The Ice Queen

I was a spoiled princess, and after marrying a cold, stoic man I didn't love, I gave birth to a mini stoic. Even when our son turned five, I continued to boss them around, ruling the household with an iron fist. I loved seeing their looks of annoyance while they still had to cater to my every whim. Until one day, comments started to float across my vision. [The wicked side character is finally getting phased out. The heroine has transferred to the male lead's company and even took the little one to KFC today. The story is finally getting on track!] [Constantly tormenting our male lead and the little one. Good thing the father and son will eventually kick her out to appease the heroine. The pampered socialite will end up paralyzed from the waist down after being hit by a car on the street.] [The thought of the male lead's happy family of three mocking her as a cripple in the hospital fills me with pure satisfaction.] I abruptly lifted my leg. My husband, who was washing my feet, and my son, who was dutifully massaging my legs, were both splashed in the face with water. The brows of the two stoic faces, one big and one small, instantly furrowed. I stammered. "No, no need, I'll do it myself…" 1 Young Richard frowned, his small mind clearly struggling to understand why I was so unpredictable. "Mommy, is the water too hot?" I awkwardly put my foot back into the basin. "No, I'm done washing, no need to massage anymore, you can stand up." I swallowed, then glanced at my husband, Chandler, who was also kneeling on one knee beside me. "You too, get up." Compared to Richard, Chandler was much more composed. He seemed accustomed to my sudden changes in temperament. He calmly stood up to grab a towel. [The more humiliated the male lead and little one are now, the more satisfying it will be when they get their revenge on the side character.] [Making the little prince massage her legs, and the billionaire CEO wash and dry her feet? She really has a death wish.] I silently watched the scrolling text. So, I was the villainous side character, and my husband and son were the male lead and male child lead of this world. Not only did I have to make way for the heroine, but Richard existed because the author was worried the heroine would suffer childbirth pain, so they arranged for me, the side character, to have him first. In the end, the beautiful heroine would appear, inheriting my husband and son, saving them, and showing them that there was a kind woman other than me. The happy family of three would live happily ever after. I clenched my fists. Chandler, fine. We were an arranged marriage, no real emotional foundation. But Richard… I looked at the little boy standing obediently nearby. Although he had a face identical to his father’s, he was still my son, literally from my womb. I wasn't about to hand him over to someone else. So, I cleared my throat twice and asked him. "Sweetie, if Daddy and Mommy got divorced, who would you go with?" Richard froze, then his little brow furrowed again. Mimicking his father, he spoke coldly. "Mommy, don't make such meaningless hypotheticals." I was choked by his reply, looking up to meet Chandler's cool, amber eyes. They seemed like still, calm water. He stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and lifted my foot from the basin. "Don't say such things in front of the child…" Richard nodded, like a miniature adult, and turned to walk out the door. "I'm going back to sleep." The comments were filled with laughter. [What is this side character thinking? Both father and son are cut from the same cloth, so their level of annoyance with her is obviously the same.] [Chandler can still fake it a bit, but little Richard practically has 'disgust' carved on his face.] [LOL, never mind she can't bear to divorce, even if she did, little Richard wouldn't go with her. Why would he? To serve her like her dog?] [Her sole purpose is to cause chaos, get abandoned, and then suffer a tragic death by broken legs to achieve the 'satisfying' plot effect.] My heart gave a violent lurch. Without a word, I snatched the towel from Chandler's hand. "I'll do it myself." Chandler’s brow subtly furrowed, but he said nothing in the end. Lying in bed, I tried to process the information from the comments. I lifted my silk robe, staring at my long, fair legs. They were so long, so perfectly proportioned—I couldn't accept losing them later! After much deliberation, I decided to first change how I treated my husband and son. According to the comments, I couldn't stop the male and female leads from meeting. Even if I convinced Chandler to fire the heroine, they would just meet at the next street corner. But if my son saw me as a gentle mother, maybe when Chandler and I divorced, he would choose me. 2 Thinking this, I looked up and saw Chandler emerging from the bathroom. He had only a towel wrapped around his waist, and un-wiped water droplets slowly tracked down his chest. When he saw me lying on the bed with my robe lifted, revealing my legs, his movement of wiping his hair paused, and his pupils immediately darkened. I was still pondering how to be a considerate, good mother. I looked up again and saw Chandler had already retrieved the "battle attire" I had once bought for him from the closet. In his left hand, he held black and white lace; in his right, purple lace. His ear tips were slightly red, and he stared at me with a wooden expression, as if seeking my opinion. The comments section went wild with screams. [Why is the screen black?! Is there something my esteemed VIP member isn't allowed to see?] [Side character, I won't scold you anymore. Just turn on the camera and let everyone admire your husband's big chest muscles.] [Claire, let your husband be everyone's plaything, build some good karma, quickly turn on the camera and let us see the goods.] Amidst a sea of yellow duck avatars, a few original fans chimed in. [I can't accept this. Even knowing how little Richard came to be, I still feel the male lead was coerced. Does the side character not see her husband's perpetually cold face every time he's intimate with her?] [I agree. The male lead clearly refused the first time, but she keeps forcing him to wear those things to satisfy her weird fetish. It's disgusting.] [It's fine, just thinking that the legs currently straddling the male lead will soon be gone makes me feel less angry.] I took a deep breath, watching Chandler about to change, and quickly pulled the duvet over my legs. "I… I'm not in the mood today. Let's just go to sleep early!" After I said that, the air in the entire room seemed to freeze. The comments cheered. [Oh, it's daylight now.] [The male lead's face doesn't look too good. What did the side character do now?] [What else? She forced him to wear those clothes and got rejected. Look at the male lead's knuckles, white from clenching the lace garment. Enduring humiliation…] I also noticed Chandler’s face was uncharacteristically dark. Especially after I said "not in the mood," his face visibly darkened by more than two shades. It was true that Chandler used to be reluctant to change clothes, and I'd have to coax and trick him. Now, seeing the furious comments, I didn't even dare to breathe too loudly. "Understood," Chandler’s voice, like himself, was cool and detached. He casually tossed the clothes into the wardrobe, then pulled back the covers and lay down. I pinched my leg under the duvet, letting out a long sigh of relief. Good, they were safe. Love you, old legs, see you tomorrow. 3 I woke up the next day to bright daylight. Stepping out of my room, I saw the father and son sitting in the living room. As soon as I sat down, Chandler rose to get me toast from the kitchen. Richard, huffing and puffing, carried a carton of milk towards me, stepping onto a stool to pour it for me. The comments were once again complaining. [The side character truly deserves her end. With so many nannies in the house, she insists on the male lead and little one serving her. She's just asking for trouble.] [Exactly, saying she wants little Richard to develop good service habits so he won't be disliked when he marries into another family. Does the little prince need to marry into another family?] [And she claims she wants the male lead to set a good example for his son. I think she just wants to torment them and satisfy her control issues.] My brow twitched violently. I reached out and grabbed Richard's small arm. Richard looked up at me, bewildered. "This time I put in one and a half spoonfuls of sugar," he said. I took the milk, poured it into a glass myself, and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. "Mommy can do these small things herself. You hurry up and eat." Richard stared at me, seemingly unable to understand why I was acting so strangely. But he turned and sat back in his seat. Chandler emerged from the kitchen, looking a bit troubled. "We're out of salad dressing. I've already sent Aunt Mae to buy some…" I picked up a sandwich. "It's fine, I can eat it without salad dressing." The air fell silent, even the housekeeper looked at me with some surprise. Chandler looked at his empty palm, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. "Mommy, you actually didn't throw the sandwich at Daddy's face…" Richard blinked. I took a deep breath. Was I really that awful before? The comments had already answered for me. [Why did the side character suddenly change? Isn't she known for her terrible morning temper? Last time there was no salad dressing, she threw a tantrum and threw the sandwich directly.] [Look how scared our little Richard is, even his cool expression can't hold up. He probably thinks his mom is possessed.] I took a bite of my sandwich, too guilty to look at the comments anymore. A small piece of lettuce slipped out and fell straight onto my thigh. Seeing my stained loungewear, I instinctively frowned slightly. A tissue gently covered my leg, followed by a finely-boned hand entering my vision. Chandler's hand was large, almost covering my entire thigh. My pupils suddenly contracted sharply, as if I saw my beautiful legs become invisible and transparent, then sprout wings and wave goodbye to me. I quickly shook off the lettuce, then looked up, only to meet Chandler's cool eyes. "I can do these small things myself." I forced a smile, then turned to my son. "From now on, you don't need to massage my legs or pour milk for me. Mommy can do it herself." Richard’s brows knitted together tightly, his voice cold. "Mommy, are you sick?" I choked. This child, I'm nice to him and he thinks I'm sick. Through the meal, I remained quiet, not making a fuss or asking anyone to bring me tissues or pour milk. Richard looked up at me several times, his little brow furrowing deeper each time. Chandler's gaze subtly drifted over me, then slowly moved away. It wasn't until Chandler took Richard and left the house that I sank heavily onto the sofa. Looking at the oversized wedding photo hanging in the center of the room, I rubbed my temples. Actually, I had a crush on Chandler before our arranged marriage. But he was an absolute ice king; all my girlfriends who tried to pursue him failed. I had my own pride; I wasn't one to chase after people, especially such a formidable ice king. Just as that tiny spark of affection for Chandler was about to be extinguished in its cradle, our families' arranged marriage bound us together. I still remember how, right after we got married, I couldn't contain my inner joy, only to overhear his conversation with a friend outside his study. "Claire is notorious in our circle for being spoiled. You're really unlucky." Chandler's voice was faint. I heard him say, "We both get what we need. That's what an arranged marriage is for." The tiny, budding flame of hope was completely extinguished. After only a few months of pretending to be sweet for the man I loved, I gave up entirely, letting my true self show in a defiant surrender. Anyway, as he said, we both got what we needed. From large appliances and furniture to small rugs, I had everything decorated exactly to my taste. Chandler never interfered. Only for this huge wedding photo, when I wanted to hang it in the center of the living room, he frowned slightly. "It doesn't match here. It's ugly." I was fuming at the time, thinking he didn't dislike the wedding photo; he disliked me. But Chandler's aloof nature also made him incredibly tolerant. So I became even more outrageous, starting to order him around to do this and that for me. I forced him to wear clothes he didn't like, purely to satisfy myself. Chandler sometimes showed displeasure, but his way of expressing it was only a slight furrow of his brow. Chandler looked very handsome when he frowned. He was already as handsome as a celestial being. I loved watching him frown; it was as if a cool, otherworldly immortal from a painting had come to life, and the serene portrait finally gained a different expression. Over the years, because he indulged and permitted everything I did, I sometimes even had the illusion that he loved me. But looking at that stoic face, his expression towards the nanny and towards me was indistinguishable, and I knew it was just my ovulation period again, making me imagine things. "Aunt Mae, find someone to take down this photo." I raised my hand and pointed at the huge wedding photo. This was hung up by a girl full of joy and fantasy for Chandler right after we got married. Six years later, the girl had slowly come to realize that in Chandler's eyes, I was no different from anyone else. Actually, I could accept a loveless marriage, but the comments constantly acted like a surveillance camera, livestreaming what the male and female leads were doing right now, making me inexplicably irritated. [The heroine poured the male lead coffee, and the male lead looked up at her! I'm dying from the cuteness!] [The heroine made a mistake in the document and didn't even notice. What a silly little thing! The male lead will be charmed by her later, right~] I closed my eyes, deciding to take a nap. When I opened them again, thunder rumbled outside, and rain poured down. 4 My phone vibrated. It was Chandler. "Fell asleep in the living room?" His voice was faint. I hummed in affirmation. After two seconds of deliberation, he spoke. "I have to work late today. If it gets too late, I won't come home. Richard can sleep with you tonight." Before I could agree, the comments flew by. [The male lead is indeed working late, but our heroine is also at the company, oh. Only a few NPCs and the male and female leads are left in the company on a rainy day. Just thinking about it is so romantic.] [I love seeing this kind of power couple. The male lead is a cool workaholic CEO, and the heroine is also an ambitious career woman, nothing like some delicate trophy wife.] [Exactly, afraid of a little thunder, needs someone to stay with her. If her husband's not around, she makes her son stay. Is she a giant baby?] Called a giant baby, I let out a deep sigh. "No need. You just focus on your work…" Before I could finish, I looked up and saw Richard standing not far away. His little face was set, and I didn't know how much he had heard standing at the door. As I looked up, the camera also shifted for two seconds. My son said nothing, quietly took off his backpack, and walked into the house. Chandler, however, spoke. "The wall behind you…" I turned my head and saw that, while I was sleeping, the wedding photo had indeed been taken down. "Where's the photo?" he asked. I answered truthfully. "I had someone throw it out. You focus on your overtime, I'm hanging up." Chandler said nothing, his face suddenly turning dark, but I didn't notice at all, frowning and thinking about the empty wall. I should probably hang something there to fill it; it looked quite ugly empty. After dinner, the thunder outside still hadn’t stopped. I rubbed my aching eyes. When I opened them again, a small boy holding a storybook stood solemnly before me. "Come on, I'll put you to sleep." Actually, I wasn’t really that afraid of thunder; I just disliked such oppressive weather. So every time it thundered, I’d be in a bad mood, finding ways to torment Chandler in bed. [The side character is so annoying. Five-year-old Richard has to put her to sleep. It’s completely backwards.] [And she has no self-awareness. Richard’s face is practically screaming 'disgust'. If she can’t torment her husband who’s working late, she starts tormenting her son. Why can't the male and female leads' romance speed up?] I looked at Richard, the little boy expressionless, his face as wooden as his dad's. "No need, Mommy can sleep by herself." I waved my hand to refuse. Richard bit his lip, seemingly a little upset. "But Daddy said I should stay with you." I felt a slight headache. Before I could say anything else, a car horn suddenly blared from the courtyard. I froze, and the comments section was equally baffled. [Why is the male lead back? What about the heroine?] 5 Richard, clutching his storybook, looked like he'd found a savior. He eagerly ran to his father, took his hand, and gravely complained, "Mommy wouldn't let me stay with her." Chandler nodded. Even facing his son, his expression hadn't softened. The screen full of question marks made me a little confused too. "You… why are you back?" Chandler didn't answer, looking up at the empty wall where the photo used to be, his eyes darkening further. "Didn't you say it was ugly? So I took it down…" I explained, feeling a little awkward under his intense gaze. But the comments detected a different vibe. [Does the male lead really only feel disgust for the side character, like the original novel says? I feel like something's off.] [Of course! Didn't you see how dark the male lead's face is? He must have realized his son couldn't handle this drama queen, so he rushed back to prevent her from tormenting little Richard.] [He does look impatient.] Chandler patted his son’s head. "Go to sleep." Richard blinked, then turned his gaze to me. "No leg massage tonight either, Mommy?" I waved my hands frantically. "No, no need." Richard pouted, tears seeming to well up in his eyes. Then he immediately put on a serious face again, asking stubbornly, "No shoulders either?" I nodded vigorously. Richard puffed out his cheeks and turned to go back to his room. Chandler reached up and tugged at his tie, his expression clouded with deep frustration. "Bad mood lately?" I was completely bewildered. "No, I've been in a pretty good mood lately." The air was silent for two seconds. He took a deep breath, nodded. The rain outside drizzled, and the comments scrolled relentlessly. [The male lead just abandoned the heroine and went home. How is the plot going to progress?] [Don't worry, even when they're not together, the bond between the male and female leads won't disappear. Their red thread of fate is stronger than steel.] Almost as soon as that comment finished scrolling, Chandler’s phone on the bedside table vibrated. Listening to the rushing water from the bathroom, I picked up Chandler's phone to remind him. "Your phone." 5 The comments section was amused. [What did I say? The heroine is calling right now, isn't she?] [The side character wouldn't actually answer, would she? Does she have no respect for other people's privacy? So disgusting.] [Don't worry, upstairs. Even if she answers, it will only make the male lead dislike her more. She's answered before. In the original novel, one time she not only secretly answered but also cursed out the heroine, and the male lead snatched the phone and smashed it to bits. So embarrassing.] At the same time, Chandler’s voice came from the bathroom. "Answer it for me, ask what it is." I threw the phone back as if it were a hot potato. "You come out and answer it yourself." The sound of water in the bathroom abruptly stopped. Then, Chandler emerged, his head covered in foam. He first cast a heavy gaze at me, then lowered his head and picked up the phone. The moment the call connected, a clear female voice rang out from the other end. "Mr. Davies, I sent you two proposals, but you didn't reply…" In the quiet room, the woman's voice on the other end was exceptionally clear. Chandler said nothing, his gaze fixed on my face, as if waiting for something. I felt incredibly awkward. Why was his speaker so loud? The comments section was thrilled. [Is the side character about to throw another fit? Before, whenever the male lead answered a call from another woman, she’d get angry. One time, she even scratched his face.] [Only the male lead can tolerate her spoiled temper. But every time she acts unreasonably, the male lead's disgust for her increases, further highlighting our darling heroine's gentle kindness, and making him feel even less pity for her when her legs are broken later.] The mention of "broken legs" now triggered a strong reaction in me. Unable to help it, I broke into a violent fit of coughing. I coughed and stood up, heading towards the bathroom. "I'm going to… cough cough cough… take a shower." My arm was grabbed. Chandler took a deep breath, seemingly trying desperately to suppress something, then emotionlessly hung up the phone. "It's after hours. We can discuss it tomorrow." Then, he looked up at me. "A woman called me privately. Aren't you angry?" The air was silent. Chandler stared at me for a long time, then released me. That night, the restless movements beside me continued until after midnight. The comments kept flashing before my eyes. [The male lead must regret it. He's probably tearing his hair out, wondering why he's not at the company with the heroine, but sleeping beside this side character?] [I feel like the side character is pretty pathetic too, sleeping next to someone who's having an emotional affair, and she's just like an idiot.] Me, described as an idiot: … I clenched my fists. It's fine, I'll endure it. As long as my son agrees to leave with me, I'll immediately tell Chandler I want a divorce. I wish him happiness forever.