Corporate Villainy: Trampling Protagonists as a Business Dad - Chapter 13: Rina’s Encounter

At twenty‑nine, she was the youngest CEO in the tech industry—NetVault Security had gone from small startup to Fortune 500 in just six years. The media called her a prodigy. Her board called her unstoppable.Her therapist called her alexithymic.Unable to understand or describe her own emotions.The elevator chimed. Elara didn’t look up. Only one person had after‑hours access.“You’re late,” she said. “The investor meeting is in twelve hours. Did you review the—”“I’m not here about the meeting.”…“Ugh.”Elara lost her life that day at the hands of her mentor and adoptive father. By the next morning, the same people who once called her a genius and praised her to the sky were calling her a coward who killed herself to escape scandal.Then Elara woke up.Not in her office. Not in a hospital.In a different world. In a different body.She was now Elara, the Fourth Princess of this so‑called great kingdom—only to find that this princess was an utter pushover, completely useless in everyone’s eyes. No one feared her. No one respected her. Even her own palace was full of other people’s spies.How is Elara supposed to survive this palace battle, when seven princesses fight in the shadows and she’s known as the weakest one? And can she ever escape this place… or will she decide to win instead?……“Your Highness, please… ugh…”The leash of light around Mahir’s neck—the head of the knights—tightened with a soft pull. His face flushed red, and not from pain.“Princess, here.” Ken, the strongest beast knight, knelt closer and held out a small pill between his fingers, guiding it gently to Elara’s lips.“Swallow it,” he said quietly. “You used too much power today.”On the floor below the bed, three beastmen knelt in a row, broad shoulders tense, ears twitching, their eyes fixed on her with dazed focus. Thin, glowing leashes of magic ran from their collars to the bands at Elara’s wrists.“Please…” Ken’s voice dropped, rough and a little hoarse. “Put your foot here.” He touched his gloved hand to his chest. “On me.”Elara sighed, half annoyed, half amused, and rested her foot lightly on his armored chest. All three of them drew in a sharp breath at the same time, faces turning even redder as the magic between them flared.Their eyes—gold, amber, and deep brown—looked up at her with the same lost, devoted gaze.

Scarlett's world collapses when she is drugged and forced to marry an old, filthy-rich widower with five children.

Trying to escape her seemingly inescapable troubles, she accepts an offer of a one-year contract marriage with a mysterious gentleman. He promises this will get her out of her hostile-arranged marriage problems. She took the offer.

If everything goes well, she will be a free and independent woman in one year...

However, many things take an unexpected turn. The contract marriage made Scarlett's life feel like she was riding a rollercoaster. A mix of exhilaration, dreaded inferno, and joyful heaven.

****

Only a crazy person would accept his offer. And right now, she does not fall into that category. Her mind is still sane.

“Please don't get me wrong. I'm just trying to help myself. And at the same time helping you.”

Scarlett was even more confused.

“I know my problem is complicated. But, I think being married to a man I just met, without love, feels weird...” She said.

“This is not a real marriage but a contract marriage that you can set up to your advantage. And also mine.”

Scarlett listened silently; inside, she was shocked and a bit perplexed.

Xander crossed his arms over his chest while looking into Scarlett's eyes. He continued, “As I said before, I will help you, and at the same time, you will help me. I don't need to explain what my problem is. But, I assure you, if you agree to do a contract marriage with me, then your problems will be solved. So what do you think!?”

Scarlett was in no hurry to speak. She slowly raised her head and said, “So I can put any clauses I want in the contract?”

The man nods, saying, “As long as it doesn't hurt me.”

She offered a handshake to Xander, “Okay. You got a deal!”

……………………………………………………………

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Gu Shishi, a master of traditional Chinese painting, transmigrated into the role of a cannon fodder in a cliché novel.

The cannon fodder female supporting character was switched at birth. She had barely spent a few days with her biological parents before she was tossed into the wolf’s den by those same parents. Her parents, having no heart to send their fake daughter with a heart disease to live a hard life, forced the real daughter into becoming the replacement. Gu Shishi was sent away to marry the big villain – the rumored evil, cruel, and wife-cursing first young master of the Huo’s.

On the very first day that she had transmigrated, she had to face her fated tragic death….

Luckily, she had also inadvertently discovered the path to altering her fate!

— The more gifts she received from the big villain, the longer she could live and the more cheats she would gain!

System:

(Wealthy Housewife System, Initiated!)

(Remaining Life: 8 minutes and 56 seconds)

(Recharge to extend your life.)

(Method of Recharging: Receive Money or Valuables from Wealthy Husband.)

(Received DIOR Bobbin Net Smock x 1, recharge value: $15,000!)

(Received FENDI Black Hooded Sweater x 1, recharge value: $10,160!)

(Received Givenchy Single Strap Mini Floral Print Pleated Skirt x 1, recharge value $180,695!)

(Recharge Successful!)

(Note: 24 hours additional life for every $1,000.)

- Description from Novelupdates

Betrayed by her own family, Ye Ningwan is wed to the notorious “blind” warlord Zhan Hanjue—everyone expects her corpse to be carried out within days. Instead, three days later she struts back to the Ye gates draped in priceless gifts.Ye elders salivate; she smiles sweetly: “Only looking allowed—I’m taking these home. After all, you gave me zero dowry.”“Insolent!” they cry.Zhan Hanjue steps in, voice frosted steel: “She’s mine now. Protecting her is my pleasure.”Later, Ye Ningwan stammers, “You’re… not blind?”He tugs her close, whisper hot against her ear: “Play along, my queen, and I’ll give you the world—starting with my heart.”