5e Flash Of Genius

On my fifth birthday with Zachary Murdock, I sit once again in front of a full table of cold food, just like every year before. Zachary had promised, as always, to spend the day with me. And, as always, he breaks that promise. This year, it's because his childhood sweetheart wanted to shoot a set of "artistic photos". She invited him and a few of his close buddies to be part of it. Without hesitation, he ditches me again and runs straight into her arms. At 11:00 pm, his childhood sweetheart posts a photo to her social media and sets it so that only I can see it. In the picture, four men are in nothing but black briefs and Windsor-knotted ties. They kneel around her while she is draped in sheer fabric like a goddess. The caption reads, "Some people beg for crumbs, but I own the entire bakery." I take a screenshot. Then, I send it to the girlfriends of all three of Zachary’s best buddies. If they all look down on me this much, let's hope they don't end up on their knees begging me someday.

In Meridian City, life moves fast and ambition drives the elite. At the top of the corporate food chain is Adrian Langston, a charismatic yet ruthless CEO of a multinational tech company. His success and wealth are unrivaled, and he is accustomed to getting what he wants—until he meets Isabella "Bella" Martinez, a fiercely independent freelance graphic designer. Bella is focused on her career and family, with a vibrant personality that is both charming and down-to-earth. She navigates the hectic city life with a sense of humor and a strong moral compass. Despite her attraction to Adrian's charisma, she's determined not to be swept into his world of power plays and high-stakes business. Adrian, on the other hand, is intrigued by Bella's resistance to his usual charm. He's used to closing deals and winning over people with ease, but Bella proves to be a challenge. What starts as a simple business proposition soon turns into a complex game of cat-and-mouse, with Adrian trying to earn Bella's trust and Bella questioning whether she can believe his intentions.

My girlfriend, Clara Sutton, had severe mysophobia. Before every intimate moment we shared, she required me to disinfect myself thoroughly in advance. She even set strict rules about how often we could kiss or sleep together, and how long it could last. Without her permission, I was not allowed to touch her. I had always believed she treated everyone this way. I even secretly felt relieved, thinking that I must have been somewhat special to her. Then came that night at the bar. During a party, her childhood friend, Ethan Ford, drew a dare in a game of truth or dare. Then, in front of everyone, he leaned in and kissed Clara. Although it was supposedly a punishment for losing, they kissed deeply for a full five minutes. Our friends laughed and jostled one another as they turned to look at me. Only then did I realize that Clara’s obsession with cleanliness had never been a universal rule. It had existed simply because she did not like me. Disheartened, I asked for a breakup. But Clara soon regretted it. With reddened eyes, she begged me not to leave.

My husband and his twin brother get into an accident during a test drive. To protect his older brother, my husband is thrown from the car and dies on the spot. Hearing the news of his death, I, four months pregnant, collapse in tears outside the hospital morgue. When I come to, I overhear my sister-in-law, Gloria Quinn’s voice outside the door. "Mason, are you sure Celine won't find out about this?" Mason? Isn't that my husband, who died in the crash? A familiar male voice replies, "Gloria, you're the one I truly love. If I hadn't mistaken Celine for you that drunken night, I'd never have let you end up with Jason. Celine loves me so much and is carrying my child. "If I take on Jason's identity and look after her, I swear she'll never leave me. Then, all her family's money will be ours." I smirk coldly as I listen to their conversation. He cheats on me, yet expects me to keep his child? Since he's already "dead", he's lost everything.

When I was seven years old, my father began subjecting me to extremely strict parenting. Not only did he withhold any support for my food, clothing, housing, or daily necessities, but he even charged me for drinking water in our own home. As a child, I endured relentless suffering and bullying. When I was critically injured by a vehicle that broke the law, I was severely injured, and my father refused to save me. Only after my death did I learn the truth that he already had a son somewhere out there. Everything he did to me was meant to drive me to my death. After rebirth, I no longer adhered to rules nor endured silently. Exploiting the fact that I was still a minor, I stabbed his secretary, bullied my classmates at school, and even set a fire on campus to force my father to give up on his brutal methods. When I grew up, I took everything he owned and sent him to prison. Only then was my revenge completed.

{Contractual Marriage With My Arrogant Boss}.... When timid but strong-willed Emery finds herself trapped in a financial storm, she agrees to an outrageous deal: A contractual marriage with her infuriatingly arrogant boss, Damien. He’s cold, calculating, and breathtakingly powerful. She’s everything he never wanted in a wife gentle, emotional, and stubbornly innocent. What starts as a paper-signed arrangement soon sparks with stolen glances, late-night arguments, and a dangerous chemistry neither can ignore. But in a marriage built on conditions, what happens when feelings break the rules? w When an unwanted guest come in? When the mother is against them? And when Damien’s dark past threatens to ruin everything, will Emery walk away, or will she fight for the man who swore he’d never love?✨ A tale of passion, betrayal, and a love too powerful to stay hidden..... . . . . . . Starlight ✍️

Six years ago, Elara Wynters lost everything in a single night— her husband, her home, and her dignity as a wife. Before another woman and a baby that wasn’t hers, her husband, Liam Ashford, looked her straight in the eyes and said coldly: “I don’t know her.” That single sentence erased the entire life they had built together. Broken and bleeding inside, Elara walked away without looking back. But in her departure, she carried with her three small reasons to keep living.

I'm the human who was adopted by a top-tier incubus. Austin Colton had just come of age, and he desperately needed a human to feed from. I volunteered once… and got completely shot down. I figured he must've hated me, so imagine my shock when I suddenly started hearing his inner thoughts instead. 'Don't ask me why I'm always burning up! Ugh…' 'Hey, quit playing with my tail, baby! Do you even know what that does? It's all swollen and tender…' 'Can't disturb Iris while she's studying. Tonight, I guess her pajamas will have to do.' 'What if I tell Iris the truth? That a first time with a top-tier incubus could drain half her life force? She'd run for the hills.' I was speechless.

Jessie watched Justice North from the far corner of the room and bit her lip. She really wanted to work up the nerve to approach him. He’d been on the news often but he appeared even taller and better-looking in person. Not too many people intimidated her but the man who had been appointed the leader of the New Species Organization by his own people was one of those rare few. She respected strength and courage, something he seemed to have in abundance. She debated the wisdom of having a conversation with him. Justice gave orders to her bosses and held the power to change some of the task-force policies that she didn’t agree with. The chance of finding another opportunity to have a chat with him was slim to none. She wasn’t allowed to attend briefings her team leader held with the tall Species leader. Her opinion was irrelevant to him but the issues were important. She hesitated, considering the ramifications. Tim Oberto would haul her into his office if he found out she’d gone over his head. He’d be his normal loud self and tear her to verbal shreds.

On the anniversary of my mother’s death, my girlfriend told me she had to work overtime. However, her first love later posted something on social media: [Thanks to Camelia for coming to celebrate my birthday with me!] My chest tightened and my hands shook as I called her to demand an explanation. She replied calmly, “It’s Grayson’s 25th birthday today. It’s important. I didn’t want to miss it.” That was it. I let out a bitter laugh and looked down at the cancer diagnosis report in my hand. It was alright. I would be dead soon anyway.