The Replacement's Revenge - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

After halfheartedly comforting Haihe until she drifted off, he mindlessly scrolled through his phone—until one video froze him in place.
By the time it ended, his emotions were in chaos.
Snatching his phone and jacket, he bolted out the door. The video explained an obscure legend: When a spirit fairy is saved by a human, they must repay the debt a hundredfold—or vanish forever.
It also mentioned that fox spirits from a certain bloodline bore a tiny blue mole at the corner of their eyes.
A memory flashed—back when he'd first met Alrose, he'd asked, "Why the mole by your eye?" She'd smiled and said, "It's a family trait. Every spirit fairy in my clan has one. You saved me, so I owe you a hundred wishes before I can go home."
At the time, he'd brushed it off as a whimsical story. That little blue fox he'd rescued by the lake? Just a coincidence.
Now, the realization iced his veins.
When Angus finally found me, his first question was:
"You're a spirit fairy?"
I'd answered it a thousand times before. I'd told him, again and again, that once I fulfilled those hundred wishes, I'd disappear from his life forever.
He'd never believed me. To him, it was just an excuse to stay close.
Now, suddenly, he was asking if it was real?
"You actually believe in superstitions now?" I laughed softly, tilting my head. "Didn't you always say I made it up to cling to you?"
He stiffened, his expression shifting. For the first time, it seemed to dawn on him—things were slipping out of his control.
"You're leaving?" Desperation flickered in his eyes. I'd never seen him like this. "Tell me—are you really leaving?" The moment the words left his mouth, even he seemed to hear how absurd they sounded. "I know it's ridiculous, but when you weren't around… I couldn't sleep."
"I started fearing… that you'd disappear forever. That you'd never come back."
"I thought you still loved me. I thought if I held on long enough, you'd return. But I've loved Halie since we were kids. I never knew how to let her go, and that's why I—"
His voice cracked. "Come back to me. Please."
Maybe the terror of losing me finally made him understand. For once, there was no arrogance in his gaze. Only regret.
Angus was begging.
I smiled, indulgent, almost amused. "Fine. But first, prove you mean it."
"I knew it—you still love me." His face lit up like a child handed his favorite toy. He yanked me into a crushing embrace, refusing to let go.
I shoved him back. "Clean up your mess. Then come find me."
Reluctantly, he released me, his eyes burning with resolve as he turned to leave.
Without another word, I walked away. Today was my last day in the mortal world.
After I left, I used my clan's secret arts to peek into the human realm one final time.
Angus had arranged a secret wedding. One meant to stay hidden, tucked in the shadows.
Even now, he still wanted both.
If he loved Halie so much, why was he chasing spirits?
At the ceremony, he waited all day.
When I never appeared, he didn't even rage—just stood there, hollow, whispering, "She still won't forgive me." Then he spiraled, flooding the city with missing person posters.
He stopped hiding his lingering feelings from Halie. For a month, he played the doting fiancé by day—while scouring the streets for me at night.