Grim Expression

The new intern always claimed to have the company’s best interests at heart, but her actions told a different story. To cut costs, she secretly swapped the two-thousand-dollar gift basket I had prepared for a client with a knockoff version she bought online for just two dollars, shipping included. During a critical overtime session, she turned off the power to save on electricity. Then, she boldly suggested canceling the company’s annual holiday leave. With a self-righteous expression, she declared, “The company doesn’t support freeloaders. I believe the holiday season is the perfect time to boost sales. I propose everyone work unpaid overtime and dedicate themselves selflessly to the company!” While the employees grumbled in frustration, I stepped up to refute her absurd suggestion and spoke out on behalf of the team. But instead of backing down, she accused me of embezzlement in front of everyone and recommended to the boss that I be fired. The shocking part? The boss agreed. Fine. If that was how they wanted it, I couldn’t wait to see how the company would function without me.

At Sullivan Group's annual banquet, a female university student approaches Peter Sullivan and offers herself to him. The usually cold and distant Peter suddenly freezes because this young woman looks exactly like his deceased first love. He can't help but tease, "You're asking to be my mistress in front of my wife. Are you so sure you won't be thrown out?" The young lady lifts her chin, and her stubborn expression is identical to that of his lost love. "You two got married for business reasons and mutual benefits. Does she have any say over what you do? Peter, only you can save my mom. Will you do it or not?" She's right. I'm just a pawn in a marriage of convenience. How could I possibly influence Peter's choices? But then, I catch a glint of tenderness in his eyes that I've never seen before, and a self-deprecating smile forms on my lips. Maybe, instead of clinging on and being thrown out like trash, it's better if I give up my place willingly.

I suddenly got a call from the police, telling me I was involved in an abandoned baby case. My best buddy was holding me up as we rushed to the scene when Shirley Dunn, the girl who had asked me for directions last week, suddenly pointed straight at me. "That's her. I saw her this morning, holding her stomach, going into the restroom! Now the baby's been born, and her belly's flat!" I was completely stunned. Before I could react, she shoved the newborn straight into my arms. "This is your own flesh and blood! How could you abandon him?" The officer's expression was equally severe. "Miss, I understand that becoming a mother at 20 can be scary, but abandoning a baby is a crime. If you didn't want to raise a child, you shouldn't have had one." More and more college students gathered around, their stares stabbing into me like needles. Cold sweat soaked my back. My best friend suddenly burst out laughing. "Congrats, man! You're a dad now!"

"I said, what if I want to spend unnecessarily on you and your daughter?" Sebastian whispered, placing his hand on the small of my back and drawing me closer to himself. My breath hitched, my blood catching fire the moment my body hit his and my toes curled. His eyes pierced into mine as if they were searching my soul, wanting to see past all my guards and defences. "What if I want to spoil you? What if I want to give you everything you want? What if I want to make sure you don't lack anything you ever desired? What if I want to place the world at your feet? Will you let me, Aurora?" ~~~~~ Divorced and disowned on the same day, I simply decided to end my life.   But I didn't think I'd save a man from doing the same, nor did I expect him to give me a reason to live.   Five years later, my life hasn't gotten better. I'm drowning in debt and trying so hard to give my daughter a healthy life, but it's not enough.   Everything appears to be grim until the enigmatic billionaire Sebastian Warners unexpectedly enters my life and offers me everything I want on a silver platter for nearly nothing.   Why?   Why is a stranger so insistent on helping me? And what will I do when the past I had frantically tried to bury reappears?   Can true love, in which I had lost all hope, save the day, or will my entire life go up in flames again?  

Don Matteo DiCarlo is a ruthless mafia lord, feared across the city for his power and cold heart. When a wealthy businessman, Richard Thornton, defaults on a large loan, Matteo is dispatched to collect the debt. Upon arriving at Thornton’s mansion, Matteo is met with the grim realization that the once-wealthy tycoon is now nothing more than a broke fool, living far beyond his means by borrowing money from the wrong people. Desperate to save face, Richard offers his most precious asset—his daughter, Isabella—as payment. Matteo is initially repulsed by the idea. Isabella is soft, delicate, and far too weak for someone like him. She's the very picture of vulnerability, and Matteo has no patience for weakness. However, as the days pass and Matteo spends more time in her presence, he finds himself drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Isabella, though fragile in appearance, hides a fierce resilience beneath her gentle exterior. The more Matteo tries to keep his distance, the more he’s tempted by the soft touch of her skin, the innocence in her eyes, and the way she challenges his cold exterior without even trying. As their relationship heats up, Matteo must battle his growing attraction to the woman he initially deemed unworthy. But Isabella has her own secrets and desires, and the line between debt and desire begins to blur as their chemistry intensifies, testing both their limits. In a world of power, corruption, and deceit, will Matteo be able to claim what is his without losing himself in the process? Or will Isabella be the one to change the Don’s heart forever?

On their fourth wedding anniversary, Elise Livington tells her husband, Victor Gardner, that she wants a divorce. Victor's expression darkens, and his gaze goes sharp. "It's all because I was accompanying Quinn when she was in labor instead of spending time with you, huh?" Elise replies, "That's right." Over the past four years, Victor has been traveling between Domavia and Maeveria. During the countless times Elise needs him the most, he's always seen accompanying Quinn, his older brother's widow, and her child, Daniel Gardner. Three days ago, Quinn returned to Domavia. She and Elise accidentally fell into the pool together. However, Victor's immediate response was to save Quinn first. When Elise was wrongly accused of hurting Daniel and was forced to kneel on the pebblestone path, Victor outright ignored her plight. Elise has been in love with him for eight years. Never once has she doubted his love for her. But now, for the first time ever, she begins doubting the love she has for him. "That's enough." Victor rips the divorce agreement apart. "I'm doing this for Vaughn's son. I won't spend time with them anymore, if that's what you want." Elise merely says, "If you shred one document, I'll just print another one. We'll keep this cycle going until you sign the papers." The cold glint in Victor's eyes is instantly replaced by shock. He quickly grabs Elise's hand afterward. "You've been with me for eight years—from the time we started dating till we finally got married. Can you even bear to let this relationship go once and for all?" Elise draws her hand out of Victor's grip calmly. "It's always possible to let anything go." … To Victor, the notion of the Earth being flat is more possible than the idea of Elise divorcing him. They have been together for eight long years, after all. There was once when Elise kneeled outside the Gardner residence in the downpour just so she could get married to him. Heck, she even gave up on the opportunity to further her studies abroad. She has sacrificed this much for his sake! How can she ever bear to leave him? But when Victor receives the divorce certificate, he's left stunned. In the countless days after that, he lets go of his ego and pride as he sinks to one knee outside Elise's residence, his expression filled with plea. "Please, Elise… Please open the door and let me in…"

"Why did you come here dressed like this? I thought I bought a dress for you!!" Ethan's voice rang out, filled with irritation and frustration. Ashley looked around nervously before quickly covering Ethan's mouth with her palm, trying to shush him. "I am sorry, I misplaced the cloth..." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Grandpa Ben sat in the back, watching the exchange with a stern expression on his face. He had expected Ethan to arrive with his fiancé, and instead he was greeted with this madwoman. Ashley had known that borrowing money from Ethan's company was a risk, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She had two options: either marry the CEO to pay back her debt, or come up with the money by the next day. As she stood in front of Ethan, she couldn't help but feel like a fraud, knowing that the person he believed her to be was just a figment of her imagination. Now, with everything on the line, Ashley must decide whether to reveal the truth about her fake persona to Ethan and risk losing everything, or continue on living this lie.

I was setting up a weekend shopping list on the tablet my husband had just replaced for our home system. A notification popped up. He had forgotten to log out of a shared, encrypted family calendar— one I didn’t recognize. There was only one unfamiliar profile photo. I tapped it. A list titled “My Little Princess – Personal Notes” filled the screen. My Little Princess doesn’t drink alcohol—only mineral water or herbal tea. No late nights. She needs absolute quiet to sleep. She gets anxious easily—keep fresh white lilies in the house and her favorite vanilla chocolates on hand. I scrolled slowly, my expression unreadable. The final entry was bolded. Highlighted. “Next Wednesday: take my Little Princess to choose her wedding crown.” I closed the screen. Then I picked up my phone and called my husband. “Love,” I said gently. “Does your Little Princess prefer a classic European bridal crown… or something more traditional? I thought I could help you choose.”

At the Mercer family's annual dinner, I accidentally wore a couture gown that belonged to Lucian's late wife. The eight-year-old boy I had raised myself, in front of every key member of the Family, threw a glass of expensive red wine all over my pure white dress. He just stood there, his cold, condescending expression a mirror of his father's. "Don't think you can become the mistress of this house just by dressing like my Mamma." "I swear, when I'm old enough to take over the family business, I'll make you disappear for good!" The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, clinging to my skin. But I felt nothing. My heart had frozen solid the moment I signed my life away eight years ago. I looked at the child I had raised as my own for eight years. There was no anger. The faintest smile touched my lips. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "You won't have to wait that long, my little lion. I'm leaving, and it will be very soon."

Blurb Five years ago, the 18-year-old Mia was the most naive Italian teenager ever. The people she trusted took away her inheritance, identity, and fiance. Finally, she was thrown into the bed of a stranger. That night changed everything in her life. Five years later, she returned to Italy as a world-class model with a secret child. "Mommy, take a quick peek at that handsome uncle", the small girl with a ponytail cupped her cheeks and had a dreamy look on her face. Mia sighed and replied, "Chiara, don't forget our agreement. Anyway, that stranger is not half as handsome as your Dad". The said stranger had a darkened expression on his face. His subordinates felt the urge to laugh but his oppressive aura wouldn't let them do it. That was the first time their boss met a woman who wasn't afraid of offending him. Mia's goals upon her return are only three. One, bring down her enemies and take back her inheritance. Two, Restore her identity as an Arturo. Three, Find the man from that night. What if fate has other plans for her?