Hastel watched with anger however he couldn’t let his youngest son destroy himself over a woman.  He had fallen into a fox’s scheme and could only think about the fox and his lower half.

Hastel tightened his eyes began to speak.  

“Fine.  If you want this woman to be your concubine, then she’ll be your concubine.”

“Husband!”  Celine shouted.  

“She can stay.  We won’t push her out.  As long as you’re willing to still have her by your side as a concubine, we will not interfere with your decision.”  

Nero stopped walking with Nyx and turned around to listen to his father’s words.  

“Husband, how could you!”  

“Nero is an adult now.  We can’t control his whole life.  However, Nero, the woman you chose to be by your side, cannot be your main legal wife.  Her background is unknown and she came from the pleasure district. I will not accept such a woman into my Pareem family.”  Hastel told Nero. “As for today’s incident, we can forgive and forget this happened. Lets go.”

Hastel turned around and left Nero’s courtyard immediately.  Celine looked as if she was not happy, but since Hastel had already spoken and made his decision, she could only swallow her dissatisfaction and leave as well.  

“Humphh!”  Celine said as she glared at Nyx.  “Don’t make yourself too comfortable!  Once my son is tired with you, you will be leaving the Pareeme Estate soon!  I will never acknowledge you as part of the Pareem family, even if you’re able to bare a son into this family!”  

Celine turns around and walks away while shouting for everyone to get up and leave.  The maids, servants and guards slowly help each other up and limp away as well.

Hanson and Ivy begin to leave as well, however Hanson stopped gave Nero his support.

“You’re the bravest little brother I could ever ask for.”  Hanson told Nero. “You never conformed to our parent’s wishes or demands, you always walked your own road and created your own path.  I wish the two of you happiness.”

“Thanks brother.”  Nero said.

Once the courtyard was quiet again, Nero turns to Nyx with a worried look.  His hand comes up to cup her cheeks, his eyes wavered with uncertainty.

“Do you want to stay or do you want to go?”  Nero asked Nyx.

“I can tell that your family and filial piety means a lot to you.”  Nyx said as she sighed softly. “For now, I’ll stay. We can see where things go from here on out.”

“Okay.”  Nero said as he kissed her forehead.  “Just say the word, and we can leave.”  

“Promise?”  

“Promise.”  

From that day on, no one from the main house bothered Nero or Nyx.  They spent their time together, while Nero went to the Preem College of Excellence to teach.  

Nero hired his own set of maids, servants and guards to protect and take care of Nyx while he was at work.  As for Nyx she kept to their room most of the time, cultivating her energy and being lazy.

After the confrontation, Raine found out from her Scam System, that although she did stand up to Nero’s family and did fall into their schemes, it still wasn’t a successful mission.  She hadn’t fulfilled the ‘Last Dying Wish’ of Nyx yet.

Not only that, Raine’s martial art and skills she learned does not equate to Nyx’s powers or skills.  At the moment, Nyx was only a high level 4 energy cultivator, although powerful, she was still an ant among dragons.  

So while Nero was at work, Nyx was training and cultivating.  Their days were spent apart, however their nights were spent together, neither knowing when one started and the other ended.  They were two love birds, singing their song every night, causing those who worked for them to be embarrassed.

Because Nyx came into the Pareem household as a concubine, she did not have to follow the rules set up by the family.  Because as a concubine, she wasn’t recognized as part of the family. So Nyx didn’t have to wake up early every morning to greet Celine and Ivy.  She also didn’t have to attend any family functions or celebrations.

Raine was totally fine with this, since it gave her time to do what she needed to do, to succeed her mission.  

Six months into her life as Nyx, Raine suddenly received a video recording that was sent by her Scam System.  She had sent her Scam System to eavesdrop and record everything going on in the Pareem Estate. Raine preferred to know what was going on with enemies, then she could take countermeasures to ensure her success.  

In the video recording it was a conversation between Celine and a pretty young woman, named Justine.  

“I’m so glad you came.”  Celine said as she welcomed Justine into her arms.  “Every time I see you, you get more and more beautiful.”  

“Mrs. Pareem.  Don’t say such words to me, it makes me shy.”  

“Hahaha!  Such a well manner child.  Come sit.”

“Thank you for welcoming me when I’ve come unannounced to your home.”  

“Nonsense!  You’re always welcomed to my home!”  Celine said.

“How have you and your family been doing lately?  I hope all is well?”

“Everyone is fine… however…”  Celine said as she wiped the “tears” away from the corner of her eyes.  “There has been an unpleasant air that blew into this home. You must have heard it already.”  

Justine nodded her head once and grabbed Celine’s hand and squeezed it.  

“I have… and that’s why I can as fast as I could.  Father was very unhappy when he heard the rumors as well.  Father and I had thought that Nero was waiting until he began teaching and was stable at his job, before our engagement would be announced.”  Justine told Celine with a worried look. “Does Nero not want to unite our families anymore?”

“Of course he does!  We still do! He has just been momentary blinded by that fox and will soon tire of her.”  Celine promised.

“Are you sure?”  

“Of course!  He and that fox knows that she can only be concubine and not be the legal main wife of the Pareem family, Hastel made sure they both understood.  Rest your heart, my dear, your engagement to Nero will still happen.”

“But… that woman… what if she already turned him against me, as his legal wife?  What if…”

“Hush, child.”  Celine comforted her.  “Even though she came in before you, your standing in this family is higher than hers.  Just make sure to uphold the family laws and she’ll soon find her own ending. Look at me, look at how many concubines my husband has.  Do you see any of them sitting where I am right now? Do you see any other children competing against mine? Do you see how much power I hold within my hands?  What is a concubine to a legal wife? Nothing. If I can stand my husband having several concubines, so can you. It is natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines.  It is how you manage your household that matters. Plus, you have me here supporting you, so you don’t have to worry so much.”

Tears silently fell down Justine’s eyes, she had hope that her childhood love would withstand against social norms.  She had wished the two of them had a union of just the two of them until their hair grew white. Now she had to share him with another woman, she didn’t like the feeling of it at all.  

“Don’t be too hasty to get rid of that fox.”  Celine told Justine. “That fox has gotten her nails deep into Nero that he doesn’t even listen to his own mother anymore.  If you go against that fox, you’ll surely lose. Just slowly cultivate feelings with Nero and he’ll recognize your worth, beauty, talent and intelligence.  Only then would he recognize his mistake and kick that fox out.”

“Yes, Mrs. Pareem.”  

“Good girl.  Now stay with me for lunch, Nero should be home early today.  Take this time together to cultivate your feelings towards each other.  We’ll speak with your father about your engagement.”

“Okay.  I’ll do as you say.”  

Raine ended the video recording and closed her eyes to begin cultivating the qi around her again.  In the short six months, she had already raised her level to level 6. With all of her years spent in the Training and Transformation Center, she could easily master this world’s energy cultivation.  Not only that, but with her own skills and this world’s energy cultivation, she would be able to stand on top of the world easily. She wouldn’t need to rely on anyone.

The main character in this book, Jewels, have already moved out of the Brook Manor with her Uncle and Grandfather to Redbane Kingdom with her beloved, Crown Prince Raiden.  

Raine’s movements for now on would not alter Jewels transmigration storyline as long as she stays in Madewell Kingdom.  

***A/N:  When I went back to read parts of Second Chance, to reference either the timeline, characters, and plot details, I suddenly found myself rereading it and enjoying myself.  Second Chance is the first book I wrote on Wattpad, it has a special place in my heart, if you have not read it yet, please take the time to read it, it has LONG chapters, but it's a good read.  xoxo -ptd