Contagious Smile

In politics, love is leverage. Charlie Vale is collateral damage the son of a man branded a traitor, erased by the state and left to survive in its shadows. Dexter Ashcroft is the architect of power, a strategist so ruthless they call him the Kingmaker. When their lives collide, Dexter doesn’t silence Charlie. He owns him. Bound by a contract masquerading as salvation, Charlie becomes Dexter’s public partner and private liability. Every smile is staged. Every kindness costs something. And every truth is buried deeper. But when the past resurfaces and the wrong man is sacrificed again, the crown Dexter built begins to crack. Because the one thing power cannot control is what it destroys. A story of manipulation, redemption, and a love that refuses to survive on lies.

Dario Espinosa. Mafia boss. The 'evil' in devil. Everyone fears the boss who kills everyone who crosses him. Born and raised in the mafia, Dario was taught to be the biggest monster he could be. Will meeting Madie be the cause of his change? Or the cause of his downfall? Madeline. A very, very special girl who is under the care of Sister Mary Eunice in the orphanage. Full of smile and laughter, not everybody knows what the poor girl has been through. Suddenly associated with the mafia, can Madie's poor, innocent heart handle it? Accidentally crossing paths and getting stuck with each other, what happens when the big, bad mafia discovers Madie's biggest secret? Can romance brood between the two broken souls?

Cordelia Jenner married a thug in place of her sister and lived poorly ever after… Or did she? With a snap of the fingers, her husband became a secret billionaire with a ton of power and influence...That was impossible! Cordelia ran back to their quaint little home and right into her husband’s arms.“They claim that you’re Mr. Hamerton. Is it true?”The man stroked her hair. “That guy just looks like me.”Cordelia pouted. “He’s the worst. He insisted that I’m his wife. Beat him up!”The next day, said Mr. Hamerton put on a smile and appeared in public—bruised and battered.“Mr. Hamerton, what happened?”The man grinned. “My wife’s wish came true. I ought to put more effort into it.”

“you…” he said, looking at me with wide eyes. I clutched my face, letting out a sigh as I wore a mask. “mate” he growled, making his way towards me. This was it, the moment I had always dreamed of, the moment I had always prayed for that he would see me as something more than an inconvenience. Then my mind snapped to the times were he told me that he hated me, were he said that he could not love me. Panic filled me as the images flooded my mind, the smile on his face as he approached me, made me even more nervous. ‘would he still have the same smile on his face if he knew that I was the one behind this mask?” he was at least seven feet away from me at this moment. “I would rather you never see me again reject me” I muttered, my eyes watering as I turned to leave. “HEY!!!” you could hear the panic in his voice as he called “stop!!!” he screamed, breaking into a run just as I done. Chaos broke out almost instantly, some people, wondering what the hell was going on, the others rushing to catch me just as Alpha Lucas had commanded. I increased my speed, running like my life depended on it, because at this moment, it did. * in love with Ethan since she knew how to breathe, she is scared out of her mind when she finds out that she is actually mated to him. scared of rejection she plans to leave. but all this comes crashing down she finds out more than she bargains for, as well as another mate, the Alpha of the most feared pack. would she be able to handle it? or is shit about to go down?

#BOOK 2 “You are… A Dryad too..” Lilly gasped and closed her gaping mouth with her palm. “Yea… I thought I was the only one too…” He chuckled. “So where are you from? I've been exploring this forest for years now. But I never met one like you…” He tilted his head. Made her nervous. Lilly gulped. She didn’t want to trust anyone this early. She learns her lesson. Even though the man in front of her is the same creature as her. She can’t just say everything to him. But, she didn't know how to lie in this situation, either. “I… I come from Theta…” She whispered. But he can hear her. “Theta? That werewolf and Lycan Realm?” He frowned. Lilly bopped her head. She thought that she might be in danger already. But then, she saw a smile across his face. “So, you are a hybrid too… Lycan… or..” “Werewolf,” Lilly answered him quickly. His smile only gets wider. She could see those tiny little fangs in his mouth. Wait… What is he, then? “You…” “Me? I came from Valoria Realm… I'm half vampire…” ….………………… Lilly and Luca didn't expect that they would be trapped in Myth Heaven, after what happened to Myrna and Mira. With Luca's knowledge and Lilly's power, will they be able to survive in the notoriously terrifying Elden Wood forest? Or has Elden Wood changed from the rumors that had been around for thousands of years? What if Lilly meets a man who turns out to be a Dryad like herself? What happened to Declan and Finn, as well as Debby and Rio will be in this second book of The Lycans' Broken Luna. Are you ready to explore more Realms with Lilly and her mates?

Born into an extremely influential family in the Far West of the United States, Janis Walter, of course had every right to throw her weight around in every way she could. She possessed characteristics most people believed was supposed to be for the male gender, and unfit for a feminine goddess like her. But you know what? They were wrong. Janis considered them all wrong and they dared not challenge her. On the opposite side was Jax Storms. Not wealthy, not poor...Just in between. Sure, like every western man, he was masculine, but what happens when he comes in contact with Janis who was overbearingly domineering? And in the most unlucky way too. They had a one night stand! ~. .~ Janis gasped in shock when she saw Jax, after haven not seen him since that night. Memories from that night immediately hit her and her cheeks flushed red immediately. He didn't look like he did the last time she had seen him; he looked very different, and more sophisticated. To her surprise, he turned out to be the CEO of the corporation that was closely in competition with hers. "Hello." Janis spoke and his eyes narrowed immediately, before giving her a fake smile that didn't even reach his eyes. "How are..." "I didn't come here for a reunion." Jax cut her off. He didn't like how she smiled at him, he believed it was fake and she was just like her younger sister, who looked down on people who had no status attached to their name. "Then what did you come here for?" She asked, unable to believe that the CEO standing in front of her had been the Uber guy who got her pregnant. "I want custody of my child." He deadpanned and the smile drained from her face.

"I'm sorry." She said clearing her throat unnecessarily in embarrassment. Oh Gosh, he was even more handsome up close and personal. Gosh, and he was bigger, could her day get any more better? He smiled and she melted, inside. On the outside, she has a blank face. Wow, his smile was breathtaking "I'm Luke" He said extending his hand out to her "Lena." She said, slipping her hand into his. Perfect fit, his hand was both soft and hard at the same time, somewhere in between. "Can I get you a drink?" "I already-" Vero kicked her thigh again and she closed her eyes for a second. "I already have a drink. But yes, I would love you to get me a drink" He smiled at her again, for some reason, admired her unmoved faze. He'd seen how her friend kicked her. "Two shots of devil spring" He said to the bartender and drew a seat for himself "By the way. This is my friend, Veronica." "Hi" He nodded "Hi." "I'm Luke" "Yeah, I know" She said with a smile, said something to Lena and left. Lena did not seem to happy about it he could tell. "So, uh... What brings you here tonight? Thank you" He referred to the bartender as he set their drinks on the table. "Uh... I guess I just wanted to get out." "No". She raised a finger up, bringing her beer to her mouth. "Don't try to ask questions. I know what you want. Okay" He smiled "And quit smiling. I've seen enough of your dentals already. Okay let's get drunk first so I'll have some courage. Lets do this"

~You were there when my heart fell for you, but you were never there when my heart yearned for you, still, you never got out of my heart~ I thought it was good to leave because it seemed like they were on their date. I turned around suddenly Newt called. 'Prisha, is that you? Wow! what a pleasant surprise..." I slowly turned towards him, forcing a smile, and replied, "Hey! Newt, nice to see you..." "What are you doing here? Where is your friend Kriste? It is a little awkward to see you without her. I have noticed you two going everywhere together be it washroom as well," he mocked chuckling. Even though I didn't found it even a little funny, I forced a smile and replied, "I am just wandering around the town alone. As I was bored staying home. And about Kristen, she might be busy somewhere." "Oh! anyway come and join us. I want to introduce you to my..." "Girlfriend," before his words were completed my mind had already said it loud. so, I hastily interrupted him, "I am so sorry. I need to rush back home. My mom called me twice. Bye..." Before he could react, I was already out of the restaurant at great speed. The sky was covered with heavy black clouds and soon one after another drops of rain drip down along with my tears. I walked few steps but was not able to go any further. I fell on my knees getting weak to stand and slowly eyes got blur. Soon, I collapsed on the ground and before my eyes were forced to shut, I saw someone walking towards me.

For the past three months, I've slept only three hours every day just so my team and I can create an app. Thanks to our hard work, the app goes absolutely viral to the point we've garnered over 100 million registered users on the first week of its launch. At the afterparty, my wife, Stacie Woodward, announces that her godbrother, Tory Frost, who's the PR manager, will be the one receiving the million-dollar bonus. She then tosses me a few 50% discount coupons that can be used in shopping malls as my bonus. "You're just a code monkey—why do you need that much money anyway? You can have these discount coupons. Use them on anything you want. At least buy some nice clothes for yourself. Don't go around wearing these rags. You'll just end up humiliating me more." I plead to her in a low tone, "Have you gone crazy, Stacie? My dad needs the money for the best medication in order to save his life! Can you please stop joking around?" But Stacie clings to Toby's arm, looking high and mighty. "Your dad's dying, isn't he? He might as well stop wasting the public resources! I can always choose him a better grave and hold a nice funeral for him when his time comes!" As I look at Stacie's smug face, I just smile at her instead of getting mad at her. She must have forgotten that the app's core algorithm and the user growth model are built using my private, undisclosed technology stack. That means the copyright is mine and has nothing to do with the company. I just smile while nodding at Stacie. That night, I activate the technology stack's self-destruct and migration protocols.

The crowd starts a countdown to midnight like New Year’s Eve. I close my eyes and smile, holding Liam’s hand tightly. Everyone yells “ONE!” and cheers. I open my eyes and see the iridescent liquid light of the full moon pouring out of the giant orb flowing down over us. People around us ooh and ahh at the beautiful sight.  When the first rays of moonlight cascade over my skin, I feel a heat inside me turn into a burning fire. I gasp and look up at Liam. He looks at me with wide, surprised eyes. “Mate,” he murmurs and squeezes my hand tighter. It isn’t a comforting feeling. There are no sparks like people describe when they touch their mate. Maybe it takes a few minutes to develop. I smile and try to admire Liam, but I don't want to say it back. Nothing feels different. I still love him, but he’s not the one. Liam is looking at me, but it isn’t a look of true love. It’s lustful and carnal. I feel a pit in my stomach. Liam isn’t my mate. How can this be? And how was he able to call me his mate if he’s not mine? “Zara,” a woman’s voice says in my head, “My name is Lavender. I’m your wolf and you’re in grave danger, my dear. You need to run. You need to run now. Your life depends on it.” “My… wolf?” With everything that happened the past couple of hours, I forgot she was waking up. “L-Lavender, what’s happening? What do you know?” Lavender repeats her order. “Zara, you need to run. I can explain later. I’m so sorry this is happening to you, sweet girl.”