The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 42

A struggling businessman on the verge of bankruptcy finds himself drunk one night, only to wake up in the past—specifically, in 1943 London, amidst the chaos of World War II.This is an era of both immense danger and unprecedented opportunity. It is a time when the British Empire, once the unrivaled superpower where the sun never set, is finally witnessing the dusk of its dominion. Meanwhile, the United States is rising to claim the mantle of global leadership, reshaping the world's balance of power.This is the era where everything begins—where old rulers step down and new powers rise to take their place. This is the era where Pierre finds himself, an era filled with the kind of opportunity he never had before. A small, precious chance to rise, to become a giant, to seize the throne of power, to become a ruler, a world hegemon.

In a fractured world ravaged by the collision of dimensions, humanity faces an apocalyptic threat from three fronts—vengeful ghosts from the past, sinister alien invaders from beyond the stars, and rogue artificial intelligences that have turned on their creators. Amid the chaos, a resistance rises, blending human courage with AI innovation to battle the horrors plaguing the Earth.Leading the charge is Elara Myles, a brilliant yet haunted survivor who holds a mysterious nexus device—one that connects to a realm between the living and the dead. As the veil between dimensions thins, Elara must confront phantom enemies and inner demons while uncovering the secret behind the Nexus—before it becomes humanity’s doom.With every heartbeat, the war intensifies. Ghosts whisper secrets, machines evolve with emotion, and the skies rain down terror. In Phantom Nexus, survival isn't just about fighting back—it's about understanding the enemy that once was us.

On the day of her wedding to her childhood sweetheart, Natalie Ford received an unexpected gift: a marriage certificate. It stated that she was already married to a complete stranger—Aiden Handrix.While the wedding guests continued to mock and insult her, her lover Ivan decided to dump her, choosing to marry her half-sister Briena instead. To add insult to injury, she was thrown out of her home.To prove her innocence, Natalie Ford could only take one course of action - she had to find this mysterious Aiden Handrix and get to the bottom of this!The next day, there was news trending on the TV. Justin Harper, the heir of the richest family in the Bayford was returning home. Natalie’s eyes narrowed at the TV screen.‘Why does this man look exactly like the man in the picture of my wedding certificate?’In the quest of uncovering the mystery behind her said marriage, she decided to follow him and ask personally.“Are you married?”“No.”“Do you have a twin brother?”“No?”“By chance you heard the name Aiden Handrix?”“No.”“Then, who the hell are you?’“Your brother.”“Wait, what?”“Yes. Now pack your bags and come home with me.”First got a husband out of the blue and now a brother with the same face? Was god creating clones and offering them to her with different relationships?

Though it may be a dream weathered, crumpled, fading,I held on without surrender.Through each repeated day, running toward tomorrow’s light,I became a knight, resolute and bright.