There Is No Paradise Where I Ran Away To (14 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 3
Make up your mind, but do not worry. Even Father’s parting words said that worry blinds the eyes.
First, she followed the shoe that touched the ground upward and confirmed the face of the tall man.
Behind a young man with raven-black hair and blue eyes, a middle-aged man, standing about shoulder height to him, stepped down.
‘So that man is Duke Beitnes.’
Vivian took a deep breath and bowed politely toward the middle-aged man. Then, another group emerged from the carriage behind.
“I am Vivian Ebelline. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Vivian summoned every ounce of strength she had, speaking in the most courteous and refined tone she could muster.
“Ah, so you are the famed Miss Ebelline I’ve only heard about.”
“I’ve heard much about you as well, Your Grace. Congratulations on becoming the owner of this estate.”
“Haha… It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
The man chuckled awkwardly and signaled to the man standing beside him with a glance. Only then did Vivian clearly see the face of the man she hadn’t noticed before.
His pale blue eyes closely resembled the hue of Lake Ranua. It felt as though the cool lake she’d always known on summer nights now filled his eyes—but their temperature was as icy and sharp as winter’s.
Aside from those eyes, he was a strikingly handsome man. His delicate features occasionally sharpened into a distinctly masculine intensity, and his unusually tall frame, broad shoulders, and long limbs drew immediate attention.
The man with blue eyes stared at Vivian just as coldly as his eyes suggested. Just as the persistent, silent scrutiny began to make her uncomfortable—
“It’s been a while, Miss Ebelline.”
She couldn’t help but meet his gaze once more.
“A while? Were we even acquainted?”
She examined his radiant appearance carefully, yet no shared memory surfaced. Interpreting it as merely Newway-style courtesy, Vivian turned awkwardly toward Duke Beitnes.
“Oh—I see. So you are Duke Beitnes. My apologies. You weren’t among those who visited the estate before the auction, so I didn’t realize.”
“There must have been many who came to see the estate.”
“My memory isn’t that poor.”
“Hmm. Really?”
She’d thought it was kindness, but apparently, she’d misjudged. Vivian decided to fully accept the Duke’s attitude, which hovered ambiguously between hostility and goodwill. He likely found Mr. Shepherd’s request irritating.
“I heard your last remaining servant ran off with the remaining money.”
Unexpectedly, Duke Beitnes pointed at Theo. Vivian looked up gratefully at Theo, who was holding an umbrella for her, and offered an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry, but he isn’t a servant—he’s my friend.”
At the word “friend,” Theo’s face showed slight surprise, tinged with a faint flicker of delight.
“He’s a tailor who runs a clothing shop in town. Since my family came to Newway, he’s helped me greatly. We’ve now become inseparable, dearest friends.”
“The rumors seem far from false, then.”
“Excuse me?”
“If it’s not a bother, I’d like to inspect the estate.”
Before she could ask what rumors he meant, his footsteps advanced decisively. Instinctively stepping back, Vivian lowered her gaze and nodded.
She’d thought she’d already responded to his implied request, but the black toe of his polished shoe remained firmly in her line of sight. Her eyes traveled up his crisply tailored trousers, over his jacket, and finally met his blue eyes again.
“We have things to discuss, you and I.”
“T-talk? About what?”
The abrupt closeness of Duke Beitnes made her hold her breath—a flustered stutter slipped out. Her cheeks flushed bright red, but there was nowhere to hide.
“You must know about the matter Mr. Shepherd asked of me before departing.”
“Oh—that? Yes. I’ve heard about it from Mr. Shepherd.”
“Then, after touring the estate, shall we speak privately somewhere, Miss Ebelline?”
His voice resembled a clean summer breeze. As Mr. Shepherd had said, his impeccable demeanor clearly marked him as the noble the people of Newway adored. Yet, his subtle undercurrent of hostility made her heart hesitate.
“In that case, Theo and I will wait in our room. Once you’ve finished looking around comfortably, please call for us…”
“No. Miss Ebelline, you’ll accompany me and provide the tour. None of us know anything about this vast estate.”
“…If that’s what you wish, I’ll do so.”
Had it been goodwill? If he harbored hostility, such a request wouldn’t have come easily.
“I do wish it. So will you do it?”
She almost spoke but instead simply nodded. She hoped Duke Beitnes, whose presence felt suffocating, would quickly pass by her. When his foot lifted from the ground and he took a step forward, Vivian sighed in relief.
But when he turned back toward her without going further, an unforeseen tension surged through her, making her head spin.
“Oh—and leave out your tailor friend.”
[This is the timeline separator]After barely managing to send Theo away, Vivian followed behind them as instructed by the Duke to assist with the estate tour.
Walking ahead, Duke Beitnes was flanked by a lawyer and a male director, who ceaselessly chattered about company matters. The Duke responded appropriately and occasionally offered his opinion, which the lawyer and director diligently wrote down. They spoke of nothing but business—so much so that Vivian wondered if they were even inspecting the estate at all.
Yet, simultaneously, the Duke never neglected to memorize the estate’s layout—a skill that left Vivian, watching from behind, astonished.
Moreover, every gesture of his exuded grace and dignity. Even to Vivian, who had interacted with countless nobles, the Duke’s mannerisms felt fresh and flawless, capturing her attention.
‘Mr. Shepherd praised him so highly—and rightly so. He seems like someone worth learning from.’
Her brief evaluation of him within such a short time was generous. Undoubtedly, such praise was familiar to him.
Whenever a new path appeared, the Duke often turned to look at Vivian. When their eyes met in midair, she stepped forward to explain where the path led or what rooms lay ahead. Once her explanation ended, Vivian retreated once more to the rear—until, by chance, she caught the gaze of a woman in the group.
‘Could she be Lady Beitnes?’
Though young-looking, calling her a daughter seemed implausible. Duke Beitnes didn’t appear old enough to have an adult daughter, so labeling her as his wife held more weight.
Throughout the tour, the woman’s eyes followed Vivian, creating an awkward sensation. Since the woman even approached her, Vivian naturally didn’t avoid her—though she eventually glanced away, pretending indifference.
Only after a long while did Vivian dare to look straight ahead again, assuming the woman’s gaze had finally lifted—and there she saw a couple standing close together.
The woman, affectionately linking arms with the Duke, and the man, gently offering his arm.
‘Ah. So she really is his wife.’
Her heart ached—not only because this house, which had once guided her beloved family toward ruin, would now become someone else’s warm sanctuary.
[This is the timeline separator]Vivian led Edwin to the study that Lawrence Ebelline had once used. On the wall hung a large portrait of Vivian Ebelline—Lawrence’s love for his only daughter radiated from the painting.
“I’ll take down the portrait.”
Seeing Edwin gaze fixedly at her portrait, Vivian blushed in embarrassment.
He let out a soft chuckle and took Lawrence Ebelline’s seat. Watching a stranger occupy the chair reserved only for her father made Vivian’s expression falter—but only briefly.
“Sit.”
At Edwin’s nod, she silently took a seat and lifted her shadowed, gray eyes.
Before him, Vivian Ebelline had grown vastly different from the girl he’d known fourteen years ago. The plump baby fat had vanished, leaving her gaunt. Her golden hair lacked luster, and though her features had sharpened slightly, that was all.
“Speak your piece.”
“Huh? Ah—yes. Yes…”
Her neck had lengthened; her collarbones deepened.
Yet nowhere on her body could be found the soft, womanly curves that should have bloomed.
Did the beasts at the auction truly feel base desires toward such a figure?
She wondered, honestly.
“Mother said she’d return. She went to Preston, but we’ve heard nothing since. I’m terribly sorry to ask—but could I stay here just until she comes back?”
Anxiety quickened her speech and leaned her upper body toward Edwin. After a brief silence, she seemed to regain composure, cleared her throat, and straightened up.
“I’ll pay for whatever room you assign me—even a servant’s quarters. I won’t cause any trouble to you or your family. I don’t even need meals—just a place to sleep.”
Vivian insisted earnestly. Her efforts to calm her intermittent, trembling breaths failed—the thin layer of skin over her shoulders tensed tightly inward.
“No meals needed. Just a place to sleep.”
“Yes. If you’d allow that…”
“Then you plan not to eat at all from now on?”
Vivian hesitated, stammering, “Uh… um…”
“I’ll sleep here at night, but during the day I can go down to the village. I’ll manage meals there.”
“The village?”
“I’m sorry, but I think I can rely a bit on a friend. I embroider pieces and sell them to him—if I price them low, meals are covered.”
“The man from earlier?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“What’s the name of that man you called your friend?”
“Theo Evans.”
Edwin quietly repeated “Theo Evans” and stared intently at Vivian, whose eyes were reddening.
Was she crying out of pity for her begging state—or from fear of an uncertain future?
Whichever it was, he wanted her to cry. Right now, what Edwin truly wanted was to make Vivian Ebelline, who was desperately holding back tears, weep openly.
Weep until her eyes couldn’t open the next morning.
And Edwin never delayed what he set his mind to.
“Do you know what I thought when I signed the estate’s ownership deed?”
His hand reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a paper envelope, placing it before Vivian. It was already open—an obvious invitation to look inside—but Vivian hesitated to take the bait.
“That Vivian Ebelline would beg before me.”
Edwin gestured toward the envelope. Since she wouldn’t take the bait, he’d feed it to her himself—leaving her no choice but to open it.
“That you’d plead for your life.”
As Vivian read the document, her face grew paler by the second.
“So I thought I’d be generous. That’s precisely why I smiled as I signed the deed.”
The content of the document Edwin’s gray eyes scanned was quite simple. At the bottom of a loan agreement listing the borrowed sum, interest, and repayment deadline, the debtor was listed as Monica Ebelline—and the creditor as Edwin Beitnes.
Seeing her mother’s name and familiar signature, Vivian recalled the staggering 700,000 mori used in the auction.
She also remembered people’s worried questions about where her mother had obtained the borrowed money. Though the form differed slightly, the essence remained the same.
“I intend to report Monica Ebelline to the authorities.”
The word “report” struck like a shockwave. Her rigid mind barely managed to piece the words together.
“You’d report my mother? Suddenly, like this…?”
“You read it.”
“…”
“The repayment deadline has passed. Lady Ebelline failed to pay the lump-sum interest she owed—and then disappeared.”
“No, no! She didn’t disappear! M-Mother will come back. She’s not the type to vanish like that!”
“That’s just your opinion.”
His long fingertip cruelly jabbed at Vivian. His smooth nail made her eyes burn hot. Beneath his malicious sneer lay pity—for her helplessness.
Ever since arriving in Newway, everything had begun collapsing—ending in utter ruin.
Her father went missing; her mother hadn’t returned. She’d pretended not to understand what this meant—because she refused to let go of hope for life.
“W-wait! I have the principal amount—it’s in my room right now. I’ll return it. I’ll pay the overdue interest myself! Please—don’t report my mother! Forget my request to stay here. I’ll find a way to repay every debt I owe you, Your Grace—just don’t…”
“Yes, I know. Since you failed to win the auction, if Mr. Shepherd hadn’t run off with the money, you’d still have the principal.”
Even now, she refused to lose hope. Her mother would come back to her. She’d return here, embrace her, and say how hard everything had been.
She couldn’t let her mother be sent to prison before that happened.
Her thin chest heaved with sobs. The pale skin beneath her throat stained red, and thick tears plopped onto the loan agreement.
Yet the Duke remained composed—almost amused, though she dismissed it all as misunderstanding.
Another loan agreement was held out before her, filled with different figures.
“This document states that Vivian Ebelline will repay the interest on Lady Ebelline’s principal. If you sign it, I’ll calculate and claim only the interest—excluding the principal—up to today.”
Her tear-filled, stormy eyes lifted in surprise, questioning this unexpected leniency.
“My dealings with Lady Ebelline will vanish with your single signature. Then, I’ll lose my grounds to report her, won’t I?”
It was an astonishingly generous offer—yet she couldn’t discern what poison might lie hidden within the sweet cake.
Doubt bred fear.
Duke Beitnes’s flawless smile concealed his true intent.
“So beg.”
Soon, the smile faded from the Duke’s lips. His eyes, consistently cold and blue, now gleamed even more piercingly.
“Plead for your life. Beg me. Then I’ll show you kindness—I’ll let you sign this loan agreement.”
There was no time to ponder what lay within the cake. Whether she ate it or not, the outcome would be the same. If swallowing it could buy even a little more time before death, she’d gladly do it.
“…Please spare me. I beg you. I’ll plead like this—just please spare me. Don’t report my mother, Your Grace.”
Tears she thought had ceased flowed anew. They carried an irreplaceable, desperate sincerity. The silent observer’s expression confused her—his face seemed decided, yet also hesitant.
Unaware of his true intentions, she could only weep pitifully—trembling like livestock awaiting judgment, desperately awaiting his answer.
“Yes. Well done. Keep behaving this way from now on, Miss Ebelline.”
At last, his lips parted. From his inner jacket pocket, he produced a fountain pen. When she looked up, she was met with a beautifully curved smile—his long eyes crinkling warmly to greet her.
“Sign.”
His simple, clear reply erased everything that had pushed Vivian to the edge as though it had never happened. Fearing he might change his mind, she immediately uncapped the pen.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chapter Comments (3)
I can understand if he hated her but she was innocent man. The one responsibility for the sins were her parents
Oh god, what the heck with him?!!! If he wanted to hate, it wasn’t her!!! Feel bad for fl
“He would die at the hands of the man he’d once spared, without ever finding his missing father or seeing his mother again, who’d promised to return.
+He surrendered his body to fading consciousness.”
It’s “She” in this part, not he.
Inline Comments (1)
Revenge against Ebelline, who had sent his family to the executioner’s block. An
But she wasn’t involved in the death of his parents.
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Blairwoods
So he is a debt collector? Poor her. How can they left her like that. Alone and full of debt…