"Take it or leave it."

Looking at Milo now, I no longer possessed an ounce of my former patience.

I could not even begin to comprehend what was ever so great about a merman who never knew how to cherish someone and did nothing but complain.

He was not even worth a tenth of Silas.

Milo was left utterly stunned in his tracks by my words.

Ignoring him, I went straight into my room to take a bath.

When I finally lay down in bed, I was shocked to find Milo occupying my blankets.

He could never learn to be as considerate as Silas, and his completely drenched lower body had soaked my bedsheets entirely.

I knit my brows in annoyance.

Yet, he remained completely oblivious to my displeasure.

"Human beds are actually quite comfortable to sleep on."

A merman's purpose to me was originally meant solely for breeding.

A year ago, when Milo first arrived at my house, I had specifically custom-ordered a maximum-sized bed.

But back then, he preferred to curl up inside his cramped water tank rather than share a bed with me.

Now, I had no idea what kind of madness had possessed him to make him actively approach me.

He extended a soft, webbed palm toward me.

"You smell so sweet. What did you rub on yourself?"

I gathered the entirety of the quilt around myself.

"Your room is not here. I am going to sleep."

Milo's hand fell empty, and he stared at me intently, his expression filled with sheer disbelief.

"What? Don't tell me you don't want to..."

I turned my back to him.

"Hmph! From now on, even if you beg me on your knees, I will never step foot onto your bed again!"

Furious, Milo stormed out of my room, crashing into and knocking over several objects along the way.

I let out a soft sigh, grateful that the world had finally fallen quiet.

I pulled out my address book and found William Vance’s contact information.

It was time to send Milo away; I needed to clear out the space for my merman.

6

The weather was beautiful today, the perfect day for the marine aquarium staff to deliver Silas to my doorstep.

Before that happened, however, I needed to settle Milo’s price with William Vance.

Ten gold coins.

Neither more nor less, it was the exact amount Milo had taken from my hands previously.

This money was originally what Milo had saved up to go find Mr. Vance anyway, and now his dream was finally coming true.

Mr. Vance and I had just about concluded our negotiations in the living room.

Disturbed by the commotion, Milo woke up at that exact moment.

He rubbed his eyes, his face dripping with impatience.

"Didn't I tell you that you aren't allowed to bring outsiders back here? I despise having the scent of strangers in my home!"

But the moment his eyes landed on William Vance, they lit up instantly, and he glided over in an rush.

"Good morning, Mr. Vance."

William Vance’s eyes brightened, appearing exceptionally satisfied with Milo.

Turning to me, he remarked, "Splendid. This is a very fine specimen."

Milo looked at me with a trace of confusion, while I merely picked up my teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Seeing that I was ignoring him, he deliberately pressed himself closer to William Vance in an affectionate display.

It was obvious that Mr. Vance liked him immensely as well, as he eagerly rose to take his leave.

"The ten gold coins have already been paid to you. Hand over the contract now, and I shall take Milo with me."

I stood up to retrieve the contract document.

Milo suddenly sensed what was happening, and a wave of panic washed over him.

"What is the meaning of this? You are selling me?"

My expression remained completely detached.

"Yes. You are very fond of Mr. Vance, so I am selling you to him."

"I have wasted a year of your time, but since we have never bonded or bred, Mr. Vance is fully aware of the situation and will treat you well."

I had fully expected Milo to be overjoyed upon hearing this, rushing to pack his belongings and leave with Mr. Vance.

Instead, his hand suddenly shot out and gripped me tightly.

"What absolute nonsense are you spouting? I do not consent to this!"

Chapter Two

7

When the aquarium staff delivered Silas to my door, Milo was in the middle of a highly emotional confrontation with me.

His tail lashed out, sweeping every piece of porcelain off the table and shattering them across the floor, sending sharp shards flying, one of which sliced into my trouser leg.

I had never seen him lose control of his composure to such a degree.

Milo's rims were flushed crimson, his violet-pink eyes brimming with unshed tears.

He hoisted his tail high in the air, his entire posture stiff with a defensive reflex that warned anyone against approaching.

"You cannot send me away! My parents gave me to you!"

Hearing the aquarium staff knocking on the door outside, a knot of anxiety tightened in my chest.

"But you do not care for me at all. Sending you away now is the best outcome for both of us."

"How could you possibly know that I don't... regardless, you cannot send me away!"

Mr. Vance stepped forward, intending to restrain him, but he had completely underestimated the sheer volatility of Milo's temper. The merman’s tail whipped high into the air, ready to crash down violently.

I gave Mr. Vance a sudden pull to drag him clear, but Milo had already lost control of his trajectory, and his massive tail came slamming straight toward me.

A merman's physical strike was nothing to scoff at, capable of exerting an immense amount of force. I watched in horror as the heavy appendage swung mercilessly toward my frame.

In a single, breathless split second, a silver-white silhouette shattered the threshold like a sudden gale.

Silas gathered me tightly into his embrace, shielding me entirely as he absorbed the full brunt of the blow.

I watched in horror as Silas’s tail—which had only just begun to heal—was torn open once again, silver scales splintering away as crimson blood welled from the fresh wound.

Stunned, a flame of pure fury erupted within my chest.

"Enough!"

I snatched up the contract document and thrust it directly into William Vance’s hands.

"Milo and I are entirely finished. Take him away this instant."

Milo, however, seemed deaf to my words. He dragged himself toward Silas and me, his gaze locked onto my companion.

"This scent... it was you all along!"

"All those days Liam went out, it was you he was visiting!"

"Did you not know that Liam already belongs to a merman? Did you seduce him into this?"

William Vance’s patience had evaporated completely. He summoned his attendants from outside, who threw a heavy net over Milo, binding him securely from head to tail.

Milo clawed desperately at the door frame, his eyes bloodshot as his gaze locked onto mine with fierce intensity.

"Liam, are you truly casting me aside... just for that low-born trash?"

Looking at Silas’s bleeding tail and the sheer vulnerability in his blue eyes, I was desperate to get him back to my chamber to dress his wounds, leaving me with no time to waste on Milo's frantic delusions.

Milo's desperate cries gradually faded into the distance.

"You will regret this! I never cared for you anyway!"

I would never regret this. The only thought in my mind was to ensure my merman would be alright as quickly as possible.

Sensing my frantic state, Silas tightened his arms around me, leaning down to press a tender kiss against the corner of my lips.

8

Silas’s tail was bleeding slightly, several silver scales torn and upturned from the impact.

Tears of pure heartache escaped my eyes; I had never anticipated that Milo would cause such a chaotic scene, dragging Silas into harm's way for a crime he didn't commit.

After thoroughly disinfecting the area, I gently gathered Silas’s tail into my lap, wrapping gauze around the wound layer by layer.

Silas remained perfectly silent, though his tail flinched and quivered periodically, betraying the intense pain he was enduring.

Unable to bear his suffering for him, I could only stroke the scales helplessly, pressing my cheek against his cool lower body in a quiet effort to soothe him.

I never expected this single gesture to trigger a violent panic reflex within Silas.

The moment my warm face touched his cool skin, he recoiled as if stung by an electric shock.

A vivid crimson flush spread across his face like a sudden sunrise, and he retreated to a far corner, staring at me with a mixture of shock and wide-eyed alarm in his deep blue eyes.

A gentle smile graced my features, and I made a move to approach him once more.