What Are Some Books Similar To Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success?

"Marriage was never meant to be a love story. It was simply a transaction. But the heart doesn’t follow the rules." Eliza Foster thought she had no choice. With a sick mother and debts swallowing her family whole, she sees a marriage to Maximilian Grey, a ruthless billionaire, as the only way to survive. Cold, calculating, and emotionally closed off, Maximilian has no use for love. To him, Eliza is nothing more than a pawn in his high-stakes game, a tool to further his empire. But as they begin to live under the same roof, something unexpected stirs between them. Eliza, initially weak and defeated, slowly uncovers a hidden strength that even Maximilian can’t ignore. He begins to see more in her than the fragile woman he thought she was—her tenderness, resilience, and the quiet love she offers without expecting anything in return. As Eliza begins to understand the layers of pain Maximilian hides beneath his cold exterior, questioning everything. Can she continue loving a man who may never return her feelings? Or will Maximilian’s painful past shatter what they are beginning to build? Their marriage was never meant to be about love—but sometimes, the heart has a way of rewriting the rules. Will Maximilian allow himself to love, or will his dark past destroy their chance at happiness? Read now to discover whether love will win or if Eliza’s heart will be left broken.

After I shared my five-million-dollar commission with my department colleagues, they drag me to a hotel and celebrate with me for three days straight. But when I walk past the bathroom, I overhear a conversation between two of my colleagues that stops me cold. "Have the results of the vote come out yet?" What vote? Confused, I check my phone and find that I've been removed from the Project Department's group chat. "Who else could it be? Our hero, Zane Carter, received eleven votes. It was unanimous, and the motion was passed." "Serves him right. I've never liked him anyway." I freeze. I can't believe that my colleagues would betray me after what I've done for them. After taking a moment to calm down, I immediately decide to resign. The next thing I know, I receive a call from the company chairman, Wilson Smith. "Have you made up your mind? Quitting now would breach your contract. As a result, your five-million-dollar commission would be revoked. "You're also a key technical staff member. If you leave, your entire department would most likely be dismissed. Once that happens, your colleagues will end up unemployed. Are you sure about this?" I lower my gaze and let out a cold laugh. "Absolutely."

We had been married for three years, and together, our income was decent at twenty-six grand a month. Yet, we barely had two hundred bucks in savings. My husband was a nice guy, lending practically his entire wages to our next-door widow and her daughter. He covered their expenses when the daughter needed money for school, when the widow needed a little time at the spa, and when they wanted to give their home a new facelift. The moment my father fell ill and needed surgery, I went next door to ask for the money back. However, my neighbors slammed the door in my face. “Your husband chose to give us the money. Why should we pay you back?” Enraged, I sought help from my husband, only to be criticized. “I felt bad for them. Why did you demand payment when they are already struggling? What’s wrong with you?” I smirked. That night, I decided to do a good deed by spending my entire paycheck to help a broke college hunk. The next day, our power was cut off for unpaid bills, and my husband lost an unfinished document he hadn’t saved. Putting his finger up my nose, he gave me a piece of his mind. “Where’s your money? Why didn’t you pay the bills?” I replied with the most innocent look on my face, “I helped a struggling college student. His life was falling apart because he had to deal with a sick mom and a deadbeat dad. His needs should come before the utility bills.”

Leo D’Angelo had it all—power, privilege, and passion. As heir to one of Europe’s most formidable business empires, his life was defined by control and success. But a tragic accident shatters that illusion, leaving him paralyzed and questioning everything he once took for granted. Enters Maya Sullivan, a gifted and spirited rehabilitation specialist whose compassion challenges Leo’s bitterness. Their professional boundaries blur as connection turns into something deeper—an unspoken bond that stirs hope in a man who believed himself broken. But love in Leo’s world is never simple. Valentina, his former lover, returns carrying a secret that could alter everything: she’s pregnant with his child. Under family pressure and corporate scrutiny, Leo is forced into marriage to protect his legacy, while Maya is quietly paid to walk away. As alliances fracture and enemies circle, Leo becomes trapped in a web of deceit orchestrated by Alessio, Valentina’s manipulative ex, whose vendetta threatens both the D'Angelo empire and the woman Leo can’t forget. Now, torn between duty and desire, Leo must confront the truth—about love, loyalty, and the cost of redemption. In a world fueled by ambition and guarded by lies, can love survive when everything else is for sale?

Those words defined Claire Reid's entire life—and her death. At twenty-eight, she dies in a hospital bed surrounded by the family she sacrificed everything for: the father who forced her to quit school, the sister who took everything she had, the husband who treated her like an inconvenience, and the mother who demanded endless gratitude for their abuse. As her heart stops, Claire sees their relief and realizes the devastating truth: she wasted her life loving people who never loved her back. Then she wakes up. One year earlier. One month before her family frames her for theft. This time, Claire refuses. Refuses to give money. Refuses to stay silent. Refuses to be grateful for crumbs. Armed with knowledge of their betrayals and a fury born from her wasted first life, she systematically dismantles their manipulations, exposes their schemes, and reclaims her identity. But when she tries to leave her cold, arranged marriage, something unexpected happens.

Antonius Rockwell, the enigmatic CEO of a prestigious company, leads a life of power and influence yet feels a hollow void in his existence. That changes the day he notices Kirsten Zaldua, a diligent delivery girl whose quiet determination and sincerity intrigue him. Struggling to support her ailing mother and balance her studies, Kirsten unknowingly becomes a beacon of hope in Antonius’s sterile world. One fateful afternoon, Antonius watches her collapse from exhaustion in his company lobby. Acting on instinct, he rescues her but conceals his identity, fearing the threats surrounding his life could endanger her. Instead, he sends his brother to assist her, an act he later regrets. To Antonius’s dismay, Kirsten mistakes his brother for her savior and begins a relationship with him. From the shadows, Antonius watches as his brother manipulates her into a toxic situation, leveraging her debts and her mother’s health to control her. Powerless to intervene without revealing the truth, Antonius retreats, heartbroken by his inability to protect the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart. Months later, a chance encounter reignites his connection with Kirsten, leading to an intimate one-night love affair born of misunderstanding. Though their bond deepens, Antonius remains tormented by guilt and longing. When Kirsten discovers he was her true rescuer, a spark of hope reignites between them, but Antonius’s brother, jealous and desperate, threatens her mother’s care, forcing her to break things off. Will Antonius’s love and determination be enough to rescue Kirsten from her nightmare? Or will the weight of her sacrifices pull them apart forever? Only time will reveal if their love can triumph against all odds.