Top 20 Manhwa with Rough/Abusive Past Female Leads

Top 20 Manhwa with Rough past Female lead explore rebirth, revenge, healing, and empowerment

If you love emotional manhwa stories where strong female leads rise from painful, abusive, or tragic pasts, this list is for you. These 20 manhwa titles explore rebirth, revenge, healing, and empowerment — showing women who overcome betrayal, neglect, and trauma to reclaim their destiny. From royal dramas to fantasy reincarnations, each story captures resilience, heartbreak, and hope in unforgettable ways. Dive in and find your next powerful female-led read that will move your heart and inspire your soul.

1. The Archduke's Adopted Saint

After being betrayed and tortured by her best friend for fourteen lifetimes, Saint Dinah is reborn once again—this time as Esther, the adopted daughter of an Archduke. With painful memories and newfound power, she plans her revenge against the one who destroyed her past lives. This manhwa captures the pain of repeated betrayal and a woman’s determination to break free from abuse.

Read free Chapter on tapas

2. A Stepmother’s Märchen

After her husband’s death, young marchioness Shuli faces mistrust, social pressure, and immense responsibility. Her dedication to her stepchildren ends in tragedy, but fate gives her a second chance to rebuild those bonds. It’s a heartfelt story of maternal love, forgiveness, and survival after years of emotional neglect.

Read free Chapter on tapas

3. Crazy Like a Fox

Princess Lisbelle grows up in a palace of bloodshed, manipulation, and deceit, where only the strong survive. When she’s killed by a sibling’s scheme, time rewinds and gives her a chance to fight back. This manhwa stands out for its portrayal of a woman scarred by cruelty yet using madness as her armor for revenge.

Read free Chapter on tapas

4. Elixir of the Sun

Bayan, born powerless among healers, is sent to a cursed emperor doomed by bloodlust. Rejected and seen as worthless, she becomes his unlikely salvation. The manhwa beautifully portrays a heroine who transforms years of rejection and abuse into compassion and courage that can even tame a monster.

Read free Chapter on lezhinus

5. Everything’s Coming Up Roses

After being kidnapped and tortured for her magical abilities, Evanna returns to a father she never knew—a duke burdened by guilt and sorrow. Both must heal from trauma and rebuild trust as enemies seek to exploit her powers. It’s an emotional journey of recovery and learning to love after lifelong pain.

Read free Chapter on tapas

6. Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money

Princess Aristine, locked away for years and married off as a pawn, only dreams of independence. Using her mysterious “King’s Eye,” she plans to make her own fortune and escape her manipulative husband. A perfect mix of comedy and vengeance, this manhwa shows a woman taking control after endless confinement.

Read free Chapter on tapas

7. How to Win My Husband Over

Reborn as Ruby de Borgia, a girl fated to die at her husband’s hands, the heroine must survive an abusive family and a political marriage. To stay alive, she hides her pain behind a gentle mask. This manhwa shines as a story of strength, self-preservation, and love blooming after years of abuse.

Read free Chapter on tapas

8. I Adopted a Villainous Dad

Amelia is reborn as a child saint in her favorite novel, destined for suffering. Instead of waiting for fate, she “adopts” the villain as her father, hoping to change both their destinies. Despite her trauma, Amelia’s courage and warmth prove that even those born to suffer can create love from darkness.

Read free Chapter on tapas

9. I Shall Master This Family

Firentia, the illegitimate daughter of a noble family, watches her loved ones and legacy destroyed by greed. When time rewinds, she vows to reclaim her name and protect her father. Her resilience through betrayal and emotional abuse makes this one of the most empowering female-lead stories in manhwa.

Read free Chapter on tapas

10. Just Leave Me Be

Forced to live as a substitute daughter, Adele’s life ends in assassination. When she awakens years earlier, she refuses to live as someone’s puppet again. Through ancient ruins and painful memories, this manhwa showcases a woman turning betrayal into freedom and mastering her fate.

Read free Chapter on tapas

11. Lady Chef Royale

Sena is reborn in a hostile noble family that scorns her every move. Instead of surrendering, she uses her cooking skills to win her place in high society. Her journey from mistreatment to mastery proves that passion and persistence can overcome even the deepest scars.

Read free Chapter on tapas

12. Lord Baby Runs a Romance Fantasy with Cash

A young girl, neglected and abused by her noble family, gains a strange ability to earn “cash” through cuteness and kindness. Using her charm and power, she fights to survive and heal her broken past. It’s a fun yet emotional take on escaping childhood trauma through courage and wit.

Read free Chapter on tapas

13. Lucia

Princess Lucia dreams of her grim future—a forced marriage to a cruel man. Determined to change fate, she bravely strikes a deal with the feared “Black Lion.” What follows is a tale of love blooming after trauma, where a woman’s will to rewrite destiny conquers fear and pain.

Read free Chapter on tappytoon

14. Monster Duke’s Daughter

Lottie, an abandoned child, suddenly finds herself in the home of a cold, demon-descended duke. Despite her tragic origins, she wins over his heart through innocence and defiance. This manhwa tells how love can bloom even for a child born into rejection and loneliness.

Read free Chapter on tapas

15. Saving My Sweetheart

Leticia, branded cruel and unloved, has endured years of mistreatment at her mother’s hands. Reborn with memories of her tragic past, she decides to protect the man she once failed to save. Her strength shines through as she faces manipulation and pain to secure her own happy ending.

Read free Chapter on tapas

16. Talented Baby Squirrel

Beatty, a squirrel shapeshifter born into a lion family, suffers endless abuse for being different. Reborn to her childhood, she runs away to rewrite her fate. Her journey from self-doubt to confidence makes this story a hopeful example of breaking cycles of cruelty.

Read free Chapter on tapas

17. The Male Lead’s Little Lion Daughter

A bold orphaned girl melts the heart of the empire’s coldest duke, who adopts her as his daughter. Beneath her playful nature lies a soul scarred by neglect and loss. This manhwa beautifully balances warmth, mystery, and healing after an abusive past.

Read free Chapter on tapas

18. Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (My Happy Marriage)

Miyo’s life as an unloved daughter is filled with servitude and humiliation. Married off to a man rumored to be cruel, she expects more suffering—but instead finds kindness and peace. A gentle yet powerful tale of a woman discovering love after years of emotional pain.

Read free Chapter on yespress

19. Wished You Were Dead

Queen Evonne lives under the shadow of her enemy husband, the king who despises her bloodline. Bound by curses and abuse, she longs for freedom and peace. This manhwa explores how love and truth can survive in a world built on hatred and betrayal.

Read free Chapter on tapas

20. The Tyrant Wants to Be Good

Executed as a feared tyrant, Dorothea awakens in her childhood with a chance to change her cruel fate. Haunted by guilt and loneliness, she vows to live virtuously and seek redemption. Her story perfectly embodies the pain of regret and the power of rebirth after a life of cruelty.

Read free Chapter on tapas

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Final Thoughts

These manhwa offer gripping revenge arcs, powerful protagonists, and immersive fantasy worlds. Bookmark this list and check back for weekly updates — we add new recommendations and reviews regularly.