Excuses Begon

“Nate, don't you dare start with that nonsense too. I told you already, I don't care about those ridiculous traditions." Marcel responded irritably as she hopped into the copilot seat of her best friend's car, anxious to get as far away as possible from her home. “Hey, I've known you since you were four, so don't try and act all brave and mature. Tell me the truth, you're afraid aren't you?” “Humph! What's there to be scared of?...” “That Mike's ghost might come back to haunt you." The boy interrupted, carelessly blurting out his analysis, adding…“I just don't get it; everyone else knows his death wasn't your fault…” “I know it wasn't!” “Then why won't you pray for his safe journey into the afterlife? What if his soul is damn to roam the earth, wreaking havoc among the living or even disrupting the balance between the two worlds?” “Ahh! Don't be childish. There is no such thing as the afterlife; parents just use these pathetic excuses to trick their children into believing that our loved ones are better off. If that was the case, why don't we all join them… oh yeah, that's right, we can't commit suicide otherwise we'll go straight to hell. Grow up Nate! The spirit dies with the body.” Follow the journey of a young woman as she tries to keep her sanity when the world around her was quickly crumbling after one faithful night of honoring the dead. Will she be able to save the life of those closest to her? or will her soul be bound to an eternity of madness?

On the night of their second wedding anniversary, Adrian Cole publicly declared his love for his wife, Ava, gifting her a rare sapphire pendant that became the talk of the city. To the world, they were the perfect couple envied and admired but behind closed doors, Ava’s reality shattered. A single anonymous message exposed everything, Adrian’s personal assistant, Livia, wearing the same pendant, wrapped in his embrace. While society praised his devotion, Ava sat alone in a house that no longer felt like home, choking on betrayal she had unknowingly endured for years. For too long, she had played the obedient wife, enduring the scorn of her in-laws and Adrian’s cold excuses that his affair meant nothing, just a “momentary indulgence.” Confident she was bound to him by her family’s financial struggles, he believed she would never leave… even if it meant raising another woman’s child. But he was wrong. Quietly, Ava began to dismantle everything. She gathered evidence, secured her freedom, and walked away without a trace of the fragile woman he once knew. The woman who returned was no longer soft or submissive, but a brilliant and popular figure in the world of medical innovation, one whose name commanded respect. By the time Adrian realized what he had lost, it was already too late. Because the woman he once discarded now stood beside a far more powerful man, not just any man but his own UNCLE who looked at him with cold amusement and said, “Be careful with your words… That woman you call your wife now belongs to a world you can’t reach.”

Ivana discovered she was to get married to Asher Jackson, the renowned top billionaire in the country. Her Father, Philip had a major issue in his company and it was on the verge of shutting down. He needed an investment and he reached out to his business partners, but they gave him excuses till he reached out to his billionaire friend who is also a known popular business man Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson only agreed to help him with the investment only if he could form a marriage alliance with Asher Jackson, his billionaire son who owns a multinational company to get married to his first daughter Ivana. Philip agreed to the marriage arrangement without his daughter's agreement. Ivana, his daughter and his wife Cassie were not happy with the decision he made. Ivana was in love with Raymond, her boyfriend who she met in college, and her step mother Cassie, was not happy her daughter Anna was not chosen to be Asher's bride. Ivana rushed to inform her boyfriend Raymond, who is a CEO of a company she works with. She has been in a relationship for 3 years and he has proposed to her. On getting to his apartment she received a shock by catching Raymond and her step sister naked, having sex on his bed. She was heartbroken. She made up her mind to get back at Raymond and Anna for betraying her . She decided to get married to Asher Jackson. Raymond came begging for her and she still loves him. Will she go back to Raymond despite his betrayal? Will Asher's ex lover Hailey try to come between her and Asher? Will she try to get away from the marriage to be with Raymond? Will she open her heart to love once again?

After my husband topped the wealth rankings, he hired his first love as his personal housekeeper at a high salary. “Quincy, you hail from humble beginnings. I don’t want you embarrassing me in high society, so I specifically brought in Vivian to teach you the rules. From now on, everything you do must be reported to her for approval.” From that moment on, in public, I was the glamorous Mrs. Lane. However, behind closed doors, to even enjoy simple marital moments with my husband I had to write a thousand-word application seeking Vivian’s approval. Then, my adoptive father had a heart attack. I dropped to my knees, begging her to transfer me five hundred thousand dollars. She laughed coldly. “What kind of surgery costs half a million? Stop making excuses to pad your family’s finances.” “This isn’t a small sum. Write a 10,000-word application, and this time it’s denied.” Rage coursed through me, my body trembling uncontrollably as I spun toward Tyler and fell to my knees, begging him to save my father’s life. There wasn’t even a flicker of emotion on his face. “Vivian did nothing wrong. I know you’re still clinging to your old poor habits even after getting rich, but my money doesn’t grow on trees.” “This time, your father’s medical treatment will be put on hold as a lesson. Next time, don’t blame me if he’s kicked out of the VIP ward.” In the end, my adoptive father died on the operating table due to the delay in treatment. Completely disheartened, I finally asked Tyler for a divorce.

Zane Kessler, tough captain of the Thunder Wolves, has spent years vowing to crush Jaxon Caldwell, the fast, clever captain of the Storm Hawks. Their rivalry is brutal… hard checks, sharp words, pure hatred on the ice. But after Zane's team loses their biggest game of the season, Jaxon finds him alone in the empty locker room. An argument flares… then a simple touch turns into a soft, surprising kiss. Hate suddenly feels warm and confusing. From that moment, their rivalry begins to melt into something sweeter and deeper. But the hockey world isn't kind to feelings like this. Coming out could destroy their careers, and their teams would never forgive the captains falling for the enemy. Then the league drops the bombshell… the Thunder Wolves and Storm Hawks must merge into one team for the upcoming National Championship. To foster unity, Zane and Jaxon are forced to share a small apartment near the rink. They share the same space, the same locker room, and literally breathe the same air. At first it feels like torture… bumping into each other in the kitchen, sharing the couch after tough games, trying to act like nothing has changed. But the walls come down fast. Quiet talks turn into laughter. Simple meals become excuses to sit close. Stolen kisses in the dark hallway feel like winning the biggest game of their lives. Now they must lead their new team to the title while hiding a love that grows stronger every day. One wrong glance, one slip, and it could shatter everything… the championship, their careers, and the beautiful thing they’ve finally found. On the ice they were sworn enemies. Off it, they’re falling hard. And the closer they get, the more impossible it is to let go. Who will surrender first?

CASTELLO DI CARTE MAFIA CHRONICLES, BOOK 3 [Also known as LACERATION: THE GAME OF CHAINS] 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 Marrying a stranger is one thing. But marrying a stranger related to the man you thought you’d marry is a whole other thing. What would you do in a situation like this? I, for one, fainted at my engagement party and almost drank my off to get through the wedding night. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, my husband offered me a contract, and I signed it, seeing his eagerness to get rid of me. Spending an entire year under the same roof seemed like torture, especially when my dear husband kept making excuses to talk to me and to unnerve me. Yet I liked it. But he wasn’t mine. And his mistress had a lot to attest to that. 𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐒 Marriage for power. A wife ten years younger. And a tattoo. None of these was a part of my plan to thrive as a Mafioso, yet I didn't mind any of it. It was all because of that succubus. My ruination disguised as a beautiful woman, now my bride. I was a man known for my control and snide personality, yet neither helped me overcome my desire and need to taste her skin. When I finally did, I couldn’t have enough of it. The contract should've kept me away from her, should've helped me be the responsible adult and control my thoughts of her. All I wanted then was to tear that piece of paper that ensured our freedom after a certain point. I could never free her, knowing how damning it could be. There were just a few tiny problems. Her father. My past. Infiltrated enemies. And the damaging nightmares I had no control over.

Aya Reyes, a smart, resilient and capable woman who was a believer in love. After all, mas madaling paniwalaan ang mga pangakong nanggaling mismo sa taong mahal mo, sa taong pinaniwala ka na you are capable of receiving love, who made you the center of his universe, and the same man who promised to walk you down the aisle. And Aya believed him. Until he disappeared. No explanation. No goodbye. Just ache and promises that never came true. For five years, naghintay si Aya. She held on to memories, making excuses, and the fragile hope that maybe one day, babalik sya. Pero hindi siya bumalik. Hindi siya nagparamdam. So she did the only thing she knew to survive: she moved on. New city. New job. New life. Day by day, she did everything para unti-unting buuin ang sarili nya at mamuhay sa mundong wala na si Adrian. Pero mapaglaro ang tadhana. Sa pagdaan ng araw na pilit kinakalimutan ni Aya si Adrian, he started introducing himself to the word. Adrian Vale is a powerful bachelor and now the CEO of Vale Group–rich, brilliant, and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. The next time Aya saw him again, they weren’t lovers anymore. Hindi rin strangers, kundi bilang boss at empleyado. And this time, Adrian doesn't remember her. After a mysterious accident five years ago, Adrian Vale lost all of his memories, kasama na ang babaeng pinakamamahal nya at ang pangako nila sa isa’t isa. Now, as fate slowly pulls them into each other’s lives again, Aya needs to come with a decision. Should she tell him who she was or let him live his life and lose him again?

Office Romance : •••••••• I pulled her towards me while grabbing her shirt collar . She got startled by this and looked at me with her widden scared eyes . Her tears brimming eyes looked at me horrified. "I don't wanna listen any of your excuses . Keep all your fake shit with your self. And by the end of the day ,I want this file perfectly clean in new prints on my table." I said in a deadly clam voice. "Am I clear ?" I yelled on her and shook her by still holding her from her collar. Her few shirt buttons broke down giving me perfect view of her exposed milky chest . I pushed her and she stumbled and fell on the floor. Her whole face was completely red , her clothes get disheavel from wrong places, and all credit goes to me. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she was looking here and there on the floor, like she is trying to sort out if all this happening is real or not. f**k!! I know she is on her edge now. ••••••••• Laksh Malhotra - An arrogant handsome young billionaire. He doesn't like people who cannot stand for their own selves, but lost his heart for the innocent angle Aashirya. But he never behaves around her like a gentlemen does. He always scares her by invading her personal space as a result she always end up being victim of his anger. Aashirya Sharma- A sweet innocent girl who loves everyone around her . She is just like a beautiful angle . But she did survive with lots of demons around her, Coz she never knew that the devil ,aka Laksh Malhotra , was always her saviour in this selfish world, who always tried to take Advantage of her innocence.

"What is this? Are you dying anytime soon? How many days do you have left?” “I believe you know how to read clearly. Go through the results. I’m sure you will be the one leaving anytime soon.” She said confidently. I stared at her once more and proceeded to read the contents of the paper. “You are pregnant,” I said and she smiled. “Yes darling, and guess who my baby’s father is?” I shook my head at her disbelievingly and she nodded her head. “Yes, Eliott is the father of my unborn baby.” “Do you expect to believe such baseless accusations? I am not dumb, Emma. “I know it’s hard for you to believe but, Eliott never broke up with me. Did you think that all the excuses he gave were real? Even Elon Musk doesn’t have a schedule that’s as tight as that. He spent most of his time with me and that is how we made a baby.” She rubbed her abdomen and I chuckled hard. She was lying. She had to be. *** “Mr. Winconstin, your ex-wife is back!” I raised my head from the magazine I was reading. It was no news that Oleander was back in San Francisco. She took over her family's company and was bent on restoring it's lost glory. I should admit it, she never seemed like a business lady to me. “She didn't come alone.” I sat up. Has she moved on already? “She came back with two children and the boy is your carbon copy.” Instantly, blood filled my nose. Was she pregnant then? Why didn't she tell me? Why did she decide to keep my children away from me? “Get the car ready. We are heading to the Thayer's company immediately.”

“Relax. It was meaningless. It didn’t mean a thing.” Three years. That’s how long Lena Carter loved Evan Brooks—three years of loyalty, late nights, and believing she was building a future with him. Until she finds him in a hotel suite bathroom, hands braced against marble, whispering excuses while her cousin—and closest friend—fixes her lipstick in the mirror. All this happens during Lena’s promotion celebration. Lena should be home, crying into cheap wine and shattered dreams. Instead, she’s stranded on a quiet Los Angeles street at midnight, phone dead, heels in hand, with a group of drunk men circling closer than comfort allows. Then a black luxury sedan pulls up. The man who steps out wears a tailored suit, calm eyes, and an authority that makes the street go silent. Mason Hart. Billionaire. Tech CEO. And—unknown to him—the elusive owner of the company where Lena works as an executive assistant two floors below the C-suite. He offers her a ride. She hesitates. She takes it. That single decision rewrites her life. Mason doesn’t mix business with emotions. He doesn’t date employees. And he definitely doesn’t rescue strangers with haunted eyes. But Lena’s quiet strength, the way she refuses pity, the way pain sharpens her instead of breaking her—it gets under his skin. Lena just wants to forget the man who betrayed her. Mason offers distraction. Protection. Desire without promises. But Evan refuses to let go, spreading lies and suddenly desperate to “fix things.” Her cousin is determined to destroy what little Lena has left. And the closer Lena grows to the powerful CEO who signs her company’s paychecks, the more dangerous her heart becomes. Because falling for a billionaire who doesn’t believe in love might hurt worse than betrayal.