The Spearmaster and the Black Cat - Chapter 39: Item Box

“Xavier Lancaster, the richest and most influential man on Earth, lives by one simple motto: 'Money First'. A brilliant strategist, ruthless businessman, and master negotiator, he built an unshakable financial empire. But when a mysterious incident transports him to a medieval world on the brink of collapse, he finds himself… the ruler of a weak and crumbling kingdom.Faced with corrupt nobles, hostile neighbors, and a shattered economy, Xavier decides to use the one thing he knows best: the law of the market. Armed with his cunning, modern strategies, and cutthroat business sense, he turns every problem into an opportunity and every enemy into an investment.His goal? To become the richest and most powerful emperor this world has ever seen. But in a land where strength rules and magic exists, will money really be enough to buy everything?Get ready to witness the rise of a man who’s ready to put a price on the throne itself.”

In the previous life, Jiang Peihuan was tricked by a scumbag and died tragically, which even caused her entire family to be wiped out.

When she was eighteen years old again, she was still the arrogant girl who refused to give in to her husband.

Her fiancé thought she had fallen into the water and lost her virginity, so he came to break the engagement and marry her cousin?

Everyone laughed at her, but she was happy to see the result: one hundred thousand taels of gold, I agreed to it.

After retiring from the engagement, it was rumored in the capital that she was abandoned when she was about to get married.

Unexpectedly, that unparalleled His Royal Highness Cheng Wang stood up: marrying her, why not?

Many well-known ladies’ spring boudoir dreams were shattered, but Jiang Peihuan was very moved and refused.

He is the emperor’s uncle of a scumbag, the youngest son of the late emperor, he looks suave and noble, but in fact he is ruthless.

She vowed to avenge her past life, protect her family and relatives, and did not want to have anything to do with the royal family.

But finally one day, she still accidentally became the envied Princess Cheng.

Jiang Peihuan recalled it, and became angry at the man lying beside him: Xiao Nanye, are you plotting against me?

His Royal Highness Cheng Wang, who was decisive in killing, couldn’t help laughing when he saw his concubine blowing her hair.

He whispered deceitfully, with a lingering voice: Forgive me, forgive me, I only want you alone in my life.

- Description from novelbuddy

It’s been 11 years since I’ve lived for others and not for me.

The moment I cried out wanting to get away from my exhausting life, I opened my eyes in the body of some Count’s 20-year-old daughter.

Since this happened, I decided to live my life freely as a single woman.

But…

“I need a lady to act as my fake wife for a certain period of time.”

“A contract marriage?”

“The term is one year. When the time is up, I’ll give you divorce with no strings attached.”

The Duke of the Empire whom I had happened to meet at a ball was hitting on me.

Turns out he’s no other than the Emperor’s beloved brother, Duke Scade!

Hold on, it’s just going to end in a clean divorce with no strings attached?

“You should also give me alimony. Give me one of the best lands of the Ducal household with 10 years’ worth of profit.”

“…..What?”

“If you don’t want to do that, then we cannot get married.”

This time I’m going to live a life taking care of the things I need first!

***

“I’ll escort you since it’s late.”

Where to? My bedroom is just around the corner.

“Tonight, I’ll do my best.”

No, I don’t need you to do that.

“Did you just look at that man?”

Excuse me, Duke, you said it’s for a limited time only, so why do you keep obsessing over me?

“M... Marissa! Are they my kids?” Rafael's eyes weren't moving away from the adorable kids' faces.“No, Rafael. They are not,” Marissa said with a fake smile, “They aren't yours. Remember?” she batted her lashes quite dramatically, “We were never married!”Marissa Aaron’s elder sister Valerie Aaron jilted her blind boyfriend on her wedding day and ran off. For face-saving, Merissa's family pleaded to her to marry Raphael Sinclair.The irony? She was not allowed to tell her blind husband that she was not Valerie but Merissa Aaron.On the day of Raphael's successful eye surgery, Marissa got to know that Valerie was back to take her rightful place as Sinclaire’s daughter-in-law.Marissa tried explaining to her husband that she was the one married to him, but he did not believe her. Instead of any more convincing, heartbroken Merissa decided to leave the city without telling him, her secret.Raphael Sinclair was the classic definition of drop-dead gorgeous and was the only heir of the Sinclair group of industries.What would he do when he came to know that all this time the woman who offered him, her love and her body was not Valerie but her younger sister Marissa Aaron?How would he react when he came to know that he was the father of the babies Marissa was carrying in her womb?Would he go after Marissa and win her back?And the million-dollar question!Would Marissa ever be able to forgive him and love him again?