My Substitute CEO Bride

"Give our souls? To you?" Shane stared at the nameless wooden plaque before him in panic.

"What? What do you mean? Are you going to kill us too?"

"No, it's not that simple." Ruin opened his terrifying eyes and smiled wickedly.

"I want your souls as sustenance after you die, so you won't reincarnate. How about that?"

"Sustenance? Souls?" Shane asked, bewildered.

"That's right. I can give you the power to get revenge, but in return, you will all disappear forever after dying."

"Power for revenge?" Shane bit his lip, trembling as he knelt before Ruin's plaque.

"If you can truly help us get revenge, then I don't care about anything else! Please help us!"

Hearing Shane's answer, Ruin let out a crazed laugh.

"Hahaha, good! Very good! Shane, I'll take your soul! But yours alone isn't enough!"

"What?!" Shane stood protectively in front of his two brothers.

"You scoundrel! Don't even think about touching my brothers!"

"Alright, listen to me." Ruin stopped laughing and said seriously, "You have no other choice right now. Moreover, if you give me their souls, I can extend their lives at least until your revenge is complete. How about that?" "But..." As the eldest, Shane hesitated upon learning that he had to give up his brothers' souls as well. He did not want them to suffer further, but as Ruin had said, if they delayed any longer, his brothers would die. "I-I'll do it," Simon responded weakly from beside him.

"Simon!" Shane rushed to his brother.

Simon forced himself to stand. "It's just... a soul. What does it matter if I give it to you? As long as... As long as I can get revenge! That's all that matters!" he said with unwavering determination despite his body.

swmbling

Shane understood his brother's anger. He himself had escaped because he was not home at the time, but when he returned, he saw

the Illuminion followers attack Saw

Simon. The trauma was immense.

He could not imagine how Simon felt when he had to watch their family get murdered right before his eyes.

"Oh? You're quite perceptive," Ruin said while gazing at Simon playfully. "I like your anger. So, our trade is now in effect-"

"Wait!" Shane suddenly interrupted. "What about my brother, Salem?"

Ruin looked at the youngest child who had no chance of survival and shook his head. "I'm sorry, not even the gods can alter matters when it comes to life or death. So..."

"Anything! Anything at all!" Shane shouted desperately.

"Anything? What can you do now?

I'm telling you, it's not possible. Such a thing goes against the natural order, and his soul..." Ruin paused suddenly, sensing something unusual within Salem.

He was indeed dead, but his soul had not dissipated. In fact, it was sealed within his body.

Ruin gained an understanding of the situation. This was the very reason their family's sealing techniques were so powerful.

"I can help him," Ruin suddenly said.

Hope reignited Shane's and Simon's eyes. They were incredulous but immensely grateful.

Shane gave a small, hopeful smile. "Really?"noveldrama