one step too far lisa gardner

Nolan Lawson, past fifty, never expects a second chance—until a mysterious system restores his youth in a world torn by war. To survive, he strikes a deal with the gravely wounded General Harper Hartwell. Harper, disguised as a man, slips into the army camp with him. From farmer to fighter, Nolan begins an extraordinary rise to power, carving his path in the chaos of a broken land.

5 years ago, Lydia Tate accidentally saved Eric Lucia, Lucia Group's CEO, and got pregnant overnight. 6 years later, Lydia met him again while her family forced her into marriage. Eric, who had been searching for her, married her and doted on her. He secretly helped her take down her backstabbing friend, her profit-driven parents, and the bully they forced her to marry.

Natalie was once the Parson family's cherished daughter, but her world was shattered when Monica was unmasked as the true heiress. Manipulated by Monica, she was framed for their grandmother's murder and cast out by her family to a hellish reform school. Two years later, she was released, only to be forced into a marriage with a notorious alcoholic playboy. As the truth about her past and the horrors of that "school" come to light, Natalie watches everyone with a cold stare. Her storm of revenge has just begun.

Once heir to the Ashford empire, Ethan is kidnapped and erased as a child. When he resurfaces at eighteen, freedom proves crueler than captivity—framed, imprisoned, and sacrificed by the family that reclaimed him. Surviving betrayal and near death, Ethan vanishes again, this time by choice—leaving forgiveness behind.

For six years of marriage, Winona Smith was kept in the dark—until she discovered her husband,Yale Gunson, was sheltering his lover abroad. Her heart shattered the moment he failed to show up while their daughter lay critically ill. Devastated but resolute, she ended the marriage. Picking up her career where she left off, Winona transformed from a homemaker into a luminary in scientific research—her papers graced top international journals, her breakthroughs earned global accolades. Just as she prepared to embrace a new life filled with happiness, the once-indifferent Yale completely broke down. Desperate and unhinged, he fell to his knees, begging her to come back.

Spirit summoner Jane Mercer is fired from Granite University after her spirit beast dies. She accidentally summons an FFF-rank baby zombie named Rotter Willis from another world. Rotter is actually a Zombie King with unlimited potential, multiple evolution forms, and SSS-rank abilities.Together, they make a comeback, winning the National Mentor Assessment by defeating a hidden boss. However, they face repeated schemes from Sanova University’s Vice Chancellor Wilson Hall and the Perry family’s forces. Jane joins Aurelian University as vice chancellor, using unique teaching methods to lead the bottom-ranked Class 6 to triumph in the freshman trials. To participate in the Global Summit, Jane leads her team against Sanova University but encounters a death trap in the wilderness dungeon—designed by the Perry and Hall families—with massive high-tier bosses and an anti-magic field. In the crisis, Rotter tears off his corpse-restraining talisman and transforms into the Zombie King, turning the tide but losing control. Jane awakens his consciousness with a kiss, deepening their bond and setting the stage for future adventures.

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.

To get back at her stepsister/love rival Joan Shaffer, Sylvia Salazar climbed into the bed of Joan's super-rich uncle Jeremy Shaffer and slept with him.Many people thought that Sylvia, her family's burden, had offended Mr. Shaffer, and he'd surely skin her alive. But actually, the overbearing business tycoon doted on Sylvia. When she was bullied, he even said, "I won't do justice—I'll only back Sylvia up!"

Faye Will wakes up reborn, free from her love-addled brain.She beats the scumbag, dumps her original doormat personality, and brings a total shock to the entertainment industry's dating variety show!

An office worker, Nancy Sanson, lives by one motto: "Money solves everything." But when she overworks herself to exhaustion, she suddenly transmigrates into a novel and becomes an evil supporting character who shares her name. In the original story, this character covets the female lead's luck, lusts after the male lead, and ultimately meets a gruesome end. Now, with the plot's deadly countdown ticking, Nancy is armed with knowledge of the story but faces a dilemma: Can her moneyloving,survival-driven instincts rewrite her fate and maybe even find a way back home?

To cover for her boyfriend, Nora Stuart admitted to killing someone in a car accident, and she was sentenced to three years in prison. One day, a man found Nora and wanted her to donate her blood to his grandson, Eric Finch. Nora accepted this deal to get out of jail early, but only to find out her boyfriend had been cheating on her with his boss. Feeling heartbroken, Nora agreed to marry Eric Finch.

To cover for her boyfriend, Nora Stuart admitted to killing someone in a car accident, and she was sentenced to three years in prison. One day, a man found Nora and wanted her to donate her blood to his grandson, Eric Finch. Nora accepted this deal to get out of jail early, but only to find out her boyfriend had been cheating on her with his boss. Feeling heartbroken, Nora agreed to marry Eric Finch.

Live-streaming sensation Kate Turner finds herself framed—and in a twist of fate, transported back to 1994. In this unfamiliar world, she crosses paths with Ewan Clark, a sharp-minded young man recently returned from overseas. Determined to survive, Kate leverages her modern marketing savvy to spark a business revolution, quickly making a name for herself.As Kate and Ewan face off against rivals and sabotage, a bond begins to form between them. But success draws envy. Back home, Kate’s own family, consumed by jealousy, subjects her to constant manipulation and cruelty. Refusing to back down, she fights to reclaim what's hers—with Ewan standing firmly by her side.Through hardship and ambition, love quietly takes root. And thirty years later, when Ewan gets down on one knee, the two look back on their journey—from past to present—and step into a future they've earned, hand in hand.

In a calculated move to align herself with the illustrious Grey family, Baird Grey's former lover, Muriel Will, drugged him. However, her plan backfired when Baird eluded her trap and found himself slept with Tess Yule. Fearing exposure, Muriel bribed Ken Aly to falsely claim responsibility for what happened. Unaware of the deception, Tess brought forth a set of quadruplets, only to have three of them callously discarded by Muriel, while the remaining child, Joy, was placed under Ken's guardianship. For seven long years, Ken deceived Tess, exploiting her trust until, upon his promotion, he heartlessly cast her aside and seized her new home. Luckily, in a twist of fate, Tess's act of kindness towards Baird's grandfather led to a reconnection with Baird. In this unexpected reunion, she made a startling realization: the one she had tirelessly sought for years had been a constant presence in her life.

In a snowbound train, Shirley flees her wedding. Under the influence of medication, she spends a night with a stranger and gets pregnant. Ten months later, she enters a marriage of convenience with the third son of the Lowe family—unaware that the family's formidable head, Henry,is the man from that fateful night. Believing himself infertile due to a misdiagnosis, Henry treads a torturous path between abstinence and longing, secretly shielding Shirley while concealing his own devotion. What began in that snowstorm is a bond he would defy any taboo to protect. He thought himself an isolated island in winter,until she became the only warmth capable of melting his ice—the one he wished to claim forever.

In a snowbound train, Shirley flees her wedding. Under the influence of medication, she spends a night with a stranger and gets pregnant. Ten months later, she enters a marriage of convenience with the third son of the Lowe family—unaware that the family's formidable head, Henry,is the man from that fateful night. Believing himself infertile due to a misdiagnosis, Henry treads a torturous path between abstinence and longing, secretly shielding Shirley while concealing his own devotion. What began in that snowstorm is a bond he would defy any taboo to protect. He thought himself an isolated island in winter,until she became the only warmth capable of melting his ice—the one he wished to claim forever.

College student Joyce Reed is framed by her cousin and ends up spending a night with Jeremy Robinson, a powerful figure in Harbor City. Wracked with guilt over betraying her boyfriend, she later discovers that he had long been cheating on her with her best friend.Furious after learning the truth, Joyce impulsively marries Jeremy—only to find out that his true identity is far more shocking than she imagined…

Due to a string of misfortune, Summer was set up by her step sister which resulted in her getting pregnant. This was four years ago and when she returned home, she had twins and recognized the mask wearing Sean as the father of her children. However, little did she know that the man was also her boss.