oh that's interesting. If the dead husband was not the angelic hero he's seemingly set up to have been, perhaps he made some sort of threats to Evelyn regarding Gilles? I think it's likely that she pushed Gilles away to somehow shield him from the cruel and twisted "Human Chess" lifestyle of the nobility. Like as a working class guy, he was *literally* too noble for that world and she wanted to protect him by taking him off the board completely and chasing him away. And she had to be super harsh and cold, because he would never have left her unless she totally convinced him... or it could be like we see her behave with Sophia, she was showing him, "this is how ruthless and cold blooded you have to be to survive these royal games, and you have to be able to survive at least this if you want to meet me on an even playing field". And/or maybe her marriage somehow protected Gilles in some way. "Cruel to be kind... "
I think. He probably found out that shes pregnant with gilles' child and she got rid of him for his safety. About her behaviour towards sophia – i disagree. Sophia is a girl born out of love from them both (gilles & evelyn) and she never want to ruin it. Its the only living proof that they loved eo. I don't think its to show anything towards gilles
it’s so obvious her husband was a piece of shit to her. Read a very good theory on novel-updates forum where her husband is a narcissistic whos deeply ”in love” of her and manipulated her. Her only comfort back then was ML. Later ”ex” husband found out about their relationship and FL being pregnant and made a deal to her or shit. Also made her completely vulnerable and only depends on him, thus why we keep seeing him when FL is at her worst.