Reborn into a Hamster for 233 Days - Chapter 187 - An Inescapable Past (III)

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Year 20XX, the world was thrown into chaos when the Tower of Yxthar appeared...A colossal structure reaching beyond the sky, its countless floors each a gateway to a different world. These realms, seemingly connected to distant universes, spilled their dangers into Earth, unleashing monsters, invaders, and unknown horrors that threatened humanity’s survival.But from this catastrophe emerged an era of superhumans.... individuals awakened with extraordinary abilities.They became known as Stream Hunters, a title with dual meaning:“Hunter” for their combat prowess and “Streamer” because they broadcast their battles not just to Earth but across the multiverse.Through their streams, Stream Hunters gained viewers from other worlds, earning gifts and, if fortunate, the backing of a powerful Main Sponsor.Adam, an average ranking Stream Hunter, was just a background figure in their adventures... until the unimaginable happened.He woke up fifteen years before the catastrophe that would doom the world!Resigned to enjoying what little time he had left, Adam prepared for an arduous journey...But fate had another twist: he unlocked the Multiversal Livestream System...Granting him the power to copy the skills of his viewers.

Chen Lun transmigrated to the year before the game’s public beta, becoming an NPC in the game world. Thus, a new version was born... Steam punk, Mysterious Objects, Church, Shelter, the pathways of the Sequences of the Seven True Gods... He placed his black top hat on his head, standing atop the ruins. Behind him stood the villain bosses from former game versions, the silent Nun Floey, Bloody Painter Noah, Swordsman Antonio, the delusional clown Alec... Chen Lun said, “Players grind monsters, I grind players, it makes perfect sense...” ... Also known as “How to Rationally Use Players as a Sustainable Resource,” “These Bosses Are Really Strong But They Are All My Underlings,” “No Way! So I Can Be A Deity, Too?!”