Ch. Love of the merman 1 Love of the merman 1

Chapter 1 

The moment I realized the villain was a merman whose tears turned to pearls, I fished the discarded pregnancy test from the trash. And headed for the rooftop. 

“So, how many little ones do you merfolk usually have in one go? And do they eat fish food or formula?” 

Rhys Blackwood, in the midst of his dramatic suicide attempt, nearly slipped, almost plummeting eighteen stories. 

I sighed, shaking my head. “Never mind. I’ll just toss them into the ocean after they’re born.” 

Later, when the babies arrived, Rhys barely dared to sleep, terrified I’d take them and ‘release‘ them. 

When Selena, the heroine, came knocking after a fight with Noah, she found him bellowing at our eldest’s swimming report: “You’re a merman! How can you be afra- id of water?!” 

1 

I knew Rhys Blackwood was the big bad of this world, and I was the fiancée his grandfather had picked for him on his deathbed. My mission, as the transmigrator, was supposed to be saving him. But I was a terrible employee. Far from helping, I indulged in his wealth, squandered his money, and brazenly claimed his bed. The System, watching Rhys’s ‘darkness meter remain stubbornly still, finally despaired. Its last message, delivered in a chilling, detached tone, was simple: “When the villain dies, I’ll come for you.” That was six months ago. 

Today felt heavy with a morbid kind of auspiciousness, according to some ancient calendar. It just so happened to be auspicious for… burials. So, when Rhys, hear- tbroken by Selena Winslow, climbed alone to the penthouse rooftop, I was already decked out in every jewel from his safe, eagerly awaiting the System’s arrival. But when it finally materialized, its first words were: “Host, why are you wearing the villain’s tears?” 

“What?” My gaze snapped to the priceless pearl necklace adorning my neck. “Rhys Blackwood is a merman,” the System droned. “Those pearls are all his tears.” A merman? A merman whose tears turned to pearls? My entire worldview shattered. This wasn’t some terrifying villain; this was a walking, weeping gold mine! 

The necklace had been tucked away in a hidden compartment in Rhys’s study. I’d always assumed it was a birthday gift meant for Selena. But her party came and went, and the necklace remained unsent. So, one particularly dark and windy night, I helped myself… I remember Rhys’s complex gaze when he first saw me wearing it. “You like this?” he’d asked. I’d simply rolled my eyes. “Duh. Who doesn’t like money?” I’d had it appraised; it was worth a cool twelve million dollars! Now, looking back, his expression was practically screaming: So you like my tears? 

“System! I think he’s still salvageable!” I ripped off the pearl necklace, dug the pregnancy test from the trash, and bolted for the rooftop. Rhys had already climbed over the railing, half his body suspended eighteen stories above the ground. “Wait!” I gasped, brandishing the pregnancy test. “So, how many little ones do you merf- olk usually have in one go? And do they eat fish food or formula?” 

His foot slipped. He nearly plummeted eighteen stories. His hands clamped onto the railing, his body dangling over the edge. “You… what did you say?” 

“Don’t want responsibility?” I asked, a hint of disappointment in my voice. Why did telling him make him even more suicidal? “Fine, then. I’ll just toss them back into the ocean after they’re born…” Anyway, it was just an accident after he’d been drugged. He probably didn’t even remember. 

Before I could finish, a dark blur had swung back over the railing, pinning me hard against the wall. “You dare!” His eyes were a storm–tossed ocean. I secretly curved my lips into a smile, letting out a long, silent breath. Perfect. The gold mine was saved. 

After Rhys returned from the rooftop, he was a completely different man. He settled me in the bedroom, then vanished into his study, locking the door. I pressed my ear to it, hearing his frantic voice: “Calcium supplements for pregnancy… seaweed–based… Wait, Doctor, are you saying a human carrying a merman needs to soak in seawater every day?” His voice abruptly shot up. “But she’s pregnant!” I bit back laughter until my stomach ached. Who would’ve thought this ruthless, cunning villa- in was now on the phone, voice trembling, grilling a doctor about prenatal care? 

When the study door abruptly opened, I nearly stumbled right into his arms. Rhys’s hand shot out, steadying me by the waist, the warmth of his palm buming throu- gh my clothes. He looked down at me, his gaze lingering on my still–flat belly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You.” I’m hungry,” I declared, cutting him off. “I want your homemade seafood porridge Soon, the sounds of pots and pans clattered from the kitchen. The butler stood in the doorway, clearly struggling to hold his tongue.