Theo paused momentarily before raising his head, his deep eyes filled with disbelief. "The color of the pearl depends on the merfolk's mood."

I touched my belly and said slowly, "I don't care. If you don't cry, I'll release your baby into the sea."

His expression changed abruptly.

Three minutes later, I stared in astonishment at the notorious villain who was feared outside. His eyes were red as pearls dropped with a pattering sound. The pale pink pearls rolled around on the plate, sounding particularly pleasant.

The system suddenly made a ding.

[The villain's corruption level has dropped to 85%.]

I happily picked up a pearl. This task was simple. If this continued, I was afraid I would make Theo a sweet and naive merman who only cried pearls.

However, just when I thought I was sure to succeed, Melody came. She was dressed in a plain white dress and stood at the villa entrance with red eyes, looking pitiful. "Theo, please save my father... He's been caught. Only you can find him..." Her voice choked up.

I stood in the doorway, sneering, "Get Reagan to help."

Melody bit her lip, and tears came streaming down her face even faster. "He doesn't have those kinds of connections..."

I paused before realizing it. The male lead was always an optimistic, righteous, and domineering CEO, while the villain was sinister and ruthless. Thus, the first person Melody thought of was always Theo, with his bloodstained hands, when she needed someone to do her dirty bidding.

I glanced back at Theo standing at the corner of the stairs. He stood there quietly, his eyes unfathomable, while he held the slippers I had just kicked off.

A sudden surge of anger welled up inside me. "You're not allowed to go!"

Melody bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "Since Elle won't allow it, forget it..."

She looked pitiful as she turned to leave.

Just as she was about to step out the door, Theo suddenly said, "Wait."

I watched as he knelt, gently put my slippers back on, and even adjusted their position. Then, this bastard actually got up and followed Melody!

"Theo!" I grabbed a slipper and smashed it on the back of his head. "Don't come back if you go!"

The slipper hit my target, making a crisp smack.

He paused and did not turn around. He just rubbed the spot where he had been hit and continued walking.

I was so angry that I almost threw the other slipper at him as well.

...

At 3:00 am, I checked my phone for the 28th time. The screen was still completely black.

Suddenly, the system notification popped up with a beep.

[Warning! Villain's corruption level has increased by 12%. Current value: 97%.]

I sat upright, nearly straining my back. "What? I've been carrying his baby like a hen, working myself to the bone. I only managed to reduce his corruption level by 15%. He went out with the female lead for one night, and it increased by 12 points?"

The system added quietly, "To be precise, it’s only been four hours and 38 minutes."

"What? Did Melody use him as ransom for the kidnappers?" I sneered, touching my belly.

Suddenly, the sound of a car engine came from outside the window.

I darted to the window and saw Theo's car slowly drive into the front yard, its headlights casting two hazy streaks of light in the rain.

What angered me even more was that he was carrying something in his hand when he got out of the car. The packaging had Moonlit Sea's logo printed on it.

This costly seafood restaurant was Melody's favorite.

"Very well." I gritted my teeth and commanded the system, "Exchange the 'False Abortion Pill’ for me immediately!"

The system was so scared that its code was all messed up. "Elle, stay calm! Merbabies are resilient. This tool requires 5,000 points..."

"Do I look like I care about points?"

The reason why I was lazy in this world was that the points I earned from the tasks I did in other worlds before were enough for me to retire on.

...

When Theo gently pushed open the bedroom door, he saw me curled up on the bed, pale-faced and clutching my stomach. "Elle?" The food container in his hand clattered to the floor, scattering baked salmon everywhere.

I weakly looked up and saw a slap mark on his left cheek.

Theo's hands trembled as he picked me up, and he immediately drove me to the hospital.

I deliberately lay on the hospital bed with my back to Theo, listening to his rapid breathing as he spoke with the doctor.

"There are mild signs of miscarriage. She needs absolute bed rest. It's crucial to keep her emotions stable," the doctor advised sternly.

Theo's voice was hoarse. "She… and the baby..."

"She's alright for now, but further stress could make things worse."

"Mr. Atwater... Mrs. Atwater's human body isn't suited for carrying a merman's offspring. The first three months are especially critical. If this goes on, I'm afraid the offspring..."

The hospital ward door closed. Then, there was a dull thud that sounded like knees slamming heavily onto the floor.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..." His voice trembled as he whispered against the back of my neck.

I quietly pricked up my ears, waiting for him to continue.

"I shouldn't have left you home alone..." His fingers cautiously touched my shoulder.

I immediately turned around, nearly bumping into his nose. "I'm furious! Get out!"

The system had just told me that Melody's father owed two million dollars due to gambling. She did not want to borrow money from Reagan. Instead, she thought of having Theo rescue him without spending a penny.

Upon arriving at the scene, she discovered that her father's kidnapper was Theo's former henchman, who had been expelled from the Eternal Night Gang for misconduct.

Melody did not believe Theo and thought he had deliberately sent someone to do it, so she slapped him.

Theo opened his mouth helplessly but said nothing. He just suddenly hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

"Let go! You're pressing on my belly!" I punched his back.

He immediately jumped back as if he had been electrocuted and looked helplessly at my belly, his eyes filled with lingering fear. "Elle... don't be mad... I brought you salmon."

I was confused. Had it not been for Melody?

"You said you wanted baked salmon the night before the last. I wrote it down in my notes," he explained quietly.

I remained quiet.

"So..." Theo suddenly knelt beside the bed, carefully taking my hand. "Can you forgive me?"

Looking at his red-rimmed eyes, a sudden idea struck me. "I'll forgive you if you cry one purple pearl."

Theo said nothing.

Three minutes later, I sat on the bed, smugly counting the purple pearls before me. I heard the system's notification.

"Villain's corruption level has dropped to 70%."

I stayed in the hospital for three days and finally discovered a shocking secret. The doctor who did my ultrasound examination turned out to be a clownfish merman from the bottom of the sea!

I secretly observed him for a long time. When he bent down to record the data, I asked in a low voice, "Can you cry out pearls?"

The doctor's hand trembled. His pen nearly dropped to the ground as he awkwardly pushed his glasses. "Mrs. Atwater, not all merfolk can produce pearls..."

I sighed in disappointment and turned my head to look at Theo, who was sitting beside me, peeling apples. I asked quietly, “So, you're a rare variety?"

The fruit knife in Theo's hand paused as he expressionlessly handed me an apple." Eat."

I pursed my lips. As expected, merfolk who could cry pearls were all treasures.

Meanwhile, Melody had called no less than ten times. The first time the phone rang, Theo was peeling grapes for me. The screen lit up, and he glanced at it, his fingers slightly stiffening.

I narrowed my eyes. "Answer it."

Theo silently tapped decline.

I said, "Cry me a pearl."

Theo said nothing.

Five minutes later, I received a pale purple pearl, to much of my satisfaction.

When Melody's second call came, Theo was massaging my calves. The phone's vibration made him pause.

I lazily looked up. "Answer it."

Theo declined with a poker face.

I said, "Cry."

Theo took a deep breath, his eyes turning slightly red.

With a thud, a pearl fell to the floor.

By the third and fourth time, Theo had developed a conditioned reflex. Whenever his phone rang, his eyes would start to redden, and tears would well up even before I could speak.

I laughed so hard that I slapped the bed. "Theo, do you have tear incontinence?"

Theo's expression darkened. He silenced his phone and answered through gritted teeth, "Elle, don't go too far."

I blinked innocently. "What did I do? I didn't say anything."

He was so mad that he turned around and went to the balcony for some fresh air. After less than two minutes, he silently returned, placed a pearl in my palm, and whispered, "Stop being mad."

I was puzzled.

The system was frantically trying to suppress its laughter in my mind.

"Elle, you've turned the villain into an automatic pearl-producing machine!"

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, I carried a sack full of pearls, happily preparing to go home and string them into a pearl curtain.

Theo carried the luggage in one hand and supported me with the other, afraid I would stumble or fall.

Just as we reached the hospital entrance, Melody suddenly rushed out from the side. Her eyes were red and swollen as she blocked our way.

"Theo! I have something to say to you!"

Theo's eyes reddened almost reflexively, tears instantly welling up.

Melody was confused.

I was suppressing my laughter until my stomach hurt. I quickly took Theo's arm and asked with feigned gentleness, "Ms. Carlisle, what's wrong?"

Melody opened her mouth, seemingly not expecting Theo's reaction. After a long pause, she finally said with difficulty, "I'm sorry... About that situation with my father… I misunderstood you—”

Theo interrupted frigidly, “It’s alright."

With that said, he pulled me quickly toward the car, afraid that the pearls would fall out again if we stayed any longer.

I turned and waved to Melody, remarking with a grin, "Ms. Carlisle, just ask Reagan if you need anything. Theo's busy."

He was busy crying me pearls!

Once in the car, Theo fastened my seatbelt with a grim expression.

I poked his cheek. "What's wrong? Unhappy?"

He was silent for a moment before suddenly whispering, "Elle, do you only like my pearls?"