The Hero Stole My Lover, So I Decided to Steal the Hero's Lover Instead - Chapter 44-45

Chapter 44: Sheryl’s POV

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“Don’t mess with me!”

Sheryl shouted in anger.

“Why do I have to go back to Luke!? And what do you mean, a girlfriend named Alicia…? You never told me that. So what, are you saying I was just a fling!?”

“A fling? …Yeah, that’s right. A fling. Just a fling. What else would it be? You knew that much yourself, didn’t you? You knew it was a fling, and still you—”

“You’re wrong!”

Sheryl screamed. She screamed as if to deny it. But deep down, she acknowledged what he said.

That’s right. I knew I was just a fling, but…!

Of course, she didn’t let that show. Speaking your true feelings wasn’t always the right move. In fact, most of the time, it was better to mix in some lies or polite pretenses.

“I was serious about Cain and—”

“You were seriously dating me? Then what, Luke was the fling?”

Cain said cruelly, and Sheryl choked on her words with a frustrated frown.

“Guh…!”

Sheryl was the type of woman who weighed Luke and Cain—two men—on a scale, and chose the one with the better prospects: Cain. She entered into a relationship with him out of calculation.

Deep down, her hope was that maybe, just maybe, she could become the Hero’s wife. To Sheryl, Cain was nothing more than a man with the prestigious title of “Hero.” She had little interest in who he was as a person.

She hadn’t dated Luke thinking it was just a game. But it was not like she had any strong feelings of love like wanting to marry him and spend her whole life with him, either. There was love—but the kind that could be thrown away if needed.

What she felt toward Cain, on the other hand, was less “love” and more “obsession.” An obsession with the Hero. If Cain abandoned her, she’d be left with nothing. She’d have no home to return to. That was why she couldn’t let herself be cast aside.

A fling and a lover. Those two roles were clearly different.

Both could be discarded, but the one more likely to be was overwhelmingly the fling. First, she had to climb from being just a fling to becoming a lover. And then, eventually, become the Hero’s wife.

Once they were married, her status would be secure. She’d get everything she wanted. She’d have happiness.

And that was why—

…This is my chance.

From what she’d heard, Cain and Alicia were over. But Cain stubbornly refused to accept it. It was as if admitting it would mean the end of everything. Even though things were already over—whether he admitted it or not.

Cain was running from reality. In that case, she just had to show him… She just had to force it on him, that reality She’d make him accept the truth that Alicia had dumped him. And once he did, he’d date her.

He’s hurting. There’s a gaping hole in his heart and I’ll slip right into it.

Putting on a gentle smile, Sheryl said.

“Hey, Cain.”

“What?”

Cain didn’t even try to hide his sour mood.

“If our relationship was just a fling, then from now on… How about we stop playing around and be real lovers?”

“I have a girlfriend. Her name is Alicia. So I can’t be your boyfriend, and I don’t intend to be.”

I don’t intend to be.

That line stabbed right through her chest. It made her furious, but she pushed it into the back of her mind. Maybe she could forget it. Worst case, she could pretend she never heard it.

“Cain, listen closely.”

Sheryl took a deep breath. And then, as if explaining to a child, she spoke slowly.

“You’ve been dumped by Alicia.”

“…Huh?”

“So right now, you don’t have a girlfriend.”

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Chapter 45: Sheryl’s POV

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“Cain, listen closely.”

Sheryl took a deep breath. And then, as if explaining to a child, she spoke slowly.

“You’ve been dumped by Alicia.”

“…Huh?”

“So right now, you don’t have a girlfriend—ngh”

A sharp pain and an overwhelming wave of nausea. Sheryl realized she had been hit. Clutching her stomach, she let out a groan of agony. Still hunched over, she lifted just her face to look up.

Cain was glaring down at her with bloodshot eyes. His right hand was clenched tightly and red. In his vacant gaze, there was a faint glimmer of madness.

Cain had a slender build, but his body was thoroughly trained, with no trace of excess fat. As a Hero, he possessed a stunning, almost artistic physique. If he had hit her seriously, her internal organs would have ruptured. Her bones would likely have been shattered.

Which meant—this was a warning. A warning not to say anything more. No… Maybe it was a threat?

But Sheryl didn’t recognize it as such. She just thought he’d hit her out of anger. And so, she continued speaking.

“Face the reality, Cain. You were dumped by Alicia. Alicia doesn’t love you. The one she loves is Luke. Give up on her and go out with me instead. I know I can make you happy. Come on, didn’t being with me feel good? Weren’t you happy? So let’s—”

“Shut up.”

Cain spoke. His voice was low, heavy, and filled with murderous intent. Sheryl’s rapid-fire speech, like she was trying to brainwash him, came to an abrupt stop. Her entire body stiffened. Maybe from fear—her body simply wouldn’t move.

“I haven’t been… Dumped… By Alicia.”

He spoke clearly, separating each word as if to drive them in.

“I told you earlier. I have no intention of making you my girlfriend.”

“…Ngh…”

“And besides, I’m done with you. This is the last time we’ll meet.”

“D… Done with me…?”

“That’s right. I’m done. Any woman who isn’t Alicia, I will eventually get tired of them. When I do, I break up with them or throw them away. That’s how I operate.”

What a disgusting way to live.

How many women had Cain discarded like this?

Don’t screw with me!

Sheryl thought.

If Cain throws me away, I’ll lose everything…

Her mind was a mess of rage and sorrow. Even as she glared at Cain, tears were spilling from her eyes.

I gave up a stable life with Luke, just so I could try to become the Hero’s wife… What a fool I was… how utterly stupid I was…

Luke had never been a capable man. But he had been kind. So very, very kind. She took advantage of that kindness. She assumed that kindness was a given. Without realizing it, she had become arrogant—terribly arrogant.

It was only after losing him that she realized the depth of Luke’s kindness. How wonderful it truly was. But now, she couldn’t return to him.

Luke had a new girlfriend—Alicia. And even if he didn’t, even if Alicia weren’t there, a traitor like her could never return. Luke would never forgive her.

In fact, Cain had tried to trade herself back to Luke in exchange for Alicia. But he had failed.

Of course that plane had failed. That kind of plan could never succeed. But if, if it had worked, Sheryl would’ve gone back to her ex—Luke.

She let out a sigh. Sheryl had thrown away Luke and then Cain threw her away.

Poetic justice? Comeuppance?

Her strength drained, and a self-deprecating smile spread across her lips.

“So this is goodbye. Farewell, Sheryl.”

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