The Second Coming of Gluttony - Side Story 5. The Corrupted Hero

A literal ‘red flag’ in a world that sees her as a threat.Excerpt:“You shouldn’t be here,” Zenon growled, his voice low, eyes dark with conflict as he leaned away.Elira looked up at him, lips parted and swollen. “Then why did you kiss me?”“I couldn’t resist you.” His arms tightened around her waist instead of letting go.“Then don’t,” she said, without breaking the gaze.“Remember, you asked for it.” Zenon’s eyes darkened with desire as his lips found the perfect spot on her neck.---Elira Shaw was never meant to shine.Born an omega to a once-respected Beta bloodline, she’s lived as a ghost in her uncle's home, the acting Beta of the Ashfang Pack.After her parents' mysterious deaths when she was thirteen, Elira became little more than a servant to her aunt and cousin, Regina, the flawless Luna-to-be, groomed to marry one of the Alpha's sons.With no rank, no power, and no name worth remembering, Elira has long accepted her fate.But her fate transforms on her 18th birthday — the night of the grand mating ceremony.Not one, but the wolves of all three of Alpha Cyprus Ashford’s sons recognize her as their mate.The pack erupts into chaos. Regina's engagement plans crumble in fury. And Elira, the despised orphan, is suddenly the most important wolf alive.

When I was 15-years-old, during the year that I graduated from middle school, my father told me this.

Delia's life was a cruel reality: the neglected and abused illegitimate daughter of a noble family, the Ellington family, she yearned for the love of her stepmother, Baroness Augusta, and younger sister, Lady Anne, who relentlessly mistreated her.Her world crumbled when she discovered a double betrayal: her beloved husband, Lord George had secretly pined for Anne, marrying Delia only to be near her sister. Simultaneously, her step mother framed her for a crime Anne committed.Overwhelmed and heartbroken, Delia's attempt to escape a death sentence led to a fatal carriage accident.But death was not the end. Delia awoke one year in the past, finding herself still engaged to George. This was her second chance, and the naive girl was gone, replaced by a woman consumed by a burning desire for revenge. Her first target: Duke Eric Carson, the powerful and wealthy man her sister Anne desperately pursued.Delia boldly approached Eric with a proposition for a contract marriage. To her surprise, Eric agreed, but with a condition: their fake marriage would become real and they can go their separate way after a year, hiding his own secret agenda. Now, armed with Eric's unexpected devotion and his willingness to lay down his life for her, Delia meticulously begins to dismantle her family's world. With Eric's help, she exposes the secrets they hide, manipulates their desires, and turns them against each other, orchestrating George’s demotion, Anne's downfall and seizing everything her sister coveted, including Duke Eric love and obsession.Will Delia and Eric be able to conquer all odds to get what they want? What happens when Eric doesn’t want their contract marriage to end? What happens when the last petal of that indicates her second chance falls?———————EXCPRET“I can’t return your feelings, your grace,” Delia whispered, her back against the cool wall.“But I can,” Eric murmured, stepping closer.Delia’s voice trembled. “It’s not the same.” She choked out. “ No one can love me without hurting me.”“Then teach me,” he said, his breath warm on her cheek. “Teach me how to love you the way you deserve to be loved. I’m a quick study.”When she stayed silent, he sighed contentedly, a soft smile playing on his lips.“It’s alright. Just… use me. Anything you need. if you want money, ask the treasury, take as much money that’s needed. if you want power, use my name. if you want security and love, use my body.”His breath warmed her skin, his chest rose and fell with hers. “As long as it's from you, I'm happy.”

# CRYBABY

A stranger! Lu An’an married a stranger! She heard that the man was extremely ugly and was a sex masochist despite his old age, but she could not reject him for the sake of her family.

On their wedding night, she thought about how she would leave her parents and brother completely in the future and spend the rest of her life living with the rumored sexual abuse…

The more Lu An’an thought about it, the more worried she became and the more terrified she became.

Her tears started gushing out even more violently. At this moment, a coarse and warm hand gently lifted her face.

“So beautiful, how did you know I like to see others cry?”

Oh, my god! He— he was truly a pervert! Lu An’an shivered.

Although he looked very young and good-looking, with deep-set eyes and thick eyelashes, and he had a smile like a sun, she would never tolerate such a terrifying hobby, much less cooperate with it!

“It’s just a business marriage between us. I hope we can… respect each other after we get married,” said Lu An’an after mustering up all her courage. Her tears turned the handsome man’s features blurry. However, Yan Yunge merely chuckled and kissed her tears away.

“Don’t worry, you’ll like it.”

Looking at the huge object that was as thick as a forearm staring straight at her with its head held high and chest puffed out, Lu An’an could not help but shake her head. Yan Yunge whipped out his pocket-sized pistol and looked at her with a cheeky smile.

“One of these guns is going to enter your body. Choose it yourself.” She—she did not want to choose any of them. She wanted a divorce! Yan Yunge’s breathing became heavier.

“Then, can I choose for you? Why don’t we put both of them in?”