Tatakau Shisho - Volume 9, Prologue: The Demon Lord and Memories of Bygone Days

Born into one of the wealthiest families in the country, Layla Rosenzweig's true identity is taken away at the time of her birth by the mistress of her father. She is forced to live as the illegitimate daughter of the Rosenzweig Family. Everyone treats her no less than an outsider in her own house. “This is mine. That is mine. In fact, everything is mine,” Layla's half-sister told her. Everything that belonged to Layla is given to her half-sister, including her boyfriend. Then, she is forced to marry her ex-boyfriend's ruthless uncle, Lucius De Salvo, the most terrifying man in the country. Lucius De Salvo is known for his ruthless ways to get his work done. His name is enough to terrify people. It is said that he is a man devoid of emotions. He will find pleasure in people's pain and misery. He loves to torment those who come under his radar. But why is he so lovely to Layla? Or is it just a pretense?“Are you ready for the wedding night, Darling?” Lucius asked. “I've desired you for a long time.” “What?” Layla was shocked. “Why would you?” “Because you are Layla Rosenzweig. The woman I like.” With that, he captured her mouth for a passionate kiss.

The Shao and Cheng families have been sworn enemies for generations, though few outsiders know the exact details of their feud.

What is known to all is the Shao family’s three cardinal rules:

The Shao family must not cooperate with the Chengs, must not intermarry with the Chengs, and must never appear with the Chengs at any public event.

One day, an adorable little girl looking like a doll, wearing a puffy pink dress, pink hair clip, and pink backpack, walked into the lobby on the first floor of the Shao Group building.

The receptionist thought she was some child who had wandered away from home. But the little girl solemnly said, “I want to see your Shao Group CEO, Shao Chengze.”

Seeing the girl’s pink outfit, the receptionist knew she must be from a wealthy and noble family to dare to address their CEO by his full name. She couldn’t be the daughter of some high-ranking Shao Group executive?

Smiling warmly, she asked, “Little one, could you tell me your parents’ names?”

The girl tilted her head. “My mommy is Cheng Jinlan.”

Cheng…Jinlan?!

Second Miss Cheng Jinlan of the Cheng family?! She never thought she’d see the day a Cheng would set foot in the Shao Group building. What a miracle!

“As for my dad, I’ve come today to get some of Shao Chengze’s hair for a DNA test. Once I have his hair, I’ll know if he’s my dad or not.”

The girl’s crisp words rippled outwards from the front desk through the bustling first floor lobby. Everyone who heard froze in shock, jaws dropping.

Everyone except Shao Chengze, who had just stepped out of the elevator surrounded by a group.

He looked at the girl in pink through narrowed, fox-like eyes.

Cheng Liqi recognized Shao Chengze and covered her mouth in an “ah-oh”.

She decided that even if Shao Chengze wasn’t her dad, she’d have to help Cheng Jinlan get this man. She liked his eyes.

They were just like hers.

So pretty.

Su Shi was once a platinum-level host with the highest survival rate. One day, his misdeeds of constantly shifting his blame onto others was found out and reported. Convicted of violating the rules, he was bound to an Automatic Blame Shouldering System and exiled to lower-level worlds.

Now, not only does he have to take the blame from others and shoulder it himself, he must also carry that blame and rush to his death in order to earn enough points to quickly unbind from the system.

Su Shi only wants to get rid of the system by shouldering the blame until death. However, he finds that trying to hold onto the blame is even harder than passing it on, and rushing to his death is even harder than running for his life.

As Su Shi lies dying in the protagonist’s arms with red-rimmed eyes and a weak and helpless countenance, an uninvited third guest suddenly rushes out to explain the misunderstanding for him.

Su Shi: “I beg you, just let me shoulder this blame, otherwise, it will all be a waste of effort…”

- Description from Novelupdates

“I want a divorce,” Nathaniel said with no emotions.I was shocked at how callus he could be. I didn’t get a chance to tell him about my pregnancy.After five years of marriage, I still couldn't warm his heart. I understood I would never be able to replace my sister in his heart.“Fine. Let’s divorce then.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~I, Zara Moore, married my brother-in-law to fulfil my dying sister’s last wish. I poured my heart into this marriage, cared for him, and loved his son like my own, hoping that one day, he might return my feelings.It was only my wishful thought. I ended up being killed in my past life.Reborn, I could see the truth clearly.To him, I was a promise he made to his first love. Tired of being just an obligation, I decided to leave him and not tell him about the child in my womb. But with tearful eyes, he pleaded for one more chance.~~~~~~~~~~~“Don’t bring up divorce,” Nathaniel growled, his cold gaze fixed on me.“I am done with this emotionless marriage,” I retaliated.“What about the promise you made?” He hissed, squeezing my arm.I gritted my teeth. “I tried to warm your heart for five years, but I failed. I don’t want to keep doing this.”His expression changed, his eyes pleading. “Give me a chance. I’ll make up to you.”I stared at him, stunned. He clearly didn’t love me. Why was he unwilling to let me go?