The Retired Abyss Innkeeper - Chapter 44: I Finished the Sign. The Room Had Already Started Without Me

Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé.Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now—billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn’t mind. I’d crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one?Wrong.One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That’s when it hit me—he didn’t love me. He didn’t even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn’t even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup.So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster—my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise.Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol.Enter him.Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I’d met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes.It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised.But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life.And, as it turned out, the best decision I’d ever made.Because my one-night stand isn’t just some random guy. He’s richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with.And now, he’s not letting me go.

Not everyone wants to live a life filled with fame, riches, glory, and honor. Some, just want the easy life. To live a life that simply plays itself over and over, with a hint of spice here and there.

“I swear I will make them pay with everything I have. I will use my very own blood to sign the documents that will end them if I must!”To Champagne Gold, life was always like a fast-moving truck with no brakes and a drunk driver, one she couldn't avoid.At the age of five, she lost her parents in a helicopter crash. Life after that was one problem to another but she held on... until her grandfather passed away as well.With his death came the loss of her position of CEO and her hard-earned shares. As if that was not enough, she was served with divorce papers and the revelation of her husband's adultery with her cousin.Dealt with one too many blows, Champagne sought to end it all. Perhaps she could be reincarnated or whisked away to another world like the books she read before, but that was not to be. Instead, a mysterious man entered her life.“Rather than escape like a coward, I can give you the power and resources to carry out your revenge. I have but one condition―marry me.”Champagne held her lips between her teeth and took the offer.However, just when she believed her new life was going smoothly, she found out another painful secret. One more painful than any she had discovered before.She had undergone a uterus removal procedure and she didn't even know it.Now Champagne is more determined than ever to get revenge on everyone who wronged her. She would do and give everything to make them pay for taking away something so precious from her.

When Zhaozhao was ten years old, she was brought back to the Marquis household as the true daughter. Her parents doted on her, her brother was close, and even the fake daughter treated her with warmth. Zhaozhao once thought she was dreaming, and she treated them with all her heart.Until they personally sent her into the Tomb Guard City, a place that devours people whole, she realized she was merely brought back to exchange and protect the fake daughter.For five years in the city, the Marquis household ignored her.They let the sons of nobles from distinguished families use her as a punching bag, abusing and beating her, leaving no part of her intact.She died in despair the day before she was to leave the city.At the moment of her death, Zhaozhao awakened.—A hundred years ago, the ghostly gate opened, and the Ghost King led thousands of ferocious ghosts out of the underworld to wreak havoc on the world.She was originally King Yan of the underworld, descended to experience trials due to dereliction of duty.Once Zhaozhao opened her eyes again,The world changed colors, and she held the Book of Life and Death, transforming into King Yan to claim lives.Judging good and evil, slashing enemies.Once she gathered eighty-one evil souls and captured the Ghost King, she could return to her position.—On the day she left the city, the Marquis couple and her brother came personally to pick her up.Zhaozhao didn't even glance at them, turning to get into Prince Su's carriage.Her parents cursed her as an ungrateful ingrate, and her brother sneered that she would come crying back to beg them.Later, all of them knelt on the ground, crying, begging her to return home.Zhaozhao watched coldly.She would no longer want anything tainted.—Prince Su was born shrouded in Evil Qi, and anyone close to him would either die or be injured. Everyone thought he would be lonely for life.He had a delicate young lady by his side.She appeared to be pitiful and charming, but was ruthless and decisive behind the scenes.Once she absorbed the Evil Qi and gathered the evil souls, Zhaozhao planned to pat her butt and leave.Prince Su's eyes reddened, saying, “Zhaozhao, take this prince with you!”