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Alpha King Maddox nips at my ear. “Do you like that, little flower?” I moan an answer as his other hand slides my nightgown down off of my shoulder so his mouth comes down on me, his tongue lapping at my sensitive skin. ***** I'm just his breeder, traded for a debt. But can I convince King Maddox I could be more--so much more? *Isla* When my pack Alpha takes me to the castle to see the king, I have no idea he's trading me for a personal debt. Scared and alone, I contemplate what might happen to me and miss my family. But then I meet King Maddox. His reputation for being cruel is a contrast to the care I see deep in his eyes. Is it possible he could develop feelings for me? A poor girl brought to the castle to complete a task? I am just a tool to him after all. Or am I? *Maddox* After my wife died, I had no intention of ever falling in love again, but I need an heir. A simple solution presents itself in the form of a beautiful girl, given to me in exchange for a debt. But the more I get to know Isla, the more drawn to her I am. Is it possible she's just the one to make me forget the tragic night my wife died... a night I must take full responsibility for? With pressure from other Alphas to marry one of their daughters, and rumors that Isla isn't who she seems to be, my decision will not be easy. But then, I'm the Alpha King. My decisions are never easy. I just hope I make the right one. Because Isla is really starting to get under my skin--and I want to be on top of hers. Forever.If you like shifter/breeder stories with lots of romance and twists and turns, then this book is written for you! 

My breath caught as his lips claimed mine."I... I accept your terms,” I trembled as he caressed my cheek. My brain was in a mess and all could hear was his whisper."Liana, you're mine!"***As a 22-year old Alpha’s daughter, I was forced to accept an arranged marriage with an disgusting old man. To find a way out, I made a deal with a mysterious Alpha -- He would free me from my fate, and I would carry a child for him.What I didn't know, was that the handsome stranger I made a deal with was not a savior, but a devil!***“Liana, please let me explain.”“No,” I whispered as I closed my eyes against the pain and disappointment. I looked at my swollen belly, my heart broke for our unborn child.But, I just couldn’t stomach one more lie.“We had a deal,” he reminded me harshly. “You can’t just walk away now.”I smiled bitterly at him. "Yes, I can."A Deal with the Mysterious Alpha is created by A.B Elwin, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 


"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her.Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall."Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood.Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome!I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do.""Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!"Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?" 


Six years ago, she was framed by her wicked sister and was abandoned by her then husband while she was pregnant.Six years later, she started anew with a different identity. Oddly, the same man who abandoned her in the past had not stopped pestering her at her front door.“Miss Gibson, what’s your relationship with Mister Lynch?”She smiled and answered nonchalantly, “I don’t know him.”“But sources say that you were once married.”She answered as she tucked her hair, “Those are rumors. I’m not blind, you see.”That day, she was pinned on the wall the moment she stepped in her door.Her three babies cheered, “Daddy said mommy’s eyes are bad! Daddy says he’ll fix it for mommy!”She wailed, “Please let me go, darling!” 
At night, it was already midnight when Asher came home from dinner.He knew that Nora would come to The Howe family today. His grandpa Howard had asked Asher to meet Nora, but he refused on the grounds of work. He was not interested in this fiancee at all, and the engagement would be broken sooner or laterAfter returning to the room, Asher took a bath and went to sleep.Probably because he drank a little too much tonight, Asher didn't realize there were other women in the room until he lay down.He was slightly stunned. In the darkness, Asher could not see the woman's face. She turned over and hugged him. The girl murmured, "Good bear, don't make any noise. Just sleep."Asher was frozen.The woman had a very familiar smell, the same as that person...Probably because of the alcohol, Asher didn't move, lying down with Nora and falling asleep. 

After Holly Stanwick becomes a judge, the first case on her docket is the divorce between her husband and his childhood sweetheart.When Holly receives the file, she double-checks the cover sheet. "Maeve, is the defendant's information correct? Is his name really Shane Lockwood?"The assistant judge, Maeve Green, smiles. "Ms. Stanwick, that's Shane Lockwood, CEO of Lockwood Corp in Havenport. I might slip up on other files, but not this one!"Maeve pulls out her phone, searches for "Shane Lockwood" on Google, and shoves the brutal truth in front of Holly.The face in the photos matches her husband's exactly. Holly freezes, as if a bucket of ice water has been dumped over her.The court clerk, Stella Kennedy, adds, "That's right, Ms. Stanwick. You're new here, so you might not know. Shane and his childhood sweetheart, Tess Lindell, have been on and off for about eight years. This is the first time it's hit court. The public gallery is fully booked!"Holly nearly loses her footing, and the file slips from her hands onto the desk.Maeve asks curiously, "Ms. Stanwick, do you know Shane?"She knows him all too well. 
WARNING: THIS BOOK MAY CONTAIN STEAMY AND SEXUAL CONTENT WHICH IS STRICTLY NOT FOR KIDS UNDER +18 "So the rules of the game is simple" he began. "For every glass of drink that I take, you'll remove one piece of clothing from your attire. If I pass out before you get completely naked, then I'll grant you one wish but if I don't, then I'm free to do whatever sinful thing I want with you for the rest of the night. No questions asked. Are you game?" A smile feathered on his lips as he stared at her, waiting for her final decision. He is the handsome, sexy and heartless devil. The sinner.She is the purest, innocent and beautiful angel.Two polar opposites, one single attraction.***Having lived in the convent all her life, Hera Whitson manages to secure a job as a maid in the household of Bryce Donovan. The inhuman sex god that has the entire female population at his feet. He lives for sex, he celebrates and relish the electricity of it with every fibre of his being and sees no better reason for being alive.One look at Hera and Bryce is smitten. She is like an addictive drug, a moth to a flame and he will do anything to get burned by her. Relinquished by her heat.What happens when Hera finds herself battling against her principles and sexual attraction for Bryce? Will she be caught in the web of Bryce's twisted game of lust? 
Elise Blake has been in love with Samuel Holt for ten long years. She gives up her dreams and her sense of self to build a home for him and their son.But all her sacrifice earns her is his growing affection for his first love. Even her son, whom she nearly died giving birth to, starts to warm up to that woman.When a snowstorm strikes, Samuel doesn't hesitate to save his first love. Their son, too, only worries about that woman's safety. It hits Elise that some things are simply not meant to be.She leaves the divorce agreement on the table and turns her back on her husband and son. Moving out, she devotes herself to pharmaceutical research and starts to bloom on her own.Yet, for some reason, the divorce never goes through.At her product launch, the man who's always been cold to her corners her in the lounge, holding the very divorce agreement she signed in his hand. "You don't get to decide when our marriage starts or ends—I do!" 



For the sake of his first love, Sebastian Richards trampled on the wife who had been by his side for four years.He mocked her for being cold and uninteresting, pushing her away with his own hands.Watching her leave in desolation, he thought he'd only lost a dull shadow.Until the moment they met again, he saw the radiant woman before him.She had shed her rigid facade, her eyes now full of allure, becoming a prized gem chased by countless elites.Even the aloof Vincent Fox only showed a smile for her.That moment, jealousy turned him into a ridiculous madman.Night after night, he stood guard outside her door, offering checks and presenting jewels, wishing he could open his chest to prove his sincerity.Until she walked away, arm in arm with another man, without looking back.Only then did he realize he had completely lost her... 



Joyce Campbell's husband dies in a car accident—only to return, living under his twin brother's name to stay by his sister-in-law's side.When she learns the truth, the pregnant Joyce rushes to confront him, yet he is not home. Instead, she finds him at the hospital with his sister-in-law, Bianca Reed, for a prenatal checkup. There he is, holding the ultrasound printout, tracing the baby's features together with her, his eyes filled with tenderness.When he spots her, his expression changes, and he drags her into a corner."My brother died protecting me. That's the only reason I'm still alive. Before he died, the one person he couldn't let go of was Bianca. He said he still owed her 100 wishes and asked me to fulfil them for him."I have no choice. You understand, don't you?"That night, he slips into her room, pins her against the wall, and kisses her until her legs give out. Jewelry, perfume, and handbags—luxury after luxury piles up at her feet. He tells her to wait. Once Bianca has her baby, they can finally be together. 
Conan Grande and I have been married for eight years, and one day, he suddenly posts a Tweet with his secretary, Mindy Campbell, saying, "Better start shipping us. We're really sweet together."I tap on the "Like" button just before the Tweet is suddenly deleted.Conan then Facetimes me with a sobbing Mindy and a few of our mutual friends in the background, yelling and screaming at me for being so dumb and stupid for not getting the joke immediately.Five minutes later, Mindy updates her Instagram profile picture to a photo of her face and Conan's adorably squished together.If this had happened in the past, I would have immediately stormed over in a crying fit, demanding explanations from everyone involved and making life miserable for them.But this time, I honestly don't care anymore. 



When Eloise Windsor is reborn, she finds herself back in the year 1989. She's 30 years old, while her husband, Sebastian Moore, is 35. Sebastian has just become the youngest academician at the Bostesh Academy of Sciences. He's a nationally recognized talent with a bright future ahead of him. They have a pair of 10-year-old twins. Everyone around Eloise calls her lucky. She married such a talented man and was blessed with twins. However, now that she's been reborn, the first thing she does is call a lawyer and draft two copies of a divorce agreement.When Eloise calls Sebastian's office, his assistant, Taylor Lopez, answers instead. Upon hearing Eloise's voice, Taylor says, "Mr. Moore is busy at the moment, Mrs. Moore."She decides to head over to the academy to look for him. However, the security guards stop her. "Sorry, ma'am. Mr. Moore isn't accepting visitors for the time being."After waiting for three days, Eloise takes the divorce agreement to Iris Jones, Sebastian's first love. Eloise slides the agreement to Iris and says calmly. "Figure out a way to get Sebastian to sign this divorce agreement. Once he does, he and the kids are yours." 
It all starts with a single photo Avery McPherson posts on social media—one that accidentally captures Lara Womack's dog in heat.From that moment on, Avery finds herself the target of vicious slander. Using AI, someone fabricates explicit content of her and spreads it online to ruin her reputation.Determined to fight back, Avery reports the malicious defamation to authorities. However, all she gets in return are empty promises and indifferent shrugs.In growing despair, Avery finally picks up the phone and calls her husband of three years, Elijah Tarver."It's just some AI nonsense. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" he says, his voice cold and dismissive.But almost immediately, he arranges a special press conference to clarify the situation about Lara's dog.At that very moment, a message pops up on Avery's phone. It's from her stepbrother, Walter McPherson."There's only one month left before our agreement expires. After that, it's up to you whether to stay or leave."Without thinking twice, Avery answers, "I'm leaving.""After three years of marriage, do you really have no feelings for him at all?" Walter asks, his expression a blend of surprise and relief.Everyone has always believed Avery's love for Elijah was boundless."Yes, my love for him is gone."And so has my love for you. 
Valeria Neal brings her daughter to the hospital for a check-up, only to discover that the attending physician is her long-separated boyfriend.After seven years, she has already changed her name and shed all her excess weight, transforming from an overweight woman to a slender beauty.He doesn't recognize her and has no idea she has secretly given birth to his child.Her daughter, Selena Neal, clutches her hand. "Mommy, why are you crying?"Valeria can't answer her, only wanting to turn and run.In her youth, she had dared to chase that man who was so far out of her league.…At Stredview University, a scandal broke out. The campus heartthrob, Sebastian Grant, reserved but refined, was secretly dating someone. His mystery girlfriend? A chubby, ordinary woman.She became the target of endless ridicule and malicious gossip.It wasn't until a familiar, cold, husky voice admitted that their relationship was for fun since he would be leaving the country soon.…Valeria ended that bitter, one-sided love.However, meeting him again shatters the quiet life she'd built for herself.She tries desperately to draw a clear line between them, only to find herself tangled up in his sheets.He threatens her, cajoles her, feigns illness, and even shamelessly drives away every man who comes near her."Sebastian, don't you get it? I have a boyfriend now," Valeria says.Inside the Maybach, he grips her waist and kisses her like a madman. "Then let me be your secret lover. I'm richer than him, younger than him, and I can give you a better life."Seven years ago, he kept their love a secret. Seven years later, he's willing to degrade himself and be her secret lover.Valeria calls him crazy, but Sebastian says he's just crazy about her. 
"Stop, Earthha, stop!"There was a man's deep voice behind him, but Earthha didn't stop, still running fast, away from the man he once desperately wanted.She wants to die!She lost her parents, she lost her home, and now she's about to lose her partner. She has nothing left, nothing to keep her alive.Just two months ago, she was happily in her partner's arms, but she heard him say that he had two partners.It turns out that all love is her wishful thinking, this man is a liar at all!"Eartha." The man moved quickly and grabbed her shoulder.She was forced to turn to face him, tears in her eyes...She will never forgive him again. 
Architect Cora Spade marries Axel Jaeger for love, a man who claims to be drowning in debt. He tells her his startup has failed, so she leaves for Auchendale on a long-term assignment. For three years, amid the war and plagues, she works tirelessly and pays off his debt totaling in the millions with blueprint after blueprint.But on the night Cora returns, she uncovers the truth—the so-called "debt" is nothing but a lie and a test of her loyalty. Back in Chremford, Axel has a new lover in his arms, and even their five-year-old son sees the other woman as his mother.Worse still, their marriage certificate turns out to be forged.Without hesitation, Cora dials a number she's buried for decades. And when they meet again, she's transformed into the heir of an elite, powerful family everyone clamors to please.Now plunged into crisis, Axel kneels among fragments of his shattered dignity and begs for her forgiveness.All Cora does is respond with a gentle smile. "Pulling the plug on your funding was just the appetizer, Mr. Jaeger. Enjoy the real feast ahead." 


"System, I want to leave this mission world."The system quickly appears. "Your request has been approved, Sabrina. You'll have half a month to say your goodbyes to your family in this world."It disappears as quickly as it comes. Sabrina York is dazed at the mention of her family, and she slowly turns to look at the family photo on the table beside her.In it, her husband and son kiss her on each cheek, their eyes filled with love. It's a happy sight, but it makes her mind wander.No one knows she's a Challenger. Ten years ago, the system brought her to this world so she could win the affections of Jordan Faust, a scion in Jellipolis.Throughout those ten years, she and Jordan fall in love and end up marrying. Not only does she successfully complete her mission, but she also falls for her target. 
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? 
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. 
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. 
Sebastian Lynch, the heir to the Lynch family of Londsville, is a man of undeniable renown. However, he gets forced into a marriage with a scheming mute woman. How can he stand to be blackmailed? He has to take his revenge on her!After getting married, Sebastian is incomparably cold and overbearing. “You’re not allowed to go out. Otherwise, it’s grounds for divorce!” he demands.Yet, Tamara Simmons strolls out uncaringly every day. Sebastian dictates, “No getting close to other men. Otherwise, it’s grounds for divorce!”Tamara nods obediently, a trail of suitors at her back. She arrives at the marriage bureau, but Sebastian never shows up.When interrogating him at home, Sebastian’s eyes fill with rage. “I don’t want a divorce!” 




On my 23rd birthday, my brother, Eric Welsh, becomes the richest man in the country. During the grand birthday party he throws for the housekeeper's daughter, Fiona Dobler, he announces that she will receive the sole attention of the Welsh family.
Meanwhile, I have only a month left to live because of my faulty artificial heart, and I can't find a matching donor. While I'm being tormented physically and mentally, I video call him.
When he hears me coughing, he berates me, "Back then, you left because you were worried that I'll be a burden to you. What now? Are you regretting it because I'm rich?"
My throat feels tight as I stare intently at his unchanged expression through the screen, smiling wryly. "Eric, think of 300,000 dollars as a small amount and lend it to me."
On the other end, Eric snorts and gently assures Fiona, "It's a scam call. Don't worry."
Of course he has nothing to worry about. The healthy heart in his chest is mine. 
"Ms. Keane, the test results are not very favorable. You've been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. If you refuse treatment, you'll likely only have several weeks left to live—not even a month. Are you sure you wish to proceed without treatment? Does your husband agree to this?"
The doctor asks me over the phone.
"I'm sure… Yes, he agrees to this as well," I reply.
I gaze around the empty room after I end the call, feeling unbearably upset. I used to think the pain was just my recurring gastritis, but it's actually because of a tumor.
Sighing, I turn to gaze at the photo on the desk.
Silas Huntington, who's 18 in the photo, stares right back at me.
Even after all these years, I can still remember the day we took that photo. Snow had dusted our hair white, which made Silas ask whether this counted as us growing old together. 
On my birthday, Grandpa asks me, Harper Levinson, which man from the Zink family I wish to marry. I choose the fifth and youngest son without hesitation, and the elders are thrown into shock.
After all, everyone in our circle knows that I, the eldest daughter and future heiress to the Levinson Group, am deeply in love with their eldest son, Jonathan Zink. I've always insisted on marrying no one but him.
In my previous life, I did marry Jonathan. However, in our third month, I discovered that he was cheating on me with my illegitimate younger sister, Ruth.
That day, his eyes were filled with tears as he knelt before me. "Please forgive me. It was just an accident, I swear!"
I gave in but, ultimately, Grandpa found out and sent Ruth abroad. Jonathan believed it was all my doing, and from that moment on, he hated me to the bone.
Over the next few years, the elders in the family passed away one after another. We were always beaten to the punch in the market, and our company's confidential files were stolen.
On the very day I found out about my pregnancy, I was killed in a staged car accident.
Now, reborn into this life, I choose to let them fulfill their love instead. What I don't expect is when news of my engagement is announced, he storms into the engagement party and begs me to marry him. 
Throughout the six years of her marriage, Wendy Sanders pours herself into caring for her husband and son. However, she is only repaid with heartbreak when her son makes a birthday wish for a "new mommy".Her husband brushes it off. "Kids say the darndest things."Yet, in truth, he's tangled up with the very woman their son wants to be his new mother!Wendy decides she's had enough. She grants them both their wish and files for divorce.Everyone says she won't last a month on her own. They say she'll come crawling back, begging her husband and son for reconciliation.Even her own parents place all their love and attention on their adopted daughter. They bleed Wendy dry, then cast her aside without a second thought.The cousin she once saved with her own life now wishes she were dead, all for the sake of Jenna Sanders.Completely disillusioned, Wendy leaves to pursue advanced research.At first, her ex-husband and son don't care. But when they both fall ill, no one's there to look after them. Lying helpless in bed, they finally realize what they've lost.Three years later, Wendy returns with a vengeance. Her new drug shocks the world and earns her global acclaim as a rising star in the scientific community.Now, that once-arrogant father and son duo are out of their minds with regret."Wendy, I was wrong. Please forgive me…""Mommy, please don't leave me…"Even her biased, ungrateful parents fall to their knees in shame after being swindled out of everything by their beloved fake daughter. "Wendy, we were blind. Please forgive us."And the cousin who once wished her dead breaks down in bitter remorse after learning the truth—she was the one who saved his life all those years ago."Wendy, come home... I'll give you my life if you forgive me…" 



“You chose them over me. She became your focus because of the pup she was carrying! You ruined me! You broke me! Promises shattered!” Edeline yelled.“I had to protect my pup. There were wolves out to hurt him, and you were one of them! I didn’t want to leave you, but you were a threat to my pup!” He snarled. “But I don’t care what kind of wolf you are... you’re my mate! I won’t lose you too!”“You already lost me, Percival... When you picked that blonde bitch and her pup over me, your mate. You had a chance to fix things and didn’t take it. No more chances. I’m leaving.”Edeline’s world shatters when her mate, Percival, returns with a child from another woman. As secrets unfold and betrayal strikes, she fights to reclaim her future. Percival struggles with his new reality, testing their bond. Full of twists, emotions, and unexpected humor, this story will take you on a rollercoaster of love, mystery, and redemption, ending with a satisfying resolution. Dive in—you won’t regret it! 
Lila Hart has loved Dorian Blake for five years, yet it only takes an afternoon for her to decide to leave him. That day, she kept replaying the video of Dorian casually giving a bracelet he always wears to his so-called sister.
Lila calmly asks for a breakup, but Dorian thinks she's just throwing a tantrum. Later, he hears that Lila went through hell and back to get the bracelet for him.
That day itself, he flies to the place where she got the bracelet and sees the wish she wrote and hung on a tree. "I wish Dorian's life is smooth sailing and that he gets everything he wants!"
Someone sees the almighty Dorian get on his knees before Lila, pressing his forehead to her fingers. He pleads hoarsely, "Please love me once more, Lila."
The door behind her opens, and Kieran Morgan, the CEO of Morgan Group, pulls her into his arms. "Sorry, but you're out of chances." 

Ruby Smith's life takes a horrifying turn when her stepsister Hazel and best friend Noura make her the victim of a conspiracy.An incident with a stranger at a hotel takes away her innocence, and when she returns home, her family throws her out, calling her a 'loose woman'. A shattered Ruby tries to rebuild herself. This time she works hard to achieve her dreams and becomes a successful jewellery designer. Her beauty and talent make many suitors fall in love with her, including her company's big boss, who is biased towards her everywhere. But Ruby has no interest in marriage; for her men are merely an illusion.Meanwhile, Michael Carter, one of the country's most successful businessmen, is haunted by a terrible incident from his past. He is lost in memories of the night he inadvertently ruined Ruby's life. He is searching for that mysterious girl whose name and identity he does not know, but that night and that girl are deeply embedded in his heart.Five years later, fate brings Ruby and Michael face to face again. The question now is: will Ruby be able to forget the wounds of her past and forgive Michael? Can Michael make up for his mistakes, or will Ruby's anger and desire for vengeance put further distance between them? 