
![[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.

My parents once treated me like a princess, buying me a lavish home, braving the rain to get me cake, and filling albums with my smiles before I turned five.After my sister was born, I lowered the air conditioner by just one degree to keep her cool, only for my mother to slap me and lock me in the refrigerator, saying, "Stay in there until you've learned your lesson." They forgot to unlock the lock, but at five years old, I couldn't escape, just as I couldn't escape being forgotten. It was our neighbor who broke down the door to save me. My parents thought I had died, and when they saw me return, they broke down in tears, begging for forgiveness.

Natalie had it all—engaged to football star Karl and carrying his child—until tragedy struck. Her brother caused Karl's sister's death, and Karl's injuries ended his career. Yet, she vanished for seven years. Now, Karl sees her with a "husband" and "daughter," seemingly happy. But he won't let her go.

Ethan mistakenly believed that Scarlett's father had killed his own father, leading him to confine Scarlett in a mental hospital, where she endured torment for two years. Later, Ethan, in an effort to thwart his stepmother Evelyn's scheme, chose to enter into a fake marriage with Scarlett, with a three-month deadline. However, just as Ethan and Scarlett received their marriage license, Ethan discovered the mysterious woman he had slept with, Sophia.

Street mechanic Isolde sacrifices everything for her boyfriend Rico's cybernetic body, only to be betrayed and sent to mafia godfather Leon as his bride. But on their wedding day, the ruthless Leon massacres every assassin to protect her… Is this marriage just a contract—or love?

Five years ago, Elena Hartwell broke up with her college boyfriend Killian Thorne to protect him from her ruthless uncle Victor—making him believe she was a gold-digger. Heartbroken, Killian returned to his family's trillion-dollar empire, while Elena was framed by Victor and imprisoned, where she gave birth to their daughter Luna.Now, brave 4-year-old Luna tracks down Killian at hiscorporate headquarters, shocking everyone by calling him "Daddy." After a DNA test confirms the truth, Killian learns of Elena's wrongful conviction and the sacrifices she made. With his power and resources, he sets out to free Elena, protect Luna from Victor's schemes, and win back the woman he never stopped loving.

On the day of my birthday, my adopted sister, Juliette Griffin, and I get into a car accident. The flames are already licking me hungrily, and yet my fiance, Leon Sinclair, points at the front passenger seat. "Save Juliette first! She has a heart disease!" When I wake up, I'm completely disfigured. At most, I only have one month left to live. Later on, my family decides that Juliette will marry Leon on my behalf for the sake of our families' interests. Leon caresses my bandaged face with heartbreak in his eyes. He then vows to me, "Once you get better, the position of Mrs. Sinclair is still yours." I just smile and say okay. I even give all of my shares, properties, and my unpublished artwork to Juliette as her pre-wedding gifts. Just like that, Juliette becomes a famous artist by publishing my artwork. When the reporters interview Mom, she's so happy that she bursts into tears. "I'm so glad that Juliette isn't the one who got badly hurt in the accident! Otherwise, we'd have lost a genius!" Leon also announces in a high-profile manner that Juliette will be his one and only wife. But what they don't know is that the actual genius is gazing at them coldly from a corner. The things that I've voluntarily given away from the start are actually offerings meant for my vengeance.

Yvonne Patton, a woman once blinded by love, has been reborn. This time, she faces Liam, the man who betrayed her, stole her family's wealth, and caused her death in her previous life. With a cold smile, she vows, 'Watch how I make you pay in this life!' Having avenged her past, Yvonne finds true love. But she never expected that the loyal man by her side, Yasir, is actually the heir to the prestigious Brooks family!

When Julian, the true heir by blood, was finally brought back to the Family, my cold-blooded adoptive parents cast me aside. They sent me to "The Abyss"—a clandestine hellhole where billionaires and mafia bosses paid to hunt, rape, and slaughter human prey.No matter how humiliatingly I begged for mercy, I remained locked in an iron cage, passed around as prey for those bloodthirsty beasts.Days later, a photo of me—covered in whip marks, kneeling like a dog with a chain around my neck—made its way to my beloved fiancée, Vivienne.Standing before the press, the untouchable Mafia Princess sneered, her voice dripping with disgust. "He’s pathetic and utterly filthy. The Valenti family would never align with such trash. I'll be marrying Julian instead."On cue, the Russo family officially disowned me, permanently stripping me of their name.After I was tortured to death, the wedding of the century commenced, broadcast live worldwide to celebrate the alliance between two major mafia families.But right then, my "wedding gift" was delivered.When the box was opened, the entire room went dead silent.

Nora married her boyfriend to inherit the family business, only to be diagnosed with stomach cancer and abandoned on her wedding day. In a fit of anger, she married blind Patrick, who turned out to be the wealthy CEO of EverPeak Holdings. Together, they reclaimed their fortune and happiness after a misdiagnosis.