Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 17 - 40 - Give and Take (3)

Elara’s first life crashed hard. Cruel tricks ruined her name, broke her dreams, and turned the whole entertainment world against her. Friends betrayed her. Lovers sold her out. Everyone she trusted stabbed her in the back. The pain piled up until she felt trapped with no way out. One night, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked to the river and ended it all in the cold, quiet water.Later, proof came out. Messages. Recordings. Everything showed she had been framed. People posted apologies online. But it was too late. She was already gone.The universe, though, clearly has a twisted sense of humor.Because somehow, Elara came back. She woke up in her own past, every awful memory still sharp in her head. Right then she made a promise she would never break: protect her gentle grandfather no matter what, and never let anyone push her to that dark place again.This time she steps into the entertainment world with her head high. She trains harder, sings better, fights smarter. The same people who once crushed her? Now they get to feel the pressure.Love? Not happening. Her heart is locked tight. But why is it that as she rises and shines brighter, handsome, powerful men start circling her—guys who never even glanced at her in her previous life were now hovering around her.The actor smiled at her during a press interview, leaned closer, and said softly, “We should have dinner sometime.”The footballer sent flowers so big they blocked her room door.The surgeon she met at a charity event checked her pulse and then forgot to let go of her wrist.The singer she collaborated with kept calling her name during rehearsals, as if the mic could not hear him well enough.Elara stared at the ceiling that night and sighed.She only wanted to sing. Why did everyone look like they wanted to adopt her, date her, or both?But the worst one came after the concert.The lights had just gone off. Her ears were still ringing. Sweat clung to her neck. She had barely stepped backstage when a shadow blocked her path.She looked up.The CEO of the greatest company in Aurelia stood there. The same man who once said her voice was “not worth investing in.” The same man who did not even know her name before rebirth.Now he held her wrist lightly, but firmly.“Let’s talk,” he said.Elara blinked. “About… sponsorship?”“No,” he replied calmly. “About marriage.”Her brain froze.“…What?”“I will give you everything,” he continued, as if asking for a glass of water. “Resources. Protection. Freedom to sing. Become my wife.”Elara stared at him, her mouth open, her thoughts running in circles.This was not how it was supposed to be.Why was the world now skipping steps?NB:This story takes place in a fictional world. Aurelia is a country. Solmere, Veston, and Starfall City are the three capital cities of Aurelia. Other cities, such as Lorien and Crelou, are smaller cities.

“At thirty, a rare age in the past, and when the King of Hell doesn’t summon you, you go of your own accord.”After his divorce, Lu Liang suddenly felt as though the dirt was already up to his neck, especially when he could hear the sound of a running memorial lantern.Until he discovered that it was a message from the future, and that’s when his life took a dramatic turn.…Living in this world, we are all mere mortals.Being a mortal isn’t so bad—greedy, lustful, cunning, selfish…

A useless prince, yet brimming with kindness and compassion—his smile as warm as sunlight, illuminating this darkened era.But that was merely a mask, hiding the poisonous and mad nature beneath.A monster lurking behind a gentle shell.A system that feeds on stolen Heroines.He will outplay destiny—and rise as the world’s ultimate villain.

[Earthlings! You have been summoned to participate in the Universe's Armageddon...][The first batch of beta testers are now being issued!][A total of 10 million spots have been issued!][You have been selected!]“What the F***” Arthur, a teenager in the slums shouted as he heard the global announcement.[Talent Awakening!][System...Error!][SSS Talent: Primordial Summoner]I was meant to summon a powerful primordial beast that would carry me all the way.So... why?“I SUMMONED A CAT!” He shouted, looking at the cute cat in front of him.By the time the game had merged with reality, Arthur already has dozens of legendary summons to aid him against the forces of evil.[You have summoned the SSS-Level “Primordial Dragon”!][You have extracted the SSS-Level Skill “Berserk”!]