Joking

..."forgive me but i'm calling off the engagement." Isabella who was smiling as she listened to his speech suddenly widened her eyes in horror. "What do you mean by you're calling off the engagement! You're joking right?" She burst into laughter thinking that it was a prank. "I'm not joking Ella, I'm in love with someone else." He held her hands apologetically trying to calm her down as she was losing her cool. "Who is she?" She barked angrily as she couldn't stay calm any longer. ... She had always been treated poorly by her parents and younger sister but treated it like some kind of training. It got worst to a point that people began calling her 'Cinderella.' She always longed for a prince charming who would wipe away her tears and love her dearly. She did find her 'prince charming.' He promised to marry her but then he called off their engagement on the engagement party. She was shocked to find out that her fiancee and younger sister had an affair behind her back. She wanted to end it all but then the real 'Prince Charming' came along. ..."Marry me. I would take revenge on everyone that had hurt you."

BOOK TWO OF THE CARTER BROTHERS SERIES “I want to get married to you Claire, just for a few years and we would go our separate ways.” Nathaniel Carter proposed before swiping through his documents like it was a casual thing. “What!!!!! Are.. are you joking sir?” Claire asked hoping her boss was joking but his serious expression was saying otherwise. _________ Nathaniel Carter, the oldest of the carter brothers is wife hunting after his brother got married and his grandfather is threatening to disinherit him. He has put in too much hard work to let the company go away to any of his stepbrothers. He had an idea, a messy one at that. His secretary Claire was the kind of woman that would steal the heart of his grandfather and stepmother and he would play that card till they got off his back for being too lonely. Claire Wordsworth had so many views about her boss but nothing compared to the crazy look on his face when he proposed to get into an arranged marriage with him. She thought he was kidding but the firm set off his jaw told her otherwise. Life could really change in a matter of seconds. She had too many to gain and of course, it would give her career a good boost if she was married to the great Nathaniel Carter. Maybe getting into this marriage would really be a good decision or her nemesis.

"I never knew what love was until I met you." I looked up. "Stop joking around like that." Theo's deep blue eyes bore into mine. "Who says I'm joking?" *** In the shadow of her prodigious twin brother and the periphery of neglectful parents, high school senior Cora Kinsley navigates her world alone. Her life takes a turn when Theodore Thorsen, a mysterious and wealthy new student, arrives at school.Constantly thrown together, Theodore's stoic demeanor clashes with Cora's reserved nature, sparking a complex love-hate dynamic between them. Amidst their turbulent relationship stands Jin, Cora's steadfast friend who offers support and challenges her perceptions of love and friendship. Is Theodore the key to helping Cora break free from her isolation? And what secrets lie behind his captivating exterior and enigmatic personality? And as Cora navigates these questions, will Jin's presence becomes crucial in shaping her choices and understanding of true connection?

I've been married to Derek Gunther for many years. Every anniversary, he tells me the airline scheduled him for a flight, then sends an expensive pair of earrings to smooth things over. But on our ninth anniversary, I accidentally overhear him joking with his friends. "Derek, you spend every anniversary with Ivy—and Sienna still hasn't caught on?" "No wonder she can't get pregnant. After all, you give all to Ivy." Derek exhales a stream of smoke and says, "Ivy gave up everything to be with me. I owe her a real home. As for Sienna, I stopped loving her after she miscarried. When the time's right, I'll file for divorce. It's unfair, sure—but I'll make it up to her with money." What Derek doesn't know is that he won't get that chance. It's on our anniversary that I'm diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. Since he stopped loving me long ago, I'm ready to walk away on my own terms. Derek, from now on, we're done.

On Valentine's Day, I set up a candlelit dinner and waited. At 9 PM, my husband, Alfred Johnston, finally texted. [Something came up at work. Don't wait for me.] Then I saw her post. [On a business trip with the CEO for Valentine's Day. Every hotel is fully booked—awkward...] Vivian Bianca, his secretary. Attached was a photo of a guy in a bathrobe, standing by a floor-to-ceiling window. The comments were all 'ooh, CEO's so hot and girl, you're in for a night.' Vivian? Just dropped a smug emoji. So that's what "something came up" meant—a romantic getaway with his secretary. I screenshotted it, posted it on my own feed, and added a smiling emoji. A second later, Alfred called, fuming. "Vivian was joking! Why are you so petty? She's young, not as calculating as you!" I didn't let him finish. "Then let's get a divorce. That way, I won't have to care when you screw around and catch something."

Ed grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him, his hand wrapping her tiny waist, without a second thought he pressed his lips on hers, kissing her. It was filled with hunger, lust and passion. He yearn for her, all this while. And right now he had to show this crazy rich guy, she belongs to him. And only him. "I don't care what people say, I the only one for you." He breath slowly, but as he devour every inch of her lips, she hadn't responded, but struggles to get free. She pushed him back, getting free from his grip. "Ed, listen to me, I don't love you anymore." She gulped, wiping her lips. Wiping away his kiss. As if it some filth was rubbed was her. "No, you do." He let out a weiry chuckle. "Actually I only fall for you because of your money and fame." Areena raved harshly. This is a joke, right. she is'nt like this ... The shy Areena he fell for. Though she ignore him recently. But this isnt happening. Areena is dumping him. That not happening even in his wildest dream. But sadly this is no dream. "You're joking right." "I'm not!!" she yelled and walked towards the handsome guy, grabbing his hand. He gently grab her chin, he wiped her lips with his hankie, and landed a kiss on her. *** In a world where love between the Noble and Servile is forbidden, Ed and Areena fall in taboo relationship, despite the dangers, they cannot resist their fiery passion for one another and are willing to risk everything to be together. Areena is torn away from Ed as Dean came into her life, she must make a heart-wrenching decision between the two, who is she going to choose ...

I chase after Dean Wagner for five years while Graham Ashford chases after me for seven. When Dean marries Emily Caldwell, I finally say yes to being Graham's girlfriend. Graham is over the moon. He treats me like I'm everything to him, like he'd do whatever it takes just to make me happy. But Graham doesn't believe in marriage. Even when our daughter turns four, he still hasn't married me. He won't even let her call him "Dad". One night, I overhear him joking around with his buddies. "Your daughter's already four. You still aren't bringing your wife and kid home to meet your parents?" Graham taps his knuckles on the table and laughs. "You know why I got with Nora and had a kid with her. I just want to make Emily jealous. "Nora's easy to fool. She won't ever leave me, even if I never bring her or the kid home." He thinks he has me all figured out, but he doesn't. I turn and leave without a word, then plan to leave him for good. A man like that doesn't deserve my love. And he sure as well doesn't deserve to be my daughter's father.

A week after getting into a cold war with Alexander Griffin, his friends drag me to a private room. They drink and smoke inside, not caring that I have asthma. My breathing speeds up and it starts to get difficult for me. My hands tremble as I call Alexander and tell him I'm about to die. However, he's with his childhood sweetheart. He doesn't answer my calls. He finally answers when I'm about to pass out, but all he does is berate me. "You're old enough to know not to be so childish, Isabelle. Why would you think of joking around with your life? "Sasha's injured, and I'm tending to her wound—it's my duty as a doctor. Don't tell me you're jealous over that! For the last time, there's nothing between Sasha and me. It's up to you whether you believe it!" Later, I die in that private room. His friends throw my body into the sea to cover up their crimes. One day, Alexander finds my journal. That's when he loses his mind…

"I like her," I said as I sat across from my mother unable to keep the frustration from boiling over. "Like who?" "Callie," I admitted, my chest tightening as I said her name. Her expression froze for a moment before she set the papers aside and leaned forward. "You’re joking, right? Callie is your brother’s girlfriend." "I don’t care," I snapped. "I can’t stand seeing him with her. She should be mine, and I’m not going to just sit back and watch them together." "Well, well. This is interesting." She sat back, steepling her fingers. "You really want her all to yourself?" "More than anything," I confessed. A slow smile crept across her face, and it sent a chill down my spine. "Don’t worry. I have a plan.” Whatever she had in mind, I knew it wouldn’t be simple. But if it meant having Callie… I was willing to do whatever it took. **************** Callie was given a choice by her new boss: either lose her job or act as his escort for his family’s Christmas and New Year celebrations, pretending to be his girlfriend. Left with no other option, she reluctantly agrees to be his escort but what she doesn’t realize is that she’s walking straight into a trap. Dive into a story of love, betrayal, romance, suspense, and a Christmas miracle. Second Chances Under the Tree is a gripping and intriguing read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

After dating in secret for seven years, Mitchell Zahn decides to propose to me on the day his birthday album is officially released. But during the birthday party, he publicly invites Isabella Claxton, a composer and my sister, to work with him. I follow Mitchell to ask him for an explanation. That's when I hear him and his friends chatting and joking inside the lounge. "You're so loyal to your first love, Mitchie. You couldn't wait to ask her to work with you upon her return. What are you going to do about Gabriella, though? Will she accept how your relationship ends when she's written so many songs for you?" After a moment, another person laughs and says, "To Mitchie, Gabriella has always been a replacement for Isabella. Now that Isabella is back, her replacement has to go. Don't you agree, Mitchie?" I wait for a long time before hearing a soft sound of agreement.