After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back

Chapter 192: Disgrace

Ilan looked dejected.

"No... I didn’t succeed. Nina is surrounded by a bunch of jealous males—I didn’t even get a chance. She barely noticed what I brought."

He refused to admit that Nina had simply ignored him—or that what he offered couldn’t compare to the others. Instead, he blamed it all on interference.

Hilan’s expression darkened. "You’ve never failed before. Why are you failing again and again now?"

"It’s those males," Ilan said bitterly.

Hilan narrowed his eyes. "Then your usual methods won’t work. We’ll have to use... something else."

He took out a spirit crystal.

"This crystal will react slightly when near the spirit pearl. When Taru and the others aren’t around, take it to Nina—pretend you’re giving it to her. Once you’ve tested it, say you brought the wrong one and switch it for an ordinary gem."

He had been reluctant to use something so valuable, but there was no other choice.

As long as Taru wasn’t present, Nina wouldn’t recognize how rare it was.

"Understood." Ilan took the crystal.

"And I’ve confirmed something else," Hilan added. "That nine-tailed fox cub... is indeed Finch’s child. And at such a young age, it has already awakened its abilities."

A sly smile crept onto his face.

"Taru is probably placing his hopes on that child."

Ilan’s eyes turned cold. "Then should we... arrange an ’accident’?"

"Not yet," Hilan said calmly. "Focus on the spirit pearl first. We’ll deal with the child later."

Ilan nodded.

***

After dinner, Ilan found his opportunity and approached Nina again. After several humiliating failures, he had forced himself to regain composure.

"Nina," he said smoothly, "I have a very beautiful crystal. I’d like to give it to you as a piece of jewelry."

He stepped closer, holding out the spirit crystal.

As it neared Nina, a faint fluctuation of energy rippled through it.

Nina’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Is he actually offering me a spirit crystal?

At the same time, Ilan’s pupils contracted.

It reacted. That meant... the spirit pearl was indeed with her.

Just as he was about to take it back and claim it was a mistake, Odian moved first. He took the crystal effortlessly and grinned.

"Then we’ll accept your gift. Thank you."

He turned to Ridan. "Prepare some high-quality beast meat as thanks."

Then, without giving Ilan any chance to object, he swept Nina up and left at once.

By the time Ilan came to his senses, they were already gone.

He chased after them, but all he saw were their fading figures in the distance.

His face twisted in frustration.

Damn it... Now the crystal is gone.

Odian brought Nina to a safe place. "Absorb it now," he said. "It’s a gift delivered right to your door—there’s no reason to waste it."

"You’re right." Nina nodded and immediately began absorbing the crystal’s energy.

As she did, her thoughts sharpened.

Ilan definitely has ulterior motives.

So that was it—he had been approaching her for the spirit pearl all along.

After absorbing it, Nina asked Odian to take her to Taru.

She explained her suspicions to him.

Taru nodded, frowning. "I’ll test the waters first. If possible, I’ll handle this for you."

"Alright." Since they were of the same clan, it was best for them to deal with it internally.

***

Meanwhile, Ilan reported everything to his father.

Hilan clenched his teeth. "That spirit crystal is probably gone. And Nina... has likely already bound the spirit pearl."

"What? That’s impossible!" Ilan exclaimed.

"I’ve used secret methods to track the pearl several times—there’s been no response. That suggests it has already acknowledged a master."

"And the way they left so quickly—they clearly intended to prevent us from retrieving the crystal. They must have taken it to absorb immediately."

Frustration simmered in his voice.

"What do we do now?" Ilan asked.

Hilan’s gaze turned calculating. "No matter what it takes—you must win Nina over. Make her devoted to you. She is the spirit pearl’s master. She will be invaluable to you."

"And with her fertility..." his eyes gleamed, "you must have her bear you several children. I will help you form a bond with her."

If Ilan secured Nina, the position of next City Lord would be his without question.

Finch already had a child, but he was not even a guardian beast. That alone showed Nina didn’t value him.

As for the others, Ilan’s true rivals were her current mates. They would need to be separated... or eliminated.

"I understand," Ilan replied with a nod.

But this time, his confidence was no longer as firm.

Still, even if she already had mates... for the sake of the spirit pearl, he could tolerate it.

Before Taru could approach Hilan, the latter took the initiative and went straight to Nina.

"Female Nina," he said bluntly, "our fox clan’s sacred relic... is with you, isn’t it?"

Nina’s expression remained calm. "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much," Hilan replied. "You’ve taken our sacred relic and refuse to return it. Shouldn’t you give the fox clan an explanation?"

Before Nina could answer, Finch stepped forward urgently.

"The relic was given to Nina by me. She didn’t know—this has nothing to do with her. If you want accountability, come to me!"

Hilan ignored him completely, his gaze fixed on Nina.

Nina let out a cold laugh.

"Oh? And what kind of ’explanation’ do you want?"

Hilan’s tone turned firm.

"If you refuse to return it, then you must choose a male from our clan as your primary mate—and become a female of Jade Fox City."

"Such arrogance." A cold voice cut in. Taru stepped forward, his presence heavy with authority.

"Do you even know... what kind of status her primary mate holds?"

"What status?" Hilan frowned.

Taru let out a cold, mocking laugh. "He is the High Priest of the Phoenix clan. You want him to give up the position of primary mate—do you think any unmarried male in your clan is worthy of replacing him?"

Even his own son wouldn’t qualify for such an honor.

"Then he doesn’t have to be the primary mate," Hilan said stiffly. "But she must take a male from our nine-tailed fox clan."

"She will," Taru replied calmly. "Finch already has a child with Nina. They will form a bond in time." He used Finch as a convenient shield.

Hilan sneered.

"City Lord, Finch has already lost his tails. Taking him as a mate is unacceptable. The spirit pearl is vital to our clan. Letting a cripple claim that position would be a waste."

Taru’s expression darkened instantly. A surge of pressure burst from him as he glared at Hilan.

"Say that again."

Hilan struggled slightly under the force but held his ground.

"I’m stating the truth," he said coldly. "This matter has already been reported to the clan. You cannot act in private."

Ilan stepped forward, his tone dripping with disdain.

"My father is right. A tailless fox is nothing but a disgrace—a useless male."

Smack!

Before he could finish, a vine lashed out and sent him flying.

"You’re the useless one!" Nina snapped, fury blazing in her eyes.

Finch froze for a moment. Then something warm spread through his chest.

She... was standing up for him.

The realization filled him with quiet joy.

Ilan clutched his chest, shock written all over his face. Her strength was actually greater than his.

Hilan was equally stunned.

The spirit pearl... truly is extraordinary.

"I will report this to the clan myself," Taru said coldly. "You can return to Jade Fox City."

"I—"

Ilan tried to speak again, but Hilan stopped him. Now was not the time to clash head-on.

"Very well," Hilan replied. "We’ll await an explanation—from both you, City Lord... and from Nina."

With that, he left with his son, though they did not go far.

After they were gone, Finch and the others finally finished kneeling through the last durian.

Taru helped him into the cave.

"Sorry, Nina," Finch said softly, full of guilt. "I’ll handle this matter. You don’t need to worry."

But Nina looked at him instead and asked something else entirely. "Your tails... were they lost because you were helping me find spirit crystals?"