Pokémon: Above the Top - Chapter 249: The Underground Cave That Cannot Be Flooded

Reborn in the early 1980s, what Lin Xia wished to do was to be “idle” to the extreme, and so wealthy that it dripped off of her...Having another chance at life, all she wanted was for her brother to live a long life of a hundred years, her younger brother to attend university, and to set up a small business for her sister;Yet, why were two highly eligible men taking turns to express their feelings for her?

On the day of her wedding, Ivy Quinn vanishes, leaving behind only a note: “I’m sorry, I can't marry a blind man.”To protect her son from heartbreak, Elizabeth Winters strikes a desperate deal—Ruby, Ivy’s identical twin, must take her sister’s place at the altar. Trapped by duty and family pressure, Ruby agrees, believing it will only last until Stefan’s eyesight is restored.But from the moment they marry, Stefan senses something is different about his “wife.” The woman beside him is nothing like the shallow fiancée he once knew. She’s sharp, resilient, and understands his business in a way Ivy never did. Against all odds, he falls harder than ever for this new version of her.And Ruby? She never expected to fall in love with a man who was never meant to be hers.But just when she finds the courage to tell him the truth, Ivy returns, ready to reclaim the life she abandoned.When Stefan finally opens his eyes, will he see the woman who truly stood by him—or will he be too blind to recognize real love?****Excerpt****“By the way, did Ruby come to the wedding?” he asked, catching her off guard since she hadn't expected him to ask her that all of a sudden.Was he already suspecting that it was her and not Ivy?Ruby’s fingers froze on the door handle for just a fraction of a second.It was enough to set off alarms in Stefan's head.“I—uh…” She hesitated, but only briefly. “No. She had work. She couldn’t make it.”Was he suspecting a switch already? What must have set off the alarm in his head?Stefan hummed, tilting his head slightly. “Oh, I see. How is she, then? I hope she's coming to visit one of these days?”Her fingers tightened on the handle, though her voice remained steady. “Yeah. She would, the moment she is chanced and can come.”A slow smirk tugged at the corner of Stefan’s lips, though he kept his expression neutral.Interesting. Very interesting. His wife had just lied to him and he didn't know why.Even though he was blind, he'd find out why soon enough.

...[Inside an underground basement]“You are going to die for nothing, hahahaha,” the old man's voice thundered through the room, sending chills down my spine.Step.With a swift and ruthless motion, he lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air and slashing my throat, crimson droplets staining the darkness.“We'll see,” I whispered defiantly, my final words escaping as a mere breath against the impending darkness.Slowly, inexorably, my consciousness slipped away, and I descended into a deep, unfathomable slumber.“Huh!?” My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself seated in a bustling tavern, the air thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses.In front of me stood a captivating lady, her beauty juxtaposed with an angry furrow upon her brow, threatening to shatter the harmony of the jovial scene.“Don't follow me around!” Her words pierced the air like shards of ice, the intensity of her emotions palpable as she cast a resentful glare in my direction, before swiftly departing from the tavern....Am I trapped within the confines of a game? The fragments of my shattered common sense scattered before me, leaving me to question the very fabric of my reality.

Nestled between dangerous roads and distant kingdoms, there exists a Tavern.Trail's End.Adventurers come here with sore shoulders and tired hearts.Some stay for the food.Others for the soft beds.Most for the man behind the bar.Kio doesn’t talk much.He listens.He knows things he shouldn’t.And somehow, he always knows exactly what each woman needs—be it a charm, a whispered warning, a guidance, or a night tangled in his arms.He offers no magic.No training.Just comfort.And yet, those who leave always feel… lighter.Clearer.As if something was set right inside them.They never quite know why.But they always come back.** This is kind of a Slice of Life Novel **_________MATURE WARNING - Smut, R18.Contains kinks.Ex. Anal, bdsm, bondage, threesomes, orgies.Slice of LifeNo Ntr, No Yuri ( No girls loving each other)