Owen calmly asked, “So what?”
“It won’t arrive at its destination.”
“What?”
“The 4th fleet won’t reach its destination; it will disappear somewhere in the sea. Wait a few more days to see if my words are wrong.”
“Are you saying the ship will run aground?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“It will be anchored at a secluded island along the route to its destination. There, it will be guarded by cautious indigenous people.”
Owen leaned forward, facing Atia.
“Does that mean the 4th fleet is on a deserted island?”
Atia nodded her head.
“If you find it hard to believe, wait a few more days.”
“From route deviation to a deserted island and even the characteristics of the people living there. This information is something one can only know if it’s a prophecy.”
“Of course.”
“We’ll see if that’s true in a few days. But it’s better to be cautious with words. I can’t stand those who speak lightly.”
“Do not worry.”
Owen smiled as he watched Atia disappearing.
‘She’s truly an interesting woman.’
Even after a few days, there was no news of the 4th fleet reaching its destination.
Owen’s anxiety turned out to be true.
In his office, Owen squeezed the documents on the desk and told his subordinates, “What’s going on? By now, they should have arrived and have time left.”
“Well, we don’t really know the cause. Something seems to have happened… There seems to be a problem.”
“Summon the Duchess right away.”
“Yes, understood!”
Atia was summoned to Owen’s office.
This time, she was dressed simply without any particular adornments.
Because of Owen, who kept summoning his wife, Cauthess was in a heated state.
Atia, on her way, managed to soothe Cauthess’s heat.
Perhaps that’s why her outfit today was even lighter and more straightforward.
But it definitely didn’t look lacking in formality.
“You, do you remember what you told me before?”
Seated in a chair, Owen asked Atia.
“What do you mean?”
“The mention of the 4th fleet being anchored on an island.”
“Oh, yes. I remember.”
“Tell me where that island is and who lives there.”
“Why? Did the ship not come back?”
When Atia raised her eyebrows and asked, Owen, instead of answering, asked again.
“Tell me where the ship is now. Then I’ll believe your words.”
“Um… Can I take a look at the nautical chart for a moment?”
A large nautical chart for navigation was already spread out on Owen’s desk.
To examine the map more closely, Atia had to move to the seat where Owen was sitting.
“Your Highness, may I move a little to the side and take a look?”
Owen understood and nodded.
Atia approached the map.
In the novel, there was a navigational chart with a picture, and it looked exactly the same as that picture.
“Are we here right now?”
Pointing a part of the nautical chart with her finger, Atia said, “Here.”
When Owen bent down, Atia and he became even closer.
A sweet fragrance emanated from Atia.
It was like a natural scent, not an effort to show off for the Crown Prince.
“There?”
“Yes.”
For some reason, Owen felt that being close to Atia wasn’t so bad.
“Are you sure it’s there?”
“Yes. Indigenous people should be living there.”
What tribe were they?
Atia tried to think, but she couldn’t recall the specific names.
But it was certain that no one who went to that island ever set foot on their homeland again.
“So, what happened on that island?”
Atia tried to recall the contents of the book, rapidly drawing a circle in the air with her finger.
“Well, anyway, there’s some tribe living there, right? It might be wise to be cautious, you never know, right?”
Owen didn’t hear any warning in his ears. All he heard was about the 4th fleet anchoring on a deserted island.
“Okay. Let’s believe your words for once.”
For several days, the 4th fleet couldn’t reach its destination. There was no choice but to believe Atia’s words to retrieve it.
“I’ll set sail for there tomorrow.”
The next day, Owen’s ship headed for the island.
The weather was clear, making it a good day for exploration.
On the ship heading to the island, there were not only Atia and Cauthess but also many others.
“I didn’t expect the Duke to bring knights and maids along for a simple trip to the island.”
Owen chuckled as he looked at Cauthess standing on the deck.
Besides Cauthess, there were Atia, Zen, and other servants.
“Your Highness, did you not bring dozens of sailors?”
Cauthess wasn’t pleased with Owen calling for his wife to the office.
He knew he was being called to hear the prophecy, but for some reason, it felt like he was called as an annoying presence.
Owen seemed interested in Atia’s ability to prophesize, but he couldn’t tolerate having a private conversation with his wife alone.
Even if it was the Crown Prince.
Owen wanted to provoke Cauthess more, feeling that he was trying not to lose in a silent confrontation.
“Well, this is ‘my ship,’ isn’t it? Whether I bring a few of my people on my ship, it’s none of your concern.”
“I hope Your Highness’s wife is not included among your people.”
A cold light flashed in Cauthess’s eyes.
Owen hated losing more than death itself. He often satisfied himself by suppressing others with just a few words.
Although Cauthess didn’t waver at his words, his angry reaction was enough value for Owen.
‘Well, this is not a kid’s game.’
The inexperienced Atia mediated between the two.
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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