Revenge of the Phoenix Beauty - Chapter 54: It’s time for my next step

Perfect. That’s what people call Princess Elysia. Blessed with rare red fire magic and trained by the best, she’s the shining jewel of the kingdom of Arvandor. But perfection has a price. When the ruthless Demon Queen Malvoria sets her sights on Elysia, all hell breaks loose—literally.As Malvoria’s army lays waste to Arvandor, Elysia’s life is shattered. Her beloved father, the king, is slain, and her once-peaceful home becomes a battlefield. Forced to flee with her girlfriend, Zera—the fierce daughter of her magic teacher—and her mentor, Lady Seraphina, Elysia’s journey of survival begins.But Malvoria wants more than just a kingdom. She wants Elysia, and nothing will stand in her way. As Elysia’s hidden powers awaken, an unexpected and dangerous attraction sparks between her and the demon queen.

Starting from today, I am retired. But what should I be doing? I neither have the skills, nor the mind to do business, my only advantage is this pair of hands which have taken this world. What a headache…

Note: The usage of the term “retired” here doesn’t mean retiring from old age, work etc. It’s a specific term to refer to not involving oneself in the affairs of a certain society.

- Description from Novelupdates

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

“Hmph, my dumb big sister is in danger!” A mischievous grin spread across his face. “Hehehehe... this gives me the perfect excuse to finally use this treasure I’ve acquired but never bothered with!” He rummaged through his belongings, carefully selecting various items. “A bit of this... and this... and a dash of this.” Boom! The explosion of energy sent a ripple through the air as he laughed maniacally. “Hahaha! It’s done! Now, all I need is a compatible host for it.” Years later... “Did I overdo it?” he wondered in awe, watching as his creation wreaked havoc, conquering world after world with ease, as though stealing candies from children.