Carson’s intensely disliked emotion, the feeling of wanting to end everything immediately, had already reached its peak.
“I’ve been too lenient all this time.”
At the chilling voice, everyone around cringed.
“It’s time to show how far the prince who grew up playing outside can go, isn’t it?”
Carson’s steps gained strength. Daring to provoke the events one day before the long-awaited wedding, the Emperor’s patience rippled, eventually overflowing beyond the limits.
At the moment of securing Ines’s new soldiers, everything would be swept away.
His mind swiftly moved, like the most skilled hunter.
As the curtain was completely lifted, light poured into the room. The dust piled up white under the dazzling sunlight first captured the sight. Ines squinted her eyes to get used to the bright light.
And then, she saw the face of a woman.
The former Empress she had seen from a distance when hiding in Edmont’s waiting room.
Ines lowered her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Worried that Marcus might be revealed because of the brightness, but fortunately, he had completely concealed himself.
The room was not small. There was an old but large bed, and there was also a table and a chair.
Ines was dragged in front of the former Empress with her arms bound.
Even when their eyes met, the former Empress only stared at Ines. Ines, too, remained silent.
Though not much time had passed, the former Empress seemed to have aged a lot. No, it would be more accurate to say that she now looked her age.
She was sitting on a wooden chair decorated with a flower-patterned fabric. Even in a humble chair, her posture was that of an Empress.
“Ines Sweden.”
She called Ines’s name in a low voice. After that, she continued to mutter her name as if murmuring.
Ines, Ines, Ines Sweden.
It was a voice that vaguely sent shivers down the spine.
“If I had dealt with you when you were a temple maiden, would I have avoided this situation?”
As if to say no answer was needed, the former Empress continued speaking.
“No, no, who would have known? You, who were a temple maiden, would end up sitting in the position of the Empress of the Kanez Empire.”
Ines closed her eyes. They probably thought she was still struggling with weak energy.
“Where did you roll in from? A nobody like you becoming an Empress has brought disgrace to the country. Well, it’s the eighth to rise to Emperor after barely getting the title of the prince….”
The curse-like complaints continued.
“You’ve already entered the Empress’s palace? Dare to sit in my chair, have a meal at my table, and sleep in my bed… someone like you.”
“Mother, please stop now. She won’t understand anything.”
Anthony, who had been silent since entering the room, spoke for the first time. It was a remarkably neat tone, quite different from the one that had been tapping her face with gloves a few hours ago. Nevertheless, Ines thought his voice sounded quite anxious.
“Yes, Empress, my son. The flawless prince who will soon become the Emperor.”
The former Empress approached her son’s face, caressing it and smiling. There was a vacant gaze in her eyes that made her not seem completely sane.
“Yes, Empress.”
Listening to their conversation, Ines had to swallow the laughter bubbling up. An Emperor and Empress that no one acknowledged.
“Do you want to get drunk before killing her?”
But with the following conversation, Ines closed her eyes and ground her teeth. What on earth were they blabbering about?
“That might be in line with the principles.”
“Principles, principles…”
A faint look of discomfort crossed the former Empress’s voice. But soon, as expected, she said something like, “Well, as you say, your words may be right.”
“Yes, it might be fitting. Since Carson took everything from you, you should enjoy what belongs to him too.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Anthony’s polite response overlapped with Jeremern’s voice.
Although he pretended to be at ease, his breathing had already become rough. The way he surged forward, like a beast with prey right in front of its eyes, was palpable. He seemed ready to charge, exhaling as if ready to pounce.
Ines barely restrained the rising anger inside her. A prince of a kingdom was no different from a vile guard.
“But, my son, too… Won’t it be too… impure? Haven’t you heard how I made the one who was my man die?”
Seeing the Empress showing signs of trying to stop him, Anthony approached her closely.
“But Mother, don’t you remember that day? What kind of humiliation did I go through in front of numerous nobles? Carson is so obsessed with that thing, even if it’s dirty, I want to repay him.”
“But still…”
“When Seonhwang threw the royal sign in front of me…”
With those words, the memory of that day flashed in the former Empress’s mind, and she pressed her forehead.
“Yes, yes. Your words are right. Drink as much as you want. That’s the only way your anger will subside.”
“Yes, Mother. Please rest. It might take quite a long time for your anger to subside.”
His words were accompanied by a strange laughter.
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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