Mademoiselle Will Mess Around

Three months after my fiancé disappeared, I saw him at the airport, his arm around a girl. He laughed smugly, "Thanks to my buddies, coming up with that plan. Otherwise, how would I get to spend every day with you? Won't go back until you're pregnant. Let that old ball-and-chain keep searching." I didn't rush over to confront him; I just watched them in complete silence. Back home, I wrapped my arms around his brother's neck and whispered bitterly, "Harry is gone, but your family needs an heir."

Dylan Gold was only six years old when her mother died. Soon after, her father remarried a woman that despised her. At school, her step-siblings pretend not to know her. With her father constantly away for work, Dylan is left alone with people that don't like or care about her. Having no friends or real family around her, Dylan spends majority of her time reading and working at the local diner. Her life is completely turned around when transfer student and alleged 'bad boy' Callum Gage blows into town. Taken by her captivating beauty and timid nature, Callum is determined to know her.

“I want a divorce.” The room stilled. “Excuse me?” His voice was silk wrapped around steel. “What did you just say?” “You heard me.” I said, getting up from the bed, holding the sheets tightly around my body as I walked towards the dresser. I opened the drawer and pulled out the divorce paper, handing it to him. His eyes darkened. “I want a divorce…” ******************* Be with perfect Luna, they said. Be the lover. The wife. The friend… But what happens when a Luna no longer wants to be? It is a challenge, an outbreak, and a direct offense to the order. And Alpha Xavier… well, he was never known to like rules being broken… Unless it was him breaking them.

Aurora's life became a mess, a total mess. Her life was perfect at first. A loving family, a happy home. Her life was simple and perfect. But the arrival of a letter was what caused her whole world to crumble, but in a way, started a new beginning for her. **** Her heart was beating loudly in her ears. Her breath coming out as small sighs. They were so close, noses slightly rubbing. She couldn't believe what was happening. She had tried to run away from him but she kept falling into his arms. His hazel coloured eyes watched her every move, a charming yet devilish grin plastered on his face. He had his arm over her head. "Your.." "Why do you try to run? Have you forgotten that you live under my roof?" He asked. She shivered when he ran his thumb on her cheek. "Please let me go" She pleaded. She felt light-headed because of his proximity. "How can I when I'm not even holding you." He asked with a smirk. Her expression pleased him. He leaned towards her ear and whispered; "You can hide all you want, but you'll always come back to me, both as a king and as a man."

Good and evil are just words. I don’t pretend to be the misunderstood hero—I’m the monster who tells the truth even when I shouldn’t. And the truth is, I should’ve walked away the moment she stepped into my bar. Bowen Fox cleans up other people’s messes for Boston’s most dangerous men. He kills, he hides, he buries—and he never feels a damn thing. Until a runaway with cherry-red hair and a fake name walks into his world, turning his carefully controlled life into chaos. Ripley Beretta—now Harley Beaumont—escaped the gilded cage of her mafia family and the arranged marriage that would have sealed her fate. Desperate to disappear, she takes a job at The Fox Hole, never expecting her new boss to be as infuriating as he is irresistible. But Bowen’s past and Ripley’s lies are bound by blood. He was hired to clean up her family’s mess… and she’s the one who made it. When desire turns to obsession, and secrets turn deadly, love becomes the most dangerous game of all. He was sent to destroy her. She might be his only salvation. And when the truth comes out—he’ll wish her hell.

There had been a shortage of faculty at the start of the freshman year, so I had temporarily stepped in to take on the role of a student advisor. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I had deliberately dressed down in the plainest shirt I could find and put on a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses. However, a troublemaking student brought a group of people and blocked me on the field just as the opening ceremony ended. "Hey, old hag, you're done being a faculty member in Salt-U. How dare you dress like that on purpose to mess with my eyes! Strip and get on your knees, and I might let you off this once!" I narrowed my eyes, irritation rising. Then, I reminded him of the student code of conduct. He immediately blew up. "Cut the act! Who do you think you're fooling? My dad's the Director of Academic Administration! He's the one in charge of your evaluations!" The field suddenly fell silent, and all the freshmen began sneaking glances in our direction. I unhurriedly took off my glasses and let out a low chuckle as I looked down at the meeting notes in my hand. His father was a director, he thought that was enough of a reason for him to behave so imperiously. In that case, I supposed that the first item on the board meeting agenda that day would be the dismissal of the Director of Academic Administration.

Ten years ago, the Harrington family went through a home invasion. My mother, a maid, shielded Liam with her life. Holding my hands tight, Liam promised, "Andrea, don't worry. I'll protect you forever." I believed him. Our bond grew naturally, and we had a beautiful daughter together. Then, she was diagnosed with leukemia. In her last days, all she wanted was to spend one birthday with her dad. I called him, desperate to make it happen. "Millie doesn't have much time left. All she wants is one birthday with you. Can you come?" His voice on the other end went icy. "Really? This your latest stunt? Using your dead mom wasn't enough, now it's our daughter for pity? Disgusting." I tried to deny it, but he cut me off. "Don't mess with her head. Learn from Vivian—she's got a real heart." That night, our daughter passed away. Later, Vivian posted on social media: [Finally taking that couples' trip someone promised me!] I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I just texted Liam: [We're done.]

Nalina (Lina) Romirez wasn't your typical nineteen year old. She had a secret that only those closest to her knew about. For her parents, they knew things would be different when their only daughter was born with a missing hand. By the time she was eight she had already mastered the art of operating a mechanical hand. It was so well built that no one could ever tell that it was fake, not even the wolves that went to her school. They were ferocious creatures that no one ever dared to mess with. Their pack (BitterFang Pack) lived deep in the woods and setting foot on their territory was an instant death sentence. Lina has never seen the higher members of the pack nor the Alpha. She didn't care much for them as her only goal was finishing her academic studies and moving out of the town. She wanted a life of her own and she was set on achieving just that. But as they say, destiny brings people together and crossing paths with the reigning Alpha wasn't something Lina had planned for. Not only was he the depiction of strength and dominance, but he also had striking features that couldn't go unnoticed. He knew she was his other half. But Lina wasn't planning on entering their territory again nor crossing paths with the Alpha for a second time. Well, that's what she thought.

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my wife, who had struggled with fertility for years, suddenly felt nauseous. The college student we had been sponsoring panicked and rushed her to the hospital. Half an hour later, she called me. "I'm pregnant." I was thrilled, until her next words froze me in place. "The father's the college student, the one we've been supporting. He got sick that night and I felt bad for him, so I stayed over. I didn't think anything would happen. We have to keep this quiet. He's graduating soon and joining our company. We can't let this mess things up for him. "And you need to quit your job, so he can take your position. I'm going to need you home to take care of me." The sheer audacity left me speechless, but I kept my voice level. "Okay." She hung up, satisfied. What she did not know was that years ago, someone had made me a promise. If I turned 30 years old and still did not have a child, she would give me one. Today was my 30th birthday.

When I finally locate my wife, Annabelle Suther, she happens to be nuzzling against a man. There are freshly used condoms littering around them as well. That's when I recall the social media post made by Annabelle's best friend. "Anna is happy once again!" In the photo, Annabelle can be seen kissing a man with her arms around him as they stand in the center of a heart formed by roses. I've left a comment there. "Make sure to use protection." Annabelle, who has always gone against every word I say, actually takes my advice very seriously this time.