I paused, then it clicked. Right. The hero was always the bright, righteous CEO. And the villain? Dark, shadowy, ruthless. So, when dirty work needed doing, the heroi- ne’s first thought was always Rhys, the man with blood on his hands. I glanced back at Rhys, who stood quietly at the turn of the staircase, his gaze unreadable, still holding the slipper I’d just kicked off. A surge of irrational anger flared through me. “Don’t you dare go!” Selena bit her lip, tears clinging to her lashes. “If she says no, then… never mind.” As she turned, her skirt swished in a pathetically graceful arc.
Just as she was about to step out the front door, Rhys spoke. “Wait.” I watched, stunned, as he knelt down, gently slipped my slipper back on, even adjusting it for comfort. Then! That bastard stood up and followed Selena out! “Rhys Blackwood!” I shrieked, snatching up the other slipper and flinging it at the back of his head.” If you go, don’t come back!” The slipper struck its target with a satisfying thwack. His steps faltered for a moment. He didn’t turn around, just reached back to rub the spot i’d hit, and kept walking. I was so mad, I nearly threw the other slipper too.
Three in the morning. I checked my phone for the twenty–eighth time. Still black. The System suddenly beeped a warning: [WARNING! Villain’s Darkness Meter has increased by 12%! Current value: 97%] “What?!” I shot upright, nearly throwing out my back. “I’ve been carrying his kids like a nesting hen, working my ass off to drop his darkness by 15%, and he gains 12 points back after one night out with the heroine?” The System quietly added: “To be precise, 4 hours and 38 minutes.” “What? Did Selena just hand him over to the kidnappers as ransom?” I sneered, rubbing my belly.
Outside, the faint hum of an engine reached my ears. I darted to the window, watching Rhys’s Maybach glide into the driveway, its headlights cutting misty streaks through the rain What really infuriated me was the package he carried, its logo screaming ‘Seabreeze Bistro‘ – that ridiculously expensive seafood restaurant Selena adored “Oh, this is perfect,” I snarled, gritting my teeth as I barked an order at the System. “Now! Immediately! Activate the [Fake Miscarriage] item!” The System’s code scrambled in panic. [Ho-ho–host, calm down! Merman offspring are incredibly resilient, and this item costs 5000 points…] “Do I look like I care about points?” The only reason I’d been slacking off in this world was because the points I’d earned from previous missions were enough for me to retire.
When Rhys gently pushed open the bedroom door, he found me curled on the bed, pale–faced and clutching my belly. “Darling?” The takeout box in his hand clatte- red to the floor, spilling salmon sashimi everywhere. I weakly opened my eyes, noticing a clear red handprint blossoming on his left cheek. His hands trembling. Rhys lifted me into his arms, and we sped to the hospital. I lay on the gurney, intentionally facing away from him, listening to his ragged breathing and the doctor’s hushed conversation. “Signs of a mild threatened miscarriage. Absolute bed rest is necessary,” the doctor’s voice was grave. “Especially keeping emotional stability” Rhys’s voice was raw, almost unrecognizable. “She… and the baby…” “For now, they’re stable But any further stress that’s hard to say ‘ “Sir… Madam’s human body isn’t inherently suited for carrying merman offspring. The first trimester is especially critical. If things continue like this, I fear the child. The hospital room door clicked shut. Then, a heavy thud, like knees hitting the floor with force.
