Half-hearted Meaning

<> - Vanessa thought rock bottom was signing divorce papers with Derek Holland, a man with the emotional depth of a teaspoon. Turns out, rock bottom had a basement, and Ryker Holland was waiting for her down there with a smirk and a plan. Ryker, Derek's older half-brother (aka the family's dirty little secret), shows up offering Vanessa a deal: help her make her ex-husband, Derek Holland, jealous enough to come crawling back. In exchange, he secures his position as CEO. But Ryker isn't doing this out of kindness for he is petty and cruel. He would do anything to trample all over Derek, and now he has the perfect weapon. Vanessa, freshly dumped and just desperate enough to play along. And if she happens to enjoy making her ex suffer too? Well, that's just a bonus. As Vanessa sinks deeper into Ryker's twisted world of fake romance, secrecy and family dysfunction, things start getting real. Because fake love? It's a lot easier to control than real feelings. And Ryker has no idea what to do when the game stops being a game. Is Vanessa walking into a trap or building one of her own? Either way, the Holland brothers are going down. One's going to break, and the other's going to enjoy every second of it. _Disclaimer: This story features morally complex, flawed characters with twisted motives. It includes themes of manipulation, deception, and emotional cruelty. Reader discretion is advised.

“Be a good girl for me and come fucking closer.” Alfred’s voice was husky, and angry. It made me dizzy with sinful lust. I gulped as I obediently closed the distance between us. He inched even closer and I felt my breath hitch when his hands found my thighs and I was hosteled up, back plastered against a wall in an instant. “Who am I?” “My- my husband.” I whispered, mouth quivering. His fingers tangled in my hair, a kiss against my arched throat. “That’s right. You belong to me, and not my fucking idiotic brother. I own everything– your body, your heart and your soul. They’re all mine.” ~~~~ Bella had her life mapped out. Go to med school, graduate, make enough money to get her father and brother a better life, and fall in love. Her plans were destroyed when she found out she had been promised to a Mafia Don as a collateral for a debt. Alfred Winston was someone no sane person wanted to mess with– he was ruthless, filthily rich and very powerful; he wields authority like second nature. How is life as the wife of a Mafia’s Don going to be for Bella? It sure as hell won’t be a bump free ride when Alfred’s younger brother– Damien, was smoking hot and hell bent on heating Bella’s curvy body up with that smoke, and let’s not forget the amount of dangers lurking at every damn corner, ready to consume Bella at the slightest opportunity.

In our world, fathers sell their half-breed daughters to purebred wolves. If they don’t like you, they will resell you to someone else. And the one who turns out to be the chosen one is lucky, and she will be combined with the highest marriage. And others are destined to belong to the multitude... I was not sold; I gave myself up. Now the big bad red wolf is my master, and I am in his hands. But why does his rival look at me like I’m the juiciest piece of steak? Does he want to buy me out?

Ezekiel Richard Wright is not only charismatic, handsome, clever, and a world-class architect, but his characteristics and achievements make him more alluring. The CEO, who suffers from sleeplessness, is arrogant, cold, and distant. Chen Xiu Ying, also known as Bella Chen, is a mixed-race woman with an American mother and a Chinese father. Her family is one of China's wealthiest, owning four mansions in Peking and three in Shanghai. She is the daughter of the CEO of Chen Entertainment. She is also the brilliant, stubborn, and acrophobic president of La Bella Fashion Threads Co. What if the worlds of these two CEOs collided as a result of their parents' arrangement? Can they figure out what's behind their phobias and cure each other, or will they trigger each other's fears and end their marriage?

After being enslaved for fourteen months, she was chosen as the Prince's personal slave. Of course she's heard about him. The cold hearted prince the entire kingdom wouldn't stop gossiping about. Then, her fairytale world is crumbled to dust. All hope of freedom gone as hate flashes from all corners, together with pain and distress. How would she survive? Will there be a little glint of hope for her? Or maybe her hope is..... Encouragement is all need dear readers. I'm sure you can all give that. Join me in this exciting long ride. Thank y'all.

Charlotte Houston is a twenty years old orphaned, college dropout young adult, who lived a very poor life. She was left to cater for her siblings who were struck with a chronic disease that needed a lot of money. The menial jobs she had was barely fetching a thing, which was what made her consider surrogacy as soon as she realized the insane amount of money it could fetch... despite the fact that she had a boyfriend. While Jeffery Simmons only wanted a child because that’s a requirement that needed to be met, in order to inherit his father's wealth. Being a Surrogate, what life awaits both Charlotte and Jeffery? Would it be all roses? Or, would it be a really bumpy ride? Especially when Charlotte’s boyfriend is back in the picture and a ghost from the past that just won’t stay away.

Stacy and Jerome are trapped in a loveless contract marriage, meant to last only a few months. But a moment of weakness leads to a forbidden night of passion, resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. Stacy is now carrying Jerome's child, and her health is also at risk forcing him to abandon his plans to marry the wealthy and influential Debby, who was supposed to be his next bride. Debby, heartbroken and vengeful, refuses to accept Jerome's change of heart and is determined to destroy his marriage with Stacy. As tensions rise, Jerome must confront the consequences of his choices and decide where his true loyalties lie. Will he stand by Stacy and their unborn child, or will he succumb to Debby's wrath and risk losing everything? Who is Larry and how does he comes into the picture?

He has everything he'd always wanted and with the snap of his fingers, he gets anything he desires except for one thing... • • Ronnell Roman is a cold-hearted billionaire who owns a security company. He had everything from wealth, power, influence, smart, and even the face and body of a Greek God. He could get any girl he wanted, anytime and anywherere but there's a problem... • • Blair Damien thought that her life had ended right after her long-time college sweetheart shattered her heart. She doesn't believe in love but what if that thought changed after a memorable sexually experienced one-night stand that might change her whole life forever? • • • When Blair discovers that her long time boyfriend had been cheating on her, she was devasted. his betrayal unhinges life as she knows it. as she tries to come to terms with her new single status, she's reminded of her cold-hearted boss, Ronnell Roman, and their memorable one night that she'd rather forget. But it just happens that Ronnell is always at the right place at the right time. But then something unimaginable happens,

She died in the hands on those who claimed to love her in her first life; Her mate and her childhood best friend. With her last breath, she cursed them from the bottom of her heart, recalling bitterly how the truth always lay in front of her yet she couldn't see it. She refused to drown in despair. Then by an unexpected twist, the moon goddess gives her another chance– another shot at life, to pay back those who wronged her. And this time, amongst whispers and mockery, she walks over to the future feared Alpha King, who was at the time a humble warrior. “You're making a grave mistake, I am not the man that deserves you,” he told her, “I have a low rank, you are the gamma's daughter. Are you not afraid that they will talk?” “They can say whatever they wish, I want you.” She chooses him instead, pulling him into a world of fierce power dynamics and unexpected intrigue. Not only that, but she can't ignore the sparks between her and the man she once thought had a heart made of stone. Eventually she comes to crossroads between a love she never expected and a revenge she craved for with every inch of her being. What road will her heart tell her to take?

Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, but does not condone rape. "What happened, Father? What happened?" I asked anxiously, feeling restless. "He challenged me to a game and used his mansion as a bet," Father explained. I looked at Mother, who was crying, and suddenly understood what was going on. "Father, did you use this house as a bet and lose?" I asked, anger welling up inside me. “How could you, Father? How could you do this? Where do we go from here?" I yelled, overcome with pain. But my voice got stuck in my throat as I heard Dad's next words. "I didn't bet the house, but I used you," he declared, leaving me speechless and stunned. ***************************** "Do not even consider falling for me because, like the others, you are just a toy. Just give me an heir, and I will set you free," he said, pushing her onto the bed while his words continued to echo in her mind. Zoey, wagered by her father to the cold-hearted Alpha Ethan after a foolish gamble, finds herself reduced to a mere plaything. Ethan takes pleasure in emotionally tormenting her, believing women to be worthless due to being cheated and rejected by his first mate. Little does he know that Zoey is his second chance mate. Zoey is framed, and Alpha Ethan discovers her in bed with his cousin. Heartbroken and filled with anger, he sends her away, unaware that she is already carrying his child. Five years later, their paths cross again, and he realizes that she is his second chance mate and the mother of his child. But how can he win her back? She is no longer the naive girl he once knew; instead, she is a single mother sought after by many Alphas and Lords.