Sylvie instantly recognized the pearl. It was the one she spat out when she took on a human form all those years ago.

She raised her auction paddle and called out, "I'm bidding 500 million dollars."

As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd burst into commotion.

Connor looked at Sylvie in shock. "Have you lost your mind? Even if you're jealous, you shouldn't be hiking up the price like that."

Sylvie couldn't even be bothered to look at him as she replied, "It's none of your business. I'm not spending your money."

When she first came to the human world, she pawned off many of the treasures she brought from the underwater realm. All that money was stored in her private bank account, and she had more than enough to buy the pearl.

Anna was displeased to see Connor talking to Sylvie. "Connor, I want you to help me get the Pearl of the Merpeople!"

For the first time, Connor was a little hesitant when it came to fulfilling one of Anna's requests. Shaw Group was currently facing a bit of a financial crisis. He didn't quite have enough cash on hand to buy something that would cost him over 500 million dollars.

"Annie, I've already bought so many treasures for you today. Let's just forget about this one…"

"No! I must have it!" Anna insisted angrily. "Have you forgotten? You said when you were little, you dreamed that I became a mermaid and saved you from the ocean. Let's make the Pearl of the Merpeople the symbol of our love, okay?"

The auctioneer's voice rang out once more, "500 million going once. 500 million going twice…"

"Connor!" Anna urged frantically.

Connor gritted his teeth and raised his paddle, calling out, "550 million!"

That was the most he could fork out right now.

Smiling faintly, Sylvie didn't even hesitate to double her bid. The crowd was in an uproar, and Anna turned pale with fury.

After the auction, Connor approached Sylvie and held his hand out. "Give me the pearl."

"What are you talking about?" Sylvie asked in confusion.

Connor was taken aback. "Weren't you bidding on it for me?"

Sylvie found that notion laughable. She looked straight into his eyes and said, "This belongs to me. Why should I give it to you?"

Alas, Anna's voice drowned out her retort. "Connor, to make it up to me, you need to watch the fireworks with me tonight."

Connor had failed to catch what Sylvie said.

…

Once Sylvie got back to the house, she called up a moving company and had them collect her things to be trashed.

When the movers saw the exquisite clothes and shoes that filled the closet, they were rather hesitant. "Are you sure you want to throw everything out, Ms. Waverly?"

Sylvie nodded at once. She was severing all ties she had formed with the human world in the last seven years and returning to her own world, unburdened by anything.

She took out the notebook. Seeing the numbers that filled the pages, she silently reminded herself that she only needed one last time. Then, she could leave Connor for good, never to cross paths again.

However, she had prepared to give him a gift after the final round.

Sylvie had set up a camera in the worship room where the altar was.

What Connor wanted to protect the most was his persona as the religious, celibate man.

Well, Sylvie was going to use the camera to record her final bout of intimacy with him and upload it for all to see. That was the "surprise" she was giving him before her departure.

Sylvie counted the days and knew that Connor would have an episode tonight.

True enough, he returned in the middle of the night. As soon as he came in, he impatiently pulled Sylvie into his arms.

Feeling woozy from the sudden barrage of kisses, Sylvie just barely managed to ask, "You're not hanging out with Anna?"

Instead of replying, Connor deftly took off her sleeping gown and carried her to the home altar. She closed her eyes and silently told herself this was the last time.

Fueled by the effects of his compulsive sexual disorder, Connor was like a famished beast, fiercely feasting on Sylvie. She had to admit he was incredibly proficient at this.

After the first round, Sylvie had to rest for some time before she finally felt like herself again. However, just as she got up to put her clothes back on, Connor put an arm around her waist and pulled her back toward him.

"That wasn't enough. I need more."

Only after spending seven whole hours at it did Connor's symptoms finally ease. He tossed a white handkerchief at Sylvie and said, "Clean up after yourself. Don't sully God's eyes."

Looking at the blinking red light of the camera in the distance, Sylvie couldn't resist smirking. After seven years, she had finally completed her mission.

Two hours later, she was going to sever all ties with Connor. They would never see each other again.

Sylvie was in a pretty good mood as she took a shower. Keen to get some souvenirs for her parents, she headed out of the house. As soon as she entered an alley, someone bashed her head with a bat, knocking her out.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dark hut. Anna was standing in front of her with a furious expression.

"Connor was watching the fireworks with me last night. Why did he suddenly ditch me and run off to look for you? What kind of spell did a seductress like you put on him, Sylvie?"

Without waiting for Sylvie to speak, Anna clapped her hands, and a group of beggars immediately surrounded Sylvie.

Anna's expression became rather twisted as she continued, "Do you know what the most cunning scheme is? It's when you use yourself as bait."

Just then, Connor came storming into the hut.

Anna swiftly changed into a frail, helpless demeanor. She cried pitifully, "Connor! Sylvie got so jealous that she hired a bunch of people to violate me! Thank goodness you came over in time, or else I would've…"

Connor's eyes flashed with anger. "I made things clear with you from the start, Sylvie! There's no way I'd ever love you. Why did you try to hurt Annie like that?"

He didn't even give Sylvie a chance to clarify the truth. Nevertheless, she had completed her mission already. In just ten minutes, she was supposed to turn into a pile of dust and vanish from this world for good. Therefore, she simply eyed him in silence without saying anything.

For some reason, when Connor saw her still gaze, he felt a tinge of apprehension. It was as though something was about to disappear.

Anna took Connor's arm and said with an aggrieved expression, "Connor, you promised me you'd see the fireworks with me. Tonight's the last night for the fireworks show."

Connor glanced at Sylvie, and Anna noticed that, too.

"There's nothing to worry about, Connor. Sylvie hired these beggars herself. Why would they hurt her?" she said in dissatisfaction.

Connor hesitated briefly before taking Anna's arm and turning to Sylvie, saying, "You can stay in this hut and reflect on your wrongdoing."

The moment the door closed, the beggars began salivating as they lunged at Sylvie with perverse expressions.

Sylvie closed her eyes.

It was such a shame. The final gift she was leaving to Connor in this human world would end up being a brutally assaulted human corpse, mangled beyond recognition.

The real her would be returning to the ocean—and her freedom.