I'll Save Us from His Cursed Mistress

On my wedding night, I find out my childhood sweetheart, Sean Clay, has a mistress who is highly fertile. She's already given him a son and a daughter. "My family line is dying out, and your health has always been fragile. Paige gets pregnant easily. With her around to take the pressure off, it'll be easier on both of us. As long as you don't make a fuss, I promise she'll never take your place." I can't believe what I'm hearing. I trash everything in the room and kick everyone out. Clutching my chest, I collapse in front of the bronze mirror, only for the glass to reflect me ten years into the future. The woman in the reflection is gaunt, her hair completely white. "I've already tried throwing a fit and divorcing him. It only led to mutual hatred and absolute ruin. Let me give you a piece of advice. Accept Paige. "She might be fertile, but most of her children won't survive past the age of five. The ones who do will end up mentally impaired." She taps the surface of the mirror, and a flood of unfamiliar memories rushes into my mind. When I come to, tears are streaming down my face. Looking at the aged face in the bronze mirror, I reach out to touch it. "I will save you. And I will save myself." Chapter 1 The mirror rippled, and the woman's reflection faded to reveal my own. I wore an ornate red wedding gown, hand-embroidered by my mother-in-law, Katie Burris. The crown resting on my head was something my husband, Sean Clay, had petitioned the court for. Every piece of furniture in this room had been chosen by the two of us. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but now everything had been shattered. I closed my eyes and knit my brows, fighting back my tears. Sean knocked gently on the door three times. "Tia, even if I have children with her, you're the only one in my heart. Why else would I marry you?" As I stared at his shadow on the door, my hands clenched so tight that my nails cut into my palms, stinging me. We had grown up together, barely spending a day apart since we were five. The times we were away from each other could be counted on one hand. After our engagement, we were practically joined at the hip. And yet, behind my back, he had fathered two children with another woman. The older was four, while the younger was two. If a maidservant hadn't slipped up, I would still be completely in the dark. It was all a scheme. They did all this so the money my parents gave them as a wedding gift could cover the funds they'd embezzled from the court. The love I thought was pure was nothing but a calculated lie. My chest throbbed with a pain so sharp that my hands trembled. A flood of strange memories kept warning me not to throw a scene. I couldn't afford to. Sean was named heir to the dukedom at a young age. His aunt was the empress, his father was her brother, and his mother was a noblewoman of the highest rank. I was merely a merchant's daughter. I couldn't fight them. I couldn't win. If our parents hadn't been old acquaintances, I would never have been worthy of him. Katie and her husband, Stanley Clay, rushed over and knocked on the door. Katie said, "Tia, it's me. I know this is hard to swallow, but take care of yourself. Don't cry. You'll break my heart." Stanley added, "Tia, we owe you an apology. But now that the marriage is done, we have to look forward. I promise you, no illegitimate child will ever outrank an heir born to you." After taking a few deep breaths, I finally pulled the door open. Sean's face was the first thing I saw. Panic flashed in his eyes as he grabbed my hands. "Tia, I'm so sorry. Hit me, yell at me, do whatever you want. Just don't ignore me." He raised his hand to slap his face, but I stopped him. His eyes lit up, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. "I knew you still care about me." I let him hold me, forcing a faint smile. "Men having concubines is nothing unusual. I was just caught off guard. I'm sorry for worrying you, Mother, Father." Stanley and Katie visibly relaxed. "That's our girl. We watched you grow up, and you've always known how to put the bigger picture first." "Don't worry, we won't let you suffer any injustice under our roof," Katie said, wrapping her arm around me as if to take my side. Their warm facade stood in stark contrast to those strange memories. In those memories, I had lost my mind, smashing things and screaming at Stanley and Katie for betraying my parents. After all, the wedding gift from my parents was real gold and silver. Stanley's face had turned as cold as ice. "Without my protection, do you think your family could survive in Jendral?" Katie had slapped me across the face. "Don't push your luck! You're married to him now. How dare you insult us? What, do you want the whole town talking?" And Sean lost all remorse after my outburst. He locked me in the bridal chamber to cool off for a whole month. A cold shiver ran down my spine, and my gaze hardened. I helped Sean up from his knees. "Don't say things like that. She has two children. Keeping them outside isn't right. Bring them here tomorrow." Sean agreed instantly. Stanley and Katie coaxed me back into the room to finish the wedding night. First thing the next morning, Sean brought the mistress, Paige Dale, and her entourage back. Sean and Paige walked up front, followed by two nannies carrying the children. In front of Stanley and Katie, Paige merely gave me a slight nod. "Forgive me, Your Grace. It's not that I don't want to bow, but I'm pregnant, and the physician advised me to rest." Chapter 2 Katie and Stanley exchanged glances before quickly stepping forward to greet Paige. "You're pregnant again? That's wonderful! Marvelous! Since you're expecting, there's no need for formalities." Sean was practically beaming as he carefully supported her. Standing outside the crowd, I froze in a haze of disbelief. The man I had loved with all my heart was about to have his third child. Nausea hit me in waves. Those terrifying memories kept warning me that I couldn't afford to waste another thought on love in this life. When I snapped back to reality, my eyes locked with Paige. Her smile was warm and composed as she had a maidservant bring over a cup of tea. She held it out to me with both hands. "My lady, if you accept this tea, I entrust these two children and their upbringing entirely to your care." I made no move to take it. My eyes fell on the liquid. In those memories, even though I refused to accept Paige, she still became part of the household. The cup of tea she offered had been laced with poison that rendered me infertile. I had been forced to drink it without knowing, permanently leaving me unable to have children. And with that, I lost any chance of turning the tables. This time, I stepped forward and gently caught her hands, bypassing the cup entirely. "Don't say that. I've always been frail and might never bear children myself. You are the true benefactor of the Clay family, so it's only right that the children stay under your care." Paige froze, a flicker of shock washing over her eyes. I knew why she was surprised. She was shocked I hadn't taken the tea and that I had accepted her and her children so easily. To everyone else, I was hot-tempered and fiercely unforgiving. Before she could speak, I turned to Sean. "I've met her now. Make sure they're settled in comfortably. I'll take my leave." After paying my respects to Stanley and Katie, I turned and left, fighting back my tears. As expected, Sean rushed out after me. "Tia, are you angry?" I buried my face in his chest. "If I can never give you a child, will you grow to despise me? Will you love Paige more?" Sean paused, then patted my head softly. "Are you jealous?" I stayed silent, letting a teardrop hang on my lashes. The smile in Sean's eyes deepened. To him, my vulnerability and anxiety were nothing more than proof of his irresistible charm. "No matter how good Paige is, she's just a concubine. How could she compare to you? You're my childhood sweetheart, my lawfully wedded wife." I hugged him tighter. This was the only way I could hide the disgust in my eyes. From now on, I would play the role of the perfect marchioness and leave love out of it. On the third day after the wedding, I returned to my maiden home. My family already knew about Paige. For my sake, my brother, Victor Johnson, held back, clenching his fists, and Father barely managed to keep his temper in check. Mother, however, was so heartbroken that she was bedridden. In those strange memories, I had been locked away for a month while my family stormed Clay Manor in rage. By the time I was freed, our family businesses had been stripped of their name, Victor's hard-won academic rank was revoked, and he was banned from taking the imperial exams until he turned 50. Mother had vomited blood three times from sheer grief. Father had tried to make a petition to His Majesty, but Her Majesty quickly squashed the scandal before it could spread. To keep me safe, my family was forced to surrender their wealth and power. Compared to that nightmare, the current situation was far better. When Mother saw me, tears streamed down her face, leaving her speechless. I squeezed her hand tightly. "I'm fine, Mother. Doesn't Father still have those three vitality pills Mr. Ambrose gave me? I want them now." Years ago, during a devastating flood, Father had poured out his fortune to save the refugees. By chance, he had saved the renowned fortune teller, Gideon Ambrose. Gideon had taken one look at me and declared, "Her fate is extraordinary. Though her bond with children is thin, she is destined for immense nobility." He had gifted me three vitality pills to warm the womb and boost fertility. Chapter 3 After retrieving the vitality pills, I stayed for a short while before heading back. Business transactions between our families continued as usual. The wedding gift from my parents guaranteed a steady stream of silver flowing into the Clay family, plugging their financial deficit. Stanley and Katie were overjoyed to hear that my parents' anger had been appeased. Before they could finish praising me, a maidservant rushed in to report that Sean's eldest son, Eric Clay, had fallen ill with a high fever. For the sake of the child, Sean spent almost the entire month staying at Paige's quarters. I fought for nothing and demanded nothing, choosing instead to stay by Katie's side. One day I went with her to pray for Eric, and the next I kneeled in the family's memorial hall, praying that Paige would bear another son. I even took the initiative to suggest granting Paige an official status as a concubine and adding her to the family tree. Not only that, but I also arranged a banquet to formally acknowledge both children as legitimate members of the family. I took the blame for the scandal of Sean having children with a concubine, spreading the word that I was in poor health and feared I couldn't conceive, which was why I had arranged everything in advance. Through this, I earned a reputation for being remarkably generous. Stanley and Katie showered me with praise. Sean was happiest of all since his children had finally been recognized as legitimate members of the family. He drank heavily that night and spent an affectionate evening with me. "Eric's fifth birthday is next month. Since Paige is pregnant and can't manage it, could you take care of the birthday banquet?" In those strange memories, after Eric turned five, his temper became increasingly bizarre. He refused to speak or communicate and ruined everything in sight whenever he threw a fit. On the day of the birthday banquet, he did just that. He grabbed a teacup and hurled it directly at me. It struck my temple, drawing blood and leaving me dizzy with pain. Eric glared at me and spat viciously, "You wench! You stole my father, and you won't even let me eat candy! Who do you think you are?" His outburst sent whispers rippling through the crowd. "Why is this child so poorly behaved?" "A concubine's child is naturally no match for a legitimate one." "Lady Tia is far too kind-hearted. Why would she ever let someone like that into her house?" Amidst the commotion, Paige rushed forward to cover Eric's mouth. When she dropped to her knees, she trembled all over. "My lady, Eric… He's just a child speaking without thinking. He doesn't mean a word of it." Sean and Katie rushed to support me. Before they could voice their reprimands, a maidservant stepped forward to make an announcement. "Your Grace, Mr. Ambrose is here to see you." Katie, being the most pious of all, immediately ordered the maidservant to invite him in. Clad in a simple gray tunic, Gideon stepped composedly into the hall. He folded his hands before him, his gaze sweeping past everyone before settling on me. He gave me a slight nod. My heart skipped a beat, and I curtsied in return. "Mr. Ambrose, you've traveled a long way to come here. My apologies for not receiving you sooner." Katie hurried over to greet him. Stanley offered him tea. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Mr. Ambrose?" Gideon turned his rosary beads. "As I passed by your manor, I felt an extraordinary majesty surrounding this place. May I ask if someone in this household is currently pregnant?" Hearing this, Sean immediately helped Paige forward. "Mr. Ambrose, could you be referring to the baby in Paige's womb?" Gideon frowned as he looked at her stomach, remaining silent for a long moment. For some reason, he turned his gaze back toward me. "When this child is born, a sacred sign will envelop the skies. Should he one day enter the court as an official, he shall get rid of the threat posed by the barbarians along our border once and for all." That final sentence caused an uproar across the room. The barbarians along the border launched frequent invasions, leaving the frontier populace in misery amid endless war. Anyone who could resolve that threat would be hailed as a savior of the country. Stanley and Katie were ecstatic. Sean treated Paige with even greater tenderness and caution. As she rested her hand on her lower abdomen, the shock on her face was gradually replaced by sheer triumph. She raised her head, her eyes passing over the crowd to meet mine from afar. The arrogance in her eyes could no longer be hidden. Before Gideon could say anything more, the crowd rushed forward to escort Paige back so she could rest. By that afternoon, news of the prophecy reached Their Majesties. Both royal figures personally visited Clay Manor to inspect Paige. After all, only a select few had ever received a prophecy from Gideon himself. In comparison, my quarters grew desolate and cold. Even the maidservants scrambled to serve at Paige's quarters, claiming they wanted to catch a share of the blessed child's good fortune. Nobody mentioned my injury again. Eric, the culprit behind it all, was lavished with fine food and treated with even greater pomp than a true legitimate heir. Sitting in the courtyard, I looked up at the full moon and gently stroked my lower abdomen. In those memories, the child Paige carried turned out to be a girl. Meanwhile, my period was over two weeks late. Before Gideon left, he gifted me a single rosary bead, calling it a gift for the child. Chapter 4 Three days passed before Sean bothered to spare me a single visit. He had barely sat down when Paige summoned him away under the pretext of feeling unwell. I didn't react, carrying on as usual by spending my days with Katie. She often took my hands and offered comfort. "Once Paige gives birth, the baby will be raised under your care. You don't need to feel sad." I didn't bother arguing. Life went on peacefully enough. Half a month later, my pregnancy was officially confirmed. Though they were pleased, their attention remained entirely on Paige. No one bothered to calculate the timeline of my pregnancy. I kept quiet about it too. I simply focused on my pregnancy, enjoying the peace and freedom. In my spare hours, I went over the accounting ledgers, patching up all the financial shortfalls to ensure the businesses ran smoothly. After all, this property would belong to me in the end. The quiet shattered on the day Paige went into labor. A man in a tunic kicked my courtyard gate wide open. "Search the place! Leave no stone unturned! "Lady Paige is suffering an obstructed labor and losing blood fast! A dark curse is suppressing her life force! I have tracked the malignant energy all the way here! Forgive the intrusion, my lady!" At his command, the manservants ransacked my courtyard and bedchamber. A few of them acted as if they knew the exact spots, heading straight for the four corners of the courtyard. By the time I realized what was happening, they raised needle-pierced voodoo dolls high in the air. "Found them! Lady Paige's name is written right on them!" It was a blatant, shameless frame-up. Several older maidservants pinned me down and dragged me to Paige's quarters, where bloodcurdling wails echoed from inside her bedchamber. Stepping into the main hall, I found Stanley, Katie, and Sean, all wearing grim expressions. A maidservant shoved me forward, and the geomancer presented the four dolls to Stanley and Katie. "Your Graces, we found them." Scanning the dolls, Stanley slammed his palm onto the table. "On your knees!" "Father, I didn't—" Before I could finish, Katie hurled one of the dolls straight at my face. "These were dug up from your courtyard! The evidence is indisputable! Why would you do such a thing? Even His Majesty knows about this baby! How dare you?" Seeing them consumed by rage, I turned to Sean, trying to point out the suspicious behavior of those manservants. Yet the moment I uttered his name, Paige let out another gut-wrenching scream from the delivery room. "My lord! My lord! If you can save the child, please… sacrifice me!" Her tragic cry startled the Empress, Alisha Clay, who had just arrived. She cast a lingering look at the delivery room and clenched her fists in anger. "Outrageous! Drag that wench who dared harm the blessed child to me, and slap her face 100 times!" As the eunuch stepped forward to grab me, she ordered someone to fetch Gideon, desperate to save Paige and her baby. "Your Majesty, I didn't—" My words were cut short once more by a heavy blow from the eunuch. Before the burning sting on one cheek could settle, another slap landed on the other side. From beginning to end, not a single soul listened to my side of the story. Looking over at Sean, I held onto a faint sliver of hope. I broke free and threw myself at his feet, clutching his robes so hard my nails nearly tore through the fabric. "Sean… believe me! Please believe me just this once… I didn't do it! We have a baby too!" He looked down at me, his gaze as ice-cold as if he were staring at a complete stranger. "How could your baby ever compare to the blessed child? Tia Johnson, you've truly disappointed me." He pried my hands off him, and the eunuch immediately pinned me down again. Slap after heavy slap landed on my face until my cheeks turned numb, beyond the reach of pain. Nothing remained but a loud, ringing buzz echoing in my head. After what felt like an eternity, Gideon was brought over. Sean immediately rushed forward and fell to his knees, striking his forehead against the stone floor with a heavy thud. "Mr. Ambrose, please save my blessed child! This child is the one chosen by the heavens! His life is bound to the very survival of our nation. To save him is to save the nation itself!" His impassioned plea drew murmurs of agreement from everyone in the hall. The looks they threw at me grew even more disgusted. Her Majesty stepped forward as well, bowing her head in deep respect. "His Majesty is deeply concerned for the blessed child in Paige's womb as well. Please, Mr. Ambrose, save him!" Gideon's gaze swept across the crowd. When he spoke, his deep voice carried a trace of confusion. "When did I ever say that the blessed child was in Lady Paige's womb?"