MTL - My Stand-in is Steve - Chapter 9 He gave so much...

He was once the most feared villain in the empire, a master of manipulation who wove chaos from the shadows. Ruthless, untouchable—until the day he was betrayed and executed by the very man he sought to control.But death is not the end.He awakens in the body of Lady Elara Valcrest, a fragile noble girl doomed to be a pawn in political games. Stripped of her former power, she is forced into an arranged marriage with none other than Cairon Everhart—the man who once killed her. He does not recognize her, but she knows him. And she will never forget.To survive, Elara must play a new game. One where deception is her only weapon, and trust is a dangerous illusion. She must outmaneuver her enemies, uncover the truth behind her execution, and reclaim the power she lost. But as she navigates the treacherous world of court intrigue, one question lingers—Was Cairon truly her greatest enemy? Or had she been blind to an even greater threat?Time is running out. The villain has been given one last chance. And this time, she refuses to lose.

A prince sent into exile, without the means to fight back.

“Two bonds, two brothers, and one broken girl caught in the middle of it all.”Haelyn's life was never her own. Sold by the very family that should have protected her and thrust into a world of Alphas and power, into the arms of Archer, the cold, ruthless Alpha King, who only needed her as a pawn in a bigger game. His dominance is overwhelming, his fire undeniable, his presence impossible to ignore.But then there's Artemis, Archer's twin and the calm to his storm. Compassionate, steady, and kind, Artemis offers her a glimpse of the freedom and love she's always yearned for.“I won't hurt you like he does,” Artemis whispers, his touch light against her trembling hand.“And yet I'm still chained to both of you,” Haelyn replies, shaking, her eyes darting between the brothers.Torn between two Alpha brothers and fighting the scars of her past, Haelyn must draw strength from herself to fight against her family's betrayal and the bond that connects her to two strong men. It is a choice, though, that could unwind it all and make her heart possibly what she needs to save herself and the pack.MATED TO THE BEAST ALPHA BROTHERS is a hot paranormal romance about betrayal, passion, and a heroine who will never break, no matter the odds.

Pei Jiu picked up a girl by the riverside. He settled her on the mountain, and planned to send her back once she recovered. This delicate girl was a useless crybaby, so Pei Jiu had to be a nice person. He cooked her food and washed her clothes. He let the troublesome girl ride on his shoulders so she could pick fruits. During winter, he would warm up the bed for her. One day, she hugged Pei Jiu’s arm with a smile. “Big Brother Pei, you’re really an honest and a good man. I will marry you and give birth to your babies!”

Pei Jiu eyed her critically and scathingly enumerated her shortcomings. She was ignorant and spoiled. She only knew how to pester and flirt with people all day long. Give birth to babies? Go ahead, give birth to caterpillars.

The delicate girl bawled so hard that she passed out. The next day, Pei Jiu returned to his mansion and told his servants to prepare for his wedding ceremony. When he returned to the mountain in the evening, Pei Jiu opened the door as usual, but he found that the cheeky girl had disappeared. He searched the whole mountain for her to no avail. No one would act like a spoiled brat in front of him anymore. What a headache.

Note : 娇 (jiāo) : tender/delicate/pampered/spoiled

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