A Faint Cold Fear

By the third year of my marriage to Daniel Hawthorne, the war had already taken more than it ever returned, and this time it took his younger brother, Thomas Hawthorne. My sister-in-law, Eleanor, collapsed, and in the weeks that followed she tried to follow her husband into death— once with sleeping pills, once by the river beyond the officers’ quarters— only to be dragged back both times, each time clinging to me afterward as though I were the last thing keeping her grounded. I stayed with her, wiped her tears, and whispered that Thomas would want her to live, until the day she received the test results confirming she was three months pregnant, and the grief of losing her husband was slowly softened by the arrival of new life. I smiled too, believing grief had finally loosened its grip. That night, holding my own pregnancy test in my hand and thinking it was finally time to tell Daniel, I passed the study and heard his friend say quietly, “She’s carrying your child. You convinced the doctors to adjust the timeline so everyone would believe the baby belonged to your brother. Aren’t you afraid Margaret will find out?” Daniel didn’t hesitate. “She won’t,” he said calmly. “She loves me. She wouldn’t leave. I won’t let her know.” I didn’t step inside. I didn’t confront him. Instead, I opened the letter I had received weeks earlier— an official deployment order from the international medical corps, assigning me to a frontline war zone— and tapped Accept.

Mira Everleigh Valmera excels in everything she does, there's only one thing she couldn't do and it was to disobey her parents. Which made it easier for her to become the perfect daughter they want her to be. However, all her beauty, intelligence, and talent were useless when her parents sent her to an abusive man just to keep their comfortable life. Will her family's betrayal be enough for her to completely go against them? Desperate to escape, she stumbled upon Kaius, having a deal with him was just a way to survive and escape the life she despises. But agreeing to marry a Mafia boss and giving him an heir have consequences she wasn't ready for. Both are blinded by pain, fury, and are carrying burdens they do not speak about. Will there be room for love to bloom? With Kaius by her side and rage in her heart, will it be the cause of the enemies' downfall or hers?

Zoey Bennett only wanted revenge on her ex. After being humiliated and left at the altar, all she wanted was to walk into that ballroom as an irresistible woman, with the perfect date on her arm. But how on earth did her hired gigolo turn out to be a billionaire? Standing before her was Christian Kensington, the maddeningly arrogant and devastatingly gorgeous CEO of Kensington Winery, one of the richest men in the country. In that moment, Zoey felt the ground slip right out from under her feet. No problem? Oh, there was definitely a problem. The entire internet now believed they were a couple. And the biggest problem of all? So did Christian's grandfather. Now Christian would need to keep up the charade if he wanted to inherit the family business. Zoey just wanted to get out of this mess without being sued. But when the line between lies and reality started to blur, Zoey realized she might be stumbling into the most dangerous trap of all: falling in love again. "I've been left before, Christian. I won't make that mistake again." "Who said this time you'd be the only one to lose?" This is a romantic comedy full of twists, buried secrets, and a passion too irresistible to ignore. Will Zoey find the courage to open her heart again?

Just a few days before my wedding, I accidentally come across a post while scrolling online. The title reads, "To the guy getting married in this city, your fiancée's already cheated on you." Curious, I click in to see the gossip, only to realize I'm the one being talked about. A deep male voice plays in the video. "I heard you're getting married?" The woman in the frame, bare-backed and trembling, chokes back a sob. "After you left, I realized you're still the one I love most. I'm done with him. Take me away, please!" The moment I hear her voice, it feels like someone punches me straight in the chest. Then I notice something on her wrist—the luxury couple's bracelet I gave her just yesterday. And in that instant, I feel like the biggest joke of all. Turns out the fool was me.

Blurb Sold as a substitute bride, Ellie thought her worst fear was being bound to a feral prince—until she learned she was never meant to be a wife… only a sex slave. Chained by tradition and dark desires, she’s dragged into a kingdom where women are possessions, and men wear crowns like shackles. He’s ruthless, cursed, and hungry for more than obedience. She’s meant to submit, but her fire stirs something dangerous in him. In a palace where pleasure is power and freedom is forbidden, Ellie must decide: BREAK HIM or BE BROKEN. He was promised a body. She might just steal his soul.

She kissed the wrong man and became his wife. Leslie Webster has always been the family’s dirty little secret; an illegitimate daughter forced to live in the shadows while her half-sister basks in the spotlight. Her only solace is her long-term boyfriend... until she catches him in her sister’s arms. Heartbroken and humiliated at a glittering banquet, Leslie kisses the first man who walks in just to prove she still has a shred of dignity left. But the man she kisses isn’t just anyone. He’s Saint Baxter, the cold, untouchable billionaire who never lets a woman near him. And days later, he sues her for harassment. A story of revenge, redemption, and forbidden desire. When an unwanted kiss becomes the spark that burns down two empires, only love can rise from the ashes.

My younger brother, Andrew Midler, pushes me off a cliff, and my life hangs by a thread. Yet my mother, Edith Callahan, the leader of the rescue team, only busies herself with checking on Andrew, who has sprained his wrist. I beg in a faint, faltering voice for her to save me. She, however, looks at me with cold indifference. "Your brother is hurt! Why didn't you protect him? And now you're pretending to be weak? Well, you can stay here by yourself and reflect on what you've done!" She turns and orders the entire rescue team to leave, forbidding anyone from helping me. In the end, I die alone in the desolate wilderness. Upon learning of my death, Mom hysterically holds my already decaying body close, calling me her precious son repeatedly.

I'd never forget how cold the icy waters of the Sandford River were. In my previous life, I was Dalia Valentino, the future Donna of the Rossi family that they'd already acknowledged. But later on, I got betrayed by my fiance, Marco Rossi, and my cousin, Alice Palermo. They stole my betrothal contract away and took over my family's resources. In the end, they used me as a human shield and got me killed during a crossfire between our families. The moment I felt a bullet penetrating my chest, I saw Marco protecting Alice. As for my childhood friend, Riccardo Corleone, who had always watched me from behind, rushed over to me like a madman. He scooped my cooling corpse into his arms before letting out an anguished roar. That was why after I got reborn, I didn't hesitate to kick Marco to the curb and marry Riccardo, resulting in me becoming the Donna of the Corleone family. I thought Riccardo was my savior. Little did I know that fate was just playing a crueler prank on me. Both men had always been in love with the same woman this whole time. In this case, I decided to quit this game of romance and deceit.

While enrolling my son in an elite school, the administrator suddenly tells me my marriage certificate is forged. "According to our records, your marital status is listed as single." "But I've been married to my husband, Chandler Leighton, for seven years!" Behind me, other parents waiting in line burst out laughing mockingly. "Did she just say Chandler Leighton? She must be dreaming." Amid their ridicule, I leave and head straight to the city hall for a confirmation. And as a wife of seven years, my marital status in the system is stated as "Single". A cold dread washes over me as I press. "Who is Chandler Leighton's legal wife?" The clerk flatly spats out a name, "Heather Hammington." It was that name again! I rush home, ready to confront Chandler, but pause just outside the door when I hear voices inside. "It's been seven years, Mr. Leighton. Do you still have no plans to grant Mrs. Leighton a legal status?" After a lengthy pause, Chandler finally answers, "Just wait a little longer. Heather lost both her parents… I'm the only one who can help her, so she needs this title." "What if Mrs. Leighton finds out?" "Danielle loves me too much to leave, even if she finds out. Once Heather has established her foothold in the business industry, I'll make it official with Danielle and give her a true marriage certificate." He sounds so certain, unaware that I'm standing just outside the door with tears streaming down my face. "You'll be disappointed, you liar." I take out my phone and dial a number I haven't called in years. "Mom, I accept the Atwoods' marriage arrangement."

Para salvar os três homens mais importantes da minha vida, fiz um acordo com a Deusa da Lua. Trocar minha vida pela deles. Se eu pudesse fazer qualquer um deles me amar de verdade em cinco anos, eu teria o direito de viver. Mas no último dia da contagem regressiva, todos os três ainda tinham sentimentos negativos por mim. De acordo com as regras, eu havia falhado. Minha vida estava prestes a ser apagada. — Deusa da Lua, eu poderia enviar uma última mensagem? Uma tentativa final? Talvez por pena, ela me concedeu esta última chance. Esta mensagem era meu tiro final. Eu apertei o botão de voz em nosso bate-papo em grupo, lutando para manter minha voz firme. — Vocês poderiam me amar só um pouquinho? Eu realmente vou morrer. Após um momento de silêncio, veio o riso impiedoso deles. — Você fará qualquer coisa para competir com Lidia por atenção, não fará? — Pare com as mentiras. Isso só faz com que te odiemos mais. — Se você está tão desesperada para morrer, então faça isso de uma vez. Missão falhada. Eu lhes dei exatamente o que queriam. Mas quando eu estava prestes a morrer, todos eles surtaram.