Gardenia's Heart - Chapter 46: Alternatives

He can score 20 points and 10 rebounds in a rookie season. His exaggerated performance is unprecedented in CBA history;

He is the famous CBA King of Kung Fu;

He is a local player;

…

Back in 2011, after the unexpected fusion of a soul from a later dynasty and seventeen-year-old Wang Zhelin, will the future of the Chinese men’s basketball team turn around this time?

- Description from novelbuddy

[Mature Content:]Alaric was too close to Nicolette.Her mouth was just inches away from his.He could smell the lavender on her skin, the heat radiating from within her.But he held back, refusing to be carried away by her charm…“Mr. Allens…” she purred, and he looked down at her.Her eyes widened with desire, and he knew, in that moment, that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.The last thing he wanted was commitment. He knew that Nicolette didn’t want that either.But why was she this tempting?So willing?It was that willingness that confused him.She blinked, then swallowed as she pulled the jacket off her shoulders. His eyes lingered on her exposed neck.God.He just wanted to bury his mouth in that hollow spot.“Here,” Nicolette said calmly, extending the jacket to him.He took the jacket, his hand brushing hers just a second. She flinched, her face turning pink as she clutched the towel against her chest.His stomach flipped at the sight.If only that towel would give way to…Before he could stop himself, Alaric pressed his arousal against her stomach, pushing her against the wall, cornering her.She gasped at the sudden movement and for a moment, he lost his mind.“Cole…” he breathed, crushing himself against her.Her eyes gleamed with desire and a vulnerability that rocked him to his core.He would be foolish not to give in to this feeling.But he would also be a fool if he did.She had chosen to marry him.Not her boyfriend.And definitely not Lucian Crawford.Yet, he couldn't help it.She was only his for a year.But still…***************When her business and the gallery she inherited from her mother burn to the ground, Nicolette Voss is determined to rebuild—and get revenge on her father.She turned to her father’s rival, Alaric Allens, for an alliance.Alaric is willing to help, but on one condition—she must be his wife for a year.They called him Ruthless Alaric after an infamous incident 6 years ago. Alaric is back in town, and so are the crumbs of his past. But he is determined to change everything with a wife.He has his hidden agenda.She needs her revenge.But will this marriage between storm and steel survive the heat? And what will they do when deep secrets threatens to destroy them both?

_ _ _ _ MXFXF relationship. Please read the note. Please add it to the collection then and support me. All feedback will be appreciated. Check my profile for more workShe was not the heiress, the eldest, or the youngest. She just existed in the family, keeping her head down and letting herself wash away until she could leave.“I tried standing out, staying quiet, and even voicing my thoughts. But no matter what I do, I am never acknowledged. Does my existence even matter? After all, it's not like anyone in this family even likes me.”Rika Goodwill was the shame of her family. Born the middle 'beta' child of a prominent Alpha-Omega couple, it was natural for her to be neglected compared to her perfect Alpha brother and sweet Omega sister.Her situation outside of her family was no better. People avoided her because of her mafia family and judged her nature without a second thought.Her only friends were the 'sweetheart couple of the century'. But Rika had somehow become a third wheel between their bickering and frequent breakups.Over the course of her 17-year-old life, Rika had come to accept her fate and move on. After all, no amount of complaining would ever change her situation of being a third wheel.Collage was supposed to be her big break. It was supposed to be the time Rika had for herself, where she could feel like herself, so she applied for a place where no one knew her.This was supposed to be her lucky break! Rika was supposed to get away from her worsening life.But neither her family nor her 'friends' were ready to let her go, and it did not take long for her peaceful life to turn sour.

[Palace Intrigue + Sweet Doting + Not Purely Chaste + Heroine Focused on Her Career]

On the first day of her transmigration into the imperial harem, Jiang Xinyu was already out of favor.

Everyone said she was merely a pretty face without substance.

On the second day of her transmigration into the imperial harem, Jiang Xinyu regained the emperor’s favor.

From then on, she held the emperor’s heart firmly in her hands.

She fought monsters and leveled up, rising from a noble consort all the way to the honorable imperial consort, basking in unwavering favor.

Emperor Xuan Wu: At first, it was lust at first sight, but later I became truly captivated by her charms. Who knew this woman had so many more faces that I was unaware of?

Jiang Xinyu: The emperor is the harem’s highest-level boss with the thickest health bar. If I can deplete his health bar, I can become the supreme empress of this harem.

P.S. The heroine is solely focused on her career, yearning for riches and glory, a life of luxury and indulgence. She excels in all pursuits, with layer upon layer of schemes to conquer the emperor’s heart.