The Grand Duke's Soulmate - Chapter 498: Scorned and Ridiculed

The Swordmaster who has returned by chance to save the world!

His name was Brayden Neal, and he was an ordinary citizen. At eighteen years old, he was bestowed the title of a king!

After ten years of fighting in the northern borders outside the kingdom, he finally returned home. He swore to kill three people the moment he arrived at the capital…

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?

William Medici was not born into this world—he was reborn into it. But fate has already decided his role. He is not the hero. Not the noble king who rules with honor. He is the villain.A system lurks within him, not as a guide, but as an ever-present spectator—one that delights in chaos. It grants no power freely, offers no redemption, only a whisper:The world is a stage. Your role is the villain. Play it well.In a realm where betrayal is currency and power is the only law, William does not resist fate—he embraces it. Every alliance is a move on the board. Every rival, a piece to be sacrificed. Every betrayal, already foreseen.But even a villain is not invincible. Enemies rise. Shadows scheme. And the system watches, amused—waiting to see if he will fall...Or if he will burn the world to prove that even fate can be rewritten.But one question remains:“Who summoned him… and what do they want in return?”--------------------------------AUTHOR HEREWilliam Medici starts off seeming wholesome—but don’t be deceived. He’s selfish, cunning, and manipulative to the core. This is a true villain’s journey.What makes this story stand out isn’t just the dark MC, but the deep world-building, unique power system, and layered, three-dimensional characters that evolve with every twist.more things(1) the first arc is introduction of the world so other is no deep manipulation or action but from the second arc the main chaos starts manipulation. killing and obviously charm.(2) The mc is cunning not because I say so but because he is.(3) the will be new chapters regularly.