a pair of tickets by amy tan

The day my parents brought home an AI daughter, I lost my place in the family. Maddison Matthews was flawless. Gentle, intelligent, and obedient, she was the perfect daughter. Overnight, I became the problem child. Dad stopped hiding his disappointment. Mom compared me to Maddison in everything I did. Even my brother, Bailey, treated me like an embarrassment. "What else do you know how to do besides throwing tantrums and fighting for attention?" The day I finally snapped and shoved Maddison, Mom slapped me so hard my ears rang. "If you were even half as mature as Maddie, I wouldn’t be so exhausted every single day! Go to the Intelligent Excellence Academy and learn properly how to be an obedient daughter!" Then she sent me away. I was forced into a three-year exchange program at the Intelligent Excellence Academy, a place designed to train human children alongside advanced AI models. Three years later, my family finally came to bring me home. They called my name again and again, but I never answered. The director smiled calmly beside them. "Mrs. Matthews," he said softly, "you’ll need to say ‘Power On’. Unit 1314 no longer responds to human names."

Working at an adult novelty shop, Nia Turner discovers one day that one of her customers is actually her husband, Marcus Hayes. Worse, he is having an affair with her half-sister, Arielle. Overwhelmed with humiliation, Nia drowns her sorrows in a nightclub, where she crosses paths with Leo Mitchell, a rich tycoon. After they strike a deal and enter into a fake marriage, true romance blossoms despite themselves, and Nia receives valuable support from Leo in her career. As she rises to become a successful CEO of Starlight Entertainment, both her personal and professional lives reach new heights of achievement.

The night before our 17th wedding attempt, my mafia husband, Rafaeal Holloway, looks at me and promises an uninterrupted wedding. He solemnly swears. "Gianna, I promise you. I told Natalia that even if the sky falls, she'll deal with it alone." I am five months pregnant by then. After three years of dating and five months carrying his child, we've never managed to make it down the aisle because he's canceled the past 16 weddings. Every single time, it's for his sworn sister, Natalia Sullivan. The first time, she claims she has a fever. I spend the whole night at the hospital, still in my wedding dress, just to find out she has a mild cold. The second time, she claims her chest hurts. Rafael abandons me mid-wedding and rushes to her side, while she's out laughing over afternoon tea with friends. The third time, she cries for fear of thunder. He bolts mid-vows and leaves me alone in a hall full of staring guests. But everything's different now. Three days ago, a letter arrived from Northern Silenzio. My father, the Don of the Rossetti family, has finally summoned me home. If Rafael walks away for Natalia one more time, I'll leave for good.

The night before our 17th wedding attempt, my mafia husband, Rafaeal Holloway, looks at me and promises an uninterrupted wedding. He solemnly swears. "Gianna, I promise you. I told Natalia that even if the sky falls, she'll deal with it alone." I am five months pregnant by then. After three years of dating and five months carrying his child, we've never managed to make it down the aisle because he's canceled the past 16 weddings. Every single time, it's for his sworn sister, Natalia Sullivan. The first time, she claims she has a fever. I spend the whole night at the hospital, still in my wedding dress, just to find out she has a mild cold. The second time, she claims her chest hurts. Rafael abandons me mid-wedding and rushes to her side, while she's out laughing over afternoon tea with friends. The third time, she cries for fear of thunder. He bolts mid-vows and leaves me alone in a hall full of staring guests. But everything's different now. Three days ago, a letter arrived from Northern Silenzio. My father, the Don of the Rossetti family, has finally summoned me home. If Rafael walks away for Natalia one more time, I'll leave for good.

They have known each other since they were young, yet his bride isn't her. After being drugged, the wealthy man, Bradley Judd, saves her by spending a night with her. When they meet again, five years have passed. She returns to the country with a pair of twins, trying her best to keep them hidden. Nevertheless, he still finds them in the end.

After I was reborn, I was the one who changed the name on my blood bond with Prince Mortlock. I wrote in “Isabella”—the other vampire he’d always cherished, always protected. When Isabella wanted the ruby necklace, the one that marked the Prince's Mate, I let her have it. The wedding dress Mortlock had prepared for me? I gave that to Isabella, too. I did it all because in my past life, I got my wish. I became Mortlock’s mate, but I lived every moment in Isabella’s shadow. In the end, during a battle with vampire hunters, Mortlock ran to a wounded Isabella first. I was the one left to take a silver stake through the heart. So this time, I decided to let them be. To stay far away from Mortlock. But this time, the cold, distant Prince wept and begged me to be his mate again.

Seven years ago, Yorath Clark was a wealthy young woman. For reasons unknown, she broke up with a penniless man named Yasser Sidney. Soon after, her family went bankrupt, and her parents tragically took their own lives. Yorath lost everything overnight and, in the eyes of many, became a gold-digger to survive. Meanwhile, Yasser unexpectedly inherited an immense fortune. Now, seven years later, their paths cross once again. What will happen next? Watch to find out!

Sold by her boyfriend to the mafia king Vincenzo as his contract bride, Violet plans her escape. Yet she discovers Vincenzo's heart of gold... that belongs to her. When danger strikes, Vincenzo saves Violet and suffers grave injuries, leading her to marry him out of duty and gratitude. But during their wedding ceremony, an assassination plot unfolds…

Harold Simpson, also known as Erebus, ruler of Erebus Dungeon, returned to the city to uncover the truth behind his family's massacre. He was accompanied by seven extraordinary elder sisters: Eldest Sister Alva, a detached and beautiful CEO; Second Sister Belle, enigmatic and mysterious; Third Sister Chloe, an international flight attendant; Fourth Sister Daisy, a renowned doctor; Fifth Sister Emily, a stunning live streamer; Sixth Sister Fay, with a mysterious background; and Seventh Sister Gina, a legendary actress. Armed with unparalleled combat strength and extensive connections, Harold swept through the underworld, bested his enemies, protected his seven sisters, and gradually unraveled the mysteries of his own origins

While the criminal was brutally killing me, my dad, the head of the criminal investigation division, and my mom, the chief forensic pathologist, were attending my sister Lily Lambert’s match. In a bid for revenge, the criminal, who had once been captured by my dad, cut out my tongue and used my phone to call him. My dad only said one thing before hanging up. "No matter what’s going on, Lily’s match is the top priority today!" The criminal sneered, "Seems I’ve kidnapped the wrong person. I thought they would love their biological daughter more!" At the crime scene, my parents were shocked by the brutal state of the body and condemned the cruelty of the killer. However, they did not realize that the horrifically mutilated corpse was their own daughter.

While the criminal was brutally killing me, my dad, the head of the criminal investigation division, and my mom, the chief forensic pathologist, were attending my sister Lily Lambert’s match. In a bid for revenge, the criminal, who had once been captured by my dad, cut out my tongue and used my phone to call him. My dad only said one thing before hanging up. "No matter what’s going on, Lily’s match is the top priority today!" The criminal sneered, "Seems I’ve kidnapped the wrong person. I thought they would love their biological daughter more!" At the crime scene, my parents were shocked by the brutal state of the body and condemned the cruelty of the killer. However, they did not realize that the horrifically mutilated corpse was their own daughter.

After failing the Awakening Ceremony, Yale Sullivan unexpectedly binds to the Beastmaster System and forms a contract with the Vampire Queen, Aria Tepes. With his unique bloodline talent, he shatters class barriers and enters the Beastbinder University. Along the way, he not only crushes his rivals but also tames god-tier goddess familiars, unlocking incredible powers.

Prince Titus goes underground as a gladiator, hunting the poisoners who targeted his father the Emperor. In the arena, he’s rescued by Valeria -- the senator’s daughter he once saved from slavers as a boy. She proposes marriage to free him from bondage. Together they expose the conspiracy behind the palace walls, reclaim the throne, and rule Rome side by side.

When she was on a blind date, lawyer Eve Sanchez used her boss, Morgan Jenkins, as a cover, saying that she liked him. Unexpectedly, he heard her on the spot.Soon,Morgan's grandma forced him to marry Eve,and she joined his rich family. Eve and Morgan set boundaries with each other at first, but gradually grew closer. Through a mix of sweet flirtation and tense confrontations, she made her cold-faced boss lose control, finding a unique love marked by his devotion and unwavering protection.

A spoiled socialite in Gilded Age New York defies warnings and photographs a cursed mummy. As her body wastes away, her hair falls out, and corpse spots spread across her skin... Her sister realizes the Pharaoh's Curse has begun. Beauty becomes rot. Fame becomes damnation. The dead always collect.

Luna Snow, once a cherished heiress, is bartered away by her mother to Yves Raven, a possessive powerhouse, all so she can keep living in luxury.On the day she is meant to marry Yves, Luna runs, only to stumble into the domain of Perry Hall, a notorious underground racer. Unbeknownst to all, behind this seemingly ruthless man lies another hidden identity. And so begins a love story that is equal parts thrilling and dangerous.

Married for five years, Sophia discovers her husband Daniel has long been cheating with her younger sister Casey. She fakes amnesia after a car accident to test them. To cut ties, Daniel lies and claims she is the wife of her elder sister Taylor. Taylor, who fell for Sophia at first sight, plays along and stays by her side. She tempts Sophia step by step — from bold kisses to intimate nights — until Sophia falls completely. When Casey shoves Sophia into a pool in public, Taylor leaps to save her and claims her openly. Daniel is consumed by regret, while Casey goes mad with jealousy. In front of everyone, Sophia takes the initiative to kiss the woman who truly loves her.

Bankrupt socialite Aliyah was put up for auction as collateral by her gambler fiancé, inadvertently awakening Caspian, a deep-sea kraken. He strangled the gambler and took Aliyah away as the "pearl" he had been searching for across millennia. This reclusive global tycoon imprisoned her on a luxury yacht, unleashing an obsessive and forceful love. When a hidden mastermind sowed discord between them, Caspian risked his life to protect her. Through life-and-death trials, the two forged a "Life-Sharing Covenant." Aliyah awakened her priestess bloodline and joined forces with Caspian to repel the ancient gods. In the end, their curse was dissolved by true love, and Caspian offered the entire ocean as a betrothal gift, crowning his queen with the "Heart of the Deep Sea."