Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 181

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live**
**by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 181: The Pink Fish and the Blue Cat**

Merlin had made several attempts on Malrik’s life, and there had been two notable occasions when Malrik had turned the tables, eliminating Merlin instead. Yet, as if by some twisted magic, Merlin would always reappear, unscathed and with an air of nonchalance that unnerved Malrik. It was during these moments of eerie resurrection that Malrik came to a chilling realization: Merlin possessed an uncanny, almost supernatural ability—he simply could not die.

The Enchanter Clan was a veritable cauldron of deceit and treachery, and Malrik, weary of the toxic environment that had become his daily existence, found himself suffocating under the weight of it all. To add to his growing resentment, his mother openly favored Merlin, showering him with protection and affection that Malrik felt he could never earn. Disheartened and utterly disgusted, he ultimately chose to distance himself from the clan, seeking solace in the outer realms, far from their poisonous grasp.

Meanwhile, Emma sat in her dimly lit room, her eyes glued to the lightcore screen displaying Malrik’s curt response. The longer she scrutinized his words, the deeper her frown became. “What do you think, Lucien? Is he being honest, or is this just another elaborate excuse? What if this brother of his is nothing but a figment of his imagination?” Her heart raced with uncertainty, each thought spiraling into the next.

She realized how little she truly knew about Malrik. Was he genuinely sincere, or was he simply playing a part in a grander scheme?

Lucien, ever the pragmatic one, broke through her thoughts. “I’ll have someone investigate this matter further,” he assured her, his gaze steady and unyielding. “Emma, until we uncover the truth, I strongly advise you to keep your distance from Malrik. Whenever Silas and I are unavailable, you should continue to rely on Marcus for your protection.”

Emma mulled over his advice, nodding slowly as the weight of his words settled in. “You’re right. Until we have more clarity, it’s best to maintain some space between us.”

With a heavy sigh, she powered off the lightcore, the screen dimming to darkness as she turned her attention to the little pink fish that Aria had gifted her. Earlier that morning, she had asked Silas to feed them, but the unexpected chaos surrounding Malrik had disrupted their routine.

As she approached the fish tank, her heart sank. One of the vibrant little fish that had danced so energetically just the night before now lay listlessly at the bottom, its movements weak and sporadic. “Corvin, could you bring me a net?” she called out, her voice tinged with concern.

Crouching beside the tank, Emma observed the tiny creature as it struggled to flick its tail, refusing to accept any morsel of food. It was clear to her that the fish was ill. Fearing it might spread whatever ailment it harbored to the others, she swiftly scooped it out of the tank.

Corvin, ever curious, leaned over to inspect the ailing pink fish. With a mischievous grin, he poked it gently with a finger. “Emma, this fish kind of reminds me of Marcus—half dead but still hanging on,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

But unlike Marcus, who always seemed to defy death, this fish was truly on the brink of demise.

Emma carefully placed the fish in a separate container, instructing Corvin to change the water for the remaining fish.

“What should we do with this one?” Corvin asked, concern etched on his face. “Even if it’s alone, it looks like it won’t make it through the day.”

With a thoughtful expression, Emma added a few drops of medicine to the container. “Let’s give it a day. If it doesn’t pull through, we can let the turtles in the artificial lake have it.”

She couldn’t help but admire the fish’s lovely shade of pink. It felt almost cruel to think of feeding it to the turtles. In a moment of compassion, she decided to take one of Silas’ leaves and dropped it into the water. “Whether you live or die now, it’s all up to fate,” she murmured softly, her heart heavy with the weight of her decision.

Setting the container beside the tank, she made her way upstairs to begin her training.

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