Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Volume 2 - Chapter 0 - Prologue

[ Warning: Mature content R-18 ]______________________________Ryan, a man stuck in a troubled marriage, lives with his wife Lily and her family. Despite his efforts to improve his life, he is continuously belittled by his in-laws, especially his mother-in-law Olivia.Ryan’s life takes a turn when he discovers a mysterious system.[Ding! The beast system has been successfully bound!]The story explores themes of family dynamics, hidden emotions, and the desire for validation in a world where appearances are everything. Ryan must decide whether he will continue to be passive or take control of his own destiny, all while learning the true power of the system that has entered his life.______________________________[Things to be noted]1. From the title, you should've guessed it already but let me tell you the story will be filled with many sexual adventures. So... you are welcome to enjoy them.....2. However... don't expect MC to have sexual relations with every woman he meets. I'll be focusing on the story, and would 'Try' not to blindly throw sex scenes left and right.Important Note: If you enjoy the story then don't forget tovote your GTs, Power stones and also if you can, send some GIFTS too. This poor soul would appreciate it.Happy reading~

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

[TRIGGER WARNING: DARK THEMES, MATURE CONTENT.]In a world where humans, werewolves, vampires, fey, and other supernatural beings coexist, Isleen; an Omega who has been subject to multiple bullying and ridicule in the pack because of her parent's past, faces a challenging dilemma. She's dating Kylo but unexpectedly discovers that his strict father, Rhett, who is the pack’s Gamma, is her destined mate.Conflict arises as a war breaks out among the supernatural creatures and the death toll rises. Isleen struggles with her loyalty to her boyfriend, and the powerful pull she feels towards his father, due to the mate bond.——Imagine getting married at Eighteen to a woman old enough to be your mother– all because of your loyalty to the Moon Goddess?Welcome to Rhett’s reality. Rhett DarkWater is a man of principles but not without his share of secrets and hidden missions. After finding out who his second fated mate is, he battles with his devotion to the Moon Goddess, his loyalty to his son, and his duty as the Gamma who is supposed to protect the pack—not have his son’s girlfriend pinned beneath him in a corner with her clothes off.Unfortunately for Rhett and Isleen, the mate bond knows no morality – it attacks, and when it does, two hearts must become one.——I and Gamma Rhett just kissed again.He knelt before me, his hand reaching out to touch me, but I flinched away. “Isleen,” he muttered.“This is wrong,” I cried. “We can't do this. It's forbidden. W-what about Kylo?”He stared at me, his eyes burning with a passion that frightened me to the core. Yet, it left tingling sensational effects all over my body. “Don't fight it, Isleen. We are mates. This is what we're meant for.”

Zoe Bell was the foster daughter of the Bell Family. On the night she was thrown out, her fiancé was already wrapping his arm around his new love, making headlines in the entertainment news.Afterwards, Zoe found herself caught in one scandal after another, all because she was seen with the most powerful man in Capital City. Everyone sneered, convinced she was nothing more than a fleeting plaything for Mr. Hale.But little did they know that from the very first moment when he laid eyes on her, Mr. Hale had only one thought -He was going to seize love with boldness!People were all waiting to find something to mock Zoe about, so they intentionally asked William Hale what relationship he was holding with Zoe Bell. Mr. Hale merely laughed and said, “Maybe I haven’t tried hard enough, because after being married for so long, Mrs. Hale still refuses to announce it publicly or give me my rightful title.”It was a night with thick, humid air, Zoe was left breathless as William kissed her with arms firmly wrapping around her waist.His voice was low and scorching, “Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?”Zoe gritted her teeth - He was trying way too hard!【See how the aloof CEO falls for love】【Love After Marriage】