Trampled and Broken (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 26
A threatening remark.
Yet Hestia was not frightened.
“No. But I think there wouldn’t have been an opportunity anyway.”
She boldly replied.
“That’s precisely why I can now offer you the chance to hold that opportunity in your own hands.”
“In a way, this moment itself might be that opportunity.”
Aslan rose to his feet.
With his long legs, he closed the distance in a single stride.
“If you wanted to die, you should’ve just said so earlier.”
As the distance between them shrank, Hestia tilted her chin upward to meet his gaze.
‘I can’t see his expression.’
Meanwhile, Aslan never took his eyes off Hestia. He was irritated by her calm demeanor as she spoke so nonchalantly about death, despite clearly not understanding what it truly meant.
He noticed her slender, pale neck, elongated like an elegant line.
Aslan quietly looked down at that neck.
It pulsed faintly, like a deer pinned beneath a predator’s paw, helplessly twitching.
Such fragile movement.
It would snap with just a little pressure.
To suppress the savage impulse boiling within him, Aslan’s Adam’s apple moved sharply.
Slowly, he raised his arm and gently grasped Hestia’s throat.
Though most would have flinched, Hestia didn’t even blink.
Her willingness to surrender her very breath to him, as if to prove her words were sincere, only irritated Aslan further.
Calmly, just as she had at the start, she spoke again.
“Hold back. Not now.”
Aslan twisted his lips.
“Why not? If you’re going to die anyway, what difference does it make whether it’s now or later? Are you scared?”
Still grasping her throat, she slightly shook her head—a movement only possible because he hadn’t yet applied any pressure.
“No. It’s just that things would become troublesome.”
“For you?”
“No. For you.”
Hestia swallowed a sigh as she thought.
If he killed her now, it would cause complications on multiple fronts.
Others might reproach her for caring about the timing of her death, but regardless, it simply couldn’t happen now.
She only wished to grant Aslan one final act of atonement—not to push him deeper into sin.
She had not yet been stripped of her title as Saint, and she remained Princess of the Elsword Kingdom.
If she were to die at Duke Kalati’s hands while still holding such status, the consequences would inevitably escalate.
It was obvious as daylight that the Temple and the Royal Palace would use this as pretext to pressure Aslan even more harshly than before.
‘I must give him everything I possibly can before that happens.’
Hestia lifted the corner of her lips. Aslan’s face twisted further.
“Duke Aslan Kalati, let me say it again. Marry me. After that, I’ll gladly die for you anytime.”
“I don’t see what difference that would make.”
“Many things would be different. We marry, and when I die, you announce it as having perished in battle.”
No matter how hard she tried to conceal it, her failing health would soon become evident to everyone, so they would believe it without question.
Aslan stared silently at her. He soon realized she wasn’t mocking him to provoke his temper—she truly meant what she said.
‘Why on earth?’
Honestly, it was somewhat tempting.
‘It would offer at least a little comfort to the people of the North.’
Ever since the Dahanpa incident, the North’s hatred toward the South had grown immeasurably.
Having each lost someone precious, they especially despised the Elsword royal family and the Temple.
They believed their king and their gods had abandoned them, and thus their resentment toward Hestia—who had delivered the oracle—was immense.
They refused even to glance at the towering “impassable wall” erected higher and longer under the pretext of the oracle; if by chance they saw it, they spat in contempt.
The North served and pledged loyalty only to the House of Duke Kalati.
Therefore, if none other than he were to plunge his sword into Hestia’s heart and take her life, it might grant the grieving people of the North a small measure of solace.
‘…But.’
He didn’t want to.
Whatever her intention, Aslan had not even a sliver of desire to comply with Hestia’s wishes.
His hand, which had been gripping Hestia’s neck, fell away. Without hesitation, he stepped back abruptly and exhaled a series of rough sighs.
“That was quite an appealing tale—enough to bring tears to my eyes. Ha. I never dreamed the Princess would think so highly of me.”
He let out a hollow, deflated chuckle.
But just as quickly, as if he’d never laughed at all, he wiped all traces of amusement from his face.
Fixing her with burning eyes, he spat out his words as though chewing them.
“You must find everything so wonderfully easy.”
Hestia, about to instinctively protest that nothing was easy for her either, bit down on her lower lip instead.
She had no desire to explain anything.
If this life must end without accomplishing anything, she hoped at least to grant him a small measure of relief.
‘That is the only atonement I can offer this man.’
Apparently interpreting her silence as dismissal, Aslan wrinkled his nose and spoke again.
“I refuse your proposal.”
“…!”
Hestia was stunned. Knowing his hatred for her, she’d assumed he wouldn’t refuse.
With all her expectations overturned, she couldn’t hide her agitation. With trembling eyes, she looked up at Aslan.
Their gazes met once more, and he offered her a seductive smile—the first time since Dahanpa that his expression lacked its usual sharp edge.
Hestia felt a faint ache in her chest.
Still smiling, Aslan reached out again and gently lifted a strand of her silver hair.
“Do you know why I want to kill you?”
“Well…”
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong.”
He chuckled softly, then leaned down, bringing his face close to hers.
Their lips were nearly touching—but never quite met.
Aslan’s hot breath tickled Hestia’s skin. Her breathing grew tangled, and finally, she held her breath.
“I want you to suffer.”
His eyes, locked onto hers from mere inches away, ensnared her like a noose.
“Just as my father and my friends froze to death in agony.”
Each word Aslan uttered pierced her like a thorn.
“You must suffer too.”
Hestia’s body stiffened completely.
She tried to hide her emotions, but it wasn’t easy.
Aslan quietly watched the cracks begin to form on her face, then released the strand of hair he’d been holding.
Straightening his posture, he exhaled deeply and spoke with evident relief.
“I don’t know what you’re scheming, but you look awfully desperate right now.”
Hestia bit her lower lip again.
“If you intended to manipulate me to your will, you shouldn’t have let me see through it.”
Aslan shrugged his broad shoulders and mocked her with deliberate lightness.
“So I figured it’d be more effective not to let things unfold as you wish—rather than simply killing you.”
“…You’ll regret this.”
“Doubtful.”
He gave a short laugh and shook his head dismissively.
Though Hestia understood in her mind that the negotiation was over, she couldn’t let go of that lingering hope and asked once more.
“Besides killing me… is there anything else you want?”
“That too—doubtful.”
Aslan answered immediately, as if the question required no thought.
It was clear he held neither expectation nor interest in her.
Hestia nodded heavily.
“…I see. I understand your intentions, Your Grace.”
“For someone who waited so persistently, you’re awfully quick and tidy in accepting defeat.”
Pulling her hood back over her head, Hestia replied coldly.
“I don’t have much time.”
Aslan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her remark.
“Now that I know there’s no chance of marrying you, I must find another man.”
At Hestia’s composed retort, veins rose on Aslan’s neck.
His glare burned with fury, but she paid it no mind.
If he took the bait of this provocation, that too would be one possible path forward.
“I suppose we won’t meet again.”
She offered her farewell.
Calmly—unlike Aslan.
“Thank you for your time. I’ll be going now.”
She extended her hand for a handshake, but when he didn’t take it, she withdrew it without hesitation.
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
Just as she reached for the doorknob, swallowing a sigh, she paused.
From behind, a firm arm had reached out—when exactly, she didn’t know—and seized her wrist, halting her in place.
“Wait a moment.”
Hestia obediently stopped.
“There’s one last thing I want to ask.”
She turned again to face him, her back now to the door. Startled by how close he stood—closer than she’d realized—she quickly steadied herself and looked straight up at him.
“What is it?”
“Why…”
He began, his expression clouded with confusion. For the first time, his eyes wavered.
Trailing off uncertainly, Aslan finally spoke again, his voice rough.
“Why did you come to me first?”
As if even questioning her actions was something he shouldn’t allow himself, Aslan quickly added, as though excusing his own curiosity.
“No matter how many choices the Princess might have had, you surely knew better than anyone that I’d be the hardest one to approach?”
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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