Kaze no Stigma - Volume 3, Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality

Abandoned at birth in a humble stable, Shirone was raised by commoners—but he was anything but ordinary. Blessed with remarkable insight, he taught himself to read at a young age. A fateful visit to the city introduced him to the wonders of magic, igniting an unshakable dream of becoming a mage. Yet, beneath the city's dazzling facade lurked a ruthless social hierarchy, where power and privilege crushed those who dared to rise above their station. As Shirone uncovers the world's darkest secrets before even coming of age, one question remains—can he defy fate and claim his destiny as a mage in a world determined to keep him down?

An Nuan thought that she was going to have her happy ending, marrying the love of her life when the man left her on their wedding day.“Pei Zhi Yi, the moment you step into the elevator, it's over between us.”An Nuan thought that she could stop her fiance from leaving, but that man still left for the other woman.The wedding hall was prepared and the guests had all arrived. With no groom beside her, An Nuan decided that she would marry anyone willing.“An Nuan, if you are willing, then how about considering me as your groom?”Unexpectedly, the young master of the Lin family, Lin Xiao Feng stepped forward to offer himself.An Nuan did not expect much from this marriage, especially when they both agreed that they were seeking to gain something through this marriage.Lin Xiao Feng needed someone as his wife in his political career. Meanwhile, she just needed to marry someone to get over Pei Zhi Yi. As someone who was disappointed by love, An Nuan no longer wanted to believe in love.She never thought that the marriage that she did not expect would turn out better than she had expected. Young Master Lin would pamper her and support her whenever she needed help.Wasn’t their marriage just for show?

Li Yao, a retired assassin, woke up one day to find herself transmigrated to ancient times and became a famous shrew far and wide.

With hands on her hips, she wailed loudly. Villagers called her the bane of ghosts, and even dogs would circle around when they saw her.

She had four children, her husband had passed away, and it was a disastrous year, leaving them poor as church mice.

Fortunately, River Bay Village was nestled against a big mountain, with wild chickens, wild boars, wolves, tigers, herbs, spices, corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes… it seemed to have everything.

Rely on the water to eat, and rely on the mountain.

With her skills that exceeded the times, Yao Li quickly became the wealthiest person in River Bay Village.

She was determined to stick to her original aspirations – retire and live out her remaining years in peace.

But as a widow, there were many things at her doorstep.

Her maiden family coveted her wealth; local ruffians lusted after her beauty; the magistrate admired her talents; the prefect wanted to rely on her to build up his political achievements; the scholar admired her literary talent; the chancellor respected her breadth of knowledge…

Wave after wave, wearing down her doorstep.

Even a Prince was amazed by her, finding all kinds of excuses to frequently visit and neglect his palaces.

Li Yao adapted to the circumstances, sparring back and forth, just wishing her retirement life would remain undisturbed.

But unknowingly, the world was changing because of her.

[Mature Content.]**[COMPLETED.]**Winter’s second marriage was nothing like the fairytale of her first. She spent the past two years being intimidated and abused by her evil mother-in-law, Camilla.She endured it all for the sake of her second husband, Sebastian. But she was finally pushed to her breaking point when she found out that Sebastian cheated on her and seized all of her assets accumulated from her previous marriage.Winter was left with nothing but a baby in her womb.“You have taken everything from me, Sebastian Saenz. So I will take this baby with me to the grave. He doesn’t deserve to be born unloved by his scum father,” Winter said before she jumped from the balcony and plunged to her death.She thought she’d end up in the afterlife with her first late husband.But she found herself back in the past, two years earlier when she had just finished her wedding reception with Sebastian Saenz.Thus, equipped with the knowledge of her misfortune that would happen two years from now on, she vowed to protect herself and everything that her first husband left for her from the hands of her greedy second husband and mother-in-law.But what would happen if Sebastian also returned back in time to beg for her forgiveness.Would she give him a second chance?Or would she destroy him just like how he destroyed her in their previous life?“What should I do so you will forgive me, Winter?” Sebastian asked as he was on his knees. “You are the only one I have, so please…”Winter stood coldly, staring down at the man who ruined her in the previous life, “Then I will take everything from you, Sebastian. I want you to know the anguish I felt in my last moment.”