Jump Artinya

At the celebration where Lorenzo Alvarez is crowned the new mafia boss, his men arrange a few performances. A dancer in a backless top and short skirt twists around the pole under the lights. "Don't look," he murmurs, covering my eyes with his hand. "This kind of cheap entertainment isn't worthy of you." His men jump in immediately. "Lorenzo still spoils Ms. Valenti after all these years. That kind of devotion is rare. We're so jealous." "A man as loyal and single-minded as Lorenzo is hard to find." I rest a hand on my belly, planning to tell him tonight that I am pregnant. But when I return from the restroom, I see the same man who had just held me in his arms leaning back in his chair while the dancer straddles his lap. Lorenzo slips his business card and a thick fold of cash into the waistband of her skirt. He laughs, relaxed and unbothered. "Isabella is wonderful, sure, but life needs a little passion. This ragazza is just something new. A bit of fun. "Keep your mouths shut. Don't go running to Isabella and upset her. Otherwise, you'll have a problem." Cold rushes through me. I do not approach or confront Lorenzo. I simply take out my phone and answer the email I have been avoiding for days. "I agree to participate in the confidential experiment."

Just because his first love's younger brother accidentally fell into Shadow River, my Alpha mate, Ethan Horn, forced me, the only Spirit Soother of our pack, to go and rescue him. When I sank to the bottom of the river, I chose not to save him. When the man was pulled out of the river, the healer lamented, "If it were a few minutes earlier, Leo might have been saved. What a pity." Ethan's first love, Serafina Pike, had her wolf soul shut off and soon passed away because she missed her younger brother, Leo Pike. From that moment on, Ethan, who had once loved me, hated me to the core. Without giving me a chance to explain, he slit my throat with a silver blade and ruthlessly sealed my wolf soul. Later, he believed the heresy of the witch about soul sacrifice and nailed me and our young daughter in coffins before burying us alive by Shadow River as sacrifices to resurrect his beloved Serafina. In the end, the woman he deeply loved did not come back to life, and my daughter and I died with endless resentment. When I reopened my eyes, I had returned to the night when Ethan forced me to jump into the river to save Leo. I tied up the specially made rope and asked him for the last time, "Are you really sure that you can bear the consequences after I rescue him?"

Tika They delivered me to him on a silver platter. Four years ago I was an ordinary girl with a privileged life. After killing the only family I have left, they call this my penance. As I watch the man they call a monster from underneath my lashes, the handcuffs burn on my wrist. The orange jump suit makes sweat drip down my ample bosom as he growls at me. “Mate” he roars. The others around us freeze as we are lead in line. His eyes never leave me as he gives orders while others call him Alpha. With a snap of his fingers I watch as one of his men shreds himself apart to turn into a hideous beast. As I meet his golden gaze and my world starts to tilt, only one thing is clear. I just became the prisoner of a monster. ~ Xander When I imagined my mate, I saw a woman of strength and great beauty. When I met her eyes for the first time she wasn’t in chains. She wasn’t a prisoner facing persecution for a crime. I find the sweet scent of her to be contradicting. The way my cock hardens behind my robe as she looks at me from underneath her lashes, lets me know that she is a very bad girl indeed. In that moment I decided, since I always bring out the best in people…..this time, I want to bring out the worst.

The day my husband, Ethan Hart, posted wedding photos in a bridal gown with the college girl he was sponsoring on his social media, I didn't fly into hysterics like I usually did. Instead, I gave them a like. I even left a comment: [Such a perfect match. Let's all wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness.] People in our circle said I was the most pathetic wife alive, letting the mistress walk all over me without resistance. A week later, he came home and explained, "It was just an act. Her grandfather is sick. Before he dies, he wants to see her get married." I nodded calmly. "I didn't take it seriously. I believe you." In my previous life, I had stormed into their wedding ceremony that very day and caused a scene, ruining their wedding. To punish me, Ethan went after my parents' company. He drove them into bankruptcy and forced them to jump to their deaths. And I was sent to a mental hospital by that woman, tortured until I truly went insane. So in this life, reborn with everything laid bare, I no longer crave his love. All I want is his money. Every time he cheats, I transfer a portion of the assets under his name. Three chances remain. After that, he will have nothing left.

Late that night, I came across a post online. [I've been with my boyfriend for seven months. Out of nowhere, he dumped me, saying I got eliminated from the girlfriend selection. That's when I found out that in their rich social circle, it's normal to date a dozen girls at the same time, score them regularly, kick out the lowest, and pick the best one to marry.] It sounded so ridiculous. I couldn't help but jump into the comments and tear into the guy. Then I saw a reply from my boyfriend's secretary, Ayla Butler. [Well, considering his status, it's only fair. For high-value men like him, a selection process makes sense.] I rolled my eyes so hard that it almost hurt. I was just about to fire back when I heard the front door open. Fred Thompson and I had been together for five years. He had always been attentive, gentle, and endlessly patient. I had already made up my mind that the moment he proposed, I would tell him the truth about who I really was, the daughter of the richest man in the country. I never expected to catch a glimpse of his phone lighting up with a message. [You hooked up with Ayla again today? Gave her such a high score, too. Keep this up, and Hannah's gonna lose!]

Lima tahun setelah pernikahanku dengan Yovan Murdaya, seorang Bos Besar mafia, dia meninggalkanku dalam keadaan sekarat saat baku tembak untuk menyelamatkan selingkuhannya, Diana. Aku terbangun tiga hari kemudian di kamar VIP rumah sakit. Tanpa ada permintaan maaf. Yovan bersikap dingin. “Kau itu istriku, tentu saja sudah tahu resikonya. Jadi, jangan lebay.” Lalu, dia menambahkan, “Tapi, Diana berbeda. Dia itu rapuh dan membutuhkanku.” Setelah itu, selama tiga bulan aku diabaikan. Seperti biasa, dia berharap akulah yang akan menyerah dan kembali memohon maaf. Tiga bulan kemudian, aku menyerahkan kesepakatan dengan orang Irlanda kepada Diana begitu saja. Itu kesepakatan besar yang telah kubangun sendiri selama setengah tahun. Yovan mengira itu artinya aku sedang membujuknya. Dia tersenyum, sesuatu yang langka dan tulus akhir-akhir ini. “Sudah kuduga kau akan berubah pikiran. Sebagai hadiah, kita akan pergi ke Vergasi. Aku tahu kau selalu ingin pergi ke sana.” Keesokan harinya, Diana mengeluh bosan, dan Yovan kembali mengingkari janjinya. Dia malah membawa wanita itu ke Vergasi, dan mengatakan padaku bahwa itu karena ada urusan keluarga yang mendesak. Kali ini, aku tidak menangis, juga tidak membuat keributan. Yovan senang aku menjadi begitu pengertian. Tapi dia tidak tahu bahwa sebenarnya aku sudah memutuskan semua hubungan dengan Keluarga Murdaya. Dan, bahwa dia sudah menandatangani surat perjanjian cerai kami. Akhirnya, aku bebas.

Aku meninggal di hari aku memenangkan Penghargaan Doktor Medis Global. Tiga jam setelah kematianku, orang tua, kakak laki-laki, dan tunanganku baru saja pulang dari pesta ulang tahun ke-16 adik perempuanku. Ketika adikku mengunggah foto keluarga kami saat merayakan ulang tahunnya di media sosial, aku sedang terbaring di ruang bawah tanah yang tertutup rapat dan berlumuran darah. Aku mencoba menggunakan lidahku untuk menggeser layar ponsel dan meminta bantuan. Di antara kontak darurat, hanya tunanganku yang menjawab panggilanku. Artinya orang tua dan kakakku telah memblokir nomorku. Begitu telepon diangkat, tunanganku hanya mengucapkan satu kalimat, “Karin, pesta ulang tahun Lina yang ke-16 itu sangat penting. Jangan pakai alasan nggak masuk akal untuk cari perhatian kami dan bersikap manja lagi!” Dia menutup telepon dan memutus harapan terakhirku untuk bertahan hidup. Jantungku berhenti berdetak karena nada sibuk telepon. Ini adalah ke-100 kalinya mereka memilih adikku, ke-100 kalinya mereka mengabaikanku, mengecewakanku, dan ini juga yang terakhir. Aku terbaring di dalam genangan darahku sendiri, merasakan napasku perlahan berhenti. Mereka mengira aku kabur dari rumah lagi sebagai alasan untuk melampiaskan ketidakpuasanku. Mereka pikir bahwa selama mereka memberiku pelajaran, aku akan kembali dengan patuh seperti 99 kali sebelumnya. Sayangnya, itu tidak akan terjadi kali ini. Karena aku tidak pernah meninggalkan rumah, aku terus terbaring di ruang bawah tanah rumahku.

“How sore are you?” His unexpected presence made me jump in fright. “Your Majesty?” I spun around to see him sitting on the bed I had been staring at earlier. “Come here.” He didn’t repeat the question. Did I mishear? “Your Grace, if you’ll just let me finish cleaning up this area—” I rushed out, suddenly confused and nervous about why he’d want me to come closer. “How about you abandon that and come sit, Cassia. Now.” His tone was firm yet soft. I almost gasped when he raised his eyebrows and patted his left thigh. I gulped hard and took tentative steps toward him…. In a world where medieval and modern collide, werewolves, vampires, and hybrids rule while humans live in fear, their lives not fully belonging to themselves. Cassia is one of the unfortunate souls sold by her aunt to the hybrid palace, a place desperately in need of new servants. Living under the roof of the infamous Hybrid King, who harbors a deep-seated hatred for humans—especially due to their role in the brutal attack that harmed his mother—her fate becomes dangerously intertwined with his. As she navigates the treacherous palace with survival on her mind, she becomes entangled with the King, who fights against an undeniable attraction to the very human he despises.

I set up a company cafeteria for employees with an abundant meal daily worth 150 dollars per person. Meals are prepared by a world-renowned master chef. Every day, I only ask my employees to contribute a token of one dollar. Instead of gratitude, all I get is their envy of the neighboring company. "I wish we had that. Their healthy lunches cost them nothing, and the company covers everything." "Yeah. Free salads always seem to taste the best." Before long, this chatter spreads through the office, and the new hires carry it into the company's group chat. "Mr. Shaw, can we switch things up? All this rich, heavy food is just too much for us!" A few of the senior employees quickly jump in. "Yes, Mr. Shaw! We're not asking for anything extravagant. We only want something like the healthy lunches the other company gives out for free!" Perfect. They ignore my lavish 150-dollar meals that cost them almost nothing, yet they pine over the neighboring company's modest lunches. I scroll through the chat, feeling nothing but sharp irony. I immediately send a company-wide email. "Attention, everyone! By popular demand, and so you can all experience a truly free lunch, the cafeteria's daily meal is reduced from abundant to simple starting today. "Snacks and fruit options are discontinued and replaced with the same healthy lunch set offered by the neighboring company. The company will cover the full cost. Enjoy your meal!"

After five years in a world ruled by werewolves, I still haven't found a way back to the human world. So I did the only thing I could. I married my fated mate, Ryan Darcy, a devastatingly handsome Lycan Prince with a towering frame. The night we sealed our mate bond, we traded secrets. Leaning close, I whispered in his ear, "The truth is, I'm not from this world. Treat me wrong, and I'll disappear back to where I came from. You'll never find me again." Ryan immediately swears he'll love me more than life itself. He pulls me close, holding me so tight it's like he's afraid I'll disappear any second. But then Eleanor Darcy—his stepsister, sent away for a political marriage in another pack—returns. Bit by bit, I watch as Ryan's attention shifts to her. Devastated, I start looking for a way back to the human world. I throw myself at walls, try to hang myself, even jump into the lake, but nothing works. Ryan grows more distant with each passing day. "Susan, I expected better from you. Since when have you stooped to cheap attention-seeking stunts? 'Crossed over from another world?' You can't honestly expect me to buy that nonsense." That's when I realized he hadn't believed a single word I'd said.