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.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
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."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.Â