Urban Romance

After five years in love and three years of marriage, Noelle Spencer believes she and Conner Ashford will grow old together. Even after receiving news of his tragic plane crash, she clings to the vow that not even death can do them part—they will stay together, in life or death.That is, until she learns the truth that Conner isn't dead—he's simply become another woman's husband.After resolutely severing her love and all ties for Conner, she ends this ridiculous farce and agrees to the marriage arranged by her family. When Sebastian Cole—Norland's most unattainable golden bachelor—takes a divorcee as his wife, the elites erupt in scandalized whispers. Even Noelle believes he must have some underlying malady to have hastily settled for her. But since the Coles had granted her her desires, she at least owed it to Sebastian to keep up appearances.Ever so thoughtful, she suggests, "If you're impotent, we could adopt. I'll hide away for a while, and we'll tell everyone the baby's ours."Sebastian's grip tightens around her waist as he whispers, "If you want a child, simply say so, Mrs. Cole. Must you go around in polite detours just to ask?"In Sebastian's circle, friends whisper behind his back and wonder why a man with his money and pedigree chooses to play the lovesick fool.But Sebastian responds with an unbothered smirk, "What's so bad about being a fool? I did end up getting everything I wanted."They mock him for wearing the title like a proud badge, but they'll never understand his quiet agony of having loved from afar and how hard it was to have won Noelle over. 
Emily Powell is a proper young lady—her wildest act to date is sleeping with her fiance's best friend. At Ivory Hotel, the door to the presidential suite on the 72nd floor swings open. A large, veined hand suddenly pulls Emily inside."Em, when will you call off the engagement?" Ezra Newman whispers, lowering his head to kiss her earlobe. Though his tone is casual, he holds her tightly in his embrace. Leaning weakly against the one-way floor-to-ceiling window, Emily murmurs, "Ezra, just wait a little longer…"Ezra lifts her skirt, his movements urgent yet tender as he pours out his love."I can't wait any longer… I want you all to myself. To be with you every moment. Are you truly okay with me being your secret lover forever?"Tears well in her eyes, blurring her vision, yet Emily never once thinks of Ezra as just a secret lover. 
At 20, Lena Norwood marries Micah Shaw—her father's friend, who is younger than him but older than her.He's eight years her senior and known in their circle as a cold-blooded kingpin. He's ruthless in business and completely uninterested in women… except when it comes to her.With Lena, he's impossibly gentle. She casually compliments a necklace, and the next day, she receives a collection of million-dollar jewels.When her cramps leave her curled up in bed, he drops a billion-dollar deal to personally make her warm soup, feeding it to her spoon by spoon.When desire takes over, he grips her waist, voice hoarse as he whispers, "Baby, you're so sweet, it's addictive."All his social media accounts are named "For Alice". She always thought it was a tribute to the song she played on the piano the day they first met.Until one day... she finds an old photo album tucked away in his study. 

At a dinner party, Tessa Yates hears Zachary Gomez say, "Tessa is indeed pretty. I only pursued her because of her resemblance to Wendy. I've been trying to find traces of Wendy in her over the years."
Only then does Tessa discover that she's nothing but a stand-in. That night, she dials a number she hasn't called in a long time. "Hi, Dad. I'll return home for the marriage alliance."
Later, Zachary sees the woman he's been dreaming of for days—it's at the engagement party for Tessa and Stephen Jacobson. He loses his mind.
…
On the day Tessa objects to the marriage alliance and runs away from home, Stephen stands before the window and lightly swirls his wine. The look in his eyes is unfathomable as he says, "You'll obediently return to me one day, Tess."
Rumor has it Stephen is cold, aloof, and uninterested in women. Tessa believes that to be true. It's only after she gets to know him that she finds out just how wild he is underneath his stoic appearance. 
“A million dollars,” he said, his voice flat, like he was negotiating over a car, not a person.Astrid shook her head, opening her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.“Let’s make it two then,” he offered. She stared at him, stunned, wondering if he’d lost his mind.“Mr. Voss…”“Final offer. Five million,” he said, his gaze steady, unyielding.Astrid took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “Fine. I’ll be your wife.”***When Astrid Blythe, a rising event planner, runs into her ex, Adrian Voss, at his engagement party, she’s shocked to discover that his fiancée is missing. What starts as a strange encounter quickly spirals into something even more surreal when Adrian offers Astrid a proposal of his own: marry him in a cold, calculated, no-strings-attached arrangement.Despite her better judgment, Astrid agrees to the deal. But as the line between business and desire blurs, she finds herself drawn back into Adrian’s dangerous orbit—and realizes, to her horror, that she’s falling again for the man she once loved…the man who had a hand in the death of their child. 
Abigail Parker has only one impression of the Parker family—struggling older brothers, a blind mother, a father who loves to cry, and a broken home. Everything about them screams poverty.She shoulders the crushing burden of keeping the family afloat, desperately trying to piece together something resembling a whole from all the fragments.Some time later, Abigail is glancing at a towering skyscraper when her eldest brother casually says, "Like it? It's yours."She looks up at the night sky, and her second brother remarks, "See that star? I named it after you."She attends a concert, and when the singer removes their disguise, her third brother's face is revealed. When she looks toward her fourth brother, he shyly says, "I have a mine I'd like to give you..."Good God! Her entire family consists of hidden powerhouses. She's the only one who's actually struggling.Just as she's about to flee this madness, the man people say is her fiancé blocks her path. "Come home with me, sweetheart. Let me take care of you." 


He's cold and reserved, while she's wild and free.Driven by revenge, Giselle Holt weaves her way into his life, teasing him without shame and manipulating him with cunning and deceit. She ruins his engagement party, drives away the woman he loves, and tramples on his boundaries again and again.One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Giselle, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"She smirks, sly and teasing.Just like that, she barges into his life and does as she pleases, dragging him down from his pedestal, piece by piece, until nothing remains. 

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. 
It's their son, Jake Holden's, birthday. Lucas Holden secretly picks him up from kindergarten and throws a birthday celebration, with his assistant, Eva Parker, by his side.In the video, the three of them look like a perfect family.Sitting in front of the cake, Jake makes a wish and says, "I don't want Mom nagging me all the time. I wish Eva could be my mom instead."Lucas just stands there, smiling, with no intention of stopping him.Miranda Tate feels completely disappointed. That night, she decides to leave and let go of everything, walking away from both her husband and her son....At first, Lucas thinks Miranda is just upset about Eva being with him on Jake's birthday when she sends over the divorce papers.But when he sees his boss, Wayne Sunders, pull Miranda into his office and kiss her, Lucas finally realizes she really wants to leave him.Desperate and out of his mind, Lucas bursts into the room.Wayne steps in front of Miranda, and the wedding band gleaming on his hand makes Lucas' chest tighten with pain.Wayne says, "Sorry. She's my wife now." 
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". 
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?" 


In her past life, Summer was tragically killed by a scumbag and her scheming stepsister, and they also caused the death of the husband who loved her most. After being reborn, Summer takes the initiative to marry in the place of another, becoming the bride of a disabled husband.In this new life, she plans to tear apart those who wronged her and fiercely punish the scum.They say she's plain and unlucky for her husband?Until one day, when all her divine-level disguises are revealed, everyone who underestimated her is blinded by her brilliance.But what about the supposedly impotent, disabled big shot?By day, he is so gentle, pampering her to the bone; by night, he turns into a ravenous wolf and devours her completely![Foolish Bride Substitute + Hidden Talents + Rebirth + Strong Couple + Sweet Romance] 
In their seventh year of marriage, the fraternal twins that Yasmine Steele and Charlie Listford adopted accidentally fell down the stairs, which caused them to need an urgent blood transfusion.Yasmine wanted to use the blood that Charlie had previously donated to the blood bank, but their doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry, but we cannot accept transfusions from direct biological relatives."Yasmine froze before retorting, "My husband is not biologically related to our adopted children."However, the doctor turned the monitor toward her. "Our system shows that Charlie Listford is the biological father of these fraternal twins. Their biological mother is Zara Lane."Yasmine still didn't look convinced, so the doctor showed her the paternity test, which indicated a 100% probability that Charlie was the twins' father.The stark black ink against the white paper contrasted sharply, making her eyes water."Zara Lane…" she murmured quietly.Zara had been a low-income student whom the Listford family had funded. She was also a teacher at the orphanage from which Yasmine had adopted the twins.A few years ago, Charlie had grown frustrated at Zara's desperate advances and cut off all of her funding.Now, however, Yasmine had discovered that her adopted twins were actually Charlie and Zara's biological children. 

Connor Green cruises past with his secretary, Giselle Peterson, in the passenger seat, just as I get into a car accident and miscarry my baby. Upon seeing my bloodstained white dress, he shields Giselle's curious gaze and mutters coldly, "What a downer. Don't look!" Then, he steps on the gas and speeds away. That night, I find a lace bra tucked behind the drawer in the corner of our bedroom. It isn't mine. Closing the door, I make a call. I say calmly, "Mr. Denner, I've made my decision. I'll leave the city and start at your company next week." 



In the third year of their marriage, Lynette Sterling and Zachary Wright have their worst fight yet.
On their wedding anniversary, Lynette presents forensic evidence of non-consensual intercourse and reports Zachary to the authorities. "I'm reporting my husband for forcing himself on me," she tells the police.
At the police station, Zachary remains the picture of composure in a tailored suit, his fingertips still faintly stained red. Even in custody, he carries the cold weight of a man who owns the room.
An officer approaches, casting an uneasy look at the legal predator looming nearby. "Mr. Wright, how would you like to handle this?"
Lynette's heart sinks. They aren't asking how to deal with Zachary; they are asking Zachary how he wants to deal with her.
Zachary lifts a brow, a captivating yet dark smile playing on his lips. He hooks a finger under Lynette's chin, his voice a low purr.
"Nettie, you really didn't hold back on trying to destroy me. But how can you tell such a bold lie? You weren't this heartless before. You used to do everything you could to match my freak in bed." 

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?" 
Why am I covered in blood?" Her voice trembled as she struggled to make sense of the surreal situation.In the heart-pounding tale of "Twisted Tales," Lia Walton awakens to find herself entangled in a nightmare she cannot escape. Accused of a murder she can't remember, Lia's life spirals into a whirlwind of betrayal and injustice as she faces a trial. In the echoing corridors of uncertainty, questions abound. Will Lia face the cold steel bars of imprisonment?Damon Cortez, the charismatic scion of a business empire, was once meant to be Lia's salvation, yet destiny twists their paths into a labyrinth of heartache and revenge. Bound by ties of love and betrayal, Damon is consumed by a thirst for retribution, plunging both Lia and himself into a deadly game of cat and mouse. As the lines between captor and captive blur, Lia is forced to confront her deepest fears: Will she succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume her, or will she rise from the ashes of despair to reclaim her destiny?Brace yourself for a journey where love and revenge collide in a battle for the soul, and only the strongest will survive. 

Having been married for one year, Genevieve Whitfield doesn't expect that she'll get divorced soon, even though the honeymoon phase isn't over yet.
Back then, she chose to conceal her identity and marry Zachary Lambert in order to repay him for his benevolence. Little does she know that her repayment is met with cruelty instead.
Zachary dotes on his pretentious childhood sweetheart, Regina Sloane, a lot. Genevieve's mother-in-law, Sylvia Jenkins, berates her for not being able to give birth. Even Zachary's younger sister, who's still a teenager, has the gall to push her around.
Fine. Whoever wants Zachary can have him. Genevieve doesn't hesitate to hand over the divorce agreement right away.
Wait, Zachary doesn't want a divorce? It's fine. Genevieve has an array of methods and brute strength on her side.
She can't get a cent out of this divorce? Heck no! She will make sure to obtain every single cent that's rightfully hers!
After dumping Zachary, Genevieve's alter egos are stripped one by one by the public. She's a medical genius, a genius artist, as well as a top-tier perfumer.
Zachary clutches his chest, clearly regretting his decision. He's willing to present everything he has on a silver platter to her just to beg her to remarry him.
But the bastard child, Tristan Hale, of the Lambert family has Genevieve all cornered. She tries to escape from him, only for him to kiss her.
With a small smile on his face, he declares, "You're mine." 


Alice Williams marries her childhood sweetheart, Noah Smith, but on the night she goes into labor, she is locked in a wine cellar at minus 10 degrees Celsius. As contractions tear through her like knives, her husband cuts off her lifeline to save his "eldest brother's wife" and her fake pregnancy. His younger sister mocks her while stepping on her blood: "Does a bastard deserve to compete with the heir of The Smith Family?"After a forced abortion, Alice discovers hidden secrets behind her father's bankruptcy and suicide. Stolen cancer drug formulas, corporate sabotage, and murder—everyone in The Smith Family is an accomplice! When she storms the Smith Family's birthday banquet and strips off her mask as the "eldest grandson's wife," she realizes she was nothing but a pawn in their surrogacy scheme.The man who once swore, "I will protect you," personally pushes her into the abyss. As Noah Smith coughs blood and repents in prison, she strokes her newborn's face and turns the ruins of the Smith Family mansion into a children's hospital named after her father.The apricot blossoms still bloom, but the person under the tree has fallen into darkness.For her, life is just beginning... 



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." 
"System, I want to leave this mission world."The system quickly appears. "Your request has been approved, Sabrina. You'll have half a month to say your goodbyes to your family in this world."It disappears as quickly as it comes. Sabrina York is dazed at the mention of her family, and she slowly turns to look at the family photo on the table beside her.In it, her husband and son kiss her on each cheek, their eyes filled with love. It's a happy sight, but it makes her mind wander.No one knows she's a Challenger. Ten years ago, the system brought her to this world so she could win the affections of Jordan Faust, a scion in Jellipolis.Throughout those ten years, she and Jordan fall in love and end up marrying. Not only does she successfully complete her mission, but she also falls for her target. 
I'm tricked into working at Hook-Up Club in Thesbia with my best friend, Tanya Sutton. It's an establishment where men only have to pay three thousand dollars to have us for the day.
I'm the club's top earner when the police arrive with the Suttons and see me straddling a rich man, counting cash. Meanwhile, Tanya lies in the basement, heavily pregnant and in a vegetative state.
I know the truth, but I maintain absolute silence even when the Suttons offer a five-million-dollar bounty for the human trafficker. I pretend to be asleep when Tanya's mother, Jasmine Cole, kneels and begs for the truth, and I also refuse to say anything during police interrogations.
Timothy Sutton, my boyfriend and Tanya's brother, loses his temper and violently straps me into the Memory Judgment Seat.
"How could you let the trafficker go while Tanya suffers? I feel disgusted knowing I loved you! I'll use this memory extractor to send you and the trafficker straight to hell, Miranda Lund!"
Yet when the entire truth is revealed, Timothy is struck dumb and falls to his knees.





During her five years of marriage, Teresa Sutton has selflessly devoted herself without complaint.
She raises her child, is respectful of her in-laws, and gives her husband ample personal space.
Yet, her selfless dedication earns her a husband who keeps a lover on the side. He gifts her cars and houses. He arranges jobs for her. He kisses and hugs her. He even gives her piggyback rides.
Hoping to make her straying husband settle down, Teresa decides to try for a second child.
She thinks Cameron Langdon's willingness to have a second child with her means he acknowledges her identity as Mrs. Langdon. Instead, the reality is that her husband fears the risks of childbirth for his young lover, so he makes Teresa the breeding tool.
Despite losing her husband, Teresa thinks she at least has her daughter for company. However, her own flesh and blood she raised has also become someone else's snuggle buddy.
In the end, Teresa loses all feelings in an instant. She terminates her second pregnancy and is determined to get a divorce. She wants neither her husband nor her daughter.
While Teresa waits for the divorce formalities to be processed, her husband, who once never came home, now corners her in the living room.
"I thought we'd have a second child?" 

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." 

In my previous life, at Gavin Hart's birthday party, his so-called best friend, Vanessa Troy, bragged that she knew every size he'd ever been over the years.I slapped her right across the face in front of everyone, broke down in tears, and ran out of the house. Later on, a car hit me, and that was the end of my story.After I died, Gavin lost his mind. He made sure Vanessa paid for it too, trapped between his guilt and obsession until neither of them could live in peace.Meanwhile, I cried my soul out every day in the Court of the Underworld, begging for justice. Why did I have to be the one torn apart by love and pain?The Lord of Souls then took pity on me."Earn a hundred points of heartbreak," he said, "and I'll give you another chance."When I open my eyes, I'm back at the same birthday party, my arm linked through my best friend, Samuel Reed's.He casually announces my exact measurements in front of everyone. "I just measured you. Still the same as in high school."I give him a playful glare, pretending to be annoyed."Shut up. With hands that slow, you're nothing compared to my husband."Across the room, Gavin smashes his glass. His face darkens as he points at Samuel. "Clara Whitlock, what the hell do you mean by that?"The reaper assigned to watch me whispers in my ear, "You're here to collect heartbreak points, not to get yourself killed."Before he even finishes, my heartbreak meter jumps by five points. 
At her lowest point, Jasmine Scott signs an agreement with Calvin Ford's mother, marrying Calvin in exchange for financial support.
For three years, she plays the perfect wife—gentle, obedient, and endlessly patient. She cares for Calvin, helping him recover from both his disability and his anger, guiding him to stand on his feet again.
She thinks they might just make it work. But then, Olivia Zeller, Calvin's true love, returns.
On a stormy night, Calvin doesn't hesitate to abandon Jasmine just to pick Olivia up.
Later, he lies about a business trip, only to secretly attend a concert with Olivia. He even brings Olivia home and flirts with her right in front of Jasmine.
Jasmine finally decides to end it after one too many disappointments. She files for divorce.
...
The next time Calvin sees Jasmine is at a glamorous banquet. His dull and boring ex-wife now stuns in haute couture, glowing with grace and elegance.
When he catches her giggling at another man, eyes sparkling, Calvin snaps and seethes with jealousy. He corners her and growls, "Jasmine, who gave you permission to be with another man?"
Without missing a beat, Jasmine slaps him. "Who let you off your leash? Touch me again and I'll report you for sexual harassment!"
...
Jasmine moves into a new home, where she meets a gentle and dependable neighbor named Joshua Sutton.
He teaches her how to trust again, treats her with care, and spoils her like a princess. Every time she struggles, he stands behind her quietly and steadily.
Dates, love confessions, a proposal, even the wedding—he plans everything down to the tiniest detail. She doesn't have to lift a finger.
And that's when Jasmine finally realizes this is what it feels like to be truly cherished. 

Willow Nason suffered a calculated betrayal. Her virginity was taken, and the man from that fateful night left a token of his presence behind.However, she lost the token and could not locate the man, leaving her with nothing and an uncertain future.Five years later, armed with four little treasures, she returned with a determination to turn things around.Unintentionally, she drew the attention of an immensely powerful figure who held the power to make life-altering decisions in the world.First child: "Mommy, I've hacked into the tycoon's company. He'll come to apologize to you."Second child: "Mommy, I accidentally got involved in a scheme and lured the tycoon to our home."Third child: "Mommy, the tycoon wants to take me abroad to taste gourmet food."Fourth child: "Mommy, Daddy left you a priceless token."She had always believed her treasures to be ordinary little kids, so why were they all prodigies?!Then, a certain influential figure who was cold and imposing arrived at her home. He forced her to the corner of the bed and said, "Woman, you gave birth to my children secretly. You need to be held accountable for that." "What do you want me to do?" Willow said in a panic.The tycoon wrapped his arm around her waist. He flashed her a devilish smile and said, "Give birth to another one." 


On their fifth anniversary, Gemma Hodge brings Theodore Barre home to meet her parents. But what he gives her is no ordinary gift.First, he ties her father to a chair and, right in front of the helpless man, rips Gemma's clothes off.Then, he leaves the door wide open, letting her frail, confused mother—lost to Alzheimer's—run straight into the storm.Rain lashes down as her mother stumbles into the street. The screech of a truck's brakes comes too late.Her father, still bound, watches helplessly as his wife's body crumples beneath the wheels. Then, powerless, he sees Gemma violated right before his eyes.Something inside him snaps. With a roar, he breaks free and leaps from the 23rd floor. His blood splashes into a sizzling oil pan at the food stall below. 


After fulfilling her marital duties with her best friend's older brother, Harlan Jefferson, for the umpteenth time, Anthea Murphy sat on his lap. She had been holding on for the past hour. Even though beads of sweat coated his temple, he was still unable to recover to his normal state. "How about… we try something different?" Blushing, Anthea suggested softly, feeling sorry for him.Gently ruffling her hair, Harlan replied, "It's alright. I'll deal with it myself. Go and take a shower."As the water poured from the shower head, the steam wrapped her, but it suddenly dawned on her that she had forgotten to bring her pajamas in.However, as soon as she opened the bathroom door, she heard Harlan muttering from the living room, "Beatrice."