This Damned Thirst for Survival - Chapter 56

Fiona thought losing her mother was the worst pain she would ever feel.But six years later, life proved her wrong.Her father’s new wife turned her home into a prison. Beaten, blamed, and silenced, Fiona lived as the unwanted daughter—her voice ignored, her tears unnoticed, her happiness stolen. Every day was a fight to survive under the watchful eyes of a stepmother who seemed to take pleasure in her suffering.One night, after another cruel punishment, Fiona finally breaks. She escapes through her bedroom window with only a small bag, some hidden cash, and a heart full of fear.The streets are harsh and unknown, but fate leads her to a kind elderly woman who offers shelter—and a grandson, Mason, who seems cold and indifferent. Fiona thinks she has found safety… but life has other plans.Soon, another man enters her world. Gentle, patient, and perceptive, he offers her a deal, for her to be his engaged girlfriend to get his wealthy family off his back.For the first time, Fiona experiences kindness, love, and acceptance. But the shadows of her past are never far behind. Will she be able to embrace this new life and the love she deserves, or will her family’s control pull her back?Fiona must fight for herself, for freedom, and for the life she was always meant to live.

He never performed well in either middle nor high school, and even after becoming an adult, he never worked. Be it morning, noon or night, he only played an online game. For him, being the world’s number one rank, playing that online game, was his very reason for living.

One day, his account was hacked and his character deleted. Restoration was impossible. Nothing that could be done. The number 1 rank that he literally spent his life to attain and to defend was now lost. Filled with despair, he turned to suicide.

When he opened his eyes again, there was the online game. No, the world itself looked similar to the game. He had been reborn as the extra character of the premium avatar he created in the past, but left untouched.

The former world’s top, was reborn in a world that looked like that online game. That was the beginning of his extraordinary legend.

A knight, a cat, a dark elf, and so on. Together with several unique companions, his training to regain his “world’s first rank” now begins.

It was in the middle of the night that the woman who would be the Duchess came to see me.

She said my father and mother died, and my kind uncle became king.

She said it’s not worth it for me, the crown prince, to be living in hiding, too.

“A while ago, Your Highness had been hiding from me. With all due respect, is that for the sake of survival? Just because your parents died doesn’t mean you have no reason to survive. Actually, that fact alone made it all the more reason why you should live. If you die now…”

If I died now?

When I asked her while looking at her eyes, the woman eventually brought out the harsh truth with empathetic eyes.

“It’s like a dog’s death.”

“That’s rude….”

It’s been a long time since I said that. In a short while, he has been treated as a madman and beaten to death just by saying similar things. She loosened her arms that held me and I suddenly stiffened up due to it. Because I thought she might have loosened her arm to hit me. But she didn’t.

She knelt down with one knee in front of me, just like a knight.

“Hastred’s Sarian raised her salutations. May you accept it gladly.”

My first knight is beautiful and kind.

“Are you on my side?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It was all a lie.

# FOLLOWERS Her mother was a top actress while her father was a famous director. After Ning Youguang played a cameo role in her father’s movie at the age of seven, the entire entertainment industry waited for her to grow up. Her debut could possibly be the most awaited highlight within the industry. This was in part, thanks to the reality show, The Prosperous Beauty, which was one of the highest-grossing TV shows at that time. It helped to garner millions of fans on Ning Youguang's anonymous blog. Yet, Ning Youguang didn’t want to be a star or appear in the limelight. She only wanted to make an honest living as a doctor and accumulate merits in her life, so that she would not have to suffer an early death once again. Wouldn't it be much better if she could enjoy a regular and disciplined lifestyle where she could spend time planting flowers, raising cats, and living to a ripe old age? She never had a chance to do any of that in her previous life! But Youguang never imagined that she would meet Shi Wangyue. He was one of her patients in her previous life, who had not been cured of his ailments due to her premature death. When her mother brought Shi Wangyue, who was also her half-brother, on a reality show, he appeared distracted. Host to him, “Are you speechless because you are awe-struck by all these beautiful ladies?” Her younger brother looked at the female stars who were dubbed as ‘Prosperous Beauties’ on the show, and said with disapproval, “They’re okay. They only possess one percent of my sister’s beauty.” Everyone was shocked, and this created an uproar in the entertainment circle. It also became the #1 trending topic on Weibo’s hot search. Her mother couldn't agree more with her younger brother’s words, “My daughter is absolutely amazing.” One day, a photo of Ning Youguang was accidentally leaked to the public. Haters of Shi Wangyue proclaimed, “Bro, we’ll never laugh at you again. Is this a beauty that humankind deserves to have among us?”