The Billionaire's Kept Woman - Chapter 24 - Intertwined

THE LAST MARINE– Series SynopsisThe world ends not with a bang, but with a prayer and a shattered test tube. Marine Quinn Calloway, a man accustomed to the structured chaos of war, finds himself on leave in the deceptively peaceful mid-sized city of New Havenburg when the unthinkable happens. Dr. Lucian Kael, a brilliant and devoutly religious scientist at the prestigious Blackwood Research Institute, driven by a fervent desire to unlock humanity's “divine potential,” makes a catastrophic miscalculation. His experimental “Kael Strain” virus, designed for benign purposes, is accidentally unleashed, and its effects are swift, brutal, and biblical in their apocalyptic scope.

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Under the turning of the gears of fate, Ji Aier, a girl from an orphanage, was adopted by the Ji family at the age of ten. Since then, she has started a life deeply connected to Ji En as both an adopted daughter and a maid. Ji En, the young master of the Ji family, grew up with her. In the years of youth, a budding affection quietly sprouted between them. Skipping school, the first menstrual period, the first kiss, those youthful experiences made their feelings gradually deepen amidst bickering and dependence. However, as they grew older, Ji En got a girlfriend named Ouyang Xue, and Ji Aier was plunged into embarrassment and pain. After Ji En went abroad, Ji Aier discovered that she was pregnant but was sent away by the Ji family.Seven years later, the red thread of fate tied them together again. Ji En returned to the country and found Ji Aier. But at this time, they faced even more misunderstandings and obstacles. Ji Aier was living with twins and concealed the existence of the children, which became a fuse for the conflicts between them. At Ji En's wedding, Ji Aier suddenly appeared and then left, making the situation even more chaotic. Moreover, Ji Aier's experiences of being kidnapped, placed under house arrest, and her complicated relationship with Raymond made this relationship even more unpredictable. Raymond, a mixed - race person with a mysterious background, reached out to help Ji Aier when she was most helpless. His appearance not only brought warmth and assistance to Ji Aier but also filled Ji En's heart with jealousy and anger.On the road of love, they were constantly tested. The tragedy of a car accident took the life of their daughter, and Ji Aier disappeared, plunging Ji En into endless pain and self - blame. When they met again, the unexpected rejection at the wedding, Ji En's poisoning, and Ji Aier being wrongly accused as the murderer, a series of events pushed their love to the brink of despair. But will the truth finally come to light? Can Ji Aier clear her name? Can their broken love be restored? In this bumpy journey of love, where will they go from here?

“How can such an unscientific thing be possible?”“If it's true, wouldn't we be able to rule the world?”“You think so, don't you, Mr. Gin?”“By the way, could you please sign an autograph for me?”“Use your real name.”————Since the disappearance of high school detective Shinichi Kudo, the death rate in Beika City has been increasing.But it doesn't matter, Hayashi Yoshiki will take action.He will make the whole world keep up with Beika City's pace.