Russel White, the Eastern Emperor, stopped in front of the reception room.
He raised a hand to stop the chamberlain who was about to knock on the door.
Russel quietly stared at the closed door.
“If I open this door…”
He had sent over a hundred letters to Rachel by his count. When Ariana was old enough to read, he wrote to her as well, probably more than fifty times.
But he had never received a single reply.
The last letter he sent was seven years ago.
“[I want to meet Ariana. You choose the time and place, and I will come.]”
He wanted to rush to the mansion of Duke Jacob Bronthe, where Rachel lived, but he couldn’t because his relationship with the Western Emperor was not good.
He needed Rachel’s help to meet Ariana.
However, if even that was refused, he had resolved to go to the Western Empire and see Ariana somehow. As if sensing his determination, Rachel had sent her first reply.
“[Ariana does not want to meet you. She is well, considering my husband her father. Wouldn’t meeting you make things awkward between Ariana and Duke Bronthe?
Her home is here in the Western Empire; do you intend to disrupt her life due to your desires?
My husband is also uncomfortable with your constant letters. Duke Bronthe has been treating Ariana as his daughter, but every time you send a letter, it reminds her that she is your daughter.
If you truly cherish Ariana, wouldn’t folding away your longing be a father’s love?]”
His heart sank as he read the reply.
So that was it. He had not considered Ariana’s perspective, blinded by his longing.
For Ariana, who had left the Eastern Empire right after her birth, her home was the Western Empire and the mansion of Duke Jacob Bronthe. Her father was not Russel, whom she didn’t even remember, but Duke Jacob Bronthe.
He had not understood Ariana’s feelings because he missed her so much, missed the tiny, lovable warmth he had held only once.
So he gave up.
Although he missed her enough to wish for her appearance even in his dreams, if it would negatively affect Ariana’s life, he had to give it up.
“If I open this door.”
There would be the Ariana he had so yearned for.
The moment of her birth, the moment he had held her tiny, fragile body, felt like just yesterday.
Love he couldn’t give, words he couldn’t say, overflowed within him.
Russel took a deep breath and nodded at the chamberlain.
The chamberlain knocked.
“His Majesty the Eastern Emperor and the previous Emperor and Empress are here.”
A frail voice responded.
“Yes.”
The door opened.
Swallowing hard and trying to relax his eyes, Russel stepped into the reception room.
A small girl rising from the sofa caught his eye.
A girl with light sky-blue hair, white skin, and bright blue eyes was staring straight at Russel.
Russel was about to raise his arms to hug Ariana, as his father had instructed, but before he could, Ariana bowed her head politely.
“Greetings to His Majesty the Eastern Emperor and to the former Emperor and Empress. I am Ariana.”
Her voice was low and gentle, yet firm, and it gripped Russel’s ankles.
A clear line had been drawn between Russel and Ariana.
Russel stood awkwardly, staring at his daughter, who felt even more distant than his subordinates.
Her hands holding her skirt, her slightly bent knees, her deeply bowed head. Hidden by her flowing hair, her expression was unreadable.
As if waiting for Russel to receive her greeting, Ariana remained in that posture.
“Raise your head.”
Only then did Ariana straighten her posture. Her hands joined in front of her, she stood politely, sending her gaze toward Russel’s chin, as if she dared not look directly into the face of the Eastern Emperor.
The reunion Russell had imagined was not to be.
Ariana was behaving as if she were a commoner who had just encountered a high-ranking noble in the street.
But it wasn’t Ariana’s fault.
It was only natural for her to feel uncomfortable around a father she had never met before.
What should I do to make her feel comfortable?
If it were my affable second son, Jay, or my cheerful youngest son, Felos, they could easily put Ariana at ease, but Russell lacked such skills.
“Your Imperial Highness, I apologize for the sudden visit.”
Ariana asked for forgiveness, seemingly misinterpreting Russell’s silence.
It’s not that.
Concerned that his words might sound harsh, and wondering how to soften his voice, Ariana spoke first.
“I don’t intend to claim any rights just because I am of your blood, Your Imperial Highness. However, if you could give me a small room in Chaise Castle, I’ll be of service to you in any way I can.”
Every word that flowed from Ariana’s lips pierced Russell’s heart like a blade.
Only then did he truly see Ariana’s appearance.
He hadn’t even noticed what kind of wretched state she was in, so overwhelmed was he by the joy of meeting her.
Her frayed, worn dress, her seemingly malnourished body, her stature smaller than her peers, the old bruises visible on her arms, and her yellowed, cracked fingernails.
Russell had seen children in such a pitiable state before.
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
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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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