My Lucky Cat

My name is Mary Gable. For the past three years, I have been Delacruz Salazar's kept woman. He is the favored heir, admired by all, and I am just a pastime he bought on a whim. The crystal chandelier in the villa dazzled, yet it couldn't warm my empty heart. I knew this relationship was never real. Until that day, whispers from the servants slipped into my ears. Delacruz Salazar was bankrupt. His company's finances collapsed, and he was heavily in debt. What unsettled me even more was another piece of news. He planned to enter an arranged marriage with his childhood sweetheart, Sophia Salk. The Salk family could help him get through this crisis. What am I, then? A useless burden. Once his arranged marriage succeeds, I will be thrown out like trash. No, I cannot be left with nothing. Late at night, I quietly got up and opened Delacruz's safe. Inside were some jewels and cash—enough to secure my food and clothing for the rest of my life. I stuffed my things into the backpack I had prepared earlier, stepping as lightly as possible, afraid of waking anyone. As I passed the balcony, I suddenly stopped. There, curled up, was a black cat. It was the stray cat I had taken in six months ago; I called him Blake. He always kept to himself, but his eyes were unusually vivid. At that moment, he was looking at me with amber eyes wide open. "You can't leave." A clear voice suddenly echoed inside my mind. Startled, I looked around. The villa was silent, with only Blake and me inside. "It's me." The voice sounded again, and to my surprise, the source was Blake. I thought I was hallucinating. I blinked hard, but Blake remained motionless in the same posture. "Delacruz Salazar won't stay down forever." "He will rise again soon." The voice in my mind was filled with certainty. My heart pounded wildly as I cautiously asked, "You... can talk?" Blake did not open his mouth, yet the voice came directly into my consciousness: "I communicate with you through thoughts." "I am a cat demon who has cultivated for a thousand years." "During my tribulation, I was struck by heavenly thunder, leaving me with only nine lives." "After meeting you, I traded eight lives for a single chance." I held my breath, waiting for what it would say next. "To be reborn inside your womb, to become your child." Those words struck like thunder in my mind. Instinctively, I touched my lower abdomen. There was nothing unusual—just flat and smooth. "You're lying to me." I whispered, challenging him. "Believe it or not." Blake's voice held a lazy drawl. "But if you leave now, not only will you forfeit future glory and riches, you'll lose our connection." "Delacruz Salazar feels only responsibility toward Sophia Salk, not love." "If you stay, there's still a chance." I looked at the jewels in the backpack, then glanced at Blake, my heart aching with conflict. What if what Blake said is true? If Delacruz rises again, and I stay, then I will be his helper. But how am I supposed to stay? Right now, his mind is consumed by the arranged marriage. Suddenly, a thought flickered through my mind. Pregnancy. If I told him I was pregnant with his child, given Delacruz's nature, maybe it would shake him—even if only temporarily. I clenched my teeth, hid the backpack deep inside the wardrobe, and turned toward Delacruz's bedroom. He hadn't slept yet, sitting on the edge of the bed, smoking. In the swirling smoke, his silhouette looked worn and weary. "Delacruz." I called his name softly. He lifted his eyes to me, his gaze distant. "What is it?" "I... I'm pregnant." I clenched the hem of my clothes, my voice deliberately trembling. Delacruz Salazar's hand, holding the cigarette, froze. Ashes fell onto the expensive carpet. He stared at my belly, his eyes full of complicated emotion. "Really?" His voice was hoarse. "Mm." I nodded vigorously, not daring to meet his eyes. "It was just diagnosed recently. I wanted to find the right moment to tell you." Silence filled the room. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding. After a long pause, Delacruz Salazar stubbed out his cigarette. "I understand." He stood up. "You go back and rest first. I'll think more about the arranged marriage." I let out a sigh of relief. The first step was successful. But I didn't know if Blake's words were true or false, or if I could win this gamble. Back in my room, Blake was already curled up on my bed. "You're very clever." Its voice echoed inside my mind. "But this is only the beginning." I looked at it and asked softly, "Will you truly become my child?" Blake licked his paw. "When the time comes, naturally." "What you need to do now is make Delacruz Salazar unable to let you go." I nodded. No matter what the future held, I had no way out. I could only grit my teeth and push forward.