How Did Rictus Grin Get His Iconic Smile?

Venice once rejected Lucien during their university days, believing he was someone far beneath the world she desired. Ambitious and drawn to wealthy and famous men, she never imagined that the quiet man she dismissed would one day become someone powerful. Years later, Lucien has everything—wealth, influence, and a marriage arranged under complicated circumstances. During a grand Bachelor’s Party he hosts, fate brings Venice back into his life. The moment he sees her again, Lucien hires her on the spot. Now Venice finds herself working for the very man she once ignored—Lucien, who is no longer the quiet student she remembered, but a cold and irresistible billionaire. Determined to keep her distance, Venice focuses on her job and reminds herself that Lucien is a married man. Yet the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension growing between them. What Venice doesn't know is that Lucien didn't hire her by coincidence… he had been searching for her for years. Caught between resisting the man who now holds power over her and confronting the feelings she never expected to feel, Venice must decide: will she walk away before it's too late… or will she find herself trapped in a desire she can no longer escape?

My husband's childhood sweetheart needed surgery, and he insisted that I be the one to operate on her. I followed every medical protocol, doing everything I could to save her. However, after she was discharged, she accused me of medical malpractice and claimed I’d left her permanently disabled. I turned to my husband, hoping he’d speak up for me, but he curtly said, “I told you not to act recklessly. Now look what’s happened.” To my shock, the hospital surveillance footage also showed that I hadn’t followed the correct surgical procedure. I couldn’t defend myself. In the end, I was stabbed to death by her super-alpha husband. Even as I died, I still couldn’t understand—how did the footage show my surgical steps were wrong? When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Joanna was admitted for testing.

Smiles aren't always pretty; especially when that sort of smile looks like a homicidal killer.Gabriella Bryce was told that a smile is a girl's precious jewelry. They were wrong. To her, it's like a makeup gone bad. With her forbidding and murderous smile that can chase off even a group of teenage football players; Gabriella was certain that she was destined to be forever alone.But that was until she saved a boy from a group of guys one night in a deserted alley...with her smile. Aelfric Beaumont, a vampire-werewolf hybrid and the boy she saved, was fascinated with her smile and has never left her alone since then. Following her like a sick love-struck and possessive puppy, every day became a game of chase for her. Especially when the Alpha of a werewolf pack is desperate for protection due to an impending pack war and sees Gabriella as a suitable mate for his son. Tyrelle Gawen; a werewolf boy forced by his father to attend the same school as Gabriella in order to pursue her.With two beasts following her every move, can Gabriella still live her life normally? Or will it be a never-ending tango between the three of them?

On the verge of tears, she smiles. Her smile hides a storm. His touch brings the thunder. • "Are you planning to leave me?" He snarled, his voice dripping with fury. His entire demeanor contorted in anger, the chilling blankness replaced by a terrifying rage that made Zynah shudder. Fear flooded her voice, momentarily stealing her voice. Mustering all the courage she could, she forced out a "No." In a split second, Bilal's frown turned into a smile, a predator satisfied with his prey's submission. He reached out, gently framing her face. He leaned in, and for a fleeting moment, she thought he was going to hit her, but instead, she felt his lips on hers. She stilled. Pulling away after a second or so, he spoke; his voice a low, menacing murmur. "Good," he crooned, the possessiveness in his voice sending a fresh wave of tremor through her. "Because no matter how hard you try, you can never get away from me, you will only get yourself in trouble with me, and trust me, you're going to hate yourself for defying me." • He claims to love her, but his affection is a cage. Will this twisted affection set her free...or break her for good? Find out!!

Love is around and sometimes where you least expect it! Trey Comstock is a guitarist in one of the world’s hottest rock bands: Feisty. Bailey Kline carries a noble and important last name but outside of that, she’s got nothing going in her life. Both are at very different points in their lives trying to find themselves and find love. They meet while Trent is in the process of divorcing another and Bailey sees an opportunity to take advantage of him for her own financial gain. But will her attempt to get ahead in life pan out? Will Trent see right through her scheme or will he perhaps go along with it just to test her? She's in for a surprise when she finds out he's been using her the entire time as well! Find out as these two push and pull each other to the brink! **This is a five part mini-series and while the stories continue in order they can be read as a stand alone. You will follow them better however, reading in order. A new one will come out every four-six weeks until complete. This is part two, Trey's story.**

My husband, Jaxon Murray, was a renowned medical expert and owned a big company. He was participating in a clinical drug trial when someone tampered with his medication. Under the influence, he ended up entangled with an intern—ninety-nine times, right there on the lab table. When he regained clarity, he rushed home, locked himself in the bathroom, and submerged himself in the tub without food or water as he waited for me to return from work. "Lauren," he said, "my medication was switched during the trial. I made a terrible mistake. But I paid her off and had her dismissed. She'll never appear before me again." I wept miserably, clutching my belly that had once again failed to carry life. And in the end, I chose to forgive him. Several months later, he crashed into a guardrail while answering a phone call, causing me to miscarry. The injury left me unable to conceive for life. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his voice choked with remorse. "Darling, I don't deserve you. I'm so sorry… We don't need children. We have each other, isn't that enough?" One day, I went to bring him lunch, only to find him in the next hospital room, cradling and feeding the woman he swore he'd never see again. "She's too weak to eat by herself," he said. "She has early-stage stomach cancer. There's no one else to take care of her… she's all alone." I chose to believe him. Again. Until one day, a pair of twins appeared in our home. Sophie Dixon knelt before me, wearing the postpartum gown he had once lovingly picked out for me, clutching my hand with tears streaming down her face. "It's all my fault. Please don't blame Jaxon. If you say the word, I'll leave with the children immediately." Jaxon grabbed my other hand, desperation thick in his voice. "Lauren, you've always been the kindest person I know. The children are still so young. How could Sophie possibly raise them alone? You wouldn't be that cruel… would you?" I looked down at the hands gripping mine from both sides, and suddenly, I laughed. "Jaxon, let's get a divorce. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."