Grim Expression

Tamara Winslow stands amid the crowd while clutching two different documents in her hand. One of them shows a diagnosis report on her alexithymia, while the other showcases a divorce agreement. Three hours ago, she had specifically visited the Clerk's Office because the hospital's system had shown her marital status as "divorced". The city clerk looks up at her. "Ma'am, it's true that you and Mr. Braxton Merrick got divorced three years ago." Tamara's expression freezes on her face. "How could that be? We got married three years ago!" The city clerk checks the details once again. This time, he adapts a rather awkward tone. "The results are correct. It's true that you got divorced three years ago. In fact, it took place… on the seventh second right after you got married…"

On my wedding day, my groom's sister, Nadia Lawson, wears an elaborate ball gown and comes on stage to snatch the emcee's microphone. Before all the guests, she arrogantly says to me, "Can't you see the princess is here? Why didn't you curtsy and greet me? You deserve to be punished! Get on your knees and prostrate yourself before me as an apology!" My expression sours at her insolence. I turn around only to see the indulgent expressions on her parents' faces. The groom, Bowen Lawson, says dotingly, "We spoiled Nad silly since she was a child. You are her sister-in-law now. Don't make things hard for her." I am so mad that I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The clown thinks she's a princess, asking me to kneel before her? Ridiculous.

Kathryn Michaels is a country bumpkin with an honest personality. She's also a timid woman who tends to make careless mistakes at work. Just one glare can easily make her burst into tears. Chris Albert is the most well-known man in Harborlean. He's a cruel and bloodthirsty man with a penchant for brutal and inhuman methods. No woman dares to pine after him even though he's blessed with gorgeous looks. Unexpectedly, a woman actually manages to sneak into his room and sleep with him while he's drunk! Just as Chris scours the world for the mysterious woman, he realizes that his secretary is putting on more weight each passing day. With a dark expression on his face, he coaxes, "Tell me, Kathy. Were you the woman from that night?" Kathryn meets the dangerous man's eyes before shrinking away from him in fright. "N—No!"

The powerful Will Hudson, Bardou City's untouchable kingmaker, was set to marry my sister. Everyone said he was a monster, a man broken in body and mind, that marrying him was no different from stepping into hell itself. My sister, Carrie Wheaton, wept as if her heart would break. I pulled her aside and said, "I'll marry him for you. But in return, you'll stay in the countryside and guard the safe buried beneath Mom's grave. For three years, you mustn't open it." She thought it held a fortune—billions, perhaps—and joy lit up her face. She agreed without hesitation. I watched her greedy expression twist with excitement and couldn't help the cold smile that rose within me. 'Carrie, guard it well. Let's see if you can handle the kind of fortune that can destroy you.'

My fiancé, Owen Lockhart, came from old money. He kept a canary in a gilded cage, spoiling her rotten. Just as I was about to break off the engagement with him, a barrage of comments suddenly popped up in my mind. [What did Owen do wrong? He just wanted to get your attention.] [Don't break up with him. All you need to do is shed a few tears, and he'll give you everything.] I turned my head, and through the window, I saw the canary in her high-end jewelry, smiling brightly as she hooked her arm around Owen's. He lazily lowered his eyes, yet his expression held a hint of indifference mixed with a subtle affection. I smiled bitterly, replying to the lawyer's message: [Go on with drafting the engagement annulment agreement.]

Peter's eyes pleaded. "I'm sorry for what I did, but—" Dominic cut him off. "If I had not married your daughter, you would have fallen here in pieces by now." Peter's voice barely audible. "I'm sorry..." Just then, the office door swung open. Valerie's soft voice interrupted the tense scene. "Dinner is ready." Every head turned towards the door. Valerie's eyes widened as she took in the room's atmosphere. "Dad?" Dominic's expression remained stern, but a flicker of warning flashed in his eyes. He nodded subtly at Kael. Kael strode towards Valerie, his movements fluid. "Vel, let's go." Valerie's voice trembled as she asked Kael, "What's going on? Why is Dad kneeling there?" Kael's expression softened, but his eyes remained guarded. He offered a gentle smile. "You don't need to worry about him, Valerie." Valerie's concern deepened. "But what's happening?" Kael's tone turned cold. "Anyway, that man doesn't deserve anyone's concern." Valerie's eyes widened. "That man is my father." Kael's jaw clenched. "That man was neither a good father nor an honest man. He's getting what he deserves." Suddenly, the sound of a bullet firing cracked through the air. Valerie's eyes went wide, and she took a step forward, but Kael grasped her hand, holding her back. "Don't go there, Valerie," Kael warned, his voice low and urgent. "The boss is very pissed off right now. It's not safe." Tears welled up in Valerie's eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "He was my father," she whispered. Valerie, wife of mafia king Dominic, faces danger when Viktor, seeking revenge, targets her and their unborn child. Despite Arthur's protection, Valerie is kidnapped and brutally attacked by Viktor, resulting in the loss of her child. The tragedy unleashes Dominic's darker side, transforming him into a heartless and cruel leader, driven by vengeance.

(Royal Beta Brum and Dragon Princess Zisealer's story) A dragon king’s first child should be a son, if not, that child is killed. My mother said no when the men came with their sharp swords to butcher me alive and she paid with her life. I am a warrior, I can fight my wars but not this one. My younger brother wants me dead because I am a threat when it comes to the throne and to protect me, my father forces me to mate with a werewolf royal beta. One look at him and I know nothing but heartache awaits me. He looks at me but doesn't see me. It seems he doesn’t even see the world. His dark haunted eyes are dead with nothing but dread and such coldness pouring from him. There is no one I hate more than him—the sexy, cold, and heartless Beta who dominates my dreams and leaves me burning with want and need for him. Fate has other plans for us as I wake up on a mountain having been brutally gutted to death. The grim reaper wracks havoc in our lives, a war breaks out and blood is all that flaws. This is book 3 in the ‘Royally screwed’ series. Book 1: The Royally Screwed Luna Book 2: The Royally Screwed Queen

Catrina Lombardi never chose Vincenzo Morgano’s world; it seized her. Dragged into the dangerous orbit of a ruthless loan shark and sex club owner, Catrina becomes a woman trapped between survival and desire. Vincenzo is cold, dominant, and untouchable, yet the more she resists him, the deeper she sinks into his control… and his bed. But Catrina’s heart belongs to a different battle. Her daughter lies strapped to machines, fighting for her life, and every choice Catrina makes is a desperate gamble to save her. The intrusion of Julian St. Clair splinters her world into a thousand jagged edges. Mistaking Catrina for his missing fiancée, Maria De La Fonte, Julian becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, unaware that loving Catrina may cost him more than answers. As the tension grows between them, Catrina finds herself torn between the seductive pull of Julian's world and the grim reality of her daughter's condition. Each moment spent with him deepens her turmoil, forcing her to confront not only her past but also the future she desperately hopes to secure. Caught in a web of lies, hidden identities, and dangerous passion, Catrina must decide: Is love worth the price when every man wants to claim her, and every truth could destroy her?

Lisandra is a She Wolf that had been through what has been nothing short of a Living Hell. Having watched her best friend murder her Father in a Pack Challenge to become the Alpha of the largest pack in the Simmerian Forest, she had to endure years of servitude at the hands of the very people who she had thought she could trust the most, and used as bait in a deadly game of chase for the Pack's amusement. It was on one such game that she found her chance of escape from the Alpha that had tormented her for so long. Luckily, (or unluckily) in the course of her attaining the freedom she had yearned so much for, she finds herself in the paws of yet another Alpha. Terren has been called many names through all his life. Bastard, Murderer, Devilspawn, Alpha. To the Lycans in the Simmerian Forest, the very name Silver Wolf is synonymous with The Grim Reaper, and is yet another moniker he has earned for himself for all the dozens of bodies he has ripped to shreds with his fangs and claws. But the moment he locks eyes with the most beautiful pair he ever had the fortune to behold, he realizes that he is about to have yet another name to go by...Mate It was never his intention to mate. In fact, he went out of his way to prevent that exact scenario. But when it does happen, the Terror of the Forest abandons all thought of resisting the bond and wields all of his considerable power to make her his forever.

My husband, Samuel Crawford, made an excuse about attending a company business meeting and refused to participate in our daughter's school activity. He also suggested that we should not participate either. Seeing my daughter's disappointment, I decided to take her myself. As soon as we entered the school, I spotted Samuel sitting on the stage with his ex-girlfriend, Monica Sterling, and her son. They looked intimate, appearing every bit like a perfect family of three. Samuel spoke confidently into the microphone about achieving family harmony and career success. Throughout his speech, he occasionally exchanged glances and smiles with Monica. The audience applauded enthusiastically. Samuel's expression grew increasingly smug, and even the little boy beside him wore an arrogant look. Soon the Q&A session came. I then grabbed the microphone and asked, "Mr. Crawford, when did you have a son? Does your wife know about this?"