as if we never said goodbye glee

I wheel myself into the birthday celebration that Wales Price has thrown for me. The atmosphere is originally lively, but a brief silence descends when everyone sees me. The guests are there for different purposes, but celebrating my birthday is not one of them. "Is that Mr. Price's crippled fiancée, Joey Hertza?" "Yeah, but the one he really loves is Anna Giovanni. I saw them kissing in a corner earlier." They use their wine glasses to block their mouths as they speak loudly. They think I'm still the crippled deaf I used to be. They don't know that I regained my hearing last week. I can hear every mocking comment they make. Meanwhile, Wales stands there and allows it to happen. He doesn't stop the guests from talking about me. He seems to have forgotten that I only ended up like this while protecting him. I shoved him away when the accident happened and got trapped underneath the car myself. When I was rescued, Wales swore to stay with me and care for me for life. It's only been three short years since then, but he's already changed. I receive a message on my phone. "Ms. Hertza, the lifelike corpse that you've ordered is now complete. Reply to this message with your confirmation, and your death-faking service will be immediately effective. We will send the corpse to your and Mr. Price's wedding in five days." I don't even hesitate as I reply with my confirmation. Enjoy your wedding, Wales.

Before a chaotic and mesmerizing party night, Madeline never imagined she would truly end up with Jeremy. After their unexpected marriage, however, they drift further apart. In her most desperate moments, Madeline discovers that she has already captured Jeremy's heart without realizing it.

Framed and imprisoned for five years, Wendi gives birth to a daughter behind bars. With no one else to protect little Nina, she sends the 4-year-old to find the father she has never met. Newly returned billionaire heir Collin is stunned when a little girl runs up and calls him Dad.

Erika broke Adrian's heart to save him. Five years later, she begs the now-powerful man to fund surgery for the daughter he never knew existed, only to die of cancer herself. But her spirit remains, protecting their child, saving Adrian from suicide, and finally becoming his bride.

Framed and imprisoned for five years, Wendi gives birth to a daughter behind bars. With no one else to protect little Nina, she sends the 4-year-old to find the father she has never met. Newly returned billionaire heir Collin is stunned when a little girl runs up and calls him Dad.

Three years ago, Sandy Hunt entered a flash marriage with Darren York to resolve her father's company's financial woes. Displeased with the arrangement, Darren stormed out of home in anger, never once meeting Sandy. Now, fate brings them together again, and love begins to blossom between them.

Wendy Shaw has just wrapped up a mission in ancient time when the System delivers news that stops her cold. Her best friend Laura Harper has been killed by a man who never deserved her. Wendy takes the new assignment without hesitating. She returns to the 21st century as the true Xavier heiress, steps into a marriage meant for the family's fake daughter, and walks down the aisle to Steve Hart, the scarred eldest son everyone assumes is a punishment posting. Her mission is to make Steve fall for her.Nobody takes Wendy seriously. The girl from the countryside is supposed to crumble under the Hart family's scrutiny. Instead, Steve's regard for her deepens steadily, and Wendy rises to become general manager of Hart Corp without breaking a sweat.When she finally turns her full attention to Mark Hart, the second son whose hands are stained with Laura's death, everything she has built points in one direction. He never saw her coming. That was always the plan."

The year my boyfriend is dead broke, I leave him. Later, he becomes a mafia boss and uses every means at his disposal to marry me. Everyone says that I am the first love he can never forget, the wife he cares about the most. However, he then starts bringing home a different woman every night, making me a laughingstock. Still, I don't cry or make a fuss. I quietly stay in my own room, never interrupting his affairs. Elton Carter is furious. He pins me beneath him, kisses me harshly, and growls, "Aren't you jealous?" He has no idea that I'm gravely ill. He could buy half the city with violence, threats, and money. He could buy my freedom, my marriage… and each night bring a different woman home, oblivious to the truth. Little does he know, I have just seven days left to live.

Years ago, the Jaxon family was wiped out. Before she died, Walter Jaxon's mother urged him never to fight again. Years later, the Tanner family's daughter was about to lose a martial contest to a foreigner in a competition for her marriage. At the critical moment, Walter crushed the amulet, regaining his strength to protect the woman he loved.

Chase York, eldest disciple of the Skyblade Order,was born with a rare innate blade vessel, mastering the eight realms of Blade Path and nurturing a powerful blade soul. Yet his father, sister, and brother Hunter York falsely accused him of theft—when Hunter was the real thief. Framed and defenseless, Chase was killed. Reborn, he vows never to be a pawn again.

Years ago, the Jaxon family was wiped out. Before she died, Walter Jaxon's mother urged him never to fight again. Years later, the Tanner family's daughter was about to lose a martial contest to a foreigner in a competition for her marriage. At the critical moment, Walter crushed the amulet, regaining his strength to protect the woman he loved.

The most talented and enigmatic superstar in the music world, Wendy Wells, disfigured herself for love and even gave up her booming music career. But she never expected that on their fifth wedding anniversary, she would receive her husband Jim Jordan's mockery and demand for divorce.Heartbroken and disillusioned, Wendy decided to make a comeback and reclaim everything that was rightfully hers...

It is said that Marco Colombo, the heir of the Colombo family of Chiron, is holding a wedding for his mistress, Gina Bilotti, today. The scale is ten times grander than when he marries Isabella Pratico in a political union. I lean against the ebony railing on the second floor. Sipping my red wine, I watch the lively scene of clinking glasses and mingling guests below with quiet amusement. Gina is definitely favored—she is even wearing a ruby necklace. One should know that set of ruby jewelry is an heirloom of the Colombo family. It is something only the Donna and the wife of the heir are allowed to wear. "You must be Isabella, the one Marco who does not love." A voice suddenly comes from beside me. I turn my head and see the woman wearing the ruby necklace before me. Gina has come up to the second floor at some point and is now looking at me with a cunning smile on her face. I freeze for a moment, not yet able to respond. She suddenly grabs my hand and yanks it hard toward herself. There is a sharp tearing sound, and the hem of her wedding dress rips open with a long tear. Gina lets out a cry, and tears immediately stream down her face. "Mrs. Colombo, why did you tear my wedding dress? Marco specially commissioned this from an independent designer just for our wedding! "If you really cannot tolerate my presence, then I will break up with Marco today and leave Chiron…" The surrounding guests all lift their heads and glare at me angrily. I am stunned because I am not Isabella. I am the new wife of Marco's father, the woman of the current Don, and the Donna of the Colombo family.

My husband, Cesare Ferrante, the most feared Don of the Ferrante family, had always hated children. Yet everything changed the moment my stepsister, Bianca Moretti, moved in next door with her six-month-old baby. Suddenly, my husband became obsessed with that child. He personally fed the baby formula, sang lullabies, and carried the baby everywhere he went. Every day, he came home exhausted at dawn, yet his face glowed with joy, as if that baby occupied his entire soul. I became invisible to him. Three days ago, someone forced my car off the road, and I crashed into the median. Blood streamed down my forehead, and my vision swam. I called Cesare 55 times. He did not answer a single call. Instead, he posted a photo of the baby on his social media. [My little angel smiled today!] I had had enough. Tonight at the family banquet, every member of the famiglia was seated around the table. I raised my final toast, then set down my glass. "I want a divorce." They all froze. "Are you insane?" My parents' voices rose in unison. Cesare grabbed my wrist, disbelief written across his face. "Giulia, you want to divorce me just because I was busy taking care of the baby and didn't answer your calls? You're actually jealous of a six-month-old child?" I did not meet his eyes. Instead, I stared at the glaring kiss mark behind his ear. "Since you love that child so much," I said calmly, "I'll make it easy for you. Go be that child's father."

Nolan Lawson, past fifty, never expects a second chance—until a mysterious system restores his youth in a world torn by war. To survive, he strikes a deal with the gravely wounded General Harper Hartwell. Harper, disguised as a man, slips into the army camp with him. From farmer to fighter, Nolan begins an extraordinary rise to power, carving his path in the chaos of a broken land.

Traumatized by his father’s affair as a child, Preston becomes sexually frigid. With his inheritance on the line, he turns to a female dom to fix himself—only to realize the only person he responds to is Alex, a shy nurse at his hospital. Now he won’t let her go—even as Alex, who’s never even been in love, tries to run.

Out of desperation, Queenie Xavier sells her first night to Yarden Lewis, the man she's secretly loved for eight years. Yarden enjoys the thrill but keeps her as a secret lover, never imagining it could last. She feels the same. When the time comes, she walks away.Only then does Yarden realize he's been in love with her to the very core all along.

"Don't move. Your dress isn't on properly." Alpha Leo Stonewell lifted a hand to adjust my ceremonial gown. But the next second, the words that came out of his mouth sent a chill down my spine. "Layla, let Lilith wear this dress instead. Don't show up at our marking ceremony on the night of the full moon. She'll take your place then." I looked up immediately. "Have you lost your mind?" He sighed softly as if to suggest I was being unreasonable. "Lilith is just an Omega in the pack. I can't bear to let her stay with me without a rightful title. Tomorrow, I'll officially mark her during the ceremony." The northern wind sliced across my face. It felt bitterly cold, but it could hardly compare to the freezing ache in my chest. "We're supposed to become mates tomorrow. If you're going to mark her, then what did the past ten years between us even mean?" Leo frowned. Impatience crept into his voice. "Your wolf spirit has been dormant all this time. To the other werewolves in the pack, you're no different from an Omega. Layla, don't worry. Even if I mark her, I'll still take care of you for the rest of your life. Let her have this marking ceremony. Lilith is young and beautiful. She can't handle being wronged." My face slowly drained of color. If this Alpha thought I wasn't as young or beautiful as Lilith Lambert, then I didn't want him as my mate either.