My wife has changed.
Johann Leopold reached this conclusion as he gazed at his wife, Olivia Blanchet, who stood rigidly, meticulously buttoning her dress up to her neck, her gaze impassively downward.
Olivia had always been a woman yearning for love. She behaved as if she needed something to love to keep living, and unfortunately, that something was the busiest man in the world, Johann Leopold.
A fair trade-off: giving something, receiving something. Marriage was nothing more or less to him. But it was different for his wife.
Her inability to control her emotions gracefully meant her actions, so clear in intent and purpose, were perfect for provoking irritation.
Her luxury was hardly an issue. If she didn’t trouble him and just sat at home quietly spending money, it was a welcome relief.
Her flirting with other men to capture Johann’s attention, her antics in social circles – none of these mattered much.
Then one day, when all other methods failed, she didn’t hesitate to slit her wrists. A woman who would stop at nothing to bring Johann before her.
Such was the woman.
“What did you say just now?”
Johann, despite clearly hearing, asked again.
“Divorce. Let’s get a divorce.”
Her voice was just calm and precise, devoid of any emotion.
The Duchess had changed.
Rumors circulated among the servants of Greathill. Some thought her newfound quietude was just another ploy to draw attention.
Anne was among them. But then:
“I’ve divorced, Anne.”
The Duchess’s face, beaming with a smile, showed no trace of any emotion or regret.
Greathill was abuzz with the news of the Duke and Duchess’s divorce, but she seemed as if she belonged to another world, serene and unaffected.
The divorce proceedings were surprisingly swift. As expected, the Duke did not cling to his wife. Contrary to expectations, he gave a generous alimony and a villa in the resort town of Lemont.
“Anne. Would you come with me? I think I’d appreciate it.”
Bathed in the dazzling sunlight filtering through branches laden with spring blossoms, Anne realized.
The disgrace of Blanchet, proof of infidelity, a sordid illegitimate child.
Her mistress, always thorny and thirsting for affection, had changed.
Anne joyfully agreed.
“Please, take me with you, Miss.”
Sitting side by side on the bed packing, Anne gently took her mistress’s scarred hand.
The mistress, never kind before, but Anne never disliked her. The mistress’s life was hard enough to warrant a lowly maid’s pity.
The Duchess, with a modest travel bag, boarded the carriage.
“You’re too much. Even for the last time.”
Anne said bitterly, looking up at the largest window on the second floor.
“He’s a busy man, that one.”
The mistress’s tone was remarkably calm, ending a three-year marriage. Where had the blind, crumbling love gone, the one that seemed on the verge of shattering any moment?
Anne gazed at her mistress, who was looking out of the window. Since that early spring rain, she often gazed into the distance, her eyes reminiscent of when she was confined to the penance room as a child, longing for freedom.
“Have someone follow.”
“Yes, sir.”
Watching the carriage speed away down the avenue lined with family beech trees, Johann spoke coldly.
Recently, he had received news of his wife jumping into the lake. As usual, Johann wasn’t disturbed; he returned to the mansion three days later after finishing his work.
My wife lay in bed, her face so pale it was almost white. I had seen this sight frequently of late, so it stirred no particular emotion in me. I was merely annoyed that she continued to cling to me in this way.
Four days had passed. Spring seemed to be approaching, as a light rain began to fall. I was in the mansion’s study, handling urgent matters with some discomfort. Just when my patience was about to snap, my wife opened her eyes.
“Please, give me a divorce.”
What’s her scheme this time?
Even after the carriage had become a speck in the distance, I couldn’t easily leave the window.
Lemont, a beautiful resort town, was a nine-hour train ride from the capital. The White Gable villa, with its sharp white roofs overlooking the seaside, was the pride and joy of the butler, Herman.
The transition of ownership from Duke Johann Leopold to his ex-wife wasn’t particularly pleasing for Herman.
The Duchess had always been a difficult mistress to serve, even for an experienced butler. Moreover, coming here after the divorce, the servants of White Gable trembled at the thought of what misery she might bring. But then:
“Call a real estate agent.”
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
The flustered butler blinked in confusion.
“I’m going to sell this villa. Please find someone who can offer the best price.”
After touring the villa, the Duchess decided to rest and headed towards the upstairs bedroom. Halfway up the red mahogany staircase, she turned back.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the contract includes employment continuation for everyone. Please pass that along.”
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
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Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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