Lady Virelia Nightbane

Xiao Tian lifted his head blankly, one hand pressed against his cheek that still burned from the slap.

He looked up, his gaze colliding with Leo's furious, unyielding expression.

Then his eyes darted to the circle of onlookers—people who now only regarded him with scorn and disgust, their once-neutral expressions twisted into mocking contempt.

Suddenly, everything around him seemed to close in. The walls of the hospital room grew taller in his perception, the people turned into towering figures, judgmental and suffocating.

Accusations. Despisal. Derision.

And then… silence.

Xiao Tian blinked. He had finally realized something.

He had failed.

Mr. Carter's life had indeed been in jeopardy—and it was Leo, not him, who had saved the old man.

There was no denying that anymore.

His mouth hung open slightly as his hand slipped from his cheek. His eyes dimmed, their fire extinguished. His proud figure slumped low as if gravity had doubled its grip on his body.

"Am I… really wrong?" he whispered, barely audible.

Rachel's voice cut through his silence like a knife.

"Trash! You're coming back today to sign the divorce papers! Then get out of the Carter family forever!"

The words slammed into him with far more force than Leo's slap.

Xiao Tian froze. His lips trembled. A bitter smile crept onto his face.

Even if he knew he was wrong, that didn't mean he could accept losing Rachel. But judging by the venom in her tone, any path to reconciliation was gone. No matter how he twisted things, Rachel would never return to him.

Still… he had time.

His expression flickered as a new thought struck him—a glimmer of his old delusional confidence returning.

"Wait… I still have the six-year period."

Yes. That's right. That's it!

All this humiliation, this disgrace, these insults—they were all temporary!

Why? Because they didn't know the truth!

They didn't know who he really was. They didn't know he was the Dragon King.

Once the six-year term ended and he revealed his true identity, everything would change!

Everyone would regret, worship, and fear him.

Rachel? She'd come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.

He smirked inwardly, the previous despair entirely gone.

With his head held high again, he turned to Rachel and declared, "I won't divorce you."

"When the truth comes out and my identity is restored, you'll realize marrying me was the best thing that ever happened to you."

Then his gaze shifted to Leo. "And you," he said coldly, "for saving Mr. Carter, I'll show you mercy. I'll only break your limbs."

"As for the woman behind you and her entire family—don't think they'll get away."

Gasps filled the room.

Rachel trembled in fury. "You lunatic! You're beyond help!"

How could he still be so arrogant after everything?

Ava Carter, who had been quietly standing nearby, also felt her heart sink.

She had just been touched by Leo's protective stance. But now, Xiao Tian's threat made her blood run cold.

So he's really set on targeting me? Still?!

Ava clenched her jaw.

She knew better than anyone that she was the one behind Leo. If Xiao Tian made good on his threat, then their paths were already locked in collision.

There would be no turning back.

She exhaled slowly.

If that's how it has to be… so be it.

Just as Leo raised his hand again, ready to return the favor with another slap, a cold voice rang out from behind him.

"Destroy the Carter family? With just a useless man like you?"

Leo paused and turned.

Ava Carter walked forward gracefully, her steps like gliding ice.

A frigid aura radiated from her body, sharp and suffocating.

Without a word, she lifted her hand.

SLAP!

CRACK!

A thunderous impact echoed.

Xiao Tian's body flew like a ragdoll across the ward, slammed into the corner wall, and crumpled to the ground.

He twitched. Then went still.

Blood trickled from his lips. His limbs refused to move. His chest heaved as he coughed up blood.

Even his vision began to blur.

What… what just happened?

That one slap—was it a palm strike? A technique? How was it so fast?

His limbs were frozen. He couldn't even feel his fingers.

Xiao Tian's world faded to black.

And the Dragon King fainted.

The room stood silent.

Leo stood still, stunned, watching Ava slowly lower her hand.

Gulp.

He swallowed nervously.

Did she… just slap the Dragon King unconscious?!

Is that even… human?

No. Ava Carter wasn't just some heiress.

She was the final boss villainess of the original story.

Leo's heart raced.

He remembered it all now.

In the original timeline, Ava had unmatched martial talent. She loved using her subordinates to torment the protagonist's team. Only when the team got stronger did she step in personally—and when she did, she always crushed them with ease.

She was like a cat toying with mice.

The only reason the protagonist group survived was because Ava loved playing games. She would wound, humiliate, and provoke them—but never kill them outright.

Eventually, they grew stronger by defeating her pawns one by one.

Then, they united and took her down in the finale.

But if Ava had attacked from the start… they wouldn't have stood a chance.

Leo exhaled.

This… was the terrifying truth of the story.

Just then, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind.

> [Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: "Rescue Mr. Carter."]

[Reward: 70% of the Carter family's property. The distribution will be processed shortly.]

Nice.

Leo's lips curled into a subtle smile.

Ava retracted her hand and looked at him with an unreadable expression. "Let's go."

He nodded. "Yes, Miss."

Without sparing another glance at the people left gaping in shock, Leo and Ava exited the ward together.

Behind them, Mr. Carter watched with awe.

His fingers clenched the hospital sheets tightly.

That palm strike—such power, such control.

"Has Ava… reached the Dacheng Realm already?"

How monstrous is her talent?!

He turned his head slowly toward Xiao Tian, who now resembled a discarded bag of meat.

He sighed. "Bring Xiao Tian back. Once I've recovered, I'll hold a birthday banquet… and publicly announce Rachel and Xiao Tian's divorce."

Rachel's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Grandpa!"

Finally!

Once it's made public, the entire city will know she's rid herself of Xiao Tian.

Now she was free to reconnect with Dr. Victor Hale.

---

BOOM!

A sleek convoy sped down the highway.

At the center was a luxury business vehicle flanked by black cars—security for Riverdale's finest.

Inside, Leo and Ava sat in the plush back of the car, separated by a handcrafted square table. Zhulan was driving, and the back compartment was as luxurious as a private lounge.

This was Ava's reward for Leo's loyalty.

After all, he had proven himself. And if he truly was trustworthy, she would make him her closest subordinate.

Ava leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past.

Her mind replayed the events in the hospital.

She knew now—there would be no peace with the Dragon King.

Their fates were tied.

But she didn't regret acting.

That slap felt amazing!

She couldn't help but sneak a glance at Leo across from her.

He sat upright, staring out the window silently.

He really likes slapping Xiao Tian too, she thought, amused.

If she weren't so concerned with survival, she would've loved to go back to her old life and slap every protagonist from her previous life's story!

But… she died once already.

This time, she wasn't going to gamble recklessly.

One Dragon King is already enough danger. No need to provoke a dozen.

Then a thought struck her.

Ava's beautiful eyes narrowed as she turned to Leo.

"Leo."

Her tone was sharp, suspicious.

"Where exactly did you learn your medical skills?"

"And what deal did you make with Damian Langford at yesterday's Antique City gathering?"

Leo's face tensed slightly.

He'd been expecting this.

He blinked, then turned toward her slowly, speaking with deliberate sorrow.

"…Miss, to be honest, I'm an orphan."

"I was picked up by an old man when I was very young. He taught me medicine… and raised me as his disciple."

Ava froze.

Orphan? Old man teacher?!

Her mind buzzed.

Wait a second… all the Children of Destiny in novels start like this.

Are you saying—you're one of them too?!

---