Crown of Thorns - Chapter 26

10 years ago, after “the Gate” that connected the real world with the monster world opened, some of the ordinary, everyday people received the power to hunt monsters within the Gate. They are known as “Hunters”.

Zoe Bell was the foster daughter of the Bell Family. On the night she was thrown out, her fiancé was already wrapping his arm around his new love, making headlines in the entertainment news.Afterwards, Zoe found herself caught in one scandal after another, all because she was seen with the most powerful man in Capital City. Everyone sneered, convinced she was nothing more than a fleeting plaything for Mr. Hale.But little did they know that from the very first moment when he laid eyes on her, Mr. Hale had only one thought -He was going to seize love with boldness!People were all waiting to find something to mock Zoe about, so they intentionally asked William Hale what relationship he was holding with Zoe Bell. Mr. Hale merely laughed and said, “Maybe I haven’t tried hard enough, because after being married for so long, Mrs. Hale still refuses to announce it publicly or give me my rightful title.”It was a night with thick, humid air, Zoe was left breathless as William kissed her with arms firmly wrapping around her waist.His voice was low and scorching, “Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?”Zoe gritted her teeth - He was trying way too hard!【See how the aloof CEO falls for love】【Love After Marriage】

Lyu Liang was an ordinary young man who was supposed to live a mortal life with his father in a small village. However, a wonderful opportunity led him into the Virtual Land where he learned about his unusual origin and started his dual cultivation journey—to be a Devilish Immortal. There were six races in this world: immortals, humans, devils, demons, ghosts, and spirits. Lyu Liang had access to any of those realms. Whether he would be a great Devilish Immortal was not up to his race, but his will. For him, it was not important to be the most powerful immortal and to be worshiped like God. He eventually chose to live a secluded life with his lover.

Content Warning:This novel contains mature themes, including explicit sexual content, strong language, and adult situations. It is intended for readers 18+ only. Reader discretion is advised.______________________________________________________________________Haruki thought marriage would bring him happiness. He had been in love with Satomi since high school, and after years of struggling together, they finally built a stable life. But stability came with a price.Satomi was always busy. Work became her priority, and Haruki… was left behind. The warmth of their relationship faded, and intimacy became a distant memory. Nights felt colder, the bed emptier—even when she was right beside him.Loneliness gnawed at him.Then everything changed when Satomi’s family invited him to stay at their luxurious home.That was the first time he truly saw her mother.Kyouko.Beautiful. Elegant. Younger-looking than her own daughter. And for the first time in years, Haruki felt something awaken inside him—something dangerous, something forbidden.Living under the same roof, two lonely souls cross paths. And as Haruki struggles with his emotions, one question lingers in his mind:What happens when the one who understands you most… is the one you should never desire?