How Aria switched Bonita remains unknown, but Luke could guess. The child buried after the funeral was probably the real Aria’s biological daughter. If their children were switched, it would explain why Aria abruptly quit after Eloide’s childbirth.
But the motive remained a mystery. Eloide believed she and Aria were bound by strong trust, having grown up together. To Eloide, who had only older brothers, Aria was like a twin sister, a precious presence.
And it should have been the same for Aria…
…Probably.
When did she start planning this?
Now, with the real Aria gone, the secret would remain forever unknown.
Eloide lost her beloved daughter, husband, family, and a childhood friend, all at once.
It left a bitter taste.
“Aria Hilton.”
Luke’s call snapped Aria out of her thoughts.
“Strange, I thought you said you lost your memory. Yet, you’re adapting too well to the duke’s house. Even talking familiarly with the gatekeeper Dalton.”
He mocked her with a twisted smile, careful not to wake Bonita with his low voice.
“If you only lost the memory of raising Bonita, that’s a rather convenient amnesia, isn’t it, Miss Hilton?”
Aria chose to remain silent.
Revealing the truth was impossible. Silence was her only option.
Luke observed Aria, clutching Bonita tightly. Her blue eyes were fixed on Bonita.
Despite looking pale and fidgeting nervously, reminiscent of Eloide when anxious, her eyes held a desperate love for Bonita.
The sight touched Luke’s heart.
If those eyes were just an act, Aria Hilton was either an actress surpassing any in the kingdom or a con artist. Either way, it was uncomfortably unsettling.
“Give Bonita to me. I’ll carry her to her room.”
“No,” Aria refused his offer, holding the sleeping child closer.
“I’ll… I’ll take her myself.”
Bonita was unusually small for a seven-year-old, weighing just under 20kg. For a man, carrying that weight might not be difficult, but for an adult woman, it was no easy feat, especially while being careful not to wake the child.
“Fine then,” Luke sneered with one corner of his mouth lifted, irritation bubbling inside him. “I’m quite curious how long Bonita will need you.”
His tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of malice. Aria inhaled sharply at his barbed question.
“To a young child, parents are everything, but that age doesn’t last long. Ah, did I mention this before?”
Luke stood up, towering over Aria even more than when he was sitting.
“You’re not my daughter’s mother, even if she calls you that.”
He looked down at her with an icy expression.
“Remember that.”
Aria flinched, her hurt evident in her expression, eliciting a strange mix of satisfaction and discomfort in Luke. Why he felt this way was something he couldn’t yet understand.
It was before dawn the next day.
A carriage bearing the mark of the Rothweil family – a black hunting dog silhouette – hastily departed from the Rothweil estate.
“Drive as fast as you can. It doesn’t matter if it’s improper; it’s urgent,” ordered the eldest son. The coachman drove the carriage at a breakneck speed, and they arrived at the Lisianskus duke’s estate before eight in the morning.
Gatekeeper Dalton was surprised to see the carriage rushing towards them so early in the day. Recognizing the Rothweil family’s emblem, a familiar sight for someone who had worked at the duke’s estate for years, he approached them.
“What brings you gentlemen here so early in the morning?”
“We need to see the duke immediately. It’s urgent, so please inform him of our arrival.”
Although the Rothweil brothers hadn’t visited much since Eloide’s death, they were still the brothers of the former duchess. Dalton immediately informed the duke of their visit.
Luke, surprisingly calm when he heard of their arrival, muttered to Dalton, “They’re later than I expected.”
“Pardon?”
“Show them to the drawing-room. I’ll be there shortly.”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
