Chapter 40: Dirty body

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Translator: Soafp

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And so, I decided to take a bath.

Vomiting had drained my strength. At times like these, the best thing to do is sleep. If reality is like a nightmare, then an actual nightmare is preferable.

Despite all the mental exhaustion from discovering Maya’s affair, I continued to take my baths. I wanted to ensure I could sleep even a little more peacefully, though I wasn’t sure how effective it was.

In this house, the only time I could be alone and idle was during my bath. I longed for a bit of solace.

But then.

“…Why are you coming in here, Maya? Did I give you permission?”

My voice echoed in the bathroom. I spoke with a coldness that could freeze the steam, but Maya only hesitated for a moment.

“We’re still husband and wife for the next month…”

She brazenly responded.

Maya’s naked body was, objectively speaking, beautiful. It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had been unfaithful with Naoki.

But through the lens of contempt, all I could see was filth. Sharing the bathwater with her would feel as if it were immensely tainted.

It was only natural. There was no way I could be aroused.

“…Can I join you in the bath?”

“…”

However, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. I didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because I had declared we would remain a couple for the next month.

“I may never be held by you again, but at least as a wife, I want to be close to you.”

But Maya, with her habit of saying unnecessary things, brought out the worst in me.

“I don’t want to share the bath with your dirty body. At least wash yourself first and make sure you’re clean.”

Nodding at my words, Maya picked up the body towel.

Scrub, scrub, scrub.

The lather from the body soap quickly covered Maya’s body.

“…Make sure you wash thoroughly. Clean yourself properly.”

Maya’s scrubbing intensified at my urging.

Scrub, scrub, scrub.

No matter how much the foam increased, Maya didn’t stop scrubbing.

“Ugh, clean… clean… please, my body. Become clean.”

Maya kept desperately washing her body, likely the same body that Naoki had handled extensively. Her nasal, tearful voice continued.

“Why, why… why won’t my body become clean… become clean, please, become cleaaaaaan…”

As Maya scrubbed her skin raw, desperately trying to cleanse herself, I sensed a fragile part of my heart stir.

But it was too late. That stain would never come off.