SPELLBOUND - Chapter 159 - Maybe

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

I thought I had been abandoned,But I was actually the child that the Namgoong family had been searching for.It wasn’t until I was killed by the Blood Demon, whom I had called “teacher,” that I learned the truth. When I awoke again as a thirteen-year-old child, I decided to return to the Namgoong family.I didn’t seek to be recognized as family.I only wanted to prevent the Namgoong family from falling apart as it had before.“This is the jewelry, silk, gold bars, and elixirs that the family head has gifted to you.”“Here, little one. This is a congratulatory gift for your return.”As soon as I was recognized as the lost granddaughter of the Namgoong family,I gained delicious food, fine clothes, gold and silver treasures, and a high-quality sword!I also gained a grandfather and a father who cried and laughed for me.But what was that strange, tingling feeling in my chest every time that happened?In order to protect the smiles of those I had once killed,and to preserve this warm and ticklish sensation for as long as I could,I was determined to change the bloody future that awaited me, unlike my previous life…**Namgoong Mucheon’s face darkened.‘Is this child truly raised to be an assassin?’The sharp killing intent and the sword techniques essential for an assassin were reflected in her life, as if they were embedded in her very being.‘Damn brat.’Anger surged within Namgoong Mucheon.He restrained himself from cursing aloud in front of his granddaughter, muttering in his mind instead.‘How dare they raise my granddaughter as an assassin?’The blue energy surrounding Namgoong Mucheon grew even stronger.

Max Winchester suddenly found himself in the world he hated the most, Xiao Bai novels.Not only was he not the protagonist, but he became a villain, and the worst thing is, unlike other Villains, he was not transmigrated at the beginning of the novel but rather at the end point of his arc.His death was already decided; the Protagonist had already firmed his foothold in the city.The most important thing for the villain is their family already pretty much disowned him; the sisters who used to dote on him were ignoring him.His business was in a crisis as he was just days away from declaring bankruptcy as his capital chain was broken.He found himself standing in front of his childhood sweetheart, who came to him to break off their engagement.When he was in the desperate situation, the compulsory golden finger of every traveler popped in.[Ding! The Counter-Attack System is being bounded][Ding! Protagonist attack on host detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining {Absolute Dodge}...][Ding! The protagonist gaining strength is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving the SS+ Calamity rank power base....][Ding! Protagonist attacking your company detected....Counter-attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving 1 Trillion UC market value company....Congratulations to the host that Protagonist's most loyal brother who helped him in attacking your company stepped on shit and died....][Ding! A protagonist's childhood sweetheart hatred towards you is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +100 (Only one) Favorability of Protagonists childhood sweetheart....][Ding! Protagonist trying to blackmail your sisters detected....Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +1000 (Not even death do us apart) favorability of his mother....Congratulations to the host for receiving {Harem protection halo}....Congratulations to the host that the Protagonist lost his PP right....Congratulations to the host for the Protagonist lost half of his mind....]And so he goes on his relaxing journey of the Counter-Attack.

Veteran programmer Li Mu was unfortunately kicked by fate into the year 2001, right before university entrance examinations. He happily shook his butt, got up, and inevitably stepped onto the road of being spectacular.

As a person re-living his life Li Mu had his own goals and ambitions. Earning money was just the primary stage of becoming amazing.

As for getting into the weekly publication of Times Magazine, becoming a master in the IT industry, and aiming for being on the Forbes Magazine list, they could all only be considered as his life’s instermediate stage.

As for what he considered the highest realm of being a phenomenal, Li Mu felt like there were the following three points:

• Becoming a rich man’s idol.

• Becoming a celebrity’s godfather.

• Becoming an extraordinary person’s father.

- Description from Novelupdates