Toaru Majutsu no Index - Volume 22, Chapter 10: Completion of the Final Spell’s Preliminary Preparations. Rebirth_the...

In a realm of four kingdoms, two were on the verge of war. Prince Eirik, the fourth prince of Valeidio, a Ferre whose beauty could rival the gods, was thrust into a marriage alliance with Prince Kaelix, the strong and proud heir of Zephyros.Both princes were determined to fight against the fate that had been forced on them. Eirik resented being used as a pawn, while Kaelix saw the alliance as a threat to his freedom. As they clashed in a battle of wills, their encounters became a constant push and pull of resistance and pride.But as the pressures of duty mounted, the lines between obligation and desire began to blur. In their struggle against their forced union, they found themselves drawn toward each other in ways they never expected.Would their bond become a weapon against the war or would their kingdoms' rivalries destroy any chance of love before it could take root?

Sold by her own grandmother to become a shared wife to the poverty-stricken Ye brothers for twenty taels of silver, Liu Duo, unwilling to succumb to her fate, escaped in the night. She slipped and fell and died an inexplicable death.

After finishing playing mahjong, Yu Zhou, a recently resigned writer, returned home and found a young lady from ancient times, Xiang Wan, who was a former prime minister’s daughter, sitting on her sofa. After some simple communication, Yu Zhou, with her adolescent mind, accepted this “roommate” who had traveled through time.

On the other hand, Yu Zhou’s novel was adapted into an audio drama, which was unexpectedly performed by the well-known voice actor Su Chang, causing Yu Zhou to be overjoyed yet also in tears, because Su Chang was her ex-girlfriend.

Through their new connections, the girls re-examine their own lives and achieve personal growth. This absurd yet realistic experience may also “pat awake” Yu Zhou’s stagnant love life.

- Description from Novelupdates

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?