The Duke's Son :Re - Chapter 17

[Mature Content:]Alaric was too close to Nicolette.Her mouth was just inches away from his.He could smell the lavender on her skin, the heat radiating from within her.But he held back, refusing to be carried away by her charm…“Mr. Allens…” she purred, and he looked down at her.Her eyes widened with desire, and he knew, in that moment, that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.The last thing he wanted was commitment. He knew that Nicolette didn’t want that either.But why was she this tempting?So willing?It was that willingness that confused him.She blinked, then swallowed as she pulled the jacket off her shoulders. His eyes lingered on her exposed neck.God.He just wanted to bury his mouth in that hollow spot.“Here,” Nicolette said calmly, extending the jacket to him.He took the jacket, his hand brushing hers just a second. She flinched, her face turning pink as she clutched the towel against her chest.His stomach flipped at the sight.If only that towel would give way to…Before he could stop himself, Alaric pressed his arousal against her stomach, pushing her against the wall, cornering her.She gasped at the sudden movement and for a moment, he lost his mind.“Cole…” he breathed, crushing himself against her.Her eyes gleamed with desire and a vulnerability that rocked him to his core.He would be foolish not to give in to this feeling.But he would also be a fool if he did.She had chosen to marry him.Not her boyfriend.And definitely not Lucian Crawford.Yet, he couldn't help it.She was only his for a year.But still…***************When her business and the gallery she inherited from her mother burn to the ground, Nicolette Voss is determined to rebuild—and get revenge on her father.She turned to her father’s rival, Alaric Allens, for an alliance.Alaric is willing to help, but on one condition—she must be his wife for a year.They called him Ruthless Alaric after an infamous incident 6 years ago. Alaric is back in town, and so are the crumbs of his past. But he is determined to change everything with a wife.He has his hidden agenda.She needs her revenge.But will this marriage between storm and steel survive the heat? And what will they do when deep secrets threatens to destroy them both?

The world has become a video game-like place. Monsters began to appear everywhere on the planet, governments began to dispatch armies to protect cities, but powerful monsters were unaffected by common weapons.

When despair was about to make humanity destroy itself, people began to awaken powers that made them strong enough to deal with the mighty monsters.

These people were called “Awakened Ones”.

Years passed and society got used to dealing with monsters. Children who once dreamed of becoming actors, musicians or youtubers, now dreamed of “Awakening” to receive powers, fight monsters and receive the fame and money that came with this dangerous profession.

Leo was also like those children, and when he turned 17 his powers also awakened, but very different from what he imagined it would be.

[Congratulations, you have awakened the “Hack” power. Your first skill is “Aim-bot.”]

[Aim-bot: Regardless of which weapon you use, no shot will miss.]

And the stronger Leo got, the more powers he would unlock.

“Aim-Bot, Wall Hack, Speed ​​Hack, Fly Hack, Kill-Aura, Teleport Hack… all the hacks people used in games now I can use in real life?!” Leo was shocked when he saw the abilities he would unlock.

“I often heard people say that the world is a playground for rich and powerful people, now this will become my own playground!” Leo told himself a few years ago as a joke, but no one could have imagined that those words would become an absolute truth years later.

In a survival game to select new Gods, mankind is summoned to another world filled with different races.

All Raven ever wanted was a chance — to go to college, make friends, be loved, and live like any other girl her age. But dreams, it seemed, weren’t meant for people like her.As a scholarship student at an elite university built for the wealthy and privileged, Raven's life quickly spiraled into a nightmare. Surrounded by cruelty and entitlement, she became the perfect target. Their relentless torment stripped her of everything — her dignity, her hope, her will to live. She bore it all in silence, blaming herself even for the tragedy that tore her family apart. Despair led her to the edge of suicide, but fate had other plans.Ten years later, those same bullies, now living lavish lives of success and luxury, had long forgotten the girl they destroyed. But Raven hadn’t forgotten them — not one bit.With scars that ran deep and a heart hardened by pain, she returned — no longer the fragile girl they once broke. One by one, she would visit her tormentors, delivering her own brand of justice and making them learn that every cruel action has a consequence.Because this time, Raven isn’t the victim.She’s the reckoning!