Urban Romance

Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant.Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love.But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic...And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal?***"She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..."A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company?Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?"The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer." 
A week before our wedding, my fiance, Jacob Murphy, says he must marry his first love, Megan Lawson, before we can tie the knot. Her mother has just passed away, and her mother's final wish was for them to get married.
"Megan's mom had always hoped for Megan to marry a good man. I'm just trying to fulfill her dying wish. Don't overthink this."
Meanwhile, my company is slated to launch a new jewelry collection, Eternal Love, on our wedding day.
"It's only a few hundred thousand dollars. It's more important that Megan honors her late mother's wishes," he snaps. "If you really care about the money, you can look for another groom."
Once I hear his cold-hearted remarks, everything becomes clear. I then turn away from him and call my family.
"I need a new fiance, Alex," I told my brother, Alexander Robinson. "Can you introduce me to someone else?" 
I marry the same man seven times, and he divorces me seven times for the same woman.
He does this so he can go on vacation with his first love as a supposedly single man while also protecting her from being the subject of scandalous gossip.
The first time we divorce, I attempt to take my own life to force him into staying. Despite being sent to the hospital in an ambulance, he didn't even bother to visit me.
The second time we divorce, I humble myself by applying to be an assistant at his company, all for the chance to see him more.
By the sixth time, I had already learned to quietly pack up my belongings and move out of his house.
At first, I was hysterical, but then I began to concede, and eventually, that grew to numb acceptance. Yet, time and again, he would remarry me on our previously agreed-upon date, only for history to repeat itself.
Finally, one day, after I hear that his first love is returning to the country again, I voluntarily hand him the divorce agreement.
Just like before, he promises to remarry me again on a certain date. But he doesn't know that this time, I'll be leaving for good. 





On Sierra Shaw's 25th birthday, her boyfriend, Benson Gray, puts an engagement ring on another woman's finger. He tells Sierra to be more magnanimous and transforms her birthday party into a party for the woman in his arms.
Fine, then. He can go to her, too.
Sierra demands a breakup, but Benson is unfazed. He makes a bet with his friends—he says Sierra will come groveling at his feet in less than three days…
However, the next time he sees her, her arm is in his uncle's. She throws a marriage certificate in his face and says, "I'm your aunt now, nephew dearest. Don't forget to address me properly!" 

Lucius White, one of Windmere's most prominent men, suddenly learns that he has been married for a year. He slaps a divorce agreement on the table, grabs his total stranger of a wife, Valerie Collins, and drags her to the courthouse.
However, on the very day they plan to divorce, two bolts of lightning strike. The first bolt turns their marriage certificate to ashes. The second bolt crashes the courthouse's network. Unable to separate, they have no choice but to live under the same roof.
One day, Lucius uncovers not one but several secrets about his wife.
He learns that the elusive Phantom Healer Thirteen Needles is, in fact, his wife.
The genius hacker known as Zero? She's also his wife.
The top talisman maker in the mystic arts world? Still his wife.
The legendary grandmaster of ancient martial arts? Again, his wife.
Even the modern medicine prodigy who has brought glory to the country time and again also turns out to be his wife.
Lucius goes online and posts, "My wife has so many hidden identities that I've lost count. How am I supposed to deal with this?" 
Natalie Walker is a fake heiress who spends two decades acting as Diana Ashcroft's walking blood bank. When the true heiress returns, she's immediately kicked out of the house.
The true heiress mistreats her, and everyone mocks her. Then, the world is stunned when she suddenly turns out to be the only daughter of the Walker family, the country's wealthiest and most mysterious family.
Natalie's birth parents and five brothers dote on her like mad. Her allowance is boundless, and she can splurge on whatever she wants. She can drive any limited-edition sports car and buy haute couture if she wants…
She also has a fiancé who's supposedly the wealthiest man in the world. However, he either avoids meeting her or gives her the cold shoulder. He even comes knocking, saying that he wants to call off the engagement.
Natalie thinks it's perfect. Unexpectedly, after calling off the engagement, he pesters her, wanting to be affectionate with her all the time.
Natalie is irritated. "Can you have a little shame, Mr. Ex-Fiancé?"
Marcus Holden says, "What is shame? Can I eat it? Can it help me win my wife's heart?"
"Get lost."
"You're only telling me that because you love me. Why haven't you said it to anyone else?"
Everyone realizes that the revered Marcus is actually a hopeless romantic who only has love on his brain.
Meanwhile, Marcus wants nothing more than to beat his old self up for being blind. 
I dive into the ocean to save Preston Gale. After doing CPR on him in front of everyone, the wedding that is meant for my cousin, Roxanne Shaw, somehow falls to me instead.
On our wedding night, Preston prefers to drown himself in alcohol rather than spend the night with me.
I'm foolish enough to think that if I keep at it, he'll come around eventually.
Three years later, Roxanne returns, holding a child who looks so much like Preston that it stops my heart for a second.
Only then do I finally understand that while I spent that wedding night alone, he was with her.
"Rox, I know these years have been hard on you. I'll make it right. I'll make sure Lexi gives your place as Mrs. Gale back to you," Preston says.
I tell him I'm pregnant, too, hoping it might change something. However, it doesn't.
He coldly tells me to abort it, before forcing me onto the operating table, ending two lives at once.
When I open my eyes again, I'm back on the day Preston fell into the sea.
Soaked through, he's lying there, and I scream Roxanne's name into the crowd, my voice cracking with desperation. 



Lila Hart spends five years pining after Damian Cross. He tramples her dignity, sets her up, and ruins her reputation.
She fakes her death, vanishes, and lands at a world-class research center, where she rises to the top as a leading researcher everyone courts.
Damian drops to his knees, desperation in his eyes. "I finally see it, Lila. You're the one I love the most. Please give me one more chance."
She says, "The Lila Hart who loved you is dead. We're strangers now."
Rhett Draven is the golden heir to a family that stands at the pinnacle of Evermere's high society. Again and again, he's drawn to Lila's grit, decisiveness, and beauty.
At the party, he treats her like something priceless and reserves her for the grand finale. Her new alias brings the house down.
Rhett watches as admirers crowd around her, laughter and light conversation filling the air. Jealous, he slips to her side and murmurs, "You said you'd make it official. When do we tell the world?"
Lila gives him a soft kiss, hooks a finger under his jaw, and beams. "Is this enough?" 

Avery Langford finally gets pregnant after five years of marriage and 99 rounds of IVF.She carries the prenatal report home, ready to share the joy with her husband, Damien Whitlow, only to freeze outside the study when she hears him bantering with his friends."There are things Avery never knew. I faked her infertility report and made her go through 99 IVF attempts. The baby she's carrying isn't mine—it's Julian Whitlow's. And the truth is, the woman I've loved all along is Serena Langford."The shock hits Avery like a bucket of cold water, and Damien still keeps talking."Next week at our fifth-anniversary dinner, Grandpa will announce me as the heir. That's when I'll make sure everyone knows Avery's been sleeping with that bastard, Julian!"Avery trembles with rage, her whole body shaking. She crumples the report in her fist, pulls a number from her blocklist, and types, "Julian, I want to discuss a big deal." 

[Update 4 chapters daily] Nancy Moore grows up indulged and sheltered by the influential Moore family, only to discover one day that she is actually the daughter of the far less notable Liddell family.Her adoptive parents, fearing she will suffer if sent back, support the Liddells discreetly behind the scenes. Not wanting to add to their burden, Nancy quietly slips away to rejoin the Liddells.But the Liddells, arrogant about their noble status, greet her return with scorn. Her birth parents accuse her of lacking the grace of a "real" heiress, unlike their adoptive daughter, Raine Liddell—who's talented and accomplished.They claim, "An heiress needs to pick up all sorts of skills and knowledge. You need to learn from your sister."Later, the Liddells boast about Raine being qualified for the finals of a piano competition, only to spot Nancy on the judges' panel.They are proud of Raine's status as a designer prodigy, and that she dreams of studying under a national treasure, only to find that figure is none other than Nancy.When the Liddells warn Nancy to not fantasize about Raine's fiancé, who's also the heir of the Fuller family, the said heir declares his love for Nancy while holding her lovingly. "When are you going to acknowledge me as your partner, babe?" he asks.Having made discovery after discovery on Nancy's actual identities, the Liddells finally realize that Nancy is the key to their ascension through the elite's ranks. Regret floods them, tears tracing lines down their cheeks as they plead for her to return.But the elite Moore family snaps, "Get lost! From now on, Nancy is only a Moore!" 

On the day Jeanette Young is diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer, William Ashford cheats on her with his first love, Giselle Wills.
Jeanette doesn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she tries to fix the marriage with everything she has, only to be met with divorce papers and Giselle flaunting a baby bump at her doorstep.
That's when Jeanette finally gives up and agrees to the divorce. She takes the hefty settlement, and since she won't live long anyway, goes on a revenge spending and investment spree.
Who would expect a random project she invests in to go viral overnight? A lottery ticket she buys hits 50 million dollars in winnings, and even the broke college student she sponsors turns out to be a future business prodigy.
In the blink of an eye, Jeanette becomes the most powerful investor in the game.
With money comes health, so her condition steadily improves, her career soars, and countless suitors vie for her attention. Even her cold ex-husband—William—starts getting attracted to her and frequently begs for reconciliation.
One night, the teary-eyed William pleads, "Please just give me one more chance."
Jeanette smiles. "Your life's a mess, Mr. Ashford. You don't deserve me."
Later, she learns the hard way that careless words do invite trouble. 

‘Callie,’ he began, his voice husky, ‘crying over your ex-boyfriend won’t solve anything.’Confusion etched across her face, Callie furrowed her brows.‘Then what will?’ she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration.Elias leaned closer, his warm breath caressing her cheek. ‘You need to show him what he’s lost. Find a man who’s more handsome, more powerful, and richer than him. Then, make a grand entrance into his life with your new partner.’Callie scoffed, her eyes rolling in disbelief. ‘Where am I supposed to find someone like that?’Elias’s fingers gently lifted her chin, locking their gazes together.‘I can be that man,’ he said. ‘If you agree to be with me, I’ll protect you from any harm, including your ex-boyfriend.’**********************************************Elias Westwood, billionaire heir turned professional solider, a commanding presence on the battlefield, conceals a tender heart that beats for only one woman——Callie Hawthorne, a fearless surgical resident, possesses an innocent charm and wields her skills like a warrior in the operating theatre.Their first encounter thrusts them into a dangerous game of deception. Elias uses Callie as a pawn, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, fooling his pursuers. In that moment, Callie feels the allure of the enigmatic soldier, and a strange connection sparks between them.An impulsive decision seals their fate—a hasty marriage to escape an arranged union and prove Callie’s readiness to move on from a past love.Little did they know, this act would propel them onto an unforeseen path. Amidst the chaos of war, Elias risks his life for his countrymen, while Callie tends to the wounded and shelters refugees.In the midst of battle, a tender love blossoms. Elias’s strength and haunting scars captivate Callie, who shares the pain of being an orphan. She admires his unwavering bravery, finding solace in their shared experiences.Yet, their bond faces relentless challenges. Women vie for Elias’s attention, while men yearn for Callie’s affection. Sinister forces within the army conspire against Elias, and false accusations threaten to tear Callie away from the man she loves. And Elia’s search for the truth about his parents’ deaths leads him to confront one of the country’s most powerful families.Passion collides with suspense, and love battles against those who seek to tear them apart. Will Elias and Callie emerge unscathed from the shadows, or will their sacrifices shatter their dreams forever? Discover their fight for a future filled with hope, trust, and the promise of a happy ending. 
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. 
Chloe Quall trades her military uniform for an apron and dedicates herself to building Curtis Green's company.
In return, she hears him say, "Chloe, how could you ever compare to Sonya? She's a strong, independent female captain, while you're just a useless secretary, pouring coffee and passing memos."
Even his friends mock and dismiss her as nothing.
None of them know that she once led the special forces, where flying fighter jets on missions was as routine as breakfast for her. She's fluent in five languages and graduated as the top science student in Corvessia. Even elite hackers answered to her.
On the day she receives her parents' ashes at the military camp, Curtis is busy escorting his first love's mother to the hospital for a minor wound.
That's the final blow. Chloe signs the divorce papers and heads to the airport, cradling her parents' urn.
The whole of Corvessia is shaken. Generals and soldiers come in droves to salute her departure. And that's when Curtis finally realizes his ex-wife comes from a family of heroes, her home filled with medals of honor.
He was the one who was never worthy of her.
Later, jealousy consumes him as he watches Brian Steele—heir to Corvessia's most powerful family—stand at Chloe's side.
With his arms wrapped possessively around her waist, Brian murmurs in her ear, "You're mine, Chloe. If you ever dare to rekindle things with your ex, I'll make him disappear."
Chloe gives the powerful, ruthless man a bored look and responds with a dismissive roll of her eyes. That night, Brian backs her against the door and pleads desperately for her love. 
The entire school thinks that Laura Lane and Shayne Jameson are a match made in heaven.
Shayne is the most handsome guy who's worshipped by all. Blessed with a tall physique, long legs, and an insanely handsome face, he's often spotted wearing a black windbreaker that makes him look cold and distant. His cool yet arrogant appearance often attracts countless girls to proclaim their love for him.
But the thing is, Shayne only has eyes for Laura. They are childhood sweethearts who have grown up together, after all.
When they were celebrating their first birthday, they huddled together happily.
When they were seven years old, their families decided to betroth them to each other.
At the age of 14, Shayne had written Laura a love letter. Once he turned 16, he confessed to her right away.
When they turned 18, they promised each other they'd get into the same college.
But in their senior year, a new transfer student named Melinda Sherman joins their class. When the homeroom teacher is organizing the one-on-one study plan, she specifically assigns Melinda as Shayne's partner.
She reiterates, "If you refuse to help Melinda out, you can forget about dating Laura at school from now on." 

Mercity's richest man, Adam Alvarez, has been comatose for three years. His wife, Celine Tate, cares for him throughout. But when he wakes up, she finds a flirty text in his phone. His first love is back in the country.
His friends, who have always looked down on Celine, laugh about the matter. "It's time for the ugly little duckling to get kicked to the curb now the swan is back."
Only then does Celine realize Adam has never loved her. She's nothing but a poor joke.
So, one night, Mr. Alvarez receives a divorce agreement from his wife. The reason for the divorce—there's something wrong with his health.
Adam goes after Celine, his expression dark. That's when he discovers her standing under gleaming lights, looking gorgeous in a long dress. She's suddenly become a medical expert.
When she sees him, she smiles. "Are you here to see an andrology specialist, Mr. Alvarez?" 
Scarlett Quinn is switched at birth by her family's nemesis. However, when she's found and reunited with her family, she realizes they don't like her at all.
Her seventh older brother is a genius. He bullies her for the fake heiress' sake.
Her sixth older brother is a master painter. He makes the fake heiress look good while making Scarlett look bad.
Her fifth older brother is a top celebrity. He stands up for the fake heiress and slanders Scarlett when they're both embroiled in a scandal.
Her fourth older brother is a high-ranking military official. He saves the fake heiress while undermining Scarlett.
Her third older brother is renowned in the medical field. He takes her kidney to save the fake heiress.
Her second older brother is an accomplished scientific researcher. He blames the fake heiress' mistakes on Scarlett.
Her oldest brother is a financial magnate. When Scarlett finally has a mental breakdown, he has her admitted to an asylum.
Her parents turn a blind eye to her suffering. They leave her at the asylum, not bothering to challenge the claim that she's insane. Ultimately, she's electrocuted to death by a freak doctor.
When Scarlett is reborn, she swears to change her fate. She leaves her mark in various fields, including medical, research, and finance.
All the people who once hurt her fall to their knees before her and beg for forgiveness.
She says, "Never!" 



I'm a photographer who has been specifically invited by Native Geographic to hike up Mount Morac in order to take a cover photo for the next issue.
Halfway up the mountain, I feel short of breath, and my heart keeps hammering in my chest. At the same time, I can feel my temples pulsing rapidly.
Realizing that these are the symptoms of altitude sickness, I quickly dig out an oxygen canister and inhale from it sharply.
But as soon as the gas hits my lungs, I realize that something is wrong. Immediately, I turn to look at my fiance, Julian Gray.
"What the hell is this?"
Strangely enough, my voice comes out shrill and high-pitched. I sound just like a cartoon character.
As soon as Julian and his junior colleague, Bianca Reed, hear my voice, they burst out in laughter.
"Ahahaha! Oh my god, you're too funny! Hahahah!"
Both of them holler in laughter. Bianca even starts hammering the snowy ground in a dramatic fashion.
I instantly realize that Julian and Bianca have secretly swapped out the life-saving oxygen canister to a helium canister instead just so they can pull a prank on me.
Once they finally have their fill of laughing at me, I manage to hiss out, "Give… Give me… the oxygen… canister…"
After Julian wipes his tears of laughter away, he waves a hand at me casually.
"Oh, Bianca's physically weak, so I've given her the oxygen canister. You're a strong one—just hang in there, and it'll pass soon enough."
I don't bother wasting my breath arguing with Julian. With trembling hands, I dig out a satellite phone.
"Mr. Perez, someone has maliciously switched out my oxygen canister to something else. I'm suffering from a severe case of altitude sickness right now. Please arrange for a rescue team to pick me up as soon as possible." 

Thaddeus Cromwell is about to marry his childhood sweetheart, Danica Watson. Louisa Graham, who has been by his side for seven years, neither cries nor makes a scene. Instead, she personally organizes a grand wedding for him.
On the day of Thaddeus' wedding, Louisa puts on a wedding dress as well.
Two bridal cars pass each other along a long, bustling street. As the brides exchange bridal bouquets, a customary gesture of goodwill in their country when wedding processions meet, Thaddeus hears Louisa say, "I wish you a happy marriage!"
Thaddeus runs after Louisa's bridal car for ten full miles before finally catching up. He grabs her arm and sobs tearfully, "Louisa, you're mine."
But a man steps out of the bridal car and gently pulls Louisa into his embrace. "If she's yours, then what about me?" 
Three years ago, I, Zara Yaxley, gave birth to a stillborn baby.
My husband, Steve Griffin, set up a private chapel at home to grieve. From then on, he becomes a pious man and embraces a celibate lifestyle in memory of our dead child. As a result, we only sleep together once a month.
No matter how I flirt or seduce him, he remains unmoved.
One night, I stand outside the door and see him gazing at a photo of his first love. It turns out that Steve isn't an unfeeling man. He just feels nothing for me.
So, I trick him into signing the divorce agreement and disappear from his world completely.
Later on, I receive news about him going crazy trying to find me.
When we meet again, it is at his uncle's wedding. I am happy and radiant in an elegant wedding gown, while he is immensely upset. His eyes are reddened as he stubbornly refuses to call me "Aunt Zara". 



I received a pornographic video."Do you like this?"The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts."Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response."You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!"The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed.I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella.************************************************************************************************************************“I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly.He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!"The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him."I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster.He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table.I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house. 
In her previous life, Lilah Hart was a ruthless business queen, commanding respect and fear across the corporate world. Now, she wakes up in the body of a notorious villainess from a melodramatic romance novel, hated by everyone and destined to lose everything—her reputation, her marriage, and her sanity.But Lilah refuses to play the victim again. This time, she fights back. She slaps her fake best friend without hesitation and clings to her cold, powerful husband, Gabriel Wallace, with tearful eyes and a pitiful smile. "Darling, I know you still love me. Let's get back together."Gabriel has resisted her countless times, but her charm finally breaks through. With a dark gaze, he pins her down and asks, "How exactly do you want to make up?" Lilah gives him a sweet kiss and whispers her bold request—seven times tonight. 




Five years ago, Natalie Lunsford was framed by her fiance, Morris Shelton, and her stepsister, Hailey Lunsford. While she was put behind bars, they took her child away and abandoned them.Five years later, she is released from prison, covered in scars. Yet, what greets her isn't her promised wedding but Morris and Hailey's grand engagement party.After Natalie endures the public humiliation, her memories resurface—she has never been a good-for-nothing pushed around by everyone. On the contrary, she's a genius who's been hiding her talent for years.International medical organizations beg her, a miracle doctor, to lead surgeries for them.Firewalls around the globe are useless in the face of a top-class hacker like her.She is also a genius painter whose paintings sell for hundreds of millions of dollars.Natalie smiles faintly. "It's about time I'm paid what I'm owed."Those who bullied and humiliated her in the past will eventually beg for mercy at her feet!Until, one day, a cute child hugs her legs and exclaims, "I've finally found you, Mommy!"Horatio Hurrell, known as the Prince of Jerrington, corners her against a wall. He rubs the imprint of a ring on her ring finger and says, "Our child's already this grown-up. How much longer are you going to continue hiding your identity, Mrs. Hurrell?" 
Diana Gyleon and Vincent Hendrix go from childhood sweethearts to bitter strangers. They've been married for years, yet in the end, she still loses to a woman who came out of nowhere.Night after night, all it takes is one phone call from that woman, and Vincent walks away without hesitation, leaving Diana behind.She can't forget the deep love of their youth, the way she once loved him to her very bones. With a heart full of sincerity and passion, she believes that if she loves hard enough, she can win him back.But love is the one thing in this world that one can't force. Her devotion only earns her scars from cut after invisible cut.Until one day… she finally gives up. And in that moment, she realizes that love is fleeting. It's beautiful, but impossible to hold.Heartbroken and numb, she decides to walk away. And from the moment she leaves, her world begins to shine. But Vincent panics.For years afterward, he begs and pleads for her to look back just once, but all he can do is watch her take another man's hand.She says calmly, "Mr. Hendrix, I stopped wanting you a long time ago." 