She didn’t want to fall into the sweet trap of love again and turn her life into hell.
Yet, she couldn’t be honest with Terrun. Regrettably, she needed to use him to achieve her dreams.
“I’ll try.”
“Grace, it’s not a request.”
“Is it an order then?”
A hint of defiance surged within her.
Love couldn’t be commanded. Terrun then whispered in her ear.
“I help with Grace’s dreams, and Grace loves me. It’s a kind of transaction.”
“Can love be a transaction? Do you love me, Terrun?”
“It seems necessary, Grace’s love.”
He avoided a direct answer.
Whether he was emotionally inarticulate or had other intentions, she saw a desperate longing in his eyes.
A man more lonely and emotionally deprived than anyone, craving affection.
“I’m engaged to Grace, so shouldn’t I naturally have her heart?”
His words weighed heavily.
‘Is love a war? Like negotiating a truce… He’s really hopeless.’
Was it a threat to shoot a cannon if she broke the promise?
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Not loving him seemed to lead to death.
To be told in such a way that he had never loved a woman before.
Well, he was better than a cunning man. At least he wouldn’t plot behind her while speaking of love.
“I promise.”
Leah tried not to be outdone.
“We should sign it.”
Leah, not being an insensitive woman, approached Terrun, snatched the box she was holding, and placed it on the table. Then, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“We should, the signature.”
She tiptoed as if to kiss him but then let go and stepped back.
Terrun looked quite taken aback. He had probably expected them to seal their promise with a passionate kiss under the moonlit skylight.
‘Knows how to tease, doesn’t she?’
Indeed, she was no longer the Grace of the past. But, no matter what, she couldn’t escape from him now.
But it was himself he worried about more. His desire for her had grown incessantly, turning into an obsession.
Grace extended her hand towards Terrun, presumably for a handshake as a sign of their agreement. Terrun, though amused, shook her hand.
‘Ouch! That hurts.’
Terrun gripped her hand so tightly it was slightly painful. After the handshake, Grace asked him in an agitated tone.
“Terrun, you used to dislike me, didn’t you? Why the sudden change?”
As she remembered, Grace always longed for Terrun’s love, but he was indifferent.
“Grace has changed, hasn’t she?”
“What?”
“Like her soul has been replaced. Don’t you see you’re a completely different person?”
‘Did he know?’
Leah struggled to find the right words, her lips quivering.
“I changed too. Trying to escape a life without soul.”
That’s what he meant. The saying ‘a thief feels a tingling in his feet’ perfectly described her situation.
“I prefer you now over the Terrun of the past.”
“What was I like before?”
Terrun seemed intrigued by her words. Leah felt a bit uneasy.
He apparently didn’t remember how he used to be. She had thought he knew, given he himself said he had changed.
“Gloomy, despairing, and lonely. So closed off that you wouldn’t let anyone near, enslaved by guilt, driving yourself to hell.”
Terrun was surprised but didn’t respond. Her analysis was accurate. But there was one more thing she didn’t know.
‘You were the one who pulled me out of that hell.’
The old Grace was a scar left by his misdeeds. But then she reached out to him, and he took a leap out of the mire.
“Terrun, is it okay even if I’m not myself?”
Leah took a courageous step. She still remembered what Chaener had said about having two souls inside her. She debated telling Terrun the truth dozens of times a day. But even that wasn’t easy. She hoped for implicit forgiveness.
“People change. And…”
“And?”
“I like the current Grace.”
“Th… That’s good.”
It felt like getting his permission, even if not perfect. That it was okay to live as Grace.
Allen McDowell ground his teeth in rage at Terrun’s actions. He had never liked him from the start. His arrogant demeanor, his disdainful gaze.
‘That duke is despicably low.’
To arrange a meeting with Grace in such a way. His mistake was not having detached Sara sooner. Like a leech, clinging until forcefully removed.
‘No, it’s too early to give up. I’ve never failed to get what I wanted.’
Allen reassured himself. Terrun might be basking in victory, thinking Grace would give up after seeing such a scene.
‘Not me. I won’t give up until I have what I want in my hands. Even if it takes years, I’ll get what I want.’
His determination intensified. Imagining the day he would snatch Grace from the high and mighty Terrun sent a thrill through his body.
‘It took me ten years to make the Hamilton family business mine.’
Would I, who accomplished that, give up just because I couldn’t get one woman? That’s impossible.
We’ll see who is more stubbornly persistent to the bitter end.
‘Terrun Kurtua, I will make your fiancée my mistress.’
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
