Refusing the Rich: The Young Master's Escaping Bride - Chapter 22: The Night Five Years Ago

Sara Falcone, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Falcone family, has always been bright, ambitious, and determined. Groomed to take over her father’s empire, she quickly rose to prominence as the company’s CEO, earning respect in the business world.But when Falcone Industries teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, her world begins to crumble.Desperate to save her family’s legacy, Sara turns to the last person she ever thought she would, her greatest rival, and once, her secret crush: Luca De Augustino.Cold, calculating, and infuriatingly powerful, Luca offers her a way out, but at a cost. In exchange for rescuing her company, she must agree to a contract marriage with him.Luca De Augustino, heir and CEO of the mighty Augustino Group, was raised to lead without compromise and to never bow to anyone. Yet there was one person who always challenged him, Sara. Years ago, when she confessed her feelings, he shattered her heart with cruel rejection.Seven long years have passed since that day, but fate brings them back together. Now, bound by a one-year contract marriage, Sara must navigate a dangerous game of pride, power, and unresolved emotions while Luca sees this as his chance to finally claim the one woman who once loved him.~~~~~“You think I'll help you just because you pathetically kneel in front of me!” Luca chuckled. “What happened to the woman who always held her head high in pride?”“If you don't want to help me, then just say so!” Sara raised her voice. Standing up, she turned to leave when Luca grasped her hand, thus making her turn to him.“Fine, I'll help you. But there's a condition,” Luca pronounced.“And what's this condition?” asked Sara.“Become Mrs. De Augustino. In short, marry me, Sara Falcone.”~~~~~*All the names and places used in the story have nothing to do with the reality. It's a fiction.*

After waking up in the world of ancient Greek mythology, I became a stunningly beautiful young shepherd boy named Eros.Life was carefree, there was always enough to eat and wear, but it was, well... painfully lonely.Until one day, I met her by the river.A girl whose beauty and personality both struck straight into my heart like lightning.We fell in love instantly, sparks flying between us.Then came the twist.After one steamy encounter, the sky suddenly darkened.A majestic figure appeared before me, none other than the Queen of the Gods, Hera herself.“Who are you?” I asked in shock.But the girl in my arms answered before I could finish.“She is Queen Hera,” she said with a mysterious smile.I was stunned. My mind raced.“Then who are you?” I asked nervously.“Are you Hebe, the Goddess of Youth? Or some other goddess?”She shook her head.“No,” she said softly. Her lips curved into a teasing grin.“I’m Zeus, the King of the Gods. So... wanna be my (XXXX)?”***This is a translation all credits to the author***Book cover not mineNote:Some readers might feel that “genderbending” contradicts the mythological setting, so here’s my explanation:First of all, Zeus has always been fluid in gender representation as were many of the early Greek deities.Also, the protagonist’s name isn’t random.Eros, the original primordial god of love symbolized the raw force of love and desire that brought life into being. Before Eros existed, the gods reproduced asexually, without love or union.So in this story, we’re following a timeline where Eros was never born, and Gaia modeled Uranus on herself instead.This is that alternate world.

This is a story of a captain of a secluded place and a gorgeous female celebrity—both who would hardly cross paths but a collision in Tibet sets an opening to their encounter.Upon their first encounter, Wenxian already has her eyes set on Captain Lu—her mouth drooling with desire.Wenxian, “Hmm? How can I win over your heart? In a plain sack or using sweet talk?”With a cigarette in his mouth, Lu Xiao scoffs. “You are an impressive and popular celebrity, I am only a captain at this secluded place. I am very poor, what is it in me that you like about?”Wenxian, “I like how you always snub back at me.”Lu Xiao choked and walked away heartlessly. “You are shameless, don’t even dream about it!”The next day, he said, “It’s all because you were carried away by a whim?”Wenxian, “No, hatching a scheme.”