[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-evil-mc-s-ntr-harem":3,"chapter-evil-mc-s-ntr-harem-evil-mc-s-ntr-harem-chapter-1079":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Evil MC's NTR Harem",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1832490,2438,"Chapter 1079 Jewel","evil-mc-s-ntr-harem-chapter-1079",1079,"\u003Cp>It was one of her favorite places in the refuge, a calm sanctuary away from the noise of survival and whispers of gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refuge, known as Aegis, was enormous—almost like a self-contained city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had everything one could need to live comfortably: a library, a gym, a cafeteria, a massive swimming pool, even a luxury cinema that still played old films to keep morale high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times, it felt less like a bunker and more like a luxury hotel hidden underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she walked through the library aisles, her fingers lightly brushing the spines of old books, she spotted someone sitting quietly in a far corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her steps slowed when she recognized him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was alone, reading silently, his expression calm and unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light filtering from the overhead lamps cast a soft glow over his face, making him look strangely peaceful—almost gentle, a far cry from the rumors surrounding his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karen’s mother lingered for a moment, observing him quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t sure what to think of the man her daughter had chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, seeing him like this—calm, collected, lost in a book—made her wonder if perhaps there was more to him than what others said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, she turned and walked to another section of the library, leaving Ross to his solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, she would continue to trust her daughter’s choices... even if she didn’t fully understand them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, Marissa closed the last page of her book and leaned back in her chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The library was peaceful—soft lights, the faint hum of air conditioning, and the quiet rustle of pages being turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, her mind wasn’t entirely on the story she’d just read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since she’d caught sight of Ross earlier, something about him had lingered in her thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm presence, his posture, the way he seemed lost in another world—it all stirred a strange curiosity in her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few minutes of hesitation, she found herself glancing toward the far end of the room where he had been seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What am I even doing?\" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, her feet seemed to move on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With quiet steps, she made her way through the aisles, the faint scent of old books and polished wood filling the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she finally reached the corner, her heart gave a startled flutter—Ross was still there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting exactly where he’d been before, a thick hardcover open in his hands, his expression calm and focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light from the overhead lights fell perfectly on his features, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the depth of his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s still here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, she considered turning around and walking away before he noticed her, but it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ross lifted his head. Their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah...\" Marissa’s breath caught. Time seemed to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up close, Ross was far more striking than she’d imagined—his face was clean-cut, his gaze steady yet oddly magnetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, she swore she felt him undressing her with just his eyes, his quiet confidence washing over her like heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her pulse quickened, her palms grew damp, and she could barely remember how to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marissa, right?\" Ross said, his voice low and smooth, carrying easily in the stillness of the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled, a faint curve of his lips that made her heart skip again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood and closed the book gently before walking toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up close, his presence was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could smell him now—something fresh and manly, a mix of clean soap, wood, and warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t overpowering, but it was enough to make her head swim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes,\" she managed, her voice barely more than a whisper as he extended his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took it automatically, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grip was firm but gentle, and for some reason, she couldn’t let go right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ross’s eyes lingered on her face for a second longer before he said softly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice to finally meet you, Marissa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart thudded in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally meet me? she thought, dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to ask what he meant, but her tongue felt heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she could only nod, still holding his hand as if in a trance, wondering how a simple meeting could make her feel so unsteady inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, incredulous breath was all that escaped Marissa’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\". Words had utterly failed her, receding like a tide and leaving her mentally stranded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ross, of course, was a man who read silences as clearly as headlines, and he knew precisely when to capitalize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subtle, knowing smile touched his eyes more than his lips, and he seamlessly stepped into the space her silence had created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s the first time I’ve seen you here,\" he began, his voice a low, pleasant rumble that seemed to absorb the surrounding quiet of the bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was intent, making her feel like the only other person in the world. \"Do you read a lot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marissa managed a slight nod, her fingers tightening around the spine of the novel she held. \"I... yes. When I can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I myself am fond of the old masters,\" Ross continued, gesturing vaguely toward the classic literature section.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s a certain weight to their prose, a permanence. But I have a soft spot for discovering new voices, too.\" He plucked a book from a nearby display, examined it with a critical yet appreciative eye, and set it back with a quiet thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s like meeting someone new. You never know what world you’re about to step into.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That small, seemingly innocuous observation was the key that unlocked the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What began as polite, hesitant replies from Marissa soon blossomed into a genuine exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drifted from books to travel, from travel to a shared, wry amusement about the absurdities of modern life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ross was a skilled conversationalist, never monopolizing, but guiding and probing with thoughtful questions that made her feel fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened not just to her words, but to the spaces between them.\u003C\u002Fp>",1013,"2026-06-09T06:19:11.433Z",1,"novelbin.me","cf638dbc3fb9a14cee4c7ce6f60df83fd938af7135801ee0f2361d9b70a95af3","evil-mc-s-ntr-harem-chapter-1080","evil-mc-s-ntr-harem-chapter-1078",1212,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fevil-mc-s-ntr-harem-cover.jpg"]