After working herself to the brink of exhaustion, Sawyer Yates decides to quit her demanding job and open a small grocery store. Despite the skepticism from her family and friends, who doubt her venture will succeed, Sawyer is determined. She's not seeking a fortune; she simply wants to live comfortably without the stress of late-night shifts. Little does she know, her grocery store becomes a hotspot for various unusual customers who appear at midnight, bringing with them items from different worlds. From a young prince on the run who trades his jade pendant for basic groceries, to a tribal chief searching for farming tools who offers up peculiar herbs, and a woman surrounded by zombies who offers sparkling diamonds in exchange for food. Even bored immortals who come to watch TV dramas and interstellar nobles desperate for long-lost vegetables flock to her store. To Sawyer's surprise, instead of failing, her grocery store thrives, attracting a steady stream of eclectic customers and unique products every day. Meanwhile, the strange occurrences in her store propel her to unexpected heights, taking her community along for the ride.
Chapter 1
My supermarket is unusual
From a young age, Sawyer Yates had a straightforward dream: to become the daughter of a local snack shop owner so she could enjoy all the snacks she desired, like instant noodles, chocolate, chips, spicy treats, and ice cream.
After nearly working herself to the bone with overtime, Sawyer vowed to quit her job as soon as she was able and finally chase her childhood aspiration.
A week after leaving the hospital, Sawyer accepted a generous severance package from her company, resigned, and used the funds to pursue her dream. Rather than becoming the daughter of a snack shop owner, she became the owner of a small supermarket.
The large payout from the ruthless corporation was a result of Sawyer's cleverness. She timed her departure during the company's crucial IPO, a period when any negative publicity could be detrimental. Ultimately, the situation worked out in her favor.
With her savings, she purchased a two-story building on the city's outskirts. The first floor became her supermarket, and she lived on the second. It was an ideal setup.
People around her criticized her choice, claiming she lacked vision. "In this online shopping age, who would bother going to a physical store?" they said. Even popular supermarket chains were shutting down, so why would hers succeed?
Most anticipated that her business would fail within two months, expecting Sawyer to suffer significant losses.
However, having narrowly escaped death, Sawyer took a relaxed approach. She wasn't looking to get rich-if the shop covered her daily expenses, she would be satisfied. Her new life motto was simple: staying alive was the most important thing.
Little did she know, on the very night she finished stocking her shop, an unexpected customer would show up.
As Sawyer enjoyed a self-heating hot pot as a reward for her hard work, she heard a strange noise from downstairs.
"Could it be a mouse?" she worried, concerned about the grains she had just stocked. She quickly set her chopsticks down, slipped on her shoes, grabbed a broom, and dashed downstairs.
"Didn't the previous owner say there weren't any mice here? What happened to trust among people?" she complained.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she froze at what she saw.
The side door of the supermarket was surrounded by a rainbow-colored light. A young boy stood in front of it, blood smeared on his face, dressed in fine clothing, and leaning on a sword. His wide eyes were filled with amazement as he took in his surroundings.
Earlier that day, the boy's father had led a hunting party with other nobles. They had been ambushed by assassins, resulting in the deaths of all his personal guards. Severely injured, he had barely escaped, only to be knocked off a cliff by his pursuers.
"Is this... hell? Are you the Grim Reaper, here to take me to my next life?"
The Grim Reaper?
A Grim Reaper with a pink broom?
Sawyer, being practical, rolled her eyes dramatically. "Does your hell look like this?" she asked, gesturing at the shelves stocked with goods. "If hell is like this, sign me up!"
The boy, Linden Zane, fell silent.
"Also, I'm a woman. Have you ever seen a female Grim Reaper? This is my home!"
Sawyer walked past him, casually grabbing a frying pan from the kitchenware section. It could serve as both a weapon and a shield.
"Young lady, I owe you my life for saving me. I will repay you greatly," Linden said, bowing deeply.
Startled, Sawyer instinctively raised the pan. But before she could react, the boy collapsed face-first on the floor.
She looked at him, then at her raised arm, muttering, "Is this some kind of scam?"
As a modern, upstanding citizen of the 21st century, the worst thing Sawyer had ever done was copy her classmates' homework during school breaks. Seeing someone faint in front of her was entirely new.
Instinctively, she rushed upstairs to grab a first-aid kit. She cleaned the boy's wounds, stopped the bleeding, and bandaged him up. Though she wasn't a doctor, she knew enough first aid to manage. Thankfully, his injuries didn't seem life-threatening-he had likely fainted from exhaustion, stress, and blood loss.
Sawyer dragged the boy to a small rest area by the stairs and put some porridge in a rice cooker before checking the glowing side door.
She carefully reached out-not with her hand, but with the frying pan. The pan easily passed through the glow. When she leaned out to examine it closely, she discovered that nothing beyond the pan could enter the light.
She was ecstatic!
But her excitement quickly turned to annoyance. She banged the door frame in frustration. "What kind of door are you? You let a frying pan through but not me? Are you saying I'm less important than cookware?"
The door remained indifferent to her outburst.
Sawyer sighed and knocked gently on the door. "Come on, don't be like this. If you let anyone in, what if it's a robber or worse? I could get hurt!"
To her surprise, she heard a faint, elderly voice reply.
"The Gate of Life will not permit those with malicious intent to enter. If any visitor threatens the master, they will be dealt with swiftly."
Sawyer blinked, tightening her grip on the pan. "Who are you? Why are you in my house? And how has my supermarket door become the 'Gate of Life'?"
"You ask too many questions. If you seek answers, concentrate on your business. It's late; time for an old soul to rest."
Sawyer was taken aback.
Frustrated, she kicked the door frame. "Were you messing with me earlier? Old soul? What kind of nonsense is this-"
"Ah, a young woman taking advantage of an elderly, defenseless man in the dead of night... Is this a sign of moral decay?"
Sawyer: "!!!"
She immediately bowed deeply, offering profuse apologies.
A door that could understand internet slang? Clearly, it was clever!
Now she regretted everything. Why had she opted for cheap materials to make the side door? Now it seemed her door had somehow gained a personality!
With a heavy sigh, Sawyer returned to the lounge and grabbed another self-heating hot pot. Nothing solved problems like a good meal.
After a long day filled with work and fear, one hot pot wasn't sufficient-she needed two.
While eating, she glanced at the young boy resting on the small bed.
He appeared to be only eleven or twelve, wielding a sword that looked sharp enough to slice through iron.
His hairpin was gold, adorned with agate, and the jade pendant he wore was of exceptional quality-enough to buy a luxury apartment in the city.
Clearly, this boy came from a wealthy family. Now that her door had prompted her to "do her business well," she smirked. This boy was practically a little lamb ready to be sheared.
Why did she, a woman like her, dare to slip out of his sight without making a sound? Did she think this was a hotel? Light from the house streamed out as usual, and Izaiah dashed inside, but he couldn't find Ashley anywhere. The usual lights, the sofa, the TV wall, the sofa wall, the blue chandelier... it seemed to be missing something... That woman, that woman didn't even wait for him today. A smirk appeared at the corner of Izaiah's mouth. In the past, no matter how late he came home, that woman would always curl up on the sofa, quietly waiting for him to have a late-night meal. But today, he didn't see her at all. Indeed, she couldn't pretend any longer. Fine, he would let her experience the taste of being humiliated and bruised all over her body later. Izaiah was starting to feel tired. He changed his shoes, took a bath, but there was still no sight of Ashley, and her voice couldn't be heard either. It seemed... she was really not home. A sudden fury erupted in Izaiah's heart. Hastily wrapping his bath towel around himself and slipping his shoes on without care, he searched from the bedroom to the guest room, from the closet, even to the basement... every corner where a person could hide was turned upside down, and he still couldn't find her. Unable to find her, Izaiah's anger grew. This woman, her performance tonight was infuriating! He tried to calm down, forcing a smile on his lips, though his expression was far from pleasant. This woman's heart was growing more wild, doing as she pleased. Good. Leaving, are you? Then don't bother coming back. Izaiah bolted the front door and even locked his bedroom securely before turning in for the night. Without Ashley's nightly declaration of love before bed, without her scent, without her nauseating words, Izaiah found himself sleeping particularly well - better than he had ever slept before. Except for a faint sense of loss when he woke abruptly, and except for the icy cold temperature of his bed linens. The next day, Izaiah woke up not knowing how long he had slept. His eyes still held traces of sleep as he reached for his cellphone. To his surprise, it was almost eleven o'clock. "Ashley, are you courting death?!" Izaiah shouted habitually towards the doorway. If it was like before, Ashley would always bring him a glass of milk, with a disgustingly dutiful look as though she were a good wife and mother. Damn it, why didn't that woman wake him up today? He cursed inwardly as he snapped back to reality. Ashley had disappeared last night. After declaring that she wanted a divorce, she was gone. He wouldn't believe it. He simply wouldn't believe this woman could escape from his control. In no time, Ashley would beg him to return to her, to give her a little love, and yes, even to keep her. Ashley, that despicable woman. It was better without her. There would no longer be anyone to trouble him. Izaiah went to his company as usual. After all, he was the CEO of Flores Enterprise. What if he was late? Who dared to question his being late? From being an insignificant nobody to become the president of such a big company like Flores, There was no one in New York who would not envy him. They would be more envious of the fact that he had married the Flores' beautiful daughter, he had become a winner in life at a young age. However, life was not always so simple and perfect. Izaiah laughed bitterly, adjusted the tie around his neck and strode into the company. "Ashley, the company is still in my hands. Where can you run off to?" With familiar greetings in the background, Izaiah walked expressionlessly into his office. As soon as he sat down, however, the door was pushed open again. Joey said, "Good day, Mr President." Joey is a thorough "badass", the heir to the Gomez's Corporation. He has spent his entire childhood with Izaiah, and because of that, their relationship waxed quite strong till date. Despite being indifferent towards his family assets, Joey spends every day sucking up to Izaiah. Izaiah glanced at Joey and asked, "What's up?" Shaking off his joking demeanor, Joey threw a stack of documents at Izaiah, saying, "These are some psychological analyses regarding mental illness. You should take a look. I believe that Katelynn's condition is actually quite normal..." Izaiah glared at Joey who wisely chose to shut his mouth. Ashley is after all, Izaiah's wife in name. All high society was present for their wedding, and they all knew about their relationship. Of course, there were also those who knew that Ashley did not seem to get along with Izaiah. However, almost no one knew about Izaiah's relationship with Katelynn. The psychologically "fragile" Katelynn was terrified of rumors, so Izaiah seldom appeared with her alone, let alone allowing others to know of their relationship. Joey thought for a moment and said, "Is Ashley becoming jealous because you care so much about 'Katelynn'..." "Shut up," Izaiah replied without even raising his head.
["Genre": 70s + Military Marriage + Sweet Romance + Flirting + Rebirth + Divine Doctor + Space + Suspense & Investigation) Joanna Bennett never faced much hardship in her life, except for when her father fell seriously ill and her sister-in-law tormented her, nearly driving her to despair. She was sold to Ethan Fletcher for a dowry of $500. Resentful of her family's cruelty and disapproving of the Fletcher family's scheming, she couldn't tolerate the long separation and eventually eloped, only to suffer the loss of her child, leading to her divorce. This marked the beginning of her complicated life with Ethan Fletcher. Given a second chance, Joanna Bennett is determined to make amends for the regrets of her past life, especially when it comes to that seemingly cold but warm-hearted man who needs to be coaxed into opening up! With the skills and knowledge, she brought from her previous life, she vows to prevent her loved ones from facing early tragedies. She will study, practice medicine, raise her children, and achieve financial success, climbing to the peak of her life! Joanna Bennett is full of confidence, ready to live a vibrant and flourishing life.
In a whirlwind of unexpected twists and turns, From Heiress to Heartthrob unfolds the gripping story of Vivian Walker, whose life takes dramatic shifts from glamour to betrayal and back to brilliance. Once a beloved actress, Vivian sacrifices her career for love, only to face heartbreak and deception. At her lowest, she finds a new beginning with the heir of the prestigious Sweeten Group, who not only marries her but showers her with unwavering affection. As Vivian reinvents herself, her comeback is nothing short of spectacular. She returns to the limelight, dazzling audiences on the international stage and reclaiming her family's business empire. Amidst her meteoric rise, she grapples with the trials of life and love, as she and her devoted husband navigate the challenges ahead. In this compelling narrative, discover how Vivian's journey from a high-profile daughter to a triumphant star illustrates resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of true love.
For three years, she thought she was her husband's true love - until his ex appeared and shattered her world. Pregnant and heartbroken, she learned the devastating truth: she was merely a stand-in. As her husband begged for forgiveness, she had to decide - stay in his twisted love or walk away forever.
To survive, she had no choice but to enter a flash marriage with the heir to a powerful family in the capital. But ever since the wedding, her bad luck seemed to follow her, only for her to become the most sought-after "Fortune Goddess" everyone adored. As she got busier, she thought of their marriage as nothing more than a joke - until one day, he cornered her against a wall. you can only be mine!
No one knew that the strikingly handsome and incomparably noble heir of the Oran family had secretly gotten married-only for his wife to run away while carrying his child. That was, until one day, when the young Alex cornered the woman who had fled with his baby in front of all the media. Pressing her against the wall, he kissed her until her face burned crimson, then narrowed his eyes with smug satisfaction. Alex: "Moved?" The trembling little thing: "I-I daren't move!" Alex "I *allow* you to be moved." The shivering little creature pinned against the wall: "*Whimper*... I really daren't move!"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.