Helping Drawings

For eight years, I stayed by John Harlem's side, even without a title. I was there when he recovered and rose from his wheelchair, and I was there when he clawed his way out of depression. I thought that one day, if I endured long enough, he would see my sincerity and affection for him. And we might end up together. But when his first love returned to the country, all my hopes turned into delusions. He told me to put away feelings I should never have had and remain by his side as nothing more than his "sister". For her, he deceived me, humiliated me, and pushed me away. What he never knew was that in helping him heal, I had absorbed far too much of his darkness. The very day he stopped taking his medication, I was diagnosed with severe depression. In order to save myself, I chose to let him go… and married his uncle instead. But at my wedding, he set aside his pride and dignity, dropped to his knees before everyone, and begged me for nothing more than a single glance.

Samira looked into his eyes, trying to figure out if he was joking. Seeing only calmness, she nodded, desperate to get out of the situation she'd found herself in. "Your performance..." "You want me to sleep with you?" she interrupted, unable to believe her ears. He poked her head gently. "Is that what your little mind keeps telling you? I don't hate the idea of making love to you, but I can't do it without your permission. And that doesn't mean I'm willing to let you go." "Then what do you mean?" He tightened his grip on her waist, causing her thighs to grind against his growing arousal. He groaned loudly, his breath ragged as he palmed her ass cheeks. Her short dress was not helping matters. "I don't love wild women in my bed," he said. Samira knew he was lying. He wanted her to act wild so he could keep her forever. An idea popped into her mind, and she didn’t hesitate to put it into action. "How about we confirm your theory of the ideal woman in the room?"

My best friend and I married into the same ultra-wealthy family. I married the genius doctor older brother, she married the cold and proud CEO younger brother. On the day of our wedding, Julian Long did not show up. He had gone to help his long-lost love find her missing dog. My grandmother was so upset she had a heart attack. I begged him to come back and save her. He said angrily, “Are you insane, Molly Shane? How could you lie using your only family’s life to drag me back? Sunny’s dog went missing, and I’m helping her look for it. We can have our wedding some other day.” That day, he found her dog, but I lost my grandmother forever. I cried until I passed out. When I woke up, I turned to my bestie. “Evie, I’m getting a divorce. What about you?” My bestie hugged me and wept. “I’m getting a divorce too!” The brothers’ eyes went red with tears when they received the divorce papers.

My roommate beamed with pride as she told me a horrifying secret: she had allowed a wealthy businessman to "remove" her unborn child, claiming he absorbed the baby’s fortune in exchange for a hefty payout. Chills ran down my spine. I urged her to stop meddling with such dark dealings before it destroyed her, but she wouldn’t listen. Instead, she threw herself into it, addicted to helping people "transfer luck" for money. Her luck ran out when she contracted a mysterious disease. When her boyfriend found out, she turned on me, tearfully accusing me of tying her to another man’s bed. Before I could even defend myself, an enraged man ran me down with his car. The next thing I knew, I woke up to find myself back in time. My roommate was leaning in close, her eyes glinting with excitement as she whispered, asking if I wanted to join her "luck transfer" schemes. This time, I wasn’t taking any chances. I noticed the slight swell of her belly and immediately sent a text to her boyfriend: "Congrats! You’re going to be a dad!"

An alpha protects them all… At least, a real one does. Twelve years ago friend and fellow alpha, Hunter and Melina Blue, lost their lives when their beta orchestrated a massive coup. Ten years ago Alpha Demetri Black was forced to close his borders to keep the violent rogues that took over at bay. Today, the original members of the Blue Ridge pack are dwindling and fear for their lives. Desperate for an alpha to help them, they dare to cross the border into the territory of a killer, at least that’s what Alpha Black is rumored to be; merciless. It’s only when his son attacks and severely injures the remaining member of Blue Ridge’s warriors that the pack’s trespassing comes to Demetri’s attention as does Damian’s deep hatred for helping the pack that couldn’t help themselves. Will Damian’s attitude change when he discovers the truth behind the Blue Ridge pack? Will Alpha Demetri be the alpha they need? The one who protects them all? Welcome back to the Crimson Dawn pack with the third emotional book in the series. Content warning: This book contains descriptions of mental, physical and sexual abuse that sensitive readers may find disturbing. For adult readers only.

Elena Marquez has always lived a quiet life, caring for her little brother and helping her mother keep their small family shop alive. But peace has a price, and her late father’s debts have begun to circle back like vultures. When the DeLuca family — the most feared mafia clan in the city — comes to collect, Elena is forced into their world. There, she meets Adrian DeLuca, the infamous heir to the DeLuca empire. Cold, calculating, and dangerous, Adrian is everything she should fear — but something in his eyes unsettles her. What neither of them know is that Adrian’s father — the powerful Don Vittorio DeLuca — is the man responsible for her father’s death. As Elena is drawn deeper into the DeLuca world, tension turns to reluctant trust, and trust slowly burns into something far more dangerous — love. But when the truth comes to light, Elena must decide if she can ever forgive the blood that runs through Adrian’s veins… and Adrian must choose whether to remain his father’s heir, or burn everything down to protect the woman he loves. A story of love, vengeance, and power, Mafia’s Heir is a slow-burn, heart-wrenching romance that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

In my previous life, I was betrothed to my childhood sweetheart, Zachary York, yet he fell for our junior, Tracy Graham, and planned to elope with her. I told his parents of their plan and asked for canceling our engagement. Yet, under their "persuasion", I lay with Zachary while he was unconscious from the drug's effects. That very night, Tracy, who had waited for him at the station, was murdered by a vagrant. I thought Zachary would rage against me. However, he merely said everyone was tied to their own destiny. He even proposed marriage to me at once. I was ecstatic, but on the night I had longed for most, he shoved me into a room filled with men. I begged him desperately to let me go, but his face twisted with hatred. "You should taste the suffering that Trace endured. If not for your jealousy, she would be my bride now!" In the end, I was brutalized to death. Because of Zachary, I was marked as the vilest woman in Riveria, denied even a shred of honor after death. Reborn, I wake to find myself on the very day of their planned elopement. This time, I'm not exposing their plan to elope. I'll even lend them a helping hand.

"And if they take me?" His eyes were burning embers of wrath. "Then I will burn the whole damn world to get you back." **** Bianca Fiori has never backed down from a fight. But she faces her toughest opponent yet in the image of her new stepbrother, the don of the entire Italian mafia, who is intent on stoking the fire between them and seems to trigger a burning desire for him in her. Andre DiMarco has never met a single person that pushed his buttons the way his new stepsister does. With a deadly enemy knocking on his door, the last thing he needs is a rebellious airhead to look after and the undeniable desire welling in his stomach at the sight or thought of her is not helping matters. It's not long before they give in to their lust and passion, playing a lethal game where they go at each other's throats in public but tangle in the sheets behind closed doors. With secrets, lies, betrayal and an impending mafia war, things are quickly becoming a bloodbath. When his enemies realize just how soft a spot he has for his new stepsister, they begin to come for her. And Bianca is about to find out just how far her stepbrother will go to protect what's his

"It's just for a few hours. Please, help me out." Lilian said. Her voice pleading, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears but she didn't break down in front of a random stranger. "Why would I?" Shane said coldly. Helping a stranger wasn't one of his virtues. "I will pay the price." Lilian said desperately. "Please, do me the favour." Shane stared at the girl standing in front of him. She really didn't seem to know him otherwise she wouldn't have mentioned about paying him. And looking at her, what possibly could she pay him! As if reading his mind, Lilian spoke up, "I will do whatever you ask me to do after this." Shane gave her an impassive expression before he asked, "Do I have your words on this?" "It's a deal." Lilian said not thinking much about what she was binding herself to. She never had a clear sky and was already at the dead end anyway. So, what worse possibly be awaiting her! Little did she know how Shane would be taking her up on that offer!

I had been married for seven years when I invited my widowed stepsister, Mable Stark, to stay with us for a while. I never imagined I'd catch her flirting with my husband, Lester Kaine, on our balcony. Blinded by rage, I chose to end it all for the three of us. But when I open my eyes again, I'm back on Valentine's Day—the day she and I both fall into the water. This time, Lester doesn't hesitate to save Mable. Then, he hires paparazzi to take photos of me in explicit angles just to ruin my reputation. With my name dragged through the mud, my dad cuts all ties with me. Four years later, Lester returns as a world-renowned lawyer with the pregnant Mable. They cling to each other like an enviable, loving couple. When Lester spots me singing in a private lounge, he starts mocking me. "Erica, four years have gone by, and you've ended up singing in bars. "If you'd just admit you were wrong, I might consider helping you find a better job. You shouldn't have to waste away in a place like this."