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My Lovely Cartel

For several seconds, I forgot how to breathe. My mother stood in the doorway, a gun held steadily in her right hand. Her dark hair was shorter than I remembered from the photographs, and a thin scar crossed her cheek. But her eyes were unmistakable. My eyes. “Elena,” she whispered. The sound of my name coming from her lips nearly broke me. I took one hesitant step forward. “Mom?” Her expression crumpled for a fraction of a second before she raised her weapon again. “Don't come any closer.” I stopped. Behind me, Adrian moved slightly, positioning himself between me and the open vault. My mother noticed immediately. “Adrian Moretti,” she said coldly. “Of course you're here.” He raised his hands, keeping them away from his gun. “Mrs. Reed.” “Don't call me that.” “Then tell us what we should call you.” She ignored him, her attention fixed on me. “You shouldn't have come here.” I laughed, although there was nothing funny about the situation. “That's your opening line? You disappear for my entire life, turn up with a gun, and tell me I shouldn't have come?” Pain flashed across her face. “You don't understand.” “Then explain it to me!” The words burst from my mouth before I could stop them. “Where were you? Why did Dad tell me you were gone? Why did everyone let me believe you abandoned me?” My mother lowered her weapon slightly. “Your father didn't want you to know what happened.” “Convenient.” “Elena—” “No. You don't get to say my name like you have any right to comfort me.” Silence filled the vault. For the first time, her gun began to tremble. “I never abandoned you,” she whispered. “I stayed away because the people who killed your father were looking for you. If they believed I was dead, they would stop searching for both of us.” “And you thought leaving me alone was protecting me?” “I thought it was the only way to keep you alive.” I shook my head. “Everyone keeps saying that. Adrian said it. My father wrote it. Now you say it. Apparently, the only way to love me is to lie to me.” Adrian looked down. My mother closed her eyes briefly. “You have every right to hate me.” “Good. At least we agree on something.” A distant explosion shook the warehouse. Dust fell from the ceiling. Lucian hurried toward the entrance. “We need to leave. The countdown must have triggered another mechanism.” My mother immediately pointed her gun at him. “Stay where you are.” Lucian froze. “Who activated the explosives?” Adrian demanded. My mother looked at him. “Marcus.” “Marcus is outside?” “He's been watching this place from the beginning.” Adrian swore and moved toward the doorway. My mother fired a shot into the floor in front of him. “Don't move!” He stopped, his expression murderous. “You've got about three seconds to explain why I shouldn't put a bullet through your shoulder.” “Because Marcus has your brother's blood on his hands, and he's about to make sure you join him.” A second explosion thundered overhead. The lights flickered. My mother turned to me. “There's a tunnel behind the filing cabinets. It leads to the docks. Take Adrian and Lucian and get out.” I stared at her. “What about you?” “I have something to finish.” “No.” Her eyes widened. I stepped toward her despite the weapon in her hand. “You don't get to disappear again. Not after everything.” For a moment, she looked like she might cry. Then she reached into her coat and pulled out a small silver object. My pendant. She tossed it toward me. I caught it instinctively. “The key inside that pendant opens a second compartment in the vault,” she said. “Your father left something there specifically for you.” I looked down at the necklace. “What is it?” “The truth about who ordered his death.” Adrian went completely still. My mother turned toward him. “And the truth about what your father did before he died.” His face hardened. “What does that mean?” She looked at him with an expression I couldn't decipher. “Anth
DityaR_ · 22.1k Views

The Fluffballs I Fed Were SSS-Rank Beastmen

[Reverse Harem + Strong Female Lead + Healing + Universally Adored Darling + Male Rivalry and Chaotic Scenes + Those Who Harm the Fluffies Will Be Dragged to the Crematorium!] Liang He, who loves to pet fluffies, flew from Blue Star to Sky Shining Star, becoming a Breeder at an Animal Protection Zone, and gave her colleagues quite a shock right from the beginning. To let the entire interstellar community enjoy the pleasure of virtually petting fluffies, Liang He chose to start an animal live-streaming channel, directly turning the fluffies into top interstellar celebrities. Then, Liang He was surprised to discover that the fluffies, who naturally attracted trending topics, each had an extraordinary identity. The Mojin King Tiger, which remained unmoved even when its belly was used as a pillow, turned out to be the Federation Marshal; the Platinum Giant Lion, which didn't resist at all when its tail was used as a toy, turned out to be the Imperial Crown Prince; the Canglan Hunting Falcon, which willingly let its beast body be used as a mount, turned out to be the First Commander of the Battlefield, and then there was him, him, and them… The crowd: Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This isn't the Marshal (Crown Prince, Commander) we know! To evolve a Spiritual Body in Beast Form, SSS-level Beastmen in their Evolutionary Stage will irregularly transform into beasts and be sent to the Royal Key Animal Protection Zone on Sky Shining Star. They lack human consciousness, repel human proximity, and refuse to be kept and fed—until she appeared. Princes and nobles, emperors and generals, all submit to her and her alone. Short Skit: Liang He, who had always believed that SSS-level Beastmen would remain in their Beast Form for life, went to sleep one day as usual, cuddling a pile of fluffies. When she woke up, she saw a handsome and domineering face, holding her in an embrace. "Wh-who are you?! Give me back my fluffies!"
Fusheng Xiao Xingchen · 261.4k Views

Crying My Way Through the Beast World: Eight Males, Zero Escape

[Irresistible Female Lead + Beast World + 1vN + Male Rivalry Shuraba + A Record of Time Management Fails] The moment she opened her eyes, Ruan Fu transmigrated into a Beast World novel as the infertile, vicious female side character. Before her was one of the female lead's Beast Husbands, who was currently in heat. Recalling her original ending of being humiliated and dying a tragic death, Ruan Fu decisively decided to take a piece of the pie from the female lead. Thus, not only did she snatch away her men, but she also played innocent, making the top-tier males of the Beast World willingly become her protectors. However, Ruan Fu, who firmly believed in having multiple options and paths, never expected that by just crooking her finger, they would all swarm towards her. Seeing this, Ruan Fu decided that of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best option, leaving them behind in disarray on the battlefield of male rivalry. ——Disaster Skit—— On the day of Ruan Fu's wedding to the cold and gloomy snake-man, a large group of Beastmen from other clans suddenly appeared in Snake Valley. The aloof and abstinent Dragon Clan Clan Leader blocked the front of the hall, "Fufu, let's go to that hot spring you said you wanted to soak in last night." The domineering Tiger Clan leader, bursting with raw tension, tightly gripped her hand, "A fu, I will not allow you to marry him." The aloof and tsundere cat-eared youth knelt before her: "Fufu, don't you want to touch my cat ears again?" The rational and cunning Fox Clan Fate held up her hair ribbon, "A fu, you left this at my place." The gentle, husband-like Rabbit Clan Shaman watched her tenderly: "A fu, I missed you." ... In response, the one and only legal Beast Husband declared, "What does my wedding have to do with any of you? Get the hell out." But unexpectedly, the younger brother he had always doted on cut in front of him, "Brother, actually, the one who isn't loved is the real third wheel..."
Zeng Chundao · 110.6k Views

The Domineering Lady of the House

When the devastatingly beautiful and arrogant Master of the Valley of Shades dies and is reborn into a top-tier modern family. She is a queen of peerless beauty, yet cold-hearted and ruthless; she is also a master of both poison and medicine. She saves people only based on her mood; she gives her all to her friends and family; she will follow her lover through life and death, even if it means betraying the whole world. He is handsome and noble. He sees women as nothing, so cold-hearted he seems to be without a heart, appearing both demonic and divine. He is the Family Head of an ancient and mysterious family, the undisputed emperor in everyone's hearts, who wields immense power and holds the lives and deaths of others in his hands. When the cold-hearted and ruthless she meets the domineering and aloof him, will it be a clash of titans, turning them into rivals, or will the powerhouses unite, bound together through life and death? [The Pampering Snippet] Seraphina Ashworth snuggled lazily in Caden Reginald's arms, looked up at him, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Caden, they all say you've spoiled me rotten, that I'm a femme fatale who runs wild because of your backing." Caden Reginald reached out and stroked Seraphina Ashworth's long hair, saying dotingly, "Who said that? I intend to spoil you so rotten that you can't leave me. That way, you'll be mine and mine alone." Seraphina Ashworth wrapped her arms around Caden Reginald's neck and said with a smile, "You're so domineering, but I love it." After speaking, she planted a kiss on his cheek.
Minty Cool Summer · 182.8k Views