Desolate Devouring Art - Chapter 12 - Exposing Lies

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

The Final Haven Kingdom.

The last known habitable place for humans. Protected by it's faithful Knights, it's walls were destroyed and rebuilt over and over again, signifying it's strength and unwillingness to bow down before the forces of evil.

Raven, a young man who's soul returned back in time with his memories intact, what are the changes that he will bring to prevent the kingdom's destruction?

Join his adventures along with his family, friends and his lover to find out what is his own Way of being a Knight.

An Unexpected Turn: Villain Becomes DadIn a hilarious twist of fate, Yang Chen is reborn as the brainless villain in a romance novel, already at odds with the destined hero, Lin Yan. Knowing he can’t directly challenge him; Yang Chen makes a strategic move – saving Lin Yan’s mother from a chronic illness.This act of kindness blossoms into love, and a year later, they welcome a child. Yang Chen, hoping for a peaceful family life with his wife and son, is met with a shocking system notification:[Host’s son is born, plundering his elder brother, the male lead’s Providence Luck by 3000 points!] [The Great Villain System is officially activated!]The system throws Yang Chen’s plans into chaos. He’s forced to become the antagonist he was originally destined to be, but with a hilarious twist – his target is now his own stepson!

“Send me to the past.” That’s how the first step toward revenge began.