Harsh Synonym

He should have been satisfied. Lucas had dismantled the Montage Empire, reduced its legacy to ash. Arabella Montage had nothing left: no power, no family, no future. Just her name and a heartbeat he hadn’t yet taken. But when he saw her on that auction stage, trembling under harsh lights, something inside him shifted. She was being sold like livestock. A girl once untouchable, now displayed for the highest bidder. He was the architect of her ruin. And still... he bought her. She was the last remaining piece of the empire he had destroyed. And he needed to possess it. To possess her. To own the symbol of everything he had conquered. To fill the aching void that victory hadn't satisfied. She used to be a free bird. Until he clipped her wings. Now, he would remake her. Mold her. Give her purpose again, just so he could tear it all away. Break her. Destroy her, all over again. He didn’t want her dead. Anything was acceptable, as long as her heart kept beating. To her, he’s just another powerful man playing God. But one thing becomes terrifyingly clear: Lucas will keep her heart beating, just so he can be the one to crush it. Again and again

Six years after marrying Rhiannon Westley, she takes a lover. He's like a puppy—timid and clingy. He flinches at the slightest raised voice, so Rhiannon never loses her temper in front of him. But when he acts up in front of me, Rhiannon snaps. She's furious, and she gives him a harsh scolding. The next day, he sends me a photo of his neck covered in red marks. "Zane, Ms. Westley is so fierce..."

Heather's life is turned upside down when she is forced into a marriage with Prince Keith of the powerful Devontae Kingdom, a man she has never met and a kingdom filled with whispered rumors. Determined to resist her fate, Heather braces herself for a life she never chose, only to discover her new reality is far more complicated than she imagined. Keith, the enigmatic third prince of Devontae, is as cold and unwelcoming as the rumors suggest. Bound to his mysterious past and deeply loyal to another woman, he makes it clear their union is nothing more than a political formality. Yet, behind his harsh words and piercing hazel eyes lies a truth Heather never expected, Keith is not the man the world believes him to be. But even with that, everything was pulling them closer because he was her fate and she is his fate.

*Synopsis* In a world where social hierarchy and class distinctions are rigidly enforced, a forbidden romance blossoms between Freye a young slave, and Angus, one of the sons of the plantation owner. Their relationship begins as a secret affair with Angus exercising his privilege and Freye being forced into a situation she can't escape. Freye would spend her days as a slave, working tirelessly under the scorching sun and the oppressive life, and her nights warming the bed of the arrogant young master. Freye could not describe their relationship nor could she refuse the very handsome man. Angus is as intimidating as he is calm, as devious as he is pompous. However, as they navigate the complexities of their feelings for each other, they begin to challenge the societal norms that govern their lives. Especially when threats arise against their secret affairs. When Freye becomes pregnant, Angus is torn between his passion for his unborn child and his deep-seated prejudice against the child's heritage. As the pregnancy advances, Freye finds her own strength and agency, refusing to be bound by the expectations of those around her. As they face the consequences of their actions, Freye and Angus must confront the harsh realities of their world and the secrets they've kept hidden. Will their love be enough to overcome the obstacles in their path, or will the societal norms and expectations tear them apart? This novel explores themes of love, power, and identity, delving into the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which society can suffocate us.

A week after I gave birth via C-section, Mark Whitman invited his friends over to celebrate the birth of our son. The crowd was boisterous—more than a dozen people. Not one of them bothered to remove their dirty shoes. The wooden floor was soon covered in muddy footprints. Mark came into the room and, without a hint of concern, ordered me out of bed. "Everyone's waiting outside. Don't just hide here and rest—you're embarrassing me in front of our guests." I had no choice but to push through the pain, forcing my body to prepare a huge meal for the large crowd, all on my own. When I carried the final bowl of steaming soup to the table, Lily Hoyte—whether intentionally or not—jabbed her hand against the wound on my abdomen. My hand trembled from the sudden pain, and the bowl slipped slightly, spilling the hot soup onto Lily's shoes. Mark's face darkened instantly. "What the heck did you do, Cammy? Lily rushed here right after her plane landed from overseas to see our son, and this is how you treat her?" The crowd quickly chimed in. "Come on, Cammy, no need to be so petty." "Mark and Lily grew up together. If there was really something between them, do you think you'd even be here now?" "Do you even know how much those shoes cost? They're limited edition—easily over ten thousand dollars. And you just ruined them." Lily stood up awkwardly, her eyes misting with tears. "If Cammy doesn't like me," she said softly, "then I'll leave. I don't want to be a bother." But Mark grabbed her hand in an exaggerated display of protection, his voice harsh as he turned to me. "Wipe Lily's shoes clean. Right now." His partiality for Lily made something sharp twist in my chest. My lips quivered as I fought back tears. "The wound on my stomach hasn't healed yet. I can't bend over." At that, his expression grew colder. "Don't use childbirth as an excuse. If you can't bend over, then kneel and wipe them. And if you won't, get out of my house!"

Marriage, to me, was a sacred vow - not a business proposition. Yet, that's exactly what Hayes Caldwell, the enigmatic billionaire, offered: $200,000 to wear his ring. Just 24 hours prior, my world crashed down. Fired from my job after pouring years into a project, I sought solace in the bottom of a bottle. That's when our paths crossed, and the night blurred into reckless passion. But morning brought a harsh reality: our intimate encounter had gone viral. Hayes's solution? A contract marriage to salvage our reputations. I hesitated, but desperation won out. Agreeing to his terms, I sealed my fate. Little did I know, the line between pretense and reality would soon blur, threatening to consume us both. Hop into this ride with me… let’s see how the story unfolds.

Title: Whispers of Frost and Fire Author: Seraphina Belladona Synopsis: Aurelia had always been certain about one thing: she and Jeremy Philings were meant to be. As the captain of the cheerleading squad, daughter of the Ravenclaw pack’s beta, and a beloved figure in her pack’s community, everything seemed to fall into place. With Jeremy, the captain of the football team and soon-to-be alpha, by her side, Aurelia was sure that their bond would be sealed on his 18th birthday. The moment they’d been waiting for—the moment when the goddess would confirm their mate bond—was just around the corner. But when midnight strikes on Jeremy’s birthday, everything changes.As the clock chimes, Jeremy’s wolf emerges, his eyes locking onto Aurelia with a chilling coldness that shatters her world. With a single, harsh command, “Move,” he pushes her aside and walks straight toward Shanika Mason, the graceful, confident captain of the soccer team—and the daughter of the first Gamma couple. The girl he has chosen as his mate. Devastated and humiliated, Aurelia flees the celebration, unable to comprehend how the life she’d imagined for years has evaporated in an instant. In her pain, Aurelia is forced to confront the cold truth: she is not the one Jeremy wants, and she must find a way to heal from the heartbreak of losing her mate. But Aurelia’s journey is far from over. Sent to her mother’s old pack in the frozen wilderness of Alaska to escape the painful memories, Aurelia begins to unravel the mysteries of her own past. The Foraker Mountain pack is everything her former home was not—rugged, cold, and steeped in ancient traditions—but it’s here, in the frozen lands of Chase, that Aurelia discovers the truth about her lineage.

"You never had a choice, Cassia. But now, the choice is yours." Cassia’s life was never her own. The daughter of a powerless Omega, she was bound by a cruel fate—married off to Alpha Lucien, a man twice her age and cold with dominance. Her mother’s brutal murder at the hands of her stepmother only deepened her misery, leaving her with no protection in a world ruled by ruthless power. Lucien’s cruel indifference burned at her soul, yet there was something about him, something beneath his harsh exterior that seemed to pull at her. But Cassia would not break. Forced into submission, she found the strength to fight. A mysterious ally within the pack emerged, offering help when all hope seemed lost. Through pain and struggle, she began unlocking powers deep within her—powers that her stepmother’s curse had suppressed for years. Her journey to self-discovery and freedom was just beginning, but it came at a cost. Should she seek revenge on the man who tormented her, or embrace the freedom she so desperately craved? And what of Lucien—could the man who caused her so much pain truly change, or was he beyond redemption? As the stakes grew higher, so did the tension between them. With enemies closing in from all sides, Cassia’s decision could change everything. Her true power was awakening, and with it, a choice that would either break her or set her free. Will she escape the chains of her past? Read now to discover Cassia’s journey toward freedom, love, and a destiny that is hers to claim.

“Five minutes,” Dominic said, his voice low and desperate. “That’s all you have to walk out of my life. Don’t pack a thing—I’ll give you everything you need. Just go… because if you don’t, I swear, I’ll never let you go. Ever.” I froze, my heart pounding. His words were harsh and final. But then I saw it, the way his hands slightly tremble, and the way his chest rose and fell too quickly. He’s shaking. He’s not just pushing me away. He’s terrified. Terrified of himself and of what he might do. A slow smile tugged at my lips as I placed my hand over his heart, feeling the hurried rhythm beneath my palm. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t want to go,” I whisper. “I want to be with you.” Something inside him snapped. Dominic grabbed me, crushed me against him in a desperate, almost broken embrace. His arms tightened like he’s afraid I’ll disappear, his breath shuddered as he buried his face in my neck. He clinged to me like I’m the only thing keeping him in the world. And I hold him just as tightly, because I’m not afraid. ****** When Sophie Carter caught her husband, Ethan Koleman sleeping with his secretary, she expected an explanation or even an apology, but instead, she was slammed with divorce papers and an eight year sentence in jail. What did she do? Ethan accused her of attempted murder. Four years in jail, an offer is presented to her by her husband’s biggest rival, Dominic Hayes. “Marry me and I’ll help you take revenge.” Of course, she takes it. But never did she expect to discover a shocking secret about Dominic that broke her.

Evangeline, 42, never imagined love would find her again, especially with John Robert, a vibrant 32-year-old man who makes her feel young and alive. But their blossoming romance faces the harsh judgment of society and their own insecurities about their ten-year age gap. Can they overcome the challenges and prove that love isn't bound by age, or will their differences drive them apart?