

My mother-in-law and I were traveling together. We'd just checked into the Solenne Hotel in Rivera City and decided to hit the pool. Then this woman—dressed like money and attitude—pinched her nose like we stank. "This is a luxury hotel. How did you people even get in? Sneak in just for the pool? Ugh, I need a test after this." Buzzkill. I snapped, "It's a hotel pool. Guests swim. If that's a problem, go build your own." Her face twisted. "Excuse me? Do you even know who I am? My husband owns this place. We always stay in the top suite. So get out. You reek of broke. You're contaminating the water." Georgina and I traded a look. Ice cold. This was her son's hotel. My husband's. Since when did he come with a second wife?

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.
![[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.

"Serena, the rightful daughter of the Witch Clan, devoted her heart to Adrian in her previous life. She spared no effort to support him, helping him rise to the throne. But in the end, she was betrayed by Adrian and her adopted sister Celeste. Pregnant with his child, Serena was poisoned and killed. By a twist of fate, she was reborn and returned to the day of her twentieth birthday ceremony—the day she was destined to choose her husband. This time, she no longer clung to her old love. Instead, she chose Poseidon, the youngest son of the former clan lord. A man everyone looked down upon because of his incomplete bone fins. Poseidon was Adrian’s uncle. In her previous life, Adrian had treated Serena with arrogance and contempt. But in this life… The man who once looked down on her could only bow his head and call her: “Aunt-in-law.” For years, Poseidon had secretly loved Serena. In her previous life, he was the one who saved her. And after her death… He personally sought revenge for her. Only after losing everything did Adrian finally realize his mistakes. He desperately tried to win Serena back. But Serena had already seen through him. Not every regret… Deserves forgiveness. In the end… Serena chose the man who had always cherished her. Together with Poseidon, she seized power, ruled side by side, and began a brand-new life.

In the year 2399, all of humanity is drawn into a game known as Doomsday Hotel. Every player who enters is given a basic hotel. The higher the level, the larger and more powerful the hotel becomes. In his previous life, Ryan Charles sold his hotel for $30 million. Little did he know that 30 days later, the Earth would descend into a doomsday, and the hotels within the game would manifest in reality as shelters. As a result, Ryan fell into slavery and met a miserable end. Who could have imagined that when he opened his eyes again, he had returned to the very day he was pulled into the game—and this time, he was bound to the strongest system. Trash men and scheming women come to provoke him? They only end up getting slapped in the face. While other players are still trying to figure out the game's mechanics, Ryan has already built a top-tier luxury hotel, gathered four beautiful maidservants, and is comfortably lying back, waiting for Doomsday to arrive.

Serene Gibson is the beloved daughter of General Ryker Gibson. After her parents are killed in a scheme orchestrated by her uncle Stanley Gibson,she’s taken into Stanley’s household. Because Serene bears an uncanny resemblance to her late mother, her depraved uncle keeps her imprisoned by his side while her aunt and cousin subject her to endless abuse. Under her grandmother’s protection, Serene appears obedient on the surface, but deep inside, the seeds of revenge have already taken root.

Serenna, an orphan, grew up in the same children's home as her boyfriend, Kian—the only light in her dark existence. But their humble happiness caught the ruthless attention of Arianna Moretti, the spoiled heiress of the powerful Moretti crime family. Obsessive and unhinged, Arianna pursued Kian relentlessly; when he firmly rejected her, her pride shattered. Armed with her family's influence, she launched a savage campaign of torture and cruelty that ultimately cost Kian his innocent life. In a world where justice is dead and the powerful show no mercy, Serenna found no help. So she tore off her gentle, naive self and crafted a new mask—meek, submissive, a lowly housemaid. Alone, she infiltrated the fortress-like Moretti mansion, a den of sin and secrecy, swallowing every humiliation as she bided her time for revenge. Damon Moretti, the family's iron-fisted patriarch and Arianna's father, becomes drawn to Serenna—and she wields him as the sharpest blade in her vendetta. Roman, the stoic and perceptive eldest son, sees through her disguise to the wounds and secrets beneath, and time and again chooses to shield her in the shadows, even at his own cost. Luca, the wild and fiery youngest son, falls for her with reckless abandon. Her enemy—the one who destroyed her love—sits untouchable above them all, yet these three men who rule the underworld turn against one another for her sake. Revenge and true love collide; hatred and devotion become inextricably tangled. Caught in a web of intrigue and desire, will Serenna finally spill her nemesis's blood and rise reborn, or will she surrender to a love that is as intoxicating as it is deadly?

A deadly shipwreck. One glance, and mermaid Serena falls for Marcus, bleeding herself dry to save him. But he chooses her scheming stepsister instead. Heartbroken, Serena becomes the Sea Emperor Julian's bride. When Marcus finally learns the truth, regret drives him into the sea—but Serena has already found her true love.

On the night before her engagement, Clara made a daring escape from her cheating ex and her toxic, sexist family. Fate took an unexpected turn when she discovered she was carrying the child of Cary Sampson—the nation's wealthiest and most powerful man. Before she could catch her breath, Cary bought out the hotel where she worked, determined to keep her in his life. But Clara wasn't about to let anyone derail her dreams. She worked tirelessly to prove her worth, resisting Cary's advances at every step. Yet, his persistence and devotion slowly melted her defenses. In the end, Clara not only built a thriving career but also became the center of Cary's world, cherished and adored like never before.