The Desolate Era (Web Novel) - Book 35, Chapter 6 - Understood

The world’s largest VRMMO, Conviction, was almost like a second world for humanity. It had integrated itself into the real world’s economy, with both corporations and individuals seeking their fortunes through the game.

In this game, Nie Yan prided himself in his Level 180 Thief. He could barely be considered among the top experts in the game. Though, that was the only thing he could take pride in. He was penniless and unable to advance in life; a situation he was forced into by the enemy of his father. If it weren’t for the little money he made by selling off items in Conviction, he would’ve barely been able to eat. In the end, he chose to settle his matters once and for all. He assassinated his father’s enemy. He lay dying shortly after being shot in the pursuit.

However, that wasn’t the end of his story. Instead, he awoke moments later to find that he had reincarnated into his past self. Armed with his experience and knowledge of future events, he sets out to live his life anew.

“I lost everything again...?”Kain had to work hard to feed himself, in a small village on the edge of the forbidden lands. Unlike the others, he hated Keepers, the only people capable of fighting the creatures from the Astral Dimension. Everyone saw them as heroes, but Kain blamed them for the greatest tragedy of his life - the death of his parents.Ironically, the sacrifice of one Keeper allowed Kain to obtain a Rune Brand - the key to begin a trial, the outcome was either power or death.Facing another world, Kain discovered that his blood was cursed, and misfortune would always haunt him.But death would avoid Kain, wanting to keep such a valuable sacrifice for a god. Only failure would await him, but if it was possible death would pass by.Now, Kain must break his curse and take fate into his own hands for the first time in his life or remain a nameless offering.

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

“Push her! You can’t let her get back up!”

“That’s right! You have to straighten out that heinous b*tch!”

A goddess of war whose fearsome reputation enveloped East Asia was betrayed and killed. Then, she was reborn as Caroline Lambert, a vulnerable lady with a tarnished reputation in New York City! Despite being the daughter of an important family, her family heavily favored her stepsister, so the bullying and physical abuse were frequent. Her fiancé, who used to woo her fervently, stood before the public with her stepsister in his arms as he declared their engagement annulled, making her a joke amongst the rich and important.

Her stepsister was also cunning enough to steal her position and take away all the affection that should have been hers, and smeared her name to the point that she was condemned by everyone! And yet, when the goddess of war reincarnated as Caroline, everything became different!

Withstanding the malicious slander, she carved out a new, bloody path. Insults from her family? Attempting to steal her late mother’s estate?

Caroline issued papers announcing that they had cut all ties, and that her mother’s estate would be donated to charity! See here, she would rather donate every coin to charity than keep them for you!

They were saying that she was a piece of trash who had nothing going for her? Sorry, but she was a prodigious doctor, a mercenary, a racer, and a top hacker…

Though Caroline wanted revenge for the body’s original owner, she inadvertently picked up a sickly, beautiful man. Seeing that he did not have long to live, Caroline agreed to his proposal… Only to find that like her, he was a man with multiple identities that could leave New York shaking once revealed!

Caroline: Aren’t you supposed to die an early death? Liar!

Edwin: It’s not a lie. My wife clearly pities me!