Lips Turning Blue When Cold

“I don't want any trouble, Easton.” She breathed. But he only stepped closer, running his fingers on her cheeks slowly as a smirk stretched the side of his mouth, “Well, that's too damn bad because I want to see you in trouble. I want to see you in pain until you're nothing but a shell in a body.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held back a sob, her throat was dry as she asked the question that was burning in her chest, “Do you hate me that much?” Seeing her tears made something in him shift but he quickly recovered. He took a few steps back and tucked his hands in his pockets before finding her gaze again, “That would make me too kind. What I feel for you isn't hate, Scarlet. It's deeper than that, but most importantly, I want to make you pay for ruining my life and taking my brother from me.” ……….. They say opposites attract, and for them, it was love at first sight. But love wasn’t enough to keep them together when fate tore them apart. She left him, convinced it was the only way to protect him. He believed she abandoned him out of cold-heartedness, and love for money. Blaming her for his brother’s tragic accident. For five long years, he’s harbored a fierce bitterness, a desire for revenge so intense it’s reshaped him, hardening his heart to ice. Now she’s back—stronger, wiser, but still haunted by the shadows of their past. And he’s waiting, ready to make her pay for what he believes she stole from him. She takes his anger, thinking it’s because she left, unaware of the deeper wound that fuels his wrath. But what happens when the truth finally comes out?

Two days before her wedding, my elder sister, Sophia, vanished into thin air, leaving behind a cryptic note. She was supposed to marry the most influential man in the country, Mr. Vaughn Slade - a man rumored to be old, ugly, and disfigured. The whispers were that no woman wanted to marry him, and now my parents were demanding that I replace Sophia as his bride. I was horrified. Not only was I already in a loving relationship with my boyfriend, Julian, but I also knew that Vaughn Slade had specifically chosen Sophia. Desperate for help, I turned to Julian, who happened to be Vaughn Slade's nephew. But what I found was shocking - Julian in bed with my cousin, Rachel. My world was shattered.

It was our wedding anniversary when my husband's high school sweetheart posted a sonogram picture on her social media, with her captioning a public thank-you to my husband: [Thank you to the man who's been there for me for ten years, and for giving me a son.] The room spun, and anger surged through me as I quickly commented: [So, you're proud of being a homewrecker?] Almost immediately, my husband called, his voice full of rage. "How can you think such disgusting things? All I did was help her with IVF, fulfilling her dream of becoming a single mom. "And by the way, Ruby only needed one try to get pregnant, while you’ve been through three rounds with nothing. Your body is useless!" Just three days ago, he told me he was going abroad for business—ignoring my calls and messages the entire time. I thought he was just busy. However, it turned out he was with her, attending her prenatal checkup. Half an hour later, Ruby posted again, showing off a table full of delicious food. [I got tired of French food, so Ash made me all my favorite dishes. He’s the best!] I stared at the pregnancy test in my hand, the joy I had felt earlier now completely gone. After eight years of love and six years of swallowing my pride just to keep the marriage alive, I’m finally ready to let go.

For five years, Talia Stewart has poured everything into her marriage without a single complaint or regret. She raises their child, devotedly serves her in-laws, and gives her husband, Christian Lane, all the personal space he wants. But her selfless dedication is rewarded with betrayal when Christian starts keeping a mistress. He buys Nancy York cars, gives her an apartment, gets her a job, kisses and embraces her, and even carries her on his back. To win back her straying husband's heart, Talia decides to try for a second child—a boy this time. Initially, she thinks that if Christian is willing to have a second child with her, it means that he still recognizes her as his wife. But the truth is, Christian only wants Talia to bear his children because he fears Nancy might face risks from childbirth. Talia thinks that even if she loses Christian, she'll still have her daughter for company. But the daughter she raises with such care becomes someone else's precious little girl instead. Finally, Talia's heart breaks completely. She terminates the pregnancy and resolves to get a divorce. She wants nothing more to do with either her husband or her daughter. But during the mandatory waiting period before their divorce can be finalized, Christian, who refuses to come home, suddenly corners her in the living room. "Didn't we agree to have a second child?"

"I'm scheduling the C-section for tomorrow. The doctor will extract her bone marrow during the procedure." Those were the words that shattered Selena's world. Her husband, Ellis Winston, the most ruthless Mafia Don in New York, was going to force her to deliver their baby at twenty-seven weeks. To him, her pregnant body was just a blood farm to cure Jennifer, the manipulative half-sister who supposedly saved his life. So, Selena ran. She left behind a pool of blood, a crushed ultrasound photo, and a destroyed wedding ring. The world thought she was dead. Six years later, Ellis is a walking corpse. He rules the global underworld, but he is tormented by the ghost of the wife he pushed to the grave. During his company's grand anniversary banquet, the heavy ballroom doors burst open. Selena is back. But she isn't the weak, obedient housewife in a cheap housewife anymore. She is the untouchable heiress of the Merrick billionaire empire. She strides down the red carpet, a signed divorce agreement in hand, ready to crush the man who ruined her. Ellis refuses to let her go. He is willing to go to war with Wall Street to drag her back. But what will the arrogant Don do when he comes face-to-face with a genius six-year-old boy who looks exactly like him? He will pay any price to win her back. Even if it costs him his empire, his organs, and his life.

When my mom texted me, urging me to go home for a blind date, Charles had just finished with me. His warm breath brushed against the back of my ear, sending a tingling sensation straight to my heart. He wiped away the traces on my skin with gentle care, but when he spoke, his voice was chillingly indifferent. "Since Mrs. Shaw is pushing you, you should head back soon." I thought he was jealous, and a surge of sweetness filled my heart. I quickly grabbed his wrist, telling him my feelings. "Charles, I want to stay with you. I'm not going anywhere!" He froze for a moment, then let out a derisive laugh. One by one, he pried my fingers off. "You didn't actually think I was jealous, did you?" Tucking my damp, messy hair behind my ear, he remained as gentle as ever, but his words were almost cruel. "Rose is pure and innocent. I couldn't bring myself to touch her before marriage, so I used you to satisfy my needs. However, now, our engagement is set. She'll soon be my rightful wife. You're no longer needed."

The contractions were ripping me in two. My vision was going dark. My husband, Don Vittorio, the man who ruled Chicago, squeezed my hand. His dark eyes burned with love. "Just a little longer, mia cara. You'll meet our baby soon." Sweat poured down my face. I still found the strength to smile for him. Then a nurse walked in. She held a syringe. I thought it was to stop the pain. But Vittorio’s hand fell away. He took a single step back. The needle sank into my arm. I heard Vittorio’s voice. It was cold steel. "Dose her carefully. She holds on until midnight. Not a minute sooner. Not until after Ornella delivers." And then I knew. He thought I married him for the money. He was stopping my labor. All for a sick Falcone family rule: the first son born is the next heir. Pain tore through me. I reached for him. Tears streamed down my face. I begged him to stop. He bit his lip. His voice was pure ice. "My brother is dead. Ornella carries his only heir. You will do as you are told. You and your child will not steal his birthright." The drug hit my veins. The violent squeeze in my belly, like some invisible hand, just… stopped.

Pekerjaan dan pernikahan, dua hal yang belum ada dalam kehidupan Valerie di usianya yang mendekati angka tiga. Ia berharap, pertemuan dengan Arion, CEO tampan dan ramah, bisa mewujudkan keinginan sang ibu yang menginginkannya segera menikah. Namun, harapan itu tidak berjalan mulus saat mengetahui jati diri Saga. Siapa Saga? Dan bagaimana seorang Saga bisa mempengaruhi kehidupan Valerie?

"I'm sorry Ariel, I never knew that happened years ago. Just like how we meet, I was drugged. Can you ever forgive me?" Dylan questioned with a little warmth in his eyes. Ariel sighed, she didn't know how to feel. Finding out he was the father of her child from the past 3 years, was a shock to her. "Just give me sometime to decide... I can't say anything now." Ariel responded and walked away.

She was an Elemental. He was Human. There was a Witch Hunt. She was targeted. He refused to lose her. They had allies, they had enemies. Blue Thunder’s legend goes deep enough that a trilogy won’t be enough to cover it. In book 1, Follow Coralis Golmar, aka Blue Thunder, as she learns who she is while many people want her dead. What will she be willing to do to protect her loved ones?