Chapter 3

He quickly ordered his men to pull me out of the water, but it was too late. While saltwater was a sacred balm for mermaids, freshwater was a deadly poison to me. Just a short time submerged in it, and my body's fading had become significantly worse.

I probably only had two or three days left.

"Hahaha, this is fun, really fun!"

A cheerful, bell-like voice drifted from not far away. Blair was skipping happily, her face alight with excitement. Asher stood beside her, stroking her head, his gaze full of doting affection!

At last, Grandpa Edward knew who had swapped the water. He leaned on his cane and stormed over, slapping Asher across the face, looking at him with a mix of fury and crushing disappointment.

"You ungrateful son! Do you have any idea what you've done? Coralia is the protector of our family! If she's gone, do you know what the Vance family will face? Even you…"

But before Grandpa Edward could continue, Asher turned his head, his eyes burning with resentment.

"Even I was saved by her? Enough! I don't know how many times I've heard that pathetic lie. If it weren't for Blair, I'd still be in the dark. Blair saved me, not this ugly monster mermaid."

Towards the end, Asher grabbed Grandpa Edward's shoulders, roaring:

"Grandpa, the Vance family's success today is thanks to the blessings of our ancestors, not her, Coralia! She's just a monster! When will you wake up?!"

Finished, Asher pulled Blair and walked away. As he left, his eyes flickered towards me, full of disgust.

Watching Asher's retreating figure, Grandpa Edward wanted to say more but ultimately couldn't. He glanced at me, his body trembling slightly, almost losing his balance.

At the same time, a silent decision seemed to form in his heart.

That night, Grandpa Edward had Blair tied up and placed her on a hospital bed next to mine. Blair, bound and gagged, struggled violently, but the doctors showed no intention of stopping.

I finally understood what Grandpa Edward meant by "setting things right for me." He intended to return my heart.

Lying on the bed, I calmly accepted everything. But before the doctors could do much, the door was kicked open. Asher burst in, his face grim. Before the doctor could speak, Asher slammed him to the ground and cradled the terrified, unconscious Blair in his arms.

"Blair, are you okay?"

Seeing no wounds on her, Asher finally exhaled in relief. Then, his eyes turned terrifyingly cold as they fixed on me.

"Coralia, I really underestimated you. Blair's kidneys have been acting up; this is a good opportunity. We'll just take yours. You won't die, anyway!"

He ordered the doctors to begin immediately. Seeing his demeanor, they dared not disobey and quietly complied. I felt the cold blade slice into my body. The excruciating pain made me cry out, then my vision went black, and I passed out.

When I awoke, I found myself lying in saltwater. The soothing water gradually made my pain disappear. Then, a large hand suddenly pulled me from the pool. I looked up and saw it was Asher. But at this moment, Asher's eyes were chillingly fierce.

He gripped my neck, glaring at me savagely.

"Tell me, what did you do to Blair? Why did she faint?"

The intense suffocating sensation made it impossible for me to speak. I calmly looked at him, not struggling at all.

This stillness made Asher pause. Then, he noticed my hand, already semi-transparent. His face instantly changed, and he gently lowered me.

"Coralia, your hand…"

But before he could inquire further, urgent shouts from the family's private medical team came from outside.

"Mr. Vance, Mrs. Vance's rejection symptoms are getting worse!"

Those words made Asher's face darken again. He grabbed me and threw me into the main hall. He pressed me onto a blood-drawing table and urgently told the doctors:

"Since it's *her* heart, then use *her* blood. Keep drawing! You stop only when Blair's rejection symptoms disappear!"

Following Asher's command, a doctor rolled up my sleeve and began drawing blood. As they continued, my blood was barely more than a pale trickle. I lay on the table, my clothes drenched in sweat.

"Mr. Vance, we can't draw any more! She'll be in danger!"

The doctor quickly stood up to dissuade him, but Asher merely glanced at me, his impatient voice coming from above my head.

"Mermaid blood is regenerative. Who are you trying to fool? I said, keep drawing. Don't stop until Blair's rejection symptoms are gone."

Seeing Asher's resolve, the doctor resumed. As my consciousness gradually blurred, my vision went black, and I fainted. In the last moments before my awareness dissolved, I saw a trace of panic in Asher's eyes.

"How can this be? Isn't mermaid blood regenerative? Why is she fainting?"