Never Split The Difference

Raymond Lorenzo demanded everything. In the courtroom, under flashing cameras and public scrutiny, Jake Leon gave it to him… his shares, his power… all his life’s work. 3 years of marriage ended in a single decision. The divorce of the century. Eighteen months later, Raymond has everything he fought for; Full control of Elite Valley Tech, influence, and a name feared in every boardroom. But every power comes at a price. Because soon, a global criminal network is traced back to his company, and a dangerous mafia syndicate places a bounty on him after the fall of their leader. Raymond comes to the realization that it's he’s no longer untouchable. With no family to turn to and enemies closing in, there’s only one person who can save him. The man he pushed to the mud. Jake Leon. But Jake isn’t the same man who walked out of that courtroom. And this time, forgiveness isn’t part of the deal. Forced back under the same roof, bound by revenge, power, and unfinished emotions. will they destroy each other completely… Or uncover a truth neither of them was ready to face?

My boyfriend always said he liked independent women. So, whether it was paying for dates, hotel rooms, or even birth control, he insisted we split every expense. He always said, "I hate women who think men should pay for everything. They expect guys to buy them gifts on special occasions and even feed them while they eat. They're adults. Do they really think they're princesses? You're so much better." I told him I only agreed to split the bills because I knew he loved me. Then one day, I saw a message on his computer after he forgot to lock the screen. A female coworker had thanked him. "Thanks for treating me to dinner and even slicing the steak for me. Next time, I'll buy the movie tickets." My boyfriend replied almost instantly. "How could I let a lady pay?" I kept scrolling through their chat history. On a rainy night, he had driven across half the city just to take her home. Whenever she had a nightmare, he would stand outside her apartment building and stay on the phone with her until she fell asleep. That was when I realized the truth. He didn't love independent women. He only loved the convenience that came with an independent woman. Just then, he walked in carrying my cat. "Your cat can't be a freeloader. The expenses should be split three ways between the three of us. Since the cat can't pay, you'll cover his share too. That means you pay two-thirds, and I'll pay one-third. Transfer me 800 dollars."

After pulling an all-nighter to finish a group assignment, I wanted only one thing: sleep. I did not even get 10 minutes. My roommate, Ronda Jones, burst into the dorm, raging about class. She shouted into her headset and turned our room into a storm of insults and keyboard slams. When I quietly asked her to keep it down, she turned on me instead. Then the power went out, and a 5-dollar electricity bill became the excuse she had been waiting for. I refused to split it. That single decision set everything in motion.

After I resign from a private company and move to work at an overseas company, my salary has increased by leaps and bounds. My wife, Vivian Spencer, who's always been smart about money, suggests that I turn in all of my salary. At the same time, she will decrease my allowance. Her reasoning is that she needs to use my salary on our family's daily expenses, so she can't spare me a single cent. As I watch Vivian record all the expenses dutifully, I can't resist asking, "What about your salary, then?" Vivian replies in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'm saving it up for our retirement pension." I don't bother responding afterward. Since then, I start spending every single cent of my salary, as per Vivian's suggestion. When Vivian notices the stream of packages being delivered to our home, she finally can't take it anymore. Upon hearing her question, I tell her happily, "You were the one who said that my salary is meant for our family's expenses!" Vivian exclaims in shock, "What sort of family do you think we are? As if we can afford to spend this much money every month!" What a joke. It turns out that Vivian knows that a regular family's expenses can't possibly drain every single cent of my salary in one go.

Soren Kade has spent his entire life hearing one thing. Never trust a Valez. For decades, the Kade and Valez families have been locked in a ruthless corporate war that destroyed empires and buried the truth of what really happened that night years ago. So when Soren arrives at Blackridge International University, the last person he expects to see standing in his dorm room is Dante Valez. Arrogant, infuriating and apparently….his new roommate. Forced to live together and compete in the university’s most elite business program, their rivalry quickly becomes the most talked-about spectacle on campus. Every argument turns into a challenge and every challenge turns into a war. But when sabotage inside the program pushes them into an uneasy alliance, Soren and Dante uncover cracks in the story both their families have believed for decades. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous the truth becomes. And somewhere between late-night strategy sessions, heated arguments, and secrets neither of them meant to share, the line between enemy and something far more complicated begins to blur. Because the one person Soren was raised to hate might be the only person who understands him. And falling for your family’s greatest rival? That’s the kind of mistake that could destroy everything.

Why is everyone rejecting me, Adam? You want to send me off too? Like I don’t matter?” “Sofia…” Adam whispered, taking her face gently in his hands. Her tears soaked his palms as she sobbed uncontrollably. “You know how much I love you, how much I’ve wanted this,” he began, his voice steady but pained. “But not like this, Sofia. Not when you’re hurting like this. You’re not in the right state of mind, and I don’t want to take advantage of that. You’re too important to me.” She shook her head again, her hands trembling as she grabbed his and guided them to her dress. “Defile me, Adam,” she choked out, her voice raw and desperate ********** Two families, one battlefield. For generations, the Kavanaughs and the Monteros have been at war, boardrooms clashing, businesses sabotaged, and grudges passed down like family heirlooms. At the Worldwide CEO Summit, however, the game changes. Arrogant, driven Adam Kavanaugh expects to spar with his lifelong rival, Mateo Montero. Instead, he’s blindsided by a fierce and captivating substitute, Sofia Montero. Bold, brilliant, and beautiful, Sofia is everything he wasn’t prepared for and everything he can’t seem to resist. * Adam and Sofia fought for their love but the family Rivalry fought against them. The families discovered that Sofia was already carrying Adam's offspring….not just one but two…….Twins In a world where love is the ultimate vulnerability, can Adam and Sofia bridge the chasm of rivalry? Or will the sins of their families condemn them to a love that was never meant to be? Will the children involved change anything? This is a tale of hate turned passion, family legacies in turmoil, and the cost of choosing love over loyalty.