Chapter 1
On the day Herman Archer came to meet my dad, right in front of everyone, pressed one of the engagement gifts, a Advancement Pill, straight into Leah Evans' hand.
Dad's face darkened.
"Herman, what are you doing?" he asked.
Herman looked at me and gave a gentle smile.
Herman said, "Serena, the Sect Leader has ordered me to guard the Demon's Den. It's a perilous task, and I probably won't return for at least ten years. You haven't even reached the Apprentice level yet. I can't bring you into that."
He continued, "So I'm taking Leah instead. She's stronger and better suited to survive the harsh conditions in the Demon's Den."
"Don't worry. This Advancement Pill is for her protection. When I come back, I'll bring you something that can restore your core, and then we'll become bonded partners," he promised.
Without caring about my embarrassment, he cast a spell and vanished with Leah.
Ten years later, he returned with Leah, now heavily pregnant.
When he saw me standing in the main hall, his expression grew uneasy.
"Serena, I know I've failed you, but Leah is carrying my child. Even if you plead with the Sect Leader today, I can't be your bonded partner anymore," he said.
I was stunned. He still didn't know I was the Sect Leader's wife now.
*****
As soon as Herman finished speaking, Alfred Marshall, the Grand Elder of the Celestial Order, frowned deeply.
"Herman, enough. Watch your words. If you spout nonsense one more time, both of you will get out!" Alfred snapped.
Hearing the obvious warning in his tone, Herman wisely shut his mouth.
But Leah, standing right next to him, suddenly put on a pitiful act, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Grand Elder, it's all my fault," she sobbed.
She choked out. "I just couldn't stand seeing Serena suffer, or watching Herman struggle alone. He was sent to guard the Demon's Den for the sect. How could I let him face that alone, with no one who truly cared for him? That's why... I went in Serena's place."
Even as she cried, she kept casting sidelong glances at me.
She went on, "Herman's just too kind. He would never let Serena endure such hardship with him. Her power level is still low, and she hasn't reached the next tier yet. She can't even imagine what he's been through guarding the Demon's Den."
"But I get it, and I chose to carry this burden for Herman myself. Please, Grand Elder, don't blame him," she cried, her voice trembling.
Herman was clearly moved. He rushed over, took Leah's hand, and held her close, tenderly brushing away her tears, his heart aching for her.
Then he whipped around to face me, his eyes burning with fury.
"Serena, did you hear that?" he barked.
He spat, "Leah always thinks of me first, and she even cares about you. But you? All you ever do is make a scene and play your petty little games.
"Compared to her, you're not even worth mentioning!"
As he tried to humiliate me, I felt nothing at all—no anger, no sorrow.
Honestly, the whole thing was just laughable.
I shot a cold look at the two lovebirds clinging to each other.
"Herman, in ten years, you've barely leveled up, but your judgment? That has certainly gotten worse," I said.
Herman's face froze, all that passion and rage turning to ice in an instant.
"Serena, stop pretending you're above this," he snapped.
"Admit it, you're just jealous. Jealous that Leah's with me, jealous that she's having my kid," he spat.
"After today, you're done. You'll never get any other shot," he shouted.
"Once the Sect Leader comes out of seclusion, I'll ask him to officially recognize Leah and me. My bonded partner will only ever be Leah, never a loser like you," he roared.
I was done listening to his nonsense. He didn't affect me one bit.
He was just an irrelevant clown, not worth ruining my mood over.