Problem: Continue the following story.

Leslie could smell the body odor off of Steven even through the perfume they put on. 
Here's how I want to continue it: Leslie was clean.

Problem: Continue the following story.

Brian was a better person than Steven, because 
Here's how I want to continue it: Steven never tried to do the right thing.

Problem: Continue the following story.

The man became more confident by reading a book, not by reading the magazine. That's because the 
Here's how I want to continue it:
magazine was more hokey.