Defiance of the Fall - Chapter 852: Determination

[Mature Content:]Alaric was too close to Nicolette.Her mouth was just inches away from his.He could smell the lavender on her skin, the heat radiating from within her.But he held back, refusing to be carried away by her charm…“Mr. Allens…” she purred, and he looked down at her.Her eyes widened with desire, and he knew, in that moment, that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.The last thing he wanted was commitment. He knew that Nicolette didn’t want that either.But why was she this tempting?So willing?It was that willingness that confused him.She blinked, then swallowed as she pulled the jacket off her shoulders. His eyes lingered on her exposed neck.God.He just wanted to bury his mouth in that hollow spot.“Here,” Nicolette said calmly, extending the jacket to him.He took the jacket, his hand brushing hers just a second. She flinched, her face turning pink as she clutched the towel against her chest.His stomach flipped at the sight.If only that towel would give way to…Before he could stop himself, Alaric pressed his arousal against her stomach, pushing her against the wall, cornering her.She gasped at the sudden movement and for a moment, he lost his mind.“Cole…” he breathed, crushing himself against her.Her eyes gleamed with desire and a vulnerability that rocked him to his core.He would be foolish not to give in to this feeling.But he would also be a fool if he did.She had chosen to marry him.Not her boyfriend.And definitely not Lucian Crawford.Yet, he couldn't help it.She was only his for a year.But still…***************When her business and the gallery she inherited from her mother burn to the ground, Nicolette Voss is determined to rebuild—and get revenge on her father.She turned to her father’s rival, Alaric Allens, for an alliance.Alaric is willing to help, but on one condition—she must be his wife for a year.They called him Ruthless Alaric after an infamous incident 6 years ago. Alaric is back in town, and so are the crumbs of his past. But he is determined to change everything with a wife.He has his hidden agenda.She needs her revenge.But will this marriage between storm and steel survive the heat? And what will they do when deep secrets threatens to destroy them both?

When Zen was just five, his kingdom fell in flames. His people vanished into dust. His parents - his world - were taken by death. Left behind with nothing but silence, the young prince was forgotten by history. But his story… was only just beginning.He walks alone at first. Weak. Broken. Powerless.But the fire in his heart never died.He seeks strength enough to tear through the heavens, enough to break the chains of fate itself. Not just to see the faces of his lost parents once more… but to take revenge on the ones who destroyed everything.But can strength truly reach beyond death?… or will it only turn him into something worse?This is not just the story of a fallen prince.This is the legend of The One Who Walks Beyond the End.

Legend has it that the world’s most formidable man Xu Shuangtze owned a cherished portrait of his deceased wife. But no one knew that on its back was another portrait of his arch rival who Xu Shuangtze had killed with his own hands.

Sixteen years ago, the Chief of Immortal Alliance’s Department of Discipline, Gong Wei, brought a blade with him on the Immortal Ascension Platform. His assassination of Xu Shuangtze failed and he was slain on the spot by the sword named No Way Out.

Sixteen years later, Gong Wei opened his eyes and found himself reborn in the body of a beautiful fool who even had to kneel down when talking to Lord Xu.

This was not the only disturbing thing for him.

Because of his ravishing good looks, remarkable power and status as well as his premature death in his previous life, he was now the beloved muse of countless writers. Books and stories featuring him as the main lead to all kinds of relationships were circulated far and wide. Even among the famous sects there were rumours of his forbidden encounters with every sect leader…

- Description from Novelupdates

Zheng Nianru went from being a Commandery Princess who could be killed at any moment to the position of the Empress Dowager, wielding power over the world. What she couldn't accept was that she didn't end up with a good fate. However, Zheng Nianru thought that no one would have been able to save Nanzheng State.Yet, she was reborn and, having deeply reflected upon her pain, also considered several past mistakes. Firstly, she should not have married down into the family of Ju Nanyi, a man with a narrow mind who came from a minor house, who only thought about romantic affairs and entangled with her in desperate affection, incapable of assisting Nanzheng. Secondly, she should not have killed everyone in Qiandao Temple, which was the spiritual pillar of the people of Nanzheng State. After all, there were better ways, weren't there, like seduction? Thirdly, she should not have been so confident that the monarch of the neighboring country would fall at her feet, nor should she have trusted the promise of that fickle neighboring monarch, which led to years of drawn-out conflict between the two states.Um, Zheng Nianru felt she was not wrong. She just wanted to live well and to be a good Empress Dowager. Since she had the chance to live again, why did she have this chance? Could it be that she was expected to once again turn Nanzheng State upside down?