Let's Put A Smile On That Face

On my birthday, the dining table was loaded with all my favorites. My mom had been cooking and baking the entire afternoon, insisting everything be perfect for when Mike got home from work so we could celebrate together. But then, he called and said his first love had been drugged at a bar, and he had to go help her. I stopped him and begged him not to go. Mike snapped at me. "Jesus, Em, don’t pull this jealous wife crap. She’s alone, defenseless, and unconscious—I can't let some random dude take advantage of her!" My mother heard those words and was so enraged that she had a heart attack. She died on the spot. Just like that, my mom died on my birthday. I called Mike, asking him to attend my mom's funeral. But before he could reply, I saw Cathy Miller's latest Instagram post, captioned: [Mikey… after all these years, it was always you.] Mike had liked it. My thumb moved before my brain caught up, typing out the only words that mattered: [A homewrecker and a lying bastard. Hope you rot together.]

One reckless kiss. One lethal secret. One Boss from Hell! Ariana Vale had a plan: wear a red power suit, ruin her cheating ex’s night, and kiss a gorgeous stranger to prove she’s moved on. It was the perfect performance. Until she walked into work the next morning. The stranger she borrowed isn't just her new CEO, he’s Lucien Blackthorne, an Alpha King with a silver heart and a predatory streak. He’s cold, he’s possessive, and thanks to a viral family group chat, he’s officially "taken" by the girl in the red suit. Now, Ariana is trapped in a corporate empire built on blood and moonlit secrets. Between a vengeful arranged bride and a boss who watches her like his next meal, she has one goal: Survival. But in Lucien’s world, "No" is just a challenge, and "Mine" is a death warrant. She prayed to be too bitter to eat. He decided he liked the taste.

At seventeen, Seraphina Cole lost more than her innocence. A medical betrayal stole her future, her womb, and her belief in forever. Years later, she is successful, self-made, and emotionally guarded, determined never to let another man define her worth or control her destiny. Then she meets Aurelius Kingsley. A billionaire CEO with quiet power, iron discipline, and scars that mirror her own. Unlike every man before him, Aurelius doesn’t try to save Seraphina or break her defences. He respects her boundaries. He sees her strength. Instead of demanding her heart, he offers something rare, patience. As attraction deepens into devotion, Seraphina begins to believe that love doesn’t have to hurt to be real. But when her past resurfaces, a devastating secret, explodes into the public eye, and a pregnancy doctors said was impossible puts her life at risk, everything she’s rebuilt begins to unravel. Under ruthless media scrutiny, corporate enemies, and medical danger, Aurelius must prove that love isn’t possession, protection isn’t control, and commitment isn’t fear. Because this time, survival isn’t enough. The Heart That Wouldn’t Surrender is a powerful billionaire romance about trauma, healing, and a woman who learns that even after everything is taken from you, the heart can still choose forever.

One night of freedom. One reckless dare. One one night mistake they never saw coming. Yukisha has a long-time suitor ready to fight for her heart. Xavier is bound by an arranged marriage — a pact meant to secure his future. But in the heat of that night, all plans faded away. Their secret encounter in a car sparked a fire neither could put out, a story that reaches far beyond that one night mistake. Will fate bring them together again? And can they fight against all odds for a love that seems forbidden?

At the company team-building event, I got called out by my colleague Samantha Rowler for not removing my price tag—she accused me of being a "freebie chaser." "Oh wow, Carla, you drive a BMW 5 Series. Are you seriously planning to return your clothes within seven days too?" she sneered. I tucked the tag back in and ignored her snide remark. But after the event, as soon as I got home, my phone started blowing up. My chat apps were going insane. A friend had sent me a link: [Luxury-Car Executive Turns Out to Be a Return Addict!] Someone had filmed me leaving the price tag on and posted it to a short-video platform. I opened the comment section and was met with a barrage of insults. [Can't afford to live, huh? Tag warrior.] [Is this car a sugar-daddy gift? Those who know, know.] [OMG, does this woman have some kind of illness? Which brand is this so I can avoid it!] I immediately knew Samantha was behind it. I messaged her to delete the video. Instead, the next second, she blocked me—and pinned a comment to the top of the thread: [You can know a person's face but never their heart!] I was about to post a statement to clarify, my finger hovering over the send button, when I noticed the video's likes had already shot past ten thousand. I laughed. If they wanted a scene, fine—let's make it bigger. I quickly posted a new update: [The outfit is really nice. I'll wear it again next time.] The netizens erupted. The insults doubled, the heat skyrocketed, and the post shot straight to number one trending. I just put my phone down and went to sleep.

Just as Justin proposed to me, a phone call interrupted him. Standing close by, I clearly heard the voice on the other end of the line. “Justin, I’m hurt. My leg hurts so much!” Justin snapped the ring box shut and looked at me. “Alice is injured. I’ll have to do this another time.” With those words, he sprinted away, leaving everyone around us staring in astonishment. I had never met Alice, but her presence lingered in every corner of our lives.  At meals, Justin would mention her fondness for sweet desserts.  When I dressed, I came to know her love for soft lavender hues. I argued, I wept, I lashed out, but Justin always countered with the same line. “You’re so jealous. Everyone has their first love. She’s my past, but you’re my future.” So, I turned to a man who had once called me his first love—Quentin—and made a bold proposition. “Let’s get married.”

“I told you not to flirt with me when we're training," I told Andrea after she missed her sidekick to my left. “Oh really?! You're so cute when you tried to be serious." Andrea mocked me with her seducing whisper while already lowering her center ready to give another kick. That was it! I couldn't take it anymore, so I moved fast and pinned her to the wall while saying, "You ARE the death of me, Andrea," I growled so low and kissed her fiercely while she welcomed me with both her arms on her head. Her body was ready for my hands to trail every inch of her skin. ****************************************** In the world of Luna with blue or green eyes, Andrea from the Nasriantra clan was different because her eyes were glowing gold like a demon. Because of that, she became the rejected Luna after her mother died. Her mate threw her away. Suspicion aroused that she was a Hybrid or even a Tribrid, which was impossible because they all had died. Devastated, she joined the werewolf force with her timid best friend, Joe who had always been in love with her since they were children. There she met Hunt, the greatest warrior who was said to be the next Alpha because he was adopted by the Gursala clan. Andrea and Hunt always trained together, then love rose between them. But their happiness didn't last long, because Andrea's father wanted Andrea to marry Duncan, the other son of Gursala. Behind Duncan, there was the mysterious Kirk who was also secretly in love with Andrea. Who were Hunt and Kirk? How will Joe face Duncan? Will Andrea be happy with Duncan or with one of the others? Find the exciting stories of Andrea's loves and more secrets to reveal …

My daughter Stella was dying—kidneys shot, barely hanging on. She needed a transplant. Fast. But my wife, Kylie—the hospital director—stole the donor kidney meant for Stella and handed it off to her old flame's kid instead. That boy lived. They celebrated. Played happy family while my daughter was bleeding out hope. That same day, I called Kylie. Told her Stella didn't have much time. All she said was, "That ungrateful brat's faking it again? Lying? If she wants to die, let her." Stella didn't make it. Her body gave out in the worst way. And when Kylie finally saw her—really saw her—she broke.

The night my family’s rival gang stormed the mafia ball, I was taken as leverage. My boyfriend, Nolan, and my closest friend, Riven, stood only steps away. But they chose to shield my cousin, Anna, instead. I was being saved by a secret man hours later—bruised, shaken, and already forgotten. No one asked what had been done to me. Nolan only said, “Anna was scared. She needed us more.” Days later, Anna invited me to her birthday party. I went out of courtesy—only to watch her cast me as the villain of her story. Nolan and Luca stood by her, protecting her again. That night, I said yes to the marriage alliance my family had prepared years ago. When I left the city, Nolan finally texted—angry, wounded, offended. “You’re really leaving?" I replied with just one line. “You’re more than welcome to my wedding.”

Layla Emilliene Ponce is a troublemaker with a purpose. She helped people through her tactic even it was against the school's rules and regulations. She is careless. Ever since she entered senior high, she's either got suspended or always summoned in guidance, but it never leads to a more serious case. Now she's in her last year of senior high. Her life turned upside down when she meets the newly elected student council's president— Cadence Lou Montes. The strict one. The perfectionist. Students should obey his rules no matter what. Layla and Cadence had a bitter start, a perfect example of a dog and cat, and if a stare could kill, they were both buried on the ground already, which is why Layla hates him. Their first impression of each other isn't something should ask for them. Surely, just answering it would look as if they are cursing each other. When Layla got rejected by her long time crush, Calum, she always encountered Cadence. Both seemly didn't expect what will come ahead of them. But when an unexpected situation came, they both learned each other's past and family situation. Unconsciously, they became close. Eventually, they turned from enemies to lovers. Nevertheless, no one expected the twist of fate. Layla thought she already knows Cadence well, but it turns out he's the other way around. He has a dark secret. He has a long-time girlfriend— Aria that currently in a coma due to a car accident. A big mistake and the dark secret that made Layla doubt his feelings for her, especially when she knew she was his first love.