The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
“Seems you were already eating. How is it? Delicious?”
“Yeah. It’s the best. You should come and eat quickly too.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I smiled and sat down in the chair opposite Bake.
His plate, from which he’d already started eating, was half empty.
“Hold on, dear. Your meat looks undercooked—should I ask them to grill it again?”
“No. I like it this way.”
“But you’ve always eaten your steak well done.”
“You remember all that?”
“I’ve been watching you for years. Of course I remember.”
“How touching.”
I nodded appropriately in time with Bake’s teasing and cut a piece of steak with my knife, putting it in my mouth.
The rare-cooked meat melted in my mouth like butter, yet I didn’t find it particularly tasty.
“Lost your appetite? Why are you eating so slowly?”
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Huh? About what?”
“Why I always insisted on eating my steak well done.”
Though I had no appetite, I kept steadily moving my fork.
If I didn’t keep myself busy like this, I might end up slicing something else instead.
“Is there really a reason for something like that?”
“Everything has a reason, doesn’t it?”
“Then what’s your reason?”
“It’s because of Meriel.”
“…….”
“Meriel hated undercooked food.”
I turned my head to look at the empty seat beside me.
That empty space next to me still felt strange.
Even now, if I closed my eyes and opened them again, I half-expected to see my little daughter, reaching for my food and cheerfully begging, “Just one bite!”
“Dear, Meriel is-.”
“Dead.”
Screeeech-
My fork scraped sharply against the plate, making an odd sound.
I glared at Bake, tilting my chin stubbornly.
It was a face I’d looked at for ten years, yet now it filled me only with disgust.
“What do you think you’re doing right now?”
Bake furrowed his brow.
“That’s what I’d like to ask you.”
I curled one corner of my mouth, utterly indifferent.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“What?”
“I’m asking if you enjoyed it. Enjoyed rolling around with another woman in my house, in my bed.”
“W-what-“
“Don’t bother with clumsy lies. I already know everything.”
It had been a marriage of convenience, matching each other’s conditions.
There was never any passionate, fiery emotion between us.
Still, I believed we’d managed to maintain things well enough.
Even if we lacked that grand love others spoke of, I once truly believed trust and faith existed between us.
If only that incident had never happened.
Instead of letting my anger flare up, I chewed the meat in my mouth firmly and swallowed it down.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just-“
“No, it’s fine. No need to explain.”
“Fine?”
“Yes. Even if you love another woman, it’s fine. Everyone does it. There’s nothing special about us.”
“…….”
“Let’s be honest—plenty of people live like that. Keeping a mistress behind the scenes while smiling prettily in public as if they’re perfectly happy. We were just one of them.”
I lifted my fork casually.
Under the light, the sharp tip of the fork glinted brightly.
“Blinded by a woman, not even noticing your own child dying-“
Thud-!
“Trying to pin the blame for death onto your innocent wife because you couldn’t bear the guilt-“
Thud-!
“As long as that filthy, despicable man wasn’t my husband, that would have been fine.”
Each time I stabbed the meat roughly with my fork, crimson juice oozed out from between the pieces.
I looked straight at Bake and deliberately put the shredded piece of meat into my mouth.
What I truly wanted to chew wasn’t the steak—but something else entirely.
“……Who told you?”
“Does it matter who said it? That’s not what’s important.”
“It was just an accident.”
“You said it was my fault.”
“…….”
“When Meriel died, you were quick to blame me—yet now you call it just an accident?”
I set down the utensil in my hand.
Bake anxiously watched my expression, forcing a strained smile.
“I really didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know?”
“It wasn’t that I hid it from the start. I truly had no idea Meriel was there.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me once you found out?”
“The timing wasn’t right. You were constantly depressed, and I was suffering too…….”
“Normally, someone who’s suffering wouldn’t be visiting their mistress less than a week after their child died.”
I gave a faint chuckle and gently swirled my wine glass.
The wine inside shimmered, red as blood.
“……I know it sounds like an excuse, but I really couldn’t help it. Every time I came home, I saw that child’s face, and you always looked like you were on the verge of death. I needed somewhere to breathe.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“……Thank me?”
“Yes, thank you.”
For ensuring I won’t regret my decision.
I smiled sweetly at Bake, who looked utterly bewildered, not understanding a thing.
I’d hoped that after all these years together, there might still be a sliver of room left—but there wasn’t.
Even as I gazed at Bake’s empty plate, my heart remained completely unmoved.
“Was today’s meal to your liking?”
“Huh?”
“I specially asked the chef to pay extra attention—hoping it would suit your taste.”
“Well, um, of course. Our estate chef’s cooking is, as always, superb.”
Bake nodded, trying his best to hide his uneasy expression.
I gave him an even warmer smile.
“I’m glad. Actually, I slipped some medicine into the steak you just ate.”
“What?”
“And, just in case, I also put a bit in your wine…….”
“Liviana, urk!”
Bake tried to stand up but immediately collapsed back into his seat, unable to steady himself.
I continued to smile, gently swirling my wine glass.
“Looks like the medicine is finally kicking in. I was worried—thank goodness.”
“Medicine… you said?”
“Don’t worry too much. It’s not poison.”
“W-what’s your… intention……”
“My intention? Isn’t it obvious?”
To remove Bake Grayten from my life entirely.
I drained my wine glass neatly and dabbed my lips with a napkin.
The wine tasted delicious, yet the more I drank, the colder my mind became.
The wine served with today’s meal had been made from grapes harvested in the year Meriel was born.
I’d planned to save it as a celebratory toast for the day my daughter grew up—an offering to bless the life that lay ahead of her.
I still remembered clearly the days I personally walked through vineyards, handpicking the finest grapes.
“S-so, how about a divorce, then?”
“Do you think I’m insane enough to grant you a divorce?”
“What… did you say?”
“Bake. What I want isn’t just a part—I want everything.”
If all I wanted was a piece of you, I wouldn’t have started this at all.
I slowly approached Bake.
Gripping his chin firmly, I forced his drug-weakened body to look at me.
Even if I won in court, divorce could only take so much.
It was far too little punishment for the murderer of my daughter.
“I’m not satisfied with something as trivial as divorce. If we divorced, you’d lose nothing, right? You’d just hand me a pittance of your fortune, claim you’ve fulfilled your duties as a husband, and go bragging to your fine friends over drinks. I don’t want that.”
“T-then……”
“I already told you. I’m going to erase Bake Crayton from my life completely.”
“D-do you really think… that’s possible? The owner of this estate is-“
“It’ll be me.”
Once you’re gone.
My hand moved to stroke Bake’s neck.
His pulse beat distinctly against my palm.
“Did you know? Surprisingly many people wish for your disappearance.”
“W-what?”
“So I sold you.”
I smiled brightly, lifting both corners of my mouth.
“W-what do you… mean?”
“Don’t overcomplicate it. It’s a simple story. I literally sold you.”
To the person among those who despised you most who offered the highest price.
I kept smiling as I gently stroked my husband’s cheek.
The trembling I felt through his skin made my heart race.
“I agonized over it. Thanks to all the enemies you’ve made, everyone wanted you—no one could decide who should get you first. Of course, that even included Duke Pierne, the very man you were so terribly jealous of.”
“Liviana!”
“Aren’t you curious? Who exactly bought you?”
I neatly folded the napkin from around Bake’s neck and placed it on the table.
It was time to finish dinner and greet my guests.
“Mommy!”
Meriel came running and threw her arms wide open, hugging me tightly.
My daughter, whom I used to lift effortlessly, had grown quite heavy.
Soon, she’d be too big to carry like this.
“Meriel, did you have fun playing today?”
I kissed Meriel’s plump cheek.
Meriel giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Today, Auntie and I picked flowers in the garden.”
“Flowers?”
“I wanted to make a bookmark for you.”
“A bookmark made of flowers? That sounds wonderful.”
“You can look forward to it! I picked only the prettiest flowers from the garden. I’ll give it to you once it’s finished.”
Meriel proudly lifted her chin.
I kissed her cheek once more and exchanged a glance with Margaret behind Meriel’s back.
Margaret, my childhood friend, had been looking after Meriel for the past few months.
My maid had returned to her hometown just as the year-end holiday parties were approaching, leaving me often away from home.
It was fortunate Margaret was here—I couldn’t have managed otherwise.
Though the estate had many servants, no one was more trustworthy than my old friend.
“Nonsense. Meriel never bothers me. I’m the one having fun thanks to her.”
“How could I ever bother Auntie when I play with her so nicely!”
Meriel raised her voice in protest, and Margaret and I burst into laughter simultaneously.
“Exactly! Meriel played with me!”
“Did you hear that, Mommy?”
“Of course I did.”
I set Meriel down and straightened her clothes.
No matter how neatly I tied her ribbons each morning, my mischievous daughter always managed to mess them up the moment I looked away.
“Hmm, you look pretty.”
“I’m pretty even without doing this.”
Meriel pouted with an aloof expression.
“But it’s nicer to be tidy.”
“What’s so great about being tidy?”
“Because today, as a snack, our daughter gets to eat her favorite strawberry cake from Non Bakery.”
I winked one eye at Meriel.
At the mention of cake, a bright smile already spread across Meriel’s face.
“Did you buy the cake?”
“Are you going to eat it?”
“Of course!”
Meriel threw her arms up high and shouted.
“Then hurry and wash your hands! If we dawdle, the whipped cream will melt—let’s go wash our hands together right now.”
“Of course that’d be a disaster! Got it! I’ll go wash my hands quickly-“
Clatter-!
The moment the child spun around, something dropped to the floor.
I instinctively looked down.
A jewel lay on the ground.
“Meriel, what’s this?”
I picked up the jewel and saw a fine pin attached to its end.
It was an earring Meriel had dropped.
“Oh, right! That’s yours, Mommy!”
“Mine?”
“I thought you dropped it, so I picked it up—but I forgot to tell you.”
“This isn’t mine.”
“No, it is! I saw Daddy keeping it before.”
Meriel shook her head firmly.
I examined the earring once more.
But no matter how many times I checked, it remained clear—this wasn’t mine.
“Did Daddy say it was mine?”
“Yeah! Daddy said he was going to give it to you as a gift!”
At Meriel’s answer, my husband Bake’s face naturally came to mind.
My affectionate husband often gave me gifts, even on ordinary days.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d secretly prepared a present.
Yet something felt… off.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there was an unsettling feeling.
‘What is it……?’
I absentmindedly touched the dangling earring string—then suddenly stopped.
I finally realized what had been bothering me.
My husband knew I never wore earrings with long, dangling ornaments.
I lifted the lone earring, missing its pair.
Contrary to my mood, it gleamed brightly.
I stared at it quietly for a while, then slowly brought it near my ear.
But it lasted only a fleeting moment—I instinctively flinched away from the sensation brushing against my neck.
Even after all this time, that feeling against my neck remained horrifying.
I couldn’t wear this earring.
It wasn’t mine.
I sighed deeply and pressed my fingers to my forehead.
The earring’s beauty, sparkling incongruously with the current situation, only gnawed further at my nerves.
Just then—
I heard the sound of the door opening behind me.
I quickly shoved the earring into my dressing table drawer and turned around.
“Still not asleep?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“…….”
“Why?”
Under my husband’s steady gaze, I instinctively swallowed hard.
Nothing unusual had happened, yet my heart was already pounding wildly.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Why? Do you feel guilty about something?”
I forced a smile.
Putting on a convincing expression was something I’d long grown used to.
“No, of course not. I just asked because you looked so serious.”
Bake approached me with a faint smile.
As he drew closer, I caught a whiff of alcohol.
“Been drinking?”
“Yeah. Just a little.”
“…….”
“Not much at all.”
Bake stepped back slightly, watching my reaction.
I looked up at him silently.
It wasn’t just the smell of alcohol lingering where he’d stood.
Faint but unmistakable, there was also the scent of ambergris—
the very perfume I’d personally chosen and gifted to him.
Smelling that familiar fragrance somewhat calmed my racing heart.
There had always been trust built between us.
At least, that’s what I believed.
“Are you angry?”
“No, of course not.”
“You look angry to me. Is it because I came home late?”
“It’s not because of you.”
“Really?”
Bake frowned.
He clearly didn’t believe me.
Just as I knew him well, he knew me too.
There was no way he’d let this slide so easily.
After a moment of hesitation, I finally let out a deep sigh.
“……Actually, yes—it is because of you.”
“What happened? If I did something wrong, just tell me. I’ll fix it right away.”
Bake whispered gently, trying to soothe me.
His eyes, fixed on mine, were still filled with unwavering affection.
Yes. This was my husband—this kind of man. It couldn’t have been him.
I took a quick, deep breath and spoke immediately.
“Do you… have another woman?”
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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