The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass - Chapter 257 - . Epilogue, Part VI

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?

“Xiao Chen, please give us another chance!”Xiao Chen stared at them with a loathing gaze. “Ten years ago, you looked down on me. You showed up at my doorstep, forcing me to break off the engagement. My dad was so enraged that he was hospitalized. Now you're actually here to beg me?”It started off as an ordinary decline of a rich family. However, to everyone's surprise, the insignificant Xiao family actually gave birth to a bigwig who was powerful in the politics, military and business world. Just when all the major families could not stand the pressure brought forth by Xiao Chen and were forced to apologize, they discovered that he had disappeared!At the same time, in a small family of a small town-Xiao Chen exclaimed, “Mother-in-law! I am really here to repay your daughter's kindness. There's nothing else between us!”In order to pay back his debt of gratitude, Xiao Chen hid his identity and came to this small town. But his mother-in-law treated him in a totally unexpected way!

Jiang Pengji got something called the Court Intrigue Stream System.
System: “Your goal is to become the most prestigious woman in the kingdom (the Queen)!”
Jiang Pengji: “Okay, System. No problem!”
Years later, she met the target by becoming the most prestigious woman (the Empress).
Jiang Pengji: “Well done, no?”

TRPG, or Tabletop Role-Playing Game, is characterized by immersive role-playing where players embody their characters. Within the rules, players can steer the story in various open-ended directions, leading to different outcomes.“Cthulhu Campaign” is a major category within TRPGs. In it, players, as ordinary individuals known as investigators, delve into mysterious events, face unknown mythological creatures, and confront unfathomable fears. A key piece of advice in this realm is that the less you know, the longer you survive.Liu Xing, driven by curiosity, wanted to join an online Cthulhu campaign but accidentally became part of a real Cthulhu role-playing game…