Depression And Other Magic Tricks

When my daughter, Ruth Jensen, says for the tenth time that she wants a different mother, I don't get angry. I just calmly ask her who she wants instead. She blurts, "Vivian." She means Vivian Green, her tutor… and also the woman my husband has never been able to forget. At Ruth's birthday party that day, she even openly thanks Vivian, saying Vivian takes care of her like a mother. Looking at Ruth's young, innocent face, I finally understand that she doesn't like me. So, I stop caring for her and my husband the way I used to. Instead, I turn around and join a classified national project. Rather than wasting time on people who aren't worth it, I'd be better off serving my country!

Luz was a well-known stripper in town, but after meeting Leon and saving him from an attack, she becomes the chosen one of this CEO who offers her a deal, a marriage contract so that he can protect his inheritance from the hatawhay family who tries to kill while awaiting the return of his mafioso brother who everyone thinks is dead. But his return was soon after his marriage, and upon finding the light Alessandra, whose one falls in love, a love disguised in a chase and attacks the girl who tries to endure the difficult genius of the man who over time is yielding to the charms of the light that ends up conquering the two men even unintentionally, but only one can win his heart.

After Ruelle Altagracia finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her sister, she goes on to hit his older brother too. Xerces Miller is the epitome of perfection. No wonder her ex envies him so much, for he always gets everything he wants, from his family’s attention since they were kids to personal achievements. Even the girl he used to like ends up liking Xerces and not him. Ruelle thought having Xerces would be the best revenge she could ever give him. The only problem she has is the fact that Xerces isn’t like the other men she can easily win over with her charm and schemes. He seems to be irritated by her presence, as he can’t even keep his eyes on her for more than a second. However, that isn’t enough to discourage her. Determined, Ruelle will do everything she can to get him.

Ximena Branson had her whole future mapped out—with Dean Hansen alongside her. He was her initial love, her stability in the tumultuous realm of high fashion. However, her ideal dream crumbled when Dean left, discarding their years together to become engaged to a different model. Devastated and embarrassed, Ximena escapes to Mexico, intent on burying her pain in a fresh setting. A single impulsive evening throws her into the arms of a significantly older, influential man,Jason Hansen, a billionaire known for his merciless image. Ximena attempts to flee, but Jason won’t allow her to escape. He fears she could be pregnant with his child, and there's no chance he’ll permit his heir to grow up in anything but luxury. Instead, he proposes a marriage of convenience—a luxurious life, limitless riches, and an ideal chance for Ximena to overcome her sorrow and make Dean regret his decision to leave her. Driven by revenge, Ximena consents, entering into a marriage that was meant to be transactional. Yet, as longing and unforeseen feelings intertwine, the distinctions fade, leading her to doubt everything,most notably Jason. Next, the bomb falls. The marriage license that Jason provided her? An untruth. In truth, he remains legally tied to a capable businesswoman, a woman who is determined not to set him free. Once again betrayed, Ximena is ensnared in a perilous rivalry between two siblings—one who broke her heart and the other who could damage it irreparably. As secrets come to light and the past resurfaces, Ximena faces a choice: strive for her own joy or leave the Hansen brothers behind for good

Clara lay on the cold floor bleeding. She stared blankly at the ceiling, and in its reflection, she saw the monster she’d become as her life slipped away. The cruel wife! The “evil stepmother” everyone despised!! She had spent years hurting the people who only wanted her love, her husband, and his children until they stopped looking at her with warmth altogether. And now, in her final moments, the one person she trusted stood above her… holding the knife. Her best friend’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “You should’ve listened, Clara,” she whispered before driving the blade in again. Pain! Regret!! Betrayal!!! Everything Clara had built came crashing down in a pool of her own blood. If only she could turn back time... just once... she would do things differently. She would protect her family. She would stop trusting the wrong people. A lone tear slipped from her eye as her body went still... DEAD! ***** And then... she woke up, gasping for air. Clara’s heart raced as the realization hit her. She had been reborn. Given a second chance. This time, she would not waste it. She would be the mother they needed, the wife he deserved. She will be kind and loving to them. But when the shadows of her past return and the same enemies begin to stir, Clara learns that kindness alone won’t save them. To protect her family, she must become what everyone once feared... An evil stepmother capable of vengeance. Clara died as a villain… and returned to become their savior. Because in her death, she found regret. But in her rebirth, she'd find revenge. They killed her once. They won’t live to do it again. Clara returned from the grave with one goal... to protect her family and vengeance.

At the banquet hall, I refuse to let my adopted twin pups eat the walnut cake. Ivana Lamont—the childhood sweetheart of my mate, Luther Hardwick—chokes up dramatically. She cries accusingly, "Yara, they may not be yours biologically, but you can't abuse them! Why won't you even let them have a slice of cake?" I'm just about to explain that the twins are allergic to nuts, but they point at me and complain in aggrieved voices. "Mommy often doesn't give us food. We never have enough to eat!" With that, I'm unceremoniously driven out of the banquet hall by the host. When I go to look for my mate to talk about it, I accidentally overhear his conversation with a friend. "Alpha Luther, it's been eight years. Are you still not going to mark Yara?" "There's no rush. I'll wait until the kids are a little older. We love each other very much, so it's fine even if I don't mark her." His friend responds disapprovingly, "You've been hiding from her that the twins are actually your and Ivana's pups. Aren't you afraid she may leave in anger if she finds out?" Luther shakes his head and replies with certainty, "She won't. Yara is an orphan, so she has no family. If she leaves me, where else can she go?" The ugly truth causes me to freeze on the spot. It turns out the pups I've loved for eight years were born to my mate and another she-wolf. What I thought was a happy life is nothing but a cold, heartless deception! I touch my belly, thinking of the pup I just conceived. My tears fall like a relentless downpour. In the shadows, I say inaudibly, "You're wrong, Luther. In fact, I found my birth parents three days ago. I just haven't had the chance to tell you. But it doesn't matter now because you don't need to know about that anymore." I have Luther sign the mate bond dissolution agreement before finalizing my withdrawal from the Sharp Teeth pack. Two days later, I give both my mate and the pups to Ivana. With the pup that Luther has never known or laid his eyes on, I disappear from his world forever.

Art Theodore Dela Cuesta, the charismatic and politically ambitious bachelor, seems to have it all—looks, charm, and a prominent political career. However, his seemingly perfect life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Amari Vann, a casino dealer desperate for a way out of her troubled existence. Their worlds collide in a passionate night that leaves both questioning the trajectory of their lives. Amari, longing for a savior, sees Art as her knight in shining armor. As their lives become intertwined, the question arises: will their connection blossom into a fairytale-like love story, or is it destined to become just another scandal? 'Just Another Scandal' explores the complexities of love, societal expectations, and the clash between two worlds as Art and Amari navigate the challenges that threaten to either strengthen their bond or expose the fragility of their connection in the harsh spotlight of public scrutiny.

The day I signed the divorce papers, I voluntarily gave up custody of my daughter. Because that day, in the courtroom, she clung to her father’s neck, sobbing with all the fury a six-year-old could muster: “You don’t even love me… do you? If you leave Daddy, I’ll stay with him… and you’ll be all alone forever!” In my past life, I had ignored her childish threats. I fought tooth and nail for her custody. I poured every ounce of myself into raising her. And yet… she spent her entire life hating me. Not once did she ever call me “Mom” until the day I died. On her wedding day, she even invited her father’s mistress to the stage to give a speech of thanks. Now, opening my eyes again, seeing that same cruel little face staring back at me, I simply nodded. “I don’t care.” After all… I never wanted a daughter like her anyway.

Ashton Wolf is a renowned CEO who initially married Miranda Stone. At one point, his wife's condition weakened due to her long-standing battle with stage four brain gland cancer, with a prognosis that she wouldn't survive much longer. Realizing that her time was limited, Miranda insisted that Ashton marry again. The choice fell upon Alice Ashborne, Miranda's step-sister. Ashton vehemently rejected this request. Apart from the significant age difference, he had no intention of marrying a girl he clearly did not love. However, under Miranda's pressure, even to the point of threats and demands for an immediate divorce, Ashton found himself unable to refuse and eventually accepted the request to marry Alice as soon as possible. Throughout their marriage, Ashton made a conscious effort to maintain distance. He deliberately kept the news of his remarriage from people outside, trying to conceal the fact that he had married again. Despite Alice's evident effort to graciously embrace married life and be a devoted wife, Ashton remained displeased and continued to keep his heart closed. To add to the complexities of their marriage, someone from the past resurfaced, throwing Ashton and Alice's lives into further turmoil. This situation left them grappling with a dilemma—whether to continue fighting for their marriage or to bring it to an end.

Emily Carter thought heartbreak would be the end of her story—but it was only the beginning. After catching her long-term boyfriend cheating, she walks away shattered, determined never to look back. But fate has other plans when she crosses paths with Ethan Sinclair—her ex’s older, enigmatic brother—at a high-profile gala. Ethan is everything Daniel wasn’t: powerful, reserved, and dangerously captivating. He’s also off-limits. Yet when a single glance turns into a stolen kiss, Emily finds herself drawn into a world of secrets, passion, and power plays. But in Ethan’s world, nothing is simple. Public image is everything, and Emily quickly learns that being with him means staying hidden in the shadows. As emotions deepen and their secret affair intensifies, Emily must ask herself—how long can she be someone’s secret before she forgets her own worth? A story of forbidden desire, dangerous power, and the cost of loving a man who was never supposed to be hers.