My childhood friend suffers from severe insomnia. For years, my voice was the only thing that could lull him to sleep. That was until he met the new "It Girl," and suddenly, he was cured. For her, he fought with paparazzi, blacklisted her rivals, wrote hit songs for her, and shipped me—the girl he found annoying—off to a political marriage. Rumor had it my fiancé was a ruthless, elderly tycoon with one foot in the grave. I ran to my friend, crying, holding a knife to my throat, threatening to end it all. Liam Sterling just scoffed. "Grow up, Chloe. Are you still playing these games?" "If you want to die, hurry up. Do you think everyone has as much free time as you?" "You're not a child anymore. Sure, he’s a bit older, but for someone like you? It’s more than you deserve." Suddenly, a stream of holographic text—like a livestream chat—scrolled across my vision: 【Don't listen to him, girl! Your fiancé is a dark, obsessive Merman! A total tragic villain!】 【He’s been in love with you for centuries! He’s drop-dead gorgeous, loyal to a fault, cries actual pearls when he's sad, and his biggest dream is to start a family with you!】 I silently lowered the knife. "Um, excuse me. Can we move the wedding date up?" I don't have any ulterior motives. I just really, really like seafood. Chapter 1 When I pressed the cold blade against my neck, my eyes were filled with absolute despair. Then, the floating text appeared, bombarding my vision. 【Don't do it! If you die now, no one will even care!】 【Plus, the heroine will inherit your magical voice, and Liam will love her even more!】 Mia Thorne stood behind Liam, shielded from my glare. Her almond eyes were brimming with tears, looking pathetic and fragile as she tugged at the hem of Liam’s designer jacket. "I'm so sorry, Chloe. I didn't know you hated me this much. I truly just want to be with Liam." "If you don't want to see me, I promise I'll disappear. You and Liam have known each other for fifteen years... you’re his dearest little sister. I don’t want you to get hurt." She sobbed in hiccups. Liam, seeing this, tenderly wiped her tears away. "Let her throw her tantrum. It’s not the first time." "Everyone knows she’s terrified of pain. Suicide? Please. She’s just seeking attention." "You're too innocent, Mia. That’s why she always bullies you." He glanced at me with impatience. "Haven't you had enough? Your arm must be tired holding that knife up." "Everyone is watching. If you’re going to do it, make it quick." The boy who once hugged me and refused to let go was now telling me to die for another woman. Chapter 2 Liam Sterling has chronic insomnia. He needs the sound of my voice to fall asleep. My parents died when I was young, leaving me alone. When the Sterlings discovered my voice was the only cure for their son, they adopted me. From the age of eight, I lived under the same roof as Liam. He was clingy. If I left his sight for a moment, he’d panic. Before me, he lived on sleeping pills. After he met me, he never took another pill. Every night, I sang him a lullaby. Growing up, Liam always let me win. Whenever I made him angry, he was the one who apologized, claiming that seeing me cry broke his heart. On his eighteenth birthday, in front of the entire socialite circle of New York, Liam declared he would never marry anyone but Chloe Vance. I thought we would be together forever. Junior year of college, we had a fight. I ran off to Joshua Tree to paint. He drove through the night to find my tent, wrapping me in a blanket under the starlight. Hot tears ran down my neck as he choked out, "Chloe, take me with you next time, okay? Without you, I can't sleep. My heart feels empty." I was defeated by his tears. "Shh, didn't I leave you a recording?" I wanted to say more, but a line of text floated in the air. 【Tragic, isn't it? Who would have thought the puppy-dog boy who 'couldn't live without Chloe' would drive her to suicide for another woman two years later?】 I thought the altitude was making me hallucinate. I didn't know then that the man in my arms was the Protagonist of this world. And I was just the fleeting, villainous side character. Chapter 3 After graduation, I became a director at Sterling Entertainment. When Liam came to find me, I was supervising a girl group rehearsal. Mia Thorne was bubbly and cute, but her singing was off-key and her dancing was a disaster. The manager scolded her. Mia blinked, pouted, and instantly dropped a few perfect tears. I turned around and saw Liam staring at her, entranced. A smile played on his lips. Perhaps that was the moment the gears of fate began to turn. I saw the strange "Chat" again. 【Love at first sight! Classic trope check.】 【Mia is so cute, the male lead's heart just melted. Look, he can't even blink.】 【The heroine is clumsy, but adorable. No wonder he's moving on.】 【What? The side character (Chloe) is way prettier!】 【Pretty doesn't matter. The plot demands he dumps her for the heroine.】 From those comments, I realized I was living in a romance novel. Mia was the "Sweetheart Heroine," and Liam was her destined "CEO." I didn't want to believe it. But from that day on, Mia and Liam grew closer. He came to the studio to "see me," but ended up laughing with her. She even hitched a ride home in his car every night. I felt panicked, like someone had licked the frosting off my cupcake. I told Liam to stop coming. If he wanted to see me, I’d go to him. He frowned but agreed. One day, I was heading to the Sterling estate with Liam. It wasn't on Mia's way. I whispered, "Liam, the ice cream I bought is melting. Can we call Mia an Uber?" Liam thought for a second, then smiled. "Whatever you want." Halfway there, Mia called. She was crying. "Liam... I think someone is following me... I'm scared..." Liam immediately U-turned. "Don't be scared. Stay on the line. I'm coming!" When we arrived, Liam jumped out. Mia threw herself into his arms. He stroked her back, his face full of pain. "I'll protect you. I'll drive you home every day from now on, okay?" And so, "Drive Mia Home" became a permanent fixture in his schedule. I became invisible. Eventually, I realized Liam could sleep without me. I had been replaced. Even when I fainted from cramps and asked him to take me to the hospital, he was indifferent. "Chloe, stop being dramatic. I called you a car." "Mia needs me right now. Just hold on. I'll send my assistant to sit with you." Later, I found out the stalker was a former employee of Mia's father. Her family had run a factory into the ground, embezzled the funds, and fled the country, leaving workers unpaid. The stalker, a man named Frank, needed wages for his daughter's leukemia surgery. When he confronted Mia, Liam beat him half to death. Liam kicked the man until he was unconscious. When the police arrived, Liam’s face was scratched. I tried to clean the wound, but he shoved me aside. He knelt before the terrified Mia, hugging her tight. "I'm sorry I let you get scared." I was standing right there, but I didn't exist in his world anymore. Liam knew I was terrified of pain. But when he shoved me, I hit a pile of exposed bricks. My shin was bleeding profusely. But I didn't cry. Because Liam was wiping Mia’s tears, his face full of adoration. At that moment, I realized it didn't matter if I hurt or cried. Liam didn't care. Later, Frank went to jail. Liam made Mia quit the idol group and become his personal assistant. At galas, I was no longer his plus-one. At business dinners, he drank for her and held her waist. The handmade storybook I made him? He gave it to Mia. Worse, he moved Mia into the house. I came back from a business trip to find my room gone. "Chloe, Mia needs to sleep next to my room. I moved your stuff to the attic." In the attic, my things were scattered. Broken glass, torn photos. Downstairs, the Sterling parents were laughing with Mia. Mia was a master manipulator. Even Liam’s stoic father was smiling. His mother, who suffered from migraines, loved Mia’s massages and gave her an heirloom bracelet. I finally believed it. The world revolved around her. I planned to move abroad. To escape this "Sweetheart Center." But the Sterlings told me I was to be married off to Silas Hale in Seattle. Silas Hale. Rumor had it he was an arms dealer or a mob boss. Over fifty. Brutal looking. I was terrified. I ran to Liam’s room. "Liam, please. Tell them no. I don't want an arranged marriage." Liam pulled my hand away, sipping his tea. "Chloe, you're not a kid. He’s older, sure, but for you? It’s more than enough." I felt my heart turn to ash. I grabbed a fruit knife. When I aimed the sharp blade at my neck, Liam didn't even flinch. Two years ago, if a mosquito bit me, he’d freak out. Now, he watched me prepare to die with boredom. Suddenly, Mia screamed, startling me. The knife nicked my skin. Green text flashed before my eyes: 【Poor side character. The chandelier is about to fall on the knife. She won't die, but her vocal cords will be severed. She'll be mute.】 【She thinks Liam and his parents will feel guilty? Nope. They'll just sigh and move on.】 【By the way, Mia gets her magical voice. Liam sleeps even better.】 【The parents are so touched by Mia that they let her marry Liam immediately.】 【I remember their wedding rings were made from the inheritance left by Chloe’s parents.】 【Yeah, the 'Mermaid's Tear' diamond. Worth millions.】 I went cold. Why? Just because she's the protagonist? Then, a huge, bold comment appeared: 【Girl, stop crying! Your fiancé isn't an old man! He’s a tragic, beautiful Merman!】 【That gloomy fish is obsessed with you! When he heard you almost committed suicide, he cried all night. He kissed your wounds!】 【He’s super hot, totally loyal, and—most importantly—he’s rich and obedient. He literally dreams of carrying your babies!】 Chapter 4 I froze. Huh? A Merman? The chat was going wild. 【He’s loved Chloe since he was a fry! He fought his way onto land just to find her.】 【When she loses her voice, he acts out both sides of the conversation. He says the dirtiest things to make her blush.】 【Chloe is tiny, so when the giant Merman hugs her, her feet rest right on his... sensitive scales. He turns bright red.】 【He loves water. When she showers or swims, he gets... naughty.】 【CEO romances are fine, but a possessive, wet, pathetic Merman? Yes please!】 My face flushed. Why didn't you guys say so sooner? I’m a total monster-lover! If that's the plot, who wants to die? In the living room, people were still surrounding Liam. "Chloe listens to you, Liam. Tell her to stop!" Liam looked annoyed. He knew I was afraid of pain. I was bluffing to stay in the house. "Chloe, put the knife down! Does it have to be this ugly?" "Mom and Dad are doing this for you. If you don't want to marry, fine. Stay. But no more bullying Mia." Before he finished, I dropped the knife. I ran to the Sterling parents. "So, when is the wedding? Can we move it up?" Silence. Liam grabbed my arm. "Chloe, there’s a limit to your jokes." I rolled my eyes. "Who's joking with you?" Mrs. Sterling recovered. "If you're okay with Mr. Hale... next month?" "No problem," I said. Crash! The chandelier fell exactly where I had been standing. Mia glared at me, hateful that I wasn't hurt. The chat said she stole my voice "buff" after I got hurt. Not today. "Mia, you look disappointed. Sad I didn't get crushed?" Mia immediately switched to victim mode, hugging Liam. "No... I was just scared." Liam glared at me. "Chloe! Where are your manners? Apologize." In the past, I would have cried. Now, I laughed. "You're right. I should apologize. Sorry for interrupting the family dinner. Don't worry, I'm getting married. You won't see me much longer." Liam sneered. "Playing hard to get? Chloe, I’ll say it once: Stop playing games." Mia suddenly whimpered. "Liam... my hand... it's scratched." A microscopic scratch. Liam panicked, yelling for the first aid kit. But he paused, glancing back at me. He felt a sudden emptiness, as if I really was leaving his world. "Liam! It hurts!" Mia cried. He turned back. I was just jealous, he told himself. I’d never actually leave him.
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