one step too far lisa gardner

Nicholas Lowe is abandoned by his girlfriend for dressing plainly and looked down upon by everyone around him. However, his true identity is far beyond what any of them could ever aspire to reach.

Yvonne Johnson grew up in a rainy city. Despite inheriting all of her grandfather's estate, she was locked away in a wooden attic by the Smith family, forced to feign madness and survive in decay, left to rot on her own. To exact revenge, she escaped the old residence and set her sights on Liam Hanson, using herself as bait, laying trap after trap, drawing him in step by step.

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!

Hera has been abused by her step father for a long time, until she enters the art department of Ston College and meets her classmates Brad and Yoanna. The three of them become good friends by chance. Brad and Yoanna's care for Hera makes her gradually feel the beauty of freedom and gives her the idea to rebel against David and break through the ball cage. But freedom is not easy to come by, and Hera pays a painful price for this new life...

When Lilian Grey is forced into marriage with notorious mafia boss Adam Steel, her life becomes a dangerous game of passion and deception. Her status as a bride turns into that of a maid when Adam’s secret marriage to another woman is revealed. Living under the same roof with Adam’s wife and enigmatic brother, Lilian uncovers family lies, a masquerade ball mystery, and false illnesses, all while navigating forbidden desires. But every step toward love reveals hidden enemies closer than she could ever imagine.

After a car accident and plastic surgery, a part-time worker wakes up with the face of a wealthy heiress. Living someone else's life, she seizes the chance to get revenge on the man who ruined her. But as she gets tangled with the heiress’s fiancé, an unexpected romance blooms—and so does the question: how far will she go to keep this borrowed life?

Sierra Lowe, a genius from the future research institute, dies unexpectedly and wakes up 100 years in the past as the fiancée of Commander Ethan Nacht. Her plan is simple: lay low, earn money, and avoid trouble. And when the ninth wife finally rises to power, she’ll happily step aside. But on their wedding day, Commander Ethan hears her inner thoughts loud and clear: “So this is Ethan Nacht, the guy who secretly slept with the ninth wife?”Ethan was baffled: "Father only had eight wives. Where did the ninth come from?"

A year ago, to cover her father's medical bills, Sara Wilson switched identities with her twin sister. She took her sister's place in a business marriage and entered the Gavin family. Over the year, she was extremely cautious, pleasing her husband and managing their home, without letting anyone suspect her true identity. A year later, her twin sister reappeared and demanded to switch back.Heartbroken, Sara had to step aside as her sister effortlessly took over her life. But her once indifferent husband was frustrated to find out his wife had been replaced.

Troy's retirement life was peaceful, far from the violence and the turmoil of the financial markets. He never expected, however, that his own son would pull him out of it to work as a security guard at the company. Troy had no choice. It was his son after all. What he never imagined was that this job would somehow lead to him finding a beautiful CEO wife.

Racing prodigy Elena gave up her career for love and family, only to be betrayed by her husband and son. She came to her senses, divorced him, and with the help of devoted billionaire Sean, she takes down her conniving sister and scumbag ex-husband. The former housewife then reclaims her championship title, becoming a brilliant star far beyond the reach of those who once looked down on her.

Harper Allen is born in Prosperity Village, where women possess a special constitution that produces multiple babies per pregnancy.Because they have too many children, the village is desperately poor. Harper is chosen by the villagers to work in the city and bring hope to everyone—and she just happens to run into the Lauren family patriarch offering a fortune for a grandchild.Perfect timing! With the old man’s arrangement, Harper marries Spencer Lauren, the aloof CEO cursed by his family bloodline of “Any woman who bears a Pierce heir will die.” But the prideful CEO refuses. What to do? No job is too difficult for a hardworking woman—she has plenty of strength and methods! That very night, she ties up the struggling Spencer and tosses him into the bridal chamber...

On the day of Valeria Castle's engagement, her mother, Marilyn Castle, arrives at the banquet disguised as a cleaner, only to face humiliation from the Hardy family. A wealthy woman fights her over a parking spot, her future mother-in-law enforces strict household rules, and her fiancé demands an outrageous betrothal gift. But Marilyn soon reveals her true identity. Wayne Cuddy, Aaron Shaw, and Basil Brady step in with a billion-dollar dowry, instantly turning the tide. From that moment on, she proves her strength time and again, expertly resolving the crisis at Price Corp. In the end, as foreign capital threatens their empire, she takes Valeria abroad—ready for the next battle.

On the day of Valeria Castle's engagement, her mother, Marilyn Castle, arrives at the banquet disguised as a cleaner, only to face humiliation from the Hardy family. A wealthy woman fights her over a parking spot, her future mother-in-law enforces strict household rules, and her fiancé demands an outrageous betrothal gift. But Marilyn soon reveals her true identity. Wayne Cuddy, Aaron Shaw, and Basil Brady step in with a billion-dollar dowry, instantly turning the tide. From that moment on, she proves her strength time and again, expertly resolving the crisis at Price Corp. In the end, as foreign capital threatens their empire, she takes Valeria abroad—ready for the next battle.

Koiti Mikage, the world's wealthiest man, had spent years concealing his identity while working as a cashier to raise his son, Kazuma. Unexpectedly, Kazuma ended up marrying Yuki Hanyo. The Hanyo family was domineering and overbearing, so Kazuma tried to keep the wedding from Koichi, yet Koichi showed up uninvited. At the wedding, Kazuma was belittled at every turn, prompting Koiti to step in and defend Kazuma. Despite initial mockery, Koiti just responded by presenting extravagant gifts. But when faced with persistent provocations, Koiti no longer held back. At that moment, his powerful and influential goddaughter burst in, declaring her desire to marry into the Mikage family, which sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Tech genius Jolie Shannon sacrificed her career for her husband Mark Gates, only to be betrayed by his affair — even forced to serve his pregnant mistress. She filed for divorce, reclaimed her pre-marital assets and core patents, causing Mark's company's IPO to fail and driving it to the brink of bankruptcy. Throughout the divorce, she calmly handled insults from his family and gathered evidence step by step. After divorcing, she swiftly married her longtime rival from her youth, Simon Fox. With his support, she returned to the tech industry and staged a dramatic comeback in both career and love, ultimately leaving her ex-husband isolated and disgraced.

Koiti Mikage, the world's wealthiest man, had spent years concealing his identity while working as a cashier to raise his son, Kazuma. Unexpectedly, Kazuma ended up marrying Yuki Hanyo. The Hanyo family was domineering and overbearing, so Kazuma tried to keep the wedding from Koichi, yet Koichi showed up uninvited. At the wedding, Kazuma was belittled at every turn, prompting Koiti to step in and defend Kazuma. Despite initial mockery, Koiti just responded by presenting extravagant gifts. But when faced with persistent provocations, Koiti no longer held back. At that moment, his powerful and influential goddaughter burst in, declaring her desire to marry into the Mikage family, which sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Three years ago, Gabriella Kelly unknowingly convinced her husband Ray Chambers to sponsor college student Angela Mitchell's education as a blessing for their future child. Three years later, Angela arrives at Ray’s company for an internship with two friends, but she completely misreads the situation and believes Ray is interested in her romantically. She begins acting like she owns the place at work and shockingly mistakes the pregnant Gabriella for Ray's mistress, even going so far as to cause her miscarriage.

Heidi Zahn is abandoned by her husband of twenty years, John Judd, as he chases status with Hannah Lane. After her uncle dies, she unexpectedly becomes chairwoman of Byzon Group, backed by business titan Henry Walker. John tries to return, but she’s already far beyond his reach. When she and Zoe Walker are bullied while buying a home, Heidi buys the entire real estate group on the spot and gets rid of everyone involved. She goes on to build a warm, happy life with Henry and Zoe.