Harsh Synonym

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!"

Lilyana Sterne is a household name in the modeling world. Beautiful, famous and from a wealthy family, Lilyana had it all. But, all of that vanished in an instant. Betrayed by her lover, caught in a scandal, Lilyana lost her career and reputation. When she was down, Lilyana was faced with a harsh reality: an arranged marriage arranged by her father. Not wanting to be tied down in a loveless marriage, Lilyana was desperate to escape. She gave up the splendor of her life and applied for a job as a babysitter. However, fate brought her to an unexpected reality. It wasn't a baby she was taking care of, but a rich, disabled Master.

"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.

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.

Silvia was taken aback when her boss, Ralph, confessed, “I am in love with you, Silvia. I want us to start our love story together.” She was shocked, especially since Ralph had been a cruel supervisor, and he was engaged to her friend, Rebecca. Silvia, born and raised in New York City, formed a close friendship with Rebecca during high school. After her father's death, she sought a job to help her mother and found a position as a cleaner at The Royal Association, where she met Ralph. Living in Ralph's mansion as a maid was challenging, but it ultimately became the backdrop for their unexpected love story. Ralph's harsh upbringing with a violent father made him brilliant yet emotionally troubled, and his realization of love for Silvia changed everything.

Lovers of dark romance/Mafia Erotica gather here! 🔞 Allison is a 21-year-old girl whose father abandoned their family years ago, leaving her to shoulder the burden of caring for her sick mother and twin siblings. She works multiple manual jobs, including as a cleaner at one of the city's most luxurious hotels, determined to make ends meet for her family. Her life takes an unexpected turn on a fateful day when she crosses paths with Clyde Butch. Clyde, a mysterious and powerful man, is in the city for business and staying at the hotel where Allison works. While cleaning his suite, Allison, sweaty and exhausted, decides to cool off in his bathtub, thinking no one would catch her. But Clyde does. Instead of anger, her bold yet innocent actions intrigue him. Seeing an opportunity, Clyde manipulates the situation to draw her into his life. He hides his true identity and makes her fall for him. But as Allison is swept into Clyde's dangerous world of bloodshed, gangs, and crime, she faces a harsh reality. Can she survive in his world of secrets and violence? Or will it break her completely?

“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.

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.

In the dark underbelly of Philadelphia, two opposing crime families—the Morgans and the Rinaldis—have maintained a tenuous peace. However, when a merciless Japanese gang executes the killings of their leaders to instigate turmoil, the equilibrium of power breaks, sending the city into a lethal battle of trickery, treachery, and vengeance. Sierra Morgan, the unacknowledged and overlooked daughter of the Morgan clan, is plunged into a perilous task: wed Dominic Rinaldi, the icy and strategic new Don of Il Condottiero, and deceive him for the sake of her vengeful half-siblings. It’s a task she cannot decline, but as Sierra enters the foe's lair, she realizes that Dominic is not the cold-hearted villain she thought he was. Underneath his harsh facade exists a man marked by grief, allegiance, and hidden truths. As their arranged marriage develops into an unforeseen situation, Sierra feels conflicted between her allegiance to her family and the increasing emotions she harbors for the man she was meant to ruin. But betrayal runs deep on both sides, and when shocking truths emerge—including a secret child, forbidden affairs, and an insidious mole within the Rinaldi clan—Sierra realizes the true enemy may not be who she thought. With bloodshed escalating and time running out, Sierra must make an impossible choice: protect the man she loves or betray him to save herself. Can love survive in a world where loyalty is bought with blood, and betrayal is just another business transaction? A story of forbidden love, power struggles, and shocking twists, this gripping tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

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?