Define Scarlet Letter

“Marry me!” he said, seriously. She chuckled “Is that an order?” “It's a request.” “You know, you have this habit of not giving me other options when you give your ‘requests’” She said with a teasing smile. “There are other options. You either marry me, or I marry you or we get married. Your choice.” Angela, a twenty-three-year-old, is trying to make ends meet. She meets a stranger in a store and slapped him due to an argument not knowing he's her future boss. But when her future boss Tristan, enraged by her action, finds out about her past, he uses it as leverage to make her work for him as his personal assistant. At first, Angela resents Tristan for using her past against her, and the two clash constantly. Tristan is demanding and expects nothing but the best and perfection from Angela, who finds herself struggling to keep up with his high standards. As they work together day after day, Angela begins to see a different side to Tristan. He may be demanding and harsh but he is also kind and thoughtful, and Angela finds herself slowly falling for him. Tristan, too, begins to see Angela in a new light. He admires her hard work and determination, and he can't help but be drawn to her fiery personality. As they spend more time together, their feelings for each other grow stronger, but Angela is still haunted by her past, and she worries that Tristan will never be able to look past it. In the end, Angela must decide whether to let her past define her or whether to trust Tristan and let herself be vulnerable to love. Tristan, too, must decide whether to let go of his past and embrace the future with Angela.

At the dinner table, my wife's best friend suddenly speaks to her in Lytian. "Three years ago, you married Julian in a grand wedding just to help Jace get Julian's letter of forgiveness. Over the years, I've seen Julian fall more and more deeply in love with you. Yet, you're still lying to him. "You gave him sterilization pills but passed them off as his depression medication. Aren't you afraid that he'll fall apart if he finds out the truth?" My wife, Erica Inman, briefly shows a conflicted expression on her face. She then gives a bitter smile and says, "A child unwanted by their mother has no reason to be born. As long as Julian doesn't stand in the way of Jace's happiness, I will keep my promise and stay by his side for the rest of his life." No one knows that I've learned Lytian to keep up with Erica. I stand in the living room and look at the fresh kiss mark on my neck. As I glance at the medication I take regularly for my depression, my whole body turns cold. It turns out that all of Erica's affection toward me was fake. What I thought was my salvation turns out to be nothing but a carefully planned deception. Since that's the case, I'll do my part to make sure they all get what they want.

"Part One: TakenJessie Coford had a plan: work hard, save money, open her own restaurant. She sacrificed her relationship with the man of her dreams to get it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lost her job and her apartment and her life crashed around her. Until a letter taking her to Fort Mavis, Texas, and an unexpected windfall.Part Two: TamedShea Prescott was astonished when million Cruz Castillo chose her to design his new home on his ranch. They hardly traveled in the same circles. But Cruz had been hot for Shea since he first saw her and at their first meeting the chemistry between them ignited. Cruz coaxed her deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of erotic sex, awakening latent sexual desires and bringing her orgasms beyond her wildest imaginings. Her body screamed yes at his every touch, but will she say yes to the most important question?USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to erotic. and has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.Taken by Surprise is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

On the night Elena Carter discovers she is carrying her husband’s child, she believes her dreams have finally come true. For three years, she has endured Damien Rothschild’s coldness, cherished every fleeting moment of tenderness, and held on to the hope that one day he might love her back. But instead of joy, her secret gift is met with cruelty. A single letter, accusing Elena and her late mother of orchestrating the accident that nearly killed Damien’s parents, shatters everything. Betrayed and blinded by rage, Damien casts her aside, accusing her of lies, greed, and manipulation. Worse, he threatens to destroy her brother’s future unless she signs the divorce papers. Heartbroken but resolute, Elena walks away, pregnant, abandoned, and determined to protect her child from the man she once loved more than life itself. Five years later, Elena has rebuilt her life. She is stronger, successful, and devoted to raising her twins in secret. But Damien Rothschild is a man who never forgets. He never lets go. When he learns that she carried his children, nothing will stop him from claiming back what he lost. Now Elena must face the man who broke her, the father of her children, and the billionaire whose love is as dangerous as his power. Will she let him back into her life, or will she protect her heart and her family from him forever?

Determined to escape her arranged marriage, Camden Woods abandons her old life, fleeing her pack and her hapless groom on her wedding day. She has no plan, but she knows she can't live a life devoid of love with her father breathing down her neck and dictating her life for all eternity. In a twist of fate, she bumps into her true mate, a rogue named Clayton, during her escape, and their whirlwind romance ignites like wildfire. As they begin to build a life together, their love blossoms and their lives seem perfect. But nothing lasts forever, and their idealistic relationship is put to the test when Camden crosses paths with Matt, her unexpected second mate. A complex love triangle unfolds as Camden finds her heart torn between the two men, who seem locked in a fierce rivalry as they vie for her affection. As circumstances change and challenges arise, Camden needs to establish where her loyalties lie while she grapples with choosing which path is right for her. This choice will define her future. Should she stay with Clayton because of their shared history? Or does Matt's never-ending devotion and unwavering support make him the better option? She knows that either path could lead to happiness, but is happiness enough when destiny seems to have more to offer? In a world where love and destiny collide, Camden is forced to search her soul for answers and try to figure out whether the mate bond transcends true love, or whether it's the other way around.

In a world where supernatural creatures reign in enmity, in a world where lupine hybrids are seen as a spiritual curse from the moon goddess, in a world where death is better than rejection... There, Aurora 'Rory,' existed. Being the last remaining lupine of her ancestral bloodline, her existence posed a threat to the evil pack elders, threatening to expose the hidden conspiracies. She felt alone and vulnerable, after she was rejected by her mate, the deadly and dominant alpha of the pack, who was feared by all because of his ruthlessness. However, Thane's rejection was fueled by a prophecy from two centuries ago, which foretold a heavy secret. With the believe that Rory's existence was a threat to his kingdom, he orders his pack disciples to hunt her down. Forced to flee for her life, Rory embarks on a life changing journey that marks her. She embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about her lupine heritage, and also to unveil the prophecy. As the battle intensifies, Rory learns to make use of her lupine powers to fight her battles, and also navigate the system of death, that awaits her. As she delves deeper into her own curiosity, she discovers the actual truth and secrets that surrounds her rejection including the manifestation of the prophecy. The battle takes a new turn, after her mate begins to question if his feelings for his arch enemy, is that of incurable detestation or love. Will Rory be able to reclaim her place, or will Thane's rejection define her destiny? Will she be able to survive the otherworldly beings? What secrets does the prophecy hold?

"She will come back," she promised. "She just needs time to sort her head out." "Not her heart?" The dry distinction made Charley wince. "I'm sure she loves you," she persisted. "She's just not ready to commit to marriage." If you just give her time, then I— Black eyebrows with a fascinating silken gloss gave her a curious look. "Are you actually standing there, Miss Jones, suggesting that I should wait for Adelina to sort her head out?" Well, was she? Lifting her chin, "If you love her—yes," she insisted. "Then you are a romantic fool because it is not going to happen." He moved suddenly, straightening away from the desk. "There is a wedding arranged for next Saturday morning, and I intend to make sure that it goes ahead." Without a bride? Charley stared at him. "You mean—you're going to find her and drag her back to marry you?" A silly kind of laugh left her throat at the very image of Adelina being dragged by this man down the church aisle, kicking and screaming. ‘No.’ Reaching behind him, his long fingers picked Adelina's letter up again—this time to fold it with slow, neat precision. "I mean to replace her with someone else."I want reparation for being taken for an idiot, and if that means putting you in Adelina's wedding dress and marrying you in her place, then that is what is going to happen."

" Do i scare you, Micaela." "Your majesty." I whimper, avoiding his gaze. I couldn't muster the courage to meet him in the eyes, not when his intimidating demeanour blocked every sense of reasoning. " mea bella mate ," the way he uttered those strange words, so soft, so delicate, like a sweet caress. Yet I couldn't bring myself to be swayed by his tactics. He wasn't just the king but a man betrothed to another, and I was merely a maid assigned to serve him. "What would Anastasia think if she walks in on our compromising position?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. " I couldn’t give two sh*t what she thinks or feels." His tone was so calm yet frightening. " She means absolutely nothing to me." ♧♧♧ Micaela Whitlock was born and raised inside the Palace, having little experience with life beyond its gates. Despite the benefit of working at the palace, her life was anything but enjoyable. It has been 100 years since the beast overran the human world, eradicating the vast majority of people and enslaving the remainder. Unfortunately, her parents had been among the people who had been taken prisoner. She followed instructions to the letter, doing everything in her power to blend in and go unnoticed until an awful event occurred and irrevocably altered her life.

Vanessa Davis never imagined her life would lead to Dusty Creek, Texas. A city girl scarred by her mother’s abandonment, she buried the pain—until a letter from the woman who vanished begs for a second chance. Reluctantly, Vanessa heads to the small town, only to find herself stranded on a desolate road. Enter Colton Hayes—rancher, alpha wolf, and everything she’s tried to avoid. With a piercing gaze that sees through her, he offers her a place at Silver Ridge Ranch while her car is repaired. As Vanessa adjusts to life in Dusty Creek, she discovers her mother’s plea hides a darker secret—her new family desperately needs something only she can provide. Hurt and angry, Vanessa plans to leave, but uncovering the town’s poisoned water supply reignites her investigative instincts. Determined to find the truth, she digs deeper, realizing the corruption runs further than expected—and Silver Ridge Ranch may hold the key to saving the town. Colton has his own battles, torn between protecting his pack and keeping his heart guarded. Trusting Vanessa could destroy everything he’s worked to protect. Yet, under the Texas moon, their connection sparks with undeniable energy, pulling them closer despite the dangers. Vanessa must decide: will she risk everything for a future in Dusty Creek, or will the secrets they uncover tear them apart before they have a chance?

Caitlin and Caleb awake in ancient Israel, in the year 33 A.D., and are amazed to find themselves in the time of Christ.

Ancient Israel is a place of holy sites, of ancient synagogues, of lost relics. It is the most spiritually charged place in the universe—and in 33 A.D., the year of Christ’s crucifixion, it is the most spiritually charged time. In the heart of its capitol, Jerusalem, lies the Holy Temple of Solomon, inside of which sits the Holy of Holies and the Ark of God. And in these streets, Christ will take his final steps to be crucified.

Jerusalem teems with people of all religious backgrounds and faiths, under the watchful eye of Roman soldiers, and their Prefect, Pontius Pilate. The city also has a dark side, with its labyrinthian streets and maze of alleyways leading to hidden secrets and Pagan temples.

Caitlin now, finally, has all four keys, but still, she must find her father. Her search takes her to Nazareth, to Capernaum, to Jerusalem, following a mystical trail of secrets and clues in the footsteps of Christ. It also takes her to the ancient Mount of Olives, to Aiden and his coven, and to more powerful secrets and relics than she’s ever known. At every turn, her father is just a step away.

But time is of the essence: Sam, turned to the dark side, has landed back in this time, too, and as he unites with Rexius, leader of the evil coven, they race to beat Caitlin to the Shield. Rexius will stop at nothing to destroy Caitlin and Caleb, and with Sam on his side, and a new army behind him, the odds are in his favor.

Making matters worse, Scarlet arrives back in time alone, separated from her parents. She roams the streets of Jerusalem on her own, with Ruth, and as she begins to discover her own powers, she also finds herself in graver danger than she’s ever been. Especially when she discovers that she is holding a great secret, too.