Do Public Libraries Sell Books To Fund Programs?

Peter Crowley finds out that it's been three days since I last lodged a purchase request from him. Thinking that I've finally learned how to become a good wife, he decides to text me as a form of reward. "I've already restored your adoptive mother's treatment privileges. You should be more docile from now on. Don't keep lying just to ask for more money from me. "I know that it's tough, being from the bottom rung of the society and all, but I'm not a gullible idiot, you know." What Peter doesn't know is that I've already finished drafting a divorce agreement by the time I receive his text. Before leaving the manor, the only thing I can take with me is the white T-shirt and the jeans I wore when I first married into this family. No one will ever believe that I, the glamorous and radiant Mrs. Crowley, don't have enough decent clothes to take up an entire closet. Every cent meant for any private expenses needs to go through a corporate approval system. All of the fancy clothes and jewelry are locked up in a safe, too. If I ever need money, I'll have to submit a request to Peter's secretary, Cara Harden. This is all because Peter looks down on my background. He thinks that I'll somehow develop a bad habit of spending money excessively just because I've married rich. But three days ago, my adoptive mother was in critical condition. I quickly put in a request for 200 thousand dollars for her surgical bills, only for Cara to drag out the approval system's procession. In the end, my adoptive mother died in the hospital. Peter has no idea that the only reason why I can tolerate his behavior for so many years is for the sake of the medical resources that can cure my adoptive mother. Now that my adoptive mother is dead, there's no need for me to continue staying in this marriage.

A teenager Daniel, life comes falling apart. Everything changes when he meets a mystery girl, a princess. She accidentally leads him to a book with powers that make your wishes come true but Daniel doesn’t understand the price. Now everything he has is at stake including his life. Daniel, an intelligent but shy boy loses his crush to his best friend. His parents are on the verge of a divorce and not even his friend Glenn can help. When fate leads him to a strange pretty girl, he discovers a book that grants wishes but everything changes when competition arises for the book. The mystery Princess, who becomes his good friend and her evil Uncle both want the book. With awareness of the situation, He is forced to lie to all his friends and love ones. With all his ties at risk, what does Daniel do when he finds out the cost of his wishes coming true is his life.

On the night of New Year's Eve, I wake up in a hospital ward with an IV drip connected to the back of my hand. A nurse passes me the hospital bill. "It's 300 dollars in total, including the emergency treatment fee and the cost for a bottle of glucose drips." When I turn on my phone, I feel my heart sinking. I only have 29.01 dollars left in my bank account. The wallpaper of my phone is a countdown of my family contract's app. Today is the date when I have to renew my family contract for the year. In order to accumulate enough money to go home, I've been working as a staff member in concert venues. Earlier, I had collapsed backstage, so I was quickly sent to the hospital. The dial tone keeps beeping for a long time. Finally, my mom answers my call in what seems to be a noisy background. "Mom, I'm at the hospital right now. I need 300 dollars to pay the hospital bill." "You're at the hospital?" Mom's voice turns shrill immediately. "Why did you visit the hospital during the holidays? You really are a jinx!" "I fainted earlier. I was working at a concert venue—" "What? So, you refused to do chores at home during the holidays! Instead, you decide to work at a concert venue?" Mom interrupts immediately. "I don't have 300 dollars on me! You'd better come up with a way to pay that bill of yours!" "Mom…" My hand tightens around my phone. "Today is the last day of my family contract's renewal period. I'll renew the contract once I pay the bill." "Renew the contract, huh?" Mom just sneers at me. "That's a part of your duties! How dare you use it against me! Helena Lambert, if you don't renew the contract today, you can forget about calling me 'Mom'!" After that, she ends the call. I can only grip my phone to the point that my fingers turn white. After that, I tap on a social media app in hopes that I can borrow money from my friends, only to see the latest post on the social media feed. My younger sister, Hannah Lambert, has posted a photo collage there. "I'm here with my parents to watch my favorite singer's concert! Snagging tickets to the first-row seats is definitely worth it!" The background of those photos is the same concert venue where I work part-time at. It's the most expensive venue in town. Apparently, tickets cost 2,900 dollars each.

The Scholarship Girl. She earned her place. They remind her every day that she doesn’t belong. Elora Brown fought her way into St. Jude’s Elite Academy — a world built for money, power, and names that open doors. Hers does neither. Then there’s Julian Anderson. The mayor’s son. The school’s golden boy. Untouchable… and unbearable. Their first meeting? He shoved her aside like she was nothing. The second? He used her brilliance — and dismissed her just as easily. Elora didn’t come here to make enemies. But Julian seems determined to be one. Because in a school where status is everything… she’s the one person who refuses to bow. And somehow, that makes her impossible for him to ignore. But some scholarships come with more than pressure. This one? Might come with a war she never signed up for… and a boy she might not be able to stay away from.

— In the dazzling world of the uber-rich, Alessandra Knight, a billionaire with a heart as deep as her pockets, finds herself drawn to a place she'd never imagine visiting - the bidding bar. Across town, Mia Davis, a young woman forced to sell herself to save her ailing mother, prepares to step onto the auction block, her heart heavy with desperation. In a twist of fate, Alessandra outbids a room full of eager men for Mia. The question on everyone's lips: Why would a billionaire buy a girl from the slums? As their worlds collide and a bond forms, they must navigate the treacherous path of societal norms and their own burgeoning feelings. Is this a game of power, a quest for redemption, or the beginning of a love story that defies all odds? Dive into this tale of love, sacrifice, and the true value of the human heart. Uncover Alessandra's plan and the lengths she's willing to go to in this riveting story of unexpected love. —

My wife, Alisha West, has always been obsessively frugal. After marrying her, my single guilty pleasure became blowing money on luxury watches—almost like revenge for how absurdly tightfisted she was. By the time our daughter, Elyse Day, turned 7, she had inherited every bit of her mother’s penny-pinching nature. The two of them looked completely out of place in our sprawling mansion. And I loved it. I’d slip into my latest custom-tailored suits and watch them wince at my credit card statements, their expressions twisted in quiet pain. Until one day, lines of floating text suddenly appeared before my eyes. [This spendthrift idiot is still shopping? Doesn’t he know his wife’s company is about to go bankrupt?] [She’s been drained dry supporting this parasite. Her T-shirt collar is practically worn out from washing. Good thing the financially savvy male lead is about to show up and save her.] [Can’t wait for Alisha to file for divorce and kick this useless freeloader out. Let’s see how he survives fighting stray dogs for scraps under a bridge.] I slammed the limited-edition Richard Mille watch onto the table. Alisha, who was crouched on the floor breaking down delivery boxes for recycling, and Elyse, who was helping stomp them flat, both jumped in shock. A chill ran through me. I lunged forward, snatched the battered cardboard box from Elyse’s hands, and held it tightly against my chest. "No… no more buying. I’m returning this watch. "And these boxes… don’t sell them. I think we might need them someday… to lay out under a bridge when we’re sleeping outside…"