
![[ENG DUB] The Kiss Was Just the First Step](https://acfs3.goodshort.com/dist/src/assets/images/pc/common/f901131c-default-book-cover.png)
Serena Rivers spends three years in prison for a crime she didn't commit and uses every single day of it. She trains under four of the most formidable masters the underworld has ever produced and walks out as something entirely different from the woman who walked in. On her first day of freedom she corners the cold prison warden Xavier Stone against the water dungeon wall and kisses him without apology. He is her insurance policy and she knows it. Outside, the fake heiress has stolen her shares, her younger brother demands she kneel, and her former fiance has already moved on with a new bride. She tears up the rejection notice on the spot. Moments later, the Stone family motorcade arrives, the warden reveals himself as the family patriarch, and he shows up with a hundred billion in betrothal gifts and absolutely no intention of letting anyone touch her again. Together, they dismantle every person who had a hand in her three lost years.

In my last life, my sister Serena Vega ran to Monaco the night before her wedding, and my family shoved me into her dress before dawn. Damian Lucchese, the young Godfather of New York, had been waiting at the altar for her. The moment he lifted my veil and saw me instead, the warmth in his eyes went cold. For five years, I was his hidden wife. The underworld knew he was married, but no one knew to whom. My parents blamed me for stealing Serena’s place and still failing to keep his heart. Then Serena came home. That Christmas, Damian took her and my parents to his mountain estate. When a blizzard hit, his men rushed everyone onto the helicopter. No one remembered me. I died in that frozen house, three months pregnant with Damian’s child. When I opened my eyes again, Serena had just returned to New York. This time, I would not beg for love. Only when I truly walked away, none of them had the right to regret it.

Laura, the Windsors’ biological daughter, is trapped in a tragedy that leads to her death—all because her adopted sister Serena, who can hear Laura’s inner voice thoughts, plagiarizes her music and frames her. Reborn two hours before she dies, Laura fights to take down Serena, clear her name, and reclaim what’s rightfully hers...

After the great war between humans and beasts, both sides agreed to let the half-beasts govern the world. Every hundred years, a union between humans and beasts would be arranged. The first half-beast child of the generation would be the next ruler of the Human-Beast Alliance. In my past life, I chose to marry the eldest son of the wolf clan, renowned for his unwavering devotion. I was the first to bear him a child—a rare half-beast white wolf. Our son was named the next ruler of the Human-Beast Alliance, and my husband, by extension, rose to immense power. My younger sister, who had chosen to marry into the fox clan out of vain admiration for their beauty, was not so fortunate. The fox clan's heir, a notorious philanderer, eventually contracted a disease and lost his ability to father children. Jealous and resentful, my sister set a fire that burned both me and my young white wolf son alive. When I opened my eyes again, it was the very day of the human-beast mating ceremony. This time, my sister was quicker—she climbed into the wolf clan heir Jacob's bed before I had the chance. I knew then: she had been reborn too. But what she didn't know… was that Jacob's nature was cruel and violent. He worshiped bloodshed, not love. And he was anything but a worthy mate.

Serena, heiress to the Klein family, married Nathaniel after six years together—unaware their perfect love was his revenge scheme. Years ago, Serena's father Victor stole Nathaniel's father's drug formula, killed him, and built his empire. Nathaniel faked deep affection to get close, plotting his revenge. Serena's world collapsed: her father imprisoned, her mother dead from the shock. On her mother's funeral day, Nathaniel attended an awards ceremony with actress Vanessa. He seized Klein Biotech, served Serena divorce papers, confessed all his lies, and left her with nothing—destroying her faith in love. With friend Sophie's support, Serena rebuilt her life. She worked from the bottom at Sophie's studio while connecting with her mother's lawyer, Alex, determined to uncover the truth and clear her father's name. She faced Vanessa's humiliation but struck back calmly, partnered with veteran journalist Lee, used media pressure against Nathaniel, and hunted for evidence proving her father's frame-up. Nathaniel planned his engagement to Vanessa, but Serena exposed her secrets—turning the celebration into a farce. Desperate, Nathaniel used his power to crush everyone around her. But with help from an old servant, Serena found her mother's clues and located key witness Old John, learning the truth: while Victor had his faults, Nathaniel's father had also stolen Klein's core technology—and Nathaniel's conviction evidence was forged. Armed with proof, Serena launched her final counterattack. Together with Alex, Lee, and Victor's former allies, she exposed Nathaniel's fabricated evidence and illegal financial dealings. Nathaniel landed in prison, Victor's sentence was dramatically reduced. Serena reclaimed Klein Group, became CEO, reformed the company, helped Sophie rebuild her studio, rose from the ashes, and stepped into her own future—free at last.

Hart has everything: a loving husband, brilliant children, and a quiet life as the wife of Adrian Hart, founder and CEO of HartX Technologies. Her only wound is the family she never knew. When a DNA test confirms that she is the long-lost daughter of the Whitmore family, Serena returns home before Christmas hoping for answers, not inheritance. Instead, she finds a family obsessed with reputation and a false heiress, Sylvia Bellamy, determined to protect the life stolen for her forty years ago. Serena's daughter Ava, a Stanford-bound teen prodigy, is humiliated; Serena's husband is mistaken for a laborer; and every act of patience is repaid with suspicion. As Sylvia's schemes escalate from theft accusations to public slander, Serena's true status as Mrs. Hart becomes the weapon no one saw coming. The story promises a mature heroine's emotional awakening, high-society humiliation, and the ultimate choice between blood relatives and the family that truly chose her.

Elara suffers from a rare immune system disorder. For seven consecutive years, she was selected as the Medical Ambassador by the Ashborne Foundation Board, only to lose the title each time because Kael favored his adopted sister, Rosalie. He even gave Rosalie the only experimental treatment that could save Elara. At a family gala, Elara's lily allergy caused a severe reaction. Misunderstood by her family, she was locked in the basement and nearly lost her life. After surviving, she stopped seeking help from the people who had abandoned her and left alone for the north, where she joined the Vale Family. With Cassian's support, she received the treatment she needed, recovered, and rebuilt her life. Three years later, she returned to the Ashborne Family gathering as the Vale Family's Medical Ambassador, a title she had earned through her own ability. Faced with their late apologies and attempts to make amends, Elara chose not to look back.

Eight years ago, a massive fire broke out. Viola risked her life to save Kael. She was left with severe burn scars across her back, and her parents lost their lives in the disaster.Overwhelmed by guilt, Kael made a marriage promise to her. The two ran a mountain lodge in Banff together.On the eve of their wedding, an eighteen-year-old girl, Sera, stepped into their lives. Kael became addicted to the easy comfort he felt with Sera, hurting Viola time and again. From public humiliation at a bonfire party, to a life-or-death choice on the cliff, and being blocked at the airport — with help from her attending doctor Lynn, Viola ran away.She moved to Portland and became a trauma recovery counselor. There she met Dr. Eason, and slowly faced her scars and emotional fears. But Kael could not let go; he kept chasing and pestering her. consumed by love turned hatred, Sera set a new fire crisis.Viola traveled overseas for further studies. Kael sold the lodge and crossed oceans to track her down.The two finally met in London for their final farewell. Kael let go of his obsession and left.No longer trapped by debts of gratitude, past pain, or other people’s love, Viola made peace with herself — and started living for her own sake.

Newly appointed Sea God Arthur returns to the Merfolk Kingdom that abandoned him eighteen years ago to bless its new king and find his birth parents. After rescuing Princess Elena from a sea monster, he learns that tailless mermen are believed to bring disaster. Queen Seraphina recognizes him as her son but cannot acknowledge him. When Marcos launches an arena battle for the throne, Elena is gravely wounded. Seraphina's tears form a mermaid tear crystal, revealing Arthur's true parentage. To save his mother, Arthur can no longer hide his power.

Fifteen years ago, Serafina, princess of the White Dragon Clan, tore apart her own dragon crystal to save three dying alien youths — Kael of the Wolf Clan, Dorian of the Mermaid Clan, and Soren of the Vampire Clan. She lost three-quarters of her power in exchange for their vow of "eternal, unwavering" marriage. Fifteen years later, on the night of her father's funeral, she walked in on her three fiancés cheating with her stepmother Lilith, a rabbit clanswoman, right beside the mourning hall. With her heart turned to ash, Serafina tore up the tri-clan contract on the spot and declared all their betrothals null and void. The three men, who had risen to power on the strength of her power, instantly felt the backlash of the dragon crystal shards within them — their strength was crumbling. By the time they fell to their knees begging for mercy, Serafina had already set out on the path to recover her complete dragon crystal and reclaim the supreme throne of the Dragon Clan. Meanwhile, a mysterious man who had never owed her anything, yet was willing to burn himself to nothing for her, was stepping out from the shadows. .. The three ' desperate "chasing wife after cremation" arc has only just begun to ignite.