Hidden Behind A Smile

Nalia Mensah came to London with one goal: finish university and build a better life for her younger sister. Love was never part of the plan. But everything changes the night she meets Adrian Volkov. Adrian is powerful, mysterious, and dangerously captivating. To the university, he is a wealthy benefactor funding new programs. To the criminal world, he is the ruthless heir to a powerful empire. When their paths cross on campus, the attraction between them is immediate and impossible to ignore. What begins as stolen conversations in quiet libraries and late-night walks through London quickly grows into a passionate connection neither of them expected. Adrian is drawn to Nalia’s intelligence and quiet strength, while Nalia finds herself falling for the one man everyone warns her to avoid. But Adrian is hiding a truth that could destroy everything between them. Years ago, Nalia’s father was tied to Adrian’s criminal family, leaving behind secrets that powerful enemies still want to uncover. As danger closes in, Nalia becomes a target in a war she never knew existed. Betrayal from friends, threats from rival crime bosses, and a hidden past force her to question everything she believed about love and loyalty. Now Adrian must decide what matters more: the empire he was born to rule or the woman who has become his greatest weakness.

Join Xandra and Liam on an exciting journey as they embark on a challenging investigation into the mysterious disappearance of seven young girls in North Carolina. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a complex network of lies and corruption within the local community. With each new discovery, their understanding of the situation becomes clearer, and they begin to realize that their destinies are intertwined in ways they could never have anticipated. Witness the captivating story of self-discovery and passion that unfolds throughout the Hidden Souls Trilogy. Part One: Resurrection of Sin Part Two: Descendants of Arcos Part Three: Fury of Five

R18+ (Romance/Thriller) What Lesley applied for at Maridona Nobles Asylum is the position of a part-time janitress. However, aside from cleaning, she was also forced to cook and care for the most fearsome, violent, and stubborn patient in the hospital called V-03. He was notorious for killing hospital staff, so no one dared to volunteer or clean his ward. She thought it was the end of her, but to her surprise, V-03 was one of the sweetest people she ever met. He was obedient as a puppy and innocent as a child, but only to her. He was also handsome as hell, far from the rumors she heard from the nurses. The more they spent time together, the more they got closer to each other. Until one day, she found out he was not human anymore as well as all the patients in the asylum. What hellish secrets does Maridona Nobles Asylum hold? And what is her connection to all of this? She will do everything to find out and save the love of her life.

They married on terms and conditions, but she fell for him along the way and hoped he would open up to her one day. Her joy knew no bounds when he finally consummated the marriage close to their anniversary. Who knew the supposed rosy next morning, he would serve her divorce papers? And the reason? His beloved was back!

In a twisted dance of love and power, Rory finds herself bound to George, a ruthless mafia lord, in a hidden marriage that's lasted seven years. Amidst the danger and secrets of George's world, Rory faces heartbreak and betrayal when she discovers the true intentions of the man she's tied to. With each passing day, the weight of their secret marriage presses down on Rory, complicated by the pain of five stillborn babies. As George's motives come to light through a chilling conversation with his friend Brian, Rory must consider the dangerous path between her feelings for George and the deadly world he rules. Will the shadows of the mafia consume their hidden bond, or can love find a way to survive in the darkness? Find out more by diving into the book....

Being unmated for a long time, Alpha Ryan, whose life is one of duty and control, locked his heart away from the world to achieve that. For years, he's avoided the mate bond, dismissing the idea of love as a weakness and an obstacle to achieving everything he had dreamt of. But during one of the routine peace ceremonies, everything changes. He felt a mate bond, one he was so desperately ready to reject despite the strong pull he felt. But the very moment he's faced with his mate, a lowly male servant, an omega who looked lost and vulnerable, it triggered something within him. Something he thought he wasn't able to feel and that gave birth to a hidden affair, one he was willing to even risk everything, including his life for. Yes their bond was forbidden and cursed centuries ago, but he was willing to bear the consequences.

My newlywed husband wants to kill me. He's backing me to the balcony with a knife in his hand. The blade pierces my heart, and he shoves me off a 20-story building. At the same time, I see the tear streaks on his face. He says, "Long time no see, my perfect lover."

Warning: SPG May mga nilalaman na hindi angkop sa mga bata. *** Hindi niya pinili ang kasal. At hindi niya dapat pinagnasahan ang lalaki. Nang malaman ni Althea De Fuego na ipapakasal siya sa isang makapangyarihang CEO upang iligtas ang kanyang pamilya, isang gabi lang ang hiniling niya. Isang gabing wala siyang obligasyon, wala siyang pangalan, at wala siyang kinabukasan na iniisip. Isang gabi. Isang pagkakamali. Ngunit natuklasan niya ang katotohanan. Ang lalaking nakasama niya ay si Anderson Velasco - ang lalaking konektado sa kapangyarihang kumokontrol sa buhay niya, ang lalaking nakatayo sa maling panig ng kanyang kasal, at ang lalaking hindi niya dapat kailanman hinawakan. Sa loob ng isang mansyong itinayo sa mga kontrata, katahimikan, at kontrol, ang pagnanasa ay nagiging kasalanan. Bawat tingin ay binabantayan. Bawat hakbang ay sinusukat. Habang hinihigpitan ng kanyang mapapangasawa ang hawak sa kanya, pilit namang nilalabanan ni Anderson ang damdaming maaaring sumira sa kanilang dalawa. Ngunit kapag may lihim na kumalat, may pagtataksil ring mamabunyag, at ang araw ng kasal ay nauwi sa kaguluhan. Sa mundong ang kasal ay kasunduan at ang katahimikan ay paraan ng kaligtasan. Hanggang saan siya lalaban upang bawiin ang sarili at paano kung ang lalaking gusto niya ay ang lalaking hindi niya maaaring piliin? Paano itatago ang pagnanasang hindi na kayang pigilan?

Claimed by Samael Velasco to be his future bride, Merryn hid in the shadows of his protection from the day he found her. She lived her entire life believing it as truth until the day came when this shattered. The shocking revelation that changed her perception also urged her to escape from Samael’s gilded cage. To him, she was just a possession and his precious pet. Her heart throbbed and yearned for something real. She knew not what this meant, at least not yet. Until she escaped, and ran right into the arms of Samael’s known mortal enemy… Giovanni Salvatore, a rare lycan of Royal bloodline. He is the king of the lycans and the werewolves. The ruler of the Mystic Mountain Kingdom. Merryn’s appearance in Giovanni’s life upset a few well-laid plans for his future. And so began a path of mutual discovery and perils they couldn’t begin to imagine. What will she do when she finds herself in the cave of wolves? ^~*~^ This tale is for those 18 or older. Reader’s discretion is advised.

Ariel 's parents died in a car accident when she was 10 years old. She and her sister Esther lived with each other all these years. But they were often bullied by their pack members. Their peels said Ariel and her sister were jinxes and caused their parents’ death. When someone bullied them, Ariel would block all attacks for her sister. Esther quit school early to work for Ariel , and she found her mate at the age of 24. After Esther and her mate Cole Gray got married, Ariel lived in Cole ’s home with Esther. With the help of Esther, Ariel was able to finish college, Ariel was grateful to her. But because of her existence, Esther often quarreled with Cole . Ariel sometimes had been sexually harassed when Esther was not at home. She dared not to tell Esther and didn’t want Esther sad. She always hoped that Esther could live a happy life, so she wanted to leave. But according to new werewolf laws, before she found a mate, she couldn't leave Esther and her pack, otherwise she would be disconnected from the pack and become a rogue. She would also affect Esther, because the rogue's family and pack would be spurned, so Ariel had to find someone to mark her and be her mate, even if the one was not her true mate. Then she could leave Esther and Cole ’s home. But Cole was going to send her to the Alpha King, so Ariel couldn't wait for her mate. Ariel was afraid of Alpha King, she heard some rumors about Alpha King, he was mysterious and cruel, even killed his own mate Ariel moves in with Xavier who is actually the Alpha king in pretense as she gets intertwined in the Royal life of the Alpha king