Return of the Swallow - Chapter 557.2: The Status Quo

Rex was an ordinary salaryman, resigned to a dull life of monotony in a towering megacity. But his world shatters when he’s conscripted by Nexum Dynamics, a ruthless megacorporation, and thrust into a brutal war for a barren, alien world. The planet holds unimaginable riches, but it’s also swarming with the Krhyssari, an insectoid race that dominates the surface with their hive-mind precision and relentless aggression. Amid the carnage, Rex had an extraordinary encounter with Cleo, an ancient AI, a survivor of a long-extinct civilization. Cleo isn’t just an artificial intelligence; she’s a consciousness imbued with memories of her people’s interstellar empire and equipped with advanced bio-nanotechnology. Offering Rex a new purpose and unmatched power, she transforms his fragile human body into a hybrid of living metal and flesh, making him the ultimate weapon. But Cleo is more than a tool of war. As she journeys alongside Rex, her cold, logical algorithms evolve, shaped by his humanity. Together, they form a bond that transcends the boundaries of man and machine, discovering love in the midst of chaos. As Rex and Cleo fight for survival, they uncover a shared ambition, to rise as intergalactic overlords, uniting or conquering the galaxy.

Born into one of the wealthiest families in the country, Layla Rosenzweig's true identity is taken away at the time of her birth by the mistress of her father. She is forced to live as the illegitimate daughter of the Rosenzweig Family. Everyone treats her no less than an outsider in her own house. “This is mine. That is mine. In fact, everything is mine,” Layla's half-sister told her. Everything that belonged to Layla is given to her half-sister, including her boyfriend. Then, she is forced to marry her ex-boyfriend's ruthless uncle, Lucius De Salvo, the most terrifying man in the country. Lucius De Salvo is known for his ruthless ways to get his work done. His name is enough to terrify people. It is said that he is a man devoid of emotions. He will find pleasure in people's pain and misery. He loves to torment those who come under his radar. But why is he so lovely to Layla? Or is it just a pretense?“Are you ready for the wedding night, Darling?” Lucius asked. “I've desired you for a long time.” “What?” Layla was shocked. “Why would you?” “Because you are Layla Rosenzweig. The woman I like.” With that, he captured her mouth for a passionate kiss.

The 27-year-old Wei Han is a slightly fat, slightly chicken-livered, and slightly foolish, pure-hearted and besotted top, and his sweetheart who had been together with him for seven years, in the end, was stolen away by Qi ZhiFan one morning.
Deeply broken-hearted and in despair, he went overboard with binge eating, and ended up pathetically choking to death…

Ashton is an Alpha who hides who he is due to the fear of being feared, and Caleb is an omega who hides his identity since he hates the way omegas are mistreated. Both of them gave up on the thought of ever having a relationship, even if they find their fated mates.

What happens when these two meet and their biggest secrets unfold. Will this bring them closer? Can they fight their feelings despite not wanting to?

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“The way spoke in front of them, you almost had me convinced that you liked me”, Ashton snorted.

“I do”. Caleb confessed.

With widened eyes, Ashton struggled to ask, “Is this… another one of you jokes”?

“No. I really like you. I have liked you for a long time”. He said, biting his lips, awaiting the rejection.

“I thought you hate Alphas”. Ashton wondered.

“Not you”. Caleb declared.