in the heat of the night: by duty bound

Ada Scott, the world's top crisis expert, abandoned her seven-figure career to take a mid-level job at a Hugh Group hotel, all to quietly chase Todd Hugh, the heir she'd secretly loved for ten years.Their staged "chance encounter" spiraled into a sudden, legal marriage, neither expecting the other's hidden agenda.Every step Ada plotted, Todd had already anticipated. Their schemes mirrored each other, masking the same unspoken truth: a decade of longing.When the lies finally fell away, only one thing remained: the kiss they'd waited ten years to share.

Ada Scott, the world's top crisis expert, abandoned her seven-figure career to take a mid-level job at a Hugh Group hotel, all to quietly chase Todd Hugh, the heir she'd secretly loved for ten years.Their staged "chance encounter" spiraled into a sudden, legal marriage, neither expecting the other's hidden agenda.Every step Ada plotted, Todd had already anticipated. Their schemes mirrored each other, masking the same unspoken truth: a decade of longing.When the lies finally fell away, only one thing remained: the kiss they'd waited ten years to share.

Monica’s first love was the high school quarterback, Sebastian, who grew up to be a star football player while Monica is now just a cleaner. Sebastian resents Monica for aborting their baby seven years ago, but little does he know that Monica has always been deeply in love with him - until their secret child Ian calls him Dad!

Gabe White's birthday becomes a tragic turning point when his wife, Wendy Green, and their daughter, Jane White, are involved in a car accident with Nora Yale, who also plans to celebrate Gabe's special day. Gabe arrives at the scene as a doctor but makes a shocking decision—he chooses to save Nora and her son, Randy. Tragically, Jane succumbs to her injuries, and Gabe dismisses Wendy's anguish as irrational jealousy, even contemplating divorce. As their marriage crumbles, Nora, harboring a secret agenda, manipulates the situation to drive a wedge between the couple. Her interference escalated into a full-blown disruption at Jane's funeral until the police took her away. The unexpected find of Jane's file at the hospital sends shockwaves through Gabe. His realization of Jane's death comes too late, leaving him tormented by regret and loss.

Nancy, an ordinary university student, saved the blind tycoon Yale. Since then, they fell in love and promised to stay by each other's side.However, due to their social status gap, Nancy was forced to leave. Before leaving, she donated her cornea to Yale and gave birth to a girl named Nancy and a boy named Norman. Six years later, Nancy lived a tough life to raise the two kids. In order to save her daughter who was ill, she had no choice but to go to Yale for help. While treating their daughter, Nancy and Yale went through misunderstandings several times. But in the end, they were back together to support each other for the rest of their lives.

Falsely accused of stealing a jade pendant and humiliated in his divorce, Curtis's life took a dramatic turn when wealthy Sullivan searched for his long-lost son, with the pendant as the key clue. Meanwhile, Willene, drawn to Curtis's mysterious ties to a powerful family, pursued him. At a bar, Curtis's singing captivated the audience, but his ex-wife, Xamira, sabotaged his performance and was later exposed for her infidelity. When Curtis's true identity was revealed, Xamira attempted to win him back, but he chose to marry Willene. During their wedding, Xamira sacrificed herself to save Willene, dying in Curtis's arms.

Julie Scott, once the revered princess of Xandar, is brought down by the very emperor she served. Fearing her growing influence, he betrays her, setting a deadly trap within the palace walls. Surrounded and outnumbered, Julie fights to her last breath. By her side, her devoted husband, Paul Murray, chooses to die protecting her. When Julie opens her eyes, she's reborn as the wife of a wealthy modern heir who looks exactly Paul but is cold and distant. To make matters worse, a scheming mistress challenges her at every turn. But Julie won't be defeated—she's determined to tame the chaos, build her own fortune, and handle her distant "husband" on her terms.

His name is Brandon Chester. Once the Unstoppable Warlord, he was imprisoned after an unexpected incident. But prison was no ordinary place—every inmate was a legend in their own right.There,he awakened an overwhelming legacy of power. Upon returning to the mortal world, he became the protector of a top campus beauty. With blade drawn again and again, he rose step by step. And when he finally turned back, the world behind him was already bathed in glory!

Bella Miller, a broke college girl, never expected one night with the cursed Lycan King to leave her pregnant. Worse, she's a human. Humans die carrying a werewolf heir, yet saving her means he must give up his own life.

Six years ago, Winni and Chester were a loving couple, until Chester's old friend Ruth returned to the country. Ruth disguised herself with a kind face and became friends with Winni, secretly plotting to replace Winni as Chester's wife. Not long after, Winni became pregnant, but the doctor informed Chester that the child had no blood relationship to him. Chester iced out Winni and gradually grew closer to Ruth. Six years later, Winni's son, Ron, was critically ill with leukemia. Only Chester's bone marrow could save him. In order to please Chester, Winni had to bow down to Ruth. However, during their interaction, she gradually uncovered why Chester thought Ron was an illegitimate child.

Diana's pregnant sister mysteriously commits suicide, and Diana knows there must be a hidden truth behind it. Determined to uncover the mystery, Diana returns to her hometown with her assistant, Dean. They discover that everything might be connected to her brother-in-law, Sam, and her sister's best friend, David, whose relationship is far from ordinary. With the help of her assistant Dean, her friend Wyatt, and her boyfriend Colt, Diana fights through numerous obstacles. In the end, she is shocked to realize that the evil mastermind behind it all is someone right by her side…

Valentina, an American girl who just graduated from college, thought she could start a new chapter in her life, but she didn't expect to find disaster for the whole family because of her brother's gambling debts. They have offended the mafia Romano family. In order to prevent her brother from being killed by the mob, Valentina has to agree to marry Alessandro, the head of the Romano family. After a dramatic wedding, Valentina is placed in Romano's mansion as a "canary", but she is always looking for a chance to escape. After receiving a death threat, a terrified Valentina makes a secret escape plan with the help of Alessandro's cousin, but even she doesn't realize that she's fallen in love with Alessandro.

Zelda Lang never expects to find herself in a whirlwind marriage with Theo Wolfe, the powerful CEO of the Wolfe Corp. Bound by a promise to her late mentor, she secretly sneaks into Theo’s room every night to treat his mysterious illness. Despite her efforts, Theo keeps his distance, wary of her motives. Little does he know, the woman he's pushing away is the very miracle doctor he's been searching for all along…

The true heiress, Jane, was abandoned by the adopted daughter of the Thomas family, leading her to wander alone. Upon her return, Ruby felt jealous of the affection Jane received from their parents and deliberately targeted her. However, Jane revealed her many hidden identities, attracting the attention and adoration of three powerful brothers. Additionally, she captured the heart of Lucas, the rumored hot-tempered heir of the Gordon family, who cherished her a lot.

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

Chase York, eldest disciple of the Skyblade Order,was born with a rare innate blade vessel, mastering the eight realms of Blade Path and nurturing a powerful blade soul. Yet his father, sister, and brother Hunter York falsely accused him of theft—when Hunter was the real thief. Framed and defenseless, Chase was killed. Reborn, he vows never to be a pawn again.

Lionel Cain awakens in the Slumber Cavern and is rescued by Elara Blade, the chief disciple of Everblade Sanctum. Outwardly appearing as merely an "outer sect disciple" with an "ordinary body and fate," he is actually a mysterious figure with the gaze of an ancient, possessing shocking alchemy and cultivation techniques. After joining the sect,Lionel casually refines a divine pill that transforms into a dragon upon completion, astounding both the sect and the prodigy Lyra Frost.Meanwhile, Ashford's sorceress leads an army to their borders due to continent-level secrets, while various factions scheme in the shadows.Lionel works to elevate Everblade Sanctum's status while investigating the truth behind ancient seals and the severing of heavenly destiny, as the sect competition and greater storms approach.

Wealthy heiress Lina Veyne is forced into an engagement with ruthless heir Lucien Moro to save her family, trapped like a bird in a gilded cage. At the IRIS Club’s secret Phantom show, she's shocked to find masked dancer ""Seven"" is Stian Quinn, her first love who was declared dead at sea 5 years prior. This is all Lucien’s cruel scheme: he faked Stian's death, and uses the supposedly amnesiac man to break and tame Lina once and for all. When Lina's reckless defiance only brings brutal punishment down on Stian, she puts on a mask of obedience to Lucien, while secretly plotting her revenge. She soon makes a shocking discovery: Stian's amnesia is a lie. He's been undercover at IRIS this whole time, gathering damning evidence to take down this dark empire for good.