trying to catch up

The night before high school graduation, Ethan Luciano pulled me into his bedroom. His hands were rough, his touch demanding, yet my heart overflowed with a decade's worth of unspoken longing. I'd loved Ethan for ten years, and finally, it seemed my silent wishes had come true. Afterwards, as we lay tangled in his sheets, he whispered that he'd marry me after graduation. Once he took over the Luciano family's empire from his father, he'd make me the most cherished woman in the family. I believed him. The next morning, I sat curled up against his bare chest as he casually told my foster brother, Lucas, about us. My cheeks were flushed, and my heart raced, still clinging to the sweetness of the night before. However, then their conversation shifted into Italian. Lucas smirked, leaning back against the doorframe. "Not bad, Young Boss. Your first time, and the school's 'it girl' just threw herself at you. So, how's my little sister taste?" Ethan gave a lazy chuckle. "Looks like an angel, but a freak in the sheets. Who would’ve thought?" The room erupted in low, conspiratorial laughter. Lucas raised a brow. "So, should I call her my little sister or my future sister-in-law?" Ethan’s tone darkened, his arm tightening around my waist for a moment. Then he let out a sigh. "She’s nothing. Just practice," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I’m trying to hook up with the cheer captain, Sylvia Dawson, but I don’t want her thinking I’m clueless in bed. Cynthia Saville’s just a warm-up." He paused. "But don’t tell Sylvia. I don’t need her getting all emotional." They didn't know that I’d spent months secretly learning Italian, preparing for the life I thought I’d share with Ethan. I didn't say a word. Later that day, I quietly withdrew my early decision application to Caltech and applied to MIT instead.

In 1922, a baby glutton named Zoe fled to the mortal realm. While trying to skip out on a restaurant bill, she met General Gus Chance, who took her in as his daughter. With her power to ward off misfortune, Zoe saved the Chance family many times, making the whole family love her. She even helped Gus find his long-lost third son and managed to wake his wife from a decade-long coma. Just when everything was perfect, God asked Zoe to return. Would she finally get to stay with the family she loved?

In 1922, a baby glutton named Zoe fled to the mortal realm. While trying to skip out on a restaurant bill, she met General Gus Chance, who took her in as his daughter. With her power to ward off misfortune, Zoe saved the Chance family many times, making the whole family love her. She even helped Gus find his long-lost third son and managed to wake his wife from a decade-long coma. Just when everything was perfect, God asked Zoe to return. Would she finally get to stay with the family she loved?

Martin Duncan, a successful businessman, showed endless tolerance to the so-called victim, Emily Terry, because her brother died saving him. Time after time, he hurt Lena Turner, the woman he truly loved. Yet without realizing it, he was drawn to her resilience and deep devotion. Lena, amid the pain, gradually awakened, secretly gathering evidence and striking back step by step, exposing the shocking scheme of Emily and her brother Eric. In the end, after losing Lena, Martin completely broke down. Consumed by regret, he began the long road of trying to win her back.

Noah suffered relentless bullying from his adopted younger brother, Lucas, which led to him tumbling off a building. In a twist of fate, his body hits Joe—a mafia godfather who had been trying to save him—as he plummets to the ground, and both of them lose their lives. In order to save Joe, doctors transplant his brain into Noah’s body. Joe decides to keep living his life as Noah—pursuing the dreams he never fulfilled in his youth, while also helping Noah reclaim the life that had been stolen from him by the cruelty of the people in his life.

Emily Gibson, a poor college student, accidentally enters the wrong room while trying to raise money for her mother's medical bills and crosses paths with Julian Murphy. Julian's grandmother instantly approves of her as a granddaughter-in-law. When her reckless father tries to control her life, Julian saves her, and they enter a contractual flash marriage. Misunderstandings arise after marriage, but once he learns she worked while pregnant, he is heartbroken and begins to fiercely protect her. Despite school bullying and schemes, he always stands by her side. After her true identity is revealed and all conflicts are resolved, they live happily ever after.

Emily Gibson, a poor college student, accidentally enters the wrong room while trying to raise money for her mother's medical bills and crosses paths with Julian Murphy. Julian's grandmother instantly approves of her as a granddaughter-in-law.When her reckless father tries to control her life, Julian saves her, and they enter a contractual flash marriage. Misunderstandings arise after marriage, but once he learns she worked while pregnant, he is heartbroken and begins to fiercely protect her. Despite school bullying and schemes, he always stands by her side. After her true identity is revealed and all conflicts are resolved, they live happily ever after.

Grace, the heiress of the Murdoch Group, falls in love with Mike, a poor young man, and becomes pregnant. However, due to their differing family backgrounds, her father, Warren, disapproves of their love. When Mike nearly dies trying to save Grace's life, Warren lies to Grace, claiming that Mike and their son died in a car accident.  Years later, Grace encounters Mike's son, who is begging someone to save his dying father. The two of them don't recognize each other, and it gets to the point where Grace begins accusing the young boy of theft and fraud, but following a series of unfortunate events, Grace finally realizes the boy is actually her son. However, in the meantime, Mike goes missing after pushed off a cliff on Warren's orders...

Rachel and Ethan were trapped in a war zone. While trying to save Ethan, Rachel was left with a disfiguring scar on her face. They fell in love and got married, but there was only one evacuation spot. Rachel gave it to the injured Ethan, andEthan promised he would come back for her—unaware that Rachel later discoveredshe was pregnant.Six years later, Rachel returns to the country to save her daughter, Sophie, only to find that Ethan had already married the hospital director ’ sdaughter and started a new family after his return. To protect his reputation andstatus, Ethan even slandered Rachel and Sophie. At this critical moment, Rachel’slong-lost father finds her and reveals that she is actually the daughter of thechairman of the Harrington Medical Group. In the end, the scumbag doctor loseseverything and suffers the consequences of his own actions, while Rachel goes onto live a happy life with her daughter.

Yancy Shaw, the heiress of the Shaw family, was set up by Cindy and lost her memory. After getting saved by Celia, she was given a new name Miranda. In an odd coincidence, Yancy married Zack Ramsey. Cindy pretended to be Yancy and wanted to marry Zack. She tried to set Miranda up several times. In the end, Zack and Miranda teamed up to expose Cindy's crimes.

Food vendor, Keith Drake, lands in prison after injuring a man while trying to protect his girlfriend, Hannah Grant. In prison, he meets a mysterious elderly man, Trevor Vaughn. Seeing Keith's potential, Trevor takes it upon himself to mentor him and later pulls some strings for his early release. Fresh out of prison, Keith taps into Trevor's resources to outwit the Rogueville thugs seeking revenge and pulls off a bold rescue with the help of e-hailing drivers. Trevor soon elevates Keith to acting president of the Redwood Council, crafting an ostentatious façade to mislead their rival, Carlos Bigsby. Together, Keith and Trevor ultimately expose Carlos's plot to seize power. With everything finally settled, Keith decides against taking over the Redwood Council, choosing instead to return to a quiet life with Hannah. Trevor, meanwhile, steps back into leadership. The narrative charts Keith's evolution from hot-headed youth to measured strategist, and his final choice between the allure of power and love.

Five years ago, Ella Cain ended up spending a night with Liam West after being set up by someone, resulting in the birth of her son, Oliver Cain. Fast forward five years, Ella's grandfather insists she get married to inherit the family business. Reluctantly, Ella agrees. In an unexpected twist of fate, she crosses paths with Liam once again. After navigating various challenges, Liam falls in love with Ella and discovers that Oliver is his son, a fact he had not acknowledged due to family matters. Ultimately, with Oliver's help, they clear up their misunderstandings and come together in the end.

The well-known actress Mia Stone has been set up by her sister with the intention of ruining her reputation. However, in a twist of fate, she ends up having a one-night stand with Jay Lynch, the CEO of Lynch Group. Disappearing from the spotlight for a year, Mia resurfaces on the day she gives birth, crossing paths with Jay once more.

Seven years ago, Shawn Lynn lost everything while Joanna Landry owned everything. Yet for love, Joanna gave up everything and eloped with Shawn. For that, she was mocked by all others, down and out. Seven years later, Shawn returned as a success, with power and wealth in his hands, deciding to make up for his love.

Seven years ago, Shawn Lynn lost everything while Joanna Landry owned everything. Yet for love, Joanna gave up everything and eloped with Shawn. For that, she was mocked by all others, down and out. Seven years later, Shawn returned as a success, with power and wealth in his hands, deciding to make up for his love.

Jiyoung dreamed of becoming a pilot, but an unexpected pregnancy led her to give up her captain’s seat to her husband, Min-gyu, and become a housewife. On their seventh anniversary, she catches him cheating and dies in a plane crash. However, fate has other plans. She wakes up before the tragedy—and this time, she’s ready to take back the sky.

Jiyoung dreamed of becoming a pilot, but an unexpected pregnancy led her to give up her captain’s seat to her husband, Min-gyu, and become a housewife. On their seventh anniversary, she catches him cheating and dies in a plane crash. However, fate has other plans. She wakes up before the tragedy—and this time, she’s ready to take back the sky.

Felix Asher is one breakthrough away from immortality and completely stuck. His master's solution: descend the mountain and find the woman bearing the Dao mark. He finds her on his very first night down. Faye Linden is a powerful CEO who has no idea why this man keeps showing up wherever she goes, and even less idea how he ends up as her boyfriend. Felix rolls with it. She has enemies, and a cultivator with mastery over medicine and combat turns out to be exactly what a CEO in a dangerous city needs. He heals, he fights, he baffles everyone around him, and somewhere between the boardrooms and the battles he stops thinking about going back up the mountain.