Holding Grudges

“I can’t believe you just said that!” I burst out, staring at Ethan like he’d sprouted twenty extra heads. “You want me to... to pretend to be your girlfriend? What, like, fake holding hands? Fake kissing? Fake everything?” He didn’t blink as his nonchalant gaze met mine, a hint of a smirk playing on those lips. “Yes, Riley. That’s usually how fake dating works.” All Harper Adams wanted was to get through one evening pretending to be her best friend on a blind date. But when her date turned out to be Ethan Reynolds—her infuriatingly handsome CEO—things quickly spiraled out of control. Now, she’s caught in a whirlwind of fake romance to help him dodge his family’s relentless matchmaking schemes. Between awkward office run-ins and public displays of “affection” at high-society galas, Harper is discovering that fake dating might be a lot harder than she thought—especially when her feelings for Ethan start to feel all too real. With secrets piling up and hilariously disastrous moments at every turn, Harper’s left wondering: can she survive this charade, or will her fake love life blow up in her face?

On the day of our engagement, as we were driving to the banquet hall, a man holding a few-month-old baby stepped in front of our car. My first thought was that it was some kind of scam. I was about to get out and deal with him when I saw the panic on his face. "Cassidy," he said desperately, "our baby won't stop crying. Do you think something's wrong?" The moment she heard that, my fiancée shoved me out of the car. She took off with them without a single glance back. I just stood there in shock. So this was the truth. She'd been hiding a child with her ex all along. Alone, I went to the banquet hall to handle what remained of our celebration. Later, she called. "I feel terrible about this," she said. "I thought if I gave him the baby and gave you the marriage, it would balance things out. But when Stanley showed up today, I realized—he's the only one I want." I was done with her games. If that's how she felt, I'd walk away. So I made a simple phone call. "Grandma, I'm coming home. I'm ready to run the family business now."

A woman runs, holding onto her torso as she keeps glancing behind her. Tears spilling from her already wet cheeks. She catches her breath and screams as the hurt in her chest tore her up internally. "Why... why?!" She cries as her clenched fist hits her broken heart. Her lover tried to rid her of their unborn baby. She was hurt. She felt betrayed. She grew to hate him with all of her being. Still, memories of the love they shared still plagued her. How could she possibly still trust him? And yet, despite her anxiousness, she still held onto a small scale sliver of hope. All she could do now, was to leave him and keep their child safe. *** 16 years passed and there stood a young boy with silver hair and bright amethyst coloured eyes. He smiles at the horizon, staring at the capital city of the country of Enoch. Finally, he was old enough to venture out into the great city. Said to be the largest and most prosperous of the kingdom. He holds firmly onto the hope of an exciting journey as he kissed his mother goodbye. Thinking of all the warning she gave him before his journey could begin. Once in the city, his life changed forever and his perilous struggles began.

Synopsis/Blurb: Mima, a young werewolf and one of the last surviving members of her fallen pack, is thrust into a life of torment and grief when her family is slaughtered and her pack destroyed by Alpha Dylan’s brutal attack. At 19, she’s forced into the hands of Alpha Dylan, the very wolf responsible for her parents’ deaths. Mima is tortured and subjected to the cruelty by members of the pack especially Dylan's Luna, Stephanie. But when a powerful new ally, Rake, the Lycan King, reveals himself as her true mate, Mima's world gets bigger. The lycan king helps her, his mate to escape the abusive pack and to his own. During her stay with him, she stumbles upon a shocking revelation, she is the chosen one of the Moon Goddess, her bloodline holding power to change the fate of the werewolf world. In a war where dark magic and the bonds of destiny collide, Mima must rise from the ashes of her past to fight for a future she never asked for. Will the broken daughter of a fallen pack rise to be the leader of a new one? Or will her grief and torment claim her before she ever reaches her full potential? In this story of betrayal and second chance, Mima strives to decide the fate of her world, risking everything for the chance of a future with those she loves and escape her terrible blood filled past.

"What do I do, huh?" he nips softly on the skin of my neck as he thrusts in and out of me gently, holding onto me as though I was the most delicate thing in the world. "Tell me how to make it right, baby." He mumbled into my neck, his strokes growing deeper. My eyes met his vulnerable grey ones, and as I looked into the eyes of the man who broke me, I couldn't hold his gaze much longer because of how they seemingly appealed to me and made me waver. Pressing a kiss to his jaw, I whispered, suppressing a moan. "Bandages don't x bullet holes. You cannot x what you have already broken, Sean Wellington, because it's unxable." •••• Sekani Salvador never knew what it felt like to be truly loved, and even when she loved, it had to be a man she wasn't supposed to fall for, Sean Wellington, who happened to be the boyfriend of her twin sister, Simone Salvador, who loathed everything she stood for. Sekani could have sworn that she could never have him but all it took for fate to spin the bottle was one night of vodka and mistakes that she couldn't take back.

“You can call me when you’re lonely. I’ll be your temporary fix.” Those were the words that he said to me and it was plain simple, he wanted nothing but sex and I wanted nothing more than too. I was the kind of girl who was too scared of falling in love again because I feel like there is something more in life than being mournful over a guy who never actually gave a hell. I deserve something more than pain and misery over a stupid heartbreak. Since then, I got too scared of commitment that I no longer wanted to be in one. I wanted fun and I wanted to feel like I am alive again. He was the kind of guy who was too busy for permanent relationships. The superstar that all women wanted to bang with. The kind of guy who would have any girls kneel down in front of him because well, he is that kind of guy. He was a guy with a hectic schedule, sold out world tours, drinking champagne in private jets, holding a mic in one hand and conquering all over the world on the other. Maybe I needed someone to show me how to live again and he needed someone to show him how to love.

I was married to one of the world’s richest men—Zayne Ford— yet no one knew I existed. To the world, he was a charming billionaire. To me, he was the man who once promised love… then buried me in silence. For five years, I lived as his secret wife, convincing myself that love was enough. That it didn’t matter if no one knew my name, as long as he still looked at me the way he once did. But when his childhood sweetheart returned from abroad, I finally saw the truth. The only thing holding our marriage together was a legal document—cold, lifeless, and easily replaced. So I disguised my divorce papers as a school form and watched him sign them without even glancing up. That careless signature ended our marriage— and freed me. Now, as I start a new life in another country, I carry more than my independence. I carry his child. When Zayne discovers what he’s lost—his wife and his heir— he’ll do anything to find me. But the woman he once ignored no longer exists. He taught me how to break. Now he’ll learn what it means to lose me.

Jeffrey leaned against the door, his eyes locked on Ronald. “Why do you keep looking at me like that?” he asked, his voice low. “Like you’re holding something back.” Ronald’s stare didn’t waver, “Because I am.” Jeffrey stepped closer, heat building up between them. “Then stop.” Ronald’s fingers brushed his jaw, slow and intentional. “You have no idea what I’d do to you if I let go.” “I’m not afraid of you,” Jeffrey whispered. “I’m afraid you won’t.” The tension grew as Ronald’s lips were only a breath away from his. “Say it,” he said. Jeffrey didn’t blink. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.” That was all it took. Ronald grabbed him by the waist and pulled him in with a wild kiss… ***** Ronald was to be engaged to seal a business alliance between both families, unknown to them that he was into men. The night before his engagement, he found a man that stole his heart. And this man happened to be his fiancée’s brother. Would Ronald overcome his desire, or would he choose love? Explore a tale of romance, suspense, treachery, and love. The fascinating novel ‘LOVE IS WAR’ will have you reading until the very last page.

I was scheduled to die in less than 24hrs from now. And the person who conspires to put me out of my miserable life is the one who put me through hell. His hell. My husband. I didn't mind dying. I was rather happy to finally get this thing over with. You know, get over life. But just when I was ready to rest in peace, I met her. Her beautiful blue eyes glittered with tears bringing light to this moonless night. The cold breeze brought a shiver to her fragile tiny body. She looked nothing less than a porcelain doll, delicate and clean. But she scared me when she looked at me with hope. Hope to save her. I laughed at this naive little girl. How was I to save her when I couldn't save myself? Nevertheless, I extended my hand for her to take, and with some hesitation, she wrapped her whole hand around my one finger. First time in my meaningless life I felt a spark. Spark of life enlightened in me with her one innocent touch. She made me want to live a little while longer with a small innocent promise, holding me tight to live with her, for her. Cover by @Aphroditelivid

In my fifth year of marriage to the Don of a powerful mafia family, I find out that the protection charm he gave me causes me headaches whenever I bring it with me. As a surgeon, this raised my alarm. I retrieved the small sachets I had found inside the amulet and brought them to the toxicology lab at Kosley Hospital.. The doctor inspects the sachet and tells me that it contains a type of slow-acting poison that doesn't just cause harm to the victim's body but also renders them infertile after a while. I cry and exclaim, "But that's impossible! My husband gave this to me! His name is Vincenzo Cursley. He's also the person who owns this hospital!" The doctor looks at me in confusion. "Miss, please stop the nonsense. I know Mr. Cursley and his wife. They're very close and intimate with each other. Also, Mrs. Cursley just gave birth to a baby boy not too long ago. They're both now in the VIP ward, looking at their baby." Then, the doctor shows me a photo on his phone. Vincenzo was wearing his usual black suit with the Cursley family emblem embroidered on it. He was holding a baby in his arms, and as for the woman standing next to him… I know her. Her name is Claudia Henderson. And Vincenzo has always referred to her as his adoptive sister.