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Natalie Bennett was ten years old when she lost her parents. The matriarchs of the Bennett and the Foster families decided to betroth her to Jeffrey Foster, who was 14 at that time.
Jeffrey had said to Natalie, "I'll always be here for you."
He was the one who made that vow. But he's also the one who ends up breaking it.
Despite being married for five years, Natalie can never win Jeffrey's heart over. She initially thinks that Jeffrey is cold and heartless by nature, but she witnesses later on just how gentle and caring he can be in front of the woman he truly cares about.
Heartbroken, Natalie trades the pregnancy report for a divorce agreement. Since then, she and Jeffrey part ways.
After the divorce, Jeffrey's life is thrown into disarray. Where's his tie? Where's the charger? Why doesn't the coffee taste like the one he drinks all the time?
The entire upper crust can't wait to savor Natalie's fall from grace. But unfortunately for them, she's an extremely outstanding woman. She makes a dazzling comeback to her workplace and keeps setting new domestic records. Just like that, she becomes the most popular artist.
Someone once comes across Jeffrey cornering Natalie with his hands on his waist. He murmurs in a humbling tone, "What is it that you don't like about me, Nat? I'll change my ways."
"I don't like the fact that you still like me."
"Well then, I'm never changing that. Never." 
The Locke family's long-lost daughter, Madison Locke, is reunited with her family. Then, she starts doing livestreams to make a living.
Everyone in Riverview's upper crust is waiting to see her make a fool of herself. However, all they get to see is how bigwigs from all over the country flood her livestream to ask her for help.
A rising star in the business world says, "Save me, Ms. Locke!"
An award-winning actor who's fresh out of the oven says, "Help me get rid of my unwanted admirers, Ms. Locke!"
A bigwig in the research world asks, "Could you help check on the geomancy in my area, Ms. Locke?"
A certain someone says, "Come closer to me, babe!"
Everyone wonders why this certain someone is so different from everyone else.
Madison says, "That's what I'd like to know, too." 
Mercity's richest man, Adam Alvarez, has been comatose for three years. His wife, Celine Tate, cares for him throughout. But when he wakes up, she finds a flirty text in his phone. His first love is back in the country.
His friends, who have always looked down on Celine, laugh about the matter. "It's time for the ugly little duckling to get kicked to the curb now the swan is back."
Only then does Celine realize Adam has never loved her. She's nothing but a poor joke.
So, one night, Mr. Alvarez receives a divorce agreement from his wife. The reason for the divorce—there's something wrong with his health.
Adam goes after Celine, his expression dark. That's when he discovers her standing under gleaming lights, looking gorgeous in a long dress. She's suddenly become a medical expert.
When she sees him, she smiles. "Are you here to see an andrology specialist, Mr. Alvarez?" 
In the second year of their marriage, Angelica Thornton finds out that she's just a walking blood bank for others.
Her husband, Elliot Quigley, has personally fed her steroids, forcing her weight to rise all the way to 160 pounds. This is all just so she can keep providing blood to his older stepsister-slash-first love, Rosie Morris.
He even tells Angelica, "Who on earth would be turned on when they see a fat bitch like you?"
But Elliot also kneels before Rosie's bed in the middle of the night, looking like a kicked puppy.
"Rosie, I've never slept with Angelica before. Please don't abandon me…"
Since then, Angelica's heart has been sealed from love. She decides to get a divorce and vows to shed those pounds.
A long time after that, Angelica stands on the stage, looking absolutely divine. Her figure is now slim, yet she has curves in all the right places.
Elliot's eyes go bloodshot out of regret. He kneels before her on a rainy night, crying, "Angie, you're the one I've always loved!"
Suddenly, a hand shoots out from behind Angelica to lay claim on her slender waist. A pair of eyes can be seen glaring at Elliot coldly.
Elliot is stunned, to say the least. "U-Uncle Dominic?"
…
Dominic Lawson has been emotionally impaired since birth. He himself has an antisocial son named Skye Lawson.
Weirdly enough, Skye loves clinging to Angelica the most.
Dominic thinks that Skye needs a mother in his life. But in the end, he's the one who has succumbed to Angelica's charms.
In the middle of the night, as Dominic pulls Angelica into his arms, he murmurs huskily, "Angie, teach me how to… love." 
I, the best thief in my line of work, am being hunted down by a Don, whom I've never met before, on the Internet.
My crime? Well, I've turned down his wedding proposal, so there's that.
In order to get revenge on him, I end up stealing his most prized possession.
After that, I hit up a nightclub and book the services of the ace escort, who also charges the highest rates. That night, we spend moments of passion together in bed.
The next day, I'm about to get out of bed and leave when the escort stops me.
"You've already accepted my prized possession and used me for a test run. Are you satisfied with the results?" 
Olivia, an illegitimate daughter, didn't care about getting rich or famous. She just wanted to live a quiet life with her boyfriend and spend the rest of her days with him. Her sister, though, had a great life with a loving family and a fiance, Tyler Harris, who deeply cared for her. But when her sister got very sick, her perfect life began to fall apart. Her sister asked her for something huge and unexpected: have a baby with Tyler. Olivia was shocked and thought it was crazy, but her father kept telling her she should do it, and she felt like she had no choice but to agree. Then came the night when the expressionless Tyler kissed Olivia, and that kiss marked the start of many troubles.Everyone knew Olivia as gentle and meek, but she was much more than that. Now, stuck in this mess, it looked like everyone else might finally get to see the real her... 

The night Claire Richards caught her husband cheating, she planned her revenge.She transferred billions in hidden assets, gathered undeniable proof of his affair, and destroyed the mistress's reputation.When Claire handed Lucas Bennett the divorce papers, he tore them to pieces."Divorce? Not a chance!" Lucas snapped.But Claire only smiled. "The waiting period is over, Mr. Bennett. You're out."Sharp, stunning, and done playing nice, Claire steps into a world dominated by two powerful men: her furious ex-husband and the cold, mysterious CEO feared by all. But this time, she's calling the shots.Watch as a clear-headed woman takes control, turns heartbreak into strength, and brings the man who once cast her aside to his knees. 
Bonnie Shepard, a country girl, is the talk of the town. Rumors say she's a loser who loves fighting and fooling around.Her fiancé dumps her, and the esteemed Knight family distances themselves, causing the Shepards no small embarrassment. But when the world uncovers her true identity as the nation's leading researcher, everyone is awed.To their surprise, she's not only a math genius, but also a chess prodigy, a medical guru, and a kickboxing expert, outshining even the wealthiest tycoon on the Forbes list.Prominent figures and affluent heirs vie openly for her affection."Bonnie, will you marry me? I'm fit, and I’m the most romantic and considerate partner you'll ever find. Hell, I'll even handle all the household chores!""Bonnie, choose me, please? My family owns a mine, and you can buy anything you want!" Ivor Knight, the CEO who once spurned her, regrets it so much that he can only say, "Fuck off, okay? She's mine!" 
Bella Thompson assumed a new identity and entered into a three-year marriage contract with Justin Salvador, hoping to win his heart with her unwavering devotion.To her dismay, Justin hastily presented her with the divorce papers as soon as their contractual period expired. Heartbroken, Bella signed them and returned home, resuming her identity as the heiress of the Thompson business empire.From then on, Bella no longer hid her remarkable talents. She was not only a billionaire heiress, but also a medical prodigy, a world-class hacker, and a fencing champion.Determined to get her revenge, Bella went all out to humiliate her ex-husband’s childhood sweetheart at an auction. She also became her ex-husband’s biggest business rival.Finally, Justin confronted her, saying, “Bella Thompson! Must you be so ruthless?”Bella sneered and retorted, “How I treat you now is only a fraction of the cruelty you subjected me to back then!” 
In Noelle Liddell's past life, she obeyed her brothers' every command. Yet they exploited her and stepped all over her pride so they could dote on Xenia Quigley, their fake sister. Noelle is their birth sister, yet she ultimately dies after being kicked out of her home.
After being reborn, Noelle follows one principle—she stops being such a Good Samaritan, and she's not going to forgive or make up with her brothers. They can go do whatever they want as long as they leave her alone.
Her eldest brother, Donovan Liddell, wonders why his health has deteriorated recently. It's because Noelle doesn't bring him his medication and supplements anymore.
Her second brother, Frank Liddell, wonders why his company's firewall keeps acting up. It's because Noelle doesn't maintain it anymore.
Her third brother, Carl Liddell, wonders why the development of the new drug is going so slowly. It's because Noelle isn't testing it anymore.
Her fourth brother, Blake Liddell, wonders why the scripts he's getting are so horrible. It's because Noelle isn't writing them anymore.
Her fifth brother, Wyatt Liddell, wonders why his prosthetic limb is so terrible. It's because Noelle isn't producing them anymore.
Her sixth brother, Lucas Liddell, wonders why his team lost. It's because Noelle quit.
The six men grovel at Noelle's feet and beg for her forgiveness. "Come home, Nelly. Blood is thicker than water—we're a family!"
Noelle sneers. "You only know that you're wrong after everything's gone to shit. Sorry, but I'm not going to forgive any of you!" 

Thaddeus Cromwell is about to marry his childhood sweetheart, Danica Watson. Louisa Graham, who has been by his side for seven years, neither cries nor makes a scene. Instead, she personally organizes a grand wedding for him.
On the day of Thaddeus' wedding, Louisa puts on a wedding dress as well.
Two bridal cars pass each other along a long, bustling street. As the brides exchange bridal bouquets, a customary gesture of goodwill in their country when wedding processions meet, Thaddeus hears Louisa say, "I wish you a happy marriage!"
Thaddeus runs after Louisa's bridal car for ten full miles before finally catching up. He grabs her arm and sobs tearfully, "Louisa, you're mine."
But a man steps out of the bridal car and gently pulls Louisa into his embrace. "If she's yours, then what about me?" 

Rebirth. Revenge. Romance.
In her past life, Delia was blind to love. Betrayed by her cousin and ex, she discarded her "crippled" husband Curtis-only to die disfigured and alone.
Now she's back.
This time, she tears up the divorce papers and clings to Curtis's side-only to discover he's not weak at all. In fact, when he rises from his wheelchair, the world bows.
"You're mine-body and soul," he growls, his voice like velvet and steel.
She's the one seducing him now-until he's addicted, crazed, and can't live without her.
She'll crush her enemies, reclaim everything they stole, and love the man who once gave her the world.
This time, she'll give him back everything-and more. 


Alden Crestfall remains cold and distant to his wife, Thalia Marquette, even after two years of being married to each other. Furthermore, they only have sex once a month as previously agreed.
Thalia smiles and accepts Alden's condition out of love for him. She trusts that one day, she'll make Alden love her in return.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Thalia catches Alden and his sister-in-law, Kiera Hollindale, getting it on in his office. As Thalia watches them going at it like wild, lustful beasts, she realizes Alden isn't as sexually disinterested as he claims to be.
It's just that Thalia isn't the woman Alden loves.
Any hope that Thalia had dies in an instant, and she divorces Alden before taking control over her family business once again.
When Thalia's name is listed in Fortune Global 500 and becomes her country's first female billionaire, Alden shows up with a bouquet of 999 roses to beg her for forgiveness.
"I was wrong, Lia. Please give me another chance," he says.
In response, Thalia takes a step back.
Meanwhile, the famous and prestigious scion, Darius Backshaw, suddenly appears and pulls Thalia into his arms.
"Screw off, you piece of scum! Don't you dare taint my wife's eyes with your presence any longer!" Darius exclaims. 
17 years ago, Hera Youngworth was switched at birth. 17 years later, her biological family, the Everetts, manages to track her down. To her dismay, her father is scornful of her, and her grandmother dislikes her. Even her so-called fiancé has nothing but contempt for her.Her father, James Everett, tells her, "There's no way the Gaskell family will accept a country bumpkin as their daughter-in-law. For the sake of both our families, we'll make a public announcement about you being our adoptive daughter."Her grandmother, Mildred Barker, snaps, "Your grades are abysmal; you don't deserve to sleep in a room meant for members of the Everett family. A guest bedroom is all you deserve!"Her fiancé, Zyler Gaskell, says, "Giselle is the true daughter of the Everetts, and she's the only one worthy of me. Get lost, you country bumpkin!"Hera's reaction to all of this? She couldn't care less.Later, her name frequently makes headlines.Secret No. 1: Hera's the mysterious genius who got perfect scores on her SATs!Secret No. 2: Hera is actually Raven, the infamous hacker!Secret No. 3: Hera is at the top of the Divine Forum's list!Secret No. 4: Hera is the one who holds Mr. Killian's heart!The list goes on.This plot twist humiliates those who previously looked down on Hera. They get on their knees before her and beg her for help, but a certain someone teaches them a lesson and turns them down without hesitation.Bernard Killian gives them an arrogant look and dominantly announces, "Hera is mine and mine only."Then, he turns to Hera and says pitifully, "Look at how incredible you are, Mrs. Killian. I hope you'll take me under your wing in the future."Hera gives him a cold look. "Drop the act, Mr. Killian. Your secrets have long been laid bare." 

After getting drunk at a wedding party, Summer Hart had spent a night with a man. She then found herself pregnant after that. She wanted to keep the child, but the man had other plans. She tried to run away but was caught. "If you want to keep the child, marry me. We'll divorce after two years, and meanwhile, don't touch me—not even holding hands," the man said, backing her into a corner. She found the man utterly shameless. 'Holding hands? Dream on.' After the marriage, the man said, "I know you are scared. Let's sleep together tonight." "I'm not scared." "I saw you in a dream and heard you say you're scared and want to sleep with me." "Have you no shame, Mark Valentine?" "Shame? What is shame?" 





When Emelie Hoven was hopelessly in love with William Middleton, she almost ended up losing her life. But to William, she was only someone convenient who he thought couldn't live without him.And so, she decided to stop loving him.William didn't like that Emelie was too calm, too rational, and too independent. Later, his wish came true—he got to see her relying on someone and being gentle.He wasn't the recipient, though.On the day of Emelie's wedding, she smiles brightly as she sits on a chair and waits for her groom and his groomsmen to pass the test she and her bridesmaids have set up for them. The atmosphere is lively. Suddenly, William shows up out of nowhere.He gets on one knee before her and holds her hands, looking like he's almost worshipping her. "Leave him, please. Come with me. You loved me first, didn't you?" 
Avery Langford finally gets pregnant after five years of marriage and 99 rounds of IVF.She carries the prenatal report home, ready to share the joy with her husband, Damien Whitlow, only to freeze outside the study when she hears him bantering with his friends."There are things Avery never knew. I faked her infertility report and made her go through 99 IVF attempts. The baby she's carrying isn't mine—it's Julian Whitlow's. And the truth is, the woman I've loved all along is Serena Langford."The shock hits Avery like a bucket of cold water, and Damien still keeps talking."Next week at our fifth-anniversary dinner, Grandpa will announce me as the heir. That's when I'll make sure everyone knows Avery's been sleeping with that bastard, Julian!"Avery trembles with rage, her whole body shaking. She crumples the report in her fist, pulls a number from her blocklist, and types, "Julian, I want to discuss a big deal." 

Winona Nander is known in her circle for her untamed, radiant charm. She watches lions bare their teeth on the Alencan savannah, dances till dawn in the underground clubs of Bolund, and switches boyfriends every few days. There is hardly a reckless thing she hasn't done. But fate has its own plans. She is being arranged to marry Caleb Solt, the most disciplined and proper gentleman in their circle. At their first meeting, Winona deliberately shows up five hours late, intending to put him in his place. But her father's men drag her straight out of a bar and send her to the exclusive teahouse. When she arrives, Caleb is seated by the window, quietly sipping tea. The afternoon light filters through the lattice, tracing soft shadows across his refined profile. He sits with calm grace, as if he has been waiting not for five hours, but for only five minutes. 
On the day of her stepsister's marriage registration, Marissa Eagan is dragged along to be a witness. She stands in the cold, waiting, her vision still adjusting after a recent recovery from blindness, only to witness a scene she wishes she hadn't seen.Her stepsister, Roxanne, walks in arm-in-arm with Joshua Colman, her husband of five years.Marissa's world comes crashing down. For a moment, she thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her. Then, the staff member at the city hall hands over a marriage certificate to the couple with a bright smile. "Congratulations on becoming husband and wife."If Joshua is listed as the spouse on Roxanne's marriage certificate, who exactly is the man on Marissa's marriage certificate? 
To save Rowan Sinclair, heir to the capital city of Westhaven, Ava Hartley throws herself off a cliff and loses her memory.
Everyone believes she is dead, except Rowan, who keeps searching for her.
Three years later, when Ava finally returns, she finds a woman at Rowan's side who looks almost identical to her.
For that woman, Rowan repeatedly casts Ava aside. He forces her to undergo humiliating exams to prove her innocence. He even threatens her family's safety to pressure her into ending a pregnancy that never existed.
When the two of them are kidnapped together, Rowan still chooses the other woman.
"Ava," he says, "Lia isn't like you. She's fragile. You fell off a cliff and survived three years. You can wait for me."
Ava exhales, finally understanding, and steps back over the edge of the cliff.
Her years of amnesia have given her new goals, and returning to Rowan was only a final gesture toward an old attachment. Now, for the first time, Ava can let him go completely. 

My fiance, Jeremy Anderson, and I have been together for ten years. To everyone, we are the perfect couple.I have taken 99 bullets for Jeremy while shielding him from an enemy. To save me, he gives me one of his kidneys.With tears in my eyes, I make a promise to him. "In this life, I'll repay you with 99 favors."On the eve of our wedding, we agree to climb a snowy mountain. But an avalanche strikes, and we are forced to take shelter in a local farmer's home. His first love, the expedition leader, gets injured while saving him. By mistake, she takes an aphrodisiac, thinking it's painkillers. My always-traditional, seemingly pure fiance doesn't hesitate. Jeremy strips off his clothes, ready to relieve her pain.Everyone waits for me to explode in rage, but I walk calmly to the side. Three more favors, then Jeremy and I are even. Soon, it will be time for me to return and take over the mafia. 

Renea was trying the wedding dress, when suddenly the man rushed in the dressing room and held her neck tightly...“Bitch! Are you still trying to pretend innocent!” Jasper said as he tightened his grip on her neck and choked her harder. Then he used his other hand and took out the phone from his suit pocket and played the video of two people having sex in front of Renea…However, what was even more shocking, was that the woman in the video was, Renea Morris, however, the man in the video was not Jasper.Renea struggled to take a phone away from Jasper’s hand and tried to explain, “Jasper, it was not what you think… I… I can…”Jasper looked at Renea with his eyes full of disgust, as he said, “Let’s call of the wedding. I can’t marry a woman like you.” After saying that Jasper walked out of the shopRenea chase after Jasper...But then she sees Jasper passionately kissing her sister Kailey. And she hears everything, that her sleeping with strange men was all a plan of the vipers of the last two days, and that their goal was to get out of this stupid marriage. Even her adopted parents were also involved in this matter...They all do this with her because of the inheritance left by her grandfather...Renea heart was filled with anger and she wanted to expose their true colors to the public... However before she could do anything, Kailey had pushed her in front of the car and she got killed...However, when Renea open her eyes, she found herself sitting in the car with Kailey... She realized that she was reborn and went at the time when everything started...Renea looked at the people who had hurt her in her previous life and her lips curled up in a cold smile...She was back...However, this time... she was back for revenge... 



Lucius White, one of Windmere's most prominent men, suddenly learns that he has been married for a year. He slaps a divorce agreement on the table, grabs his total stranger of a wife, Valerie Collins, and drags her to the courthouse.
However, on the very day they plan to divorce, two bolts of lightning strike. The first bolt turns their marriage certificate to ashes. The second bolt crashes the courthouse's network. Unable to separate, they have no choice but to live under the same roof.
One day, Lucius uncovers not one but several secrets about his wife.
He learns that the elusive Phantom Healer Thirteen Needles is, in fact, his wife.
The genius hacker known as Zero? She's also his wife.
The top talisman maker in the mystic arts world? Still his wife.
The legendary grandmaster of ancient martial arts? Again, his wife.
Even the modern medicine prodigy who has brought glory to the country time and again also turns out to be his wife.
Lucius goes online and posts, "My wife has so many hidden identities that I've lost count. How am I supposed to deal with this?" 







I marry the same man seven times, and he divorces me seven times for the same woman.
He does this so he can go on vacation with his first love as a supposedly single man while also protecting her from being the subject of scandalous gossip.
The first time we divorce, I attempt to take my own life to force him into staying. Despite being sent to the hospital in an ambulance, he didn't even bother to visit me.
The second time we divorce, I humble myself by applying to be an assistant at his company, all for the chance to see him more.
By the sixth time, I had already learned to quietly pack up my belongings and move out of his house.
At first, I was hysterical, but then I began to concede, and eventually, that grew to numb acceptance. Yet, time and again, he would remarry me on our previously agreed-upon date, only for history to repeat itself.
Finally, one day, after I hear that his first love is returning to the country again, I voluntarily hand him the divorce agreement.
Just like before, he promises to remarry me again on a certain date. But he doesn't know that this time, I'll be leaving for good. 

He's cold and reserved, while she's wild and free.Driven by revenge, Giselle Holt weaves her way into his life, teasing him without shame and manipulating him with cunning and deceit. She ruins his engagement party, drives away the woman he loves, and tramples on his boundaries again and again.One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Giselle, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"She smirks, sly and teasing.Just like that, she barges into his life and does as she pleases, dragging him down from his pedestal, piece by piece, until nothing remains. 
"Give birth to my baby, and I'll give you everything you want."
In order to raise enough money for her mother's surgery bills, Amelia Warren spends a night with a stranger. At first, she thinks she won't see him ever again, but her accidental pregnancy intertwines her fate with his.
Amelia rejects that suggestion immediately. "This is my uterus. I have the right to decide whether or not I want to give birth to this baby."
The man stops her in a domineering fashion. "You have no say in this matter!"
Michael Sutton, the famous business mogul in Southport, is a noble and prestigious man equipped with extremely brutal methods. No one dares to defy him at all.
Rumors have it that he's cold, distant, and isn't interested in the fairer sex at all. Some even whisper of his inability to sire children of his own. That is, until the paparazzi snap photos of him accompanying a woman to a prenatal check-up.
"Darling, you must be tired from all the walking. I'll carry you into the room."
"Darling, you must be thirsty, right? I'll feed you some water."
The so-called cold and distant man transforms into a henpecked husband right in front of the cameras, leaving everyone shell-shocked.
…
Before Amelia meets Michael, she's stuck in a hopeless situation. Her dad is a gambling addict, and her mom is very ill. Before she can even graduate from university, she's already saddled with heavy debts. She envisions her life of despair to remain like this for as long as she draws breath.
That is, until she meets the ever-so domineering yet devoted Michael, who loves her with all his heart. That's when everything changes.
Some people mock her for her low status, saying that she's not fit to be a part of the upper crust. They even think that she has no right to stay by Michael's side and speculate that she must have seduced her way to this position.
Michael states, "The moment I laid my gaze on Amelia, I fell in love with her at first sight. I was the one who kept pestering her until she agreed to marry me."
A certain higher-up in the government also pipes up, "Please take good care of Amy, my dearest daughter-in-law." 
BLURB
."Ever have that feeling nothing you ever do matters?"
This is Lila Vitale's story, being overshadowed by her elder sister all her life no matter the efforts she puts in.
Finally, she is put in the spotlight when her elder sister, Lily, abandons her husband because he went blind, and she ( Lila) has to be the replacement by pretending to be her.
Lila is not happy about this at first but steps up to the challenge as she is finally seen and relied on by those she cares about.
Lucien, a year later regains his eyesight due to surgery. Lila, hopeful to be set free by the truth, gets disappointed when her sister Lily miraculously appears to take back the place she abandoned and the man Lila had grown to love.
To make matters worse, Lila realizes she was just a pawn being used all along and overhears death plots about her unborn child.
As the betrayal deepens, Lila tries reaching out to Lucien who treats her like a pest, hurting and giving her no choice but to disappear. Not too long after, Lucien figures out the truth and seeks out for her but isn't he too late?
Will Lila ever want to let him back into her life again, especially when she is hell-bent on revenge?
EXCERPT.
"You have to come back, Lila. To me. You and our children". He whispered gently, his blue eyes filled with care towards me, his hands on my cheeks, stroking them softly.
I closed my eyes, rubbing my face against his palm, enjoying the texture. How I had longed so much for this.
"Our children? Remember Mr. Knight. I never married you neither are my bastard children yours". I commented, repeating his exact same words five years ago as the side of my lips curled up in disdain. 

Miranda Payne is Ekason's most renowned genius pediatric surgeon.
With a scalpel in her hand, she has saved countless children's lives. The media hails her as Ekason's "guardian of children".
But right now, she is pinned against her office desk, a cold gun barrel pressed firmly against her wrist.
The man holding the gun is her husband, Jerome Cooper, heir to the Cooper family and the one who controls both Ekason's criminal underworld and its legitimate power.
Dressed in a black suit, he radiates a chilling, murderous air. Behind him, one of his men holds up a tablet. On the screen, a video plays.
Their five-year-old son, Fred Cooper, is being forcibly transferred out of the hospital.
Fred is burning with a high fever. His cheeks are flushed, his face twisted in pain. He murmurs weakly, "Mommy…"
"Freddie!" Miranda cries out, her heart shattering at the sight of him.
"Miranda, you have no choice with the two surgeries today," Jerome says coldly, pressing the gun harder against her wrist. "You either save Dami first, or I destroy your hand and let both Dami and Freddie die together." 
I had loved a man for five years, and hated him for just as long.
He took the money meant for my mother's treatment, and I leaked his company's secrets, bankrupting him overnight.
For those five years, we were locked in a fierce rivalry, a constant battle where everyone saw us as mortal enemies destined to destroy each other.
But the truth was, we hadn't been in contact for a long time.
When we met again, he had long since rebuilt his empire. Standing under the spotlight, facing a throng of persistent reporters, his words and demeanor were impeccably flawless.
A reporter suddenly brought up the past: "Back then, you mentioned a loved one you wished to spend your life with, even planning to marry at twenty-eight. Now…"
His fingers, holding the champagne flute, paused slightly. Then he lifted his gaze, a faint smile spreading in his eyes, clearly audible throughout the room: "Getting married soon." 
"Young lady, whose bastard is that inside you?"
"Don't you know any shame? Is this how I raised you?"
The living room was warm, yet a cold sweat broke out across my back. I stroked my swollen belly, looked at their outraged faces, and suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"You really don't know?"
Father crushed his cigarette butt savagely into the ashtray, sparks flying up before dying. "How would we know what shameful things you've been up to out there?"
"The kidnappers," I said softly, my voice like a snowflake landing on a hot iron plate. "Don't you remember? That year the kidnappers took both me and Liza. They wanted a 500,000 ransom. You only scraped together half, saying 'save the real child first.'"
My parents' faces instantly froze, like the surface of a frozen lake. They even seemed to forget to breathe.
"Later, you took Liza back. The kidnappers kept me for three more months." I touched my belly, fingertips registering a faint flutter of movement inside. "Did you really think I escaped on my own?"
But none of that mattered anymore. Because I was going to die. 