Chapter 2

Their words stabbed my heart like blunt knives.

Three years ago, Gabriel and his friends were surfing and encountered extreme weather.

Gabriel was swallowed by the waves, and I risked everything to save him ashore.

In the process, my tail was shredded by a paddle.

Gabriel was the first human I ever saw. His eyes were brighter than gems at the ocean's depths.

Ignoring the pain, I just wanted to save him.

In gratitude, Gabriel took me home to heal, even though it violated Merfolk laws.

But for him, I decisively severed ties with my family.

On land, I endured dehydration, my scales turning bluish, and the pain pierced to the bone, almost costing me half my life.

But Gabriel would hold me every night, comforting me. I naively thought that was love.

I believed I had won the bet with my family, only to lose everything.

Gabriel watched me with interest, "Didn't you say you'd fully transform into a human after a year on land? Turns out you can't change your nature."

Fiona covered her nose with a look of disgust, "No wonder there's a fishy smell. It's disgusting."

"I don't know what you've been through these years, Gabriel, but you can't just pick anyone to spite me, right?"

I looked down at my tail, now turning white.

When we first met, Gabriel had praised its beauty. He had held it tenderly, vowing to spend his life making it up to me.

Someone beside me rubbed his hands, sneering, "This mermaid's definitely fun. Gabriel doesn't know how lucky he is."

Fiona's face turned black in an instant, "What do you mean by that?"

The speaker was suddenly tongue-tied, "Fiona, I didn't mean it that way..."

In anger, she grabbed a whip, ready to strike my face.

I grabbed it, yanking Fiona halfway into the water tank.

She screamed in terror, flailing, and Gabriel pulled her out, holding her waist.

Tearful, Fiona cried, "Gabriel, I just wanted to throw the whip far away, not hurt Chloe."

"Why did she suddenly become so aggressive?"

"I heard mermaids used to eat people. Chloe, you can't act like this, even if you're angry."

Gabriel pulled me from the water, throwing me to the ground. He slapped me across the face.

I turned my head, one side of my face swelling instantly.

Gabriel approached slowly, gripping my neck viciously, "Chloe, do you really think you're something special? Touch Fiona again, and I'll kill you!"

"Do you think I kept you around to endure your fishy smell for nothing?"

"If it weren't for the fortune mermaid tears are worth, I'd have killed you long ago."

"Did you really think I loved you?"

I looked at him in disbelief. Gabriel kicked me in the waist.

"You're like a dead fish. No matter what I do, you never cry."

"Since that's the case, this is the only way. You brought it on yourself."

After hearing those words, I couldn't help but tremble.

What I thought was love at first sight was Gabriel's meticulously laid trap.

And like a fool, I walked right in. Ending up with nothing, who could I blame?

This was the happiness I sought after sacrificing everything.

I opened my mouth and laughed. Gabriel, seeing my red-rimmed eyes, hesitated.

He angrily called for a few people, "Strip her clothes! That way, everyone can examine the goods!"

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