Within a Hollow Heart - Chapter 72: Volume 2, : "Shadows of Desperation"

I watch him, his green eyes brimming with concern as he gently massages my scarred leg. The sensation is both soothing and a stark reminder of my own inadequacy. The once-feared Crimson General, a symbol of power and invincibility, is now nothing but a frail shadow of his former self. I’ve been abandoned, left to decay in this forsaken place, my family and comrades long forgotten. Darkness had become my only solace, and I had resigned myself to it.Then he arrived, a beacon of light in my endless night. His presence, his care—it’s more than I ever deserved. Yet, I find myself clinging to him with an intensity that borders on madness. I hate that I need him so desperately, that his every action and word have become my lifeline. It consumes me, a torment I can't escape.“You don't have to do this. Please, don’t do this. I’m nothing. You deserve better. Leave. Please,” I beg, my voice trembling with raw anguish, the very words tearing me apart.He continues his work, seemingly unaffected by my pleas.“Why are you here? Look at me! I’m nothing.”Desperation and anger swell within me, mixing into a maelstrom of anxiety. I can’t comprehend the emotions coursing through me.“You're my alpha, where else would I be?” he responds softly, his gaze unwavering, as if my pleas were mere background noise.My heart races, torn between overwhelming relief and paralyzing dread. In that moment, I realize the truth: you would have to tear him from my cold, lifeless arms. I’m never letting go.General Thorne, betrayed and broken, finds new life and love with Omega Noelle, who nurses him back to health. Their deepening bond reveals Thorne’s softer side, offering a chance at happiness. Unfortunately, Thorne’s past soon catches up with them, threatening their newfound peace.

When the enigmatic and overpowered Kieran Drayke awakens in a foreign magical world after a sudden transmigration, he brings along a system unlike any this realm has ever known. The “Sovereign Architect System” doesn’t just make him invincible—it gives him the tools to build something far greater.But Kieran isn’t interested in world domination. At least, not in the usual way.Disillusioned by the world's surface-level glimmer and the rot beneath it, Kieran sets his sights on the forsaken—those discarded by society, lost in the shadows of nobility and corruption. From slums, war zones, and forgotten ruins, he gathers orphan girls of various races—elves, beastkin, humans, and more—each with untapped potential and pain behind their eyes.He trains them in secret. Guides them. Empowers them. Not as soldiers, but as a family. A hidden organization that operates behind the curtains, shaping the world while appearing as ordinary students at the prestigious Aetherion Magic Academy.Kieran himself? Just a carefree, slightly lazy transfer student with a penchant for sweets, sarcasm, and sneaking naps between classes—on the surface, at least.With a slow-burning plot that weaves magical worldbuilding, deep friendships, training arcs, casual comedy, and a cast of unforgettable girls who grow into queens of the unseen, Chronicles of the Hidden Crown explores what happens when an OP MC doesn’t conquer the world with brute force…But builds a legacy from its forgotten pieces.No betrayal. No forced drama. Just the steady rise of a secret kingdom in the shadows of a crumbling empire.

(Marriage first, love later, short-lived parents, 1v1 double cleanliness)

Du Jingyi braved his fate and married into the Duke’s mansion, becoming the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family.

The husband is Shang Shaoyu, the most popular god of war in the Daxing Dynasty at that time, but it is widely said that he is known as a wife-suppressant.

I thought it was a match made in heaven.

Unexpectedly, on the night of the wedding, Shang Shaoyu only had time to lift his hijab, leaving a sentence of “Cezhou is in danger” and left in a hurry for three years.

After the master returned to court, he remembered that he had a lovely wife in his house.

I thought she had been wronged, but I found that my beloved wife hiding in Xitang Courtyard was living a better life than anyone else.

Everyone in the Duke’s mansion was going through so much trouble, but she was the only one who was pampered…

Du Jingyi just wanted a stable retirement, but he was forced to kill everyone in the back house.

First, half of the bed was given away, and then someone squeezed into my heart for no reason.

Just before her fall.

The general, who had a hard face and a cold heart, had a gentle and charming smile.

He whispered in her ear: Madam, please have mercy…

- Description from novelbuddy

[Dimension Exploration] + [Management] + [Urban Legends] + [Comedy] + [Meat Pigeon] + [I'm Surrounded by Beauties]The renowned sharp-tongued food critic Tang Rijie had already wolfed down three large bowls of rice, sweating profusely, yet he stubbornly maintained his stance.“I admit the dishes in your restaurant are all delicious, and the appearance, scent, and taste can be considered perfect, but I must say, I didn't taste any soul in these dishes! And the soul is the key to determining the success or failure of a dish!”Ma Lu's expression remained unchanged, “It's just a soul you want, right? Just wait.”Having said that, he walked into the kitchen, took out two souls from the freezer, and stuffed them into the blender.10 minutes later, a steaming plate of dumplings was placed in front of Tang Rijie.“Hello, sir, here is the soul you asked for, all wrapped inside.”