faceslapping

Ning Wei has been concealing her identity, posing as a man and entering the entertainment industry to become an Idol. She only wanted to make money and look for her family. Unexpectedly, she gained a lot of fans from all ages and gender along the way. She also caught the eye of a certain young master. One day, Ning Wei’s identity as a woman was exposed. Her group members were shocked. The netizens were uproar. Her fans felt betrayed. Ning Wei looked at the young master in front of her and knew that he was furious. He was sincere to her from the beginning while she had lied to him. She tried all sorts of tricks to coax the young master. Just when she thought that she should give up, the young master pressed her against the wall and looked at her dangerously. “Wei Wei, you can’t run away after teasing me.” “Feng An Yu, I am a woman.” “I know. Whether you are a man or a woman, I still want you.” Cover and characters Illustration commission by kirinlukis --- Shared universe with: 1. Loving You Too Much 2. True Love and Other Lies 3. A Lifetime with You 4. The Dragon Beside Me 5. Love So Sweet 6. Commander Qi's Runaway Wife 7. The Wedding Planner's Romance 8. The Author Must Die 9. The Substitute Groom Chases His Wife

#NoCP Yun Qingyue never expected her grand wedding to end in divine execution. All because a manipulative little junior sister with a hidden "system" and a talent for tears convinced their entire sect to force Yun Qingyue aside. When she unleashed her full power to crush the traitors, it wasn't her enemies who finished her—it was the Nine Heavens' Thunder Tribulation, a punishment she never deserved. She thought it was the end. But a shred of her soul survived, now trapped in a mortal body so weak it's practically a prison. Her spirit root is gone, her meridians are feeble, and her immortal path is sealed shut. But Yun Qingyue has finally seen the truth: her "pure" junior sister is a system-wielding thief, her sect are all pawns, and the very Heavens are blind. So if the heavens call her a villainess, she'll become the demon they fear. If the path of immortality is closed, she'll open the road to the Demonic Path. Her new philosophy is simple: sever all karma and dominate everything in her path. This time as Xie Zhaolin, she's not just climbing to the top; she's burning the entire mountain down on her way up. === English Original Title:《After Killing My Dao Partner, the Cultivation World's Villainess Becomes the Demon Sect's Ancestor》 (Note: Title adapted for acomoding max character title in Webnovel.) Status: Serializing

Eli Thorne was once Spector Zero. The government's most successful experiment and the world's deadliest assassin. After he had proved to be way more useful dead than alive, the government attempted to extract his genes to clone others like him. So, he blew up the underground lab that raised him...and died with it. Unexpectedly when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer Specter Zero but a weak, bullied, and completely ordinary seventeen year old high school student. In this new life, Eli only wanted one thing: To live a normal life. But in a twist of fate, he caught the attention of Roman Vale. The high school bully, rumoured to be the Heir to the Vale Mercenary Group. An organisation with both hands in the government and the underworld. Roman was never supposed to notice someone like Eli. Yet the moment he did, he couldn’t look away.

BLURB: “We are sorry Maria, we never meant to hurt you. Come back to us!" They all thundered. But it was too late, I was determined to make them Pay. *** I am Maria Moon, casted out of my Pack at the age of eighteen. All because of a tradition— one that states, that which ever family the Alpha's mate comes from, any other female wolf of same status is cast out. But it all felt wrong, It wasn't supposed to be me but her— my step sister— Patricia Moon. “I, Darren Copper, Alpha of the Frost moon pack, hereby declare that Maria Moon is no longer a member of this pack!” I pleaded for them to see the truth but no one cared, they were all blinded by their love for her. I became a rogue, wandered about for days and was unfortunate to attacked by the older rogues. And even more unfortunate to be saved by the quadruplet Alpha's, my Pack rival Alpha's. *** “Isn't she the Beta's daughter of Frost moon pack?" Damien growled as he turned to his brothers. “Definitely, she looks the same even after five years!" Adrien replied as he squatted, cupping my chin harshly on his palm. “She is definitely a spy, let's kill her!" Davian roared, stretching his claws, his stance ready to slaughter. “Don't Davian!" Aidan the oldest amongst the quadruplet echoed, “That’s all the more reason we should keep her close, letting her die is to easy.” He turned to the guards beside him, “Take her to the Pack, she is our Personal maid." Adrien chuckled lightly, a sly smirk appearing across his lips. “Nice idea Aidan. We would make her suffer!" CONTENT WARNING. This book contains explicit scenes, abuses, graphic violence and dark obsessive romance. Readers discretion advised.

She was the girl nobody wanted, easy to overlook, easy to blame, and impossible to love. Growing up in her pack taught her early that she would always be the outsider. So she made herself a promise: keep her head down, survive the years, and walk away the moment she turned eighteen. But fate never plays fair. On the night she finally becomes an adult, her wolf awakens at last… and along with it, a mate bond she never asked for. And the mate fate chooses for her? The future Alpha. Her sister’s devoted fiancé. The boy who spent her entire childhood making sure she knew she didn’t belong. She hates him. Despises him. Wants absolutely nothing to do with him. But the bond has other plans. Suddenly, the Alpha-to-be, arrogant, sharp-tongued, and stubborn to the point of madness, can’t breathe without her. He’s furious that fate tied him to the girl he once broke… and even more furious that he can’t stay away from her now. She wants nothing but freedom. He wants her within reach. She keeps pushing him off. He keeps coming back. Because the one girl he never wanted has become the one his wolf refuses to live without. And as long-buried secrets surface, loyalties splinter, and unwanted feelings start to burn between them, one question lingers… Can something broken truly be rebuilt, or have they already crossed the point of no return?

Synopsis – The Devil in St. Lumina He wasn’t supposed to want her. She wasn’t supposed to touch him. But the moment they meet… temptation becomes destiny. Marcelline enters St. Lumina University with a body made of curves and a smile made of sin— a breathtaking danger wrapped in silk and secrets. She move like a sin slipped into human skin— dangerously beautiful, wickedly confident, and born to ruin the self-control of every man who looks too long. Maximilian Brooks, The ruthless CEO with a voice made of command and a stare sharp enough to cut is used to bending entire industries to his will. But one smirk from Marcelline—and he forgets how to breathe and loses every rule he ever lived by. She pushes him. He pins her with a stare that feels like a kiss. Their tension is the kind that ruins sleep and shreds morality. Every time she gets close enough to whisper, he imagines dragging her even closer. Every time he steps toward her, she looks at him like she wants to undress him with just her thoughts. Their chemistry is not innocent. It’s molten. Addictive. Dangerous. Detonation. Every glance is a challenge. Every word is a provocation. Every accidental touch feels like a promise neither of them should ever make. But Marcelline isn’t human. The power inside her coils like a lover’s hand—hot, wild, and barely controlled. It leaks into the world, twisting Eleanor into something monstrous… and drawing the attention of a dark entity hungry for Marcelline’s power. Maximilian should stay away. He knows she’s a walking disaster. He knows touching her could shatter everything he’s built. Yet every time she smirks… every time she challenges him… every time she breathes his name like a promise— he forgets the consequences. He just wants her. All of her. Every sinful, forbidden part. Their connection is passion sharpened into a weapon, desire strong enough to scorch reality, and danger wrapped in velvet. Because nothing about Marcelline is safe. Not her lips. Not her secrets. Not the way she looks at him like she could ruin him… and he’d let her. This is a story of dark desire, supernatural temptation, and two powerful beings discovering that obsession can be far more dangerous than love. --------------- ◇ CONTENT WARNING ◇ This story is intended for mature audiences (18+) --> [NO RAPE] It contains themes, scenes, and dynamics not suitable for younger readers, including: • Sensual & Intense Romantic Content • Slow&fast burn and high-heat chemistry •Seductive tension •Sensual scenes, intimate moments, and adult situations •Dominant / possessive energy between leads ( explicit graphic details.) ◇Dark & Supernatural Elements •Occult energy, entity possession •Psychological tension •mild & more horror elements •Characters with dangerous, unnatural powers ◇ Emotional & Power Dynamics •Characters with morally gray intentions •High-intensity emotional tension •Moments of obsession, jealousy, and dominance •Flirtation with dangerous consequences ◇ Reader Discretion is Advised If you enjoy: Dark romance Supernatural seduction High-tension chemistry Magnetic, powerful leads Forbidden desire and danger woven together —then you’re in the right place. Prepare for a story filled with sinful smirks, heated glances, dangerous secrets, desires burning in passion and a connection that could destroy them both. ---

She was mocked for a decade. He was dismissed as worthless. One contract shattered the hierarchy. When Thea Callahan steps into Celestial Group, corruption is exposed, enemies fall, and her “useless” husband quietly reminds the city who truly holds power.

Everly, a connoisseur of orphan-to-riches tropes, always assumed her origin story began with a dramatic abandonment at the orphanage gates. Turns out, her life was even more cliché than her favorite novels! She wasn't merely dumped; she was swapped—a long-lost heiress to a vast fortune. Just when she thought her life couldn't get any more tropey, a mysterious System materialized, offering her a chance at a "good ending." The catch? Its "abilities" ranged from the utterly bizarre to the downright mortifying, making Everly question if a happy ending was truly worth the existential cringe. *** System 006: [Host, please choose 1 of these 3 system abilities!] Everly: "They're all weird! Let me just pick random!" System 006: [Hehe... host, I forgot to say that each system will have consequences, so something will happen to you when you use it...] Everly: "!!!" Days later, having been reunited with her biological family and experimenting with the System's... unique function, the consequence were already glaringly apparent. Her beloved brother: "My little sister is precious, but I need therapy to keep up with her alien-like thinking." Handsome man 1: "She's a pervert! I'm scared she'll take my innocence..." Handsome man 2: "Every time she talks, I feel like killing her. Is that normal?" NOTE: Please disconnect all logical circuits before proceeding with this novel, as it's an absolute chaotic comedy where the MC, Everly, has several screws loose in her brain. Don't expect much normalcy here—sanity checked out long ago and never came back.

In the year 2047, Earth is dying. Mana rot devours the oceans, cities sink into black sludge, and humanity clings to survival like rats in a collapsing cage. Kael Eze is nobody. A Level 1 Scavenger. A corpse hauler. A man who drags the dead for scraps while the world ends around him. Then the sky rips open. A cold, mechanical voice echoes in every surviving soul: [Final Calibration Complete] [Earth: UNSALVAGEABLE] [Sovereign Selection Protocol — Activated] [1 candidate chosen out of 8.4 billion…] Kael is selected. Not as a hero. Not as a savior. As the lowest possible thing: a Sovereign Candidate with 0.0001% authority. Thrown into the Infinite Staircase — the Throne of Ashes — where death is permanent, mercy is myth, and the first floor alone is rated ×7 difficulty. He awakens as an infant in a crib of blackened ribs. A six-winged nightmare calls him “little calamity” and laughs as ash-eaters scent fresh sovereign flesh. But something broken inside Kael wakes up too. [Hidden Trait: Soul Devouring Gluttony (EX)] Devour anything. Become anything. Regret nothing. From the weakest newborn king at the bottom of infinity, Kael begins a ruthless climb. He consumes gods, steals bloodlines, devours worlds, and carves his name into the fabric of broken realities. Betrayed by fate, hunted by ancient horrors, cursed by the very throne he claims — he doesn’t seek redemption. He seeks dominion. Because if the universe decided he was trash… then he’ll become the monster that devours the trash-heap entire. Weakest start. Highest stakes. No mercy. No limits. Only ashes… and the sovereign who rises from them. Will the last candidate become the Last Sovereign — or just another forgotten name in the void? Tags: Dark Fantasy, System, Weak-to-Strong, Ruthless MC, Anti-Hero, Multiple Worlds, Face-Slapping, Ancient Bloodlines, Betrayal, Overpowered Growth, Apocalyptic, No Harem (yet?), Soul-Devouring, Throne Conquest Drop a heart if you’re ready for Kael to eat the multiverse one bite at a time.

Warning {Mature Content} Elaine has spent her life being the responsible one. The one who steps in when things are about to fall apart. So when her grandfather arranges a marriage for her younger cousin Ivy to Zane Whitmore a billionaire CEO with a dangerous reputation Elaine does what she has always done. She takes the burden on herself. What begins as a lie meant to protect Ivy quickly turns into a contract Elaine never meant to sign. Zane Whitmore is cold, controlled, and ruthless in both business and life. He doesn’t believe in love, only leverage. When he meets Elaine, he recognizes something he rarely encounters: a woman willing to stand her ground even when she’s afraid. Their agreement is simple. A marriage on paper. Mutual benefit. No emotions involved. As they are pulled deeper into each other’s lives, secrets begin to surface old betrayals, family conflicts, and a past that ties Zane to Elaine’s brother in ways no one is willing to talk about. The lines between obligation and desire blur, and what started as a sacrifice turns into something neither of them can control. In a world where power dictates everything and trust comes at a cost, Elaine must decide if she’s willing to gamble her heart on a man who could destroy her. A story of contract marriage, buried history, and a love born out of defiance rather than choice. (Mature content) Zane’s lips crush to mine, hungrily tasting my mouth and sucking my tongue into his. He moves lower, nipping at my neck, then my boobs, enveloping his lips around a pink nipple. I sigh in pleasure, my hands sliding into his hair and gripping hard as he bites down and then slips his mouth lower. And lower…….. My eyes fly open as he shoves my dress up to my waist and pulls my panties to the side. Suddenly, his mouth dives between my thighs, and when I feel his tongue drag up my slit, it’s like an electrical shock and my eyes roll back behind my head. Holy! FUCK!!.

Kaizen Renji Asahina was an NPC in a popular RPG, designed only to sit in class, nod on cue, and say three recycled dialogue lines. But one day, something glitches and he wakes up. Suddenly aware, trapped inside the Academy of Heroes, Kaizen must survive: A Demon King candidate as his overly earnest roommate. A terrorist student club that crowns him “Lord Shadow.” An Inquisitor waiting for any excuse to turn the academy into a warzone. He’s just an NPC. Why is he the center of the story now!?

Cultivation Through Marriage: The More Goddesses, The Stronger I Get Genre: Eastern Fantasy / Harem / System / Son-in-Law Synopsis: Jiang Yi transmigrated into a ruthless cultivation world with a shattered Dantian. To survive, he was forced to sell his dignity and become the matrilocal "live-in husband" of the cold and domineering Merchant Queen, Su Ruoyan. Everyone mocked him. The servants spat on him. The elders called him a "soft-rice eater" and a "useless vase." Even his wife only married him as a shield against her enemies. That is, until his wedding night. [Ding! You have married a 94-Score Goddess. System Awakened!] [Reward: Primal Chaos Yang Body! Infinite Stamina!] [Reward: Celestial Yin-Yang Scripture! Cultivate through Intimacy!] Jiang Yi realized his path to immortality wasn't through bitter meditation—it was through conquering the world's most beautiful women! Marry the Merchant Queen? Reward: Master-Tier Alchemy. Conquer the Iceberg City Lord? Reward: God-Tier Sword Intent. Tame the haughty Demoness? Reward: Ancient Dragon Bloodline. "They call me a freeloader? Ignorant fools. I am simply cultivating harder than anyone else!" Watch as Jiang Yi rises from a despised son-in-law to the Supreme Emperor, building the strongest harem in history and slapping the faces of every genius who dared to look down on him.

From overworked corporate slave to… the fat niece of a future villain? At twenty-three, my life ended in the most ironic way possible—drowning in a lake while reading an online romance novel. When I woke up, I wasn’t just alive—I was inside that very novel. And worse, not as the princess or the healer or even the tragic maid. No. I woke up as Seraphine Agro, the silver-haired, chubby niece of the story’s main villain, Duke Tayler Agro—the man who would one day summon a famine, experiment on peasants, and get publicly executed. Awesome. Now I’m stuck in a half-collapsed mansion with stale soup, a broken “Duke” father who’s too kind for his own good, and an entire kingdom collapsing into plague and hunger. And to make things worse, the hero of the story—the dangerously handsome knight Sir Alex Canva—is on his way to inspect our lands. I know the plot. I know who dies. And I’m not planning to go quietly. Armed with sarcasm, stubbornness, and a questionable diet, I’m rewriting destiny—one disastrous choice at a time.

Julien was a failed salesman before the apocalypse. When he awakened a rare skill, he believed his luck had finally turned, that he would gain power, allies, or a path to an easy life. Well, he was wrong. His ability doesn’t increase his strength. It doesn’t grant combat cheats. And it doesn’t make him a hero. [Skill: The Infinite Warehouse] [Rank: SSS] [Description:] You have been granted administrative access to the Multiversal Supply Chain. You do not own the items in the warehouse; you are merely the Distributor of the items. In a world where hunters fight with blades and magic, Julien must survive using the only thing he has ever truly understood: Sales and Marketing.

On the night Eva planned to surprise her husband with news of her pregnancy, she walked into a nightmare—Nathan, her loving husband, tangled in a kiss with his ex-girlfriend, Katherine. “What can I say? I only wanted to give him a child since you couldn’t do so yourself,” Katherine, his ex cooed. “You’re really stupid,” Nathan added. “We’ve been doing this behind your back even before we got married. Did you really think I would choose you over Katherine?” He asked, as if she was living in delusions. Eva was shocked to the brink but didn’t fight back. She was a renowned model and had lots of money to forget her so-called husband and raise her child as a single mother. Unfortunately, Katherine had seen the pregnancy scan Eva was holding, clenched in her hand. She arranged for Eva to be beaten up so badly she had a miscarriage, a broken leg and a battered face, then tossed into the river to die. Fortunately, she was found by Dante De Rossi, a billionaire who was being pressured by his family to find a woman so as to clear off gay rumors which was starting to tarnish his reputation. Dante offered Eva a simple deal. “Just pretend to be my woman, and bear my child. As soon as the rumors are cleared, I’ll assist you in whichever way you want,” he offered. Tempted, Eva agreed. With a new face, and a new identity, Eva makes a comeback to make Nathan and Katherine pay, but makes sure to keep focus on her main mission since she was a child. But what happens when Eva’s journey of revenge leads her from one discovery to another? And Dante? Is he involved in anything or will he protect his family, even from his pretend wife despite knowing fully well he can’t live a day without her?

After studying for five hours, Darwin went to sleep—and woke up in a cultivation world as the Azure Clan’s greatest failure. Born with damaged meridians and a broken spirit root, he’s spent sixteen years as “trash,” beaten by his siblings and mocked by servants. But everything changes when the Upgrading System activates, giving him the power to transform anything with upgrade points. Damaged meridians? Upgraded to Elite. Broken spirit root? Now an Earth-Linked Storm Root. Trash cultivation manual? Now a Grade 5 legendary technique. While others cultivate for months to advance a single stage, Darwin breaks through overnight. While others debate whether to focus on Body or Qi cultivation, Darwin does both. While others master one element, Darwin commands wind and lightning as one. But in a world where strength determines everything, rising too fast draws deadly attention. His genius sister watches him with suspicious eyes. His twin brother burns with hatred. And in ten days, the Crimson Vale Trial will force him into a death ground alongside Foundation Establishment monsters. Darwin has the system. He has the talent. Now he just needs to survive long enough to use them. The cultivation world is about to learn what happens when trash becomes treasure.

Celeste had never felt loved. Living under the Dyers' roof, she had always been reminded of how unwanted she was. A charity case. A guest who had overstayed her welcome. There was nothing new about it-even she knew that. She had learned to make herself small. So when Marianne suddenly began treating her with warmth and affection, Celeste knew something had changed. She was no longer invincible. She didn't have to shrink herself. Didn't have to walk on eggshells. Her long-time wish finally came true, to be loved again by the people she called family. But it all came with a price. A price Celeste found absurd. There had always been a reason behind her aunt's kindness, and this time was no different. All Celeste had to do was marry a billionaire who had asked for her hand. It was fishy. Everything about it felt laughable. Celeste knew she wasn't worth marrying a billionaire. If anyone was, it was Lydia, Marianne's daughter. She was the obvious choice. But the mysterious billionaire had asked for Celeste specifically. And she wasn't given a choice. The moment she wrote her name on the marriage certificate, her life took a sudden turn. She woke up to the truth that she had been sold off to the Blackwells, the richest family in the world. But that wasn't the dreadful part. Celeste hadn't been sold to just anyone, she had been sold to Aiden Blackwell. And Aiden Blackwell was a madman. The mad heir of Richard Blackwell. ——————— "N-no please, please sir. T-this is w-wrong.." Aiden's fingers slowed down, but didn't stop it's slow stride, his brows furrowed as he stared at his wife. Her lips trembled but no more words came out. She still looked scared, but a little panicked now. "Is it wrong to touch my wife?" He asked, his fingers moving traitorously slow. Color painted Celeste's cheeks at his words. Was there a word to describe the feeling in between fear, panic and embarrassment? Celeste felt all three. Though he wasn't running wild now, she could see why he was referred to as the mad heir. Who touches a stranger like that just because she was called his wife? Aiden suddenly stopped, causing Celeste to tense up. Her eyes slowly found his face in the dark room, the little spill of light coming from somewhere in the room giving away his change in expression. His brows were drawn together at first, then a smirk crept up his lips. It was a slow movement and a sudden shift. Celeste watched as his eyes moved from her robe to her face, with his smirk growing darker. "Are you naked wife?" He asked the known, an evil glint in his eyes that set off alarms in Celeste's head. He'd found out she wasn't wearing anything under the robe, a normal person would let her go right? Hopefully he was normal to that extent. Aiden's smirk deepened as he continued. "And you're not here to seduce me?" He asked accusingly. Celeste's eyes widen, her lips parting wordlessly as she took in the accusation, feeling his fingers continue its slow trail. "You're in my bed, wearing nothing under your robe, isn't that seduction little lamb?" He asked, his voice low. "N-no b-but I-I.." Without warning he leaned in, so close Celeste could feel his breath brushing her face. "Shh, let me touch what's mine, wife."

In this fan fiction, a normal guy from earth is reincarnated in the body of Li Feiyu. At first, this new Li Feiyu was aggrieved that he had transmigrated in the world of mortal cultivation without spirit roots, but soon he rejoices as he obtained a system that lets him cultivate. It's an interesting story that shows us the perspective of a different character, in this case, that character is Li Feiyu. It answers the question, what if? What if Li Feiyu could cultivate? What if he had spiritual root? Hence it takes the readers on an exciting journey through this fantastical world in which Li Feiyu, unlike Han Li who has no idea what is doing and only depends on Luck, Dominates the Mortal realm, spirit realm and even perhaps the Immortal world. What staying Low-key? None of that here. In this world rather than becoming Han Li's cover name, Li Feiyu actually turns the tables. " The Dao gives birth to one. One gives birth to two. Two gives birth to three. Three gives birth to all things. All things blend together before Heaven and Earth. The source of all creation, as Dao is eternal. "- Li Feiyu.

WPC NOV Winner *** “Hmph, my dumb big sister is in danger!” A mischievous grin spread across his face. “Hehehehe... this gives me the perfect excuse to finally use this treasure I’ve acquired but never bothered with!” He rummaged through his belongings, carefully selecting various items. “A bit of this... and this... and a dash of this.” Boom! The explosion of energy sent a ripple through the air as he laughed maniacally. “Hahaha! It's done! Now, all I need is a compatible host for it.” Years later... “Did I overdo it?” he wondered in awe, watching as his creation wreaked havoc, conquering world after world with ease, as though stealing candies from children. **** As you saw the synopsis, it will be :- Op Mc Harem World Travels And one side beating

Eilika Wolanski is the eldest daughter of one of Varos’ most respected merchants, but respect has never brought her kindness. A childhood accident left a scar across her cheek, and with it, a cruel label she can never escape. The “Unwanted Woman” of Varos. Mocked in public, pitied in private, and treated like a blemish to be hidden, Eilika grows up learning one painful truth, beauty matters more than character in high society. So when an unexpected marriage proposal arrives from the powerful House of Kingsley, no one believes it is real. The groom is Damian Van Kingsley, the widowed duke of Varos, feared for his cold temperament and admired for his unmatched looks and wealth. Rumors follow him like shadows. He has a secret mistress, a broken heart drowned in alcohol, and worst of all… A son he barely acknowledges. For Eilika, marrying Damian isn’t a dream. It’s the only option left for survival. Damian, once the kingdom’s most desirable nobleman, has been nothing but a hollow man since the death of his first wife. He has abandoned his responsibilities, pushed away his child, and lived with one vow burning in his chest. He will never replace his first wife. To force him back into duty, his mother arranges a second marriage, one he never asked for, and one he refuses to accept. Damian swears he will never touch her , will never look at her and will never treat her as his wife. But Eilika isn’t the greedy noblewoman he expected. She doesn’t ask for his affection. She doesn’t crave his title. She doesn’t even want his love. What Eilika wants… is something far more dangerous. A family. And perhaps that is the very thing Damian has been starving for all along. ~~~~ “This bed will remain cold until your last breath.” Damian’s voice boomed through the dark chamber. Eilika didn’t flinch at his words. Instead she replied gracefully, “I don’t seek love, Duke. You can visit your secret mistress every night… Just don’t come near me.” This marriage was never meant to become real, until the Duke's heart begins to betray its own rules.