——What so-called transformative masterpiece? Beneath the shell of a monster-catching world, it’s still that same familiar flavor! I love the three women vying with each other for the male lead, the second male lead who loves the female lead but can’t have her, the endless misunderstandings between the main couple, and the little lovebirds whispering sweet nothings amid schemes and plots—the romance is as tangled as a ball of yarn.

　　Olivia Sullivan was so frustrated that she picked up her pen to write a review, and before starting, she sincerely chose a representative character as her entry point.

　　If provoking the readers’ anger counts as success, then the third female lead, Ethan Sullivan, must be the most successful character in the whole book.

　　She’s bad.

　　But not in a typical way. She’s used to playing the victim, repaying kindness with betrayal, stabbing people in the back, all while putting on a pitiful, delicate act.

　　From start to finish, this character is gloomy and timid. She secretly loves the male lead but doesn’t dare compete with the female lead head-on. Besides obsessively fantasizing about getting the male lead, she’s always scheming in the shadows, sowing discord and plotting against the female lead.

　　If the villainous second female lead is a proud and mighty tiger, then she’s a rat gnawing at people’s toes in the dark, or a worm stealing grain from the rice jar.

　　She enjoys the protection of the main group while plotting how to undermine them, like damp, green moss in the cracks of a wall—clammy, sinister, and impossible to shake off.

　　This peculiar quality made Olivia Sullivan feel a visceral disgust. By comparison, she actually found the spoiled, brazenly bad second female lead, Princess Duanyang, much more likable.

　　As cannon fodder, Ethan Sullivan’s fate was naturally no better, especially when it came to love.

　　She married twice in her life. The first time, she was invited to stage a fake wedding with the man she secretly loved, the male lead Henry Carter. Before she could even savor it, the brief dream was shattered.

　　The second time, she married the female lead Yvonne Foster’s younger brother, Chad Foster.

　　The door creaked open.

　　The maid put away the umbrella and stood at the doorway, rainwater dripping from the hem of her clothes. Her voice trembled, making her look just like a little chick: “Miss, the auspicious hour has arrived.”

　　The little maid’s face was ashen, her hands shaking slightly—clearly scared out of her wits.

　　Olivia responded, hurriedly dabbed some rouge on her lips, and, clutching the maid’s damp sleeve, walked out.

　　The oil-paper umbrella could barely withstand the pounding rain. Water streamed down the edge like a little brook. The maid’s hand holding the umbrella was shaking so much that droplets splashed onto Olivia’s thin wedding robe, quickly soaking her shoulder.

　　Olivia was a bit annoyed and snatched the umbrella handle, holding the big umbrella steadily over the maid’s head.

　　They walked in silence along the winding corridor. Olivia tried to make conversation: “Did you see it?”

　　“…Mm.” The maid pressed close to Olivia, her voice choked with tears. “Miss, aren’t you scared… that… it’s so frightening…”

　　No one but a widow would get married at night. Even widows wouldn’t choose a stormy night like this.

　　Because this wedding was a setup from the start.

　　This must have been the time when Henry Carter invited Ethan Sullivan to pretend to be the bride, with the goal of luring out a powerful demon.

　　Yvonne Foster and Henry Carter had arrived in Taicang a month earlier.

　　Though small, Taicang County was incredibly wealthy. Its prosperous granaries attracted a large population, and outsiders fought tooth and nail to settle down there.

　　But starting last month, several newlywed couples disappeared before consummating their marriage. Rumors spread of monsters appearing, panic swept through the city, and no one in Taicang dared to hold weddings anymore.

　　But marriage is a normal part of life, and suspending it indefinitely wasn’t a solution. The county magistrate of Taicang, Brian Sullivan, who never believed in ghosts or spirits, fretted for three days with his big belly, and finally gave in—posting notices everywhere to recruit capable people.

　　The original novel’s male lead Henry Carter and female lead Yvonne Foster happened to be traveling there and, of course, stayed to help the people.

　　During the monster-hunting days, they lived in the magistrate’s residence, which was also the home of the original Ethan Sullivan.

　　On the third day after the main group arrived, the monster came knocking on their door.

　　It targeted the magistrate’s precious daughter, Ethan Sullivan.

　　At sixteen, Ethan Sullivan was unmarried. She acted normal by day, but at night she would dress up in wedding clothes, preparing to marry, and perform the wedding ceremony alone in the empty hall, as if possessed.

　　Henry Carter kept watch by her side, and at the moment when Ethan Sullivan “entered the bridal chamber” alone, he unleashed the Ninefold Demon-Subduing Pagoda, instantly forcing the fox demon possessing Ethan Sullivan to reveal its true form.

　　The fox demon had intended to suck human essence, but was forced to show itself—its face twisted, claws sharp. With a roar, it lunged at the unarmed Yvonne Foster.

　　The well-trained demon hunter Yvonne Foster fought it calmly. At that moment, Henry Carter scooped up the victim Ethan Sullivan from the ground, like a hero descending on clouds, rescuing her from her nightmare.

　　Lying in his arms, Ethan Sullivan felt her heart race for the first time.

　　“Creak—” The door opened a crack.

　　The maid, terrified, stepped back. Olivia looked at her tottering figure and couldn’t bear it: “You go on, I’ll go in myself…”

　　The maid stepped back and collapsed into a puddle, utterly drained.

　　She couldn’t quite remember the details from the book. Olivia Sullivan cheered herself up silently and pushed the door open with her fair hand.