A Step To The Past

I once believed Sarah Weller was the love of my life. For her, I planned a once-in-a-lifetime wedding; for her, I launched a “True Love” jewelry collection worth over a billion. However, with only seven days left before the wedding, she calmly told me that she needed to fulfill her first love’s late mother’s final wish to marry him first, and only then marry me. As if it were a matter of fact, she said, “For Tim, all of this can be sacrificed. If you can’t even bear to lose that little bit of money, you can find someone else to marry right now.” Only then did I understand. In her world, I and everything I had built could be pushed aside at any moment for her so-called first love. So, I turned around without another word and called home. “Penelope,” I said to my sister-in-law, “the wedding will proceed as scheduled. Just do me a favor and replace the bride.”

Cassandra Porsse grew up being the 'Miss Piggy' during her school days. Having a crush on one of the most popular boys in school, Crayvin Smith, and with her waistline expanding, Cassandra faces cruel peers and cold hearts. The final result toughens her resolve at the expense of creating a self-sabotaging relationship between Cassandra and her body. After battling through the demons of her past, Cassandra is back with a heart made of steel and moving on fresh from the Police Academy. Being the new officer in the station is hard enough, especially since she's the only woman, but what makes it more complicated is the fact that her new assigned partner is her old crush and nemesis.

After a car accident left Vincent Holt, head of the powerful Holt family, disabled, he stunned high society by publicly seeking a wife. My father immediately submitted my profile. “Since you’re so determined to break up with Cole, let’s see if you can land someone from the Holt family instead.” I refused, only to get slapped hard across the face as I tried to grab his phone. “You have no choice in this.” With nowhere else to turn, I went to ask Cole Brody for help. He was the only one who could change my father’s mind. However, I overheard their conversation. “Don’t worry, Mr. Brody. Vincent Holt is just a cripple. Bethany’s too proud to accept him. Just give it some time. She’ll come crawling back to you.” Cole chuckled. “Lulu wants a baby. I’m just helping her out by sleeping with her a few times. It’s not a big deal, yet Bethany just won’t leave it alone. I knew you got a way to keep her in check.” My body went cold. It turned out that I had been standing alone in a ruin of lies all along. However, when the Holt family really picked me, they panicked.

He was there during her healing phase, he helped her to heal the pain inside her, pain caused by her own family. But now, she's more broken than she was before, knowing that the one who healed here, also hurts her. The feeling if emptiness and drained. Mind's full untold thoughts while unfamiliar voices keep shouting inside her head. Shouting about not being worthy enough to receive someone's care and love. That she achieve nothing make someone proud of her and her efforts. Thinking that no one can love her the way she wanted to be love. Now that she doesn't want that love and attention anymore. All she want now is to live with peace. She want to live her life without dealing anything but peace, where all she wanted to feel within the day is peace, and where can she peacefully sleep at night without facing the ceiling for an hour. But behind her walking unto peace, there's something from her past pulling her back. Past where she's running away before until then. But how can she run away from the past when the past already got her back?

My husband brings a pregnant Meryl Cleat home and lies to me, claiming that she's his stepmother. I'm wholly against the idea, but she says, "The children will call you their mother when they're born, so you don't have to go through the pain of childbirth. Think about how lucky you are, experiencing motherhood without the suffering!" I demand a divorce in the heat of the moment; Meryl is so infuriated by this that she faces labor complications and later dies. Out of guilt, I become a stay-at-home mother to care for her two super male kids. Yet they scaled me with boiling water and blind me in one eye. My health deteriorates under their intense torment, and I'm diagnosed with uremia. That's when I accidentally discover Meryl isn't my stepmother—she's my husband's mistress! I'm in despair when I return home. To make matters worse, I catch her—when she's supposed to be dead—and my husband in bed together. Her two super male sons ultimately stab me to death. When I open my eyes again, I'm taken back to the day she fakes her death!

People always say move on. But for Jessie, it's easier said than done. Memories of her past return to haunt her every night and she has no option but to endure the never ending agony in utter silence. But that doesn't stop her from dreaming of better times and working hard to live a normal life. With an amazing friend as a roommate and a steady job, everything seems perfect . . . until her arrogant boss wants her as his girlfriend. Mike is handsome, bossy and a little mysterious. He wants everything to be perfect and everyone to be under his control. But when his ex waltz back into his life, he is scared of losing everything that he has built over the years. Desperate to drive her away, he comes up with a plan, but that involves his perfect secretary. Things go perfectly, until they both realise they have feelings for each other that go beyond the work and definitely their little pretend-play. Will they be able to step out of their pasts and traumas and love each other? Or will that love be their ultimate downfall?

Yura Azalia Hazmi tak pernah bermimpi menikah dengan duda kaya dan ternyata mantan kekasih jaman kuliahnya. Sebagai wanita yang dianggap perawan tua, kerap membuatnya terus menerus dijodohkan, banyak laki-laki sudah dia tolak. Sampai akhirnya tidak ada kalimat yang harus dia bantah. "Apa? Duda? Papa mau jodohkan Yura dengan duda? Yura nggak mau!" penolakan Yura tidak berbuah manis, adanya sarkastis untuk kehidupan dia. Hinaan, sindiran demi sindiran sudah dia dapat dari kedua saudara perempuan yang sudah jauh menikah darinya. Bahkan adik Yura sudah menikah. "Umur kamu tahun ini 30 tahun, nggak malu sama teman sebaya kamu, adik kamu dan tetangga kita yang selalu bilang kamu itu nggak laku." Lagi-lagi itu menjadi masalahnya 'MALU' "Yura tetap nggak mau!" "Enggak ada penolakan! Besok calon suami kamu datang." Hidup ini tidak ada adil! Apa ada yang bertanya kemauan Yura? Apa yang Yura suka? Atau sebaliknya? Apakah Yura bisa menerima pernikahannya? Lalu siapakah laki-laki yang akan menjadi suami Yura kelak?

Today was supposed to be my marking ceremony. Instead, it became my funeral. Eliza had run me down with her car. She dragged my broken body into the storage room. "Stay here. When the ceremony is over, I'll let you out." She wanted to take my place, to be marked by Greyson, as his Luna. Greyson loved me. But his family could never allow their precious Alpha son to marry a lowborn Omega. "Millie," murmured, his voice thick with guilt. "I have to obey my family and give them an heir first -- with Eliza. You know... she's Alpha blood. "Once the pup turns one, I'll marry you." And I marked the days one by one, counting down to our forever. He claimed it was a mere duty, but but their feverish nights suggested she was his preferred addiction. A month later, Eliza was pregnant. Ten months after that, she bore the Alpha's heir. Another twelve agonizing months dragged by, and finally, it was the day he was supposed to claim me. But now, I was lying here on the floor, my body shattered. Greyson's voice cut through the phone, sharp and impatient. "Why aren't you here yet? Haven't you been desperate to marry me?" "I've let the pup's birthday incident slide -- are you still going to sulk about it?" "If you don't show up, I'll mark Eliza instead." I wasn’t coming, Greyson. I couldn’t -- I was already dead. But he believed I was simply having a tantrum.

“My boyfriend is sweet, and he is kind. He's gentle with me and he takes care of me. He loves me correctly and he…’’ “Booo!’’ the rest of the girls exclaimed in unison, as they began to laugh. “That’s a boy, darling!’’ Riley chips in. “We are werewolves. That's not how you're meant to be loved. Have you not had the kind of rogue ripping love that makes your legs shake and you knees weak?’’ “You're talking about sex.’’ Jessica answered with a shrug. “Not really. That kind of gentle love that you talk about will wear you out. And you will get bored.’’ ~~~~ ~~~~~ "Come closer," he said, his voice like a heat that filled the space between them. Terrified, she whispered, "No," avoiding his gaze. His steps dragged on the smooth carpet. In an instant, his fingers gripped her throat, slamming her against the wall with a thud. "You will obey me, Jessica Miller. For I own you!" ******** Jessica Miller, a fierce, young, and innocent girl, sold by someone she never thought could do a thing of such to her, to the merciless Lycan King, Jordan Luther, feels betrayed and a stranger among other wolves, seeing as she had lived all her life among humans. Broken and frustrated, she can't help but feel all hope is lost. And now, will the Lycan King’s cruelty break her completely, or will she remain a high spirited, young wolf and escape the clutches of slavery at the hands of her enslaver…? Read on for this amazing piece of art, full of intrigues and captivating lines to keep you wanting more….

"Shadows of the Past" is a story about *Natasha Fernandez* (26),the daughter of a billionaire who never enjoyed her childhood due to the loss of her mother and her father's busy schedule. She struggles with health issues and finding true love until she meets *Jamal smith* (29) who rescues her from a robber and becomes her friend, and eventually her husband. Years later, Natasha hires her childhood friend *Imade Martins*(25) a home tutor for her adopted daughter *Tessa* (3). However, Natasha is heartbroken when she discovers Jamal's affair with Imade, and she uses her power to frustrate Imade's business life. Unbeknownst to them all, Jamal is the biological father of Imade's daughter, whom she lost in the hands of a matron to an orphanage some years back. Imade leaves for another city where she falls in love with her boss, Mr. *George Henry,*(34) an influential business tycoon and a single father. Twenty years later, *Roy Henry,* George's son, falls in love with Tessa, Natasha's daughter. However, their love is jeopardized after a family introduction takes place, and complicated truths unravel, putting Tessa's life at stake. The story explores the drama and chaos that ensue as the characters confront their past and navigate their present relationships.