A Barbaric Proposal - Chapter 17: Trap (1)

Reiji Tsukishima never believed in chasing after something he couldn't have—until he met Aoi Fujikawa. Calm, composed, and always in control, Reiji found himself drawn to Aoi’s warmth and kindness. The only problem? She was already in a relationship—with another girl, Sena Tachibana.From the very start, Reiji and Sena clashed. Their personalities, values, and even the way they looked at Aoi put them at odds. He made it clear—he liked Aoi. And Sena? She wasn’t about to let some guy disrupt their relationship.But fate had other plans.Despite their rivalry, Reiji and Sena kept crossing paths, their conversations sharper than knives yet laced with something neither wanted to acknowledge. Over time, they found themselves entangled in something deeper—something neither of them expected. A connection that rivaled the very love they were trying to protect.As emotions shift and tensions rise, Aoi remains unaware of the growing bond between the two people she loves the most. But when the truth finally comes to light, all three must face a question with no simple answer—can love truly be shared, or must someone be left behind?A slow-burn romance of deep emotions, unexpected confessions, and a love that defies the norm—this is *Unraveled Ties.*---

Betrayed and used, Adam Palestar was a man that dedicated ten years of his life to reach the top in the game—Mortal Online—where the strong rule and weak are abused. It was a game where a single death meant the loss of all the hard work. In the end, he died in a way that was common in this game—betrayed by his closest companions—but he never expected that to happen to him.Now, reborn and regressed back to his younger self, he has a second chance—failure is not an option.

Elara’s first life crashed hard. Cruel tricks ruined her name, broke her dreams, and turned the whole entertainment world against her. Friends betrayed her. Lovers sold her out. Everyone she trusted stabbed her in the back. The pain piled up until she felt trapped with no way out. One night, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked to the river and ended it all in the cold, quiet water.Later, proof came out. Messages. Recordings. Everything showed she had been framed. People posted apologies online. But it was too late. She was already gone.The universe, though, clearly has a twisted sense of humor.Because somehow, Elara came back. She woke up in her own past, every awful memory still sharp in her head. Right then she made a promise she would never break: protect her gentle grandfather no matter what, and never let anyone push her to that dark place again.This time she steps into the entertainment world with her head high. She trains harder, sings better, fights smarter. The same people who once crushed her? Now they get to feel the pressure.Love? Not happening. Her heart is locked tight. But why is it that as she rises and shines brighter, handsome, powerful men start circling her—guys who never even glanced at her in her previous life were now hovering around her.The actor smiled at her during a press interview, leaned closer, and said softly, “We should have dinner sometime.”The footballer sent flowers so big they blocked her room door.The surgeon she met at a charity event checked her pulse and then forgot to let go of her wrist.The singer she collaborated with kept calling her name during rehearsals, as if the mic could not hear him well enough.Elara stared at the ceiling that night and sighed.She only wanted to sing. Why did everyone look like they wanted to adopt her, date her, or both?But the worst one came after the concert.The lights had just gone off. Her ears were still ringing. Sweat clung to her neck. She had barely stepped backstage when a shadow blocked her path.She looked up.The CEO of the greatest company in Aurelia stood there. The same man who once said her voice was “not worth investing in.” The same man who did not even know her name before rebirth.Now he held her wrist lightly, but firmly.“Let’s talk,” he said.Elara blinked. “About… sponsorship?”“No,” he replied calmly. “About marriage.”Her brain froze.“…What?”“I will give you everything,” he continued, as if asking for a glass of water. “Resources. Protection. Freedom to sing. Become my wife.”Elara stared at him, her mouth open, her thoughts running in circles.This was not how it was supposed to be.Why was the world now skipping steps?NB:This story takes place in a fictional world. Aurelia is a country. Solmere, Veston, and Starfall City are the three capital cities of Aurelia. Other cities, such as Lorien and Crelou, are smaller cities.

Yeri was once a succubus, a powerful and irresistible seductress who fed on desire. Now reborn as a stunning young woman in the modern world, she must navigate the confusing collision of her human innocence and her demonic memories.One night, fate leads her into the path of Shin Keir, a dangerously magnetic and notorious CEO known for getting everything he wants—except peace. Their accidental encounter sparks an intense, uncontrollable passion, and a single night together changes everything.***Excerpt:The dream had returned.Same eerie forest. Same surreal woman in the crimson dress. But this time, the setting had changed slightly. She now stood at the edge of a cliff made of jagged, glowing red rocks that resembled oversized rubies.Scarlet butterflies floated around her like living embers.A thick fog blanketed the area like some forbidden realm between worlds.She turned to him, her smile soft, sweet—and somehow tragic.She was heartbreakingly beautiful, ethereal yet forlorn, like a love story written in fading ink.Shin had tried to call out, but the wind swallowed his voice. As he stepped forward, the woman mouthed something. He couldn't hear her.Then, in a horrifying instant, her body tilted, and she plummeted off the cliff.The despair that followed wasn't just a feeling—it was a full-body, soul-tearing scream that never made it past his throat.Without hesitation, Shin leapt after her.He awoke convulsing, drenched in cold sweat. His eyes gleamed with a strange madness, a devil struggling behind the polished CEO exterior.***Disclaimer- Places and characters are all works of fiction.