Independence

My husband's parents are dead. He says I'm now his sister's mother figure and need to care for her like she's my daughter. I work myself to the bone to feed her and pay for her expenses, but she's not happy with that. "My classmates drive to school and have trips abroad, Lorey. Can't you work a little harder?" She takes my car away and treats me like a maid. That's still not enough for her, though. When she finds out that I'm pregnant, she threatens to take her life. "You said you would care for me like I'm your daughter. I won't let you give someone else what's supposed to be mine!" I curse her in my heart. Who gave her the nerve to act like this?

Harper, an eighteen-year-old orphan fresh out of high school, yearns to claim her independence and make it into the cruel world on her own. Leaving the security of the only genuine family she's ever known, besides her father who passed away four years ago, she says goodbye to her foster parents who have sheltered her since she was fourteen. With her old SUV as her only sanctuary, she embarks on a journey across the United States in search of a college, a job, and a place she can call home. Finding romance was the last thing on Harper's mind, fueled by her father's last words to stay clear of men. But, what is she to do; when one fateful night an act of God thrusts her into the arms of a stranger who would change her life forever.

Naya has always been the pack's wolfless outcast—a deviant blamed for everything wrong, even seducing her sister's boyfriend. On a not so cheerful Christmas holiday, when her family's patience snaps, they conspire to cast her out. But Naya's fiery spirit catches the attention of Alpha Kieran, a powerful leader with an infuriating knack for seeing through her defenses. Amid the chaos, Naya's uncontrollable heat leads her to a passionate night with a mysterious man—only to later discover he's Kieran, the Alpha King feared for his ruthless reputation and revered as a billionaire tycoon in the human world. When Kieran discovers Naya is the mother of his children, his determination to claim his mate and family ignites an explosive battle of wills. As tension escalates, betrayal and misunderstandings force Naya to flee, culminating in a devastating car accident that nearly destroys everything. Yet Naya rises stronger than ever, carving a new life for herself among humans. But when a new man enters her life, Kieran's primal possessiveness awakens, and he refuses to let her go. Caught between two worlds and two men, Naya must navigate treacherous power plays, love, and her own transformation. Will Kieran's relentless pursuit shatter her independence, or will Naya's courage rewrite the destiny she was never supposed to have?

When I was seventeen, someone stabbed me in the womb, leaving me unable to have children for the rest of my life. My husband promised he would love me forever. Still, after just five years of marriage, he cheated on me with the very person responsible for my injury. They even had a child together, and he wanted me to divorce him so she could replace me.

My grandfather is a nationally renowned inheritor of an intangible cultural heritage. Today, I'm supposed to attend a grand ceremony as his rightful successor. However, when I arrive, I see my father's adoptive daughter already standing on the stage. She's dressed to the nines. She holds an award and is giving a thank-you speech, looking moved. In the past, I would've left without saying anything or speaking up for myself. Too bad for her that I'd been reborn. The discrepancy between our statuses is so large that we're basically from different worlds. Yet she has the nerve to claim to be my grandfather's successor and put on a show with what is supposed to be my family's.

My grandmother only knows how to draw one thing—infants. They're ugly, but people line up to buy the paintings. I watch as she takes those women into unlit rooms. Then, their bloodcurdling screams will ring out. Oddly enough, they always thank my grandmother when they're leaving. One day, I finally find out what exactly my grandmother paints. I discover the truth when I see an infant crawl out of one of the women's bellies—it looks just like the one my grandmother has painted.

I've loved Jonathan Pickle for half my life. I used my family's resources to help him attain success. However, in the third year of our marriage, he brought his mistress home to stomp all over my pride. That wasn't the worst of it—he even destroyed my family. … I open my eyes to see Jonathan in his university days. Unexpectedly, I'm not the only person who's been given a second chance at life.

Isadora’s life takes an unexpected turn when she’s forced into an engagement with the enigmatic and ruthless Luca Morretti. Known as a man with a dark past and an iron grip on the underworld, Luca is as dangerous as he is captivating. Trapped in his lavish mansion, Isadora struggles to maintain her independence while navigating his world of secrets, power, and bloodstained promises. But Luca’s obsession with her isn’t just about control—it’s personal. He knows more about her than he should, and every moment they spend together makes it harder for Isadora to resist the pull he has on her. As their lives intertwine, Isadora is faced with a choice: play by Luca’s rules and uncover the truth behind his motives, or risk losing the people she loves and her chance at freedom. In a world where loyalty is tested, danger lurks around every corner, and love is as perilous as betrayal, will Isadora survive being bound to Luca’s vow? Or will she fall for the man who holds her fate in his hands?

I was sitting at the police station. My landlord scolded me harshly and pointed at my nose. Out of nowhere, my mother called and berated me mercilessly. “Chloe went to your place and disappeared! Did you lose her?!” “I know you’ve had grudges against me and your brother all these years, but how could you take it out on your niece?” In my previous cycle, when my mother told me Chloe was missing, I panicked and searched for her everywhere. Instead of helping, my mom and brother’s entire family dragged me to court without hesitation. I could not understand it. Chloe disappeared on her way to my place. How was that my fault? I begged the police to clear my name and review all the surveillance footage in the city. But the footage showed Chloe arriving at my door that day, and I opened the door for her. After that, she was gone, as if she had vanished into thin air. I stared blankly at the footage of her hopping cheerfully into my apartment. I had no way to explain myself. My sister-in-law lost it. She was convinced I had killed Chloe and threw boiling oil at my face in a fit of rage. I ended up in the hospital. I was disfigured and completely crushed, both physically and emotionally. No matter how hard I tried, I could not recall ever opening the door for Chloe. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Chloe disappeared.

Julian Carter orders me to clean up his childhood sweetheart's new home when I'm still recovering from childbirth. "Everyone knows you're good at home economics! Things will be much easier for us with your help." I'm wrapping things up when I feel something dampen my pants. The discharge trickles down my leg and onto the floor. Nadine Stephens covers her mouth and cries dramatically, "What's that? It's so disgusting!" She even bends over and pretends to gag. Awkwardness and shame wash over me, making me want to dig a hole and hide myself. However, Julian grabs me and scowls. "I told you to come here to help. You're causing trouble on purpose, aren't you?" It's Valentine's Day, but he chases me out and tells me to go home. I wait for him for the whole night with our child in my arms. He only returns the following day with love bites on his neck. That's when I know we won't have a future together.