Espaço Aprimorado: Prosperar No Apocalipse Renascido

“Lila,” I began softly, choosing my words. “About last night...” She stood abruptly, cutting me off. “Don’t. There’s nothing to apologize for. It happened.” I frowned, trying to gauge her. “So, what are you saying?” She crossed her arms, steadying herself. “I’m saying I have a deal for you.” “A deal?” “We keep seeing each other—secretly. No one has to know. No strings attached.” I stared at her, wondering if she was serious. But from the look in her eyes, I knew she was. ********** Lila Frost, a brilliant bio-genetics student and the fiercely protected sister of Alpha King Ronan, returns to Silver Lake for a quiet summer focused on her research. But one reckless night changes everything when she shares an unforgettable encounter with Caden Walker—her brother’s dangerously irresistible best friend. Their one-night stand ignites a fiery connection, and they agree to indulge their passion without complications—no love, no strings attached. But when Lila discovers she’s pregnant, her world unravels. Torn between her growing feelings for Caden and the fear that he could never love her back, Lila retreats into her studio, burying herself in her work to escape the truth. The secret she carries threatens not only her heart but also her bond with her overprotective brother. As Caden remains unaware of Lila's internal struggle, Ronan uncovers the truth about their relationship—and his fury knows no bounds. Now, Lila must confront her feelings, her brother’s wrath, and the uncertainty of what her future holds. Can she risk everything for a chance at love with Caden? Or will she lose him—and herself—trying to protect her heart?

One divorce. One hundred dollars. One hell of a mistake. Katherine West had it all, until her husband, George, dropped a bomb on their five-year anniversary: He’s gay, he’s in love, and she’s evicted. Left with a frozen bank account and a shattered heart, Katherine decides to go out with a bang. She spends her last hundred dollars on the most dangerous-looking man at The Gilded Lily, hoping for one night of friction to erase five years of lies. It worked. It was the best mistake of her life. Until the next morning, when a court order forces Katherine and George to live together for ninety days of marriage counseling. George has lost his fortune and moved them into his mysterious new lover’s penthouse to save face. The door opens, and Katherine meets her new landlord: Killian McLeroy. The man she hired last night. The man her husband calls the love of his life." Now, Katherine is trapped in a house of glass with the man who knows her body, the man who stole her husband, and a secret that could burn all of Manhattan down. Ninety days. Two enemies. One bed. Let the games begin.

Ariana Torrey has been Brian Lodge's simp for three years. She casts aside her dignity and principles for him. But to Brian, she's only a plan B or even a zero. She's someone he can cast aside at a moment's notice. The whole of Gleaston knows Evelyn Granger is the one Brian loves. Ariana is nothing but a cheap substitute. On the day of their wedding, Ariana is abducted and tormented for three days and nights. However, Brian refuses to pay the ransom, even marrying Evelyn at a wedding that's supposed to be his and another woman's. Only then does Ariana wake up to reality. When she's reborn on the day of her engagement to Brian, she experiences him leaving her behind to go to Evelyn, who's threatened suicide. Everyone waits to see Ariana make a fool of herself. To their dismay, she doesn't shed a tear or kick up a fuss. Instead, she calls off the engagement, claiming that Brian, the CEO of Lodge Co., can't get it up. The news of this spreads like wildfire, stunning everyone. Meanwhile, Brian turns and pins her to the wall. "Is it fun playing hard to get, Ariana?" "Has anyone ever told you you're full of it, Mr. Lodge?"

I stand in the hospital after my two older brothers decline all 99 of my phone calls. They finally appear, bringing with them the biological sister they found. My gentle eldest brother, who had once rescued me from my so-called abusive parents, raises his hand and slaps me across the face. "Cynthia, you're actually pretending to have a terminal illness just to compete with Sarah for our affection? And you came to this kind of place to frighten us?" I clutch my swollen cheek and listen as my second brother, who always says he'll trust me no matter what, holds Sarah in his arms and laughs out loud. "Are you trying to fake being sick to get our attention after seeing that Sarah is in poor health? "Just cut the act. You've been living in luxury since childhood and have always been in perfect health. How could you possibly be ill?" Sarah Crawford speaks up thoughtfully, "Don't blame her, you two. I think she just feels like I've stolen away your love for her, which is why she has become so unreasonable..." I look at the two brothers who have doted on me for ten years and suddenly feel that nothing matters anymore. After all, I only have seven days left to live. In seven days, everything will return to normal after my departure. But by then, they'll be the ones unable to accept it.

For three years, I played the role of a dutiful wife to my husband, Williams, until I found out I was just a mere substitute for his first love— the woman he truly loved.  When she returned, he threw divorce papers at me as if I meant nothing.  And when I refused to sign them, I was forced to donate my blood to his precious mistress, causing me to lose a child I never even knew I was carrying. Shattered and broken, I walked away with one purpose— avenging the death of my unborn child.  He realised his mistake, but it was too late. I was no longer his substitute, but a future he'll never touch.  “You were right, Williams. I was a substitute you never deserved.” 

Um terremoto atingiu um país estrangeiro, e eu e minha sogra ficamos presas lá juntas. A equipe de resgate soube que o jatinho particular do meu marido estava por perto e pediu que eu o contatasse para nos ajudar. Mas eu apenas balancei a cabeça e recusei. Numa outra realidade, eu liguei desesperadamente para ele. Meu marido veio e salvou a mim e à minha sogra. Porém, por causa disso a paixão secreta dele, num ataque de birra, saiu para se divertir, e acabou sendo brutalmente violentada até a morte. Diante da sogra, meu marido disse friamente que aquela mulher era promíscua, e que a morte dela tinha sido um alívio. Mas, no dia do aniversário da morte dela, ele me torturou e me matou da mesma forma. — Eu sei que tudo isso foi parte do seu plano. Você vai pagar pela vida da Ju! — Disse ele. Depois do ocorrido, eu voltei no tempo, e agora tudo mudou. Desta vez, meu marido levou sua amada no jatinho particular para admirar as luzes da cidade à noite. Porém, ao descobrir o que aconteceu comigo e com a sogra, ele enlouqueceu.

Na nossa noite de núpcias, deixei uma regra clara para o meu marido, o CEO: — Não me importo se você se apaixonar por outra, mas se ela aparecer na minha frente, você nunca mais me verá. Por isso, mesmo quando ele se encantou por uma professora, ele a manteve escondida. Deu a ela tudo o que queria, exceto a permissão para cruzar o meu caminho. Mas aquele "canário", confiante no amor dele e exibindo sua barriga de grávida, decidiu me desafiar: — O Fábio disse que nunca te amou. Ele só se casou com você por causa da família Castilho. Se tiver juízo, tire esse bebê e peça o divórcio logo. Senão, quando o Fábio te chutar, você não vai levar nem um centavo! Eu sorri, peguei o telefone e liguei para o meu pai: — Pode cancelar o investimento na família Moretti. Eu vou me divorciar.

Meu marido CEO, Clayton Lockwood, estava convencido de que eu era uma interesseira. Sempre que ele ia consolar o seu primeiro amor durante as suas crises depressivas, acabava comprando uma bolsa de edição limitada para mim. Depois de seis meses de casamento, o meu closet já estava abarrotado delas. Após me dar noventa e nove bolsas, ele percebeu que eu tinha mudado. Eu já não chorava até perder o fôlego nem discutia até ficar rouca quando ele ia visitar o primeiro amor. Também deixei de enfrentar tempestades e atravessar a cidade só porque ele dizia que queria me ver. Passei a pedir apenas um terço para o nosso filho que ainda não tinha nascido. Quando mencionei a criança, o olhar de Clayton se suavizou. — Assim que a Ruby melhorar, a gente vai primeiro ao hospital para fazer um check-up e depois compra o terço. Eu concordei obedientemente. Mal sabia ele que eu tinha sofrido um aborto espontâneo dez dias antes. Também já tinha preparado um acordo de divórcio, pronto para receber a assinatura dele.

— Doutor, já terminou o exame? Eu não aguento mais — digo enquanto estou deitada na maca da clínica da faculdade. Uma tela bloqueia completamente minha visão. O instrumento de exame entra alguns centímetros mais fundo em mim. Eu tento ao máximo me controlar, mas um gemido me escapa. — Não! O médico permaneceu em silêncio e apenas ajustou a máquina para que minhas pernas ficassem ainda mais erguidas.

No dia do divórcio, eu, Lídia Duarte, saí vestindo apenas uma muda de roupa do tempo de casada. A casa, o carro, o dinheiro, as crianças, deixei tudo para Cristiano Reis. Ele me olhou com certa surpresa e zombou: — Você pensou bem? As três filhas que você criou com as próprias mãos, também não as quer mais? — Se você realmente não quer nada, eu também não vou te cobrar pensão alimentícia. Assim fica justo. Assinei o acordo rapidamente e disse com indiferença: — Sim, muito justo. Cristiano hesitou por um instante antes de assinar lentamente seu nome. — Se você se arrepender, nós não precisamos... Acenei com a mão, interrompendo-o, e saí sem olhar para trás. Cristiano costumava dizer que eu me casei com ele por dinheiro e poder, e que eu tentava amarrá-lo usando as crianças. Mas não tem problema. Quando ele for recolher o meu corpo, ele entenderá.