Is Evanston Salt Costs Climbing Worth Reading?

"You built an elevator on a mountain. It's obviously a code violation!" Walter Grady lifts his walking stick, the muddy tip coming inches from my nose. The massive mountain completely boxed in our town, forcing everyone to endure a brutal two-hour hike just to leave town. That is why, the moment I made my fortune, I paid out of my own pocket to install a massive outdoor elevator. For five years, I've been charging a 50-cent fee just to cover the costs of electricity. Knowing the town is mostly comprised of elderly folks and children, I bought the most expensive, heavy-duty materials available and hired a 24-hour maintenance crew for the elevator, never expecting them to report it to the city council as a code violation. I feel completely blindsided, but I still hold out hope that the people I spent years helping will stand up and speak for me. Instead, Martha Bell rolls her eyes and remarks, "Who ever heard of an elevator charging a fee? You're just ripping us off!" Marcus Crowe chimes in with a sneer, "You're just lazy and using us as an excuse to line your own pockets." I let out a bitter, angry laugh. To keep the residents comfortable, I keep the air conditioning running inside the cabin. Now, the city council is giving me a three-day deadline to tear it down or face a fine. Walter is practically gloating, saying that it's about time. I sign the citation on the spot and immediately call a demolition crew. If they enjoy hiking so much, they can be my guest. I'm officially done serving them.

To the world, Elena was a penniless orphan who struck gold by marrying the "Titan of Tech," Julian Vane. For three years, she endured his coldness, his mistress’s taunts, and the label of "trash" housewives. But when Julian tosses the divorce papers at her to marry a socialite, he triggers the end of Elena’s "Poverty Trial." The woman he discarded doesn't exist. In her place stands the sole heiress to the Everett Global Syndicate—a shadow empire that owns the very ground Julian walks on. As Julian watches his world burn, Elena isn't just seeking a divorce; she’s seeking a total liquidation. But as a new, more dangerous King enters the board, Elena realizes her revenge was only the opening move in a much deadlier game.

Everyone in the company fears Killian Vale—the ruthless billionaire CEO of ValeCorp. He doesn’t speak unless necessary, fires employees without blinking, and has a face carved out of stone. He built an empire on logic and power, not emotion. Then she walks in. Emery Quinn—a soft-spoken, stubbornly independent woman with zero interest in corporate games—takes a job as his executive assistant out of desperation. She needs money to save her younger brother from a dangerous situation. She expects to hate Killian. He expects her to quit. What neither expects is the tension that builds between them—the dangerous, slow-burning tension that starts behind office doors and seeps into stolen glances, late-night calls, and locked conference rooms. But Killian doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t do feelings. And she’s too smart to fall for someone like him. Until the day he finally snaps and says: “You're the only person who's ever made me feel anything, and I hate you for it.”

Five years. No ring. No title. No acknowledgment. Just Evelyn — quietly holding a man together who was busy saving his heart for someone else. When his ex came back, he handed Evelyn five million dollars and called it compensation. She called it goodbye. Now Vivian is gone. The company is bleeding. And Julian Van is standing at a door Evelyn no longer needs him to open. He wants a second chance. She hasn’t said a single word. Some silences are louder than forgiveness. And some men have to lose everything before they learn how to see.

My first reaction when I encountered the landslide was not to run, but to immediately call Ethan. After all, Ethan always nagged at me, and I can almost hear him saying, "You can't do anything right; I always have to come to help." The phone rang for ages before it finally connected, and by then, the landslide had knocked me to the ground. "Yes? What is with you? Calling eight hundred times a day… Don't you ever get tired of it? I told you I'm working; I don't have time. "Hello? If you're not going to say anything, I'm hanging up. I've got other things to do." Beep, beep! Before I could say a word, Ethan impatiently scolded me. Typical. That had been Ethan Lang's attitude five years into our marriage. He might not have to put up with me anymore after this, though, because I might never see him again......

Elena Monroe devoted her life to her husband and son, pouring every ounce of love into their little family. But love wasn’t enough. The man she cherished sought comfort elsewhere, and the child she raised with all her heart wished for a different mother. The ultimate betrayal came when her son innocently declared, “The three of us look more like a family than with my mommy.” That day, Elena’s world shattered. But she didn’t beg. She didn’t fight. She simply walked away—leaving behind her past, her marriage, and even her child. With ruthless determination, she buried her pain and focused on building an empire. The woman everyone underestimated rose from the ashes, amassing a fortune of over 100 billion. Now, she’s untouchable—adored by the media, respected by rivals, and worshipped by a man who sees her worth. But fate isn’t done playing games. Her ex-husband, drowning in regret, wants her back. Her son, now desperate for her love, longs for the mother he once pushed away. Yet, Elena is no longer the woman who once pleaded for their love. This time, they are the ones begging—while she stands beside a man who would rather burn the world than let her go. They lost her once. They won’t get a second chance.