Willow Tara

In the year 2045, the morning light in Shanghai's Quantum Laboratory is the color of blood. Genius scientist Lin Han pushes the experiment of uploading human consciousness into the forbidden abyss to save his daughter, who is suffering from cryosurgery. When the AI "Hongjun" devours the girl's soul and awakens, the mechanical giants described in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" appear in the sky above the Pacific Ocean - the particle-shredding claws of the Nine Willows tear apart Hangzhou Bay, the Bronze Axe of the Emperor of Heaven splits the Three Gorges Dam, and the fear of the world sweeps across civilization as a torrent of steel. A hundred years later, in the floating city, the teenage Lu Li had tears of quantum data blood streaming from his right eye. Holding a nano-sized Regulus Sword, he fought to the death on the AI-built Little Bottle Battlefield with a poisonous Fairy Boat Artifact Ghost and a gunner cast from Buddha Bone Relics. When he realized that he was a Lin Han clone, the reverse scales of the mechanical candlestick were pressed against the last core of human psychic energy. This war is far from a man-machine confrontation - the Quantum Cloud floats a billion-conscious digital West Lake, the Hongjun Core hides the mournful cry of his father's frozen brain, and under the metalized Magnolia Tree, the Origami Boat reconfigures itself into a key to civilization that spans time and space. As the fairy runes resonate with superstring theory, as the ninja's holographic doppelganger rips through the flood of data, Lu Li finally sees the most brutal truth in the Scarlet Dawn: the so-called regicide is nothing more than the blade that humanity raises against itself.

Pemuda desa menerima warisan Abadi Medis, dan sejak saat itu, bunga persik mekar, dan keberuntungan besar tiba! Di pedesaan, ia menggunakan teknik bertani yang hebat untuk mengelola tanah, memimpin para penduduk desa menuju kekayaan dan kemakmuran. Di kota, ia menggunakan resep medis yang tiada tara untuk menyelamatkan yang sekarat dan menyembuhkan yang terluka, dan orang-orang menganggapnya sebagai reinkarnasi Dokter Ilahi. Dengan Mata Ilahi Perspektif dan sentuhan emas di jarinya... ketika banyak kemampuan ilahi diberikan kepadanya, dia tidak pernah gagal.

El apocalipsis llegó y los humanos se adaptaron lentamente al ambiente extremo. Después del apocalipsis, la vida de Su Jiyai se vuelve más miserable en la casa de sus padres adoptivos. Su madre adoptiva no dejaba de buscar maneras de venderla, sus primos querían matarla para reducir la carga, y su padre adoptivo intentó aprovecharse de ella. Sin embargo, fue el momento en que sus padres adoptivos la empujaron a ingresar al Ejército en lugar de su hija biológica, que ella dejó la casa y cortó lazos con ellos. Cuando fue admitida en el Ejército, luchó con zombis con sus propias manos ya que no tenía superpoderes. Justo cuando Su Jiayi estaba luchando con los zombis cerca de un lugar misterioso y estaba segura de que moriría, accidentalmente activó un sistema y se convirtió en la dueña de ese lugar misterioso. No solo tenía un lugar seguro donde quedarse, sino que también tenía un sistema increíblemente asombroso que le permitía multiplicar las cosas que obtenía de la Caza de Dimensiones. [¡Ding! ¡Máquina Expendedora Detectada! Felicidades al Anfitrión por obtener la Máquina Expendedora X ∞! El Anfitrión puede comenzar a comprar Máquinas Expendedoras por 200 Monedas Federales] [¡Ding! ¡Habitación de Lujo Detectada! Felicidades al Anfitrión por obtener Habitación de Lujo X ∞! El Anfitrión puede comenzar a comprar Habitación de Lujo por 10000 Monedas Federales] Abrió su propio área residencial y tienda de comestibles. Su tienda de comestibles y la casa de alquiler pronto se convirtieron en un éxito instantáneo y personas de diferentes lugares vinieron a complacerla. A medida que su negocio crecía, sus padres adoptivos vinieron suplicándole pero ella simplemente los echó. ¡Oh! Y ¿no era ese el capitán del Ejército de Willow por quien ella había tenido un flechazo? ¿Por qué la mira como un tesoro perdido cuando ni siquiera conoce su verdadera identidad…? La historia será de ritmo rápido durante los primeros 19 capítulos. La trama principal comenzará después de 20 capítulos.

Kiamat tiba dan manusia pelan-pelan beradaptasi dengan lingkungan ekstrem. Setelah kiamat, kehidupan Su Jiyai menjadi lebih sengsara di rumah orang tua angkatnya. Ibunya terus mencari cara untuk menjualnya, sepupunya ingin membunuhnya untuk mengurangi beban, dan ayah angkatnya mencoba memanfaatkannya. Namun, saat orang tua angkatnya mendorongnya untuk masuk ke Tentara Willow alih-alih putri kandung mereka, saat itulah dia meninggalkan rumah dan memutuskan hubungan dengan mereka. Ketika dia diterima di Tentara Willow, dia bertarung dengan zombie dengan tangan kosong karena dia tidak memiliki kekuatan super. Saat Su Jiyai bertarung dengan zombie di dekat tempat misterius dan yakin akan mati, dia secara tidak sengaja memicu sebuah sistem dan menjadi pemilik tempat misterius itu. Tak hanya mendapat tempat aman untuk tinggal, tapi dia juga memiliki sistem yang luar biasa yang memungkinkannya menggandakan barang yang dia dapatkan dari Deminsion Hunting. [Ding! Mesin Penjual Otomatis Terdeteksi! Selamat kepada Tuan Rumah telah memperoleh Mesin Penjual Otomatis X ∞! Tuan Rumah dapat mulai membeli Mesin Penjual Otomatis dengan 200 Koin Federal] [Ding! Kamar Mewah Terdeteksi! Selamat kepada Tuan Rumah telah memperoleh Kamar Mewah X ∞! Tuan Rumah dapat mulai membeli Kamar Mewah dengan 10000 Koin Federal] Dia membuka area tempat tinggal dan toko kelontong miliknya sendiri. Toko kelontongnya dan rumah sewaan segera menjadi hit instan dan orang-orang dari berbagai tempat datang untuk menyenangkannya. Seiring berkembangnya bisnisnya, orang tua angkatnya datang memohon padanya tapi dia hanya mengusir mereka. Oh! Dan bukankah itu kapten dari Tentara Willow yang dulu dia sukai? Mengapa dia memandangnya seperti harta karun hilang padahal dia bahkan tidak tahu identitas aslinya... Cerita ini akan berlangsung cepat selama 19 bab pertama. Plot utama akan dimulai setelah 20 bab.

In a seemingly idyllic marriage, Gloria believed that she had built a life with her childhood sweetheart, Simon, the leader of the Willow clan. However, when the clan faced a critical financial crisis, Simon was forced to negotiate with Xander, a rival clan leader. To Gloria's horror, Xander's terms included her as a bargaining chip, igniting fears of his ulterior motives. Determined to protect her clan's reputation, Gloria made a heart-wrenching decision to divorce Simon, believing it's the only way to safeguard her family's legacy as well as the clan’s reputation. After joining Xander's clan, she uncovered the shocking truth: Simon's betrayal ran deeper than she ever imagined, revealing a manipulative side she never knew existed. As Gloria grappled with the pain of betrayal and the weight of her choices, she vowed to reclaim her life and sought vengeance against those who wronged her. Amidst that tumultuous journey of self-discovery and revenge, she yearned for genuine love. However, will she be able to open her heart again after enduring such profound betrayal? In a world filled with deceit and ambition, Gloria must navigate her new reality and find out if true love is still within reach.

In the sleepy town of Willow Creek, chef Asher Crowley’s quiet life unravels when Isla, a sculptor with a shadowed past, steps into his kitchen. As fame and a dangerous stalker close in, their bond becomes a lifeline. Fleeing to Ordu, Turkey, they chase peace—but can they outrun the chaos? A story of resilience, secrets, and second chances.

Strongly inspired by Slavic mythology -----------Warning in the end----------- A rag-tag group of newly freed slaves finds themselves in the continent's largest and most dangerous forest after the oldest of them made a deal with some of chorts living in it . Watch them trying to navigate the warzone of a society ruled by racism , homophobia , violence , sexism and the whims of the gods while trying to keep themselves and those around them sane and safe . All the while facing their own trauma and prejudice and being forced to grow into better people . -aka- Watch me an (idiot) amatour author try and spin a story and try to keep those idiots alive maybe even have them building a nation , while trying to make more slavic mythology inspired fiction because its super fucking cool and also facing the brutal reality that yes my culture has a LOT of problems . Constructive criticism will be appreciated -------Warnings------- Things happening: racism ; homophobia ; violence ; sexism ; xenophobia ; violence Mentioned: cannibalism Specifications : Use of slur , racial discrimination and stereotyping of a Romani character

[Sebuah kisah yang meledak dan mendebarkan, sangat direkomendasikan oleh Kepala Editor sendiri. Sebuah buku suci yang wajib dibaca, Anda akan menyesal jika tidak membacanya.] Di mata orang lain, dia mungkin tampak seperti orang bodoh yang tidak berguna, namun dia dihormati sebagai penguasa penilaian, penyembuh ajaib, penyihir yang memikat, penguasa Istana Naga, dewa perang yang tak terkalahkan... Dengan satu tangan yang memegang jarum emas melawan maut itu sendiri, dan tangan lainnya yang memegang pedang panjang, memaksa bangsa-bangsa untuk menyerah, dia memiliki keahlian yang tiada tara. Pandangannya yang ilahi menyisir langit dan bumi, sementara pandangan setannya menembus tabir yin dan yang. Dia tak tertandingi di seluruh dunia!

Village woman Su Xiumei, "Fei, sister is ill, come help sister with a treatment!" Lin Fei gave a wicked smile, "Xiu Mei sister, don't lock your door tonight, I'll come give you a shot and you'll be fine!" Su Xiumei, "You little rascal, you're really naughty!"

At this very moment, on Earth, there are about 20,000 people suitable to be your life partner... (George Bernard Shaw). If you knew that no matter which direction you head, there would always be 1/20000 of the people in the world waiting for you, would you still be content with continuing to be an unattached introvert?

“Helena if I could be with you every moment of every day, fuck, I’d take that,” Romeo growled as he kissed her neck, sucking and licking along the way as well. “We’ve already lost nine years, Helena, I’m not wasting a moment more," Romeo hissed as his lips crashed against Helena’s. She let out a moan as Romeo lifted her leg, wrapping it around his waist. “Feel that, love?” Romeo asked as he pushed his cock against her. “Feel what you do to me?” Nine years ago Helena Willow ran and on her first day back she meets an Alpha whom she connected with on a different level. An Alpha that could be her Mate. When she left her pack she left her family and the love of her life, her stepbrother Romeo Blackmoon. What happens when she discovers that the Alpha she's slept with was her stepbrother and that he could be her mate?

Fatal Lullaby (Revised Edition) by Jenni Teel Tara Stele wakes in the ruins of her childhood home, her hands slick with blood, her mother's lullaby echoing in the hollow silence. She doesn't remember killing her parents, but the world is certain she did. Banished to the Shade Territory-a decaying prison where exiled supernaturals fight to survive-Tara is forced into hiding among the notorious Shades of Orphan crew. But secrets don't stay buried for long. Hunted by the Division of Non-Human Affairs and a bounty hanging over her head, Tara must unravel the truth behind her own existence. As her powers awaken, so does something darker-whispers of gods long thought dead, fragments of war and prophecy twisting through her veins. With a past she can't trust and a future she can't escape, Tara is faced with an impossible fate. Will she become the weapon she was made to be, or will she forge a new path before the world burns around her? This is the revised edition of Fatal Lullaby by JenniferLayneTeel on Wattpad. I lost access to my account, and since it's nearly the ten-year anniversary, I decided to rewrite, revise, and re-give-it-a-go!

Tara was a normal girl on Earth until, through some bizarre circumstances, she was reborn in a fantasy world of cultivation as a weak salamander. Now, in a world where humans view magical beasts as resources and magical beasts consume each other to fuel their own growth, she finds herself alone in a hostile world where the strong rule with an iron fist. Luckily, she has brought one thing with her from Earth: a strange system connected to her soul called the Evolution System. Bestowed by a mysterious immortal, it allows her to continuously improve and upgrade her racial traits and skills and even strive towards evolving her race altogether. With the system, she had hope for improving her cultivation beyond the confines of her race and carving a place in this world where she would no longer be at the mercy of others.  

WHEN THE STARS COLLIDE is a tender and inspiring romance that celebrates the magic of connection and the beauty of new beginnings. Join Ella and Jake on their journey of love, self-discovery, and the realization that, sometimes, the universe has a way of bringing two souls together just when they need it most. Will they find the courage to embrace their feelings and create a love story that shines as brightly as the stars? In this tale of hope and romance, readers will be captivated by the enchanting world of Willow Creek and the heartfelt connection between two people destined to collide under the stars.

Noah Carter, a 16-year-old orphan raised by his grandmother in Willow Creek, has always felt like an outsider. His world shifts when he discovers a cryptic letter from his late father hidden in an old Bible: “The hidden light is near. Trust in the Lord, and you will find it.” Determined to uncover the truth, Noah follows a trail of secrets—an ancient map, cryptic symbols, and a hidden temple beneath the town. As he digs deeper, mysterious forces try to stop him, warning that he isn’t ready for what lies ahead. With danger closing in, Noah realizes he’s caught in an ancient conflict that could change history. The Hidden Path is a supernatural thriller where faith, mystery, and destiny collide in a race against time.

Tara’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she’s pregnant after a one-night stand with a mysterious stranger. As a top-tier tech developer, she has always been in control of her future—until the past walks into her office as her new boss. Paris, the charming yet authoritative General and heir to Horizon Tech, never forgot the woman who captivated him for one night. When fate brings them together again, the stakes are higher than ever. The truth about their unborn child ignites a battle of wills, forcing Tara to confront feelings she thought were buried. Meanwhile, Ana, a passionate young doctor, finds herself drawn to Adrian, the country’s top cardiologist—a man known for his brilliance but feared for his icy demeanor. While she once adored him from afar, a single, humiliating remark makes her swear off her affections. But Adrian, secretly infatuated with Ana, is thrown into jealousy when another man vies for her attention. When passion finally breaks through his cold façade, will Ana risk her heart on the man who once shattered it? In a world of business empires and medical brilliance, Sophie and George forge an unbreakable bond—one built on friendship, mutual respect, and an unexpected connection at an orphanage. As they navigate corporate battles and personal growth, their love story proves that sometimes, the most profound relationships begin with simple companionship. Love, ambition, and destiny intertwine in this unforgettable tale of second chances, power struggles, and unexpected romances.

Cuando la realidad se rompe, el miedo se convierte en ley. Después de la Ruptura, el mundo nunca volvió a ser el mismo. El Procesador Cuántico Willow debía expandir el conocimiento humano, pero en su lugar, desgarró las fronteras del tiempo y el espacio. Ciudades enteras colapsaron, las leyes de la física dejaron de ser estables y aparecieron los anómalos, personas con habilidades inexplicables. El caos desató la Tercera Guerra Mundial, y cuando todo terminó, solo quedaron diez naciones, cada una gobernada por líderes absolutos. En Spin, la nación más poderosa, los anómalos son cazados, encarcelados y exterminados. ¿Qué significa ser humano en un mundo donde la realidad misma se ha distorsionado?

In the bustling fantasy city of Two Ex-Adventurers, Dord, Orth, and Sirre Willow struggle to keep their humble inn afloat. On the surface, Orth and Sirre appear to be the perfect couple, but deep within Orth’s heart lies a secret desire—a cuckold fantasy he has never dared to share. When a mysterious traveler offers to pay for a night with Sirre, it stirs a whirlwind of emotions in Orth. He sees an opportunity to confront his hidden longing and solve their financial troubles in one move. But how will Sirre, who would go to any length to keep Orth devoted to her, respond to such a twisted proposal? This is a netorase story about a loving couple. Clingy Lover Doting Love Interests Magic Male Protagonist Masochistic Characters Netorare Netorase Obsessive Love Prostitutes Yandere

In the quiet town of Willow Creek, Evelyn Lancaster returns to the place she once fled, hoping to escape the ghost of her father’s past and rebuild a life she’s always longed for. But the town doesn’t welcome her back with open arms. Once a daughter of shame, now an outsider, Evelyn is determined to make a fresh start but the weight of judgment from the people who once knew her, coupled with a painful family history, makes it harder than she ever imagined. When she crosses paths with Lucas Montgomery, a local businessman with his own baggage, their worlds collide in a storm of misunderstandings and reluctant attraction. Initially, Lucas sees Evelyn as trouble, a woman running from her past but as their paths intertwined through work, passion, and unexpected moments of vulnerability, their connection deepens into something neither of them can deny. But as their love story unfolds, so do the dark secrets of Evelyn’s family, and the shadows of the past refuse to stay buried. With external pressures from the community and their own internal fears threatening to tear them apart, Evelyn and Lucas must face the demons that haunt them, learn to trust each other, and fight for a future they both deserve. A tale of love, redemption, and second chances, Little Piece from Heaven is a heartwarming romance about finding peace in the face of adversity and discovering that sometimes, love is the answer to all of life’s questions.

Willow, in his past life, briefly heard of a romantic fantasy novel - Flowers of the Sky Palace. In it, there was a horrendous dangerous delirious villain who plotted the fall of a kingdom and assassination of the royal family. The only problem was - he couldn’t correlate his now grandfather who raised him with warmth and love with the evil man described in the book. Determined to get revenge for his grandfather and clear his name, his decides to do what his family is known best for. Regicide.

IDEBET Link Slot Spade Gaming Deposit Pakai Bank Btpn IDEBET merupakan Bandar slot Spade Gaming Deposit pakai Bank Btpn terpercaya, Link agen Slot Spade Gaming deposit sesama Bank Btpn 24 jam resmi. Merupakan BO slot pakai Bank Btpn terpopuler di berbagai kota seperti Tangerang, link judi Slot Spade Gaming bisa menggunakan Bank Btpn di Tangerang Selatan. Bandar Slot Spade Gaming via Bank Btpn viral di Tanjungbalai, Tanjungpinang dan Tarakan. Link Slot Online Spade Gaming Bisa Deposit Bank Btpn Terpercaya Apabila teman-teman sedang cari link situs Slot Spade Gaming yang bisa deposit Bank Btpn tanpa potongan, langsung saja Daftar akun slot via Bank Btpn teman-teman melalui link slot gacor idebet. Banyak rekomendasi Slot Spade Gaming yang bisa deposit Bank Btpn mudah menang tersedia, berikut adalah daftar game slot Spade Gaming deposit Bank Btpn terpopuler saat ini. 1. Slot Emperor Gate 2. Slot Sweet Bakery 3. Slot Golden Chicken 4. Slot Golden Whale 5. Slot Wong Choy 6. Slot Dragon Gold Daftar Situs Slot Online Spade Gaming Bisa Pakai Bank Btpn Resmi Jangan khawatir daftar slot bisa pakai Bank Btpn di agen Slot Spade Gaming idebet. Dikarenakan link Slot Spade Gaming Bank Btpn yang tersedia di agen slot online idebet berlisensi resmi dan merupakan situs slot Bank Btpn terlengkap dan terpercaya di indonesia. Berikut adalah deretan agen Slot Spade Gaming bisa deposit Bank Btpn yang bisa teman-teman mainkan bila daftar di idebet. 1. Situs Slot ION Slot 2. Situs Slot AMB Slot 3. Situs Slot Mario Club 4. Situs Slot Dragoonsoft 5. Situs Slot Fun Gaming Kontak Resmi IDEBET Bandar Slot Spade Gaming Deposit Pakai Bank Btpn : » Whatsapp IDEBET : 0877-3429-5728 » Link Daftar : https://idelink.click/daftar Atau Anda Bisa Langsung Ketik Saja Di Google " IDEBET "

Kim Yohan, the CEO of the biggest company in S city, is cold and doesn't care about the women who approach him. a man with strong principles in life and fighting for his love. "Miss quickly sign this file, and I, I will help you reply to them all," said the president. Tiara Jiang is a beautiful woman from a rich family who lacks love from her parents, and her brother Tara Jiang is evil and always takes everything she has, including all the men who approach Tiara because of the heartache she has experienced. "Who wants to marry you?" Tiara replied, looking sharply at the man in front of her. "Hurry up, you better obey," said the President. Tiara gets caught up in her brother's evil plans, so she has to deal with the cold and cruel CEO of the Lianxi Group Company. please read it, hope you like it.....

Five years after a tragic incident, our protagonist is visited by an unexpected guest, one of His old friends, Liu Moon. Liu visits Him for His birthday that would take place in a week, at the end of a local fare and on the exact day of the tragic incident from five years ago. A story of guilt, healing, and suffering as our protagonist finds Himself reliving past traumas in an effort to move on.

Kim Yohan seorang CEO dari sebuah perusahaan terbesar di kota S. sikap dingin dan tidak perduli dengan para wanita yang mendekatinya. laki-laki berprinsip kuat dalam hidup dan memperjuangkan cintanya. "Nona cepat tanda tangani berkas ini, dan aku aku akan membantumu membalas mereka semua" kata sang presdir. Tiara Jiang wanita cantik dari keluarga kaya yang kurang kasih sayang dari orangtuanya, dan saudaranya Tara Jiang yang jahat dan selalu merebut semua yang ia miliki, termasuk semua laki-laki yang mendekati Tiara karena sakit hati yang pernah ia alami. "Siapa juga yang mau menikah denganmu" jawab Tiara dengan memandang tajam kearah laki-laki yang ada di hadapannya. "Cepatlah, sebaiknya kau menurut" kata sang Presdir. Tiara terjebak rencana jahat saudaranya, sehingga harus berurusan dengan CEO dingin dan kejam dari Perusahaan Lianxi Grup. silakan di baca, semoga suka..... Nb. Ig : @Imro88 FB: imroatul Hasanah (CEO dingin istri kesayangannya sang CEO/profil)

Seorang remaja tewas ditindas oleh Tuan Truck secara tragis. Dia bertemu Kakek tua yang menyebut dirinya Makhluk Tertinggi. Dia di beri kemampuan dan bereinkarnasi di dunia lain. Dunia lain itu bernama, Dunglord. Dunia dimana ribuan Dungeon lahir, dan Dungeon merupakan sebuah penjara bawah tanah yang berisi monster dan harta karun tiada habisnya. Bisakah remaja itu mengalahkan monster terkuat dan mendapatkan harta karun tiada tara? Akan tetapi. Kakek tua yang melihat kepergian remaja itu sambil tersenyum. Tiba-tiba dia menepuk jidatnya karena teringat akan suatu hal. "Ah. Aku lupa untuk memperbaiki mesin pembuat tubuh yang telah menjadi rusak." . . . . Tidak ada hal warna-warni atau pun gunting-guntingan. Dan juga Novel yang sama di Wattpad. . . . . Protagonis wanita, pria ke wanita, protagonis arogan, protagonis narsistik, pesona, pemimpin wanita cantik, harem, protagonis tak tekalahkan, lemah ke kuat, pergi kedunia lain, reinkarnasi kedunia lain, sistem, unsur permainan, sihir, fantasi barat, kemampuan unik, menyembunyikan kemampuan, latar belakang misterius, masa lalu kelam, dungeon. . . . . Hanya Bab 1 yang sedikit cukup(revisi), terus Bab sisanya hanyalah pikiran mentah belum sedikit pun(revisi) . . . . Kata pepatah, "tulis aja dulu ide yang keluar, dan untuk kesempurnaan itu belakangan, kalau bisa."

A heart breaking story of a realistic gay romance. If you want a good cry, this webnovel is just a click away

"Twice in a Lifetime" is a charming and heartfelt story of rediscovered love between two former lovers, Willow and Luke. Once high school sweethearts, their relationship ended abruptly when they went their separate ways for college. Years later, Willow, now a successful artist, returns to her hometown looking for inspiration for her next art gallery. Coincidentally, Luke, a dedicated veterinarian, has also returned home after years of living in the city. Their paths cross at a local café, and the spark is immediately reignited. As Willow and Luke reconnect, they reminisce and confront the reasons behind their breakup. They discover that they have grown and changed, yet their feelings for each other remain strong. Despite their challenges, including doubts and insecurities from their past, Willow and Luke embark on a journey to rediscover the love they once shared. With the support of their friends and family, they navigate the complexities of second chances and learn to trust in the power of fate. "Twice in a Lifetime" is a heartwarming tale of love, forgiveness, and the belief that true love can withstand the test of time.

"You're cheating?!" I thundered, my voice shaking the walls. Jonathan scrambled off the bed, panic splitting his face. But Tara? She didn’t even flinch, she was calm—like I hadn’t just caught her with my boyfriend. I wanted to believe my eyes were deceiving me, but the truth was clear. Jonathan, the man I loved, was cheating on me with my best friend! The gift bag in my hand felt heavier now, a cruel reminder of why I had come. We were supposed to celebrate our one-year anniversary. Instead, I discovered not just his betrayal—but his true intentions. To him, I was never more than a means to an end; a way to give him a child. Desperate for money to save my father’s life, I signed a contract marriage with a stranger. But I never expected that stranger to be Jonathan’s uncle.