Merman Mating Show: Live!

I drove home, speeding the whole way.

When I arrived, Vivian was still there. Sitting in front of the viewing window, she leisurely watched the tank.

Lance swam back and forth in front of her, showing off his graceful movements like a peacock in mating season.

When Vivian heard the door open, she turned and smiled. "Isabel, you're back? I was just passing by and stopped in to see Lance. He looks thinner—"

"I'm revoking your access. From now on, you're not allowed to enter my home without permission," I cut her off and walked straight to the control panel.

Vivian's expression darkened instantly. "Isabel, are you really this petty? I'm just making friends with Lance. Do you just hate seeing me have anything nice? I honestly think you're way too harsh on Lance. He's a merman, not your slave."

I turned to look at her and let out a sneer. "Right. Says the person who's spent her whole life stealing anything I ever owned. How could I not stay on guard?

"I paid three million dollars for Lance. If you want to be friends with him, fine. Pay up. Buy him from me. Do whatever you want with him after that."

The livestream chat erupted.

"How can she say something like that? Lance is a living being too!"

"But she never abused him. Honestly, people raise kids with less care than she gave this merman."

"Exactly. She's not wrong either. She paid for Lance. If Vivian wants him, she should pay for him herself."

Vivian's face flushed crimson, then turned a deathly pale.

I knew she wouldn't pay. She had been using Lance to secretly take my things and sell them. Why would she ever want him to leave me, let alone buy him and spend money on him?

Beside her, the hopeful light in Lance's eyes froze. He couldn't believe the woman he loved hadn't jumped at the chance. Did she not want to be with him?

Noticing the disappointment in Lance's eyes, Vivian stammered, "C-Can I pay in installments? I really… I really don't have the money…"

She looked at Lance pitifully as she spoke.

Lance immediately dropped his doubts. He shot me a furious glare, as if I were some villain tearing lovers apart.

I let out a short, mocking laugh.

For the first time, I realized that Lance, who always acted so clever, was actually this stupid.

"I don't do credit. You took the jewelry I gave Lance to make him happy and sold it for a hefty sum. And you still have the nerve to say you're broke?"

After I discovered Lance had been giving Vivian things, I went through the house and listed everything that was missing.

Just selling those items alone would have brought in enough to buy a merfolk. Not to mention, she wasn't poor to begin with.

My parents died in a shipwreck when I was five. I was taken in by my uncle, Noah Ross. Vivian was his daughter.

We grew up together. Ever since we were kids, she loved taking my things.

When we were little, she took all my dolls. When we got older, she scribbled all over my homework, then cried to Uncle Noah and said I was the one bullying her.

After I came of age and inherited my parents' assets, I moved out without hesitation.

Vivian received her monthly trust fund payments, but she spent freely and was never satisfied. Whenever she felt like it, she came to my place to mooch.

Out of respect for Uncle Noah, I usually ignored it and made sure she didn't gain much. Even when she started visiting frequently three months ago, always claiming she was just passing by to see me, I didn't bother calling her out.

But I never expected her real target to be my merman.

In the nights I couldn't see, the money and care I poured into Lance were quietly handed to someone else. He treated everything I invested in him, both material and emotional, as mere dirt.

There was no way I was letting Vivian off that easily.