A Court of Lost Stars - Chapter 28: City of Sorrow

Lucinda Perry, a social recluse and a workaholic, makes a pledge to herself to go all wild on her twenty-fifth birthday and even score a one night stand if she gets her long deserved promotion at work. Few days to her twenty-fifth birthday, she gets promoted to not just a higher position but to the head office in a different city.

Having to spend her birthday night in a new city, she goes to the club where she meets a very handsome stranger, Thomas Hank, who offers to be her one night stand after catching a glimpse of her dare-to-do list, which included having a one night stand.

Thomas Hank, after having been used by several ladies in the past, is bent on getting the lady of his dreams who would love him for himself and not his wealth. So when he meets the cute and naive Lucinda Perry at the club, he decides to keep his true identity from her and find out if she was worth keeping.

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***Excerpt***

“What are you doing here?” Lucy asked in alarm when she walked into her boss' office and saw Tom standing by the window,

“Who let you in here? Come with me, you should leave now before he comes in and sees you here. He can be really mean.” Lucy said reaching out to grab his hand, but he made no move to reach for her hand, and just kept staring at her with a slightly amused expression.

“I came to fulfill your fantasy.” Tom said looking into her eyes with an unreadable expression.

“Fantasy? What fantasy?” She asked with a frown as she hurried to the door to shut it so her boss wouldn't walk in on them.

“You've forgotten? You said you would love to have sex with me on your boss' table. I want to make it happen.” Tom said making her heart skip a beat.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?” She half yelled as she took his hands and tried to drag him to the door, “I could lose my job if my boss finds you in here.” She snapped at him.

“Nevermind about that. Tell me the thought of this doesn't turn you on? I'm here, you're here, and the table is right here. I could have you on your back in a second and you'd be crying out my name...” Before Tom could finish, the office door was pushed open.

“Sup Tom? Can I talk to you for a sec?” Harry asked as he walked in, his eyes on the documents in his hand. He stopped when he raised his head and realized Lucy was in the office. He almost kicked himself when he saw the frown on Lucy's face, “Shit!” Harry muttered, and gave Tom an apologetic glance when he realized he had just screwed up.

“I thought you were going out?” he asked her with an awkward smile.

“Tom? You know him? I mean... other than him being my driver?” She asked both men, looking from one to the other when she noticed Harry didn't look surprised to see Tom in the office.

What was going on here? What was she missing? Lucy asked herself as her gaze shifted from Harry to Tom who was glaring at Harry. There was no way Tom could be her boss, right? All the pieces of the puzzle was beginning to fit now. It was all beginning to make sense now, she thought as she glanced at Tom one more time before walking out of the office.

In the first episode, Little Palace Maid Lian Hua, holding tea leaves, thought to curry favor with Zhaoyi. The Emperor intercepted her halfway, and before she could react, he hijacked her tea leaves, leaving her bewildered.In the second episode, she wanted to curry favor with the Noble Consort. During the Noble Consort's birthday feast, she hadn't even presented the meticulously prepared tea leaves before the Emperor seized them, leaving her aggrieved.In the third episode, she had just sneaked out with the Palace Maids to pick bamboo shoots, planning to go back and cook something delicious when the Emperor burst out of nowhere wanting to freeload a meal. If it wasn't tasty, he would punish her, she managed to barely pass muster by exerting all her energy. Before she could feel relieved, the Emperor told her he was also staying to sleep!This time, he was thoroughly taking advantage of her, enjoying free food and lodging without the slightest intention of rewarding her.At night, the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. All the silver she had saved up in earlier years had been used to sustain the Emperor. Now that the money was gone, she feared being punished for not being able to support him in the future. The more she thought, the sadder she got, her tears plopping down, which woke the Emperor sleeping beside her.In a flurry, the Emperor consoled her, “There, there, don't cry, don't cry. I haven't even had time to reward you, how could I punish you!”After much consoling, and finally with his promise to provide for her sustenance, she turned her tears into laughter.The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. This Little Concubine would need to be favored properly from now on—he dared not make her cry again.→→【This story has concluded, thank you for reading】→→New book recommendation:“Consort of the Roll-Royce is Here, Run!”—It's a good read! Please add it to your favorites.

The anticipated engagement party turns into a broken engagement announcement and a notice of expulsion from the house.In one day, Anna lost everything.She accidentally activated a space and took the business’ supplies for revenge.But who would have thought that natural disasters will come?The world is changing and resources become scarce.So, the style of painting changed.When other people are scrambling to find something to eat, Anna was still cooking at home.When other people are fighting for food, Anna was lying on her bed while snacking her favorite chips.When other people are working hard to get some water, Anna was lying on her bathtub comfortably.The relatives came to the door for help.Anna only looked at them coldly and spat out, “Scram!”Her ex fiancé also came, asking for reconciliation and love.Her new man kicked him out of the door and slammed it shut. He then looked at Anna with a pitiful look. “Wife, do you not want me anymore? I'm easy to raise.”Anna looked at the puppy like man and pulled him closer with a smile on her face.It was only later she realized that the puppy is actually a big bad wolf...But the goods couldn’t be returned!

Among the professional strategy warfare gamers on earth, Lin Qian easily emerged as the strongest within the industry. After all, there weren’t many who could defeat a perfect example of a hardcore casher!With a twist of fate, the extravagant gamer left the world in an unfortunate accident. Leaving behind his wealth, he was transmigrated.In this new world, Lin Qian had absolutely nothing he could be proud of. As an alchemist, his brewing pot exploded. As an iron welder, cast-iron turned scrap metals. Not to mention, his dismal talents extended to spiritual arrays and beyond. Besides his slightly above average talent in cultivation, he did not possess anything else that had even a slight semblance to a talent.Yet, life was not all bleak. On one fateful day, he discovered a revolutionary change. The mega-empire which dominated the gaming servers, the very land which he reigned over as emperor, had followed him through his transmigration. Not just so, the invulnerable generals, lieutenants, and the million men army had escaped the realm of mere codes and gained the breath of life.Now, as living beings, they swore their allegiance and lives to him, their Peerless Emperor.