For a moment, Sessenia and Matapju both sighed deeply. A subtle strangeness only realized by those cornered.
“Right. That’s true. Indeed. It’s strange to deliberately keep it within, instead of sending it to an orphanage…”
“Eventually, it was probably intended for later use.”
At this moment, something became certain.
The man who had brought Teddy to the imperial family in the past, the one who claimed to have rescued him from the slave market, wasn’t the one who rescued him.
He was the one who had put Teddy there, and raised him in the slave market to be used later.
“So, it was clear from the beginning that the man who claimed to be Teddy’s benefactor in the past was the one who put Teddy there.”
To avoid death, using every possible means, we reached that conclusion through Gelroks.
“I see. So… so you left him in the slave market.”
“Maybe, perhaps. We might find out who that man is.”
“How?”
Matapju’s gaze, which had been interestingly fixed on Gelroks, shifted to Sessenia.
“He probably kept in touch with the slave market.”
“Hmm… that could be possible. But if every household is doing that… then why did the slave market hand over that child to you?”
“It didn’t add up. The money I received, or would receive, was much greater than what they were getting. Somehow… it seems they kept trying to raise the amount whenever I dealt with the slave market.”
Thinking like this, it suddenly made sense.
Even as a slave, the reason for putting an expensive restraint on Teddy. The reason for abusing Teddy.
‘Initially, I thought they did such things to subjugate him, but it wasn’t that. It was more like, only by doing so could Teddy regard ‘that man’ as his savior, and that’s why they did it.’
The reason Teddy rushed to kill that man as soon as he was released from the slave market. All the abuse he had endured, enough to make him shiver all over.
“I see.”
“He must have been keeping an eye on me. So, just find the slave market, and we should be good.”
“An easy problem.”
“It might not be easy. The probability is high that he left because he sold the ‘slave’ that gave him a reason to be there.”
In the past, that wasn’t the case.
Well, even if it were, Sessenia wouldn’t have been able to know.
Whether the slave market ran away or not was one of the things that wasn’t important to Sessenia. She didn’t even pay attention to them.
“Now, do we just need to find them?”
“I’ll handle this. I can’t use magic, but still, thank you for bringing me this far.”
“Don’t mention it. So, what about him?”
Matapju looked at Gelroks, stroking his chin.
“Do you know what? That guy’s crime is ruining one person’s life.”
“Indeed.”
“However, even if this fact is exposed, he won’t receive the punishment we desire.”
Gelroks seemed to express some desperate expression, but Sessenia had no mercy.
“I hope the person who did wrong receives a suitable punishment. If he ruined one person’s life, I hope his life is ruined the same way. If he stole someone’s belongings, I hope the thief loses his own.”
Thinking like that, it made perfect sense.
“Indeed.”
“Even if he receives such punishment, the victim won’t be saved. That time, that life, everything is already twisted. So, I want to give the proper punishment for the crime. But if this becomes public… he’ll be in a comfortable prison… a prison that even provides three meals a day. That’s all he’ll lose, just a bit of freedom. Be it ten years or twenty.”
That’s why revenge was necessary.
“Well, forgiveness will ultimately be needed, won’t it?”
“Forgiveness…”
Ruining someone’s life and then asking for forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is something the victim does, not the perpetrator. Not someone like you. You’re truly shameless and selfish, not even considering apologizing to the victim.”
“How can I know who the victim is…! Ah… right, right. I’ll help you find that noble. So, please spare my life. I’ll do anything… If that’s enough, my atonement should be sufficient. Since Matapju seems angry at me for tarnishing the honor of Matap with this act… so…”
Now, whether he found composure or his mind had already gone, Gelroks blinked.
“If you have a brain, you should be able to think, and if you can think, you should be able to understand.”
Sessenia found the man in front of her so foolish that it was almost pitiful. Even in such an extreme situation where death was imminent, could someone be this foolish?
“To help find the noble…”
Sessenia tightly held Teddy’s hand.
“Why do you think we didn’t ask about that?”
“That’s because…”
“There was no need to ask that question because the reason that noble, who had to deny his own bloodline from birth, is here. The victim you’ve harmed… is here.”
Gelroks’ complexion turned ashen. Confessing a crime and meeting the victim were worlds apart. He trembled, looking at Matapju.
“That… What is this…?”
“Tedy, are you okay?”
“I want to pretend I don’t know, but I want to pretend I’m okay…”
To Sessenia’s question, Teddy awkwardly smiled.
“All this situation is telling us the answer. That I… am that noble. Yes, my lord.”
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
_____
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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