Mantis Piercing Nose

"He is not yours!" She affirms with a confident and unwavering look. "Whose child is he, then?" I question, my eyes wandering to the boy with piercing blue eyes like mine. Celine narrows her eyes with her hands clenched. "He is mine!" "What about his father? Who is he?" I drop my hands lazily and watch her intensely. "That is none of your business." She says defensively. "It means he is mine and I am taking him", I conclude with a smile and walk past her to pick up the child who is already dozing off. "No, no, no!" Celine chants, blocking my way. "Please, don't take him. I beg you!" **** After realizing she was pregnant which was not part of the deal she made with Billionaire Bryan Martinez, Celine left his mansion before the end of the contract. When they meet again and he discovered the secret she was hiding from him, he decided to punish her by taking custody of the child. What will happen when the baby wants his mother close to him? Will this reunion blossom the love between them before her departure? How sweet will Bryan's revenge be for Celine?

As I emerged from the bathroom, I felt someone collide with my shoulder. I quickly turned, ready to apologize, when my eyes locked onto the most stunning man I had ever seen. He was tall, with chiseled features and a captivating style. His eyes were a piercing grey, and his hair was a shock of dark brown waves. I felt my cheeks flush as he looked down at me, his lips curling into a smirk. I swallowed, trying to find my voice, but all I could manage was a breathless 'oh'. ๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑๑˙❥˙๑ Amelia's perfect life comes crashing down when her boyfriend dumps her. Alone and heartbroken, she turns to her best friend Cara for support, only to find that Cara's not the friend she thought she was. With a mix of spiked drink, clubbing… the outcome isn’t so good. When Amelia wakes up the next morning, she's terrified to discover that she's had a one-night stand with a stranger. But the real terror begins when she realizes she's pregnant, and the stranger is nowhere to be found.

I was on the verge of unbuckling his belt when he pulled away so forcefully I stumbled forward, disoriented by the sudden loss of contact. My core throbbed, my nipples could cut diamonds, and my skin was so sensitive even the brush of air caused me to tremble. But when the fog of sensation dissipated, I realized Alex was glaring at me. “Fuck.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, his scowl fierce enough to make grown men quake. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” “Alex—” “No. What the hell were you thinking?” he bit out. “Did you think we would fuck in the kitchen while your friends are in the other room?” Heat scorched my cheeks. “If this is about Josh—” “It’s not about Josh.” Alex pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled a slow, controlled breath. “Not entirely.” “Then what is it?” He wanted me. I knew he did; I felt it, and I’m not just talking about the massive bulge straining his pants. Yes, Josh would attempt to murder us both if he found out what happened, but he couldn’t stay mad at us forever. Besides, he didn’t return to D.C. until Christmas. We had time. “It’s me. And you. Together. It won’t work.” Alex’s glare intensified. “Whatever fantasies you have of us swirling in that pretty head of yours, kill them. That kiss was a one-time mistake. It’ll never happen again.”

What a ridiculous thing happened to me! I was sent as a substitute for my sister for just one night but I end up marrying her supposed husband. “What are you doing? Are you not aware of the reason for which you are here?” He said and sat on the bed. I sat straight and curled my legs. “I…I….am... But I am a virgin and the thought of all of this is what scares me.” I said and Greyson gave me an evil smirk. My voice wasn't supposed to sound this weak and pathetic but I can't hide my emotions. “You have nothing to fear. I am the man who would be marrying you. Think of this as our marriage consummation.” He said and my eyes brimmed with tears. If only you knew that I am not the woman you would be marrying. I am simply her substitute. I thought to myself. Greyson reached out to my legs and dragged his fingers on them, and pulled me by the legs to himself. He frowned when he saw that I still wore a nose mask and suspicion took over him. “Remove your face Mask, Bella. There is no need to hide your face from me.” He said and I shook my head. Greyson tilted his head, and his eyes became cold. “Remove the face mask, Isabella Walters.” He said Authoritatively and I gasped. This was trouble.

I had taken leave from the sealed research institute where I'd been confined for six years, just so I could attend my daughter's kindergarten graduation. The moment I stepped through the gates, I froze. A woman holding a little boy by the hand was shoving my daughter, Amy, straight into the gutter. She slapped Amy across the face, then sneered for everyone to hear, spitting venom as she called my little girl a filthy wretch. Drenched in filthy water, Amy dropped to her knees before the woman, trembling in humiliation. Rage burned through me. I stormed forward and slapped the woman across the face. But instead of shame, she jabbed a finger at my nose and shouted, "Do you even know who I am? To offend me is to offend the entire Grant family!" Tears welled in Amy's eyes as she tugged at my sleeve, pleading in a choked voice, "Please leave… she's my dad's nanny. My dad will punish you if you hurt her." The woman planted herself in front of me, her arrogance towering. "The Grant family rules this city. You think you can run from us?" For a brief moment, I stood stunned, then calmly pulled out my phone and dialed my husband. "Your nanny says you run Bexley City. Well, I think that's about to change."

All is fair in love and war. “You belong to me now” he growled. Astrid, stood naked before Kael, the ruthless Red Moon Pack alpha. His piercing gaze scrutinized her untapped power. Astrid never imagined her life would be anything more than a constant battle for survival—until she met Kael, the brooding alpha with secrets as dark as his gaze. Bound by fate, their connection ignites a passion so consuming it sets her very soul on fire. But with her unborn children growing inside her, Astrid's powers wane, leaving her vulnerable to Lavinia, a power-hungry matriarch and mother to the Manx she had come to love. Determined to destroy everything she holds dear. As war looms and betrayal strikes from the shadows, Astrid and Kael’s love is tested in ways they never expected. From desperate battles to forbidden, heated nights in each other’s arms, their bond becomes both their greatest strength and most dangerous weakness. With her fire threatening to consume her and enemies closing in, Astrid must make the ultimate sacrifice to save her family. Will her love burn eternal, or will fate tear her away from everything she holds dear?

Elise Stanton has one dream: to study medicine. When she earns a coveted spot in medical school, her future seems bright—until her parents present her with an ultimatum. The only way they’ll pay her tuition is if she marries Alejandro Mendoza, the disabled heir to a powerful family. “Marry a stranger for money? Is that the price of my freedom?” Elise protests, her voice trembling with frustration. “Clara gets her luxuries handed to her, but I have to sell my life to pursue my dream?” In her family’s eyes, she is always second-best, a shadow to her younger sister, Clara. Left with no other choice, Elise agrees to her parents’ condition. Then she meets Alejandro Mendoza. Confined to a wheelchair, Alejandro is bitter and guarded, his piercing gaze a wall against the world. But when Elise examines his condition, her sharp medical instincts kick in. “The doctors had a wrong diagnosis,” she insists. “Your condition is reversible.” Alejandro narrows his eyes. “Why are you doing this? What do you want?” Her answer is simple: “I’ll help you recover, and when you can walk again, this marriage ends.”

On my son's fifth birthday, my Alpha mate allowed his childhood sweetheart Sarah to pick him up from school. I discovered through the tracking device on his watch that he was near the edge of the forest. Having heard reports of rogue wolves attacking in the area recently, I anxiously rushed over, determined to bring him back immediately. He refused to leave with me. While we were locked in this standoff, several rogue wolves burst from the treeline and attacked us. During the fight, I was wounded badly, blood streaming down my face, while I kept my son safely behind me, completely unharmed. But when my Alpha mate arrived to rescue us, he ran straight toward his childhood sweetheart who was hiding off to the side. "Aunt Sarah is a delicate Omega with no fighting ability, Dad. Save her first! Mom, you're so strong, just hold on a little longer!" my son called out. I watched them leave, a bitter smile forming on my lips. They all seemed to ignore the silver dagger piercing my heart as I protected my son. I was dying.

Laura Miller Williams problems come all at once. Her boyfriend cheated on her, her father's company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and she risked losing the Miller Estate. Now, she was about to marry a man she only knew by name - Draco Atlas Smith, the owner of the Smith Group of Companies. It was a marriage of convenience; she and Draco would marry to save her family's assets, especially the beloved Miller Estate. And when Laura saw the man she was to marry, her heart almost stopped. Draco Atlas Smith was tall, fair-complexioned, well-built, and gorgeously handsome. The man's sex appeal was simply overflowing. His piercing stare sent chills, a trait that earned him the formidable reputation as the Cold Billionaire. Draco and Laura got married in a simple ceremony. But it wasn't until she became Mrs. Smith that she discovered the real reason he'd married her. It wasn't just about helping her; he'd used her to exact revenge on her father, who had wronged him.

The medicine in her hand is a gateway to death, but it may not be. Victoria knew the path she was about to take could lead to destruction, but the hope for a little happiness remained. In the darkness of the hospital room, before her sits a man she once knew-a man who has lost everything, who now stares at her with sharp, hateful eyes. Logan, the badly injured CEO of Dallas Corp, spends his days in a wheelchair, trapped in a deep grudge. Victoria knows this is the right moment. If she didn't act now, it would all be over. “I can take you to get everything back,” Victoria said, voice wrapped in hesitation yet full of determination. Stepping closer, her eyes met Logan's dark, piercing ones. “Everything they ever took away, including your own honor as CEO of Dallas Corp,” she added, looking at him deeply, like an unbreakable promise. “But... pay for my daughter's entire treatment. Even if necessary, find the best doctor in the country so he can work on her recovery.”