I Died For His First Love, But He Regretted It

Conrad and Maya had been childhood friends, cherishing a mutual affection for each other for many years.

In their youthful, innocent days, the girl fell for the bright, sunny boy.

They walked hand in hand through high school and college, sharing countless memories.

Then, during graduation season, Maya suddenly collapsed, causing chaos among the students taking photos.

The doctor delivered devastating news: a tumor had grown in her brain and she didn’t have much time left.

The news hit Conrad like a thunderbolt. He promised Maya that no matter the cost, he would find a way to save her, no matter what. However, Maya vanished without a word, retreating to a distant land to await her fate in silence.

Conrad's search for her was relentless. He scoured every corner of Solborough, leaving no stone unturned. Yet, she seemed to have disappeared without a trace, as if she had evaporated into thin air.

For a long time, he was a shadow of himself, drifting through life like a ghost.

I first met him on a day when he was dressed in a sleek black suit, standing tall and elegant, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence.

Conrad gazed at me with an intense, far-off look in his eyes.

His words were steeped in deep sorrow. "You resemble someone I once knew, but she is no longer here."

I stayed by his side through those darkest days, watching him slowly emerge from the shadows of his heartache.

Eventually, Conrad stopped the search altogether.

On countless nights, he held me close, his voice tender as he repeated his love for me again and again.

Slowly, he began to move on from the girl he had once cherished and our new relationship took root.

Yet, when she reappeared, the heart that had lain dormant for years flared back to life with a fierce intensity.

If it could be so easily replaced, it was never truly the ideal muse.

My mermaid mother had always warned me: loving a human was a path paved with definite heartbreak.

I stubbornly refused to believe the warnings and had to crash into the wall before I would turn back.

I moved to a small coastal town, trading mermaid tears for a large supply of medicine.

The severity of my injuries led to a dangerous infection spreading across my body.

Conrad tracked me down and surrounded me with a group armed with lethal weapons.

With a desperate edge in his voice, he said, “Maya’s condition has deteriorated again. The doctors are powerless. You’re the only one who can save her.”

My heart plummeted into despair. “Conrad, without the merfolk’s pearl, I’m going to die!”

Conrad didn’t seem to hear me. He was frenzied, almost maniacal. “Serena, Maya doesn’t have time! Please, just give me the merfolk’s pearl!”

His family was in the shipbuilding business, equipped with the most advanced fishing tools and sonar detectors.

My injuries were severe, leaving me powerless to resist.

If he couldn’t get the merfolk’s pearl, he would undoubtedly target my people. The consequences would be catastrophic.

It seemed like today was a point of no return.

Conrad's touch was unexpectedly gentle as he caressed my face, but then his grip tightened brutally around my trembling shoulders.

His eyes were chillingly indifferent, almost predatory. “Serena, just hand it over to me. Don’t push me to use force.”

I stared back into his icy gaze, desperation in my voice. “Conrad, if you truly want it, I’ll give you the merfolk’s pearl. But know this—I’ve never loved you.”

He was unaware that without the merfolk’s pearl, my survival was impossible.

Conrad's words were deliberate and harsh, each syllable slicing through the air:

“Serena, I have never loved you!”

He brought a small army with him, each person armed with advanced fishing weapons, each one deadly.

Perhaps he never intended for me to leave here alive.

In his stunned gaze, I made the final, grim decision. I sliced open my abdomen and, with trembling hands, offered him the bloodied merfolk’s pearl.

The pain was so intense it drew beads of sweat on my forehead, but I remained silent, determined not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry out.

“Conrad, this is what you wanted. We're even now,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Panic flashed across Conrad’s face as he saw the gravity of my condition. With a desperate urgency, he lifted my nearly lifeless body into his arms.

“Serena, just hang on,” he said, his voice shaking with fear. “I’m getting you to the hospital right away!”

I fought against his hold with all my strength and my body collapsed heavily onto the ground.

“So, you want to trade my life for Maya’s and now you’re pretending to be so deeply concerned?”

“I’m about to die—are you satisfied now?”