The Most Painful Kiss in the World

Ashlyn masks her identity as a corporate strategist by acting as a timid student who provides rare blood to a syndicate enforcer. When Alex returns scarred and aggressively casts her aside, he views her as a weakling. Little does he know she orchestrated his rage to become essential to his survival. With his sister’s life fading and his resources exhausted, Alex is forced to plead for Ashlyn’s aid, unwittingly handing her total control over his empire.

I've been married to my husband, Kaison, for three years. He never spent any anniversaries with me. Instead, he traveled to countless countries with his idealized love, Alexis. On my birthday, he once again abandoned me, saying, "I have a business trip for a week. Be good and wait for me to come back." I silently watched him leave, knowing this trip was just an excuse to spend time with Alexis. He thought I would quietly accept it, relying on my calm demeanor. But this time, he was unaware of my plan. By the time he returned, I'd already be on a plane, leaving the country for a fresh start. Two months ago, I kept asking Kaison for a special surprise for my birthday. He agreed, and I was filled with anticipation.

After being kidnapped and brutally murdered, my husband ignored my disappearance, choosing instead to propose to his first love. When my final note reached him, he dismissed it as a manipulative lie. Five days later, Commandant Gregory Mason is called to investigate a gruesome decapitation. Alongside the coroner, Gregory analyzes the horrific crime scene, concluding the killer acted out of pure hatred. Yet, he fails to recognize the victim—or the wedding bracelet still clinging to my wrist.

At nine years old, Justin saved Simone Scott from an explosion, an act that left him dependent on hearing aids. Consumed by guilt, Simone promised to protect him forever, leading to an engagement. However, at eighteen, she cruelly humiliates him to please the school heartthrob, calling him a burden. Unknown to her, Justin has recovered his hearing. He chooses to end their engagement and move away with his parents for college, ensuring their paths never cross again.

In Waiting for a Love That Never Comes, Julian’s fixation on his newly hired secretary shatters his marriage. After she smashes every plate and threatens to vanish, Julian abandons his wife on the day of her critical lung cancer surgery to pursue her. Despite his apologies and empty promises of a future wedding trip to compensate for his absence, the protagonist realizes she can no longer wait for his affection. Choosing self-respect during her recovery, she finally demands a divorce.

After being exiled from a powerful crime family, the protagonist is told her displacement is merely a ruse to destroy a rival Consigliere. Her Don boyfriend showers the other woman with gifts, claiming it is a trap, yet his deception turns fatal when he withholds funds for her brother’s life-saving surgery. While he views the tragedy as a minor delay in his grand scheme, she realizes his obsession with the target has evolved into genuine love. Now, she seeks to leave him behind.