when things were rotten

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.

Three years later, when they reunited, Donna's first words to Henry were: "Mr. Ferrell, let's have a fake marriage."Having been deceived out of her fortune by the boyfriend she had supported for years, Donna finally realized the price she had paid. Well, if that's the case, she'd just switch to a different man.At the civil affairs office, Henry grabbed her arm tightly: "I never said I wouldn't agree."

For years, Rosalee Shane had been working hard to look after her husband, Harold Luke, and his family. One day, she got into a car accident, trying to save Harold and her son Simon. When she woke up, she realized she was in a system where all the women's mind was controlled. And now, she had a chance to get a reward. After discovering her husband and her son were both ingrates, she decided to completely change her life.

Chantal Jones and Jason Joliet fell in love when they were young. Jason witnessed Chantal being hurt by her foster father and, in a fit of rage, stabbed the man and was sent to prison.On the very day he was imprisoned, Chantal broke up with him.Five years later, Jason returned from abroad to attend his brother's engagement party—only to find that the smiling, gentle fiancée beside his brother was none other than Chantal,the woman he could never forget, the love and hatred buried deep in his heart.

Karissa was the true heiress of the Beltran family, who had been lost and later found. However, she was then kidnapped by Ivy, the family's adopted daughter. In a bid to prove who their family truly cared about, Ivy set fire to the warehouse they were in. In her moment of peril, Karissa found that her parents and brothers chose to save Ivy, abandoning her to her fate. Just when her life hung in the balance, she saw Luis, someone she had once lived with, come to her rescue. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself reborn three years earlier. This time, Karissa was determined to change the course of her life.

When Quinn Sanders was just three years old, she was taken in by the Clark family to be raised alongside their son, Bobby, with the intention of them marrying in the future. Over the years, she faced mistreatment, until a chance reunion with her birth mother, Morgan Sanders,who had spent two decades searching for her.Bobby's proposal turned out to be a scheme for financial gain,but at the wedding, Morgan recognized Quinn, uncovering the truth behind her past. The people responsible were held accountable, and mother and daughter slowly began to rebuild their bond through fragmented memories.

Alvin Kirkland and Nahla Snider had been inseparable since they were kids. Twenty years of shared memories, inside jokes, and a promise to get engaged on his 25th birthday. But when the day finally came, Alvin walked in on Nahla taking couple-y pics with Jared Whitehead, some underclassman from college. She brushed it off like it was no big deal, kept making excuses for Jared, and expected Alvin to just deal with it. Fed up with her gaslighting, he left a breakup note, packed his bags, and took that overseas job offer without looking back.

After the divorce, Ella Blaine's ex-husband, John Jones, asked, "We were married for a year. Did you ever love me?""No!" Ella replied, walking away without a hint of hesitation.Later, a manipulative friend revealed a pregnancy involving John's child. Ella responded by exposing his infertility secret.Years later, when questioned about Ella's decision to marry the seemingly perfect Zac Smith, Ella, with unwavering confidence, declares, "If I can't be his bride, I'll be his new mother. Will he dare not to marry?"

After Johnny married the stunning and accomplished Valerie, his greedy family—convinced he'd landed a wealthy older sugar mama—never bothered to meet her. While Johnny was away, they mistook Valerie for his mistress and, desperate to keep their imagined "rich old bride's" fortune, cruelly turned on her. Little did they know: Valerie was actually the young, brilliant CEO of a major company, temporarily stepping back to focus on starting a family. When the truth came out, their shame was matched only by her fury—and they were swiftly shown the door.

Dustin Jason used to give his all to his adopted family, but what he got in return was his wife and daughter suffering and himself being abandoned when he was seriously sick. After being reborn, he stopped being blindly filial and strived to change his fate. He protected his wife and daughter during repeated conflicts with the rest of the family, and eventually, he completely broke with the Jason family. In the end, Dustin achieved great success in his career, while the Jason family were deceived due to greed and got their retribution.

Lucine and her husband, Cheney, were in a devastating car accident that took Cheney's life. Lucine survived but lost her memory. When the powerful Sterling family learned she was carrying Cheney's only child, they sent his twin brother, Noah, to bring her home and ensure her safety. At first, Noah saw it as a duty, but as he cared for the vulnerable and lost Lucine, an unexpected bond began to form. Amidst fierce family struggles, kidnappings, a heartbreaking miscarriage scare, and ruthless outside schemes, their connection deepened—until neither could deny the pull between them.

Sophia, the sole heiress of Porthaven's powerful Jason family, spent five years honoring her promise. Five years ago, to save Justin, the man she loved, she struck a deal with Director Cloud. While he worked to develop the cure, she took responsibility for caring for his grandson, Warren, and Warren's young son, Joey, and supporting the declining Cloud Group.Under her protection, the father, the child, and the company all thrived. Yet Sophia's sacrifices were erased. She was treated as nothing more than a nanny. When Warren's ex-wife Quinn returned, they hurt Sophia time and again. When the five-year promise ends, Sophia walks away without hesitation, taking back everything she gave. As Warren loses it all, the truth finally comes to light.

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.

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.

Josie is the daughter of Chief Commander Choi, and her husband, Gordon Hodges, hails from the Snoylor tribe. Their marriage was only a ceremonial affair—no formal paperwork was ever signed. Shortly after the wedding, Gordon returned to the military camp, and Josie's pregnancy news was delivered to him by letter.Seven years passed without the couple ever reuniting. That is, until their son, Freddie, cried out, desperate to see his father.Josie, determined to fulfill her son's wish, decided to take him to visit Gordon. But when they arrived at the military camp, Josie was shocked to find that Gordon had remarried. Labelled as a "homewrecker," Josie and her son were brutally beaten. In that desperate moment, Josie shouted her father's name. Her father's men immediately rushed her and her son to the hospital, while he went to seek out the Commander.At the hospital, Gordon's new wife, Claire, feigned stomach pains. Gordon, cold-hearted and furious, dragged the doctor away to attend to Claire instead. Tragically, Freddie died on the operating table.When Josie's parents arrived, Gordon and Claire were thrown into prison. But Gordon escaped, and in a fit of madness, he mercilessly shot and killed Claire's mother, Marsha...

Livia and Owen were childhood sweethearts. Right before their wedding, Owen died saving her. Consumed by guilt, Livia prayed to God, promising to perform one hundred tasks for the wealthy heir Cassian in exchange for Owen's life. For five years, Cassian, obsessed with his "love" Charlotte, has watched Livia being humiliated and bleeding for Charlotte. He even asked her to donate her heart. When the truth is revealed – that Livia was the one who saved Cassian – and she prepares to leave, Cassian is shattered by remorse and begins a frantic chase to win her back. But Livia is now focused on helping Owen regain his memories. What choice will she make?

Lowell, the CEO of Wonder Group, gave up his career and walked away from everything for love—marrying Lillian. For years, he believed he had found happiness. But everything changed when Lillian's first love, Karl Scott, returned to their hometown. The moment they reunited, old feelings quickly reignited, and before long, the two were entangled in a secret affair. To make matters worse, even Lowell and Lillian's son began growing closer to Karl, treating him like more of a father than Lowell himself. Faced with his wife's betrayal and his son's rejection, Lowell endured the pain in silence—again and again. But eventually, something in him broke. Tired of being taken for granted, he made a decision: he would end the marriage and reclaim everything that was rightfully his. In the end, when Lowell revealed his true, wealthy background and calmly filed for divorce, Lillian was left in shock—and full of regret.

By chance, Tessa, an emergency room nurse, saved Victor, a dangerous and charming gang boss, but was strongly targeted by him. He was closing in on her, and she was running for her life—until fate tore away her last hope. Her brother was dying, and the sky-high medical bills were crushing her. Victor narrowed his cold eyes and said, "Be my woman, and I'll save him." She was forced to sign a marriage contract. She resisted his world but indulged in his protection and tenderness. When she found out that the mysterious man who saved her on the rainy night five years ago was actually him, the boundary between hate and love completely collapsed...