Novel & Cerita Kim D'estainville Biography

The life trial system "If You Think You Can Do Better, Prove It" burst onto the scene like a traveling circus promising wonders. The idea was plain enough: "If you reckon someone's life is a mess, and you think you can do better, go ahead and prove it. There's a reward waiting if you do." Before I knew it, my whole family had me pegged for the fool in the middle of the show. There was my mother, dreaming of turning me into some grand goose; my husband, who'd spent years dodging his rightful share of the family load; and my son, mortified by the very sight of me. They shoved me onto the "judgment seat" like I was the villain of the tale. Every last one of them swore up and down that, given my place, they'd manage my life better than I ever could. The stakes? Well, if they pulled it off, my consciousness would be erased—gone, wiped out like a mistake on a chalkboard—and turned into their personal servant. On top of that, they'd waltz off with a cool million dollars. But if they couldn't? Then I'd be the one raking in three million dollars. Now that's a gamble for the ages, isn't it?

"You’re fighting a losing battle,” he says, his voice dangerously low. “I suggest you save yourself the pain and step aside.” I can’t believe my ears. Anger rises up my throat. “You don’t scare me, Mr. D’Amato," I snap. “Erik belongs with me, and I’ll fight for him no matter what it takes.” ***** A grieving aunt. A powerful billionaire. And a baby caught in the middle. When Pamela loses her little sister, she vows to raise her nephew, Erik, all by herself. But Massimo D’Amato has other plans. His proposal is simple: A two-year marriage contract or she'd never see Erik again. As they both fight for Erik’s future, feelings they never expected begin to grow. But love was never part of the deal nor were the secrets that could tear them apart.

On our eighth anniversary, Claire Young announced that she had already registered her marriage with her childhood friend. She took him home, ordering me around as if it was only natural. "Move to another room. Stan loves sunshine." "Stan doesn't like sweets, so don't bake any when you're at home. He'd be upset if he saw it." I kept quiet through it all and bought a ticket to leave. My friend wanted to help me out of the predicament, but she didn't think it was a big deal. "He's just being dramatic again. Let him be—he'd be caving in just a few days." Everyone laughed at that, and quietly made bets as to when I'd come crawling back to Claire's feet. None of them knew I was already inducted into the national weapons program, and that I was really leaving.

I slaved away for my husband and son. But what did I get in return? Cold shoulders, cutting words, and distance. Then one day, my husband suggested a “fake divorce” so my stepsister could adopt a child. Fine. Fake divorce it is. Except… if it’s just fake, why are the two of them heating up the sheets behind my back? Then, Fake divorce just turned real. My ex-husband thought I’d beg to come back. My stepsister thought I’d envy her for stealing my husband and son. They both thought I’d shatter. Wrong. I’ve got my career, my revenge, and oh—did I mention? I’m dating a drop-dead gorgeous man who actually knows my worth. And suddenly, life tasted sweeter than I ever imagined.

The night of my first shift at eighteen, my two older brothers brought home a twelve-year-old orphaned Omega. My alpha brother seized the rare healing herb I'd spent all my savings on—herbs meant to ease my first transformation—and gave them to her instead. "You're strong enough," he growled. "You don't need such precious herbs." My beta brother snarled with fury, pointing toward the door. "Get out! Don't come back!" I said nothing more, just grabbed my packed bag and left. They assumed I was merely throwing a tantrum, that I'd return in a few days. My brothers, finally free of my presence, took the orphan girl on an international vacation to the Caribbean islands I'd always dreamed of visiting. Many days later, when they returned to the pack, they were shocked to discover I'd accepted an offer from the neighboring pack's Head Healer. The position required fifteen years of isolated herbal research. I could never return home. That night, they fell apart.

The day I finally got the witch's potion to heal his wolf, I threw my arms around Ethan, trembling with excitement. "Your wolf can be healed. We can finally be together. Really together!" He clicked his tongue. "That eager to be marked?" I froze. What does that mean? Then laughter exploded from his phone. A group call, speaker on. "Ethan, she's even dumber than we thought! She actually went and found a cure so she could marry you. Just mark her already—she's desperate!" "Even if his wolf gets fixed, Sera's the one who deserves to be Luna. A pureblood, not some bastard whose mom slept her way into the family. How does she deserve to marry an Alpha?" Alpha? Luna? I stared at the man in front of me, the one who'd always seemed so fragile, whose wolf was supposedly so faint it could barely be sensed. He was the Alpha heir of our pack. And Sera was the stepsister who'd been bullying and tormenting me since middle school. Three years. All Ethan had to do was take a few scent-suppressing pills, and I'd fallen for every word. Everything he'd done was to keep Sera happy.

Three days into the silent treatment, Derrick—my fiancé and CEO—greenlit his assistant's pitch for a self-driving road trip. He expected me to flip, like always. I didn't. A month later, he came back and saw it—I wasn't the same. He backed Molly, stole my project, and thought I'd explode. I didn't. I just helped her draft the proposal. He trashed everything I built, just so she could snag her year-end bonus. I didn't fight back. Took the blame, took the hit. Molly was all smug. "See? Told you. You can't go at Yara head-on. Give her the silent treatment—she folds. She's scared of losing you. That's why she's playing nice." Derrick ate it up. Called her smart. Then he pulled me aside—offered a raise, a promotion, even a fancy wedding. First time he'd ever brought it up. But he missed one detail: he'd already signed off on my resignation while he was off playing road trip king. And I'd already dumped him. That was it. Clean cut. Nothing left.

Joel Gleason, my childhood sweetheart and fiancé, promised he'd marry no one but me. But then, to help Jenny Swisher, my adoptive sister, get through her depression, he secretly married her. I didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing to marry Conrad Lennon, Jasselton's most untouchable heir, who'd been in love with me for years. After seven years of marriage, he still spoiled me rotten. He clung to me every night like he couldn't get enough. And there was nothing he wouldn't do for me. I really thought I'd found happiness at last. But one day, after we'd slept together, I heard him talking to his best friend. "Jenny's an international best actress now. When are you dumping Jean?" "It doesn't matter. I wouldn't end up with the person I love either way. Besides, I have to keep an eye on Jean. I can't let her ruin all the happiness Jenny worked so hard for." I booted up the computer in Conrad's study and stumbled upon a hidden folder. Inside were over 100,000 photos of Jenny, plus 100 unsent love letters. I'd been fooling myself long enough. It was time to wake up. I got myself a fake body and got ready to start a fire. That was it. Conrad and I were done for good.

But as much as I loved him, there were cracks in our perfect marriage. Damien didn’t want children. He’d been clear about it from the start, even though I had always dreamed of being a mother. He’d smile that charming smile of his and say, “Pups will tie us down, my love. You’re so beautiful and vibrant and pregnancy would change that. I want you to stay just as you are.”

Sext Buddy: [I’d do anything to fuck you right now.] Alicia: [I want you so bad too…really.] During the summer, Alicia has been sexting with a total stranger in hopes that she’d never meet him. At the beginning of college, her mum tells her that they have a guest. She meets the stranger she was constantly sexting. But then, what happens when the stranger is her cousin?