A Wise Man Once Said

Harriet thought the worst thing she’d done this December was surrender to a stranger in a dark room one reckless night that left her shaking, breathless, and certain she’d never see him again. She was wrong. The next morning, she arrives home for Christmas only to learn her parents have rushed off on an emergency trip, leaving her alone to supervise the renovation of their house. Except… she’s not alone. Devon, the boy who grew up in their home like family, the “almost-brother” she hasn’t seen in years, opens the door older now, broader, too handsome for her peace of mind. And when he looks at her, she feels it in her bones. Because he isn’t just Devon. He’s the stranger from last night. The man who took her virginity. The man she swore she’d forget. Now they’re trapped in the same house for the holidays, two people who should never have crossed that line, pretending not to remember the way his hands fit her body, the way she whispered his name without knowing it was his.

In the bustling heart of the city, Aaliyah Winston's life is a whirlwind of bright lights and endless possibilities. But when she crosses paths with Nicholas Walsh, the notorious mafia boss with a heart shrouded in darkness, her world takes an unexpected turn. As passion ignites and danger lurks in every shadow, Aaliyah and Nicholas find themselves caught in a web of intrigue and desire. With rival gangs closing in and secrets threatening to tear them apart, will their love survive the ultimate test?

Zaria’s world fell apart the day she learned she was pregnant. That same day, she also discovered the truth about her marriage: her husband, Renzo, had married her only to give his Mafia family an heir. The woman he truly wanted, Elix, could not have children—so Zaria had been used in her place. Afraid she would lose her baby and be pushed aside, Zaria made a desperate choice. She drugged Renzo and disappeared without a trace. Eight years passed. Zaria rebuilt her life in China and became known as the “Healer,” a respected expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine. When she was ordered to take a temporary job in New York, she agreed only because she had no choice. She planned to stay for five months and then leave forever. But her new patient turned out to be the least person she expected, Renzo, her ex-husband. He had used a fake name, to book her services. Zaria refused to treat him. Renzo refused to let her walk away. Old wounds reopened, jealousy grew, and dangerous secrets from the past began to surface. As Zaria focused on finishing the job and escaping once more, Renzo uncovered a truth that shook him deeply: Zaria had a child, and the child looked exactly like him.

Three days before our engagement, Zach Jefferson called me. “We’ll need to postpone the engagement party by a month. That day is Sienna’s first concert since she returned, and I need to be there. “It’s just a postponement. It’s no big deal.” He had postponed our engagement three times that year. The first time was because Sienna Lynch had been hospitalized with appendicitis. He said he had to take care of her and rushed over. The second time, Sienna said she was feeling down. He was worried she might get depressed and immediately booked a flight to see her. It was the third time. I simply said, “Okay.” After hanging up, I turned to the good-looking and refined man beside me. “Are you interested in marrying me?” Later, during Sienna’s concert, Zach left her without hesitation. With red, teary eyes, he rushed to my engagement ceremony. “Yulia, are you really getting engaged to this man?”

It was raining very heavily on the day my parents got divorced. There are two copies of the agreements on the table. One declares that the signee will stay with Dad, who's a gambling addict and has already racked up a huge debt, in the old town. The other declares that the signee will follow Mom, who will marry a rich businessman, and move to a coastal town. In the previous life, my younger sister, Tamara Browning, kicked up a fuss because she wanted to stay with Mom. So, I packed up my luggage quietly and went with Dad. Soon after, Dad quit gambling and received the compensation due to our house being demolished in a governmental project. Since then, he showered me with love and affection. Meanwhile, Tamara wasn't allowed to even leave the house. On top of that, she was neglected by everyone, so she died from depression. Now that we're given a second chance in life, Tamara snatches the cigarette out of Dad's fingers before hugging him, refusing to let him go at all. "Tiana, my heart aches for Dad's situation. You should live a good life with Mom. I'll give that chance to you." I deign to say anything at all. Instead, I just pick up the train ticket that'll take me to the coastal town. But what Tamara doesn't know is the reason behind Dad's decision to quit gambling in the previous life. At that time, I had overexhausted myself from paying off his debt, and I began vomiting blood due to my brain cancer. I practically had to risk my life just to get him to quit gambling once and for all.

Selene never imagined that the scrawny, awkward boy she rejected years ago would become a rich, powerful Alpha. Back then, Kyle was weak, poor, and certainly not someone she thought fit to be her mate. But time changes everything. Fleeing the pack with her lover, and ending up with nothing but a son and debts. Selene was left down in the dump. However, once she got news of Kyle's success, her interest in him piqued and she wanted to have him back, thinking it'd be as easy as snapping her fingers. But Kyle being a ruthless, dangerously handsome Alph that was wealthy, feared, and untouchable, Selene finds herself on her knees, chasing the man whose heart she once shattered.

Ever since I started at the Brooklyn Enquirer as a journalist, I've been reporting on stories nobody cares about. But the other day, I found a story that I was sure the audience would sink their teeth into. One that was front-page worthy and would make our newspaper infamous. Except it centers around a mafia boss and his bloodthirsty brothers.  It won't be easy to get it, but I'm determined to prove my worth. And it starts with Darick Dawson. My heart fluttered as we gazed into each other's eyes. At the same time, we leaned forward, and our lips touched. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he stroked his fingers through my hair, pulling at the roots softly, earning a moan from me. He traced his finger around my lips when suddenly, I opened my eyes and noticed the red in his irises getting darker. My Bloodthirsty Mafia Man is written by Claire Wilkins, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author

Celeste Costa-Allegra was raised to be the perfect woman and the ideal wife for Darson Allegra. All her achievements as a woman were dedicated to her husband. One day, Darson brought a mistress into their home, even though Celeste was already four months pregnant. Her husband soon divorced her and callously abandoned her in a dangerous place after the mistreatment she had endured, while her in-laws stripped her of everything she had. Filled with hatred and resentment, she vowed to seek revenge against them. Little did she expect that, in that perilous situation, she would accidentally save the life of the infamous and ruthless Primo Semion Lombardi, who would then unexpectedly offer her a marriage proposal!

Henry Sagaara Wijaya, ialah seorang anak penguasa yang berpura-pura menjadi cleaning service agar bisa menemukan gadis yang mau menerimanya.Namun, pada saat malam pesta ulangtahun gadis itu justru Henry dipermalukan hingga akhirnya statusnya sebagai seorang tuan muda dari keluarga Wijaya terungkap.

"You have no right to be here, I've already made it clear that I don't want you around. What you're doing is called stalking, and a pathetic thing for a cursed alpha to do." Wilder struggled to catch his breath, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. *************** Having to chose between being banished and being a mistress, her savior arrived turning out to be Alpha Wilder. Running to the human world was a blessing, until both men from her past returned and began the unveiling of truths, love, hatred and deceptions. "You have no right to be here," Olivia said sternly. “I've already made it clear that I don't want you around. What you're doing is called stalking, and it's not only illegal, but also a pretty pathetic thing for a cursed alpha to do." Wilder struggled to catch his breath, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He wanted to protest, and say something but with a heavy heart, he turned and began the long walk home. ******************* Being a wolfless orphan, Olivia is rejected and reduced to nothing by her own mate who hated her but covets her body. She was so furious that she ended up having a one night stand with a random stranger, the same one her parents had died to save. Having to chose between being banished and being a mistress, her savior arrives. Behold, it turned out to be the renowned cruelest Alpha King Wilder. He rescues her and takes her back to his pack where she fakes her own death just to escape. Running to the human world with her pregnancy was like a blessing, until both men from her past found her and began the unveiling of truths, love, hatred and deceptions. Will she be able to accept such fate?