Is Lost Kitties Based On A True Story?

All I did was grab an extra bottle of water after getting back from a field assignment. That was enough for the new finance manager to call me out in front of the entire office. “Claire, do you have any shame? You bring in nothing every month, live off base salary, and still think you can take advantage of the company? “Transfer ten thousand into the team penalty pool. That’s your fine.” I looked at her for a moment, then said calmly, “Who do you think you are? If anyone’s going to fine me, Adrian can say it to my face.” What she didn’t know—I wasn’t only the company’s top dealmaker, but also Adrian’s wife. Eight years. A secret marriage no one knew about. Was he really going to take her side instead of standing up for me? The answer came fast. “Claire, just do what Rebecca says. It’s not a big deal. Don’t be petty.” I let out a quiet laugh. Then I looked him straight in the eye. “Adrian, if you think I’m petty… “I’ll request a full AI payroll audit. “Let’s see who really owes whom.”

To prevent me from being jealous of my stepmother's son, my dad implemented a "family point system". Washing dishes earned 1 point, and getting a perfect score on a test earned 10 points. Accumulating 1000 points meant you could make a wish come true. When my stepbrother broke a vase, Dad said it was a sign of good luck and awarded him 50 points. When I insisted on going to school with a fever, Dad said I was trying to garner sympathy and deducted 100 points. I scrambled to scrape together every point I could, all for that exorbitant Math Olympiad registration form. On the day I finally accumulated enough points, my stepbrother cried and said he wanted a pair of limited-edition sneakers. Dad immediately emptied my points. "We're family. Your points are your brother's points too." I looked at the torn-up application form and jumped from the 18th-floor balcony.

In a world where shadows whisper and danger lurks at every corner, a young she-wolf awakens with no memory of her past and no understanding of the fear she inspires in others. As she navigates the perilous underworld of packs and unwanted rogues, she must learn to survive amidst hidden agendas and volatile alliances. Her uncanny resemblance to Adis's deceased girlfriend, Amber, could ignite a war that threatens not just her life, but the fragile balance of power among the city's packs. Desperate to hide her true identity, Adis renames her Amber, thrusting her into a tangled web of loyalty and betrayal. Now, the new Amber must decipher friend from foe, see through the layers of deception, and grapple with whether Adis's haunted past holds any significance for her future. When Adis enlists another Alpha, Tjeck, to train Amber, Tjeck finds himself ensnared in a drama that spirals far beyond his intentions. Torn between duty and desire, Tjeck's loyalty to Adis is tested as he develops feelings for Amber, complicating matters further when he begins a clandestine relationship with Kattie, who is already entangled with Clay, Adis's formidable beta. As tensions rise, will Adis's evil brother, Zombie, unleash the war he's threatening? And what is the magnetic pull Amber feels toward Thorn, a member of the 'Stars' pack, who views she-wolves as inferior? In a gripping tale of survival and self-discovery, alliances will be forged, hearts will be broken, and the fight for identity will reveal what it truly means to be a she-wolf in a world that has forgotten how to trust.

I'm representing the Rosa family at a mafia trade summit when we're ambushed on the road. In the chaos, I get separated from the only bodyguard assigned to protect me. When I finally overcome all hurdles and make it home alive, I see him step down from the vehicle that attacked us. The Soldati line up before him respectfully. "Mr. Marco, if you like Leonora, you could just tell the Don. Why pretend to be Viviana's bodyguard? You had us chase Viviana into the dangerous Neralis Rainforest so that Leonora could appear at the trade summit. She's been missing for three days now. Shall we send our men to look for her?" Marco Santis furrows his brows, and his fingers clench around a ring carved with the Santis family's crest. "Leonora has always been insecure about being an illegitimate daughter. I haven't secured my position as heir. If I tell my father now, I'm afraid he'll never agree. As for Viviana, she's capable. She'll be fine." I realize Marco tried so hard to stay by my side for my illegitimate sister, Leonora Rosa. She's the one who drove my mother to her grave. It feels like someone had dug a hole in my chest and left it open to the cold wind. I force myself to stand and head to my father's room. "Papa, you wanted me to marry the dying heir of the Santis family. I accept."

Dad has a stroke and needs money to save his life. I'm left with no choice but to borrow money from my secret CEO boyfriend of five years. Before I can even say anything, he frowns and tells me he's busy. Then, he hurries off to attend his childhood sweetheart's birthday celebration. He only remembers me the following day. "What did you need?" I hold Dad's death certificate and smile wanly at him. "Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that we're over."