After 100 Nights of Betrayal, I Became Zeus’s Heir

I’m just a mortal, yet I’ve been deeply in love with Orion, the heir to Poseidon, for seven long years. When he was about to ascend the throne as the God of the Sea, I thought I could finally stand by his side—in the light, as his true consort. But then he delivered a crushing ultimatum: the condition for his ascension was to produce a pure-blooded divine heir with his late brother’s widow, Selene. Every time he came back from Selene's bed, he’d hold me tight and whisper, "Thalia, you’re my only true love. As soon as Selene gives birth to an heir for the throne, we’ll have our wedding. I’ll give you the title you deserve." And so, over the next six months, he spent a hundred nights in Selene’s bed. His visits grew more frequent, and the stench of Selene’s scent on his skin grew stronger. Finally, on the 100th lonely night I spent waiting for him, Selene got pregnant. The news spread across Atlantis like wildfire—along with the announcement of their upcoming royal wedding. My son tugged at my sleeve, asking innocently, "Mommy, I thought people said Father is marrying his beloved Queen? Why hasn't he come to pick us up yet?" "Because his beloved Queen isn't Mommy, sweetheart." I smiled, gently stroking his hair. "But it’s okay. I’m taking you back to our real home." What Orion didn't know was that my biological father had already found me. He is Zeus, the King of the Gods. And I am his long-lost daughter who was left in the mortal realm. As for Orion’s title of Queen? I couldn't care less anymore. Chapter 1 Three days ago, my biological father, Zeus, finally tracked me down. He revealed my true heritage: during the Great Titan War years ago, I was stolen in the chaos and cast down to the mortal world. All these years, Zeus never gave up searching for me. He was practically in tears, desperate to take me back to Mount Olympus right away. But I hesitated. Because of Orion. I just couldn't let go of our seven years together that easily. So, I asked Zeus for three days to think about it. Yet, just as I was about to share this incredible news with Orion—my heart fluttering with joy and nerves—I got hit with the announcement of his grand wedding to Selene. My blood instantly ran cold. I lay in bed, eyes closed, my mind a chaotic mess. Suddenly, a warm body pressed against my back, accompanied by the overwhelming scent of lilacs. It was Orion, returning straight from her chambers. His hot palm slid under my shirt with familiar ease, carrying the damp chill of the sea. His voice was gentle, lingering: "Did I wake you? It’s still early. Let's stay in bed a little longer, yeah?" He had no idea that on all those nights he snuck out to the gardens with Selene, I was awake. I’d just pretend to sleep, watching him slip back in, wide awake and breaking inside. Lately, he’d been staying at Selene’s palace until dawn. He was soaked in that sickening lilac perfume. I shoved him away in disgust. "Go wash up. You reek." He sniffed his sleeve, looking faintly sheepish as he let go of me. "I’m sorry, Thalia. I've been neglecting how you feel." "Are you jealous because I’ve been spending so much time with Selene lately? How about I make it up to you over the next few days?" "I’m sure Selene will understand if I take a few nights off." I stared at him in dead silence. Since when did his time with me require Selene’s understanding? Anyone else would think I was the homewrecker intruding on their relationship. But the truth was, we had been together for seven years. We already had a child. Orion stripped off his shirt, revealing his lean, sculpted abs. Water droplets glimmered on his skin, radiating that fierce, commanding presence he always had. Just like the very first time we met. I had been swept into the ocean during a cruise ship accident. He cut through the waves like the god he was and pulled me from the jaws of death. When we reached the rocks, he peeled off his soaked clothes and casually wiped the saltwater from his chest. My face burned, and I quickly looked away. But he grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "I saved your life. From now on, you belong to me." "I claimed you the moment I laid eyes on you, mortal. Be mine. You can gaze at me whenever you want, for as long as you want." Now, though, my gaze only dropped to his chest. There was a glaring red scratch right over his heart—a sickening reminder of just how wild his nights with Selene really were. Seeing me staring at his chest, Orion flashed a cocky grin. A dark gleam flashed in his eyes as he reached out to pull me back into his arms. "Baby, you want me, don't you? I'll give you whatever you want." He leaned in excitedly, but I frowned and turned my face away. He wasn't the man I knew seven years ago. That cheap scent belonging to another woman was baked into his skin; no amount of washing could scrub it off. It made me sick to my stomach. Before I could shove him away, an anxious messenger banged on the door, interrupting us. "Lord Orion! Lady Selene is feeling unwell! Please come quickly!" The moment he heard Selene was sick, Orion’s playful smirk vanished. He threw on his coat without a second thought, his voice tense: "She was fine when I left her palace!" Only then did he remember me. He glanced back at my expressionless face and offered a half-hearted excuse: "I have to go. I’ll be right back." "My brother is dead; taking care of Selene is my responsibility now. Don't worry, we'll pick up where we left off when I get back." In the past, I would’ve been the idiot waiting around for him to return, waiting for him to keep his promises. But now? I was done waiting. I gave him a faint smile. Orion looked relieved. He turned and left without a second thought, abandoning my son and me in that cold, lonely side-palace once again. Clearly, he didn't realize I already knew about his upcoming wedding with Selene. I closed my eyes, letting the sharp sting in my chest wash over me. Whatever. His hypocrisy would only make walking away with my son that much easier. Chapter 2 I used the communication crystal Zeus gave me to contact him, letting him know I was ready to bring my son home. He was stunned, then ecstatic. Even though the news of a grandson took him by surprise, he didn't hesitate for a second. He swore he would learn how to be a good grandfather and truly love my son, Astro. Listening to his rambling, emotional words, a warmth spread through my chest. Zeus, the almighty King of the Gods, was so thrilled that the heavens literally rumbled with thunder. He wanted us to pack up and leave immediately. Just then, my sleeping son mumbled softly in his dreams: "Daddy... you promised to celebrate my birthday with me..." In two days, it would be Astro’s fifth birthday. My poor boy dreamed of nothing more than having his father by his side. I gently brushed my son’s sleeping face, my eyes stinging with tears. Let's wait two more days, I thought. Let my son sever his very last bit of hope before we leave for good. Yet, before dawn even broke, a servant pounded on our door. It was Orion’s mother. She had sent guards to drag us to her court. I frowned. Orion’s mother had always despised me for being a mortal, and she looked down on Astro for his mixed blood. To her, I was just some cheap human whore who used my body to seduce her son. She hated Astro just as much. In her eyes, only a pure-blooded deep-sea goddess like Selene was worthy of the Queen's crown. While I was cold and guarded, my son lit up with joy. He genuinely thought his father was finally sending for us to live together. But when we stepped into the grand hall, all we saw was a crowd of Atlantean nobles beaming with pride. Orion, who hadn't come home all night, was standing on the high dais, gently supporting Selene with a tender look on his face. His mother completely ignored my son and me, announcing from her high throne: "Selene is with child! This is the divine heir we have been waiting for!" "The child in her womb is the future master of Atlantis! And soon, Orion will unite with her in a sacred royal wedding!" The nobles dropped to their knees, praising and congratulating Selene. I just stared dead at Orion. He was caressing Selene’s flat stomach so gently, completely oblivious to my son and me standing right below the dais. "This is wonderful. I'm finally going to be a father." Finally? My heart twisted violently. Astro stood next to me, his little face falling as he squeezed my hand tight: "Mommy, what is Father talking about? Am I not his child?" His innocent voice echoed sharply through the silent hall. The nobles didn't even try to hide their sneers: "A little mortal bastard dares to speak up here?" "If the other gods find out our noble Sea God has a filthy mortal love child, Atlantis will be the laughingstock of the realms!" "A dirt-born peasant thinks he can steal the divine heir’s rightful place? Keep dreaming!" "We can never let the outside world know he carries Lord Orion's blood!" Orion’s mother scoffed coldly, glaring at us like we were literal trash: "From now on, let it be known that this mortal boy is merely an orphan taken in by the temple. As for Thalia, she is nothing more than a nanny hired to tend to him." I squeezed my son’s hand tighter in silence. I knew it. It was this vicious old woman who pushed Selene to get pregnant with Orion’s child in the first place. "I’m not an orphan! I have a father..." My son’s eyes went red. He fought back his tears, protesting in a small, shaky voice. "Mother, isn't this going a bit too far?" Orion finally noticed us. He stepped away from Selene and took a pace toward us. But Selene grabbed his sleeve, pouting weakly: "The baby needs his father's aura, Orion... I feel so anxious the second you step away..." He froze, hesitated for a few seconds, and stayed right where he was. I took a deep breath, holding my son’s hand high, and declared loudly: "My child is not an orphan, and he doesn't need your pathetic charity." "From this moment on, my son belongs to me and me alone. He has nothing to do with Atlantis, and absolutely nothing to do with the Sea God, Orion." I crouched down, swallowing the lump in my throat, and met my son's gaze directly. "Astro, you are never to call him 'Father' again. Do you understand me?" Orion was stunned. He had always assumed I swallowed my pride and tolerated his affair with Selene just to secure a divine status for our son. Now, I was publicly severing that tie forever. His authoritative gaze pierced through the crowd, locking onto me, trying to figure out if I was bluffing. I just met his eyes with ice. He would never deserve my attention again. Astro was so young; fat tears rolled down his cheeks one after another. I took his hand to turn and leave, but Selene blocked our path with a wall of water. "Thalia, I heard Orion once gave you the 'Tear of the Abyss'—a symbol of the Sea God’s protection." Selene stroked her belly arrogantly. "Since I am the future Queen and my child is the true heir, don't you think it's time you hand over that necklace?" "We can't let a filthy mortal tarnish a divine relic." So that's what this is. This was the real reason they dragged us here today—to publicly humiliate us and strip me of everything. I looked coldly at Orion: "Is this what you want, too?" That necklace was the token of love he placed around my neck the very first time he claimed me in these waters. He told me it was the heart of the sea. He said giving it to me meant I was his eternal one and only. For years, I held onto this relationship because of that necklace and the words he said that day. Under my icy stare, Orion looked away guiltily, unable to face me: "Thalia, it’s just a necklace. I’ll buy you something else later..." "Fine." Without a second of hesitation, I ripped the Tear of the Abyss off my neck and threw it at Selene’s feet. Over Selene’s triumphant laughter, I dropped one last chilling sentence: "You're right. A necklace that represents infidelity and betrayal suits you much better than it ever suited me." Under Orion’s shocked and furious gaze, I took my son’s hand and strode out of the grand hall without looking back once. Chapter 3 My son cried silently in my arms. He asked me if his father really didn't want him anymore, and if there was no place for us in this ocean. I held him so tight: "No, my sweet Astro. You are the most lovable boy in the world." "When I take you to our real home, Grandpa will spoil you rotten. Whatever toys you want, whether you want to go out and play or watch the stars—he’ll give you everything. Do you want to go there with Mommy?" He hesitated, his little fingers clutching the seashell wind chime Orion had given him last year. "But... I'll miss Father..." I fought down the bitterness in my throat and whispered: "He doesn't want us anymore, baby. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life calling him 'Lord Sea God'?" Astro froze. He lowered the wind chime, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes, begging: "...Then can we leave after my birthday? Just one last time... I want to make one last memory with Father." He was so stubborn about wanting a proper goodbye. I wiped his tears and kissed his forehead: "Okay. Mommy promises you." Yet, on the day of his fifth birthday, Orion—who had promised to be there—was nowhere to be seen. "Today is Astro’s birthday. You promised you’d come. Where are you?" Suppressing my rage, I used the communication crystal to call him. I could take the humiliation, but I would never allow anyone to crush my son’s heart like this. But the crystal remained dead silent. Finally, he just cut the connection from his end. "He’s not coming, is he?" My son hung his head, staring sadly at the pathetic little candles on the table. He muttered to himself, trying to make it hurt less: "It’s okay. Lord Sea God is very busy. Having Mommy here is enough." That was the very first time he called him "Lord Sea God." The forced smile on his tiny face shattered my heart into a million pieces. Suddenly, a temple servant ran in with a message: "Lord Orion has prepared a surprise for Astro at the Central Plaza!" My son’s dead eyes instantly lit up with wild, unbelievable joy. "Mommy! Father remembered my birthday! He got me a present!" He grabbed my hand excitedly, dragging me as fast as he could toward the plaza. But when we arrived at the Central Plaza, breathless and full of hope, all we saw were floating flower petals and deep-sea nobles dressed in extravagant formal wear. This wasn't a birthday party. It looked like... Astro didn't notice. He ran joyfully toward Orion, who was standing on the high altar. "Father! I’m here!" The second Orion saw us, his face darkened. The nobles began whispering and pointing: "Isn't today Lord Orion and Lady Selene's royal wedding? Why is this mortal bastard trespassing?!" Hearing the whispers, Orion—desperate to protect his supreme authority as the ruler—unleashed a wave of water, slamming my son hard onto the ground. "Who gave you permission to barge in here?!" Astro hit the hard stone floor, his knees scraping open and bleeding. He just sat there, staring up at him in utter shock. This was too much! Burning with rage, I rushed to pick up my son to leave, but Selene blocked us with a magic barrier. "Thalia, today is the sacred day Orion and I become partners. Did you bring this little bastard here on purpose just to ruin our ceremony?" Seeing the venomous triumph in her eyes, it all clicked. That messenger servant? Selene had sent him to trick us into coming here. She leaned delicately against Orion’s chest: "I warned you before. No matter how greedy you are for the Sea God’s power, you can't bring a filthy peasant child to taint a sacred ceremony." "Am I right, Orion?" Orion glanced at our bleeding son, then at Selene, and ultimately chose to stay silent—a tacit agreement. I shielded my trembling son in my arms, screaming back: "My son is NOT a bastard! His bloodline is a hundred times more noble than you rotting deep-sea trash!" I picked Astro up to leave. Selene sneered, raising her scepter: "Ungrateful peasant! How dare you insult Atlantis!" "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget today!" As she channeled her magic, I felt myself being lifted off the ground. An invisible, icy hand clamped around my throat, cutting off my air. My eyes turned red as I stared at Orion standing right next to her. He looked slightly conflicted, but didn't move an inch. That's it, I thought. I owe him nothing anymore. Seven years ago, he risked his life to save mine. All that love, all that devotion—in this single moment, it evaporated into nothing. Astro was sobbing hysterically. He grabbed Orion’s pants, dropping to his knees with a loud thud, begging him: "Father! No—Lord Sea God! I was wrong! Please, please save my Mommy!" Both Orion and I stared at Astro in absolute shock. "Stop!" Orion barked at Selene to drop the spell, staring at Astro as if trying to confirm what he just heard: "What did you just call me?" "Lord Sea God. Since my mother and I aren't welcome here, we’ll take our leave now." It was like my son grew up in an instant. That pair of eyes that used to adore his father held nothing but fear and emotional distance now. He helped me up, and together, we walked out of that hellhole. Back at the side-palace, my crystal flashed with a dismissive message from Orion: "Stop pitching a fit. I'll come back tonight and make it right." My son didn't even spare it a glance. "Mommy, you said Grandpa is waiting for us, right?" "Let's go right now." I looked at my son, whose heart had completely turned to ash, and nodded firmly. We destroyed everything we had ever used here, leaving not a single trace of our existence behind. Hand in hand with my son, I left this heart-wrenching sea forever.