“Yes?”
“Why are you going to my house?”
Caught-off Eric and the stern Marquess, Kive, who was discreetly watching between the two, subtly stepped back.
“Well, then, I’ll excuse myself first.”
Leaving a final greeting, Kive quickly turned and started walking away.
Interfering in family matters was second only to meddling in matters between men and women.
‘Commander, stay strong.’
Sending silent encouragement to Eric, Kive quickly withdrew from the scene.
Unfortunately, much to his regret, Kive was of no concern to Marquess Lancaster or Eric.
And even more regrettable, Marquess Lancaster firmly drew the line with Eric.
“You and I will talk separately. There’s much to discuss.”
“But, sir.”
“Who’s ‘sir’? Who?”
“Marquess.”
Quickly adjusting the title, Eric tried hard to put on a smile full of friendliness.
“Although the greeting is a bit late, I am engaged to Alicia.”
“I have no recollection of approving that. Besides, we haven’t had the engagement ceremony, so don’t keep mentioning engagement.”
‘Ah, it’s not going to be easy.’
Trying to maintain a smiling face, Eric inwardly muttered, trying to keep a smiling face.
The Deputy’s words were right. Kive’s words were also right.
Before trying anything, he was already labeled, making it not easy.
The returned Marquess to Lancaster’s mansion warmly greeted Edward and Emma.
The children, who had grown considerably, were now challenging to be hugged with just one arm.
But the young twins, not having seen their father for a long time, hesitated to come out from behind Edward and Emma.
Although it was uncomfortable, the Marquess managed to give the twins a kiss after soothing and pampering them with gifts.
“Well, then, finish unwrapping your gifts here. I’ll go to your mother.”
“Go ahead. We’ll be here.”
“Edward, Emma. Help the twins unwrap their gifts.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Hurry upstairs. Your mother is waiting.”
“Okay, got it.”
Focusing on the gifts, Marquess, who didn’t even spare a glance for the twins taking care of themselves, left the drawing-room.
Stopping for a moment on the stairs leading to the second floor, Marquess, who encountered a balcony, looked out for a while.
‘What’s this? I feel something unfamiliar. No, rather, is it a sense of familiarity?’
Feeling both strange and familiar, Marquess Lancaster chuckled and opened the balcony window.
But there was nothing conspicuous.
‘If something strange sticks here, it would be troublesome. I should check it thoroughly.’
After scrutinizing the balcony surroundings once more, Marquess closed the window.
Then he hastily walked to the bedroom where his wife was.
“Hello.”
“Welcome. Come here quickly.”
When Marquess approached, his wife, lying on the bed, extended her arms, and he hugged her.
Because of her frail body, his wife still felt too light, almost too light for Marquess, and he worried about her face.
“You seem even thinner.”
“No, how about you?”
“I’m the same. You’ve been through a lot, dear.”
Marquess greeted his wife, stroking her with a pillow and a blanket, and sat down on the chair next to her.
Until Marquess took his seat, his wife, who had been smiling, let out a sigh.
“Did you meet her?”
“I did.”
“Is she okay?”
“I saw her for the first time today. How did you know?”
In the Marquess’s curt tone, the Marquess’s wife chuckled briefly.
“You don’t plan to approve, do you?”
“Of course not. How dare she try to approach my daughter while I’m away.”
“Honey, she’s our daughter. And I like that girl.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because she’s strong, capable, comes from a good family, and, on top of that, she’s good-looking.”
Every time the Marchioness listed the advantages, the Marquess’s face wrinkled more and more, but she seemed to enjoy her husband’s changing expressions.
“And, most importantly, she loves our daughter. When Alicia was kidnapped by the sorcerer last time, that girl almost died.”
“…But do you think this is right?”
In the now serious expression of Marquess Lancaster, the Marchioness also fell silent.
In a low tone, Marquess Lancaster continued to speak.
“That girl seems to blame herself.”
“Still?”
“Still. Is that a problem that can be easily overcome? We know that better than anyone.”
“…”
Marquess Lancaster silently stared at his wife, whose smile had disappeared, and his face became serious.
A moment of silence passed between the two.
“But where is Alicia now?”
“Welcome back, Your Lordship.”
The only one who greeted Eric, who returned to Russell Marquis’s mansion after parting with Marquess Lancaster, was the butler.
Disappointed that Alicia didn’t come out to greet him, as Eric thought she would, he asked the butler, concealing his disappointment.
“Where is Alicia? Has she gone back?”
“No, she’s still here.”
“The study?”
“No, she entered her room a little while ago.”
Upon hearing that she was still here, Eric quickly went upstairs to Alicia’s room.
As soon as he opened the door, he met Alicia’s eyes and froze on the spot.
“I was about to go down because I thought you came.”
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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