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

“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.

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 promise you if Trinity gives me the slip, then I am pinning her to a tree." Just thinking of her sends shivers up my spine and belief me that they are not the good shivering kind. I love a beautiful woman both in my bed and to look at. To be surrounded by ugly for almost a full day is seriously going to put a damper on my ego. But time to push that thought to the side, for our location has just come up on the right. We slowly cruise up the driveway… But as we step through the doorway… And we turn the corner… There is a tall brunette in what could possibly be the tightest dress I have ever seen. But what strikes me the most is her long slender legs that are held up by deep blood red stilettos. Her long locks of hair fall like waterfalls over her shoulders. Just looking at those plump lips is enough to send me raging. I don't know who she is... Colton Cruz is the best of the best, an ex-Marine, now bodyguard to the Mafia world’s elite. He is a man that lives for the rush and danger that his lifestyle brings. You might find yourself on his speed dial, but you will not be the one that will capture his heart. Trinity Stone is a spoilt brat that becomes Colton's next assignment. She is a pleasure on the eye but an absolute nightmare to be around. This lonely and misunderstood girl is the heir to the Stone Crime Family. And that is where the problem begins… Colton soon finds him desiring what he cannot have, the daughter of a Mafia Boss. How far will he go to get what he desires the most?

"You want to be free of me so badly you'll throw yourself into danger?" he asked. "I have nothing left to lose, Eddie. They already took my friends and my freedom. You keep me locked aside, and I have to watch you sleeping around even in our house. What does freedom cost when the price of staying is my soul?" "I will never divorce you, Maggie," he stated, his voice final. "You are mine, and this marriage ends when I say it ends. And not because of some childish, self-destructive tantrum." Maggie Grayson built her global empire on cold calculation and a profound need for independence. But her arranged marriage to the powerful CEO Eddie Grayson is not a union-it's a high-stakes, public prison. When Maggie's emotionally abusive family publicly humiliates her, Eddie does nothing, revealing the true nature of their toxic bond. Seeking a way out, Maggie throws herself into a scandal, only to discover Eddie isn't merely possessive; he's actively leveraging her trauma and her successful company to build a corporate dynasty that will guarantee her absolute, permanent captivity. Now, caught between a husband determined to be her "sculptor" and a father willing to destroy her company to regain control, Maggie knows the only way to break free is to turn the cold, ruthless mask she wears into a devastating weapon. She's not just fighting for a divorce; she's fighting for her very soul. To survive, Maggie must dismantle her gilded cage brick by brick, even if it means destroying the man who holds the key.

I spent five years helping my boyfriend Marco rise to the position of Don. I nearly died countless times, but I didn't care; I loved him. He used to look at me tenderly and promised to propose to me publicly at his Don succession ceremony. But on that very day, he held the hand of another Mafia Principessa Sophia Romano and announced their engagement. To completely get rid of me, Sophia pulled a stack of photos from her bag and slammed them into my face. "See for yourself! She's been sleeping around to get intel!" In the picture, I was leaning into a man's arms. I tried to explain, but Marco interrupted me. "I always knew you were lowborn, but I didn't realize you were this cheap." "Get out!" Marco pointed at the door. "Elena, you are exiled from the family. Never let me see you again." I finally saw this man for who he truly was. He was completely subservient to me when he needed my help to seize territory, but after becoming the Godfather, he needed a more distinguished Donna, and therefore no longer needed me. I sneered; they had no idea that the man in the picture was my brother, the Don of the most powerful Corleone family. Sophia’s family was nothing compared to the Corleone family. I stopped arguing and simply turned and left. But when my true identity was finally exposed, he crawled back to me, weeping and begging for my forgiveness.

Xenia Lewis, the nepotism junior, is eager to craft an image of herself as a prodigy. To prove her talent, she requests to take the lead in court. But when confronted by the plaintiff's attorney's sharp questioning, she falters. Our defense unravels, instantly putting us at a disadvantage. After the verdict is announced, Xenia tearfully throws herself into the arms of my fiance, Zayne Scott. Her voice trembles with excuses. "The plaintiff's attorney was too harsh. It was my first time in court, and I was just too nervous!" Due to her incompetence, the defendant, who could have been acquitted, ends up behind bars. Yet, Zayne and my junior colleague, Hugo Wilkinson, indulge her with comforting words. "Don't be upset. No one wins every case." "With your cleverness, Xenia, you'll surely hold your own next time." Furious, I snap, "The court is a place to seek truth and uphold justice. It's not a playground for make-believe. Because of your mistake, an innocent person has been wronged. How can you live with yourself?" Feeling humiliated, Xenia breaks down, sobbing and threatening to harm herself. Resentful that I've hurt her, Zayne and Hugo distort the truth, shifting all the blame onto me. I end up as the scapegoat for her mistakes. Not only am I forced to resign in disgrace, but I also face disbarment. With nowhere to turn, my spirit shatters. While crossing the street, distraught and distracted, I'm hit by a car and killed. Then, when I wake up, I find myself reborn on the very day Xenia and I are set to appear in court.

In a world where angels and demons clash, Detective Logan known also as Azrael, finds himself caught in a dangerous game of power and destiny. As the youngest detective in Hillburn City, his skills are unmatched and his determination is unwavering. But his purpose for returning to this world; the name Azazel, threatens to unravel everything he has worked for. Meanwhile, Azazel, the mighty ruler of the underworld, plots his next move. With his flaming red eyes and black wings, he possesses a power that surpasses all others. His anger burns like a furnace, and his possessiveness knows no bounds. Only one can tame this devil - Azrael. As the demon hunter Christopher Lee sets his sights on defeating Azazel, he realizes the magnitude of his task. No ordinary hunter can stand against the ruler of the underworld. Determined to bring justice to the world, Christopher hatches a plan to target Azazel’s most treasured possession - Azrael, the angel on his third reincarnation. In this thrilling conclusion, the destinies of Azrael, Azazel, and Christopher collide. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, alliances will be tested, powers will be unleashed, and sacrifices will be made. Who will emerge victorious in this battle between angels and demons? Can Azrael overcome his weakness for Azazel and fulfill his purpose? Will Christopher’s hunt for justice lead to the downfall of Azazel, or will it bring death and destruction to the world? In a world where darkness and light intertwine, the lines between good and evil blur. Only through strength, determination, and the power of their intertwined destinies can these three characters face their ultimate challenges. Brace yourself for a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the struggle for redemption in the face of unimaginable forces.

The next day I woke up, I am now the fiance of the Duke of Dubois Castle, or known as Lemon. “I am a demon who lives by desire and greed, you have yielded with the contract that you have exchanged with your life?” “Then what do you want?” “I want the whole of you Veta Le Blanchet, not just your blood, heart and soul, it is the whole of you.” Theroux Claude, the third prince of the kingdom. “Lady Le Blanchet, just how can you stand still this demon duke? If you ever get tired of him, you are always welcome to my palace.” Another troublesome man, my childhood friend when I was at the academy, Durand Gagnon. “I have attained this nickname not just because I follow all his Majesty’s order, but because I want to have a stronghold in the knight position so that I can support you my Lady, remember that my oath is only for you.” Then, what is my cousin thinking that he would say such things? “Sister, I have finally inherited the title of the Baron, please come back to our fief, and I will make sure to bring back the glory of our family!” As I try to relinquish the past, the more troublesome it becomes. Is clinging to the tiny bit of my life a wrong choice? And why is the temple spying on me? “Lady Le Blanchet is the only descendant of the family, you shouldn’t involve yourself farther with the Demon Duke.” “It’s done my Lady, as long as it is you, I can give everything, even if I destroy this Kingdom.” Hold on, just what on earth this demon wants from me?