breaking the ice short story

Joanie Sadler and Laurent Goff met and grew up together as children in an orphanage. After leaving the orphanage, Laurent set out to build a career and promised to one day give Joanie a home. Joanie was later adopted by Peggy Boswell and Benjamin Francis, a couple who had lost their own daughter. Peggy sees Joanie as a replacement for her lost child, and when Joanie's birth parents later come to claim her, the Francis couple forges false paternity test results to keep Joanie. Years later, the Francises' real daughter Joanna is found, causing the couple to immediately turn against Joanie and send her back to her birth parents. Joanna also resents Joanie for living the life that should have been hers. At this time, Laurent, through a paternity test from years ago, locates Joanie and arrives at the Francis household, bringing a billion-dollar investment project. However, due to a series of misunderstandings, Laurent mistakenly believes Joanna is his childhood friend Joanie.

The renowned businesswoman Freya retired and went into seclusion after her company became the largest enterprise in the city and went public. She adopted three children, including Wendy. After the three graduated from college, Freya planned to reveal her true identity to them. However, she suffered an unexpected brain hemorrhage. During her illness, Wendy stood by her side, working hard to save money for medical expenses. After Freya recovered, she helped Wendy solve various challenges.

Dustin Jason used to give his all to his adopted family, but what he got in return was his wife and daughter suffering and himself being abandoned when he was seriously sick. After being reborn, he stopped being blindly filial and strived to change his fate. He protected his wife and daughter during repeated conflicts with the rest of the family, and eventually, he completely broke with the Jason family. In the end, Dustin achieved great success in his career, while the Jason family were deceived due to greed and got their retribution.

Alina, the true Windsor heiress, lost at three, was replaced by Angela. Found years later, Alina faced Angela's schemes and family alienation. After a tragic death, she was reborn, left the Windsors, and forged her own path. The family, through coincidences, realized her true love and regretted their actions.

Jeremy Wilson's sister, Sophia Wilson, returned to her homeland to attend her brother's engagement ceremony. However, Daisy Rogers, Jeremy's fiancée, mistook Sophia for a mistress and subjected her to public humiliation and assault. After the truth was revealed, not only was Daisy's misconduct exposed, but it also came to light that her pregnancy was a fabrication, and she was conspiring with Jeremy's best friend, Zane Grey, to eliminate Jeremy and seize control of the corporation. In the end, Zane was handed over to the police, Daisy's family faced punishment, and Jeremy and Sophia gained a profound insight into the significance of integrity when sizing up others.

Sharon, chairwoman of the Zeller Group, and her husband lost their child Hector when he was a child. They poured all their love into the adopted boy, Howard. Even after Hector was returned to them, Sharon continued to favor Howard, granting him the right to inherit the family business. However, she never expected that Howard would attempt to kill her. On the brink of death, she finally saw through his wicked nature and swore that if given another chance, she would make amends to her true child. Miraculously, her wish is granted—when she opens her eyes again, she finds herself back three years in the past.

Janet Driscoll, once the cherished darling of the family, was devastated to discover that she was not her parents' biological daughter. After their real daughter, Jaime, was welcomed home, her once-loving parents and brother began to trust Jaime blindly, hanging on her every word.When Janet was falsely accused of pushing her grandma down the stairs, the Driscoll family, without hesitation, sent her to a harsh reform school. There, she endured three years of inhumane torment that left her with permanent, life-altering disabilities.Three years later, when the family finally brought her home, they were shocked to find that the bright, cheerful Janet they once knew had vanished. In her place stood a cold, distant young woman who had shut them all out.

After losing her father, Nora Smith moves with her mother into the Lowe family, where she suffers constant bullying from her stepbrothers and relentless humiliation. Her mother urges her to remain silent, but everything changes when she discovers her stepfather's plan to marry her off to her lazy stepbrother, Xavier Lowe. Refusing to accept this fate, Nora hides her acceptance to a top university and escapes, taking on odd jobs to support herself while secretly pursuing her studies. Years later, her exceptional talent catches the attention of Rivelle's leading company, Grant Corp, which funds her studies abroad. Now, at 27, Nora returns as a powerful and influential figure, determined to reclaim her life.

The richest woman in the world, Sarah, returns to the US to attend the wedding ceremony of her only son, Teddy But she‘s mistaken by Teddy's fiancée Lucinda as Teddy’s mistress, so Lucinda brutalizes Sarah, insults her, and takes indecent photos of her. Until Teddy arrives and furiously yells：Sarah is my mom!

Nadia Hart was born into a poor family in the countryside, yet she managed to earn a spot at a prestigious university after her parents humbled themselves to secure her tuition. Determined to make a name for herself, Nadia swore she'd bring honor to her family. Years later, as a successful professional, she returns to develop her village—only to face accusations of disgrace. Little do they know, she is the very person they now hope to befriend: the director of Smith Corp.

Addison Rowe is the true heiress who is reunited with her family 12 years ago. Upon her return, Addison falls in love with Jensen Lott at first sight and eagerly pursues him. However, Jensen looks down on Addison for her country origins and rejects her advances.

Margaret sacrificed everything to raise her two sons, only to have her "dead" husband Channing show up at their graduation with his mistress in tow. The truth hit hard: he'd faked his death, and "her" boys were actually his love children with Vivian. The shock killed her. Then she woke up in the delivery room. She reborned. Game on.

A long-planned conspiracy, a life that is switched. Charlotte Barlow, the daughter of the wealthy Goodman family, is swapped at birth by the maid Danielle Fuller with her own daughter. Overnight, Charlotte Barlow, who should have been the family's pride and joy, is reduced to a servant's daughter and suffers constant abuse. Meanwhile, Stella Goodman, who should have lived in poverty, becomes the pampered heiress. By chance, Charlotte saves her birth mother, Britney Goodman, and is brought into the Goodman family. Fearing the truth would be exposed, Danielle, who works as Britney's maid, schemes to frame Charlotte, causing her to be wrongfully accused. Stella, who accidentally discovers she is the "fake heiress", also fears her true identity would be revealed. The two conspire with Jordan Goodman, Britney's live-in husband, to poison Britney while repeatedly framing Charlotte, causing her birth mother to misunderstand her! Fortunately, Lionel Goodman, the family's adopted son, helps Charlotte uncover the truth. The two fall in love as they get to know each other and provide mutual comfort and support.

After serving the country with distinction, Rosanne Ashford learns the powerful Todd family has harmed her daughter Daisie Larson. Returning home for justice, she finds her husband Alvin Larson engaged to Veronica Todd. In a fury, Rosanne disrupts the engagement party, blacklists the Todd family, and successfully rescues Daisie. Further investigation reveals the Todd family were merely puppets of Ronald Locke, the Prince of the North. To protect both family and country, Rosanne must engage in a fierce battle with Ronald...

Jones Sean witnessed her beloved daughter fall from the building and die. The culprit was her ex-husband. To avenge her daughter, she changed her identity and transformed into a female entrepreneur worth over a hundred million. In this way, she manipulated those driven by greed.

No matter what life throws your way, keep moving forward.

Xena, a housewife betrayed by her husband, discovered while gravely ill that her adopted son, Xavier, had seized all her assets and the family business. To her shock, she learned that Xavier was the child of her husband and the nanny with whom he had an affair. In her despair, Xena died, only to realize too late that her first love, a wealthy big shot, had been waiting for her for thirty years. Miraculously reborn ten years earlier, Xena gained a second chance to reclaim her destiny. This time, she refused to let her ungrateful son manipulate her. Armed with intelligence and courage, she uncovered the conspiracy involving Xavier and the nanny, reclaiming what was rightfully hers. Throughout her journey, her first love, now pretending to be a security guard, supported her, and she eventually learned that he too had been reborn, solely to protect her!

Karina's stepson's birth mother returns, threatening to take the boy Karina raised and helped heal from a congenital leg disability. After a heated argument, Karina realizes her husband and stepson saw her only as a free nanny. Desperate, she then discovers John, her silent protector, ready to help her restart her career and shine again as a cybersecurity queen. When her ex-husband and stepson regret it, it's too late.