The Broken Ring, Volume 3: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway

by Chacha Kim, CHOKAM (Adapter), Cheong-gwa (Illustrator)

Inés's past is haunting her more than ever, but Cárcel keeps falling harder for her. . . . The manhwa adaptation of CHACHA KIM'S webnovel is now available in English print for the first time.

As the newlywed Escalantes settle in to their quaint new home, Inés uses her social expertise from one of her past lives to win over the noblewomen of Calztela—and find the perfect señorita to woo Cárcel into an affair so Inés can justify their eventual divorce. But when a relic from her past unexpectedly appears in the present, Inés spirals into a tormented illness as she begins to question everything she's devised. 

Distraught to see his wife so unwell, Cárcel devotes himself to her care and realizes just how deeply he loves her. Can his dogged affection ever break down the walls around Inés's heart, or is their marriage truly destined to fail?

Volume 3 collects episodes 29-42 of the webcomic The Broken This Marriage Will Fail Anyway.

Genres: Manga, Manhwa, Graphic Novels, Romance, Historical

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Diosa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was supposed to be just a casual rereading—like a filler or a breather before going on another long af series binge reading like I'm on a coke rant lol—but nothing about this book feels like a filler to me. Perhaps that's exactly the reason why this is definitely one of my TOP favorites and has always been my comfort read (even if nothing about this book is comfy.) I never fail to recommend this book to anyone asking me for some reco, because this is really sooo good—I think y'all should give it a try—I hope... crossing my fingers hehe, pleaseee. You see it's a reincarnation trope, it has heavy depictions of trauma (physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse towards the FMC—not from the MMC, don't worry.) Self-harm as well, and death/s on the following volumes. Mental health was also tackled in a different refreshing but traumatic and triggering way so PLEASE CHECK AND MIND YOUR TRIGGERS. The smut was.. WOOAAAH I leave that to your judgement lol. The plot was sooo good, I promise, once you get the flow of it. The romance was 10/10 too, like the yearning, the downbadism, the soulmatism, the passion, the sexual tension WOOOOAAAAAH, I LOVE IT. So, I don't want to spoil anything big aside from the fact that in the beginning of this volume it has shown that the MMC cheats on the FMC who is his fiance at that time, now I won't justify that and say it's right but to add context—the FMC chose him as her fiance when they were 6 years old, they are both from the 2 most prestigious Dukedom bloodlines: Escalante and Valeztena, so of course it's like a match made in heaven and nobody objects. As to why she chose him, I leave that for anyone to discover as they read all the volumes of this novel. With that being said, the MMC was shackled to an arranged engagement at his young age, he's already engage to someone he didn't even have the chance to get to know better to like. Then after choosing him as fiance, she deliberately avoid him and pushed him away, she also started dressing like an oldmaid, all black and button up dresses which made her earn the title Crow of the Valeztena, so she herself made her unlikable and as according to her, she (in a non obvious or indirect way) persuade or like encourage him to cheat on her and give in to his lust as he is a womanizer and every woman's desire (and planned to continue doing that even in their marriage)—given the fact that HE is the FINEST man in the Kingdom, so imagine being shackled to an arranged engagement then suddenly being pushed away, the man was sooo confused. So please give him the benefit of the doubt. As to why the FMC did all that, it's all part of the bigger plot, so I leave that to your discovery as well. So yeah, I will not hide the cheating but I will always provide the context since I'm really not a fan of cheating trope, but this one gives it a hell of a justice as a tiny part of the whole plot. No one can make me hate Cárcel fckng Escalante, he's a pathetic downbad yearner, passionate lover and have been the most loyal to her since day 1 of their marriage. When he commits, he fckng takes it seriously. I tell you what, as I've said, this is a reincarnation trope, and out of their 4 lifetimes (the fourth is this current one that they are living) CÁRCEL FCKNG ESCALANTE married Inés 2 times, but he love no other woman, NO ONE BUT HER in ALL those fckng 4 lifetimes. He doesn't have a memory of his past lives (yet) and/or the reincarnations, Inés, on the other hand, remembers or has memory of 2 out of the 4 lifetimes (just 2 because, again, the fourth lifetime is this current one that they are living now as married couple, but there is one lifetime that she doesn't remember as to whyyy THAT'S THE PLOT) The how why what when where who of all those reincarnations was left for you to discover and devour if I ever convinced you into reading this. I swear this book made me laugh, giggle, cry, angry, and shocked like a fckng madman. The plot twists, the storyline, the angst, the yearning, the smüt, the banters, the passion, the love story—EVERYTHING is chef's kiss to me. Inés is a badass, my queen, my love, my shaylaaa. She's been through a looooooot. I love her with every fiber in me. Aaaaand Cárcel, my man, they can never make me hate you, my pathetic, downbad, passionate, insane yearner and lover. You deserve all the love, both you and Inés—and I will die on this hill. PS—If I ever did convinced you to read this one, just know that this is a Korean webnovel and the English translation is hard to find (and/or paywalled per chapter) I have it saved on my drive so, anyone? lol I really really want more people to read this because this has changed something in me, has lived rent free in my head, heart and soul (might sound too much to y'all but that's really what it did to me istg—it scratch a certain itch in me that I can't even pinpoint what how and why exactly) It was sooo painfully beautiful. But yeah, this one's the book that I will never get tired of rereading and recommending.

[J-Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something about these characters rubs me the wrong way. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

While I enjoy them both separately, I think together they are toxic and should receive counseling. With that in mind, I find the backstory for the girl to be utterly tragic yet fascinating! Even though her story intrigues me, I don’t think I would rush to pick up the next volume in this series. Once I find out about the piece of jewelry, I think I’ll be good with this story because I just don’t like the main couple.

Side note: the art is gorgeous! Not enough to keep me wanting to read this series, but I can tell a lot of effort went into making it so beautiful.

[Kareena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is coming along so well! I feel like we got more insight into both characters. I appreciate that we get to see Ines being adored. I just want her to be happy and loved!