is water for elephants based on a true story

Jessica Shaw's daughter loses her life under the rubble during a fire, while her husband, Zachary Yandell, saves another mother and daughter. Throughout their marriage, Jessica has been the one caring for their family, while Zachary continually makes excuses and sides with that pair of mother and daughter. This tragic loss has pushed Jessica to her limit. Determined to seek justice, she vows to make those who have wronged her and her daughter pay for their actions.

Haley Watson is a financially struggling college student who was supposed to be artificially inseminated with a sperm sample from her ex-boyfriend and professor, Ben Ferguson, but was mistakenly implanted with the sample of her longtime rival, Justin Crosby. According to the plan, Ben was supposed to give Haley a check after the procedure to help her save her brother, but he backed out at the last minute, claiming he would only fulfill his promise if Haley actually got pregnant. Under constant bullying from her classmate Regina and mounting pressure from Ben, Haley was pushed to her limits. At this point, Justin stepped in and actively helped her with kindness and generosity. Haley's perception of him gradually changed, and she began to develop feelings for him, but she never dared to tell him that the child was his. Can they overcome these challenges together and ultimately find their way to each other?

After being driven out by her stepmother, Nora Seth encountered Hans Frank, the most powerful man in the capital, and they quickly got married. Due to her ordinary background, Nora faced exclusion in the high society, but she was smart and resilient, never giving up. Through her efforts, she became a top designer, embarrassing the elite ladies. What made her happier was that Hans doted on her endlessly.

Jessica Shaw's daughter loses her life under the rubble during a fire, while her husband, Zachary Yandell, saves another mother and daughter. Throughout their marriage, Jessica has been the one caring for their family, while Zachary continually makes excuses and sides with that pair of mother and daughter. This tragic loss has pushed Jessica to her limit. Determined to seek justice, she vows to make those who have wronged her and her daughter pay for their actions.

Nolan drunkenly rushed home, blaming Heather, his mother, for stopping him from being with Winona in the past. Now, the Shaw family had become the richest in the city, and he had missed the opportunity to be a wealthy son-in-law. In the midst of their argument, Nolan killed Heather by accident. And then Heather was reborn. Nolan chose to leave his stable job to pursue Winona. Heather agreed but coldly laughed at his decision. After he left, she began to dress up, determined that this time she would live for herself rather than for her son. She later got married to Sam. When Sam returned to the company, he learned that Heather’s son, Nolan, was dating Winona, who was connected to one of his subordinate's partnerships. He instructed his assistant to subtly assist the Shaw family. At a banquet, Heather faced humiliation, but Sam fiercely defended her while concealing his identity as a global billionaire. It wasn’t until the final reveal that he disclosed his true status.

Karissa was the true heiress of the Beltran family, who had been lost and later found. However, she was then kidnapped by Ivy, the family's adopted daughter. In a bid to prove who their family truly cared about, Ivy set fire to the warehouse they were in. In her moment of peril, Karissa found that her parents and brothers chose to save Ivy, abandoning her to her fate. Just when her life hung in the balance, she saw Luis, someone she had once lived with, come to her rescue. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself reborn three years earlier. This time, Karissa was determined to change the course of her life.

Addison Rowe is the true heiress who is reunited with her family 12 years ago. Upon her return, Addison falls in love with Jensen Lott at first sight and eagerly pursues him. However, Jensen looks down on Addison for her country origins and rejects her advances.

Lyra Donovan, wealthy heiress and Aurenya Arts Academy graduate, joins her father's corporation at her parents' request. Orion Harding, her childhood companion whose family has long-standing ties with the Donovans, intends to marry her. After Luna engineers a car accident killing her own parents, she manipulates her way into being adopted by the wealthy Donovans. While working alongside Lyra and plagiarizing her artistic ideas, Luna secretly plots to eliminate Lyra and claim everything, including Orion. But fate intervenes with a second chance: Lyra is reborn.

In her past life, Mila was abandoned for reasons unknown. Many years later, she was found by the Brown family. However, rather than receiving the love and care expected as the youngest daughter, she was relentlessly tormented by her adopted sister, Claire. Claire plotted to frame Mila, causing her to be constantly punished by the family and subjected to both physical and emotional abuse. Despite this, Mila remained warm and kind toward every member of the Brown family, but all she received in return were coldness and scolding. In the end, the prolonged mistreatment led to Mila developing uremia, and she missed her chance for a kidney transplant. Tragically, she died at the hands of Claire’s scheme. Just before her death, it seemed like she saw someone rushing toward her. Reborn, Mila must now face the family that betrayed her, the cruel stepsister, and the man who once promised to save her.

Grace, an orphan imprisoned by her adoptive family, is raised to be sold to a corrupt official. Desperate to escape with her disabled brother, she seduces billionaire Jackson Carroll, using him as her weapon.

Leola Dawson returns home from abroad for her brother Tyrone's proposal to Helen Miller. At the proposal, Helen mistakes Leola for "the other woman." Helen and her family mistreat Leola based on this misunderstanding. Tyrone, influenced by Helen's family, turns against his sister. Finally, Leola and her parents clear up the situation, and she becomes the heiress to Dawson Group.

Celeste Sawyer is the true heiress of Sawyer Group. However, she went missing when she was little and was adopted by June Jensen, a scavenger. When she grows up, she returns to her family to inherit her position as CEO of the company, while also helping June search for her missing daughter. On her first day of work, Celeste bumps into Holly Farke and notices that Holly bears the same birthmark on her wrist as June. Consequently, Celeste arranges for a paternity test between them. Meanwhile, Holly pretends to be the heiress of Sawyer Group. Celeste receives assistance from Kieran Scott, a Javoska tycoon, while Holly enlists help from Yves Graham. Gradually, Celeste's true identity begins to surface, and Holly's lies start to unravel.

After years of being framed and mistreated by her adoptive sister Valeria, who covets the Barron family inheritance, true Barron heiress Ciara attempts to prove herself during a heated argument by jumping from the second floor. Her mother Shannon Merrill attempts to save her, resulting in both falling. When Shannon regains consciousness, she discovers she has somehow switched bodies with her daughter. Now inhabiting Ciara's body, Shannon finally witnesses the cruelty her daughter endured, such as how the servants only respect Valeria while mocking the true heiress. The situation reaches a breaking point when Shannon (in Ciara's body) is cornered in an alley by Valeria and beaten unconscious…

Alina, the true Windsor heiress, lost at three, was replaced by Angela. Found years later, Alina faced Angela's schemes and family alienation. After a tragic death, she was reborn, left the Windsors, and forged her own path. The family, through coincidences, realized her true love and regretted their actions.

After mistaking her pregnant sister-in-law for a mistress, Megan publicly humiliated Mandy, who was later revealed to be the only one able to save her son's life. When the truth emerged, the family regretted alienating their true savior.

Nina Lowe was abandoned by her mother at a young age and raised by Asher Leed. Twenty years later, her biological parents track her down and bring her back. However, upon returning to their home, Nina is met with nothing but humiliation. On her birthday, the Lowes threaten her with her adoptive grandfather and force her to sign a kidney transplant agreement. At the hospital, Nina runs into Max Yale, who reveals that the Lowes were responsible for Asher's death. Consumed by rage, Nina confronts the Lowes, and in that moment, they finally show their true, ruthless nature.

Sherren, dedicated to anti-trafficking for fourteen years, found her kidnapped son Kevin, who rejected her due to loyalty to his adoptive parents. Kevin, under their manipulation, accused Sherren of corruption. Despite this, Sherren showered Kevin with love, eventually exposing the adoptive parents' true nature. Tragically, Sherren passed away before reconciliation. Kevin, taking up her cause, later became a hero in anti-trafficking.

Mandy's son and daughter-in-law, eager to make money from a bride price, pressured and threatened her—a widow for many years—into marrying Seth, a man in a vegetative state due to a car accident. With no way to refuse, Mandy went through with the marriage, feeling scared and reluctant. However, she was surprised to be warmly welcomed and treated kindly by Seth's daughter, Kira. At first, Mandy resisted the idea of staying, but over time, she grew more willing to remain by Seth's side. What she didn't realize was that Seth was slowly regaining awareness, deeply touched by her presence and care...