Chapter 363 – Financial Gaslighting
She stared at him. Water beaded on her lips.
He let the silence breathe before he continued. "Let lay it out for you. Straight. First—you’re not a siren."
She blinked. "But I—"
"No. You’re not," he cut in, calm but firm. "You’re a rmaid. A real one. You know the difference?"
She hesitated. Shook her head.
Lux nodded like he expected that. "Figures. Sirens sing. That’s their thing. That’s it. No tails. Just lungs, lungs, and more lungs. They’re pop stars with gills."
She blinked again, confused.
"But rmaids?" Lux said, pointing at her tail. "They’re different. They have real aquatic bloodlines. Royal ones. They can sing and cry pearls."
Her breath caught. "Pearls?"
He raised a brow. "You’ve produced them before, haven’t you?"
"...Yes."
"There you go. That’s not a curse. That’s a dividend."
Her brows furrowed. "But... they said it was because I was cursed. That sirens don’t make pearls. That I was wrong. Broken."
He scoffed. "That’s because rmaids usually hide their identity. Too valuable. Too hunted. Your so-called family knew exactly what you were. They just branded you a defect to control you. Classic financial gaslighting."
Ariel’s voice dropped to a whisper. "So... you an... I’m a rmaid?"
"Yes."
Her hands trembled. "But how do you know all this?"
Lux smirked, leaning back. "Brain. And good information."
He let the water slide over his shoulders, tilting his head lazily. "Let’s just say I have... informants. The kind who swim through sealed ledgers and spy on upper crust scandals. You’d be surprised what surfaces when you shake the right pockets."
Ariel’s mouth opened. Closed. She looked lost.
"I know this is a lot," he said, voice softening. "I also know you probably don’t believe it yet. But your ex-family?" His eyes hardened. "They filed you under ’deceased.’ As far as their records go, you’re dead. Gone. Written off."
She swallowed hard. "And my real family?"
"We’ll find them," he said. "But I don’t know if they’ll recognize you. You were taken as a baby. It’s been twenty years. And if they’re like most high-bloodline rclans... well."
"Well?" she whispered.
"They might deny you. Or use you. Or fight over you like a limited-edition stock option."
Her tail twitched beneath her.
"But," Lux added, "you won’t be alone this ti."
Her eyes flicked to him.
"You’re on my ledger now," Lux said. "And I don’t lose assets. I build them."
Then he paused.
Ariel blinked, still looking lost sowhere between awe and confusion.
Lux rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling. "Right. Uh... non-CFO terms."
He shifted, eyes locking with hers, voice softening in a way that made even the water still around him.
"You’re under my protection now," he said simply. "No strings. Just that. And I will try to get your confidence back."
Ariel stared at him. Not like she didn’t believe him—more like she didn’t know how to receive it.
She didn’t answer.
But the sobbing stopped.
And for the first ti since she entered his car, she didn’t flinch when he reached out.
She just stared at him, wide-eyed and uncertain.
Not because she feared him.
But because, maybe—just maybe—she didn’t know what it was like to be saved without a price.
He swam closer and flicked water at her face.
She gasped. "Hey—"
"Just making sure you’re not a hallucination."
A small smile broke across her lips before she caught herself. Her fingers twitched, brushing her cheek like she could wipe it away—like smiling in front of him was dangerous.
Lux saw it, of course. He saw everything. But this ti, he didn’t comnt.
He just floated lazily backward, arms spreading along the surface of the pool like a man with too much ti and too many secrets. "Alright, fish girl. Up you go. You’ve had your emotional breakdown quota for the day. Let’s get you cleaned up."
Ariel blinked. "What?"
"You sll like sand, sweat, and systemic trauma. Shower. Now."
Her mouth opened—then closed. She wanted to argue. But she could still feel the dried salt on her skin, the way her hair clung to her neck like guilt. So she just nodded, slowly.
Her legs returned as she stepped out of the water—awkwardly, almost falling forward, catching herself against the side of the pool. Lux didn’t help her this ti, just raised a brow and gave a smug little nod like ’good, you can walk now, that’s progress.’
Inside the mansion, the air was cool and clean. Too clean. Ariel flinched at how bright everything was—the white tiles, the shimring walls, the perfu of sothing floral and expensive floating faintly in the air.
She didn’t know where to go.
But Lyra did.
The head maid appeared at her side with the silent efficiency of soone who’d been professionally terrifying for decades. She didn’t say anything at first—just looked at Ariel with calm, unreadable eyes and held out a robe.
Ariel hesitated.
Lyra finally spoke. "The bathroom is this way. I will assist you."
Her voice was soft. Gentle. Not what Ariel expected.
Still, Ariel followed. Her bare feet padded on the marble like she didn’t belong. The mont the bathroom door closed behind her, Lyra didn’t just hand her towels—she knelt beside the wide soaking tub and began adjusting the controls. The water poured out in a waterfall arc, steaming instantly, filling the air with a warm mist that clung to Ariel’s skin.
"Wait, I can—"
"I will assist," Lyra repeated. "It is my duty."
There was sothing final in the way she said it. Not rude. Not cruel. Just... absolute.
Ariel stepped into the water slowly.
She expected it to burn. Expected the warmth to hurt. But it didn’t. It was... nice. Too nice.
She tried not to cry. Again.
Later, Lyra helped her into a soft white gown. Ariel looked at herself in the mirror—really looked.
The girl who stared back was clean. Soft hair. Smooth skin. No dirt under her nails. No cracked lips. No bruises on her arms.
She didn’t recognize her.
Lyra handed her a hair comb. "Co. Food is ready."
Ariel nodded mutely. Followed again.
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