The Man Who Planted Trees

The news that Angelo Rizzo was becoming the new Don of Brucklin District had spread throughout the entire family. Everyone knew except me, Lila Bennett, his fiancee. He had always thought I was childish, like an irritating tail he couldn't shake off, sticking to him wherever he went. "I've only managed to bag Brucklin District all thanks to Cyrus." The study door was ajar as the scent of cigar smoke drifted out along with his voice. "Lila? Why bring her up? She's annoying. Like a piece of gum stuck to your hair." I crouched on the hallway carpet, lost in thought. Before, it was always Angelo leaving first and me realizing it too late. This time, I wanted to surprise him by going to Brucklin ahead of him. When he saw me there first, he'd realize that I was smart. But the next day, at the bus station, when the driver asked where I was going, I mixed Brucklin and Mannattan up. The driver grew impatient. Afraid he'd call me an idiot like Angelo would, I hurriedly shove the money at him. "To Mannattan! I'm going to Mannattan District!"

In the second month of my relationship with my best friend Sophie Vaughn's older brother, Elias Vaughn, Thanksgiving arrives. Sophie leans in, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Elias is bringing his girlfriend home for the holiday. Let's see what all the fuss is about." I take my time getting ready, heart fluttering with hope. Just maybe, I'll finally be formally introduced as his girlfriend. But the moment I step inside, I see him with another elegant, beautiful woman, smiling as he introduces her to his parents. "This is my girlfriend," he says. He then inadvertently looks over at me, stiffening for a moment, clearly caught off guard. But just as quickly, he recovers and turns to the woman beside him. "That woman over there is my sister's friend and a part-time student. You could say she's a maid in our household." A maid? As it turns out, I'm nothing more than someone for him to kiss and sleep with. I was never someone worthy of standing by his side publicly. I turn away and board the train back to Ashcroft University, choosing my future over another night in his bedroom.

“Lucky advances toward her, and her breathing intensifies. He stop inches from her. “Are you sure?” he asks, his voice low and serious. “I’m certain,” she replies, trying to steady her voice. He studies her for a moment, then asks again, “I don’t think you understand what I’m asking. If I spend the night, I can’t promise to be a gentleman.” She looks at him boldly, her eyes unflinching. “And I’m not asking you to be one tonight.” Daniela Blackwood's life takes an unexpected turn when she gets into a car accident with a handsome stranger, Lucky Hamilton. What starts as a night of despair transforms into an unforgettable night of passion. However, weeks later, Daniela is shattered to discover that Lucky is married to her stepsister, Alicia. Conflicted and heartbroken, Daniela tries to distance herself from the man she unexpectedly fell for. Lucky, on the other hand, has his own side of the story and is determined to explain himself. But Daniela doesn't want to hear it, convinced that any relationship with Lucky is doomed from the start. A surprise pregnancy throws Daniela into turmoil. Struggling with her emotions for a married man and a cruel step mother, Daniela finds herself in a tough situation. The lines between right and wrong blur as she grapples with her growing love for Lucky and the reality of their situation. Can Lucky and Daniela’s feelings for each other overpower the chaos of their own lives? "The Married Man Who Loved Me" is a story of love, betrayal, and redemption.

Jasmine Goldwyn was born into power, an heiress to one of the most influential empires in the country, but betrayal shattered her perfect life. First, by the husband she trusted… then, by the best friend she loved like a sister. After a brutal accident that left her unrecognizable and erased her memory, Jasmine woke up in a stranger’s world. Cipher D’Amato who happens to be a cold, calculating billionaire claimed to be her fiancé, married her, and gave her a new name… Sophie. But Cipher’s rescue was no act of love, it was a business move built on lies, secrets, and selfish gain. Now, Jasmine’s memories have returned and with them came with the truth about Cipher, the husband who betrayed her, and the dark conspiracy that nearly ended her life. Cipher thinks she’ll stay. Her ex husband believes she’s dead. They’re both wrong. The Man Who Stole My Name is a gripping dark billionaire romance about twisted love, betrayal, identity, and a woman’s ruthless quest for the truth and revenge.

Marrying the love of her life was a dream come true—until Kassia found out he couldn’t stand virgins. Terrified of ruining her marriage before it even began, she turned to a secret establishment that promised to teach her how to satisfy a man like a pro. But she didn’t expect to meet Derrick…her dangerously irresistible instructor who lit her body on fire with a single touch. What started as a lesson turned into an obsession. Now she’s married, pregnant… and the baby isn’t her husband’s. With guilt eating her alive and two powerful men fighting for her, Kassia must face the truth. One owns her heart, the other owns her vows… She's stuck between two powerful men, with a child caught in the middle. And it’s only a matter of time before it all explodes.

In the tenth year after I had married in his place, my brother, Thayer Ashford, suddenly returned. The whole family fell silent as they looked at him. He yawned as he spoke with careless ease, “I traveled through thirteen countries. I’m exhausted. “Where’s Seraphina? She should be in primary school by now, right? Why hasn’t she come to see me?” Seraphina was Thayer’s daughter. Back then, Thayer had abruptly announced he had a child. Yet on the very day of his wedding, he staged his own death, leaving behind Seraphina and his fiancée, Isolde Fairchild. The Fairchilds belonged to the old-money elite of the city. My parents did not dare offend them, so they decided to package me—fresh out of graduation—and send me to the wedding in Thayer’s place. Over these ten years, I became a competent husband and a responsible father. As my parents watched Thayer’s brazen composure, their gazes shifted toward me. I gave them a faint smile. “Sera went to Novaforge with Isolde.”