I just stood there, trembling all over, feeling as if my heart had turned to ice.

In Trevon’s eyes, my baby and I were nothing more than monsters—something to be ashamed of.

But I hadn't suddenly become a mermaid. He knew it from the beginning. If he hated me that much, why did he even come into my life? Why did he marry me and promise we’d be together forever?

"Jessica!"

Trevon stormed into the room, face flushed with fury, and slapped me hard across the face.

"What did you say to Corinne? She’s in the hospital right now, fighting for her life and the baby’s. If anything happens to them, I swear you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his hand clamped around my neck so tightly I could barely breathe.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Corinne was just like a sister to me! Her parents are gone, and she has no one else in Alston City. She had to come to me for help. Are you seriously so jealous you’d hurt her baby?"

"Jessica, I can’t believe how cruel you are. You don’t even care about an innocent unborn child. You don’t deserve to be a mother!"

I couldn’t help but laugh at the crazed look in his eyes.

"Trevon, do you even remember our baby? The one you heartlessly abandoned the moment she was born? You could be that heartless to your own child, but now you suddenly care about someone else's?"

"That’s different. That’s mine and Corinne’s—"

He stopped short, realizing what he’d just admitted.

"Just stay out of trouble for the next few days. If anything happens to Corinne’s baby, I’ll never forgive you."

I watched him hurry away, a bitter smile forming on my lips.

When we got married, he told me that trust was everything. That he’d always believe me, always stand by my side. But just five years later, he didn’t hesitate to take Corinne’s word over mine, and humiliate me without question.

The next morning, Trevon’s bodyguards barged in and dragged me out to the car. I struggled, but the lead guard shoved a hand over my mouth with a mocking smirk.

"Better behave, ma'am, or you'll get a taste of my fist," he sneered.

"Ms. Gibson just gave Mr. Chapman a big, healthy baby boy. He’s in a great mood today. Don’t mess it up, or you’ll regret it."

"I sneaked a peek at the little guy. Spitting image of Mr. Chapman. Not like that other freak. Born with a fishtail first… Scared the doctors half to death. Almost ended up in a science journal," he laughed.

The other bodyguard snarled. "Why talk about that unlucky thing? Who knows where she ended up? Maybe some wild animal already got her. Such a waste..."

Their cruel, mocking words sent a chill through my spine.

I was supposed to be Trevon’s wife, and yet they dared insult me to my face. They wouldn’t have, if he hadn’t permitted them. How could they speak so shamelessly about me and my child?

It felt like I was trapped in a nightmare I didn’t know how to wake up from.

The bodyguard roughly tossed me onto the cold, hard floor of the hospital.

Trevon stood above me, eyes empty, cold. Without a word, he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me toward an old doctor with silver-streaked hair.

"Mr. Chapman, she's a mermaid like no other—a rare find," the old doctor said with a sly grin, his eyes greedily fixed on me.

"Her toughest scale will guarantee your child's future is safe and sound."

I shivered as I watched Trevon gently rocking Corinne in his arms. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You want my scale? Do you even understand what that means to me?"

Of course he did.

When mermaids give birth, we lose almost all of our strength. I had nearly died bringing his child into this world, fulfilling his wish.

If he took the scale that kept me alive, I’d be nothing but a shell, barely clinging to life.

Trevon wouldn’t meet my eyes. His face twisted into a mask of false guilt before he scolded me, as if he had any right to.

"If you hadn’t interfered, Corinne wouldn’t have had complications. She went into labor early. The baby was born weak and had to be rushed to an incubator. You hurt them both. You owe them."

Then, without another glance at me, he nodded at the old doctor.

The doctor lunged forward, pinning me down and forcing a bitter potion down my throat.

Pain shot through my body like fire. Sweat poured from my forehead as I gasped for air, collapsing in agony.

Gasps filled the room.

I looked down and saw my legs—gone. In their place was a mermaid’s tail, limp and lifeless on the floor.

"My special secret potion worked after all," the old doctor said with a wicked grin. "It revealed your true form."

Without hesitation, he grabbed a surgical knife. With a few swift cuts, he began stripping the scales from my tail. Blood sprayed across the room. My screams rang out, raw and helpless.

Trevon took the bloody scales from the doctor and handed them to Corinne as if they were the most precious gift in the world.

As darkness swallowed the edges of my vision, I heard Corinne’s sugary voice.

"Trevon, you always take such good care of us. With this fish scale protecting him, our son will grow up strong and healthy. He won’t end up like that doomed monster."

Trevon smiled, finally at ease. His eyes fell hungrily on my tail.

"Soon, I’ll use your tail to make medicine for Corinne. She’ll recover even faster. We’ve got our whole future ahead of us."

---

When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital bed, staring up at a stained ceiling.

Slowly, I reached down—and froze.

My legs were gone. The fabric of my pants hung empty, swaying in the breeze.

Trevon saw me stir and let out a long sigh, smiling like it was all good news.

"Jessica, the surgery was a success. Your tail saved Corinne. She’s healed now. She can live a normal life."

"And what about me?" I asked, tears in my eyes, staring at the cruel curve of his smile.

His expression faltered. He frowned, clearly irritated by my question.

"Didn’t I tell you again and again? Even without your legs, you can still live your life. I’ll be your legs. I’ll take care of you."

"Trading your legs for Corinne’s life—that’s your lucky break."

Lucky break?

I let out a cold, brittle laugh.

'Why don’t I give you this “lucky break”? Would you like that?' I thought.

"Trevon," I said calmly, "I want a divorce."