Re: Blood and Iron - Chapter 558: The Beginning of the World’s End

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Max Winchester suddenly found himself in the world he hated the most, Xiao Bai novels.Not only was he not the protagonist, but he became a villain, and the worst thing is, unlike other Villains, he was not transmigrated at the beginning of the novel but rather at the end point of his arc.His death was already decided; the Protagonist had already firmed his foothold in the city.The most important thing for the villain is their family already pretty much disowned him; the sisters who used to dote on him were ignoring him.His business was in a crisis as he was just days away from declaring bankruptcy as his capital chain was broken.He found himself standing in front of his childhood sweetheart, who came to him to break off their engagement.When he was in the desperate situation, the compulsory golden finger of every traveler popped in.[Ding! The Counter-Attack System is being bounded][Ding! Protagonist attack on host detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining {Absolute Dodge}...][Ding! The protagonist gaining strength is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving the SS+ Calamity rank power base....][Ding! Protagonist attacking your company detected....Counter-attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving 1 Trillion UC market value company....Congratulations to the host that Protagonist's most loyal brother who helped him in attacking your company stepped on shit and died....][Ding! A protagonist's childhood sweetheart hatred towards you is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +100 (Only one) Favorability of Protagonists childhood sweetheart....][Ding! Protagonist trying to blackmail your sisters detected....Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +1000 (Not even death do us apart) favorability of his mother....Congratulations to the host for receiving {Harem protection halo}....Congratulations to the host that the Protagonist lost his PP right....Congratulations to the host for the Protagonist lost half of his mind....]And so he goes on his relaxing journey of the Counter-Attack.

He said I was the most despicable woman he ever met…

In order to love him, I lost my family, and become an imprisoned tool used for his vengeance from a noble lady. Everyone said I was the daughter of a rapist… I cautiously maintained the excruciating deep love for him and suffered from mental and physical exhaustion…

I thought someday my love would touch him and then I would live a happy life just as a fairy tale, but in fact I fell into an eternal nightmare…

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.