Aloof King and Cool (Acting) Queen - Chapter 24-25

“M... Marissa! Are they my kids?” Rafael's eyes weren't moving away from the adorable kids' faces.“No, Rafael. They are not,” Marissa said with a fake smile, “They aren't yours. Remember?” she batted her lashes quite dramatically, “We were never married!”Marissa Aaron’s elder sister Valerie Aaron jilted her blind boyfriend on her wedding day and ran off. For face-saving, Merissa's family pleaded to her to marry Raphael Sinclair.The irony? She was not allowed to tell her blind husband that she was not Valerie but Merissa Aaron.On the day of Raphael's successful eye surgery, Marissa got to know that Valerie was back to take her rightful place as Sinclaire’s daughter-in-law.Marissa tried explaining to her husband that she was the one married to him, but he did not believe her. Instead of any more convincing, heartbroken Merissa decided to leave the city without telling him, her secret.Raphael Sinclair was the classic definition of drop-dead gorgeous and was the only heir of the Sinclair group of industries.What would he do when he came to know that all this time the woman who offered him, her love and her body was not Valerie but her younger sister Marissa Aaron?How would he react when he came to know that he was the father of the babies Marissa was carrying in her womb?Would he go after Marissa and win her back?And the million-dollar question!Would Marissa ever be able to forgive him and love him again?

As a corporate drone, Ashu was transported to another world, hoping to live a life free from societal pressures.However, he quickly found that even marrying a village girl would cost him half of his wealth!Fortunately, just when things were looking grim, his childhood sweetheart—who had trained for many years—arrived to fulfill their childhood marriage pact. Not only that, Ashu activated the Crit Refund System, which allowed him to earn rewards by binding with beings rated over 90 points![Binding with the Witch Childhood Sweetheart, 10x Refund on Magic Potion, Host Gains: Forbidden Water (S)][Binding with the Forest Elf, 10x Refund, Host Gains: Infinite Stamina and Infinite Recovery][Binding with the Demon Huntress Nun, 20x Refund, Host Gains: Demon Slayer Holy Crossbow (SS)][Binding with the Imperial Princess, 100x Refund, Host Gains: Sigh of the Heavenly Father Spear (SSS)]Ashu: “The refund multiplier increases as our relationship grows? I’ll definitely have to dive deeper into this!”

Zheng Nianru went from being a Commandery Princess who could be killed at any moment to the position of the Empress Dowager, wielding power over the world. What she couldn't accept was that she didn't end up with a good fate. However, Zheng Nianru thought that no one would have been able to save Nanzheng State.Yet, she was reborn and, having deeply reflected upon her pain, also considered several past mistakes. Firstly, she should not have married down into the family of Ju Nanyi, a man with a narrow mind who came from a minor house, who only thought about romantic affairs and entangled with her in desperate affection, incapable of assisting Nanzheng. Secondly, she should not have killed everyone in Qiandao Temple, which was the spiritual pillar of the people of Nanzheng State. After all, there were better ways, weren't there, like seduction? Thirdly, she should not have been so confident that the monarch of the neighboring country would fall at her feet, nor should she have trusted the promise of that fickle neighboring monarch, which led to years of drawn-out conflict between the two states.Um, Zheng Nianru felt she was not wrong. She just wanted to live well and to be a good Empress Dowager. Since she had the chance to live again, why did she have this chance? Could it be that she was expected to once again turn Nanzheng State upside down?

Starting from today, I am retired. But what should I be doing? I neither have the skills, nor the mind to do business, my only advantage is this pair of hands which have taken this world. What a headache…

Note: The usage of the term “retired” here doesn’t mean retiring from old age, work etc. It’s a specific term to refer to not involving oneself in the affairs of a certain society.