what is the story of the ugly duckling

Betrayed by her stepbrother Edward and left to die with nothing but regrets, Celeste Welsh gets a second shot at life. This time? She's playing for keeps. Revenge against Edward is at the top of her list—but things get complicated when love unexpectedly walks in. Now, she's juggling payback and passion, determined to live this life with no regrets. Sweet, fierce, and unstoppable, Celeste is rewriting her story…

After staying ten years at the labor camp,Jackson Chase finally came back home, only to find out he was framed by his wife and daughter. They even killed his mom to help his stepbrother Jerico get what he wanted. Jackson decided to get a divorce and leave his hometown. In Golrita, he regained his confidence and fell in love with the director of the machinery factory. When he came back to his hometown, he swore to get revenge and send those people who killed his mom to justice.

In the Eldoria legal circle, newcomer Helen Jones was targeted by rumors spread by the opposing lawyer in a case. Sam Liam, who had just returned from Nexa, timely appeared to help. Helen had harbored a secret crush on Sam since high school, and her aspiration to become a lawyer was also inspired by his encouragement back then. So when Sam proposed marriage, she said yes at once. However, her step-sister, Hana Seth, found out about their marriage and, also having a secret crush on Sam, repeatedly targeted Helen. Although the issues were resolved without major trouble, Helen was deeply embroiled in a rumor scandal. Meanwhile, she was admitted to the law graduate program at the University of Nexa, so she decided to leave the law firm to pursue further studies. Sam became an adjunct professor and went with her. Cole Skyler, a law firm partner, traveled to Nexa on business and, upon learning that Helen was studying there, began to target her. But he was impressed by her resilience and eventually changed his attitude, choosing to bless them. Sam and Helen ultimately achieved a happy ending.

Mia's world turned upside down when her first love, Logan Henry, re-entered her life with his young daughter, Jade Henry. As Jade became a constant presence in the family, Mia's relationship with her own daughter, Molly Justin, grew increasingly strained. Feeling overshadowed and repeatedly pushed aside, Molly slowly closed off her heart until one day, she left with her father, Mason Justin. Only after their departure did Mia awaken to the pain she'd caused. The weight of her indifference and the void left by her daughter's love began to consume her, plunging her into a spiral of irreparable remorse.

Eva Washington is a billionaire heiress who hides her identity to support her husband Kevin as he works up the ranks. However, just as he’s about to sign a big contract, Kevin cheated with a mistress and kicked Eva to the dirt. In her grief, Eva married Ryan Jones, who needed a contract wife, but had no idea that Ryan was actually a secret billionaire himself! All of Eva’s tormentors will pay the price for their foolishness.

Born with a rare martial talent, Lily Charles was forsaken by her family to pass the Phoenix Blood to her brother Fred. Years later, she returned to the Charles clan on a mission to defeat the Evil Lord, harboring resentment towards her mother. As the truth unraveled, Lily's journey for redemption and revenge unfolded.

Years ago, the Jaxon family was wiped out. Before she died, Walter Jaxon's mother urged him never to fight again. Years later, the Tanner family's daughter was about to lose a martial contest to a foreigner in a competition for her marriage. At the critical moment, Walter crushed the amulet, regaining his strength to protect the woman he loved.

With a stroke of luck, Eric Clark's life took a drastic turn. He transformed from just a deliveryman to a master in both medicine and divination. Armed with his new skills, he seeks to exact revenge on those who had bullied him in the past.

Shelley Radcliffe is framed by her stepmother and runs away in anger, where she encounters Heron Fenwick, who is being kidnapped. In an effort to help Heron retrieve his amulet, Shelley loses the use of her hand for playing the piano and the cello. However, Heron mistakenly identifies Elysia Radcliffe as Shelley. Five years later, when Heron returns to the country, he pursues Elysia wholeheartedly, only to once again find himself in a series of misunderstandings…

Legendary hacker Claire hides as a housewife but is betrayed. After divorce, she marries mysterious Daniel to take revenge and uncover her family’s dark past. Can she find truth—and true love?

Diana's pregnant sister mysteriously commits suicide, and Diana knows there must be a hidden truth behind it. Determined to uncover the mystery, Diana returns to her hometown with her assistant, Dean. They discover that everything might be connected to her brother-in-law, Sam, and her sister's best friend, David, whose relationship is far from ordinary. With the help of her assistant Dean, her friend Wyatt, and her boyfriend Colt, Diana fights through numerous obstacles. In the end, she is shocked to realize that the evil mastermind behind it all is someone right by her side…

After Julia Mason awakens from eight years in a coma during which Aaron Hall loyally cared for her, she decides to marry him with an extravagant dowry to show her gratitude. Aaron's family, unaware of Julia's true identity, skeptically but happily prepare for the wedding. However, Aaron's materialistic cousin Lily and her family cause trouble by showing up uninvited. At the wedding banquet, Lily and other relatives mockingly suggest Julia cannot afford the promised dowry, but Julia makes a dramatic entrance that silences all critics and reveals her true wealth and status.

The true heiress, Jane, was abandoned by the adopted daughter of the Thomas family, leading her to wander alone. Upon her return, Ruby felt jealous of the affection Jane received from their parents and deliberately targeted her. However, Jane revealed her many hidden identities, attracting the attention and adoration of three powerful brothers. Additionally, she captured the heart of Lucas, the rumored hot-tempered heir of the Gordon family, who cherished her a lot.

After a severe car accident, 7-year-old Isabella Wellington was abandoned after having her blood drained out by evil family members, in order to keep her own brother alive. 17 years later, Olivia struggles to fight off brutal bullying from the Wellingtons whom she works for. Unknown to the Wellingtons, their target of bullying, daughter raised by a janitor, Olivia, is in fact Isabella Wellington, the precious lost heiress, whom they have been searching for for 17 years.

Tuanzi, an orphan from a modern-day orphanage, dies in a car accident and transmigrates into the body of the missing granddaughter of the Prime Minister of the Great Yuece Dynasty. Saved by Crown Prince Xiao Yu, she learns that her mother, Yue Qing, is imprisoned and needs the Imperial Seal and the Emerald Edge to be freed. Tuanzi excels in her imperial exams and gradually uncovers that her aunt, Lin Yue, discarded her mother's necklace. As Lin Yue's malicious deeds slowly come to light, her second uncle, Yue Xing, sees his restaurant become successful with Tuanzi's help. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Xiao Yu faces political roadblocks, and Tuanzi proposes a new way to help refugees—teaching them skills instead of just giving them handouts.

Six years ago, Winni and Chester were a loving couple, until Chester's old friend Ruth returned to the country. Ruth disguised herself with a kind face and became friends with Winni, secretly plotting to replace Winni as Chester's wife. Not long after, Winni became pregnant, but the doctor informed Chester that the child had no blood relationship to him. Chester iced out Winni and gradually grew closer to Ruth. Six years later, Winni's son, Ron, was critically ill with leukemia. Only Chester's bone marrow could save him. In order to please Chester, Winni had to bow down to Ruth. However, during their interaction, she gradually uncovered why Chester thought Ron was an illegitimate child.

CEO Millie Brewster's life is turned upside down when livestreamer Candis Stark leads an "Anti-Mistress Alliance" to her doorstep. Candis publicly accuses Millie of being the other woman in her marriage to Jeff Horton, inciting a mob that vandalizes Millie's mansion. However, when Jeff appears, he denies any relationship with Candis - a revelation that makes Candis suspect she's been caught in a larger conspiracy. Ironically, Millie is actually Jeff's legitimate wife, falsely branded as a mistress. As she decides to fight back against these accusations, she discovers her friend Kiara Grant may also be secretly involved with Jeff. Little does Millie know, while she's busy fighting these false accusations, she's playing right into their hands - her husband and his two mistresses have been pulling the strings all along, orchestrating her downfall…

Celine Lowe is selling fish, and thanks to the secret support of Travis Zeller, her business is thriving. The surrounding vendors, envious of her success, band together and try to ruin her stall. Just as Celine is about to reach her breaking point and retaliate, Nick Lowe makes a grand entrance with his men, shocking everyone. He steps in and teaches those vendors a lesson. Afterward, Nick tells Celine that the Danorians have been causing trouble and are attempting to invade their country, Celest. He hopes Celine will come out of retirement to help deal with the Danorians. Celine refuses, saying that all she wants now is to live a peaceful life with her daughter. Little does she know that, at that very moment, her daughter is being bullied at school.