MTL - Beloved Empress - ~ Extra Chapter 24, die or marry

The world had shown Baines every possible lesson it could teach; from familial love, joy, and peace to hate, rage, betrayal, and pain.He got detached from his family by the wimps of others.But, before he began his journey to find them, he was forced to witness that scene that haunted him once more. The destruction of his home.He was about to give up on life when an unforeseen opportunity presented itself.There, he vowed, “The world will bleed for what it has done to me.”Using the greatest collections gathered by his ancestors, he set out on the thorny path to revenge.Little did he know, the result of his actions followed other cascading events that then threatened his world.Does he refuse to help the world because of the pain it had caused him? Or, will he join in the destruction?

“Evil God of the Universe, You are in every space and time. Present in every dimension of reality and govern the darkness of our world.Oh, almighty Atticus! Hear our plea and grant us your presence tonight, awaken my Lord!”The rain had completely stopped and the strong gale had subsided into the fading raindrops. The night had turned eerily silent and only the sizzling and cackling of the fire entered their ears.Suddenly, they all felt like floating from their feet despite setting foot on the watery, hard ground, as if they were traversing into space. The darkness of the night gradually turned darker, enveloping them, morphing into everyone, like a void eating them slowly. Sequentially, their breathing turned oddly slower. Despite exaggeratedly inhaling air to breathe, it was to no avail, as if a higher entity was limiting them from breathing.Nolan felt his throat and tried to open his mouth to gasp more air but failed. Everyone but him was in a state of indignation and panic as they struggled to breathe to fill their lungs with air. Nolan tried to calm his heart. He closed his eyes and stopped inhaling air in pure panic, instead, he put his heartbeat and breathing into a rhythm. It was hard at first, but after a minute, he found his breathing gradually went stable.His whole being was in pure anticipation of what was going to happen next.After a couple more minutes, the storm completely subsided, the night turned to normal. Nolan remained standing, taking in his surroundings with his eyes closed. Everything turned silent. The eerie atmosphere and the crackling of the fire from the hay figure didn’t even enter his ears. Nolan waited for a couple more minutes, his breathing turning normal. He was reluctant to open his eyes, afraid he might ruin their ritual.“It’s alright now, Young Master. You can open your eyes now.”Nolan’s breathing hitched. He jolted on his feet as he fluttered his eyes open.“Atticus? W-why are you here?”The butler, standing in front of him, a raincoat hung on his arm, smiled. “I am everywhere, Young Master, in order to best serve you.”****Atticus, a demi-god from the underworld, was cast out of his parents' realm and banished to the human world. The reason? He had yet to give them any grandchildren.Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and is purely the product of my imagination. Any resemblance to real people, events, or beliefs is entirely coincidental. The intention is not to disrespect or diminish any faith or tradition, but rather to explore ideas within a fictional context. Reader discretion is advised.

“Great Mr. Chen Yu, you were successfully elected as the leader of the human race last night. Is there anything you would like to say to the world?”Chen Yu, bewildered, woke up and hadn't even put on his clothes yet. He replied, “I have no idea, I just woke up...”

“You better stop the fucking prank, woman, and just pick up your phone and call your alpha! Otherwise, I will press the damn button and blow you up,” A man with a very ugly-looking scar on his face said menacingly, holding a time bomb remote control in his hand and shaking it back and forth before a woman.In the last moment of her death, Rose looked into her heart and cried bitterly.“If I had a second chance, Rolan, I would never have agreed to marry you. I would never have had hopes in you.” _____On the day of her sister's wedding, Rose found herself thrust into an unexpected role as the bride when her sister failed to show up. Marrying a man who had loved her sister for three years, Rose held onto the fragile hope that he might one day care for her. But her dreams of love quickly crumbled—he ignored her, treated her coldly, and never gave her the attention she longed for.Even at her lowest, when Rose’s life hung by a thread, he was nowhere to be found, choosing instead to enjoy his time with her sister. Rose’s heart shattered as she took her final breath, consumed by betrayal and despair.When she opened her eyes again, she was back in her younger self—not before the wedding, but on the very same day she was meant to die. This time, Rose vowed to rewrite her story. She would stop loving him, leave him behind, and refuse to let herself be caught in their web of betrayal again.But the peaceful life Rose planned never came to be. Against all odds, she discovered she was pregnant—carrying his child. Now bound together by this unbreakable link, Rose must face the man she once loved, all while trying to guard her heart.Why is he chasing her now? Why wasn’t he with her sister when she ran away and left him? Why does he seem desperate to win her back when all she wants is to stay far away?