Lena Carrington and Alaric Winfield have been rivals since childhood, always competing with each other-from school to adulthood. When Lena's family faces a financial crisis and her fiancé of three years heartlessly dumps her, all her old friends turn a blind eye, leaving her to fend for herself. One day, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, who's with his new girlfriend, eager to watch her hit rock bottom. Frustrated and unwilling to give in, she then bumps into Alaric, her lifelong adversary. "Beg me, and maybe I'll help you," he says, arms crossed, watching her with amusement. "I'd rather die than beg you. Keep dreaming." But later, she turns back. "Fine, help me! Name your terms." He gives a slight smile, "Deal." One night, she accidentally kisses him, and soon, she starts to notice that something about Alaric is changing...
In a private club suite, there were about seven or eight men, each with one or two attractive women in revealing clothes clinging to them. The room was thick with the smell of cigars and cigarettes, and countless bottles were scattered across the tables, creating a scene of indulgent decadence.
At the center was Stellan, lounging back on the sofa. He pulled a woman in a short skirt onto his lap, unapologetically running his hands along her legs as she leaned closer to him.
"Stellan, shouldn't you be comforting that fiancée of yours right about now?" one of the men sneered.
The woman on Stellan lap pouted and tapped his chest, "Oh, so you've got a girlfriend and you're still here fooling around? You're so bad..."
Stellan looked utterly unbothered, even pleased. Grinning, he took hold of her chin. "We broke up," he said. The girl looked surprised, then giggled, pressing her lips against his in a kiss that quickly turned passionate. The others barely paid them any mind, long used to this kind of behavior from Stellan. They went back to their drinking and card games.
As Stellan and the girl were getting more intimate, there was a knock at the door. A waiter's voice came through: "Excuse me, Mr. Hawthorne. There's a young woman outside who says she's your fiancée and insists she has urgent business with you."
Stellan frowned, clearly annoyed at being interrupted. "Fiancée? I already told her it's over-can't she take a hint? Pathetic."
Outside the suite, Lena stood, fists clenched, trembling slightly. She pushed past the door and entered the suite, her presence casting a cold silence over the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing, looking at her with a mix of amusement and anticipation. The waiter hesitated, unsure if he should try to intervene.
Taking a deep breath, Lena walked straight up to Stellan.
The woman on his lap glanced at her, then casually slipped off his lap, adjusting her clothes and settling herself next to him. Stellan leaned back lazily, eyeing Lena with faint interest. She looked good, he thought-pretty face, nice body. What a waste...
Forcing down her discomfort, Lena lowered her voice. "Can we talk, Stellan?"
He raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference.
They'd met three years ago, introduced by their families. Though she wasn't interested in dating, her family had praised him, saying he was a great match, and Stellan had pursued her fervently. Eventually, she agreed to give it a try. But almost overnight, things between them turned cold, as if they'd become less than strangers.
Steeling herself, Lena tried again, adopting a softer tone. "Stellan, considering the time we were together..."
"We're long over, Lena. Get it straight." His voice was cold, cutting her off.
Lena twisted her fingers, struggling to keep her composure. "I'm not here to cling to you. I just hoped you might help me."
Stellan let out a mocking laugh. "Help you? Everyone knows your family's drowning in debt. Why should I help you? How would you pay me back?"
"Consider all the business my family brought to yours..."
"Don't make me laugh. Your father squeezed every last cent out of us on those construction deals. After all this time, I haven't gained a damn thing from being with you. Now, just because you're broke, I'm supposed to do you a favor? You're a joke."
Lena's face turned pale. She'd had no idea about any of this. Her family dealt in real estate, while Stellan's supplied construction materials, so she'd assumed he'd profited handsomely from their partnership.
Swallowing her pride, she reminded herself why she'd come. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, watching her humiliation with relish, as if her blood was turning cold.
Stellan looked at her with pure contempt. "If I'd known you were adopted, I wouldn't have wasted my time. You lied to me. And now your own family doesn't even want you."
That hit Lena hard. She remembered her parents telling her she was no different from their biological daughter, that she didn't need to explain her adoption to anyone. Then, suddenly, they and her brother had disappeared, leaving her to fend for herself as the family business crumbled. But she still believed they had their reasons, that if she could just hold out a little longer, they'd return for her. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"Come on, Stellan," one of the men said with a sly grin. "She came all this way-why not give her a chance to show her gratitude?"
As if struck by inspiration, Stellan's gaze roamed over Lena, his tongue pressing against his cheek in thought.
His stare was so overt it felt like she was being stripped bare.
"If you entertain me, maybe I'll think about it," he said, sitting back with his legs apart, the invitation clear. He picked up a cigarette, waiting for her to make a move.
Lena bit her lip, then let go. Her long lashes trembled. She picked up the lighter on the table, kneeling on the couch beside him, where the other woman's warmth still lingered.
Someone behind them whistled, adding to the twisted mood. Stellan smirked, clearly enjoying himself. Relaxed, he waited as Lena lit his cigarette. He took a long drag, exhaling the smoke in her face. Look at her, he thought-the girl who once acted so high and mighty, now groveling at his feet...
Lena closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and moved her slender hand toward his face, but then paused, lowering it again.
"What's wrong? Want help but don't want to lower yourself? Trying to play the chaste woman now?" he taunted, enjoying her struggle.
The internal conflict tore at her, with Stellan's disdainful stare fueling her frustration. She pulled her knee off the couch, standing straighter. "I'm done with this game."
"What's that? Not interested in the money?" he said, grabbing her wrist.
Lena yanked it free, red marks left on her skin. "Not anymore."
Stellan gave a careless shrug. "Fine, but don't come crawling back to me later."
Lena turned her face away, murmuring under her breath, "I should've just thrown those three years in the trash."
The others exchanged looks, disappointed that there wouldn't be a more entertaining show. Suddenly, the drinks and the girls by their sides seemed less exciting.
One of Stellan's lackeys leaned in, asking, "Want us to bring her back?"
Stellan sneered, waving him off. "Nah, I've got other plans." He tapped his lips, as if savoring a new, twisted idea.
They Keep It Cool in Public, But in Private... Chloe always knew how to keep things professional. In public, she and her boss, Fred, maintained a safe distance-no flirting, no kissing, no asking personal questions. Just a purely physical arrangement behind closed doors. But then, an intern showed up at the company, and suddenly, things started to feel... off.
Just two weeks after their wedding, Raphael left for the other side of the world on business. Two years later, when he returned, Grace barely recognized her own husband. Everyone knew their marriage was nothing more than a business deal between two powerful families. To Grace, it was simply the last hurdle on her way to freedom. She barely knew her husband. All she really knew was that he was rigid, dull, and emotionally detached-like a financial machine. She figured he must find her just as insufferable-dramatic, and high-maintenance. When Grace placed the divorce papers in front of Raphael, stating that she wanted to end this loveless marriage, he merely looked at her, his gaze warm yet unreadable. He gently took her hand and murmured in a husky voice, half-smiling, 「Hmm? Did I not please you enough last night?」
Sofia Levine married a man she had known for less than 24 hours. The marriage was the result of an agreement between their grandfathers. At first, her half-sister even tried to take her place in the marriage, after all, Rome Beckett was the sole heir of a wealthy family. With his good looks, he was the object of many women's affections in the city. Rumor had it that Rome Beckett was cold and aloof, and many were waiting to see Sofia become the laughingstock of the high society as a discarded wife. After the wedding, they treated each other with respect, and Sofia believed that, in time, there might be a little love between them. That is, until one day, she overheard him casually talking to a friend, saying, "It's nothing more than fulfilling the familys' wishes." It was a business marriage from the start, and she had developed feelings she shouldn't have. She quickly moved out of that home. In the pouring rain, the once-proud man, humbled by love, held her hand with trembling fingers. "Let's go home, please?" The male lead, from indifference to deep devotion.
"Leonard Bryant is a man of the hour in Sea City. He has won the Pritzker Prize at a young age, which is considered as Nobel Prize in the architecture field. An architectural drawing of his can be auctioned to hundreds of millions yuan. Everyone takes him as an architectural design talent. But everyone also thinks he is gay because of his frequent refusal of women. Ashley Powell has been taking Leonard as her idol and loving Leonard for several years. For him, Ashley chooses to learn architectural design during university. As the saying goes, "when there is a will, there is a way", she finally gets the chance to work in Bryant Group after her graduation. At the graduation ceremony, Ashley was coaxed by her classmates to test if Leonard is gay. A little drunk Ashley came to Leonard's room, then .... 'Who says this man is gay? He is not gay but a beast!' Ashley thinks."
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
Julia and Evan were the perfect couple-or so she thought. But everything changed when Evan abruptly ended their relationship, leaving her heartbroken and unable to tell him she was carrying his child. Years later, Julia has built a life for herself and her son, Andy, while Evan has risen to unimaginable wealth and success. Their paths cross again at a chance meeting, but Julia soon discovers Evan has moved on with someone else. Julia is done with the pain. She's fought battles alone, raising a son who deserves the truth about his father, even if Evan doesn't deserve her forgiveness. When Julia told Evan years ago she had something to say, he didn't listen. Now, it's time for him to listen. But is it too late to reclaim what he lost? "We should break up," he'd said, the words cutting through her like glass. The pregnancy test in her pocket stayed hidden, just like the child they would never share. Now, it's Evan's turn to hear the truth-and to face his deepest regret.
In Lothlann Continent, talent in martial arts won cultivators respect. Darren Chu, a mediocre talent in martial arts, was deemed a loser by everyone. His status changed when a fireball fell from the sky and hit him on the head. He cheated death. Empowered with the ability to assimilate other creatures' talent, Darren sought to better himself and seek vengeance against those who had wronged his family, including his little sister. "You will kneel in front of me one day," swore the future lord of martial arts.
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
Mistaken for a runaway bride, Mildred's ordinary life is shattered when she's forced to marry the Alpha King. Trapped in a castle of secrets, she's a pawn in a deadly game she doesn't understand. When danger strikes, Mildred must face her greatest fear to save the kingdom and the heart of a king who never wanted to love her. Will their bond be their undoing, or will it be the key to their survival?