There Is No Paradise Where I Ran Away To (14 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 33
Vivian, dragged out and unable to avoid humiliation, struggled fiercely with her legs stretched out forcefully—but it was useless. Surrounding her, covered in livestock dung and urine, were the impeccably dressed people of the manor.
Her body only gained freedom after passing through the barn doorway. Though this brought her physically closer to Edwin, she stepped backward into the barn’s shadow, widening the distance again.
Though she desperately wanted to flee as far as possible, she couldn’t—because she knew the humiliation she would face next wouldn’t end merely with being dragged out. Before those cold, indifferent blue eyes, she felt she would inevitably end up on her knees.
“Why are you doing this, Your Grace? What have I ever done to deserve this…?”
Her gaze drifted from Edwin’s clean face all the way down to his toes. Edwin stood perfectly immaculate—so unreal he seemed like a mirage or an illusion.
It felt as if, should she reach out her hand, he would vanish like mist.
“Why?”
His polished black shoe rested on the ground, then shifted toward her own tattered, muddy footwear. His eyes rose slowly, scanning her filth-covered body.
Streaks of grime ran down her clothes, dripping from the hem of her skirt and drawing patterns around Vivian. Her hands, clutching her skirt, were stained with dried livestock excrement from the summer heat.
“Look at yourself. How can you even ask ‘why’?”
She felt her throat burn hotly. Despite countless torments, she had never once shed tears in front of them—she refused to show vulnerability and isolate herself further.
An overwhelming wave surged up her esophagus toward her throat. She repeated silent mantras endlessly, but the moment she saw the black grime beneath her fingernails, her vision blurred.
Edwin, looking down at her with arrogant eyes, would surely sneer at her wretched state on the ground. It was precisely the thought of his anticipated delight that made her tears impossible to hold back.
Fourteen years ago, he had spared her life under the guise of kindness wrapped in authority—the fall of that little girl. She even entertained the petty suspicion that perhaps all the torment she’d endured until now had been orchestrated by Edwin himself.
“Go bring Sophie.”
At these words, Vivian’s head lifted sharply from the mire of despair. Her ashen eyes trembled uncertainly, as if she partly anticipated why Sophie was being summoned.
A labored breath drifted past the shadow of the barn—hot, tearful, and utterly disheveled.
“…Y-your Grace…”
A pitiful tone escaped through her heavy lips.
“Clear out Miss Ebelline’s quarters and move her belongings back to her original room.”
Unfeeling Edwin showed no regard for Vivian’s situation. She took a step toward him but, realizing her own state, retreated back to where she stood.
“Your Grace, what on earth do you mean by this sudden change?”
“The farce ends here.”
His flat, emotionless voice rendered all their previous struggles meaningless. Without warning, he appeared, humiliated her, stripped her of dignity—and now stole even the one hope she’d clung to.
“Return to your room and do your embroidery as always. Sell it if you must, or sew cushions—do whatever you like. Miss Ebelline will now return to her rightful place.”
“I—I don’t even know what I did wrong, but I’ll try harder! Your Grace, I’ll work twice as hard—no, three times harder than I do now!”
Ebelline, who had fallen from the masterpiece’s heroine to a dull extra, seemed frantic with fear of sinking even deeper.
Edwin’s calm blue eyes slowly swept across the sweltering, stinking barn. The woman standing still amidst it all appeared to have tried hard to fit in—but her inherent nobility remained unmistakable, even beneath the filth.
“I see no special competence in you. On the contrary, you’re utterly incompetent. That alone would be forgivable—but you’ve disrupted the manor’s order and caused chaos. That’s why you’re dismissed.”
“I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying. I don’t know what competence you expected of me, what order I disturbed, or what chaos I caused.”
Soaked in his harsh criticism, thick tears fell to the floor. Even within those tears flickered a faint trace of anger—she couldn’t accept this unjust treatment.
“I want to keep working, Your Grace. You permitted this work yourself. You respected my choice—you even praised me! And now, suddenly…”
Her voice choked on rising emotion. Yet recalling those moments only proved her limitations; her sorrowful sobs spilled out helplessly, like a child’s desperate gasps.
“How can you fire me with such inexplicable words? All this time, I’ve worked tirelessly until my body turned to dust. My nights were filled with pain, walking was difficult, I was cut and bruised—but not once did I slack off or complain about the hardship.”
For the first time in her life, she realized the world wouldn’t acknowledge her pain or struggles. The pampered girl, once surrounded by those who always treated her as precious, now had to fight alone in utter loneliness.
Until the Duke took it away—until he mocked it with scornful laughter—it had been a time filled with meaning and hope, steadfast even in solitude.
“Did you really think servants’ work was merely physical labor? If you still lack this basic awareness, it means you’ve learned nothing all this time, Miss Ebelline.”
“Your Gr—”
“Still don’t get it?”
Fed up, Edwin cut off Vivian’s pleading call. The unpleasant, joyless situation only intensified his boredom. Just then, Sophie appeared with another servant, spotted Vivian in the barn, turned deathly pale, and rushed over.
It was time to hand this tiresome woman over to Sophie and leave.
“I’m not incompetent!”
A defiant cry, nearly a scream, rang out toward Edwin as he turned to leave. His weary eyes—dulled by exhaustion—met Vivian’s, who, though brimming with tears, stood rigid as if bristling with thorns.
“I will be recognized, and I will move forward. I won’t lock myself in my room doing embroidery like a fool waiting for my parents.”
Vivian’s clenched fists radiated fierce determination. Yet Edwin felt no interest whatsoever. A long, dull sigh escaped him. His will to elegantly crush this stubborn woman had utterly drained—and in its place surged an impulse to drag her out himself.
“It seems Lady Ebelline is under a rather grand delusion.”
Edwin suppressed that fifth impulse and sneered mockingly.
“You’ve enjoyed playing the heroine in this little drama—but it’s time to stop now.”
Seeing her defiance fail, Vivian wept in despair. The air between her and Edwin grew even heavier.
“Don’t disturb my world any further, Miss Ebelline. Consider this not advice—but a warning.”
Having concluded the conversation, Edwin gave Sophie a glance. Once he saw Sophie gently supporting the sobbing Vivian, he turned and left.
The sound of weeping drifted faintly on the wind. The summer breeze was unbearably hot.
***
Abernathy watched his master’s broad back ahead with concern. Despite the master’s unmoving expression, Abernathy read the impatient stride beneath—and realizing his path led straight to Charlotte, Abernathy swallowed bitter regret.
He’d assumed it was just typical mockery when he first heard that Charlotte’s maid Merian had led the harassment of Ebelline.
But that assumption proved a grave underestimation the moment he saw Ebelline in the barn.
The fact that Edwin—who rarely intervened personally—was now heading straight for Charlotte himself clearly signaled how far his anger had escalated. Abernathy was certain a great storm was about to strike the manor.
Standing before Charlotte’s door, Edwin opened it without any proper courtesy. Charlotte, enjoying her afternoon tea, shrieked in alarm and spilled hot coffee onto herself.
Even as Merian, startled as well, rushed about offering to fetch ice, Edwin’s blue eyes remained like a calm sea beneath storm clouds.
“…Your Grace? What brings you all the way here?”
After calming her racing heart, Charlotte shooed Merian away as the maid crouched to tidy her soaked dress.
“Merian.”
Edwin’s deep, low voice cut past questions and aimed directly at Merian.
“Y-yes… Your Grace.”
“Pack Charlotte’s belongings immediately.”
Both women’s eyes widened in shock—Edwin’s abrupt visit was startling enough, but this sudden command left them utterly bewildered. Charlotte looked utterly baffled, having no idea what was happening.
“What are you talking about? Why must I pack my things all of a sudden?”
“You’re no longer needed.”
His cold, indifferent tone was unbelievable for someone who’d grown up with her since childhood. The more Charlotte replayed his words in her mind, the deeper the wound became.
“Your Grace—how can you possibly say such a thing…?”
“Clean up the mess your servant caused yourself. I mean for you to leave this place.”
Charlotte’s face crumbled completely. Her pallor resembled a corpse’s, and her soul—wounded by those cruel words—seemed to evaporate. His calm, ordinary eyes, as he told her without warning to leave because she was no longer needed, pierced her deeply.
“W-wait! Your Grace!”
As Edwin turned, Charlotte hurried after him, desperate to understand what was happening.
“Why are you doing this? Is it because I refused to marry? Even so, isn’t this too harsh? You’re making me leave the manor immediately without giving me time to prepare! Where am I even supposed to go? Tell me!”
Edwin’s lips remained sealed. He merely gave Abernathy a cold nod. Reluctantly, Abernathy prepared to carry out his master’s command.
Silently, Abernathy shot Merian a sharp look, urging her to quickly realize whose actions had brought them here and to grovel in submission.
Thick tears rolled down Charlotte’s cheeks too—
Already the second time today.
Yet Edwin felt no guilt at all for making two women cry. He merely brushed past, eyes weary and indifferent.
“Your Grace!”
Merian rushed forward and dropped to her knees at Edwin’s feet, blocking his path as he turned to leave. Quick-witted Merian realized this disaster stemmed from her—and that it involved Ebelline.
Abernathy quietly exhaled a sigh of relief, though tension still lingered. This should be enough to spare Charlotte from unjust blame.
“I-I did it all myself! Miss Windler knew absolutely nothing about it!”
Edwin’s emotionless gaze, previously filled with frustration, now lowered toward Merian. Both Edwin’s sudden ultimatum and Merian’s inexplicable self-blame only deepened Charlotte’s confusion.
“It’s all my fault! Miss knew nothing at all! I just… saw how upset Miss was because of Ebelline, so I…”
“Ebelline?”
Merian, looking up at Edwin, realized her mistake and clapped both hands over her mouth.
That was when a quiet shadow settled into Edwin’s blue eyes. Had they blazed with stormy fury, they wouldn’t have been half as sharp. Their profound, still depth concealed where his limits lay—and no one could predict what would happen next.
“Since when has Miss Ebelline been consorting with Windler’s maid as a friend?”
“Th-that…”
“So now even a mere seamstress claims friendship—and everyone else thinks they can, too?”
Merian turned deathly pale, desperately trying to undo her blunder—but her overwhelmed spirit could only flounder helplessly. Edwin’s emotionless eyes drifted toward Charlotte, who stood slumped in despair.
In his gaze, not a trace of anger, disappointment, or regret could be seen.
And that hurt Charlotte even more.
It pained her to see those eyes—so close yet so distant—precisely because she still loved him, because that love refused to be cast aside.
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.]
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)