Ghost in the City - Chapter 17

A number of university students are given a simple survey in which they must watch a number of short films and rank them in order of preference. The reader takes the survey along with them with the short films being told as short stories.

“Why is this happening…?”

Mia Luna Tearmoon, Princess of the Tearmoon Empire, muttered to herself as she stood shackled on the execution platform.

The faces of the spectators surrounding her were, without exception, filled with indignation.

Before long, Mia was executed at the hands of the revolutionists, who were fed up with the heavy taxation.

But the next moment, she unexpectedly found herself lying on her bed.

It was eight years ago, when she was just a mere kid.

For a while, Mia even wondered if she was hallucinating. However, what appeared on her bedside table was a bloodstained diary that she had written herself.

That day, Mia’s screams could be heard echoing throughout the palace.

Mia was not a vicious person by nature. She was simply incapable of understanding the pain and hunger of others, and by the time she discovered it, it was already too late to do anything.

After she regressed back to her childhood, Mia struggled hard to trace back the events of the past with the help of her blood-stained diary and memories.

Was it to save the future of a declining empire?

Was it to save the soldiers who died in the civil war?

Was it to save the people from famine?

No, she had only one goal.

To avert her fate of facing the guillotine (execution)!

Shi Qing Xia is practically an angel.

Kind, sweet-hearted, and good at her studies, she was admitted to the top university in Taipei.

However, the living expenses for the metropolitan city were far greater than she had ever imagined, so she started to work as a private tutor for wealthy families to make ends meet.

On her first day of work, she met Zhao Yi Bo and Zhao Yi Xuan, a pair of neglected 16-year-old genius twins whose prosperous and wealthy parents heartlessly abandoned in Taiwan. Shi Qing Xia found them to be gentle, compassionate, friendly, clever, mysterious, pitiful and attractive.

But appearances can be very deceiving…

Because behind those sweet smiles…

Deeply twisted and cruel demons lurked, waiting to rip apart the wings of this angel, condemning her to an eternity of conflicted bittersweet suffering — a rollercoaster ride of a heart-wrenching, twisted, and tragic romance more extreme than what someone so innocent could possibly imagine.

- Description from Novelupdates

Born into one of the wealthiest families in the country, Layla Rosenzweig's true identity is taken away at the time of her birth by the mistress of her father. She is forced to live as the illegitimate daughter of the Rosenzweig Family. Everyone treats her no less than an outsider in her own house. “This is mine. That is mine. In fact, everything is mine,” Layla's half-sister told her. Everything that belonged to Layla is given to her half-sister, including her boyfriend. Then, she is forced to marry her ex-boyfriend's ruthless uncle, Lucius De Salvo, the most terrifying man in the country. Lucius De Salvo is known for his ruthless ways to get his work done. His name is enough to terrify people. It is said that he is a man devoid of emotions. He will find pleasure in people's pain and misery. He loves to torment those who come under his radar. But why is he so lovely to Layla? Or is it just a pretense?“Are you ready for the wedding night, Darling?” Lucius asked. “I've desired you for a long time.” “What?” Layla was shocked. “Why would you?” “Because you are Layla Rosenzweig. The woman I like.” With that, he captured her mouth for a passionate kiss.