I am that male friend in the harem story - Chapter 208: Hopefully

Jerlina struggled hard to get out of the small town filled with gangs not only to improve her life, but also to get away from 'him' - the one she calls 'The Monster'.

No, he really was not a monster... He was 'her monster'.

'He' had devoted his life for his little sister. She had offended him by breaking the friendship with his little sister.

She thought she escaped it all when years passed and she settled in the city. A nice job, a lovely boyfriend, a small home for them... She thought she had what she needed.

She almost forgot about 'him'.

But then he came back in her life for his sister, and took everything away from her. Her boyfriend, her little home, her freedom, and to her dismay he even took the child in her belly.

And he forced her to marry him! Why?

Will she escape his clutches?

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He is a self-made man although he is from a powerful family. He has attained everything he has, working hard with his own hands. He has plans, He has secrets.

But for him, she is the moon.

She is his first love. She came to him one noisy night and he couldn't forget her from then. But every time he tries to get close to her, she suffers as if they are not meant to be. He wanted to stay away from her to not see her suffer.

He did stay away from her for years.

But when a chance presented itself pushing her to him, he couldn't stay back and tried to get close to her.

And he got close to her to help her, but then he made her lose her child unwittingly.

What should I do?

I can't just give up on her!

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One heart filled with resentment and another filled with remorse...

What will be of them?

Can his love make her resentment go away? Or will his remorse consume him?

Will she see his remorse over her resentment? Will she forgive?

Will there be romance?

Or will there be blood?

# ANCIENTTOMODERNTIMES

Su Ji, a historically famous devil concubine, has transmigrated! When she opened her eyes, she was the daughter of the Su family, a beautiful girl who was bullied by everyone. She was also an unpopular actress with no presence on social media. Everyone thought the devil concubine brought disaster to the country and its people. In reality, she was extremely skilled and ruthless. There was a wealthy old man from the Pei family who loved chasing celebrities, and he vowed to make Su Ji his granddaughter-in-law! The whole world knew that Third Young Master Pei was rich, but ruthless and not interested in women. Haters looked forward to Su Ji marrying him and living a lonely life. It would surely be a great show to watch. Later, at the award ceremony, Su Ji felt nauseated and was about to throw up. Her fans thought she was sick. Third Young Master Pei, who had chased after her for two lifetimes, felt his heartache. “It’s already her second child. Why is she still so affected?” *** Everyone thought the devil concubine brought disaster to the country and its people. Only he knew that she recruited talents from all over the world, and laid the foundation for peace for later generations. In his previous life, he had been a loyal general who loved her in silence. After her death, he built a gold coffin for her and died in regret. In this life, he would not let her go again…

From quiet grind to legacy brew.Jun had nothing—no café, no followers, not even a bed. Just a secondhand kettle and a broken dream.Then came the Barista System.No shortcuts. No instant success. Just slow, intentional tasks... and a promise:Brew. Grow. Endure.Every pour sharpens his skill. Every cup deepens his path.From street corners to pop-ups, from whispered praise to a space of his own—Jun’s grind is just beginning.This is a story of stillness, patience, and the quiet pursuit of mastery.Because greatness isn’t given.It’s brewed—one cup at a time.

Nora is shattered a month before her wedding when she uncovers her fiancé's deceitful affair. As she manages this betrayal, she discovers a deep ploy to hinder her from claiming her rightful inheritance. Devastated but determined, Nora takes a daring step to regain control of her life. Enter Demetri 'The Demon' to those who know him, a formidable man barely known to her, who offers her protection and support in return for a contract marriage to satisfy him. In a twist of fate, Nora marries Demetri to claim her inheritance and fight those who plotted against her. But as she battles her own family and Demetri's many rivals, will she be able to keep from falling for the man known to crush people beneath his booted heel.Excerpt:She had forgotten that the man was intimidating and directly challenged him.Rather than speaking, Demetri rose from his seat and approached her deliberately. Although it was a mere few steps, time seemed to stretch for Nora. When he was almost within touching distance, his hand gently landed on her knee, moving it sideways. His touch moved with a hint of a caress, and he stepped between her open legs. Nora sat there in frozen silence, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.Catching her chin between his fingers, he tilted her face upwards and spoke unhurriedly,“ You are my wife.”She nodded her head slowly in affirmation while his thumb slowly traced her lip. “I have given you time to gather your emotions.”Another nod. Nora's nervousness made her lick her lips, acutely aware of his intense gaze fixed upon them.“Your reason for the marriage was to secure your inheritance and get away from under your mother's thumb.”“Yes...” Nora whispered in confusion. Her confusion was not about his statement but about the bewildering sensations coursing through her. What was happening with her?”It's time for you to fulfil your end of the contract, yes?“ He continued.”Yes,“ Nora whispered breathlessly. Why was she breathless? Had the oxygen level in the house dropped? Was the air suddenly thinning?Abruptly, his hand left her face, and she watched as he drew closer. It was then that Nora comprehended what was unfolding. All those tantalizing, heart-pounding kisses she had read about in novels were about to possibly become her reality.But the anticipated kiss didn't happen. Instead, he paused near her and commanded, ”Kiss me.“