gymnopedie no 1 by kevin macleod

My younger sister and I spent ten years fighting over Rowan Vale, the Alpha of Silver Ridge Pack. In my first life, I became his mate. Everyone said he was obsessed with me. Why else would he keep me carrying litters for seven years and give Silver Ridge six heirs? When I went into labor with the seventh, I nearly bled out. Rowan sent the healers away and forced wolfsbane down my throat himself. Only then did he tell me the truth. If it were not for the fact that only a daughter of the Hart bloodline could bear pureblood Alpha heirs, he said, he never would have claimed me at all. I had been useful for one thing only: giving him heirs. Now that he had enough, I had none. I died hating him. In my second life, I handed the bond papers from Silver Ridge Pack to my sister. “Go,” I told her. “You’re the one he wants.” Five years later, she was sent back to me half-starved, shaking, and marked by restraints. Through sobs, she told me Rowan had never loved her either. He had kept her because she was still a Hart daughter, because she could give him heirs, and because her scent could calm him during rut. She died less than two months later. When I opened my eyes again, I was in my third life. The unsigned bond papers from Silver Ridge Pack lay on the table between us, and my sister and I could only stare at each other. Who, exactly, did that Alpha want?

The night before his wedding, while decorating the venue, Scott Brawley receives a fire alarm call from their new house. Rushing over, he discovers his fiancee Alison Ritchie in bed with her stepbrother. Alison shamelessly claims it's just "sibling affection" that won't affect tomorrow's wedding. Reflecting on the past,Scott realizes how many times Alison has hurt him for her stepbrother's sake. He always thought marriage would fix things, but seeing the ambiguous kiss marks on Alison's body,Scott finally wakes up. He agrees to his grandfather's arrangement. Tomorrow, he'll marry the arranged bride instead.

For three hundred years, the cultivator Sean Yale single-handedly guarded the pass, keeping the demon invasion at bay and ensuring peace for Aureate. But his long vigil bred only complacency and distrust. Accused of fabricating the demon threat, he was cast out by the very nation he protected. Without him, the demons descended, throwing the realm into chaos. As Aureate faced its doom, Sean moved on, aiding other lands against the onslaught, his legendary might now sought by all who once doubted him. In the end, it was he who pushed the demons back to the wastelands and restored peace, leaving those who betrayed him to face the consequences of their folly.

Kiara hung up her military uniform to get married, dedicating herself to her husband's company with unwavering loyalty—only to be met with his dismissive remark: "Kiara,Yuna is an independent airline captain. You? Just a useless secretary fetching tea and coffee."His friends sneered at her, mocking her worth. Little did they know that she was once the Queen of Special Forces, a fighter pilot who dominated the skies, fluent in five languages, and a top-ranked science prodigy. Even elite hackers bowed to her prowess.Heartbroken and disillusioned, she filed for divorce without hesitation. Clutching her parents' ashes, she headed to the airport!

Serene Gibson is the beloved daughter of General Ryker Gibson. After her parents are killed in a scheme orchestrated by her uncle Stanley Gibson,she’s taken into Stanley’s household. Because Serene bears an uncanny resemblance to her late mother, her depraved uncle keeps her imprisoned by his side while her aunt and cousin subject her to endless abuse. Under her grandmother’s protection, Serene appears obedient on the surface, but deep inside, the seeds of revenge have already taken root.

In her past life, Rosie was used as a luck tool. Her parents drained her fortune, doted on Willa, and cast her aside. She died on the streets, mourned only by Brad and Queenie, who were dragged down with her. Back to life again, she runs into Brad's arms with a smile. "Dad, need a daughter? One who brings luck and fortune."

In the Grace of the Gods, humans receive fragments of divinity. Deliveryman Tyler Newman is killed by the assassin Mandy Hayes—but awakens as the SSS-rank Headless God. Reborn with godlike power, he saves his childhood friend, becomes the bodyguard of Nora Shaw from the Horizon Guild, and races to rescue his younger sister from ruthless villains.

Seven years ago, Rose Jonas and her mother were involved in a car accident, Rose's unfortunately became a vegetable. Three years ago, Rose, a college graduate, married Gerald, the CEO of Riversoul Group, whom he had only seen a few times before. After three years of marriage, Rose had always misunderstood that Gerald liked Kathy Yvonne. After repeated misunderstandings, Rose became disheartened and decided to divorce. He also hired a Andrologist for Gerald as the reason for his divorce. After the divorce, Gerald began to pursue his wife.

Nancy, Aopper University's finance talent, gave up her studies to marry Leo Fay.Yet after seven years of marriage, her son's birthday wish was for a new mom. Leo's obsession with Nancy's sister cost her second child, leaving her heartbroken.Heartbroken, she left. Everyone believed she couldn't make it without Leo. But she rebuilt her empire and stayed away until their son,Mario,wanted her back. Later, when Leo finally reached out, Nancy was already holding her newborn.

Grace chooses mahjong over her granddaughter, leaving Coco in the kitchen. Coco manages a brief call to her mother Rita before her smartwatch dies, during which Rita senses something is wrong. Desperate, Rita repeatedly calls her mother-in-law, but the noise of the mahjong table drowns out her calls. She then contacts her husband Leo, only to be dismissed while he is with his first love. By the time Rita finds Coco, the child has succumbed to gas poisoning. Leo refuses to accept the tragedy born of neglect and misplaced loyalty until he sees Coco's portrait at the funeral home.

Fred, a college grad fresh out for just a year, offers his bus seat to 50-year-old pregnant Sarah. But Sarah latches onto him, falsely claiming he's the father of her unborn twins. With a paternity test report, she forces Fred to break up with his girlfriend. Everyone believes her, dead-set on Fred being the Dad, yet only Fred knows he never had any contact with her beyond that seat. Pushed to jump off a building, Fred gets a second chance at life, and his first act is to refuse to give Sarah that seat...

This is an era where games invade reality and talents awaken.Impoverished high school student Xavier Knight harbors a secret—he can regenerate infinitely. To successfully class-change, Xavier trades his lifespan for money and awakens as an SSS-rank sorcerer. His exceptional talent makes him a target for assassination, but with his infinite regeneration cheat ability, he relentlessly levels up and crushes his opponents.

Just back from abroad, Thalia Prince receives a marriage certificate from her mother—tying her to a man rumored to have a terrible reputation. Determined to secure a quick divorce, she impulsively spends the night with a supposed escort, only to discover that he is actually her husband…

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.

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

Five years ago, waitress Willow Shelby spent a night together with a drugged CEO, Marcus Ives, and bore his heterochromatic twins. When their unusual eyes spark suspicion, Willow and her sons face humiliation, expulsion, and kidnapping. Marcus rescues them, exposes his fiancée’s scheme, and reunites the family. In the end, love and justice prevail, promising a future full of happiness.

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.

While others survive by hiding, Evan Ryce survives by "collecting rent." In the last luxury air-conditioned apartment, he faces the chaos of his employees:Maya, an SSS zombie who zaps and dances, a security zombie saving crystal cores to marry his neighbor, and more SSS zombies running a moving and delivery biz with 100% reviews. When 30,000 survivors and his freeloading family show up, Evan declares: "Pay the crystal cores—or my zombies will deal with you!"