Blurb：
In a realm where ancient prophecies and forbidden magic collide, Elara, a rogue mage with a hidden lineage, must navigate the treacherous halls of the Shadow Court. Hunted by the ruthless Lord Valerius and aided by the enigmatic warrior Kaelen, she uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to shatter the fragile peace between humans and the fae. As whispers of the long-lost artifact, the Starfall Crystal, surface, Elara’s journey becomes a race against time. Dive into this epic fantasy where loyalty is tested, alliances are forged in blood, and every secret holds the key to salvation or ruin. Perfect for fans of intricate world-building and strong female protagonists like those in “Throne of Glass” or “Mistborn.”
Content：
When I returned to the corporate research and development press conference, I knew Tyler Zach would step forward to accuse our team of plagiarism, yet I chose to turn a blind eye.
In my previous life, Tyler’s accusation had caused Nelson Corporation to instantly lose ten percent of its core interests.
Back then, I stepped up and single-handedly saved the day. Not only did I ensure the press conference ended smoothly, but I also used the opportunity to elevate the company’s reputation to new heights.
However, I was eventually betrayed. My first love, Rosie Nelson, fabricated evidence against me and sent me to prison. Even the results of my project were falsely credited to Tyler.
I refused to believe it. I bombarded her with questions and demanded answers.
Rosie’s eyes were filled with guilt, but she only replied, “Evan, Tyler came from humble beginnings. He can’t afford to lose this once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a name for himself!
“Don’t worry. We’ll get married once you’re out.”
I fought desperately to appeal, but I was beaten to death in prison.
I wondered if Rosie could handle the company’s losses without me fighting tooth and nail to turn things around this time.
I did not expect Rosie to turn to me at the most critical moment of the conference with panicked eyes and urge me desperately, “Evan! Why aren’t you on stage explaining everything yet?!”
Chapter 1
“Evan, are you even listening to me?”
Rosie Nelson grabbed my arm tightly when she saw me standing there in a daze.
The suffocating sensation of my last moments still lingered in my mind, and the pain made me come back to my senses.
I stared blankly at the familiar scene of the press conference, unable to process what was happening. Rosie’s anxious face filled my field of vision.
“Evan, everyone’s accusing us of plagiarism after the data leak. You can fix this, right?
“You’ve been on this project from start to finish. You have to come up with something!”
I did not have time to think about anything else. I yanked my arm free from her grip, shook my head, and said in a cold voice, “I was only in charge of overseeing the project timeline. I don’t know a thing about the actual research. What could I possibly do?!
“Besides, only a handful of people had access to the final data. Who leaked it and caused this mess?”
For a split second, Rosie’s eyes darted around nervously, but she quickly regained her composure. Her eyes reddened.
“Finding out who leaked the data isn’t important right now. What matters is how we’re going to handle this crisis.
“The publicity team’s been hyping this up for three years, and we’ve already signed contracts with several companies! Now, it’s all gone down the drain!”
She kept muttering under her breath. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her forced smile was so stiff that it was almost frightening. People nearby were starting to look at us.
I watched her unravel with a cold gaze, not feeling the slightest bit of concern. Instead, I felt a rush of satisfaction.
Up on the stage, Tyler Zach stood tall and confident, speaking with ease like a rising star in the scientific world. It was a stark contrast to Rosie in the audience, whose composure was slowly slipping.
It felt like fate was playing a cruel joke.
In my previous life, Tyler had suddenly gone on stage and accused us of stealing his research during this very same conference.
This event had been critical for the Nelson Corporation and was meant to secure its next ten years of growth. No one could bear the consequences if it failed.
Everyone was panicking, and I had been the one to step up and argue with him on stage. In the end, I pulled out the original lab notes and turned the situation around.
Not only did the company avoid disaster, but we even signed several major deals as a result.
However, after the conference, Rosie looked at me with disgust and asked, “Why did you barge onstage while Tyler was giving his speech? You made such a scene, yelling like that. You completely lost your composure.”
Something felt off at that time, but a client called me away, and I did not notice the subtle, intimate look Rosie and Tyler exchanged.
By the time I was done with work, the company took me to court, accusing me of leaking core research data.
Rosie stood firmly on the opposing side, producing agreements and bank records I had never seen before, sealing my fate.
I could not believe it. I filed an appeal, but it was completely useless.
When Rosie found out, she came to see me in private. Her eyes were red as she told me something I could never forget.
Chapter 2
“Evan, Tyler came from humble beginnings. He can’t afford to lose this once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a name for himself!
“The truth is, I was the one who leaked the data. But you’ll take the fall for me, won’t you?
“Don’t worry. We’ll get married once you’re out.”
Rosie spoke as though it were the most casual thing in the world. Her eyes were brimming with affection.
“Forget it. I’m not confessing to a crime I didn’t commit!”
The moment those words left my mouth, Rosie’s expression hardened. She looked at me like I was being completely unreasonable.
Without hesitation, she had me tied up and thrown in jail while she told everyone that I had tried to flee out of guilt.
Worse still, she handed over every one of my hard-earned achievements to Tyler.
Everything I had worked for my entire life was turned into a pathetic joke.
I could not accept it, but I was soon beaten to death in prison.
It was not until my final moments that I learned my parents, who had been fighting to clear my name, died in a car accident!
I hated her! I saved the company from disaster, yet Rosie had thrown me to the wolves, destroying my family and my life for the sake of a man she had only known for three months!
I would not lift a finger to save her this time. I wanted to know if she would still think Tyler was so amazing this time around.
“Wait! Tyler’s accusations don’t make any sense!”
Coming back to my senses, I saw Rosie’s pale face as she hurried onstage with the core research staff.
The moment Tyler spotted her, panic flashed across his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure. His face twisted in anger as she spoke.
“Ms. Nelson! I can’t believe you’re still trying to twist the truth now. All the data was calculated by me alone!
“I even have the original drafts of the project. No matter how big your company is, you have no right to trample on my work!”
As Tyler spoke, he dramatically pulled a stack of papers from his bag. Those yellowed pages were covered in densely written calculations.
The sight instantly drew the looks of everybody in the room.
Rosie was so furious that she could not get a word out. She grabbed one of the researchers and barked, “Prove it! Prove that this research was developed independently by us!”
Still, the research had been split into phases, with separate teams working on different sections for efficiency.
Each group had tackled its own challenges and knew little about the others’ experiments.
Up against Tyler’s confident manner and his command of every detail, the research staff had no way to fight back. It took less than ten minutes for them to crumble.
The contrast was striking, and it sent a ripple of shock through the audience.
The reporters’ mocking voices echoed through the room:
“Can you believe this? The Nelson Corporation spent three years hyping up this project, and it turns out they plagiarized it! What a joke!”
“They couldn’t even hire someone competent to fake it. Look at them—they don’t have a clue. It’s embarrassing to watch.”
“Exactly! And I heard they even signed multiple big contracts based on this project. Looks like it’s all over now!”
Camera flashes exploded around Tyler, making him sound even more righteous—like he was a hero fighting for justice.
Meanwhile, Rosie stood frozen on stage. Her face shifted from red to white.
The researchers had long since slipped away, wearing awkward expressions after being caught off guard. They had left Rosie alone in the spotlight.
As I watched everything unfold, I felt nothing but cold satisfaction.
Rosie and I had been childhood sweethearts and were even engaged.
I used to think that even if there was no love between us, two decades of being together would at least count for some kind of bond. However, in the end, all I got was her ruthless betrayal!
Her welled-up eyes met mine. Her stubbornness was visible even as her body seemed ready to collapse. The old me might have thrown everything away to protect her.
This time, I simply gave her a cold, expressionless shake of my head and walked out of the press conference.
The news was already reporting on the scandal on my way home. The Nelson Corporation had become the biggest laughingstock in the industry overnight.
As I watched their stock price plummet, I did not hesitate to pick up my phone and make a call.
“This is the bank, right? I’d like to consolidate my assets and freeze my accounts as soon as possible. Yes! The sooner the better!”
Not long after I finished arranging my finances, Rosie’s name flashed across my phone screen. I frowned and reluctantly answered.
Chapter 3
The next second, I heard Rosie’s tearful voice on the other end of the line.
“Honey, where are you? I really need to talk to you!
“Only you can save me now!”
“I’m on my way home,” I said.
When she heard my calm reply without a trace of comfort in my tone, Rosie’s sobbing paused for a moment. Then, her voice lit up with delight.
“Then I’ll head home right now! Wait for me there. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
By the time I finished everything I had to do and returned home, Rosie was already sitting on the couch waiting for me.
Sensing something was off, I pretended to pull out my phone to reply to a message but instead turned on the recorder.
When she saw me come in, the impatience on her face vanished instantly. A smile spread across her lips as she hurried over, tugged me down to sit beside her, and handed me a document.
“Honey! Sign this for me, please! You won’t just stand by and watch me go down, will you?”
At the top of the document, two big, bold words jumped out at me: [Confession Agreement]
…
I stared at the agreement in silence. Only when the smile on Rosie’s face began to falter did I finally pick up the pen and sign my name.
She quickly leaned forward, her expression full of feigned concern.
“Honey, don’t worry. You’re only taking the fall for me this time. I’ll make sure to take care of everything!
“I’ll hire the best lawyer for you, and when you’re out, we’ll get married!
“And don’t worry about your parents. I’ll look after…”
The moment she mentioned my parents, I cut her off sharply.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Rosie carefully folded the agreement and tucked it away. Her face was still wearing that anxious, devoted expression as she promised, “You can trust me. This agreement will stay between us!
“It won’t see the light of day until the court hearing in three days!”
However, her tone soon shifted. There was a hint of hesitation creeping in.
“The hole in Nelson Corporation’s finances is pretty massive this time. Could we, uh… temporarily use some of the assets under your name?”
“Do whatever you want.”
It did not matter. My assets had already been frozen. Whatever she tried now would be in vain.
Overjoyed, Rosie lunged forward to hug me, but I easily dodged her.
“I’m tired. I need to rest.”
Without waiting for her response, I stood and headed toward the bedroom.
As I turned, a man’s voice suddenly called out from upstairs.
“Rosie, I’ve finished setting up all my stuff!”
I looked up and saw Tyler.
He was wearing my pajamas and smiling smugly at Rosie.
Rosie was flustered as she stammered out an explanation, “Tyler’s been under a lot of scrutiny lately, and it’s not safe for him to stay outside. I decided to let him move in for now.
“Besides, we still need his cooperation with the company’s future plans. You understand, don’t you?”
Tyler bounded down the stairs, wrapping his arm around Rosie’s waist as he teased her. His eyes locked on mine, and they were full of bold, taunting challenge.
“Rosie, I don’t like the way the house is decorated. I’ve drawn up new designs. It can all be redone by tomorrow.”
This house had been bought with the first paycheck Rosie and I earned together. Every detail of the decor had been carefully chosen by us over the years. It held a lot of memories and meaning.
However, Rosie just frowned slightly and replied casually after glancing at me, “It’s fine. The decor is outdated, anyway. Let’s change it to whatever you want.”
The cloying scent of Tyler’s cologne made me nauseous. I did not want to watch them flirt any longer, so I turned and headed upstairs.
Still, when I opened the bedroom door, I froze in place.
Everything inside had changed. All of my belongings were gone and had been replaced with piles of luxury goods clearly belonging to a younger man.
The engagement photo that had once hung above the bed had vanished too, replaced by a picture of Rosie and Tyler.
Even the bed was littered with lingerie I had never seen before. Some of it was still stained with sticky liquid. The air carried an unsettling, sickly sweet smell.
I picked up my phone and recorded everything I saw. Just as I lowered it…
Chapter 4
I heard footsteps approaching, growing louder with each step. Then, Rosie’s voice floated over.
“Honey, your things are in the guest room. There’s no need for you to rest in the master bedroom…”
When she stepped inside and saw the state of the room, her eyes went wide with surprise as though she had no idea what Tyler had done.
Her gaze flickered briefly to where our engagement photo used to hang, and a flash of awkwardness crossed her face. However, she quickly recovered and said with deep affection, “Honey, this was all Tyler’s idea. I only went along because he’s now recognized as the inventor of the research project. That’s why…”
As she went on, her voice grew quieter and quieter under my calm, unflinching stare.
I let out a cold laugh and casually gestured toward the bed.
“And what about those? Were those your ideas too?”
Rosie’s face went pale, then turned red with anger.
“Evan, I really didn’t know about this!
“I’ve been running myself ragged for the company. I gave Tyler a key, but I didn’t pay attention to what he was doing.
“If you’re not okay with this, I’ll have him move out right now!”
“No need.”
I noticed the bright red love bite on the back of her neck and cut her off sharply.
I walked to the guest room. My belongings were piled haphazardly in a corner. Some important documents had been tossed carelessly on the floor and were smudged with dirty footprints.
Rosie trailed behind me, and Tyler strolled leisurely after her.
Seeing the mess in the guest room, a smug look flashed across Tyler’s eyes. He then turned to Rosie with an apologetic smile as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Sorry, Rosie. I’m no good at keeping things tidy. That’s why Evan’s stuff ended up like this.
“I grew up in a small town. I’ve never even seen half this stuff before. I honestly didn’t know how to handle it.”
Rosie’s expression softened when she heard his words. She cradled his face and comforted him gently.
“It’s okay. I’ll buy you whatever you need in a couple of days. Evan’s a kind person. He doesn’t mind, right?”
Her words carried a veiled threat.
I could only laugh as I looked at the scattered documents. Many of them were important business materials for Nelson Corporation.
I stepped toward the door and calmly closed it as I caught Rosie’s wary gaze.
Then, I pulled out my phone and checked the recording. Perfect! Everything had been captured.
I could not rip off the mask just yet. Untangling the web of interests between the Nelsons and my family, the Quinns, would take time.
I also needed to warn my parents and make sure the tragedy of my previous life never repeated itself.
My phone lit up with a video call from Rosie at two in the morning.
I turned on the screen recording function before answering. The screen immediately filled with bare, flushed skin and Rosie’s breathless moans. What they were doing did not need explaining.
Tyler’s teasing voice rang out.
“Rosie, isn’t this exciting? Your future husband’s right next door. If you scream louder, he might hear everything.”
“You little devil! Be gentler! So what if he hears? He loves me so much. He won’t say a word even if he finds out.”
“You’re amazing, Rosie. You even got him to agree to take the fall for you. But when he’s out of prison, are you really going to marry him? What about me?”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll handle him. Once he’s locked up, I’ll be the one calling the shots out here. And hey! Be careful with the baby!”
“Heh, I knew you’d take care of me, Rosie. Don’t worry, our baby is fine.”
Perhaps their movements got too intense, as Rosie’s phone slipped off the bed and landed on the floor. The screen went black, but the lewd noises continued.
After recording the key parts, I hung up without hesitation.
I compiled the evidence into a document and sent it to my parents to prepare them for what was coming. Once I finished explaining everything to them, I picked up a worn business card and dialed the number on it.
“Jasmine, it’s Evan Quinn. There’s something I’d like to discuss. Let’s meet in person…”
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