Fancy Dinner

After my husband died in a car accident, I worked tirelessly running a small restaurant to raise my son, Henry. Right before Henry's wedding, I won eight million in the lottery. Thrilled, I decided to sell the restaurant and finally enjoy retirement. So, I called to tell Henry about selling the restaurant, his usually polite fiancée turned hostile. "You're not expecting us to support you, are you? We've barely started working!" She even warned Henry, "If you spend any of our money on your mom, the wedding's off!" Henry argued with her but then reassured me, promising, "You've worked hard enough, Mom. I'll take care of you." Feeling pretty good, I planned to give him two million to start a business. The next day, I got a call saying Henry had been in a serious car accident and urgently needed fifty thousand for surgery. I sent the money immediately, but afterward, Henry vanished. Desperate, I braved a storm to find him in his city, only to walk into a wedding at some fancy hotel. There's Henry, giving a toast and calling another woman "Mom." And, oh, sitting beside her? My "dead" husband from ten years ago.

The Small town of Moon-Land has a tradition that is as old as the town itself, The Mating Run. At the end of the last day of school, all graduating students (18 years old) and any unmated wolf that are between 18 and 21 are forced to attend the event. The Mating Run is like a big debutant ball for most. But far less fancy, held in a forest and with wolves instead of people in fine attires. Rose James is stuck going one last time to the dreaded event, but she knows that she won't find her mate. Because she doesn't want Alpha mate at all. "I am just going to live my life and too bad if I don't find a mate because I really don't need one. Look how Mom and Dad turned out. They mated with someone who wasn't really their mate and now they are cheating and arguing all the time. If I have to choose between being single and that, I am going to stick to the single life." "You could at least keep an open mind to meeting someone. It doesn't have you be at the Mating Run". "First don't get me started on that stupid event and it's stupider rule and second I don't want anyone, no Alpha, beta or anyone and last no one can change my mind". Rose grumbled.

Eight years after running away pregnant, I found myself crossing paths with my ex-husband, Howard Quinn. His friends stared at me in surprise. "So, this is what you have become after leaving Howard? Reduced to a cleaner?" When I was six-months pregnant, I met with an accident. While I lay there, he was staying by the side of another woman, his so-called true love, in labor, never leaving her side. When I confronted him, in pieces, he looked at me bored and impatiently. "Don't be so jealous and petty. I have no time for you. As long as you behave, you'll always be Mrs. Quinn." I couldn't stand it any longer, so I ran away, staying away for eight long years. Now, those sharp eyes glared at me. "Have you had enough? If so, come home." What he didn't know was that my husband and daughter had already made dinner, waiting for me and my son to return home.

For years, myths and legends about the Underworld revolved around the earth. The darkest, most horrible place you could ever think of. But they were just myths and legends, carvings of ancient stories. No, Hades -God of the Underworld- did not exist. No, there wasn't anyone who could rule a place like that. No, a mere person could not radiate fear and darkness. No, millions of souls certainly would never kneel down before just one person. That's what every single one of them believed in. Unless, he was an immortal of course. Like Hayden Stone. Ava Bensen, like every other sane human, did not believe in such stuff. Yes, she had a perfect life -or at least, that's what her parents wanted her to believe in. Rich parents. Beautiful looks. Caring best friends. Everything was perfect. But sometimes, people forget how perfection is just a fancy form of fear. Fear, that kills hundreds of people each day. Fear, that everyone despised and stayed away from. Fear, that could take form of the Furies, the deadliest creatures of the Underworld. Ava didn't know that. She didn't know what was coming her way. Not until she died. For real.

Vera thought she had it all. The fancy life, a loving husband, a place she could proudly call home. But it turned into a nightmare when her husband’s HER returned. She came to her breaking point after her darling husband, Anthony publicly humiliated her, threatening to jail her for confronting his mistress disguised as his business partner. Done with her husband’s excesses, she opted for divorce but Anthony taking advantage of her poor status, threatened her to stay for his benefits. Except that life opened an astounding chapter for Vera when she discovered she’s the lost daughter of the richest family in metropolis. Not only did she become the youngest of the five most powerful men in the city, they doted and swore protection to her. Now wielding so much power, Vera becomes the only link for Anthony to win the billion dollar deal with the Hudson’s which he had longed for. With tables turned, guess who knelt before Vera begging? But what makes this drama more interesting is that decisions don’t solely rest on Vera’s shoulders but Anthony has to confront her overprotective brothers who swore to ruin him for hurting their sister.

"Your highness, this is my daughter, and I offer you my loyalty." At a fancy party, I hid in a corner and watched my father, an alpha, bend over to speak to the prince on the throne, while my sister, Bernice, wore a tight, glamorous dress, sit at the prince's feet and show him a charming and smug smile. It was a reception for the Prince and for my sister to be his mate. "My girl, I got you." My cousin's disgusting voice sounded. A chill ran down my back. "You can't get it off," he said, reaching for me again. No... At the same time, there was a low cry from the banquet center. Bernice looked pale, and the prince frowned at the crowd before him. He had a Lycan oppressive aura that made everyone afraid to breathe. "Not her," said the prince, refusing even to look at Bernice. How did this happen? Isn't the Prince's mate Bernice? I hid in the corner. I wasn't in the mood to see what was going on at the party. I just wanted to get rid of the jerk in front of me. But why did the Prince look at me hiding in the corner? Oh, Moon goddess, I can't read his eyes.

The casino my husband and I ran was about to go through a chaotic police raid. Anyone who got caught would likely end up arrested. We had the time to leave. But we couldn’t all leave. One of us had to stay behind, or the cops would keep chasing us. Elias, my charming husband, didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed Mireille and left me to handle the cops, tossing over his shoulder, “I’ll send a lawyer to you.” Lucky for me, I managed to walk away without any consequences. And then, I saw, Elias, the man who was supposed to have my back, not only did escape without me, he also whisked Mireille away to some fancy resort, like they were on vacation. He looked so carefree, so unbothered. Not a hint of concern for the wife he’d just abandoned. “Think Seraphina’s gonna be mad that we left without her?” Mireille asked, all innocence. Elias laughed, that cold, detached laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “Please. As if she’d ever get mad at me. She can handle herself.” He didn’t care. But you know what? Neither do I. Not anymore.

On Valentine's Day, I set up a candlelit dinner and waited. At 9 PM, my husband, Alfred Johnston, finally texted. [Something came up at work. Don't wait for me.] Then I saw her post. [On a business trip with the CEO for Valentine's Day. Every hotel is fully booked—awkward...] Vivian Bianca, his secretary. Attached was a photo of a guy in a bathrobe, standing by a floor-to-ceiling window. The comments were all 'ooh, CEO's so hot and girl, you're in for a night.' Vivian? Just dropped a smug emoji. So that's what "something came up" meant—a romantic getaway with his secretary. I screenshotted it, posted it on my own feed, and added a smiling emoji. A second later, Alfred called, fuming. "Vivian was joking! Why are you so petty? She's young, not as calculating as you!" I didn't let him finish. "Then let's get a divorce. That way, I won't have to care when you screw around and catch something."

When Fallon Prescott returns to her parents’ mansion for what she thinks is just another family dinner, she’s blindsided by two shocking revelations: her father’s company is on the brink of collapse, and the only way to save it is to marry the last person she ever wanted to see again—Reid Callahan. Reid, the charismatic and wildly successful heir to the Callahan fortune, has no interest in marriage either. But business is business, and their parents have sealed their fate with an arrangement neither of them can escape. Determined to keep things strictly business, Fallon and Reid strike a deal: a marriage on paper with an expiration date. No love, no complications, just two years of playing the perfect couple to satisfy their families. But as they navigate awkward public appearances, nosy socialites, and unexpected sparks, Fallon starts to wonder if their arrangement is as simple as it seemed. Because Reid Callahan might just be the one man capable of breaking through her carefully guarded walls—and rewriting the rules of her heart. Can two people who swore off love find it in the most unexpected place?

Our wedding anniversary also happens to be our son's birthday. A month in advance, I carefully plan a family trip for the three of us—me, my husband, and our son. But right before we're supposed to leave, both of them suddenly disappear on me. I'm left standing alone in the pouring rain, dialing their numbers. On the other end, my son's young voice comes through, sounding cold and impatient. "Dad's having dinner with Ms. Moore. We don't want to go anymore." The call ends, and I'm blocked. Later that night, they intentionally lock me out of the house. I'm left standing in the freezing cold all night long. Soaked from the rain, I come down with a high fever and develop pneumonia. Meanwhile, my husband and son are off vacationing with Sophia Moore, smiling for a happy family photo with just the three of them. And in that moment, I know this marriage has truly come to an end.