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At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
The rainy season had arrived, and the rain poured endlessly.
The wind swept the clouds away, allowing the rain to fall freely. Inside the dance studio, a group of children in ballet attire practiced under the careful guidance of their instructor.
"Let your hands hang naturally, arms forming an oval shape. Pay close attention to the teacher's movements..."
Angela was focused on her teaching.
Meanwhile, parents who had come to pick up their children gathered in small groups, whispering about the hottest topic in San Francisco:
[The Moore family has finally found their long-lost daughter after twenty years.]
"So, Teacher Moore isn't actually related to the Moore family by blood? No wonder she doesn't look like them at all."
"I heard she was adopted from an orphanage, but now that they've found their real daughter, her position has become quite awkward."
"Even her fiancé, Alex, doesn't seem to want her anymore."
"They only adopted her because they couldn't find their real daughter. She was nothing more than a stand-in, a form of psychological comfort for the Moore family."
Their gazes fell upon Angela, filled with sympathy.
She was tall and fair-skinned-a classic beauty with striking bone structure.
Her almond-shaped eyes were particularly stunning, brimming with autumn-like softness and the elegance of distant mountains. Her long, slender legs appeared even more delicate in her black-and-white dance attire. Even without trying, she exuded an effortless charm.
She was composed and knew how to maintain proper boundaries.
Not only did the children adore her, but the parents also spoke highly of her.
When her class ended and she sent the students and parents off, a colleague approached her with concern.
"How's your foot?"
"It's alright."
"I kept signaling for you to rest. Why didn't you take a break?"
"The children and parents come here for me. If I sit down the entire time, I'm sure complaints will start rolling in." Angela smiled as she bent down to massage her right ankle.
Her right leg had been injured long ago and never fully healed. Rainy days brought unbearable pain, cutting her professional dancing career short. Now, she worked as a dance instructor at a training institute.
"It's raining... Is Mr. Rogers coming to pick you up?" her colleague asked while tidying up the equipment, eyeing Angela carefully.
Angela kept her head down, rubbing her ankle, making it hard to read her expression. Her voice was quiet. "He's been busy lately. Probably doesn't have time."
The colleague fell silent.
Busy?
Most likely busy keeping the Moore family's real daughter company.
Alex had pursued Angela for a long time, and he knew that her leg ached on rainy days. Every time it rained, he would personally pick her up and drop her off at work. Many colleagues had envied her for having such a wealthy yet attentive fiancé.
But ever since the Moore family announced the return of their biological daughter, Alex had rarely been around.
Instead, he was always out having fun with the real heiress.
Her colleagues couldn't help but feel sorry for Angela.
"Teacher Moore, if the pain is too much, take a couple of days off. I'll explain to the students and parents." The institute's director observed her carefully. "You can barely walk. It's still raining outside-do you want me to take you to the hospital?"
"No need, thank you. I have other things to do. I'll just take a cab." Angela changed out of her dancewear and left the institute. By then, most colleagues and parents had already gone.
A misty sky loomed overhead, the rain falling in a hazy drizzle. The institute was located outside the city center, making it hard to hail a cab in this weather.
Holding her umbrella, Angela decided to walk to the nearby bus stop, hoping to find shelter from the rain while waiting for a ride.
A cold wind, laced with fine raindrops, seeped into her bones, making her shiver. She had underestimated the weather and dressed too lightly.
Before she reached the bus stop, the roar of an engine sounded behind her.
The car was speeding, its tires splashing rainwater as it approached. Angela's breath hitched-something felt off. The vehicle was heading straight for her.
She stepped back hurriedly, her heel catching on the curb. She nearly stumbled into the damp grass of the landscaping area.
The screech of brakes pierced the air.
The car stopped just two or three meters away from her.
Her face went pale, breath unsteady.
"I'm terribly sorry! Are you alright?" The driver quickly opened the door and rushed over. Upon seeing her, he gasped in surprise. "Miss Moore?"
Angela looked at him, momentarily stunned.
He seemed familiar, but she couldn't immediately recall who he was.
At that moment, the rear passenger door opened.
A tall figure stepped out, dressed in an impeccably tailored British-style suit. His imperial-collar shirt was paired with a four-in-hand knotted tie. His presence was already cold, as if he carried frost and snow in his very bones-an aura of menace surrounding him.
His gaze was deep and detached, devoid of any warmth.
Holding a black umbrella, his features became clearer as he stepped forward-sharp brows, strikingly defined eyes, exuding an air of indifference and arrogance.
His strides were long, and within a few steps, he stood directly before her.
As the umbrella tilted slightly, it shielded her from the wind and rain.
"Mr. William?"
Angela's umbrella had unknowingly slipped from her grasp.
Under the cover of his umbrella, they were standing much too close for comfort-well beyond a safe distance. Feeling uneasy, she instinctively tried to step back. But the rain had made the ground slippery, and her right foot faltered.
Just as she was about to fall, Frances reached out, steadying her by the forearm.
Angela hadn't even processed what was happening before the warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her body.
Sharing the same umbrella, they stood incredibly close.
Close enough that Angela could catch the woody scent on him-warm yet crisp, refined yet restrained, its presence impossible to ignore.
The unfamiliar intrusion sent her mind into chaos.
"Thank you," she hurriedly said.
"You're welcome." Frances withdrew his hand. "It was my driver's mistake. I apologize for the scare. Miss Moore... your foot-do you need a ride to the hospital?"
"No, it's an old injury."
The driver, John, quickly chimed in, "The tires skidded in the rain. I'm really sorry. Luckily, you weren't hit. But just to be safe, let us take you to the hospital."
He apologized profusely.
"It's really alright, there's no need." Angela tried to refuse, but when her eyes met Frances', she felt an inexplicable chill.
Frances had arrived in San Francisco two weeks ago for unknown reasons.
Even among the noble families of the capital, his presence commanded attention. Wherever he appeared, people scrambled to curry favor. In a place like San Francisco, his influence was even more overwhelming.
Angela had only seen him once before-at a gala she attended with Alex.
At the time, he had been seated high above the crowd, exuding indifference.
His gaze, calm and unreadable, swept over the room with quiet intensity-like a wolf lurking in the shadows, observing its prey.
His presence alone was enough to make people's nerves tighten.
"Come on, the rain is getting heavier, and it's hard to get a cab around here," John urged. "I heard you're a dancer-if your leg gets seriously injured, that would be terrible. Let's just get it checked, so we can all feel at ease."
Angela understood what he meant.
Too many people wanted to ingratiate themselves with Frances. They were likely worried that if she refused now but claimed injuries later, they'd be accused of negligence.
Going to the hospital would put everyone at ease.
"Miss Moore, get in the car," Frances said, his voice cold and unreadable, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
Understanding his concern, Angela had no choice but to comply.
Inside the car, tension filled the air. She barely knew Mr. William, and the sheer weight of his presence was suffocating. Fortunately, the hospital was nearby, and they arrived in less than ten minutes.
The silence was overwhelming until her phone vibrated.
She answered. "Dad?"
"Where are you? Why aren't you here yet?"
"I just got off work-"
"I've told you countless times, quit that job! Our family doesn't need the little money you make." James Moore's voice was displeased. "People might think we can't afford to support you!"
Frances, gazing at the rain-speckled window, subtly clenched the fingers resting on his knee.
The gentle twilight cast a soft glow on Alexander's face. His striking features seemed sculpted by the gods. He was the same age as Sunny's dad, Lucas, and yet why was Alexander so gorgeous and young? Sunny had always believed her father Lucas was already impossibly handsome. But compared to Alexander, her dad suddenly seemed dimmed. "Uncle Alexander, what are you doing here?" Alexander replied gently, "Waiting for someone."Sunny tilted her head. "Who are you waiting for?"Alexander said softly, "Someone who may never come." There was a faint sadness in his eyes as he spoke, and something about it pierced Sunny' s heart. A wave of sorrow surged through her, tightening her throat and bringing tears. Sunny asked, "If the one is never coming back, why keep waiting?"Alexander looked at her and said seriously, "Because I promised her I would." Alexander then asked, "Sunny, have you ever fallen in love with someone?"Sunny answered,"Nope. My dad doesn't let me date early."Alexander smiled faintly."I did. I fell in love young."Sunny looked at him curiously, and Alexander added with a subtle smile,"Loving her was the happiest thing in my life. She means my world." Before turning twenty, Sunny had always been the apple of her billionaire father Lucas's eyes, until he was ruined overnight by his nemesis, trillionaire Alexander, the cold-blooded rising king of Chicago. Not only did this ruthless tycoon destroy Lucas's corporation, he even took Lucas's daughter Sunny back to his luxurious mansion...Then came an accident, and Sunny was back to the time when her father Lucas was still a teenager. She watched, stunned, as her father laughed wildly, hanging out with a group of reckless boys. And there he was, gripping Alexander by the collar, patting his cheek,"Admit it, Alexander, you lost, huh?" Everyone at school knew there were two people you couldn't mess with. Lucas, the heir to a powerful family, arrogant, fierce, born to be bad; Alexander, stunning, silent, stoic, with fists as hard as steel and bones even harder. They were sworn enemies. Lately, the school prince Lucas had a teenage girl trailing behind him, named Sunny, who looked 90% like him, always following in his footsteps. One day, Lucas, completely exasperated, shoved some cash into her hands. Lucas, "This is the last time. Stop following me. We are almost the same age. I can never be your dad!" Sunny was in tears, "Dad..." After that, Sunny really stopped following him. And Lucas found himself weirdly missing Sunny. Until he saw his archenemy Alexander pinning Sunny to the wall, asking coldly, "Do you like me?"Sunny blushed. "Y-yes... I do." Lucas gaped. His Sunny, dated with his nemesis Alexander? He was so furious he nearly exploded. Alexander smirked, "Admit it, Lucas, Sunny likes me, not you." Lucas, "..."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
"Rose, do you have to be this shameless?" He yanked her hair tighter, forcing her to lift her face. She stared straight into his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, I'm shameless. But what, you think you're any better? Talking about marriage one minute and pounding into me like crazy the next. We're just a pair of filthy lovers, aren't we? So stop pretending to be so righteous!" Alexander is aloof and arrogant; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his throne step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that CEO Alexander who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé. He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her stepmother. Her mind remained clear at all times. Now, her goal was no longer as simple as forcing Alexander to call off the engagement. Her desire had grown. She wanted to possess him completely-body and soul-to conquer him, to make him entirely hers. Only his powerful status and background could truly help her reclaim everything she had lost. She had always known what he wanted. She had always known how to provoke his anger, make him compromise, lure him into indulgence, make him lose himself-until he became a puppet of her.
Andy, staring at the man in front of her, felt her mind go blank, oddly thirsty. Her body instinctively leaned into his, subconsciously craving more, yet with an undercurrent of nervousness and unease. "Andy, are you going to pay for me?" Andy wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, the pressure increasing, suppressing the sounds rising from her throat. "I'll give you a discount." Charlie's body was solid, like a silent presence enveloping her, mixed with a familiar and intoxicating scent. "Charlie, you didn't turn off the light..." Now tinted with desire, his features remained striking, yet their invasiveness seemed to intensify. "Turn off the light?" His voice was deep, tinged with a trace of amusement. "Then how would you still see me?" The story begins with Andy, curious to finally see the legendary, breathtakingly beautiful star of the club. To her surprise, the irresistibly charming "star" turns out to be the owner of the club. Yet, she bluntly states her intention to pay for his company. Charlie, "This is a club, not a brothel." Later, by a twist of fate, Andy ends up sharing an apartment with Charlie, a high school classmate she once rejected. Their peaceful routine comes to an end one night when Andy learns from Charlie that she has been sleepwalking recently. Feeling a little embarrassed and unsure how to react, Andy asks, "Last night was the first time you saw me sleepwalking, right?" Charlie replies lazily, "There was another time." Andy falls silent for two seconds before hesitantly asking, "Did I... do anything?" "You suddenly ran out and hugged me." "?" Charlie raises an eyebrow and casually adds, "And you kissed me, touching me over."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.