Express Yourself

"I like her," I said as I sat across from my mother unable to keep the frustration from boiling over. "Like who?" "Callie," I admitted, my chest tightening as I said her name. Her expression froze for a moment before she set the papers aside and leaned forward. "You’re joking, right? Callie is your brother’s girlfriend." "I don’t care," I snapped. "I can’t stand seeing him with her. She should be mine, and I’m not going to just sit back and watch them together." "Well, well. This is interesting." She sat back, steepling her fingers. "You really want her all to yourself?" "More than anything," I confessed. A slow smile crept across her face, and it sent a chill down my spine. "Don’t worry. I have a plan.” Whatever she had in mind, I knew it wouldn’t be simple. But if it meant having Callie… I was willing to do whatever it took. **************** Callie was given a choice by her new boss: either lose her job or act as his escort for his family’s Christmas and New Year celebrations, pretending to be his girlfriend. Left with no other option, she reluctantly agrees to be his escort but what she doesn’t realize is that she’s walking straight into a trap. Dive into a story of love, betrayal, romance, suspense, and a Christmas miracle. Second Chances Under the Tree is a gripping and intriguing read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

In Ha, no, Lilian, staring at the people in front of her. This is her stage. This is her world. Wherever she is, she will always be a classy villain. The devil. So...became a kind-hearted protagonist? What a joke! She rejects the role, and without warning, her soul transmigrates into the protagonist's body. __________ EXCERPT : Hyun Jae kept his head looking around. In Ha, who saw her manager's unusual behavior, frowned. "Oppa, what are you doing? Are there paparazzi?" In Ha followed Hyun Jae's sight. It was quite cloudy and no one was around. Finally Hyun Jae turned his back, one hand covering a bit his mouth, and the other hand telling In Ha to come closer. In Ha leaned over. "You, I don't know what relationship you have with that man, but I have to warn you. That man is crazy! He's worse than the paparazzi! Scarier than sasaeng fans! You have to be careful, Seo In Ha!" In Ha looked at Hyun Jae and shook her head. "Now to me, you look more crazy." Hyun Jae sent her a death glare. "Hmp! Whatever if you don't believe me! Get down there! Just know yourself when something happens! Hmp! In Ha got out of the car and looked at her manager's car, which was getting away. She looked up at the sky. Raindrops began to fall. Hyun Jae's words earlier annoyed her a little. As soon as she turned around, that man was there. Standing not far from her. *sasaeng : obsessive* __________ *the original cover is not mine

When my mother-in-law gets hospitalized due to cancer, I'm about to pay the hospital bills when I find out that my wife, Lilibeth Saunders, has used our savings to pay off a male escort's debt. That's when I finally explode in rage. "Mom has gotten hospitalized because of her illness, and yet you use our money to pay off the debt of a useless piece of trash who relies on his manhood for survival! You really are an evil bitch, Lilibeth Saunders!" As Lilibeth grips the lingerie, she remains stone-faced. "How am I the one at fault here? I'm just trying to give my future child a father who still has a future with me! You can always earn money to treat your own mother's illness! Meanwhile, Carl can't do the same thing about his debt! If he doesn't pay off his debt, his life will be ruined! "You only have yourself to blame, Josiah! After all, you're a good-for-nothing impotent man!" The entire room falls eerily silent. My friend, who's there to help patch things up between us, looks at me with sympathy in his eyes. All the criticism surrounding me flashes through my mind at that moment. That's when I realize that it's time for me to end things with Lilibeth once and for all. What she doesn't know is that she's the infertile one based on the doctor's diagnosis. Also, her mother is the one being hospitalized, not mine.

“I want you back, Laura.” He muttered, and I looked at him like he had just said the biggest joke in history. He wants me to foolishly accept him with open arms after everything he did to me? He must be dreaming. “It's too late. I do not want you anymore.” I replied and turned to leave, but he blocked my path. “I know I hurt you, but if you'd just give me another chance, I promise not to hurt you again. I love you.” “Keep your feelings to yourself, Antonio. I'm engaged. My wedding is in a month. You're invited!” I threw the invitation at him and walked away. ***** Laura is shocked when her husband, Antonio, returns from work one day and throws a divorce paper in her face. He already signed it and asked her to sign her part. She had given up everything to be with him, and even though he treated her like trash, she still loved him and was ready to bear the pains that came with the marriage just to be with him, but a divorce paper? Nah, that was just too much. When she refuses to sign, Antonio brings another woman into the house, and instantly Laura knows she is no longer needed. Not being able to bear the ache of seeing them together, she leaves but unknown to her, she was pregnant. 5 years later, she was back with an adorable baby boy, but she is no longer the Laura everyone knew. Her ex-husband wants her back, but it's already too late. She was remarrying.

It was finally the day of the auction "And now we are presented with a human who looks a little unkempt right now, but with a little care from her owner would be as good as new" the hosts voice rang over the speakers in what seemed like a dungeon used for illegal gambling. But I couldn't look much, being locked in a basement for three months without any form of light coming in, and suddenly being on stage where all attention and the center light was on me was enough to just make me shut my eyes and wait for what was to come. "We'll start with $25,000" is that really my worth. Do I really amount to nothing, that I have to be sold at an auction. "$26,000" "$26,500" "$30,000" "$30,000, is there anyone who wants to bid higher? Going once, going twice... This went in for a few more minutes and I gave up hope. This was it, this is where my life journey ends. I will get sold here then if my buyer is an organ trafficker he would probably kill me and sell off my organs. "Five hundred million dollars" a deep manly voice grunted from the corner of the room "Wow that's a very high bid...I doubt if anyone is willing to go higher than that. Going once, going twice, sold. Congratulations Mr Jimmie Hendrix, you just won yourself a hot looking toy...everyone is left to wonder what you will be doing with her tonight." Jimmie who was sitting in a dark corner of the room gave a sinister smirk and uttered under his breath "Found you!!!"

Based on gender-based violence If you were ever in a position where you couldn't defend yourself - please read the book. There is always someone out there who is willing to help! “if you can’t handle the punches, how will you ever stop them from abusing you?” “Hit me?” Blake yells. Making my eyes watery and angry. “Hit me, or I will hit you,” he said again. I picked up my fist to punch him as hard as I can, but he grabbed me and picked me up before my fist could connect with his jaw. Our eyes melted together, and I’m slowly disappearing into a dark place the more I stare. Emily Dawson was walking home one night from a small restaurant In Virginia where she works to pay for her doctor’s degree when she got jumped by three-man. they beat her and took all of her belongings. 12 years ago, her stepfather abused Emily when she was a child, so she never learned how to defend herself until Blake, the most popular and successful kickboxer in town, came to her rescue. At first, it was only about training and helping Emily get over her fears and learn how to defend herself until she fell in love with him, but that was a dark place she had to go in. Blake has a past of mistreating women, not abusing them but using them. Will he fall in love with her as well? Or will he keep their relationship with no strings attached?

“I fell for every lie you told me, Lena; you should be proud of yourself; you’ve managed to deceive me, Alpha Damien; that’s a stunt not everyone could pull.” “What do you mean?” “So, you are going to play innocent again?” He asked, then chuckled. It was humorless. “This time I won’t be the fool; I won’t fall for that innocence the second time, Lena, and I promise you, I’ll make you pay and have fun while I am at it.” ******* Lena was a weak wolf, a slap in the face of her parents. Being the daughter of Alpha and Luna, they expected more, and for that reason she was deemed useless. When her father finds an opportunity to marry her off to one of the most powerful Alphas in the world to settle pack debts and also gain an alliance, he will do anything in his power to make it work. Lena was never supposed to fall in love with Alpha Damien; he was the cruel, emotionless Alpha, unable to feel, yet she fell for him. No one could make her feel the way he did. She was the Alpha’s little obsession, and he always got what he wanted. She knew it would only be a matter of time, and his drive would die. She had to accept the fact that he would never love her, but she wanted more, more than he was willing to give, more than he was capable of giving. Would that lead to her destruction? What happens when secrets are revealed and innocent Lena is tainted by the darkness of the world she has been tossed into?

An orphan girl was arranged to marry the third grandson of the second wealthiest family in the city. Even though she had never imagined a life like this, the young girl allowed herself to be hated, humiliated, and trampled upon by everyone in the Willard family to fulfill her grandmother's wish. Her husband despised her and wanted to give her a divorce but was bounded by the term of the contract. Her father and mother-in-law hated her because she was good for nothing and didn't contribute to the family. while her sister's in-law and everyone else in the family come up with excuses to bring her down. Suddenly, her life took a turn for the better, when her long-lost family found her wallowing in poverty .she was the third heir of the first richest family in the city, the Powers. “Give that worthless man a divorce and I will find the most wanted socialite in the world for you to marry,” Said her first brother, the famous business expert. “You are the missing piece of my heart, give me an order and I will make the world bow for you,” said her second brother, the strategist. “Even though I'm still unemployed, I have saved enough for you all these years, take my card and make yourself happy,” Her younger brother said. Ivy Haddock, who was just a lonely child found herself having three brothers and an adopted sister, who hated her. After serving the Willard family for two years, she accepted the divorce and left. Only to be met with news she never thought she could ever dream of, she was pregnant.

Due to an accident, my wife and I lost our lives in a massive fire. When we open our eyes again, we find ourselves back on the day we registered our marriage. In our last life, everyone thought we were the perfect couple. Little did they know that my wife, Queenie Lloyd, refused to consummate our marriage. Right before my death, I found out that I was nothing but a replacement for her first love. Queenie had intended to remain chaste for him for the rest of her life. After being reborn, neither of us speaks of the past. By an unspoken agreement, we get a divorce that very day and go on to live separate lives. Eight years later, she attends an industry summit holding her childhood sweetheart's arm. She's now a rising star in the business world. I am dressed in plain clothes. When she notices me, she walks over with a champagne glass in hand. "Mr. Lawrence! Even if you still have feelings for me, you didn't have to disguise yourself as a waiter just to approach me. Are you still trying to convince me to get back together with you?" she sneers. I ignore her and smile as I wave at someone nearby. My son runs over to me and tugs on the corner of my shirt. "Mommy said she's tired, Daddy. She wants to know when you're coming to pick us up," he tells me. Upon hearing this, Queenie's face stiffens immediately, and she almost drops her wine glass.

Lana Kang, a high school senior, unwittingly becomes a witness to a brutal murder that shatters her world. The victim's cold-blooded demise leaves Lana with unanswered questions and a mounting desire to clear her own name. In her pursuit of truth, Lana's dearest friend, Naomi Jang, gets entangled in the web of violence, ultimately paying the ultimate price. The murder is hushed up, buried alongside Naomi's haunting suicide, leaving Lana burdened with untold secrets. Fifteen years later, Lana returns, compelled by an insatiable need to unearth the forgotten fragments of her memory surrounding Naomi's tragic end. As she unravels the past, Lana stumbles upon a sinister underworld with malevolence and hidden agendas. To her astonishment, Lana discovers that Samuel Jin, her childhood confidant, has survived the darkness that tore their lives apart. Meanwhile, Jason Bak emerges, promising a love and protection that surpasses Samuel's. Alongside them is Jerry Chon, an enigmatic psychiatrist dedicated to untangling the nightmares haunting Lana's amnesiac mind. With each revelation, Lana grapples with her haunted past and faces a daunting choice. Can she reclaim her shattered life once the truth is laid bare? Who can she trust amidst the shifting alliances and hidden motives? In a relentless pursuit of justice, Lana confronts her deepest fears, traverses treacherous paths, and unveils the true face of evil. Her decisions will shape her destiny and ripple through the lives of those she holds dear. Brace yourself for an enthralling tale of lost innocence, seeking redemption, and the unwavering determination of a young girl fighting to reshape her own destiny.