Legends: The Emerald World - Chapter 22: Contract Closed

Raymond, a lowly illegitimate son.He was born as the son of a noble, but he was nothing but a filthy man in the eyes of many.Even his qualities as a natural healer are the worst of the worse: Grade F.It was an irredeemable talent that was worse than the lowest class, indeed.But one day, a miracle happened to him.[You awakened as a player!] [Occupation: Surgeon] It was the beginning of a great legend.

When she was ten, she said, “When I grow up, I want to be the President!”“It's impossible, but you can be the President's wife,” he replied.He gazed at her tenderly. His youthful eyes filled with deep affection, as if he wanted to give her the whole world.When she was thirty-three, due to a leak of military secrets, she was imprisoned for treason, and she saw his signature on the death sentence document.She finally understood that the so-called undying love was fake, and that power and status were the true goals.Love is just like a ghost—more talked about than seen....Reborn and back to the age of twenty, she opened her eyes and shouted, “I must be the President!”“But, Madam... Your husband is already the President,” someone said.She was stunned for only a second, then viciously replied, “Then I'll take him down first, and I'll become the President!”A man gently pushed open the half-closed door, chuckling softly, “Did I hear wrong? Sweetie, you want to... take me down?”

[Mature Content: NO RAPE]Let’s make a deal!“Two months, if we can survive each other in the period of two months, I will marry you without objection!”…Twenty-two-year-old Evelyn Darkwood never imagined that going to her late father’s will-reading would have resulted in a rivalry between her and her siblings. That they would become a danger to her—one who sought after her life. She never thought that her life would take such a twisted turn so quickly. And what’s worse, she comes to find out that she’d been betrothed to a man she didn’t know and had never met. Zayne Mancini.The wealthiest man. A man whose power and fame were no joke. A man who possibly could be the only one capable of protecting her. Strong, cold, frightening, all this he was and despite the danger written all over him, Evelyn felt a strange connection, hot and burning. Zayne Mancini wanted her—his betrothed (a human who was his mate) and he was going to make her his, no matter how stubborn she wanted to be about it. Fascinating, thrilling, all this she was to him—like a spark to ignite his boring life. Evelyn Darkwood was a whole package that he was slowly going to bring undone. A woman he wouldn’t think twice of burning the world for. A woman he would give his whole being to. All she had to say was,“I do”

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.