Gardenia's Heart - Chapter 51: Lily

After Song Juyao died and emerged from the virtual world, she learned that her entire life had just been a reality show which was led and controlled by others.

One billion viewers watched this live broadcast, all of them pointing fingers at her and ridiculing her life whilst the director team thought up every possible method to design setbacks for her, pulling her into the mud over and over again.

Then, Song Juyao was reborn. This time, her memory was not suppressed.

This was a crazy world. People were discontent and bored of their lives. They had also lost their enthusiasm for various kinds of entertainment, falling to the point of seeking all sorts of thrills in order to arouse their emotions.

Later, they found a precious treasure. She was perfect. They held her in the palm of their hands and went wild for her. They even regarded her as a God and worshipped her fanatically.

- Description from Novelupdates

Jiang Li traveled through time and found himself without any cheat tools, so he could only rely on diligent cultivation. After five hundred years, he became the strongest person in the Nine Provinces.Suddenly, a system appeared, claiming to be able to help him go from being a Qi Refining cultivator to becoming the number one person in the Nine Provinces.Jiang Li looked at the first task and fell into deep thought.“Please defeat your cousin, who is at the sixth level of Qi Refining.”“Your system has quite a delay,” he said.

She lost her voice, her child, and her dignity... but now she’s back—with a voice the world can’t ignore.Four years ago, Cecilia Morrison was left bleeding and betrayed after giving birth to a child labeled a “bastard” by her fiancé and family. Mute, humiliated, and abandoned, she vanished with one child and a shattered heart.Now, she returns to Star City, no longer the fragile girl they discarded, but a graceful woman with fire in her veins and her sweet daughter by her side. Her mission is clear: to find the son who was stolen from her.Steven Lawrence, the city’s most powerful man, has been relentlessly searching for the elusive world-famous singer, Raine. He also happens to be the father of a boy who looks exactly like Cecilia's daughter.When the twins finally come face to face, buried secrets begin to surface, and enemies from the past scramble to cover their tracks before Cecilia and Steven expose the truth together.Will she finally reunite with her missing child?What is the real connection between her and Steven?And when the world discovers her hidden identity, what will it bring?

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

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He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.