renee carlino before we were strangers

Janet Driscoll, once the cherished darling of the family, was devastated to discover that she was not her parents' biological daughter. After their real daughter, Jaime, was welcomed home, her once-loving parents and brother began to trust Jaime blindly, hanging on her every word.When Janet was falsely accused of pushing her grandma down the stairs, the Driscoll family, without hesitation, sent her to a harsh reform school. There, she endured three years of inhumane torment that left her with permanent, life-altering disabilities.Three years later, when the family finally brought her home, they were shocked to find that the bright, cheerful Janet they once knew had vanished. In her place stood a cold, distant young woman who had shut them all out.

George, the heir to a wealthy family, was saved by Melody when they were children. He gave her a lucky necklace and promised to find her when they grew up and repay the favor. After years of searching in vain, George marries a woman with a crippled leg. He lets others bully her, even causing her to miss her mother's last moments. She asks for a divorce, and George discovers too late that she was Melody all along. Realizing how badly he treated her, George decides to get her back. But Melody also runs into trouble when she goes back to her father who always disliked her, and her tormenting stepmother and stepsister. Will Melody be able to get back what she deserves?

Matthew and Xenia spent some time together in an orphanage when they were children. Later, after Xenia became a famous singer, she learned that Matthew had unexpectedly gone blind, so she retired from her singing career to care for him as a caregiver. The two got married and had a child. Ten years later, when Matthew regained his sight, he mistook Sarah for the girl he liked in childhood, leading him to neglect Xenia and their son Calvin. Heartbroken, Xenia decided to divorce him. It was only during Calvin's singing competition and Xenia's comeback concert that Matthew realized Xenia was the girl he liked as a child. However, it was too late. Xenia left with Calvin and Ethan to start a new life.

Jessica and Jason were married through a family arrangement, but their relationship remained distant after the wedding. A sudden car accident leaves Jason with amnesia,his memory frozen four years in the past. Seizing the chance for revenge, Jessica lies to him, claiming his family has gone bankrupt and making him work as a servant in her home.As they spend time together, unexpected feelings begin to blossom between them. Just as their bond deepens, Jessica’s ex-boyfriend Alex reappears, stirring emotional turmoil. The story takes a thrilling turn with kidnappings, false accusations, and workplace crises testing their trust.In the end, Jason regains his memory, the misunderstandings are cleared, and the two reconcile. They find true happiness together and welcome adorable twins into their lives, beginning a sweet new chapter.

In the 1990s, Trenton Zoller, the director of Windi Factory, was suddenly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Feeling disheartened by his wife Madelyn's cold violence, Trenton refused the doctor's proposed treatment plan and decided to conceal his illness. He resolved to help the factory undergo reorganizing before losing all memory, ensuring the workers would not lose their jobs. Eventually, he planned to pass away with dignity once his memory faded completely. Misunderstood by his wife and the factory workers, Trenton had to sadly depart as his factory reorganization plan was misconstrued. Madelyn, upon learning the truth, was consumed with remorse, left only with Trenton's ashes. A decade passed in the blink of an eye, until one day Madelyn saw a person in the newspaper who bore an uncanny resemblance to Trenton Zoller...

This is the captivating tale of Stella Gough, a woman who conceals her identity to sell vegetables in the local market in order to shield her husband from undue stress. Following her divorce, she finds herself adored by her five brothers. The eldest is the scion of the world's wealthiest family, who spurns a billion-dollar deal upon learning of her plight. The second is a globally acclaimed movie star, renowned for his stellar performances and legion of fans, who forgoes a prestigious award ceremony to be by her side. The third is a celebrated underground boxing champion, who, upon discovering her whereabouts, abruptly ends a match with a single punch before departing without a fuss. Who could have imagined that a humble market would bring together three of the nation's most prominent figures?

Shea had been pressured by her mother to marry her mom's best friend's son. After getting the marriage certificate, she had hardly seen her husband's face before he left. It didn't matter. They had the marriage certificate anyway, and her husband was really that important to her. Soon after, she received a notification about starting her job as a bodyguard in the security department of Lowe Group. Great, she had gotten married, and she even had a job lined up. Shea went to work happily. A year later, when Yancy, the CEO of Lowe Group, returned, Shea had become the CEO's personal bodyguard. Wait a minute! This guy looked familiar. Why did he look like her husband?

Luis Earl and his three siblings were born into a poor rural family, where despite their humble existence, they found happiness together. However, tragedy struck when their parents drowned unexpectedly, leaving the already struggling family shattered. At just 10 years old, Luis found himself unable to care for his younger siblings alone. In desperation to ensure their safety, he endured great pain and begged others to take them in, a decision that would separate them for 20 years. Over the next two decades, Luis lost contact with his siblings due to life's changes. Consumed by guilt, regret, and remorse, he blamed himself for their separation and dedicated 20 years to finding them again. Their paths converged once more when Luis's younger sister, Anna, returned as the chairperson of the Earl Group.

Declan was once the Lord of Wealth but retired to the countryside twenty years ago due to his younger son Harvey's disabilities. More than a decade later, his other two children achieved remarkable success, but he quietly remained in the countryside, caring for Harvey. After saving Yvette, Declan married her and silently supported the rise of her family. However, as Yvette's close friend married into a wealthy family, Yvette gradually became dissatisfied with Declan, entered into an affair with the wealthy man Hector, and planned to divorce Declan. Before Declan's sixtieth birthday, Harvey inadvertently discovered Yvette and Hector's affair, was murdered, and his body was hidden. Declan launched a thrilling search for Harvey, while Yvette and Hector's betrayal gradually came to light, setting the stage for a dramatic conflict of divorce and crime resolution.

While delivering food, Miles accidentally walked into a conflict between Clare and her uncle, Baron. Baron coveted Clare's family's goods and intended to seize them. Miles not only ruined his scheme but also selflessly shielded Clare, taking a fatal bullet for her. As a result, Clare developed feelings for Miles, believing he was meant for her. However, Miles was already engaged to Winnie. Winnie and her family were greedy, constantly demanding money in the days leading up to the wedding. Miles' mother, Martha, invested everything she had for her son's marriage but still couldn't satisfy their insatiable greed. After learning that Miles was being tormented by Winnie's family, Clare intervened without hesitation. Using her strength to intimidate everyone, she successfully took Miles away, and they held their wedding.

As the best agent of the Dragon Squad, Sawyer spent three years undercover to gain the trust of one of Kevin's subordinates, securing an opportunity to approach Kevin. During his mission, he unexpectedly encountered his daughter Clara on a train, just as criminals were attempting a robbery. Clara tried to intervene but was overpowered by the criminals. Sawyer wanted to help her but felt conflicted due to his mission to apprehend Kevin. Ultimately, when Clara was in danger, he chose to intervene, but this revealed his identity, causing Kevin to take Clara hostage and flee. After a debriefing with his superior, Sawyer determined that Clara had been taken to Elliott Village by Kevin, prompting him to rush to the rescue. After overcoming numerous obstacles, Sawyer finally succeeded in saving Clara and capturing Kevin along with other criminals.

Rachel Sheldon's world was turned upside down when she was drugged and woke up in the bed of Barrett York — the most powerful man in the city. When she discovered she was pregnant, Rachel disappeared from the spotlight, determined to raise the child in secrecy. But on the very day she gave birth, Barrett found her. Fiercely independent, Rachel was unlike any woman Barrett had ever met — and he couldn't stay away. As he launched a relentless pursuit, Rachel's hidden identities were revealed one after another, each more surprising than the last. Drawn to her strength, Barrett began to fall — and so did Rachel. Slowly, she opened her heart to the man she had once tried to escape. What had begun as an accident just might have become forever.

Staring at the jade pendant, Yamlia Lane finally realized she was the long-missing daughter of the wealthiest person in the country. Surprisingly, Yamlia had no intention of returning to her biological father. 15 years ago, when she was still Ramona Salmon, she and her fiancé, Jagger Jarrett, were caught in a car accident. To save Jagger, his mother coerced the doctor into removing one of Ramona's kidneys, then spread the lie that Ramona was missing. 15 years later, Ramona, now known as Yamlia, was accepted into a prestigious university. However, just as this exciting news reached Yamlia's adoptive father, he discovered that his biological daughter, Jacey Lane, had deceived Yamlia into selling her blood. He rushed over to stop them. What he saw next left him utterly shocked. He then...

While delivering food, Miles accidentally walked into a conflict between Clare and her uncle, Baron. Baron coveted Clare's family's goods and intended to seize them. Miles not only ruined his scheme but also selflessly shielded Clare, taking a fatal bullet for her. As a result, Clare developed feelings for Miles, believing he was meant for her. However, Miles was already engaged to Winnie. Winnie and her family were greedy, constantly demanding money in the days leading up to the wedding. Miles' mother, Martha, invested everything she had for her son's marriage but still couldn't satisfy their insatiable greed. After learning that Miles was being tormented by Winnie's family, Clare intervened without hesitation. Using her strength to intimidate everyone, she successfully took Miles away, and they held their wedding.

Katy Ferguson is a renowned businesswoman in the city who dotes on her biological daughter Naomi Ferguson, giving her everything while remaining cold and distant toward her adopted daughter Alice Ferguson. However, Naomi schemes to steal the family fortune,causing Katy immense suffering. Before dying, Naomi reveals the truth: she's actually a fake daughter! Everything stemmed from butler Howard Adams' conspiracy years ago—he switched his own daughter with Katy's real daughter, deceiving Katy for her entire lifetime. Only in her dying moments does Katy realize that the "biological daughter" she spoiled her whole life wasn't as worthy as the adopted daughter she drove away three years ago. Given a second chance at life, she decides to shower all her love on Alice instead.

Clare was the woman Axel begged and coaxed for—writing 99 love letters—before finally winning her hand in marriage. By their fifth year,however, Axel grew restless and began spending time with a young nurse. The girl, Emma, came from a poor family yet carried herself with quiet pride. When she firmly rejected the black card Axel offered,declaring she would never be anyone's kept woman, he became obsessed. Axel started appearing around Emma more and more,drawing the attention of all their friends, while briefly forgetting the wife he had once courted with 99 heartfelt letters. Clare neither cried nor argued. Instead, each time Axel broke her heart, she burned one of those letters. And when the last of the 99 was reduced to ashes, it would mark the day she left him for good.

Ellie Devin, once the cherished eldest daughter of the wealthy Wilcox family, discovers she’s actually the fourth daughter of the Devin family. Driven by blood ties, she seeks out her real brothers, only to face cold rejection. They despise her, and the adopted daughter, Fiona Devin, frames her at every turn. Instead of defending Ellie, her brothers force her to kneel in the rain, refusing to listen. Sick and drenched, she begs to be let inside, but only Fiona emerges, mocking her cruelly before pushing her down the stairs. Left abandoned overnight, Ellie wakes with a new resolve. She fights back when falsely accused again, declaring she will no longer bow to the Devin family. Stunned, they watch as she walks away. This time, Ellie is determined to reclaim her place in the Wilcox family, where she truly belongs.

Orphaned Emily grew up under the care of her master, only to find out one day that he was actually the legendary Mystic Healer. When Arthur Wood, her master, discovers that the son of an old friend, Victor Shaw, is critically ill, he sends Emily down the mountain with an unusual mission: to marry Victor and save his life. After their wedding, Emily confidently vows to be the breadwinner, support her husband, and build a life for them both. Together, they hilariously take on Victor's scheming cousin and his ex-fiancée, with plenty of laughs along the way. Emily not only cures Victor's illness but also turns a tidy profit, building a thriving life for them. Through their time together, they experience warmth, heartfelt moments, and unexpected surprises. Before they know it, Victor and Emily find themselves falling head over heels in love.