defending phd

At 25, Ariel Laurel is a brilliant lawyer and PhD candidate—but secretly, she’s also a world MMA champion. A blind date leads to marriage with Eric Blaine, a renowned philanthropist. Yet beneath his charm lies a dark truth. His daughter and mother suffer in silence, while his family thrives on violence. Refusing to stand by, Ariel uses her intellect and strength to expose their sins, rescue the innocent, and fight for justice.

Evelyn Willow, a strong female general, is honored by the emperor with the title of "Wise General" for her victories. Returning to the capital for her sister Vera Willow's wedding, she's mistaken for a beggar due to her worn clothes. Despite this, Vera fiercely defends her. But on the day of the wedding, Vera is betrayed by her entire in-law family. Evelyn uses her power to strike back, defending her sister's honor. After helping Vera annul the marriage, she arranges a new match with Caius Nelson. On the day the duke sends his betrothal gifts, both sisters unexpectedly encounter the parents who abandoned them. Evelyn decides to make them regret their actions for the rest of their lives.

Ellie Devin, once the cherished eldest daughter of the wealthy Wilcox family, discovers she’s actually the fourth daughter of the Devin family. Driven by blood ties, she seeks out her real brothers, only to face cold rejection. They despise her, and the adopted daughter, Fiona Devin, frames her at every turn. Instead of defending Ellie, her brothers force her to kneel in the rain, refusing to listen. Sick and drenched, she begs to be let inside, but only Fiona emerges, mocking her cruelly before pushing her down the stairs. Left abandoned overnight, Ellie wakes with a new resolve. She fights back when falsely accused again, declaring she will no longer bow to the Devin family. Stunned, they watch as she walks away. This time, Ellie is determined to reclaim her place in the Wilcox family, where she truly belongs.

Leon Johnson had been working when he suddenly collapsed. After being diagnosed with cancer and given only three months to live, he decided to keep the diagnosis a secret from his wife, Rachel, not wanting to burden her. That evening, Rachel insisted he accompany investors for a drinking session that left him vomiting blood. Despite his condition, Rachel was constantly defending her first love, Yosef Lloyd. Leon managed to land a major contract and, excited about his success, rushed home, only to find Rachel feeding Yosef porridge, which sparked a heated argument. When Leon vented his frustrations to Rachel, she stormed out and climbed into a car with the drunk Yosef. In a tragic accident, Yosef crashed the car and killed Rachel's mother. Leon took his mother-in-law to the hospital, but the delay in getting there led to her death. The loss of his mother-in-law, who had always treated him like a son, hit Leon hard. But when he revealed the truth to Rachel, the wife he had once loved deeply refused to believe him, accusing him of lying.