African Entrepreneurship Record - Chapter 33 - 29: Arduous March

The footsteps sounded closer, and closer, and closer, until he faintly heard Siri's voice welcoming someone into the house, but before he could open his eyes to see who it was, he felt a large hand gripping his neck, his legs were locked tightly between much larger ones, and, he felt the cold metal of a gun placed directly on his...gun.Zeno quickly opened his eyes from instincts, ready to fight off his attacker, but the moment he did so, he was met with mesmerizing dark grey orbs, staring dangerously at him.The face of his attacker was too close, he couldn't make out his features, but he knew they were sharp, even from a closed look.He didn't bother fighting, he didn't want to lose his junior member down there, and his Nana still expected grandchildren from him. He couldn't disappoint her.“Who. Are. You?” The voice of his attacker was so deep, dark, and commanding.Zeno was a fighter, but he felt a chill run down his spine from the sound of the voice.The hand around Zeno's neck tightened, but he endured it, he was a fighter.Judging by his attacker's looks and actions of confidence, this was his boss.~~~After losing his parents and being faced with an unbelievable medical bill, Zeno Evander finds himself working as a Manny for a mysterious Billionaire, but it doesn't last long; after almost being killed by the Mafia billionaire, Zeno swore never to return to that place again.But after a week of escaping the Mafia billionaire, Zeno finds himself kidnapped and Blackmailed into signing a year's contract as the Mafia's Manny and bodyguard.Could Zeno escape his evil and monstrous boss? Or would he be consumed by him? Consumed by the forbidden passion he felt build up between them? Would he risk his life just to experience the burn of forbidden love?After the betrayal from his family, ex-wife, and friend five years ago, Sebastian Orion became a totally different being.He became cold, aloof, and dangerous as he rose to become the most feared Mafia king of the underworld, and everyone who heard his name shivered from fear.He distrusted everyone and hated any form of human relationships, building a thick wall around himself.But, not until his son's manny came into the picture.Zeno irritated him in every way, he hated the mere sight of his bodyguard and would have chosen to kill him if not for the sake of his son.Sebastian always tried to push Zeno away by treating him in the lowest way possible.But when the contract was coming to an end, were his feelings still the same? Or did he suddenly realize that it wasn't only his son that needed Zeno?~~~“What are you waiting for? Leave!” Sebastian snarled bitterly.He would have to speak with Butler Nicole to find out why he brought back this stupid clown to his house.He had just returned from yet another trip, just to find this nuisance in his house again.He hated Zeno so much; he was classless and looked extremely dangerous to be near his son; who knew if he was sent as a snitch by an enemy?“I'm sorry, boss, but I can't,” Zeno said and stood his ground.Leaving would mean he wanted his Nana to die; no, he'd rather stay here and take all punches that came his way; he was used to it.“What?!” Sebastian couldn't believe that such stupid people were still existing in the world.“I can't leave,” Zeno repeated.

"There was a time in my life where I struggled to breathe. A time where I felt suffocated everyday, but then I met you."

-Turning the gears of fate.

A drop of ink can penetrate the walls, even the walls you took too long to build.

After losing her first love due to a traffic accident, Ibuki Sumire transfers to Tokyo. She wanted to escape, to run away from everything that happened. To start over in a place that didn't have him. But a series of clues lead her to investigating the case behind the accident.

In that place she learns about the masks people wear. The masks people wear to disgui se their feelings. Sometimes you have to look past what you see on the surface.

There she meets him, the person who helps her move forward. But Sumire quickly learns how alike they are. His cold personality is different than the kindness she is used to. However, he is the only one who understands her feelings.

It keeps going around in circles, like a drop of paint. Round and round - an endless stream of pain and lies. But, that stream ended the moment she laid her eyes on his paintings.

Such rich and vibrant colors, it felt like his emotions exploded. Yet, in the corner of his studio, she found it. The real him, a sakura painting of two people walking hand in hand.

A gentle and sweet feeling, something she has never felt before.

[Commissioned Cover by: Vatarison]

After suddenly dying from work exhaustion in the modern world, a young man named Clayton wakes up in someone else’s body in a foreign world styled like medieval Europe. Without knowing how or why he ended up there, Clayton slowly realizes he now inhabits the body of a teenager who has just survived a deadly illness—and lost his beloved father.But his new awakening isn’t met with hope; instead, it brings pressure and intrigue. The people around him—from city officials to seemingly kind neighbors—all share one goal: to seize the valuable house his father left behind. One by one, their masks of kindness slip away, revealing the harsh reality of this new world.With a weak body, a nearly dead farm, and a loyal, skinny dog, Clayton must fight to survive. He not only has to delve into the memories of his body’s former owner but also navigate a world filled with manipulation, magical creatures, and social injustice.This world isn’t just an escape from work stress—it’s a battlefield for his soul and pride.

I possessed a minor character who marries the prince. I’m not thrilled about it. The prince is a scumbag who flirts with the heroine despite being engaged and eventually gets defeated by the original male lead. In the epilogue, all he does is apologize to his fiancée and marry her, with barely a line to his name. Well, his personality is twisted, but at least he’s handsome. And since he’s the third prince, he doesn’t have to shoulder the burden of ruling the kingdom. That’s decent husband material, I suppose. Go ahead, make a fool of yourself. You’re going to marry me anyway. I’ll just sit back and enjoy watching your embarrassing history unfold. “Doris Redfield. Don’t expect me to ask you to dance at this ball. Maybe not at the next one either. Or the one after that.” “Yes, Your Highness. As you wish.” “Even though we’re engaged… wait, what?” “It’s just a joke proposal our parents once tossed around, isn’t it? You don’t need to take it seriously, Your Highness. I’m really fine with it.” “…Is that so? Yes, that’s… fine, right?” Why are you panicking, prince? You started spouting nonsense first. Where’s your conscience? But then, this guy really has the audacity to ask something outrageous. “…Do you, perhaps, have another man?” The guy who flirted with the original heroine is saying this now? Calm down. He’ll regret this later. All I need to do is remain a devoted fiancée until then. “What are you talking about? A woman like me… plain, not beautiful, with a gloomy personality, what man would even—” “What? Who dared to say that about you?” …You did, in the original story. This guy is acting weird. But he’s not the only problem. “My dear little sister Doris, that dress you’re wearing today is dreadful. No wonder there are rumors His Highness has abandoned you.” “Well, it can’t be helped. His Highness is too good for me anyway.” “…Hold on. Too good? Who said that? Wait, were you really dumped?” The original villainess, who also happens to be my older sister, Natalie, is suddenly interested in my love life. Why are all the original tr*shy characters growling at each other over me now?!