Ch. Love of the merman 2 Love of the merman 2

“Sir nearly burned down the kitchen last time he cooked” “Oh… no worries,” I said. “He’s got money. If it burns, we’ll just move.” The butler… remained speechless. An hour later, Rhys emerged, his face smudged with soot, bearing his creation. It looked… decent. Probably not poisonous. As I scooped a spoonful to my lips, he sudd- enly stopped my hand. “Wait” Rhys meticulously picked out every single shell fragment, then tested the temperature before handing the spoon back. I deliberately frowned It’s a little bland His hand, reaching for the salt shaker, froze mid–air. He turned, grabbed his tablet, and earnestly searched for the recommended daily sodium intake for pregnant women 1. 

And so, I began living like royalty, pampered through my pregnancy. Each morning brought freshly squeezed orange juice from the villain himself. He treated me like fragile porcelain during my baths, and even if I kicked him awake in the middle of the night with a leg cramp, he’d gently massage it away. One morning, still groggy. I woke to find him measuring my waist with a soft tape measure, his expression as serious as if he were defusing a bomb. “What could you possibly see after just one month?” I teased. Rhys’s ear tips flushed, but he stubbornly recorded the data in his phone’s memo, titled “Merman Hatchling Observation Log The best part was last week, when a business partner called the company. The security guard was on the phone asking for permission, and Rhys was on one knee, tying my shoe- tace He barked into the receiver, “Don’t bother me with trivialities like this in the future. My wife is napping Then, he even tucked my blanket back around me. 

Now I lay on the patio swing chair, watching Rhys assemble a swing set in the garden. Sunlight painted his hair an amber hue, the scene almost idyllic. The System abruptly singed WARNING! Villain’s Darkness Meter 90%) Host its voice was laced with confusion is this truly how you plan to save him?) I smiled, touching the Head necklace at my throat “At least he’s not trying to kill himself anymore, nght? Rhys finished the swing set I wiggled my toes “Honey, my leg’s a 

Chapter 1 

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“Sir nearly burned down the kitchen last time he cooked.” “Oh… no worries,” I said. “He’s got money. If it burns, we’ll just move.” The butler… remained speechless. An hour later, Rhys emerged, his face smudged with soot, bearing his creation. It looked… decent. Probably not poisonous. As I scooped a spoonful to my lips, he sudd- enly stopped my hand. “Wait.” Rhys meticulously picked out every single shell fragment, then tested the temperature before handing the spoon back. I deliberately frowned. “It’s a little bland.” His hand, reaching for the salt shaker, froze mid–air. He turned, grabbed his tablet, and earnestly searched for the recommended daily sodium intake for pregnant women. I… 

And so, I began living like royalty, pampered through my pregnancy. Each morning brought freshly squeezed orange juice from the villain himself. He treated me like fragile porcelain during my baths, and even if I kicked him awake in the middle of the night with a leg cramp, he’d gently massage it away. One morning, still groggy, I woke to find him measuring my waist with a soft tape measure, his expression as serious as if he were defusing a bomb. “What could you possibly see after just 

one month?” I teased. Rhys’s ear tips flushed, but he stubbornly recorded the data in his phone’s memo, titled “Merman Hatchling Observation Log.” The best part 

was last week, when a business partner called the company. The security guard was on the phone asking for permission, and Rhys was on one knee, tying my shoe- 

lace. He barked into the receiver, “Don’t bother me with trivialities like this in the future. My wife is napping.” Then, he even tucked my blanket back around me. 

Now, I lay on the patio swing chair, watching Rhys assemble a swing set in the garden. Sunlight painted his hair an amber hue, the scene almost idyllic. The System abruptly pinged: [WARNING! Villain’s Darkness Meter: 90%] [Host…] Its voice was laced with confusion. [Is this truly how you plan to save him?] I smiled, touching the pearl necklace at my throat. “At least he’s not trying to kill himself anymore, right?” Rhys finished the swing set. I wiggled my toes. “Honey, my leg’s cramping.” He wiped his hands clean, knelt, and began massaging my calf. System: [Nice!] 

“Honey, I want a pink pearl.” A while back, I’d seen a stunning pink pearl at an auction. But Noah Vance, the hero, had bought it to charm Selena. “Cry me one,” I said, casually grabbing the grape platter and holding it under his chin. Rhys froze, looking up at me, his deep–sea eyes filled with disbelief. “… The color of pearls depends on the merman’s emotions.” “I don’t care,” I said, stroking my belly. “No tears, no babies. I’ll just release all your offspring.” His face went pale. Three minutes later, I watched, dumbfounded, as the terrifying villain, who once struck fear into the hearts of men, now stood there, eyes red–rimmed, his tears falling, plink–plink, into the platter. The soft pink pearls clattered, each sound a tiny chime. The System suddenly dinged: [Villain’s Darkness Meter: 85% ] . I happily collected my treasures. This mission was ridiculously easy. At this rate, Rhys would be nothing but a naive, sweet merman, good only for crying out pearls. 

Just as I thought I had it in the bag, Selena Winslow arrived. She stood at the mansion’s entrance in a simple white dress, eyes swollen and red, looking like a wilting white rose caught in a storm. “Rhys,” she choked out, her voice breaking. “Please, you have to save my father… He’s been taken. Only you can find him…” I stepped in front of the door, a cold smile on my lips. “Go ask Noah Vance.” Selena bit her lip, her tears falling faster. “He doesn’t have the connections…”