eric picked up his robe and slowly dressed.

“You’re the one who refused. So don’t come crying like last time when I do what I want.”

He slammed the door as he left.

“…They really sugarcoated him in the novel.”

He was worse than she remembered—absolute trash.

‘And I’m supposed to live with that?’

A chill ran down her spine. Rose’s life in this story was anything but happy.

‘My first goal is to stop being the tragic heroine.’

What was the point of staying with a man who cheats as naturally as breathing, lets his family crumble, and hits women?

Rose made up her mind: she had to escape this life. And fate would soon grant her that chance—through an unexpected encounter.

****

The next day, Rose stepped out for a walk.

“This mansion is ridiculously huge.”

The grand estate was unfamiliar and overwhelming. Rose didn’t know the layout well, so she wandered aimlessly—until loud voices from the opposite corridor caught her attention.

“I’m telling you, I’m not a maid!”

“Did she eat something weird?”

“What’s wrong with her all of a sudden?”

“Dona, you’ve been slacking off for days. We’ve had to cover your chores!”

Rose followed the sound and came upon a scene: several uniformed maids encircling a woman in a worn dress. The woman, seemingly unfazed by the ruckus, sipped tea and muttered,

“Why does this dream feel so real? Why haven’t I woken up yet?”

As she glanced around and took another sip, her eyes met Rose’s in the air. Dona glanced at Rose’s elegant clothes, then looked down at her own attire.

“…That would look way better on me.”

She tucked her frizzy blonde hair behind her ear and mumbled to herself. The maids froze at her words—then panicked.

“Dona! Are you insane? How can you say that in front of the countess?”

“We’re so sorry, my lady. Dona’s been… unwell these past few days.”

“Apologize, now!”

They grabbed Dona’s arms and tried to force her to bow.

“Let go of me! What the hell?”

Dona angrily shoved their hands away.

“How dare you lay a hand on me? If this weren’t a dream, I’d call 911! You guys need to be sued or something!”

Rose flinched.

‘911’…? Did I hear that right?

That word—so familiar, but out of place in this world.