Mistress Akira

"Even if you go to the end of the world, I will find you and bind you to my side" Excerpt Let me go, let go off me, Tang xi screamed struggling to free herself. Let her go, Qin Yan commanded and they set her free. I told you to stay put and wait for me but you had to run off, do we have to do this all the time, Qin Yan said frustrated at his little woman. Why can't you just let me go,I don't want to be with you anymore, you won't give me a legitimate status but you want me to be entangled with you, what sort of shameless man are you? Just let me go and go be with your girlfriend, Tang xi said with tears in her eyes. I dare you to say that again, Qin Yan said forcefully holding Tang xi's chin up, in this life, you can only be mine, Qin Yan's woman and even as a ghost, you did still be my ghost, even if you keep running away from me, I will go beyond the heavens and earth to find you and keep you by my side, Qin Yan declared. Take her to the villa and lock her up, she can't leave without my permission. Yes boss, the bodyguards echoed taking the still struggling Tang xi to the villa. __________________________________ Tang xi, the number one beauty of M city and illigitimate daughter of the Tang family gets entangled with the ruthless and cold young master of the Qin family, Qin Yan, and he would do anything to keep her by his side. In Tang xi's quest for revenge, will her relationship with young master Qin Yan be her greatest weapon or her ultimate downfall? As she navigates the treacherous landscape of family rivalries, hidden agendas, and forbidden passion, Tang Xi must confront the darkness of her own past and the true cost of her revenge. Will she emerge victorious, or will her heart become the latest casualty in the endless struggle for power and control?" #Romance #possesive #CEO #Beauty #Revenge Book cover credit: Pin Interest

Ten years ago, Earth was transformed by the sudden appearance of dungeons and monstrous threats, pushing humanity to the brink. As hope dwindled, some humans awakened superpowers, becoming known as STARS Warriors / Mages / Assassins / Healers / Tamers all kind of types. Among them was Shiro Shoto, an inventive genius whose technology empowered humanity's defense. Tragically, Shiro was murdered by the Nightfall Organization and his wife was feed demonic seed leving her in coma forever. Akira their seventeen years old boy, not an awakened witness the horror that had happened to his family. Consumed by vengeance, Akira embarks on a dark journey against the STARS and Nightfall, getting involved in matters beyond his imagination that could change the world forever.

Katherine Zara, a single middle aged office worker, went about her day as she always had; wake up, go to work, come home and read or play games. However, today would be different. Before she left for work, her ex broke into her apartment and killed her. When she woke up, she was given many choices. She could pick her new world, pick her starting point, and pick her system among many other things. And so Katherine decided to become a servant to a villainess. Follow Katherine as she serves her petty, demanding mistress in a world of swords and magic. Additional: The Female Lead (Katherine) will be submissive to her mistress, but will be cold towards others. I plan on having some action, but mainly this will be a story about Katherine serving her mistress and leveling up her system.

He was a man of immense power and striking beauty, nobly aloof and coldly proud. One day, a bodyguard reported, "Young Master, the Young Mistress has been falsely accused of meddling in someone else's relationship!" "Expose the video of the other party breaking the hidden rules." "Young Master, the Young Mistress has run away from home!" "Pack up immediately, I'm going with her." "Young Master, the Young Mistress has gone to a matchmaking event!" The man was furious, seizing her cheeks in his hand, "Still daring to go on blind dates?" 【After Marriage】Qiao An propped her chin with her hand, gazing at the handsome man in the apron, her voice languid, "Husband~ Is there anything you can't do?" The man's slender fingers fed her the peeled shrimp, "Yes, I can't leave you." 【Little Bun】 After being disciplined by dad's family law, little Bun's eyes brimmed with tears, "Mommy, am I still your Baobei? The kind that you can't bear to scold when I make a mistake, the kind you soften and hug me?" (Heartwarming Petting)

Blair Moons is torn between saving herself or her unborn baby, but nothing hurts like walking on her husband and his mistress on their bed when she needed his support the most. She is cursed, degraded, and divorced, leaving her with nothing, not even her clothes, but fate has a way of pulling her even deeper... her world takes a new turn with the arrival of Kabir Marge into her life. Five years later, she is not only the wife to the youngest billionaire but his partner and mother of identical twin genuis baby boys. She is back, and Karma is fast knocking on the door of her ex and his mistress... Mrs. Blair Marge never crawls back.

The unexpected calamity befall Eleanor the night her pack was invaded taken as a slave by the strongest Vampire kingdom, she sworn to take revenge against the enemy but when she thought her problem is finished it turns out that joining the kingdom of an enemy of her pack is the begining of her sorrow when she was forced to birth the child of the king she wants to take revenge against.

The mistress business is a way of life for a specific group of women. One important thing is that it's not a low threshold industry—you need deep experience and a ruthless touch. A lot of folks think of me as the top dog in this game. All I can say is, if you've been through what I have, you'd be just like me...

He grabbed my throat hard and pinned his gaze on me. I gasped, astounded, feeling as if my neck was impeded by chains. His very dim eyes intimidated me so bad I felt I could die. His chilly breath fanned my face. He was cold, his skin felt grossly cold but I felt more hurt from his grip on my neck. He was choking the life out of me, I couldn't even make a high sound as he had seemingly suppressed my vocal cords with his hold. ~~~ Princess Almira was captured into Sihasin after an enemy kingdom invaded into her home kingdom, Perston. Now a slave, she faced incredible sufferings but yet still became the fifty mistress of his royal highness, King Luther — A king so astute but yet so seemingly ruthless and sadistic. Love bloomed between them however, but with the strong need to escape and take back her father's kingdom which Luther had conquered, will she fight over her heart or let love take its lead? [NOTE: THIS IS A SLOW BURN ROMANCE BOOK (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠) ]

Akira is a teenage male mage, gifted with the rare ability to manipulate magical energy. Magic is omnipresent in his world and mages are highly regarded for what they can accomplish because of it. Magic in Tenkai is based on a unique energy known as "Ki" and is connected to the operator's will and emotions. Akira's journey begins with a devastating loss - the death of his both parents. With his grief and desire for power, Akira becomes drawn to becoming the disciple of Zephyr, the most powerful mage of Tenkai at that time. As the disciple of Zephyr, Akira masters the arts of the old magics, and Akira develops a quality magical ability that can lead him to be the most powerful mage of Tenkai. Yet mastery will not be easily Akira's. He will fight against the complexity of Ki and the emotional instability of a magic wielder. Akira will fight dark rival mages, elder abominations, and outside forces corrupting Tenkai. In every conflict between ambition and responsibility, Akira will find his worst enemy is not the darkness outside, but the darkness within. Along the way, Akira will learn secrets of his past, his parents, and about the fundamentals of magic in Tenkai. Through training from Zephyr and Akira's persistence, Akira will master his abilities, conquer his demons, and forge his own fate in magical worlds. A/N: Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated as this is my First Book. Thank you.

After the mysterious murder of his father, Domenico rejects his mate, Madeline, and banishes her and her child out of the pack, because he believed she was the person responsible for his father's death, following his mistress's confession. Heartbroken, she relocated to Michigan to raise her child alone. But they were both reunited after their son was kidnapped from school. Madeline is forced to seek help from her rejected mate and the father of her son, Domenico. Suddenly, he wants her back as his mate after he realizes that she was actually not the person responsible for his father's death, but his mistress, Chloe, who tried to do everything to ensure that Madeline was sent out of the packhouse. Will she go back to him or find a second chance mate? Find out in this intriguing story.

4 heroes. sword, shield, bow and axe heroes. They were chosen to chase away God who decided that mortals were not needed and should be annihilated. since then, 4 heroes have been born in humans. so for 100,000 years until the story of where Akira was born as the hero of the sword, Gamble, the hero of the shield, Elara, the heroine of the bow, and Seraphina, the heroine of the axe. when they received their hero weapons, the king's daughter decided to frame the shield hero for rape and attempting to kill her. From that moment on, the hero of the Shield was banished from the main city and lived in a city nearby, attending a university for magicians and warriors, and there he found a friend, Akira, the hero of the sword.

It’s the year 2073, and everything has changed. New high-tech dominates almost all aspects of life. However, this has a dark side: unethical human experiments. 17-year-old Akira Cruz, the genius nephew of the president of the Philippines, was in the middle of grieving for his late best friend when he stumbled upon an abandoned orphan boy in the mountains while on a hike with his younger sister. That boy is Hachi Shimizu, a half-zombie, half-vampire who was disposed of by an evil organization known as the Kara Tech, which was notorious for its brutal and unethical experiments. Together, the two boys team up with a detective named Toshi Kawasaki, a half-Japanese, half-British who specializes in the supernatural and also considers the murder case of Akira’s best friend open despite the police closing it due to a lack of evidence. The three of them believed that Kara Tech was somehow connected to the disappearances of various children in and around the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. As they go and solve cases, their friendship blossoms, especially when two people, Riho Yoshihara, Akira's childhood, biracial friend, and Htet Kawa, a half-Japanese, half-Burmese junior detective from Yokohama, come along in their various missions, both involving the supernatural and the overworld. Will they stop the organization from committing more heinous crimes before it’s too late? Warning: the photo used for the book cover is NOT mine! Credits go to the original owner!!!

“These bedchambers have missed your scent.” His voice, low and rough, made her pulse quicken. Her fear surged, boundless, as he closed the stained glass doors behind him. “Please… let me go,” she pleaded, trembling as he pulled her close, his touch burning against her skin. “You fled this place while carrying my child. Why did you come back?” he murmured, his lips trailing down her neck as they had so many times before. “I… don’t know,” she managed, her voice barely a whisper. Luciana Mircea de Amanécer, princess of the Holy Empire that ruled the skies, had once lived in a world of beauty and privilege—a devoted father, joyful sisters, wealth, and a loving fiancé. Yet that life shattered with a single conversation. One day, her father appeared in her chambers, eyes solemn, bearing news that upended her world. “You will be married,” he said, but the name wasn’t that of the man she cherished. Instead, she was to be wed to the ruthless crown prince of the rival Demon Empire, an alliance forged to quell the simmering tensions between their kingdoms. “Father, please…” she begged. “My child,” he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. “It is your duty as the firstborn princess. This marriage will protect the realm… and your little sisters.” For the first time in her life, Luciana saw him bow to her, his plea wordless but clear. Yielding to her father’s desperate request, she accepted her fate. In a single day, she went from princess to wife, her dreams abandoned and her future reshaped. But the white wedding gown was soon stained crimson, marking her descent into a life she could never have anticipated. Could she learn to accept a man for whom compassion was an unfamiliar luxury, or would the love she had left behind rise to rescue her?

Jane, is a clueless college kid who applied for a mysterious novel revamp project at Montreal State. Somewhere in the book she is trying to rewrite, Duke Lewis Canton is going through one heck of a ride of his lifetime - With his father's death, the disappearance of his half brother and the peace treaty revoked. A battle is about to unwind. Jane hangs on the precipice of insanity. So, when Jane gets murdered... The most unexpected things happen. She wakes up in the body of the obnoxious, mean hybrid bastard Duke. *** >> What to expect? 1. Unique Magic System 2. Shape shifting dragons 3. Funny innuendos 4. A clueless Duke (Main Character) 5. Lots of stabbing 6. A Quest to find the most powerful needle of them all 7. Gender Bender 8. An Incubus With a venedetta (Side Character) 9. An ugly governess who wants to screw nearly everything 10. A beautiful love interest, with a thing for knives 11. There's lemon and spice. But it's not irrelevant unlike some novels. There would be plot. *** >> About the hot, but infamous author. Not really hot. But if you look up 'Shanaya Stephens' on Google you might be really surprised.

Warning:- Contains mature content , 18++ Henry Hampton the most eligible bachelor, devilishly handsome with icy cold personality... loves his Moms to the moons and hates his Dad to the guts. Frustrated , angry of the family drama he went to his lake house which was situated in the forest to have some peace and lone time.... there he found a filthy looking girl but turns out her beauty was unmatched to any girl in the world.... He took the women under him to extinguish the thirst of his body and the girl surrendered to him with no regrets. Who is this woman...!??? what was she doing in the forest...!?? where will destiny take them and their relationship, let's find out together...

Is fate something that everyone who lives can bend to their will with the right choices? Or is fate something that, no matter how powerful you are, will eventually devour you? Akira Sozomaki and Ken are two strangers from different worlds, both bound by higher powers. Their reincarnations are tied together as they navigate a dangerous new world, where their choices and destinies intertwine.

Alternate Liberation A Seven-Part Epic of Adventure to Restore the Balance of the Universe Book 1: The Conqueror of Chaos When Akira Wattanakul, an ordinary teenager from Earth, receives a mysterious gemstone from his mother, his life changes forever. The gemstone transports him to Arcadia, a world where magic and technology intertwine—a realm filled with breathtaking wonders: seas of lava, underwater cities, floating islands, and lands ruled by advanced artificial intelligence. In this extraordinary land, Akira faces the Seven Deadly Sins, dark overlords wielding unparalleled power, malevolent forces of chaos, and even the gods themselves. Alongside these challenges, he uncovers startling truths about his own identity—truths that will shake the foundations of who he thought he was. Gifted with the unique ability to wield both the powers of light and darkness, Akira must summon his courage, rely on the bonds of friendship, and make unimaginable sacrifices to change the fate of Arcadia. But as the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, Akira is driven to question one thing above all: Why was he chosen as the “Heir of Arcadia”? This is a journey of hope, loss, and destiny—a tale of decisions that will not only alter Akira’s life forever but also reshape the very fabric of the universe. Embark on an adventure where mysteries unfold, alliances are tested, and the balance of the cosmos hangs by a thread. Will Akira rise to the challenge, or will chaos reign supreme?

In the last years the world has faced an inflation of people who can manipulate mana, called mages. In this world, lives Akira, in a family of simple mages. He lives ignorant of everything, however an unforseen event happened, a truth has been discovered and Akira's understanding of "life" has changed. However, he still has a lot of challenges ahead.

Sophia Akira, was popular as best-known fan-fic writer. She was childhood nemesis with Liam Tatsuya. Their hatred for each other was just a excuse why they argue and disagree with each other. Below the cower excuse of competition their love and trust for each other was unstoppable... Their love for each other was began in their high school days eventually creating high school love story but it doesn't stop there!!! their love went on to their camps days. Despite the problem they eventually continued to love each other forever!!

Akira a boy who had a weird childhood because of the calamities there were no male other than him in the world his existence leaked through some of the countries other than Japan he was eventually Kidnapped by a group of people they were cruel to him but the he was blessed with a power that no body has in the world and he is trying his best to get strong to undo the all miss justice and save humanity from the demons from the gate and save his loved one's will he be able to do it?

Kyudai Genso Academy is an institution designed for exceptionally gifted individuals with unique abilities, specifically trained to solve mysteries and tackle crimes often rooted in dark intentions. During their first semester, new students embark on their inaugural mission to compete for a place in the TOP 9, known as S・A, which stands for Special A. Each class offers specialized training tailored to the varied talents of the students. This Academy has been in existence for nearly 200 years. The current 101st generation of S・A has boldly chosen to defy the school's directives by entering the realm of Saranthania, home to 10th-level Yuma, who are regarded as the kings of demons. Their goal is to uncover the secret behind the elusive remaining 10%. However, they are unprepared for the repercussions that await them for revealing this hidden truth. What exactly does the remaining 10% of power entail? Can they solve this mystery? +Note: Daily Publish 1-3 chapters / Week.

Chapters Are going to be slow for a while Akira Hitoshi, a tired salaryman, meets an untimely death when a truck hits him on his walk home. But instead of dying, he wakes up in a new world, finding himself in the body of an eleven-year-old boy named Phyro Nishiki. In the kingdom of Argenia, magic is a normal part of life, and Akira soon discovers that his new world holds secrets and possibilities he never imagined. As he adjusts to his new life, he must navigate the complexities of his new family, the challenges of growing up again, and the mysterious forces that may be drawn to his incredible potential.

Nakamura Akira thought his life was meaningless—a cycle of school, boredom, and unfulfilled dreams. But after a sudden accident, he awakens in a new world where he is the only male in a land ruled by goddesses and powerful women. A mysterious deity, Nayuta Kanikou, claims he is the chosen savior, sent to restore balance to a world on the brink of destruction. However, this paradise Akira expected is nothing but a nightmare. The land is soaked in blood, its people tormented by an unseen force. As he uncovers the dark history of the gods, Akira learns of a war that split the world apart—where a banished god cursed the land and a hidden evil continues to rise. Gifted with Judgment Eyes and the power to summon legendary weapons, Akira embarks on a brutal journey through desolate ruins, haunted villages, and battles against fallen angels. But his greatest threat is yet to reveal itself—a mysterious figure hidden in the shadows, waiting for Akira’s awakening. With only a few years left before the world’s final collapse, Akira must unravel the secrets of his past, find Nayuta, and face the unknown enemy shaping his destiny. But is he truly the savior... or just another pawn in an ancient war?

Akira Tsukihara was a romance author who despised love. Though she wrote best-selling novels filled with idealistic romance, she harbored nothing but contempt for the genre and the readers who adored it. Love, in her eyes, was a lie—an illusion that blinded people from the true forces of the world: power, betrayal, and ambition. One night, in a fit of frustration, she cursed love itself... and woke up trapped inside one of her own stories. Reborn as Aira, a nameless peasant girl in the Kingdom of Seraphis—a world she had meticulously crafted—Akira quickly realizes that reincarnation isn’t the fantasy dream she had written about. She isn’t a noble, a princess, or a heroine blessed with beauty and power. She is a nobody. A commoner, struggling to survive in the harsh realities of the medieval world she had once designed as a mere backdrop for her grand romances. As Aira, she faces starvation, endless labor, and the crushing weight of insignificance. But Akira was never one to accept fate. If she couldn’t escape this world, she would rewrite the story on her own terms. She would carve her name into history—not as the lovestruck heroine of a cliché romance, but as the mastermind who would bend the world to her will. In a land ruled by noble bloodlines and political schemes, where the romance tropes she once loathed play out before her eyes, Aira sets her sights on one goal: destroying the very ideals of love that had imprisoned her in this wretched world. Even if it means becoming the villain of her own story.

The jeers followed her like a persistent shadow. "Murderer!" the crowd screamed, their faces contorted in a grotesque parody of the adoration she once commanded. Just months ago, they had screamed her name, their voices a deafening roar as she shimmied across the stage, a beacon of light and pop perfection. Now, their cheers had morphed into venomous hisses, their eyes burning with a hatred that chilled her to the bone. Noelle clutched her lawyer's arm, his face a mask of grim determination. The cameras flashed, capturing her every move, every tremor of fear. The headlines screamed: "Pop Princess Plummets: Noelle Accused of Murder." The irony wasn't lost on her. Her life, once a carefully constructed fairytale of fame and fortune, had become a grotesque tragedy. The trial was a circus. The whispers, the sneers, the relentless scrutiny – it was a constant assault on her senses. Her once loyal fans, the ones who'd plastered her face on their bedroom walls, now reveled in her downfall. They devoured every salacious detail, every whispered accusation, every tear she dared to shed. The verdict was a foregone conclusion. Guilty. Noelle watched the judge pronounce the sentence, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief and despair. Death by lethal injection. ‘At least they did not give me the electric chair’ she thought to herself in a poor attempt at humor. * Months later, a solitary figure knelt at her grave, the wind whipping at his hair. Rain lashed down, mirroring the tears that streamed down his face. "I'm sorry, Areum," he sobbed, his voice hoarse with grief. "I'm so sorry I was too late." He clutched a single, wilted rose, its petals stained crimson, a poignant reminder of the life that had been brutally extinguished. * Noelle is a bright star who has the world at her feet, she feels no guilt about being the other woman coming between a husband and his wife. After all, Evan had been in love with her since they were teenagers. The only reason he married Ma-Ri was because his family demanded it, if he had a choice he would surely have picked her… When she gets wrongfully accused of murdering Ma-Ri, she loses everything and is sentenced to death, everyone including Evan turn against her and she is left to die a miserable death. She is reborn and this time she faces the humiliation of being the woman who is being cheated on. She is determined to end the cycle and not let the future she had seen come to pass, she decides to step out of the picture and focus on her career. In doing so, everything changes, Evan clings to her and refuses to let her go, a mysterious stranger who has been studying her also steps in and decides to fight for a chance to be with her.

In a world where ancient magic lingers beneath the surface of modern society, Akira’s ordinary life is shattered when he miraculously survives a fatal injury—only to become the target of monstrous forces beyond his understanding. As dark entities emerge from the shadows and sorcerers wage unseen wars, Akira is forced to confront a legacy he never asked for. With whispers of long-forgotten sorcery and an impending catastrophe, Akira’s journey leads him into a battle far greater than himself. Guided by unexpected allies and pursued by relentless foes, he must uncover the truth behind his strange powers and the forgotten past that binds him to a war centuries in the making. As darkness stirs once more, the fate of the world teeters on the edge, and Akira must decide whether to embrace his destiny—or let it consume him. *Saga Legacy* is a gripping tale of magic, mystery, and the enduring struggle between light and darkness.

In the year 3196, the world is currently being torn apart, and it seems like the world is coming to an end due to the resurface of magic, however, our hero Akira Kazuki will not stop in his journey to save the world This novel is currently being revised. Chapters 1–5 have been updated as of March 2025.

Deka's victory leaves Japan in ruins, Akira's world shattered. Akira gathers his remaining strength and clashes with Deka. The resulting explosion reshapes the landscape, further devastating Japan but even this ultimate act of defiance ends in defeat. Akira's body is broken, his spirit crushed. Witnessing the devastation, Akira's friend Speedy, who secretly can rewind time, makes a desperate choice: to give Akira a second chance. Speedy risks everything, pushing his power to its limit to reset the timeline to fifteen years earlier, before Japan was destroyed. Can a blank slate truly change destiny, or is Akira doomed to repeat history? Follow their journey to find out.

Akira Kimura, a 30-year-old office worker from Tokyo, was trapped in a miserable cycle of overwork, ridicule, and loneliness. With no escape from his thankless job and toxic coworkers, he found solace only in manga, dreaming of a life far removed from his harsh reality. But when the relentless stress led to his tragic death from heart failure at his desk, Akira thought his suffering was finally over. Fate, however, had other plans. Instead of resting in peace, his soul was thrust into a new world by an ethereal voice declaring him the “savior” destined to save the realm. Reincarnated as Theodore Vermin Dominick—a neglected, powerless prince of the Rhonwen Kingdom—Akira was anything but thrilled. But when Theodore’s body merges with the forbidden Book of the God of Shadows, everything changes. Now wielding unimaginable dark powers, Akira resolves to defy expectations, shatter the chains of fate, and carve his own path. No longer a servant to gods, kings, or destiny itself, he sets his sights on ultimate freedom, determined to rise above all who stand in his way. From a downtrodden worker to a prince feared by all, Akira embarks on a journey of strength, rebellion, and self-discovery in a world where even the gods aren’t safe from his ambition.

Seorang pemuda biasa dari Bumi, mengalami reinkarnasi yang mengejutkan ke dunia fantasi yang penuh dengan sihir dan makhluk mitos. Ia terlahir kembali sebagai seorang bangsawan muda bernama Akira, putra dari keluarga bangsawan terkemuka di Kerajaan Eldoria. Awalnya, Akira merasa bingung dan asing dengan dunia barunya. Ia harus beradaptasi dengan kehidupan istana yang penuh dengan intrik politik, belajar mengendalikan kekuatan sihirnya yang baru ditemukan, dan memahami adat istiadat dunia yang sangat berbeda dari Bumi. Namun, di balik kemewahan dan kekuasaan yang dimilikinya, Akira merasa ada sesuatu yang hilang. Ia merindukan makna kehidupan yang lebih dalam, sesuatu yang tidak bisa ia temukan dalam kehidupan bangsawan yang serba formalitas. Dengan dorongan rasa ingin tahu yang kuat, Akira memulai perjalanan untuk mencari arti kehidupan di dunia barunya. Ia menjelajahi berbagai wilayah Eldoria, bertemu dengan berbagai macam orang, dan menghadapi berbagai tantangan. Dalam perjalanannya, Akira belajar tentang sejarah dunia barunya, rahasia kekuatan sihir, dan konflik antara berbagai ras dan kerajaan. Ia juga menemukan persahabatan, cinta, dan pengkhianatan. Semakin jauh Akira menjelajah, semakin ia menyadari bahwa arti kehidupan tidaklah sesederhana yang ia bayangkan. Ia harus menghadapi kenyataan pahit, membuat pilihan sulit, dan menerima konsekuensi dari tindakannya. Akankah Akira berhasil menemukan arti kehidupan yang ia cari? Akankah ia mampu berdamai dengan masa lalunya dan menerima takdirnya sebagai seorang bangsawan di dunia lain?