the best of connie willis award winning stories

"You are my treasure, and anyone who touches you is stealing," he said, his possessiveness deep in his bones. That's why, in her past life, Lu Fengxuan ran away desperately until, on her deathbed, she came to a sudden realization. Reborn, she clung tightly to her husband's golden thigh, simultaneously tormenting scumbags and lovey-dovey couples without any delay. Dared they call her stupid, unruly, selfish, and greedy? The lord waved his hand dismissively: "Throw them all into the sea to feed the sharks!" Did they say she disrespected her elders and bullied the younger ones? The lord picked up his child, a smile of utter indulgence on his face, "I've spoiled them. Any objections?"

Li Chuan went from the town to the provincial city to seek refuge with his elder brother Li Yong, but he did not expect that even with his low profile, he could still attract countless beauties. Cold and elegant sister-in-law, noble host, pure campus beauty, fiery anchor and so on... Lying in a pile of beauties, looking at the endless cash, Li Chuan expressed that his thoughts are very simple, very... simple.

Yi Anguo was reborn to the time when his wife ran off with another man, leaving him with a three-year-old daughter. Luckily, his daughter casually picked up a scratch-off lottery ticket from the ground and, to his surprise, won a million dollars. He bought a thousand houses and didn't spend a dime; and there's 38 million extra Yuan in his bank account. How did he do that?

【Strong Female Lead + Multiple Male Leads + Intense Male Competition + All Male Leads are Clean】 Evangeline transmigrated into The Virago, the number one villainess in The Beast World, who didn't love handsome men, but only the "treasures" on their bodies. Under the original owner's carefully woven sweet words, the Merfolk Beast Husband had his tail severed to be made into a Mermaid Tail Skirt, only to be carelessly discarded after the rainy season. The Goldeagle Beast Husband had his Feather Wings broken to be made into a feather quilt, which was sold at a trading fair for supplies after the Cold Season. The Snake Clan Beast Husband had his Beast Crystal dug out to be made into a necklace, and was casually given away to her 'sisters' once the novelty wore off... The Beastmen were left maimed, their lifespans greatly reduced, their Star Patterns shattered, and they lost the ability to transform into their beast forms, unable to bear offspring anymore. All seven male leads were rendered sterile, sharpening their knives, vowing to slaughter her. The small world was on the verge of collapse. Heavy rains, floods, blizzards, wildfires, acid rain, insect plagues... followed one after another. * Merfolk Beast Husband Danton glared angrily: "Evangeline, your actions make me sick to my stomach!" Snake Clan Beast Husband Thorne was filled with killing intent: "I will dig three feet deep into the ground to find Evangeline and kill her, at any cost!" Goldeagle Beast Husband Drake made a ruthless declaration: "Evangeline, whether to the heavens above or the earth below, I will ensure you have nowhere to run!" ... “Ding ding ding, dang dang dang” “Dear Host, your happy retirement life begins now!” Evangeline looked at the mess before her, weighed the reality of the situation, and sneered, "If you're going to put it that way, then I'm going to turn on my cheats!"

Yue Yue was once the precious White Jade Snake female of her primitive beast world. She was pampered, adored female and practically treated like a rare treasure. But the moment she opens her eyes… BAM! Her home was gone, the forest was gone, and there were no familiar beastmen running around half-naked. Instead... People are flying in the sky without wings. People are talking to glowing bracelets. People are living in giant metal buildings that look like angry mountains. Yue Yue wants to go home immediately. Unfortunately, fate laughs in her face. She finds out she has actually transmigrated… and not as some powerful heroine, but as an F-level female who is infertile and has F-level spiritual healing, basically treated like a useless accessory that can be thrown away anytime. From “Most Cherished Treasure of the City”...to “Garbage Female.” What kind of karmic debt is this!? Just when she’s ready to sit down and cry, a cold mechanical ding! rings in her head. A system? Yes, she got a system...but not the good kind. This system wants her to save villainous beastmen, the ones who are on the path to becoming degenerated, uncontrollable monsters. They are cruel, bloodthirsty, evil, and absolutely the last people she wants to babysit. Even worse, she only survives by completing the system’s ridiculous tasks. Yue Yue’s reaction: “I’m a snake, I only know how to slither! Why me?!” Now she must fight for survival, cure villains, avoid getting eaten by polluted beasts, and somehow prevent the interstellar world from collapsing...all while trying to figure out how this bizarre place works. A useless female? A forgotten character? Ha! Watch Yue Yue shake the entire galaxy. ~ Excerpt: Yue Yue didn’t know what was happening. One moment she was quietly trying to escape from this strange place, but suddenly a huge shadow appeared in front of her. A very big, very long, very black shadow. She slowly looked up...and her soul almost flew out of her body. A giant winged serpent hovered above her; its scales were darker than night, and its violet-black eyes swirled as if they could swallow the world. Its wings beat once, sending a blast of wind that nearly threw her off her feet. Before she could slither away, The snake hissed at her. His stare was so intense she felt like her tiny snake heart stopped beating. Her voice came out shaking, trembling and almost squeaking, “B-Brother… we’re the same species, okay? C-Cannibalism is… very bad. Very, VERY bad!” The serpent blinked. Then, right in front of her eyes, his massive body shrank, twisted, and transformed into a dangerously handsome beastman. A very tall, black-haired, violet-eyed, and exuding the full aura of “I can kill you with a glance.” Yue Yue gulped. He looked down at her and picked her up. It is as if she were a fruit he found on sale. “What are you doing?! Put me down! I’m not edible!” He didn’t even respond. He simply opened the pocket on his strange suit...and dropped her in. Yue Yue flailed inside like a trapped dumpling. “W-Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Am I being kidnapped!?” Her life was over. She had officially been abducted by a psychopath serpent in human clothing.

Reeling from the shame, anger, embarrassment of his break up with the love of his life publicly, Kieran White had gotten involved with a common waitress at the pub he visited. They had hit it off and soon had a one night stand that led to them signing a contract marriage of five years so Kieran could head his family's business. What Edwina Hall had thought was a dream come true soon came shattering with a reality so blindly forced into her face when her husband asked her to sign the divorce papers he presented to her. Devastated, she had signed the papers and had left her cold-hearted ex-husband alone only to realize that she was pregnant with his son. Five years later, the duo crossed part in the most unlikely places and this time, the tables had turned as Kieran would do anything to get Edwina to notice him and most importantly, be with him again. Would Edwina continue to feign indifference to the man who had her heart and the father of her son or would she ignore him and move on with someone else?

The blind and foolish Shen Nian—once deceived by villains and burdened with regret—has died. Reborn in the 1990s with a mysterious magical space, Shen Nian is given a second chance at life. This time, she vows to punish the scum who wronged her, protect the family she once neglected, and lead her loved ones toward a life of happiness and prosperity. But above all, there is one person she must make amends to—the man she owes the greatest debt. In her previous life, Shen Nian did everything she could to escape her marriage to Lu Cheng. In this life, she does everything she can to draw closer to him—step by step, little by little, until she is right by his side. Only to realize, far too late, that she has already fallen into the loving web Lu Cheng has patiently woven around her… and has no desire to escape. For Lu Cheng has only ever lived by one principle: To cherish Shen Nian, love Shen Nian, and hold her so dearly that she will never again think of leaving him.

After sacrificing everything to protect her younger sister, Isla is betrayed and sold to a ruthless mafia don to settle a debt. But before the deal is sealed, she is kidnapped by an even deadlier man—Dante Morelli, the most feared mafia boss in the country. To keep her safe from the man who claimed her, Dante forces her into marriage, thrusting her into a world of power, deception, and violence. Just as Isla starts to understand her new husband, she uncovers a devastating truth—he is the man who murdered her parents. Heartbroken and enraged, she flees, only to discover she is pregnant with his child. While she struggles with her emotions, another shocking betrayal surfaces—her sister was never innocent; she sold Isla for money. Now, with enemies closing in and war erupting in the underworld, Isla faces an impossible choice: Protect the sister who betrayed her or embrace the dark love of the man she swore to hate. But in a world ruled by blood and power, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

Who a- are you? How have you been here?" Kim's lips stuttered with fright as she immediately pulled the blanket to cover her breast. "Are you scared!? Eh?" The man sniffled, taking small steps towards her, making her drag her back. In a moment of passion, Kim's life is shattered when a drunken stranger mistakes her for his lover. The price she pays is steep, as she loses everything she holds dear and must forge a new path in life. Enter a mysterious doctor, whose charming presence is a balm to her wounded soul. But he too carries a heavy burden - an incurable disease that threatens to consume him. As they navigate their own emotional turmoil, they find themselves drawn to each other, despite their reservations. Can they unlock the key to each other's hearts and find love amidst their pain? Or will their kiss remain forever locked? This poignant and captivating story will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

COMPLETED!!! VOLUME 1: THE BILLIONAIRE GETS A WIFE Widowed mother Natalie Hanover has three kids, a mountain of bills, and zero patience for know-it-all men—especially the infuriatingly handsome Dr. Garrett Hart, the new small-town vet (and secret billionaire ... shhh). When Natalie and Garrett's fiery debate on local TV goes viral, the host (supposed BFF of Natalie ... hah!) creates a bet that Dr. Hottie ... er, Hart can “train” Natalie's children (like they're dogs? ... oh, Dr. Hart, you sweet summer child). But Dr. Hart doesn't want to win the bet. He wants to win Natalie's heart. But his dark past and deep fears might build an unbreakable wall between himself and the white moonlight he's adored since he was sixteen-years-old... VOLUME 2: THE BILLIONAIRE GETS A BRIDE Susan McMillian was attracted to Ross Cameron from the moment she found him, shirtless and wandering around the television studio where she worked. He had heartbreaker good looks and arrogance to match--exactly the kind of man she had sworn off. Good thing she was already engaged. Then she found out Ross wasn't just a hapless stranger who ended up at the station. He was in town to attend a wedding. Hers. Because Susan was getting married ... to his uncle.