Icarus Laughed

She told him she loved him in high school; he laughed in her face. And, ever since then, Lucia Brielle Renaud had vowed never to fall in love again. Ten years and a successful career later, Lucia's first love... or is it her mortal enemy, Dylan Thomas is back in her life with one sole task; to claim the one position Lucia has ever dreamed of taking on: Vice president of Retro Corp! Oh, another cool fact... he doesn't remember her. At all. Lucia is determined to do everything... even go the extra mile to ensure that she gets that position, and possibly her lost pound of flesh while she's at it, but how far will she go? Dylan Thomas returns to his father's company after so many years also vying for the position of vice president. Little does anyone know that he comes with his own ulterior motives and personal agendas. He meets Lucia, otherwise known to him as Brielle, and the level of attraction he has for her is maddening and almost instantaneous. With lust, feelings and physical attractions getting in the way, who will emerge victorious in this battle for power?

A NOVEL ON STOCKHOLM SYNDROME BOOK OF A THREE BOOK SERIES *TRIGGER WARNING* This book contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing… and also slightly annoying. “Miss. Iris, do you believe she has a point?” she asked and returned to her seat once again. “I don’t think so, her father and uncle deserve to go to jail.” My answer extracted a smile from her like she was proud of my response. “My name is Christine; I am a renowned medico-legal psychotherapist. Been in the business for over twenty years and that is what a case of Stockholm syndrome looks like. In my years of experience, we see situations similar to this but its our job to help the victims realize” “Wow…” I started, really amazed at what she had said and what her work entails. I was only concerned why they locked me in a room with a psychotherapist “it must be difficult at times” I added. “yeah, its difficult every time” she laughed “but today isn’t about me, I have a question for you.” There was a brief pause in between before she carried on “Does Hunter deserve to go to jail?”

Three years after my wife's and daughter's deaths, they came back from the dead. Turns out, my wife hadn't died at all. She'd faked it and married the son of the richest man in Notingdun City. Ever since then, she'd stepped into the glamorous life of a wealthy socialite. When I uncovered the truth, the shock hit me like a bolt of lightning. I confronted her face-to-face. She didn't even flinch. Instead, she sneered, "You think a penniless man like you deserves to be my husband? I've remarried and taken on a new identity. Stay out of my life, or don't blame me for what happens next." Her words cut deep. Even our daughter turned her back on me. Crushed, I let go for good. But not long after, she came back regretful and begged me to remember the vows we made on our wedding day: to never leave, never forsake. I looked at her and laughed coldly. "Yes, I did make that promise once. But sadly, my wife died three years ago."

Natalie Walker poured her heart and soul into loving Cedric Johnson for ten years, only to end up being burned to death by his lover.Cedric thought of that woman as nothing more than a housemaid. Even marriage wouldn't change her status. That was, until he received the news that she wanted a divorce..."Why do you want a divorce?" Cedric asked arrogantly, believing that this woman couldn't survive without him."Aren't you eager for me to die so you can be with your lover? I'm simply fulfilling your wish!" Natalie shot back as she laughed mockingly. "Cedric, I won't be blind again! Not in this lifetime!"Natalie, who had been reborn from the ashes, held the divorce papers and kicked the scumbag and his mistress to the curb.At a press conference for her company, the media asked, "We heard that you initiated the divorce. Could you tell us the reason?"Natalie responded calmly, "It was simply time to let go."That fire had consumed all her emotions.Looking back, it was nothing more than a long-planned trap set for her.

"He rejected me in front of the whole pack but the Moon Goddess paired me with a monster more powerful than them all." Lyra was just an omega, weak, unwanted, and laughed at by the same wolves who watched her boyfriend become the next Alpha. He promised her love and power but on her 18th birthday, she walked in on him with the pack’s top bully. That same night, the Moon Goddess paired them but he rejected her publicly. Humiliated, heartbroken, and alone, Lyra runs and bumps right into Alpha Kade. The ruthless, feared, and gruesome man that everyone in her pack warned her about. The bond snaps between them, but Lyra flees before he can claim her. Locked in grief and confusion, she soon uncovers some truth: Her mother didn’t die, she was murdered but by who? Her father is alive. But he is a vampire king who wants her to take his throne. Her blood is not ordinary. She is half wolf, half vampire. As her powers awaken, she begins to fall for Alpha Kade but the past they say, never stays buried. Because the Alpha she loves was the one who killed her mother.

Helen Robert was a chubby young woman who hadn't expected Samuel Kingston to have a crush on her. He asked her out to be his girlfriend, and she was unaware that it was a bet by his friends to date her, the nerdy, chubby blonde woman, as her peers laughed at her. When Helen Robert found out that Samuel was only using her, she was devastated and wanted to kill herself, but one of her friends saved her. With a broken heart, Helen left, and Samuel didn't get to see her again. Seven years later, Helen came to apply for a staff position at Sam Pharmaceutical. She didn't expect to see Samuel again. By then, she had slimmed down due to her suffering, as she had given birth to twins. Samuel was engaged to Tasha, but when he saw Helen, his engagement was rocked. His fiancée kidnapped Helen and offered her cash to stay away from Samuel. Helen had been misunderstood. She didn't return because of Samuel. Do you think she will accept the money? What about her twins; will she tell Samuel about them? What if he found out on his own? Will there be a second chance for them?

Harriett Edwards has been in love with Damien Daniels since childhood, so when both their parents arrange for them to be married, she gladly accepts even though she was well aware that it wasn’t what Damien wanted. For the three years of their marriage, she devoted her life to him with the hope that she would be able to change his mind and eventually get him to fall in love with her. It all comes crashing down when someone fabricates a picture of her cheating with Damien’s brother, Adrian. After seeing the pictures, he coldly said. “I want a divorce!” And even when she confessed her love to him, his reply was cold and hurtful. “I know. It doesn’t matter. I don’t love you.” What he didn’t know was that in her hand was the pregnancy test result from a mistake he made in his drunken state. Years later, they both meet at a friend’s wedding and he is shocked to see her with a set of identical twins that looked just like him. “Are they mine?” He asked. Harriett laughed and replied, remembering his own words. “It doesn’t matter, Damien. They don’t need a father.”

For three long years, I was trapped in a toxic relationship with Edwin Kent.During those three years, he started by verbally insulting and controlling me, but eventually escalated to physical violence. Not only did he drain my finances to support his family and lavish my money on his "goddess", but he also impregnated me three times, leaving me to face the emotional and physical toll of abortions alone.Despite the repeated disappointments, I remained blind to the truth. It wasn't until one day when I overheard him asking his goddess, "When will you become my girlfriend?"His goddess laughed and asked, "Aren't you already in a relationship with her, scum?"Edwin nonchalantly responded, "She's the one who won't let go of me. I've always loved you."That was when reality finally slapped me in the face. I left behind my scarred heart and returned to the embrace of my wealthy family.But Edwin refused to let me go. He persistently challenged the boundaries of me and my family.Finally, I couldn't tolerate it anymore. Trash should be thrown into the garbage dump, not wandering around and bothering people.

"Quiet, girl!" I growled. Her body stiffened. I fumbled her breast with so much anger. "See, boys?" I said, with a low growl, "She is so soft." I laughed, cold and harsh. Lucian and Jamil roared with me. Her eyes squeezed shut, a blush creeping up her neck. This was better. Broken. "This is how you should behave," I muttered to myself with raw satisfaction. My hand moved lower, smacking her butt hard. Crack! Lina whimpered. It was a small, painful sound. Her pain was mine. I dragged her towards me. Her bare skin brushed my clothes, like a jolt. My hands moved over her curves, asserting my ownership. Her skin was soft, silk. She shivered with fear and something else. It excited me. I leaned in, my breath hot against her ear. Her heart pounded, like a frantic drumbeat. Just as I moved to take her, a whisper crept out of her mouth "Please, Sire, I haven't done this before." Her voice shook. It surprised me. I pulled my hand back, feigning surprise.

The day my husband left the country on a business trip with his assistant, I learned—by sheer accident—that his archenemy was plotting revenge overseas. Without a second thought, I raced to the airport and stopped him from boarding the plane. But his assistant went ahead, alone. And over there, she was killed brutally. Not a trace of her remains was ever found. When my husband received the news, he fell apart. Wracked with guilt, eaten alive by remorse, he spiraled into a relentless, violent mania. In the past three years, I'd been in and out of hospitals more times than I could count because of him. And this time, he pushed me so far—I lost our child. Then I overheard a conversation between him and his secretary. "Sir, Casey is still alive. Why keep pretending you're sick? Aren't you afraid your wife will find out and leave you?" "Leave me? What right does she have to be angry?" He laughed coldly. "If she hadn't stopped me from going abroad, Casey would've never been lured away by that bastard. Everything Linda's suffering now—she brought it on herself."