Tears of the Mermaid Bride

"Bound by a sacred marriage contract arranged by the Duke and Duchess of Warren, Selena, the mermaid, has been wed to the heir Lucian for five years. Lucian has always believed Selena used vile means to tear him apart from his former love, Viola. He mistakes the true savior for an enemy, lets Selena’s brother Noah be exposed to death, crafts a hairpiece from one of Noah’s scales, and forces Selena and her people to produce pearls for Viola’s gown. He even plans to marry Viola on Valentine’s Day. At the Valentine’s banquet, the returning Duke and Duchess expose the truth: Viola cannot swim, and the one who saved the Warren family five years ago was Selena. Seeing his wife nearly destroyed, Lucian finally breaks down in regret — but he can no longer reclaim her brother, nor her love. Selena refuses forgiveness, breaks the marriage contract, and returns to the sea with her brother’s scale. Lucian is stripped of his inheritance, cast out by his family, and condemned to spend the rest of his life in poverty, disgrace, and regret. "