---- Introduction For three years, ' d been Noah' s on-again, off-again girlfriend, believing his rare kindness was love and his frequent dismissals just tests of my devotion. This constant cycle of heartbreak always ended with me patching things up, swallowing my pride, and showing up with apologies | didn' t understand. The ultimate humiliation came at a party he threw, right after he' d broken up with me via text, only to reveal it was a bet: he' d wagered |' d come crawling back. He' d publicly ridiculed me, then casually discarded the custom -made game controller I' d poured my soul into for our anniversary-the same anniversary that was tomorrow. My world shattered, but the final blow wasn' t his callousness, but his demand for me to abort our child, all to protect his reputation and settle a childish rivalry. But the truth behind our first meeting, a cruel set-up designed to make him my "hero," ignited a fire within me, transforming the pain into a fierce resolve to reclaim my life, secure my future, and fight for the family Noah never truly valued. ---- Chapter 1 For the ninth time in three years, Noah broke up with Ava. The text message was simple, cold, and final. "It's over." Ava stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard of her laptop. The glowing lines of code for her indie game blurred. It was always like this, a sudden, sharp cut with no explanation. It always happened when he was with his friends, or when Scarlett, his childhood sweetheart, was back in town. This time, it was probably both. A familiar ache settled in her chest. She scrolled through their chat history. Three years of her life were documented there, a long series of her apologies and his eventual, reluctant forgiveness. She was always the one to mend things, to swallow her pride, to show up at his door with his favorite food or a thoughtful gift. He never apologized, he only accepted her back when he felt like it. Her phone buzzed again, but it wasn't from Noah. It was from one of his friends. "Huge party at Noah's tonight! You coming?" Ava's heart skipped a beat. A party. He broke up with her and then threw a party. She typed a shaky reply, "| don't think I'm invited. Noah and | just..." ---- The friend's response came instantly. "Don't be silly. He's just being dramatic. Scarlett's here, you know how he gets. Just come over." Scarlett. The name was a constant shadow over their relationship. Ava looked at the small, wrapped box on her desk. It was a custom-made game controller, the shell painted with a scene from her own game, a project she had poured her soul into. Inside, she' d had a private joke of theirs engraved. It was for their three-year anniversary, which was tomorrow. She had to go. She had to fix this. The wind howled outside, rattling her windowpane. A torrential downpour had started, the kind that flooded streets and made the city grind to a halt. Ava didn't hesitate. She grabbed the gift, threw on a coat, and ran out into the storm. The taxi crawled through the flooded streets. She clutched the box to her chest, the cardboard growing slightly damp from the rain on her coat. She rehearsed her apology in her head, even though she didn't know what she was apologizing for. Noah lived in a sleek, modern high-rise that seemed to touch the clouds. The lobby was all marble and gold, and the doorman looked at her damp clothes with disdain. She finally made it to the penthouse, the sound of loud music and laughter hitting her like a physical force as the elevator doors opened. ---- The apartment was packed with beautiful, wealthy people. They held champagne flutes and laughed at jokes she couldn't hear. She felt small and out of place in her simple coat, her hair still wet from the rain. Then she saw him. Noah was standing by the massive floor-to -ceiling windows, a drink in one hand, his other arm casually draped around Scarlett's shoulders. He was laughing, his head tilted back, the picture of a man without a care in the world. He hadn't seen her. Ava' s feet felt heavy as she walked toward them. When she was a few feet away, he finally turned and his eyes landed on her. The laughter died on his lips, replaced by a look of pure annoyance. "Ava? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. Scarlett looked Ava up and down with a small, self-satisfied smile. "|... | came to talk," Ava stammered, holding out the gift. "For our anniversary." Noah's friend, the one who texted her, appeared at his side. "See? Told you she'd come," the friend said with a smirk. "Pay up." Noah let out a short, cruel laugh. He looked around at his audience. "A bet's a bet." He turned back to Ava, his eyes cold. ---- "It was a bet, Ava. | bet Mark a thousand dollars that if | broke up with you, you'd come crawling back before the night was over. Looks like | won." The words hit her, but she didn't seem to register them. She was frozen, her hand still outstretched with the gift. The music seemed to fade away, and all she could hear was the blood roaring in her ears. Noah snatched the box from her hand. He ripped the wrapping paper off, opened the box, and glanced at the custom controller with a bored expression. "Cute," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Then, without a second look, he tossed it onto a nearby table littered with empty bottles and dirty napkins. It landed with a dull thud. Ava stood there, a statue in the middle of the crowded room. She watched as someone bumped the table, and the controller slid off, falling to the floor where it was immediately kicked under a sofa. She didn't cry. She didn't scream. A profound numbness washed over her. She felt nothing at all. Without another word, she turned around and walked away. She pushed through the crowd, past the curious and mocking faces, and stepped back into the elevator. The doors closed, shutting out the noise. She walked out of the building and back into the pouring rain. The cold water soaked her clothes and hair, but she barely felt it. She just kept walking, one foot in front of the other, with no ---- destination in mind. High above, on a private balcony connected to the penthouse, Liam watched her go. He had seen the whole thing unfold through the glass doors. He saw the bet, the discarded gift, the look of utter devastation on Ava's face as she walked away. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He' d known Noah for years, they were rivals in the tech world. He knew what a self-centered bastard Noah was, but this was a new low. "He doesn't deserve her," Liam muttered to himself, his eyes following Ava's small figure until she disappeared into the rainy darkness. He had admired her from afar for a long time, impressed by her talent and her quiet strength. Seeing her treated like this made something in him burn with a cold, hard anger. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.