I'm the last mermaid in the world, born with the power to make three wishes.

The first time, my boyfriend, Charlie Sullivan, was on the brink of death. I sacrificed my unborn child and my ability to bear children, wishing for Charlie to live a long, healthy life.

The second time, the Sullivan family was on the verge of bankruptcy. I gave up my lifetime of cultivation, wishing they could rise from the ashes and thrive again.

The third time, Charlie's childhood sweetheart, Maria Jones, was dying in labor. He forced me to sacrifice again, for the safe delivery of Maria and her child.

When I refused, he threw me into a men's prison. "One dollar a turn. Do whatever you want. She can't get pregnant anyway."

That night, I screamed until my voice broke.

At dawn, I used my life to activate the pearl charm for my final wish.

"I want those who betrayed and hurt me to lose everything. May their families be ruined, their lives ended, and no grave welcomes their bones."

***

When Charlie walked in, I was lying in filth. The last man had just left, pulling up his pants.

He saw Charlie and chuckled. "Thanks for the treat, Mr. Sullivan. Your wife tastes pretty damn good."

Without blinking, Charlie grabbed a vase and smashed it over his head.

With a loud crash, shards flew everywhere. The man screamed as he was dragged out.

Charlie stepped closer, his eyes sweeping over my bloody, mangled body. He sneered. "Do you know you were wrong?"

When I didn't respond, he sighed and gently wiped the filth off my face.

"Adriana, just help me one last time.

"I know you're jealous. But the child in Maria's belly is mine.

"You can't have kids, but you can't expect others not to, either."

But I remembered—when we were young after I sacrificed my unborn child to save him, he knelt by my bed crying until he passed out. Holding me, eyes bloodshot with guilt, he swore he'd never fail me.

"Even without a child, I'll love you forever."

That boomerang of a promise landed right between my eyes. I licked the blood from my lips and, under Charlie's hopeful gaze, slowly shook my head.

"It's gone."

The last chance. Gone.

Just moments ago, I traded my life for my final wish.

Clutching the pearl charm, I whispered, "Charlie...

"You're coming to hell with me!"

Charlie didn't hear that last part. His phone rang—it was the hospital. In a panic, he rushed me there.

"Maria's in labor! Adriana, hurry up and make the wish for her and her baby to be safe!"

Maria was his childhood sweetheart. She claimed her baby was a reincarnated saint, and only a mermaid priestess's blessing could ensure a safe birth.

Charlie believed her. He forced me to use the third charm to wish for Maria and her child.

But he didn't know. A mermaid priestess only gets three wishes in her life. And every wish demands an equal sacrifice. The first time, I gave up my unborn child to save Charlie. The second, I gave up my life's cultivation to save the Sullivan family.

The third wish would cost me my life.

I told him everything. But Charlie didn't believe me.

"Just like Maria said. You're jealous of her carrying my child, so you made up this whole story to hurt her."

As punishment, he threw me into a men's prison. I was tortured all night, my body broken.

And now, he still wanted me to bless Maria.

From the delivery room came screams of agony. Charlie exploded with rage, kicking me in the chest. "She's fighting for her life in there, and you're still playing jealous games? Adriana! This is your last chance. Are you making the wish or not?!"

When I stayed silent, his fury hit the roof. With a cold laugh, he made a call. Moments later, the butler brought in a rosewood box.

The moment I saw what was inside, my whole body went cold.

For mermaids, aside from the gift of granting wishes, the most precious things were the 108 scales on their tails—the source of their physical strength.

In Charlie's hand was the Scaleshield. I made it for him when I loved him most, forging it from every single one of my scales and my heart's blood, just to keep him safe.

To craft it, I was unconscious for three months. When I woke up, my body had lost its natural defenses. I was no stronger than any human.

Now, Charlie toyed with the Scaleshield, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Adriana, I remember you said this shield's made from your tail scales, tied to your soul. If I destroy it..."

The Scaleshield was indestructible. Blades, bullets, fire, water—nothing worked. Only one way could destroy it. And I'd only told Charlie.

"No... Charlie, please, I'm begging you. No..."

Terror made me tremble. I knew what was coming.

Ignoring my pleas, he had someone bring a dagger. The cold blade pressed against my chest—and pushed.

"Ouch!"

The knife cut my skin. The wound healed. He cut again. Over and over. Slowly, cracks spread across the Scaleshield.

Since it was forged from my scales, only my flesh and blood could break it.

The shield was soaked in blood. As it melted, my soul felt like it was being torn apart. My body shattered. My mind blurred. Only one thought remained.

"It hurts.

"It hurts so much."

"Ms. Jones has given birth! It's a boy! Congratulations, Mr. Sullivan!"

My body jolted. My mind cleared.

The curse would take effect in three hours. I had to stay alive—to watch them fall into hell with my own eyes. Maria had given birth safely. Charlie finally breathed easy.

"Maria! Thank you for giving me a healthy son!"

A sharp pain struck my chest. Six years ago, to save Charlie, I sacrificed my unborn child. After the wish came true, I struggled to give birth to a stillborn—half-human, half-demon.

Charlie knelt by my bed the whole night. The next day, he personally buried the child. I thought, even if he didn't love me, at least he loved our child.

But seeing his joy as Maria gave birth, I finally understood. He had always despised both me and our child...

Suddenly, a nurse's scream came from the delivery room. "Emergency! Ms. Jones is hemorrhaging! She needs blood, fast!"

"Draw Adriana's! Her blood matches any type—and has healing properties!"

Without hesitation, Charlie yanked me up, dragging me to the nurse's station. The thick needle pierced my vein. In moments, the bag was full.

"We've drawn 800ml already. She doesn't look good... Should we keep going?"

Charlie glanced at my pale lips. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes but was quickly interrupted by his mother, Julia Nilsson, rushing over.

"Keep drawing! That's my grandson in there!"

Julia slapped me hard. "If you had made the wish, my grandson would've been born safely already! This is all your fault!"

Charlie nodded. "Everything for Maria and the baby!"

The nurse nodded and drew two more bags. The blood loss made my head spin. My body went limp and fell backward.

My wrist hit a chair with a sharp clang.

Julia's eyes lit up when she saw it. She grabbed my wrist. "The Blood Bracelet of the Merfolk clan? The one that brings good luck and protection to the wearer?"

"A treasure like this should be my grandson's first gift!"

The merfolk clan thrived for thousands of years, leaving behind countless treasures. Julia tried several times to get some from me, but I turned her down every time.

She held a grudge, sided with Maria, and schemed to kick me out of the Sullivan family.

I let her take the Blood Bracelet. She didn't know—only merfolk descendants can wear it.

Anyone else would be cursed. Misfortune follows, and death comes soon after.

Maria finally came out of the delivery room. She smiled weakly at me. "Adriana, even though you didn't help us, I promised Charlie. Once the baby turns one month old, I'll move out. This child is yours."

She and Charlie grew up together. Before the Sullivan family collapsed, both families planned to marry them off. But when the Sullivan family went bankrupt overnight, Maria fled abroad under the pretense of further studies, leaving Charlie without a second thought.

Later, Charlie made a comeback and became the city's rising star. In contrast, Maria's father made a bad business move, and the Jones family declared bankruptcy. Maria rushed back home, desperate, and clung to Charlie.

At first, Charlie wanted nothing to do with her. He despised her. He wouldn't let her near and cursed her every time she showed up. Everyone in Los Angeles knew—no one Charlie hated more than Maria.

But slowly, things changed.

He still humiliated her in public and private, but after every tearful escape, he would stare after her, lost in thought.

When she cried, his eyes no longer held hate—they softened, turning to pity.

I saw everything but couldn't stop it. One night at a party, Charlie got drunk and slept with Maria. The room reeked of lust. It was disgusting. When I confronted him, he pulled Maria into his arms, saying, "It was an accident. Maria is innocent."

I asked for a divorce, but Charlie refused. He called it a mistake, dropped to his knees, and swore it would never happen again.

I lost my head and forgave him. But then Maria showed up, heavily pregnant, claiming she was carrying Charlie's baby. She said she didn't want to ruin our marriage. She just wanted to atone by giving him a child.

"Charlie, I really love you. Even if I get nothing in return, I'm willing to have your baby."

Her sobs snapped me back to the moment. Staring at the baby in her arms, her eyes reddened, and she choked up. "But... I can't bear to give up my baby..."

Charlie's grip on my wrist tightened. His eyes filled with guilt. "Maria, you're his mother. Blood ties can't be cut..."

"But what about Adriana?"

I pretended not to hear and just stared blankly at the baby in her arms. After a long silence, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

My powers were gone, but my mermaid gift remained. Through my Heavenly Eye, I saw it clearly—this baby had zero blood ties to Charlie.

Ridiculous. Charlie thought himself so clever, yet Maria's child wasn't even his. But he didn't know. After a moment of silence, he suddenly yanked me out of the room. "Adriana, you're my wife. I can give you status, wealth—everything. Maria has nothing. She doesn't want anything. She just wants a little love from me.

"Six years ago, to repay your kindness, I left her and married you. This time, I can't fail her again!

"Adriana, you've had my love for so long. Can't you be generous, just this once?"

My tears had long dried up. I stared at him, numb, speechless.

Maybe I looked too broken, because Charlie softened his voice, trying to soothe me. "I promise, even if Maria stays, you'll always be my only wife. My love belongs to you."

He hugged me from behind, resting his head on my shoulder, saying, "I love you, Adriana."

With my back to him, I closed my eyes in exhaustion. It was useless. My life was fading. The curse was near. Nothing I said would change anything now.