Startled, Whitney entered the bushes, lifting her head. The icy blue eyes staring at her made her shrink back. Her wrist throbbed where it was gripped, but her eyes shone with light.
“Prince Cheston.”
His sudden appearance was a welcome surprise. He seemed to have different feelings towards her, evident even in his gaze.
“What’s your purpose, Whitney Orleans?”
“…Purpose? I don’t have one like that. I just…”
Wanted to protect you.
Whitney swallowed her words. She anticipated his reaction would fall within expectations. So, instead, she looked at her gripped wrist and said,
“It hurts. Are you going to keep holding on?”
Cheston’s grip loosened on her wrist. Whitney glanced at her wrist before raising her head.
“I thought I wouldn’t see you before leaving.”
“Did you come here for me?”
“No. The Queen invited me. The Rubenius family is on good terms with her. But I thought I might see you while here.”
Whitney smiled brightly. She was glad to have met him.
“I think the debutante ball you mentioned will go well. So, please wait a little.”
“…Are you planning to spy for the Queen?”
“If that’s what you want. People are coming, I should go. Oh, and I heard about the royal secret messages. If you need me, contact me that way.”
“Contact you?”
“Even my aunt knows I’m on your side.”
Cheston’s brow furrowed, seemingly puzzled by her words.
Startled by a rustling noise, Whitney grabbed Cheston’s hand, ducking down. She then quickly stood up, scanning the area, and said,
“I should go now. See you again. And if you need Beleronia, let me know.”
She promised to send it anytime before walking out of the bushes and brushing off her dress, then headed towards the carriage as if nothing had happened.
Cheston stared blankly at his hand, still feeling the warmth. The person who had boldly grabbed it could only be Whitney Orleans.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
Regaining his composure at Aaron’s words, Cheston looked in the direction Whitney had left. He chuckled hollowly, recalling her swift departure.
“…Wasn’t Rubenius on the Queen’s side?”
“Her Majesty seems to be using the Rubenius family to counterbalance the King. Lady Orleans’ words don’t seem false.”
“I didn’t think she’d be the Queen’s spy. Her actions are suspicious.”
“There’s certainly a lot of doubts. Shall we keep an eye on her? There’s still time until the debutante ball.”
“What’s the matter now?”
“The Queen has summoned Lady Elenia again.”
Cheston clenched his teeth.
“Then I can’t just sit back. I must meet the King.”
“What’s your plan?”
“To disrupt the tea time. In a way the Queen hates most.”
He headed straight to where the King would be. At this time, the King would have finished lunch and be in his study. The only person the Queen hesitated around was the King, the only one who could save his mother. Unfortunately, Cheston alone had limits in protecting her.
Upon reaching the study, Cheston greeted the King.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I came to have tea with you. If it’s a bother, I’ll leave.”
“Nonsense. It’s a fine day; let’s have it outside.”
The King stood up, gazing out the window as if he had been waiting for Cheston’s arrival. Perhaps he had been aware of everything but felt powerless to intervene.
“Yes, the weather is nice. It would be good to have tea in the garden for a change.”
“Let’s do that. I had something to discuss with you, so your visit is timely.”
Cheston walked with the King to the garden. His mother would be in the Queen’s palace, but he couldn’t go there directly. It would reveal his intentions, so he had to use a different approach.
The Queen’s spies were watching him everywhere in the palace. So, the moment the Queen heard he was having a private tea time with the King, she would surely come here, and not alone, but with her son.
As Cheston had anticipated, the Queen and Carl appeared, slightly flushed.
“Why is the Queen here? I didn’t invite you separately, thinking you were busy.”
“I was taking a walk with my son and saw you by chance. May we join you for tea?”
The King nodded his agreement. Cheston inwardly sighed with relief. The Queen’s presence here meant his mother had safely returned to her room.
“Carl has achieved excellent grades again.”
“My son, of course. Cheston is already a swordmaster, but Carl doesn’t show such signs yet, attracting much talk.”
“Don’t worry. Your Majesty, Carl will soon create his aura. Didn’t you open your aura after reaching adulthood?”
Queen Adelaide lifted her cup with a smile.
“I already had an aura before that. Strange, isn’t it? Despite carrying my blood, he has no aura.”
The King tsked, looking at Carl. Cheston understood the meaning behind the King’s words. If Carl was not superior, the successor would be Cheston, not Carl.
“But, brother, you excel in academics and are respected by others. You will be a great ruler to follow His Majesty. My sword skills are useless compared to the power I just awakened.”
Cheston shook his head, cautiously adding to the King’s words. The more the King belittled Carl, the more dangerous it became for him and his mother. To avoid the Queen’s wrath, he had to downplay himself and divert the King’s attention to his brother.
“Your Majesty, why not enjoy tea with the Queen and my brother? I just remembered an urgent matter and will take my leave.”
“Alright, you may go.”
The King didn’t hold him back. The Queen was watching, but the King knew where Cheston was headed.
Cheston turned quickly and walked towards his mother’s location.
Whitney returned to the Rubenius estate in the carriage.
Sonya greeted her as if she had been waiting. Sonya’s somber expression suggested something had happened.
Whitney followed Sonya to the living room.
“Is something wrong?”
“Lady Melissa is here.”
“My sister? Did Mother come with her?”
Sonya shook her head. Fortunately, it seemed like Melissa had just come to check the atmosphere. Whitney entered the living room and was relieved to see Melissa dressed extravagantly. It seemed like nothing else had happened at the ducal house.
On the other hand, Melissa scowled upon seeing Whitney.
“Why didn’t you contact me before coming? It would have been better if you had let me know.”
“Look at you talking. What’s the need for family to inform each other? I just came to see how you were doing. It’s your first time leaving home, after all.”
Melissa approached Whitney and hugged her tightly. Whitney, feeling uncomfortable, gently pushed Melissa away.
“As you can see, I’m doing well,” Whitney shrugged and said to Melissa.
“Looks like it. I thought you’d be having a hard time away from home, but you seem to be doing quite well?” Melissa asked bluntly, seemingly displeased with Whitney’s unexpected well-being. It appeared that she had assumed Whitney wouldn’t be properly looked after, given their aunt had not been in touch until now.
‘It must be because Aunt sent money that they haven’t been making a fuss for me to return.’
Whitney could guess without being told. Having received a significant sum, they must have become curious about how she was faring. They might have been anxious about whether she harbored other intentions and if she was still under their control, prompting this visit.
“Aunt has been very kind to me. I need to work hard too; it could help you.”
“Hmph. You haven’t developed other intentions, have you? I heard you went to the palace…”
Melissa glanced at Whitney, fishing for information. Her hurried visit was driven by some unbelievable news she had heard.
“Yes, I met with Her Majesty the Queen. It might actually benefit you. She seems to view me favorably.”
“Is that true?” Melissa’s voice was tinged with skepticism.
Whitney nodded and, taking Sonya’s hand, reassured her, “You’ll achieve what you desire.”
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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