Up The Smoke

They say when life throws you a lemon, you should turn it to a lemonade, even though some things weren't just intentional. “For the next three years, you will work under my son, Anthony. You will obey him unconditionally and assist him in developing the first humanoid robots. It’s all stated in the contract.” Melissa, a brilliant first-class robotics engineer, signs a binding contract to save her only sister who urgently needs surgery. Not only must she work for Anthony—the arrogant CEO of the Morgan Group—but she must also marry him. Throughout the contract, Anthony treats her like a lowlife, belittling her at every opportunity and even stealing credit for her achievements, convinced she would never dare to leave. But as the three years draw to a close, her supposed knight in shining armor, Josh, shows up as he promised. Will Melissa walk away from Anthony, reclaim her freedom, and rekindle the spark with Josh? Or will Anthony realize too late just how much he stands to lose when the countdown to their divorce begins? And what if there was more to the accident that left Melissa’s sister in need of surgery—and forced Melissa into this contract? If you want to feel first hand what it means for a lady to possess her possession, then get over here!

Because of a last-minute business trip, my husband missed the Thanksgiving family dinner. I spent the entire day helping out at my in-laws' place in the countryside with our five-year-old son, only to receive a complaint from the downstairs neighbor just before dinner. "Ari, could you please close your kitchen window when you're cooking? I can smell the hot sauce from all the way here. My husband has a lung condition—he can't handle it." My neighbor's words shocked me, and I immediately called my husband, who was allergic to chili peppers. "Honey, did someone break into the house? The neighbor said there was smoke coming from the kitchen." His breathing hitched for a second before he let out a casual laugh. "No break-in. My flight got canceled, so I was home alone cooking. When are you two coming back? I really miss you." I smiled and told him we'd stay a couple more days, but in the middle of the night, I packed up our son and drove straight home.

After a fire broke out at the company, I shoved the only rescue rope into the hands of my husband, Peyton Shepherd. However, he yanked the smoke mask off my face and turned to secure it on his secretary, Hannah Russell, instead. Peyton escaped using the rescue rope, and Hannah remained unharmed thanks to the mask. I collapsed from inhaling toxic smoke, and then a falling pillar crashed into my stomach. Blood pooled beneath me. Just as the firefighters lifted me onto a stretcher, Peyton grabbed me and pulled me back down. "Serena, it's just a minor injury. Why are you lying on the stretcher? Let Hannah go to the hospital first. Her condition is serious, and she needs a comprehensive medical exam!" The firefighters and paramedics stared in shock. They looked at my blood-soaked dress, then Hannah crying pitifully over her blistered hand. My colleagues tried to intervene. "But Mr. Shepherd, Serena's injuries are clearly more severe!" Peyton snarled through gritted teeth. "Enough! I'm Serena's husband. Don't you think I know her condition? If Hannah's treatment gets delayed because of this, none of you will escape the consequences!" I pressed my hand against my slightly swollen lower abdomen and nodded, agreeing to let Hannah take the ambulance first. I decided that from this moment forward, neither I nor my unborn child owed Peyton anything.

Samantha Rae works multiple jobs and even sells her blood to support her boyfriend, Tad Franklin, through law school—only to discover he has been deceiving her all along. She catches him in bed with her cousin, Alexis, who is pregnant with his child. To make matters worse, Tad reveals he has been married to Alexis for a long time and dropped out of law school long ago, leaving Samantha heartbroken and betrayed. Meanwhile, Calladan Vandalay, the city's wealthiest billionaire CEO, is secretly searching for a wife while concealing his true identity. When he crosses paths with Samantha, she mistakes him for an ordinary construction worker. Unaware of his vast fortune, she agrees to marry him. Determined to protect and care for her, Calladan promises her a life she never imagined—one filled with love, security, and a truth that will change everything.

On the day the true heiress and I swapped places, my childhood sweetheart, bound to me by a promise made in youth, gripped my hand before our families and declared, "I chose you, not your title." Anna Pedersen, tears brimming in her eyes, enveloped me in a trembling embrace. "Joanne, we'll always be family. I'd never take what's rightfully yours." Everyone assumed I'd turned misfortune into fortune. Though I lost my status as the Pedersen heiress, I gained a steadfast lover and a selfless sister. But three years after fate corrected itself, photos of Calvin Thomas escorting Anna to a prenatal checkup flooded the internet. When I confronted him, he exhaled a plume of smoke and said coolly, "Anna is my true betrothed. This is just setting things right. Why are you so worked up?" He seized my wrist and dragged our engraved engagement ring across the back of my hand, leaving a bloody gash. "This scar will remind you of the twenty years of life you stole. Your life and I belong to their rightful owner."

In the bustling world of academia, Danial Crawford was just another college student, navigating the complexities of coursework and social life. However, his mundane existence took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a mysterious System while engrossed in a gaming session. This System, known as the "The Supernatural Divine Godly Power System," affectionately dubbed "The Primordial System" shrouded in secrecy and imbued with immense power, singled out Danial as its chosen recipient, a decision seemingly based on his exceptional compatibility with its workings. Curiosity piqued, Danial delved deeper into the capabilities of the System, intrigued by its potential and driven by a thirst for knowledge. Yet, with each revelation, he realized that the System held far more than just the promise of enhanced abilities—it harbored secrets of profound significance, secrets that could reshape his understanding of the world around him. Thus began Danial's journey, one marked by adventure, danger, and self-discovery. As he embarked on this path, he encountered obstacles and challenges that tested not only his resolve but also his character. Mistakes were made along the way, as Danial grappled with the complexities of wielding newfound power and unraveling the mysteries of the System.

VINDEL THE BILLIONAIRE'S SPOILED DAUGHTER SUMMARY Vindel Holt had everything. Beauty, wealth, privilege—and the world at her feet. As the only surviving child of the Holt lineage, granddaughter of Guerrero Holt, the legendary billionaire founder of Agro One Apex, she was destined to inherit an empire that spanned continents. But privilege had spoiled her, arrogance had defined her, and manners had never mattered. Until the day her grandfather decided that being a princess wasn’t enough. In one cruel decision, Guerrero Holt froze her accounts, revoked her luxuries, and threw her out of the mansion. Overnight, Vindel went from a life of effortless power to a world where her name and money carried no weight. She found herself dismissed from every job she tried, mocked by staff, and forced to face the harsh reality she had never known. Her pride bruised, her fury uncontained, Vindel is thrust into the real world, and it is far less forgiving than she ever imagined. With no money, no servants, and no protection, Vindel is forced to navigate the world she once ruled from afar. From being mocked in luxury hotels to sleeping in cramped motels, every encounter humbles her, and every challenge teaches her lessons she never wanted to learn—respect, humility, and resilience. Yet, her fiery spirit refuses to be tamed. She lashes out, curses, destroys, and fights, proving that surrender is never an option for her. Amidst the struggle, Vindel discovers people who refuse to bow to her name, including the enigmatic Zayden, a man who sees past her wealth and refuses to be intimidated. As she works her way up from cleaning floors to learning the value of hard work, unexpected bonds form, transforming anger into passion, and arrogance into desire.

Bullied. Broke. Betrayed. 20-year-old Ethan Reyes is at rock bottom—until a mysterious A.I. system grants him unimaginable wealth and power. With the Trillionaire System, he’ll rise from a forgotten nobody to the richest man in the country. Those who mocked him will kneel. Those who betrayed him will pay. But as enemies emerge and loyalties are tested, Ethan learns that money isn’t everything—love, loyalty, and revenge are priceless.

Freda Aton dream was about to come true; getting married to her mate and future Alpha until a strange mark deemed her cursed.  Rejected and abandoned by her pack, she ran into the Blood moon pack Alpha, Craig Redding, who kept his identity hidden from her. He knew about the cursed mark, and Freda would do anything to know about the mark that just ruined her life. Together they embarked on the journey to discover who Freda really was.  Is the truth about both their identities going to break or make them?

What if you really were transported to a fantasy world and expected to kill monsters to survive?No special abilities, no OP weapons, no status screen to boost your stats. Never mind finding the dragon's treasure or defeating the Demon Lord, you only need to worry about one thing: how to stay alive.All the people summoned form parties and set off on their adventures, leaving behind the people who nobody wants in their group.Story of my life, thinks Colin.