renee carlino before we were strangers

Ethan Lyons, the retired Human Saint King, secluded himself in the city and opened the Sunset Retirement Home. In this place, the powerful demon gods, who regarded all living beings as nonentities, were tamed and turned into a janitor,a guard dog, and a boiler worker. Amidst laughter and joy, he succeeded in saving the world.

For eighteen years, I, Althea Quinn Calder, wanted nothing more than torn shorts, hiking boots, and a detector in my pocket. My family was known across the stars as a glamorous treasure-hunting team, but what most people never knew was that our real fortune came from finding alien artifacts hidden inside ancient ruins. At a charity gala on Sobek Space Station, I was forced into an elegant dress and high heels, only to discover that the night was not just another social event. Our old rival, Alistair Draven, appeared again, watching us like a predator and hinting that he already knew about the secret mission my father had planned. Even worse, my father had hired a new intern without telling me. His name was Kaelan Frost, a brilliant student with green eyes, a Capellan accent, and the most dangerous effect on my concentration. I hated the idea of adding anyone to our team—until he joined our next expedition to New Haven, where a dive into the wreck of the Queen Anne's Revenge led me to a hidden metal box, a ruby ring, and a cipher connected to the lost lover of the infamous space pirate Edward Teach. The clue pointed us from a sunken ship to a protected estate, then to a secret garden where another message revealed something far bigger: Teach had hidden not only pirate treasure, but the missing fortune of a destroyed Spanish treasure fleet. Every clue brings Kaelan and me closer, but it also brings Alistair closer to us. He has followed every expedition we ever took, and this time, if he discovers what I am carrying, the next treasure we uncover may become the one that gets us killed.

Kaelen, a legendary pilot reborn as an 8-year-old boy, boards a plane that is about to crash. As deadly accidents strike one after another, no one believes a child can save them. But with hundreds of lives on the line, can Kaelen land the plane before it’s too late?

After being knocked flying by campus queen Yvette Gordon, broke student Xavier Carter awakened X-ray vision and stunned the crowd. Vivian Lloyd, the gang heiress, the fiery duo Talia Hill and Annie Smith, and Yvette herself were all shaken. He's ridiculously rich. Who wouldn't want him?

After being knocked flying by campus queen Yvette Gordon, broke student Xavier Carter awakened X-ray vision and stunned the crowd. Vivian Lloyd, the gang heiress, the fiery duo Talia Hill and Annie Smith, and Yvette herself were all shaken. He's ridiculously rich. Who wouldn't want him?

My adopted sister won the Elixir Challenge by stealing my potion. To her shock, she was informed that the event was a selection event for the future wife of the Serpentkins' future head—the same heir who was infamously impotent, barbaric, and hideous. When the Serpentkins sent over a proposal letter, demanding her hand in marriage, my fiance panicked and promptly took my adopted sister away for a quick marriage and even consummated. Once the deed was done, she returned triumphantly, showing off the mark on her lower back. "Well, what are you going to do now, Winnie?" she gloated. "Your fiance is mine now, and you'll be twenty-five in three days. If no one comes to pick you up, you'll just be dumped into the hands of some wife-beating Rogue who is ageing and unwanted…" Actually, she was wrong—I had a choice. I went to the parlor where my parents—who were busy fixing the mess my adopted sister made—were, announcing, "If she refuses to marry the future head of the Serpentkins, I will!"

My adopted sister won the Elixir Challenge by stealing my potion. To her shock, she was informed that the event was a selection event for the future wife of the Serpentkins' future head—the same heir who was infamously impotent, barbaric, and hideous. When the Serpentkins sent over a proposal letter, demanding her hand in marriage, my fiance panicked and promptly took my adopted sister away for a quick marriage and even consummated. Once the deed was done, she returned triumphantly, showing off the mark on her lower back. "Well, what are you going to do now, Winnie?" she gloated. "Your fiance is mine now, and you'll be twenty-five in three days. If no one comes to pick you up, you'll just be dumped into the hands of some wife-beating Rogue who is ageing and unwanted…" Actually, she was wrong—I had a choice. I went to the parlor where my parents—who were busy fixing the mess my adopted sister made—were, announcing, "If she refuses to marry the future head of the Serpentkins, I will!"

After losing her parents, Anna was taken in by Mrs. Kane—her mother’s closest friend—and grew up alongside the Kane brothers, Gordy and Jonathan. The two boys were stars of their school's hockey club, while Anna became their manager, always cleaning up their messes and keeping everything running smoothly. For years, the three were inseparable, perfectly in sync both on and off the ice. But everything changed when Katie, the school beauty, set her sights on Anna’s position. Through carefully plotted schemes and whispered lies, she framed Anna for mistakes, drove a wedge between her and the brothers, and slowly turned them against her. Humiliated and heartbroken, Anna grew distant from Gordy and Jonathan. Eventually, she gave up and transferred to another school, where she met hockey star Ethan and became his manager instead. Only after she was gone did the Kane brothers begin to see the truth about Katie—and by then, it was far too late.

One furious punch, one ruined masterpiece, and she’s humiliated as ‘frigid’ before the crowd. But when Rosa, in a blaze of fury, crushes her lips to a stranger, the unthinkable happens: Tristan, the aloof billionaire everyone calls untouchable, gets hard from her kiss… and now he wants more.

Olivia abandons her billionaire family for Rory, but when childbirth becomes a life-or-death crisis, his true colors emerge. The arrival of Rory's “best friend” Rebecca reveals a truth more dangerous than money. Will Olivia's father save her and the baby before it's too late?

Sixteen years ago, King Phoenix Elara saved her husband Adrian, but he betrayed Elara along with her half-sister Lilith. Together, they secretly switched the King's real daughter with Lilith's illegitimate daughter. The true daughter,Princess Elysia, grew up surrounded by love and kindness, eventually becoming the rightful heir to the Phoenix Clan. The fake daughter, Morrigan,lived under the cruelty and manipulation of her birth mother, became fierce and learned dark powers. Sixteen years later, the truth came out. Adrian and Lilith's plot was exposed as treason, and they were executed. Morrigan's identity was revealed, but she refused to be bound by fate. She mastered a forbidden technique of the Mistwing Clan, devoured its power and turned the tide of fate during the war against the Nightwolf Clan. With that, she rose to command a mighty army. Seeing the shifting tides, Elara seized the opportunity, placing Elysia in charge of the realm and sending Morrigan to lead the armies. On the surface, the two daughters held the kingdom together, but under the calm, hidden currents of danger were already moving.

Before a chaotic and mesmerizing party night, Madeline never imagined she would truly end up with Jeremy. After their unexpected marriage, however, they drift further apart. In her most desperate moments, Madeline discovers that she has already captured Jeremy's heart without realizing it.

In their childhood, Rebecca and Marcus were once neighbors. Rebecca's world crumbled when her father was betrayed and perished in flames, while Marcus, taken in by the affluent Lewis family, grew into a scion of wealth. Over a decade later, Rebecca uncovers the shocking truth that the man behind both her misfortune and fortune is none other than Marcus. Their fates, entwined since youth.

College student Anna is betrayed by her boyfriend, who tries to sell her virginity at a club. Business tycoon Ryder saves her... but then invites her to sign a BDSM contract, making her his "Kitten". Little does he know that she's actually the angel who saved him when they were young - the one he's spent a decade searching for.

In her past life, Rosie was used as a luck tool. Her parents drained her fortune, doted on Willa, and cast her aside. She died on the streets, mourned only by Brad and Queenie, who were dragged down with her. Back to life again, she runs into Brad's arms with a smile. "Dad, need a daughter? One who brings luck and fortune."

In her past life, Rosie was used as a luck tool. Her parents drained her fortune, doted on Willa, and cast her aside. She died on the streets, mourned only by Brad and Queenie, who were dragged down with her. Back to life again, she runs into Brad's arms with a smile. "Dad, need a daughter? One who brings luck and fortune."

Lisa Grant bought a wedding house for her daughter-in-law. When she gladly brought her old friend Helen Roy to see the house, a woman stopped them by the door. Who was she? Before they could figure it out, the woman pointed at Lisa's nose and started insulting her, calling her a thief...

Before the divorce, Chris Zais deemed Xenia Roberts, a vicious woman who would do anything to get what she wanted. After the divorce, Chris calmly said, "If you regret it. I can give you another chance." Speechless, Xenia rejected, "Thank you for your offer. But no thanks."