best julian barnes

In the bustling heart of New York City, James, an ordinary man with humble origins, marries into the affluent Smith family. Despite his best efforts to win their approval, he is relentlessly belittled by his wife, Emma, and ridiculed by her snobbish family. They treat him like a mere servant, mocking his every move and belittling his ambitions. Unbeknownst to them, James is actually the estranged son of Richard Bennett, the wealthiest man in New York. Years ago, Richard and James had a falling out, leading James to carve his own path without relying on his father's immense wealth and influence. As the family's disdain reaches a breaking point, Richard's health takes a turn for the worse, and he decides it's time to reconnect with his son. He reveals his true identity to James, encouraging him to embrace his legacy. Empowered by this revelation, James confronts the Smith family, exposing their cruelty and asserting his newfound status. Faced with the truth, the Smiths are forced to reckon with their behavior. Emma, realizing the depth of her mistakes, seeks redemption, but James, now aware of his worth and potential, must decide whether to forgive or forge a new path, free from the toxic environment that once defined his life.

Mike's world shattered when he caught his girlfriend cheating with his best friend. The ultimate betrayal came after years of dedication and hard work to provide for her, only to be humiliated by his friend's wealth and status. In a fit of rage, Mike punched his friend and fled, but his escape ended in a brutal car accident. When Mike awoke, he found himself in the midst of the powerful and ruthless Rykhard Corporation, a family-owned conglomerate renowned for their wealth, influence, and unrelenting pursuit of success. To his astonishment, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Axel, the youngest son and direct heir of the Rykhard dynasty. As Mike navigates this treacherous new world, he must confront the dark secrets and rivalries within the Rykhard family. Will he thrive as the new Axel, or become a pawn in their deadly game of power and leadership? Can he overcome his past heartbreak and forge a new path, or will the Rykhard Corporation consume him whole?"

He had always been regarded with so many titles.. Moocher.. Wretched Son In Law Expensive Liability.. Once the Live-in-son-in-law of the Blue Family till he got kicked out, James Stefflon returns back to the city with even more titles.. The Medicine god! The Gifted Heir! Man of Many Talents! Three years! Three years he spent trying to do his best to please a woman all so he could slowly win her love. Just when he felt he had succeeded, she shoved a divorce paper right at his face. Now all those who once looked down on him must now compete amongst themselves to be in his good grace..

Ryu was left in shambles when he discovered his wife had cheated on him with his best friend. But that was just the start. His father's cruel lies about his mom's death ignited a fire within him. Now, Ryu seeks chilled revenge against his wife, her family, and even his own father. Get ready for a cold, calculated payback.

A man, bathed in the golden blood of a fallen deity, stands atop a hill, his acolytes looking on in awe. They have witnessed the birth of a new age, a world transformed by his power. His name is Marcus, and his journey began on the first day of the apocalypse. Betrayed by his best friend and girlfriend, Marcus's world was shattered. But as the undead rose, a strange twist of fate occurred. Bitten by a zombie, he didn't succumb to the infection; instead, he evolved, gaining a system that granted him extraordinary abilities. Now, Marcus finds himself at the forefront of a battle for survival against the hordes of the undead and the remnants of humanity. His journey takes him from the ruins of his former life to a world of ancient secrets and hidden dangers. As he grows in power, he must confront the true nature of his existence and the fate of the apocalypse.

Akim's world is ravaged by zombies after an apocalypse. He discovers his fiancée, Alice, cheating on him with his best friend, Marcel. Akim is infected with the zombie virus but surprisingly develops spatial manipulation abilities, allowing him to create a storage space and generate spatial blades. Akim embarks on a perilous journey to find his parents and younger sisters, gathering supplies and crystal cores to enhance his abilities. He encounters various challenges, including hostile gangs and mutated zombies. Along the way, Akim meets a group of arrogant rich brats who demand his assistance. He agrees to help them reach a private airfield in exchange for potential transportation. However, their behavior frustrates him. The story takes a dramatic turn 25 years into the future. Akim has become the last human on Earth, fighting against the "rot of worlds," Kalusus. After a fierce battle, Akim and Kalusus destroy the Earth. In a shocking twist, Akim finds himself revived, intact, and kneeling before a powerful being. The being explains that Akim's world was destroyed due to external forces and offers him a second chance to change the course of events. Akim accepts the offer, and a system update announces a new adventure. With his spatial manipulation abilities and experience, Akim is poised to rewrite history, save humanity, and become its savior.

For Damien, life was perfect. He was married to his high school sweetheart and about to make a breakthrough in the research that he had spent the last three years working on. Although their marriage was an hidden one, he had always done his best to support his wife while working hard in the dark. Despite being an orphan, Damien had crawled his way to this point and there was nothing more he wanted. However, in just one night, everything Damien had considered dear seemed to have changed. Was being a Movie Queen enough reason for a divorce or did he just never know his wife well? Damien Storne knows what it feels like to be at the very bottom and now, he's determined to climb to the very top!

Parker James, the only son of a hitman 'James Davidson' who was assassinated because of the ancient crystal bestowed by another hitman sent by their cruel leader, witnessed the gruesome death of his parents while he hid away in the dark closet. Parker became an orphan and a hitman at an early stage; he was taken in by his father's friend, who trained him for six years to become the best hitman in the world and also gave him a powerful crystal to avenge his parent's death. Parker joined the hitman group when he clocked 27 years and pretended to be a low life; then he fell in love with Diana, the only daughter of the hitman's leader. Parker became hungry for revenge when he finally found out that Diana's father was the one that killed his own parents. Parker is now torn between avenging his parents deaths without getting himself killed and also fighting for the love he felt for Diana.

Conrad's existence was a never-ending cycle of humiliation. Everyone treated him with contempt, from his condescending boss to his heartless girlfriend. Conrad who has been leaning on his petty job to ensure that he offers his girlfriend nothing but the best in life recently went through a breakup on the day of his anniversary. His ex-girlfriend was pretty convinced that he’d come crawling back to her asking for another chance. Little did they know, Conrad's destiny was about to unfold. Summoned by his father's company, he inherited the family empire, transforming from an outcast to a powerhouse. And everyone who had treated him like trash and came for his mother’s life would regret knowing his name.