how did astor make his money

Paul Smith, CEO of Horizon Group, had it all—until his own adopted children and former college friend Lewis stabbed him in the back. Forced into bankruptcy, he watched his empire crumble while grappling with his mother's failing health and furious employees demanding back pay. Just when all seemed lost, Dylan Walker stepped in, offering him a lifeline at his own firm. At the Tech Chip Competition, Paul staged a stunning comeback, leading his team to victory and landing a game-changing deal. Meanwhile, justice caught up with Lewis and his co-conspirators—their schemes finally earning them a one-way ticket to prison.

When my mind-link request had been ignored by my parents for the twentieth time, I went to the Werewolf Council, clutching the report on silver dust corrosion in my hand. “Hello. I’d like to renounce my pack identity—effective immediately.” Ten minutes later, my parents burst in, dragging my adoptive younger sister, Elsa, with them, panic written all over their faces. The door burst open with a bang, and my Beta father charged in like a storm. His fangs bared, claws twitching. “You’re nothing but a spoiled brat craving attention! Stop this pathetic act. You’re an embarrassment to a Beta’s name!” My mother, a forensic specialist for the pack, immediately snatched the report from my hand. After a brief glance, she let out a cold sneer. “You faked this report just to get our attention? You’ve been a liar since you were a pup.” Elsa clung to both of them, tears in her eyes as she sobbed, “I’m sorry, Jenifer. It’s my fault for holding the shifting ritual. But please... don’t lie to our parents just to make them feel guilty!” Blood was still pouring from my nose, but I wiped it away calmly and stood tall before the werewolf councilors once more. “I haven’t had a real family for a long time. Please—remove all my personal records from the pack. I just don’t want my funeral—scheduled for three days from now—to be delayed.”

In his past life, Harrison Cowan abandoned his own daughter for a widow, raising her two sons instead. In his old age, when he fell ill, his adopted sons refused to even pay a mere hundred thousand for his surgery. Given a second chance at life, Harrison is determined to make amends. No longer willing to play the role of a stepfather, he vows to work hard, make money, and devote his life to raising his biological daughter, living only for her from now on!

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.

The world's laws have collapsed—life is a living hell. The man who once threw me into the abyss… I will make sure to take everything from him. Those women from the past? Now they're just points in my game. I'm Finn Carter. Reborn, I claim the fallen as my prey—and in this apocalypse, I make the rules.

Paul Smith, CEO of Horizon Group, had it all—until his own adopted children and former college friend Lewis stabbed him in the back.Forced into bankruptcy, he watched his empire crumble while grappling with his mother's failing health and furious employees demanding back pay. Just when all seemed lost, Dylan Walker stepped in, offering him a lifeline at his own firm.At the Tech Chip Competition, Paul staged a stunning comeback,leading his team to victory and landing a game-changing deal. Meanwhile,justice caught up with Lewis and his co-conspirators—their schemes finally earning them a one-way ticket to prison.

When my mind-link request had been ignored by my parents for the twentieth time, I went to the Werewolf Council, clutching the report on silver dust corrosion in my hand. “Hello. I’d like to renounce my pack identity—effective immediately.” Ten minutes later, my parents burst in, dragging my adoptive younger sister, Elsa, with them, panic written all over their faces. The door burst open with a bang, and my Beta father charged in like a storm. His fangs bared, claws twitching. “You’re nothing but a spoiled brat craving attention! Stop this pathetic act. You’re an embarrassment to a Beta’s name!” My mother, a forensic specialist for the pack, immediately snatched the report from my hand. After a brief glance, she let out a cold sneer. “You faked this report just to get our attention? You’ve been a liar since you were a pup.” Elsa clung to both of them, tears in her eyes as she sobbed, “I’m sorry, Jenifer. It’s my fault for holding the shifting ritual. But please... don’t lie to our parents just to make them feel guilty!” Blood was still pouring from my nose, but I wiped it away calmly and stood tall before the werewolf councilors once more. “I haven’t had a real family for a long time. Please—remove all my personal records from the pack. I just don’t want my funeral—scheduled for three days from now—to be delayed.”

Stella was destroyed by the man she loved and his mistress. Her family, her name, her life were all gone. But fate rewinds the clock. Back at the husband-selection gala, she ditches her ex and shocks everyone by choosing Adrian, the ruthless mafia king no one dares to cross. Adrian gives her power, protection, and passion — until she discovers his secret: he wasn’t her weapon… he was her shield, all along.

In his past life, Harrison Cowan abandoned his own daughter for a widow, raising her two sons instead. In his old age, when he fell ill, his adopted sons refused to even pay a mere hundred thousand for his surgery.Given a second chance at life, Harrison is determined to make amends. No longer willing to play the role of a stepfather, he vows to work hard, make money, and devote his life to raising his biological daughter, living only for her from now on!

Kelly Shelton, killed in her past life, is reborn as Susana Klein, the youngest daughter of Sheford’s wealthy Klein family. Ten years have passed—her mother is missing, and the very person who once ended her life is now her adoptive mother. Refusing to bow to fate, she joins forces with Lucas Shaw to confront hatred and seek redemption together.

In her past life, Zoe Hall lost everything—her engagement,her freedom, and her life—after her sister Helen Hall stole her place and forced her into a violent marriage with Will Jackman. Reborn, the paths reverse: Helen chooses Will, while Zoe marries Henry Gregg as originally planned. But fate twists—Helen suffers abuse, while Zoe quietly saves Henry from his doomed fate and restores the Gregg family. In the end, Helen falls into madness and dies, while Henry, remembering fragments of the past, finally understands the truth and chooses Zoe.

In her past life, Yasmin Dalton was blinded by love. After losing her husband, she threw herself at the unscrupulous Charles Zane, raising his children while neglecting her own daughter. In the end, Zane's family mistreated and abandoned her, leaving her to die by the roadside. On the brink of death, Yasmin finally realized her mistake. Reborn, she now has a second chance to write a completely different story and give her daughter the love she deserved.

Cecilia Moore gets a second chance at life. In her previous life, she was the legitimate eldest daughter of Lord Moore. The King arranged her marriage to the outstanding third son, Danny Mallin. But on the day of the marriage decree,Danny heroically rescues her cousin Monica Moore from drowning.Under pressure from the Moore family matriarch, Danny takes both Moore sisters as his wives. After Danny ascends the throne, he allows Cecilia to be the Queen for just one day before cruelly poisoning her and their unborn child to death. He then massacres the entire Moore household. It turns out Monica is a transmigrator from another world, and everything was a scheme orchestrated by her and Danny. Now returned to the day of the marriage decree, Cecilia decisively rejects Danny this time and chooses Prince Oscar, the man infamous throughout the capital as the realm’s most notorious playboy.

Gerald Culley transmigrates to a weapons factory in the early days of the nation’s founding, witnessing the legendary general inspiring everyone to develop a domestically-produced Multiple Rocket Launch System (MRLS).Shocked to find himself in the past, he remembers his past life’s love, Carolyn Thomas, and her sacrifice, and vows to change history. Through his unwavering determination and deep understanding of weapons development, Gerald earns the general’s recognition. He and Carolyn form a research team and embark on the grueling path of creating weapons that will defend their nation.

College student Lyle York is dragged into a deadly game with a 99% mortality rate. Starting in hell? More like a newbie’s gift pack! While others scream for life, he activates the Brutality System and becomes the “Bloodthirsty Butcher,” smashing doors, hoarding crystals, and forcing everyone to yield. The system panickedly announces: "Warning! Another dungeon has crashed… again!"

College student Lyle York is dragged into a deadly game with a 99% mortality rate. Starting in hell? More like a newbie’s gift pack! While others scream for life, he activates the Brutality System and becomes the “Bloodthirsty Butcher,” smashing doors, hoarding crystals, and forcing everyone to yield. The system panickedly announces: "Warning! Another dungeon has crashed… again!"

After growing up in an orphanage, Nancy Swift was found by her family, but she found that her brother,Harold, was seriously ill. Nancy worked day and night to make money to cover Harold's medical expenses. Actually, the reason her parents brought her back was to make her marry the son of the Peters family, Jeffrey, who was mentally challenged. How would Nancy choose? Would she live happily with Jeffrey?

600 years ago, Prince Gyeom of the Joseon Dynasty was falsely accused of treason and threw himself into a lake. When he opens his eyes again… he wakes up in a bathroom in Seoul, 600 years later?! Suhyeon, the homeowner and a tough, TV PD, is stunned by the unexpected guest from the past. But faced with her suddenly doubled rent, she strikes a deal with Gyeom live together and make money as partners. And so begins a love that not even time itself can stand in the way.