Dost My Eyes Deceive Me

My boyfriend, Miles, finally invited me to his family’s Christmas dinner. I passed out on the way there. Half-conscious, I heard him whisper, “Sorry, Eva. Those thugs said you’re just their boss’s type. Too pretty for your own good, babe. Blame that—not me.” “Don’t be scared. If you help me pay off the debt… maybe they’ll let me have you back. I’ll make it up to you. For the rest of your life, I swear.” He wheeled me through the back of a casino. My family’s casino. The boss he was selling me to… was my brother. Ever since our parents died in a crossfire, my brother had taken full responsibility for me. More than a brother, he’d become a father figure—a protector. My stupid boyfriend should be scared—he had no idea how fiercely my brother protected me, or how ruthless he could be to anyone who dared hurt me.

Three years ago, My husband Thomas brought me the divorce paper with his girlfriend Sarah by his side. He had lost all his memory in a car accident, when I woke up from my coma, he had already moved on. I lied to myself that somewhere deep inside, the man I loved was still trapped inside and his warm eyes and gentle spirit were just overridden by anger and amnesia… but I could no longer believe in that lie. He was gone. Forever. Now, I am waiting in my dressing room to go on stage. The young girl who had fallen in love with Thomas had been bright and pretty but this woman who stared back at me in the mirror … She is beautiful, strong, and supported. She has two beautiful kids, even though their father don't know their existence. She had suffered and survived. The me now is the best version of me. I could not wait to show it to the world. However, after I finished my performance, I found, front and center, Thomas is giving me a standing ovation. For the first time in years, he seems to recognize me. Then, the producer Richard found me backstage and inform me that my ex-husband just bought the theater company. What does he want? Can my life ever go back to normal?

My grandfather, Terry Sims, suffered from bipolar disorder and was prone to anger and mood swings. My mother, Catherine, was his only chill pill. On the day they were hunted down by enemies, my mom went into early labor and lost her life in an attempt to save him. Devastated, my grandfather could not see a way out of his disorder and poured all his love into me. He would pull out the tongues of those who mocked me and fed them to the dogs. The families of those who hurt me would meet their end. It was known to the people of Mistvale that the granddaughter of Terry Sims was untouchable. Due to my congenital heart disease, he reluctantly sent me abroad for medical treatment. After my surgery, I rushed back to his side for his birthday, thinking of giving him a surprise. However, I was mistaken for a gold digger by a carer and locked in the basement. “Of all the things you can do for your age, you throw yourself at men. Since your parents won’t restrain your behavior, I’ll have to do it for them.” She pulled out my tongue, dumped acid all over me, and dug out my snewly transplanted heart to give as a birthday gift to my grandfather, who had been waiting for my return. “Mr. Sims, the skank tried to impersonate Ms. Sims, but I got everything sorted out for you.”

On the day we were supposed to get engaged, my fiance, Christopher Vittorino, slid the ring—that was supposed to be mine—onto Lina Sorenzo, my stepsister's finger, right in front of the entire family. Christopher's uncle, Don Mark Vittorino, was the one who had specifically ordered his subordinates to deliver the ring that symbolizes the wearer's status as the future Donna of the Vittorino family to Christopher himself. I could only stare at Christopher's deep blue eyes in disbelief. Just as I was about to question him, he just gazed at me with a stony expression. Even his tone was cold and rigid. "The Don intends to send me to Maravena for the next five years to develop my own business there. Once I return, I'll take over the family business. "You don't have any skills at all, Isla. If you stay with me, you'll just be a hindrance to me and cause me unwanted trouble. "Lina, on the other hand, is fluent in Maravenese. Not to mention, she knows how to expand the family business overseas. She will serve as a brilliant assistant for me." After that, Christopher took Lina's hand and left the venue with her, not caring about the fact that the leaders of the other branch families as well as the elders kept murmuring among themselves. Because of that, I ended up becoming the laughingstock of the entire family. Five years later, Christopher and Lina return to the country. When he spots me showing up at a family gathering held by Mark with a ruby ring that signifies my status as the Donna on my finger, his expression changes instantly. "I can't believe you learned to steal, Isla!" I just ignore Christopher's accusations in favor of looking for the Black Rose Medal that my son, Toby Vittorino, has lost. That medal is a gift he received on his fourth birthday from Mark. Poor Toby has been sobbing for a long time because of its disappearance. I need to hurry up and find it as soon as possible.

My cousin, John Anderson, always paid me in tens rather than in thousands. He owned a renovation company, and my team and I always worked hard for his projects. However, he only transferred me thirty dollars for sand and concrete that were worth three thousand dollars. Besides that, he only transferred me one thousand five hundred dollars to finance customized doors and windows worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I did not harp on that. Instead, I bore the cost in full, as he was my cousin. That was until his wife, Rory Anderson, scolded me in front of all the workers. “Peter’s a bloodsucker. He never informs us whenever he buys new materials. He must have scammed a lot of money from us! I saw that he got himself a new house and a new car. I bet these are all bought with money he took from us!” John smoked next to us and sighed, “Never mind. He’s family after all.” I was furious when I heard that. I paid more than six hundred thousand dollars’ worth of material fees for him, and he was accusing me of stealing his money? The next client had a mansion and wanted natural marbles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for his living room floor. John approved the request but only transferred me a thousand dollars to get it sorted out. So, I went to the brick factory located in the countryside and got a truckload of used red bricks from pigpens. Then, I used them for the client’s flooring.

I can understand Wolfish, but I've never told my Alpha mate, Felix Grayback, about it. In public, he's the mate who dotes on me the most. He even declines a pack trading contract that's worth billions of dollars just to celebrate my birthday with me. As Felix holds me in his arms, he declares in front of his pack, "Bankruptcy is nothing as long as you're happy." I'm so touched that I'm about to burst into tears. So, I embrace Felix's huge, wolf-like body tightly in return. At that moment, I hear him emitting a low growl from his throat. It's a language that only wolves can understand. "This woman is finally plump enough to eat. Tonight, I shall share her flesh with my pack members."

On the day my boyfriend gets engaged, I'm locked in the bedroom even though I'm supposed to be with him. By the time I make it to the venue, I see him passionately kissing his first love. When I confront him, he scoffs. "Kirsty’s a wealthy heiress who can help with my career. Isn't being my girlfriend enough for you?" With my answer loud and clear, I turn and call home. "Mom, Dad—about that arranged marriage you mentioned... I'm in." The day he marries Kirsty Bainbridge is also the day I marry my alliance partner. And the moment he sees me in a wedding dress, he completely loses his composure.

All my life I lived in the shadows. A daughter of our pack’s Alpha confined to servitude in my own household, unfairly treated and punished for a wrong that didn't make sense. The night of my eighteenth birthday, my mate rejected me and took my twin sister as his mate. Having been on my wits end and not knowing where else to go, I fled away from our pack, but it was a wrong move because I was captured by a pack of rogue wolves whose leader turned out to be my second chance mate. He took me captive. Even knowing that we're mates, he kept on rejecting me. He considers my father his sworn enemy, making me, the spawn, his enemy, too. Until when could I endure the hatred he has for me?

He needed my bone marrow to live. I gave it to him, and lost my heart in the process. Now my ex is out there living his best life- a baby on the way, fame on the track, and a new woman in his arms... while I can’t even cry without my heart aching. Then his brother showed up. Elias Carter, the cruel, sinfully dangerous biker who shouldn’t even know my name. But he knows more than that. He knows what I am. A wolf. Just like him. He doesn’t want love. He wants to claim me, use me, break me. I swore I’d never let him. But somehow… I ended up wearing his ring. Now I’m trapped in a marriage built on secrets, lies, and a desire that burns too deep to deny. And the cruelest part? The more I try to hate him, the more my heart forgets how.

Hatice Natividad just wanted a fun night out with friends. But after a few too many drinks, someone dared her to kiss a random guy. Drunk and laughing, she did it. She kissed a stranger. He kissed her back. One thing led to another, and they ended up in bed. The next morning, Hatice woke up sore and confused. Beside her was a man. Naked. Asleep. She screamed. He opened his eyes. And to her horror, it was her cold, serious, and insanely attractive professor!