Lord Schneider turned his gaze back to Marianne. Their eyes met. The Viscount smiled gently, like the grandfather next door.
“I support my grandson and his wife’s dreams. Perhaps Christoph feels the same way. So.”
“……. ”
The charming neighborly grandfather from a moment ago suddenly wiped his expression away. That alone changed the atmosphere around him, making it cold and ruthless, much like Lord Schneider in his prime, when he was as cold and calculating as a shark.
“I hope that those present here will do the same. I believe everyone has understood my words.”
His statement was a warning that he would not tolerate any further discussion on the matter. There was no one here foolish enough not to notice this fact.
People swallowed hard, recalling the sight of Lord Schneider they hadn’t seen in a long time and his wife, who had left Blauberg as beggars for offending Marianne.
Lord Schneider, as if asking when he had become so cold, smiled benevolently and raised a champagne glass.
“May the blessings of the gods be with those gathered here.”
He brought the glass to his lips. People, in a flurry, raised their champagne glasses belatedly and offered their congratulations one by one. When Lord Schneider stepped down from the podium, people surrounded him as if they had been waiting for him.
Marianne stood there, staring at Lord Schneider, who was surrounded by the crowd. It was a shock she had never expected.
Lord Schneider publicly defended Marianne, declaring that he would not tolerate anyone harming her.
Hm.
Marianne bit her lower lip and slowly shook her head. She was no longer a disgrace to the Schneider family. She was not a stain on the Schneider family anymore. Lord Schneider had made it so.
“Since the Viscount has spoken so openly, no one will dare to make fun of you anymore, Marianne.”
At the same time, Marianne realized that this declaration had also tied her hands. Being under Lord Schneider’s protection meant that she was still part of the Schneider family, still a Schneider’s wife.
The cunning Viscount had caught two rabbits at once. Marianne took a step towards him and whispered softly.
“To catch up with Lord Schneider, you’ll have to work a little harder.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Christoph, who had been lost in thought with a faintly furrowed brow, responded with an annoyed tone.
“What are you talking about, Marianne? I have to catch up with Lord Schneider? What am I lacking?”
Christoph followed her, questioning as he trailed behind her. His twisted eyebrows conveyed his displeasure.
But Marianne, wearing a smiling face as if she hadn’t heard his words, stood by Lord Schneider’s side. Lord Schneider, upon seeing her, spread his arms with a hearty laugh.
“Oh, Marianne.”
“Happy birthday, Lord Viscount.”
He embraced Marianne. His thick hand patted her back warmly.
“Thank you. More than anything, having you here is the greatest gift to me. You must know that.”
“…Lord Viscount.”
She called him with a somewhat resentful tone. Lord Schneider understood the meaning but pretended not to notice.
“Yes?”
“…Yes, Lord Viscount. Thank you.”
In the end, Marianne nodded. Lord Viscount Schneider gently patted her shoulder. A tender and intimate atmosphere flowed between the two.
Then, a bright and confident voice intruded between them.
“Happy birthday, Lord Schneider.”
…
Marianne slowly turned her head. The word “Princess Nadia” slipped from her lips.
Nadia, dressed in a deep green evening gown, looked more glamorous than ever. The emerald necklace highlighted her turquoise eyes, and the pearl earrings elegantly subdued any potential excess.
With a smirk, Nadia, who had singled out Marianne, redirected her gaze to Lord Schneider.
“You can still host dozens more birthday parties, can’t you?”
“That’s greedy.”
“Greedy? I assure you. I will attend Lord Viscount’s birthday party at least twenty more times in the future.”
“Hahaha. I hope it turns out that way.”
Lord Schneider and Nadia exchanged pleasantries. Marianne unknowingly swallowed dryly.
The dress she was wearing was top-notch, as expected. It was a gift from Christoph, so there was no room for negligence in any part of the dress. Similarly, the sapphire hanging around her neck must have been a gem whose price couldn’t be guessed.
But for some reason, whenever she stood in front of Nadia, she felt small. Perhaps it was because Nadia naturally carried the things Marianne had acquired through constant effort as if they were air.
Elegance, nobility, and the arrogance typical of nobility.
Nadia was like Christoph in that regard. Perfectly noble and graceful, like an immaculate gem. She radiated brilliance wherever she went, capturing people’s attention.
Marianne felt like Nadia was constantly pointing out her inadequacies whenever she looked at her. She involuntarily lowered her head and took a few steps back.
It felt like Christoph’s gaze was reaching her, but she couldn’t lift her head. She was afraid that if she did, she would reveal her ugly heart. She didn’t want to expose her deepest vulnerabilities to him.
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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