Modest

Arielle Santos 24 years old never imagined that her life would be written for her — even her love story. She was raised in a modest family, a dreamer who painted her hopes in colors only she could see. But one evening, her world collapsed when her parents revealed the truth: to save their family from bankruptcy, she had to marry the son of their business partner — Evan Monteverde, the 28 years old, cold and distant heir of one of the country’s most powerful companies. Evan didn’t believe in love. To him, emotions were distractions — weaknesses that could ruin a man. He had long promised himself never to trust feelings again after being betrayed by someone he once loved. So when his father announced his arranged marriage with a woman he barely knew, he didn’t protest for love’s sake — only to end the endless lectures about “duty” and “family legacy.” Their wedding day was perfect — at least in the eyes of the guests. But behind the veil and the smiles, two strangers stood at the altar, reciting vows they didn’t mean. The words “I do”echoed in the church, but neither of them truly did. After the ceremony, they made a deal — they would live together for one year, play their roles for the sake of appearances, and then quietly separate. No love. No expectations. Just peace. But peace was harder to keep than they thought.

Rich, handsome and intelligent heir to the billionaire company, The Grey Business Empire, Andrew Alexander Grey, has always got all he ever wanted with his charm, looks and brilliance which attracts all the girls. Being the most popular and the number one heartthrob of every girl on campus, Andrew is shocked when he meets Robin, the only girl resistant to his looks and fame and vows to date her and include her name in his long list of conquests to prove that he is the greatest player of all to his friends. But what if he finds himself catching real feelings for her? Will the player be tricked in his own game? ★★★★★★★★ She is beautiful, tomboyish, fierce, headstrong and intelligent, a scholarship student from a modest background, she is Robin Jane Stevens. Having met Andrew after an accident involving her brother she is shocked by his ego and arrogance. So when fate brings about several encounters between them, Robin decides that Andrew must be taught a lesson to change his habit of looking down on others and makes it her goal to crush his inflated ego by dating him and being the first girl ever to dump him. Considering herself immune to his charms, Robin is surprised to find herself getting too involved with him and forgetting all about her original plan. Could she be falling for the player after all? Things get complicated when secrets are revealed and lots of hurdles come in between them. Will the player finally change his ways and what secret exactly would he discover?

I set up a company cafeteria for employees with an abundant meal daily worth 150 dollars per person. Meals are prepared by a world-renowned master chef. Every day, I only ask my employees to contribute a token of one dollar. Instead of gratitude, all I get is their envy of the neighboring company. "I wish we had that. Their healthy lunches cost them nothing, and the company covers everything." "Yeah. Free salads always seem to taste the best." Before long, this chatter spreads through the office, and the new hires carry it into the company's group chat. "Mr. Shaw, can we switch things up? All this rich, heavy food is just too much for us!" A few of the senior employees quickly jump in. "Yes, Mr. Shaw! We're not asking for anything extravagant. We only want something like the healthy lunches the other company gives out for free!" Perfect. They ignore my lavish 150-dollar meals that cost them almost nothing, yet they pine over the neighboring company's modest lunches. I scroll through the chat, feeling nothing but sharp irony. I immediately send a company-wide email. "Attention, everyone! By popular demand, and so you can all experience a truly free lunch, the cafeteria's daily meal is reduced from abundant to simple starting today. "Snacks and fruit options are discontinued and replaced with the same healthy lunch set offered by the neighboring company. The company will cover the full cost. Enjoy your meal!"

Gina and I were just ordinary werewolves in the Silver Claw Pack. Our incomes were modest, but we married well. Her mate was the captain of the Silver Claw Pack patrol unit. Mine, the fire squad leader. They grew up together—childhood friends—and were the youngest golden duo in the Werewolf Alliance. On the day we married, our mates each bought us a luxury high-rise apartment on the top floor of the central castle, side by side, with the promise of sharing life and death together. That is, until that fateful night. Rogues broke into the central zone. Chaos reached even the upper levels of our building. The tower caught fire. Amidst the thick smoke, I sent a desperate mind-link to my mate. He blocked it. Turns out, both our mates were busy shielding their shared first love, Lifu. They ignored our calls for help. Gina dragged me as we ran. She was six months pregnant; her pup was already kicking from the panic. Her mate never showed up either. We made it to the stairwell, where we were trapped for five hours. Toxic fumes filled our lungs. I went into labor too early. My pup didn't make it. Gina bled for three days in the hospital. Her pup was gone too. Meanwhile, our mates were digging through the wreckage—twenty-four hours straight—searching for Lifu's lost dog. That was it. Right then and there, Gina and I looked at each other and knew. We were done.

They say if you work hard, you will be able to achieve what you want. Born in a modest family, orphan at a young age, struggling in a capitalistique world to find her place; that's what her daily life seemed to be. But who would have thought she would die a meaningless death when hit by a truck after leaving from the office?! And say what !? She died a virgin without even having a boyfreind once! Luckly the universe is righteous! She get's a new chance for life and become the daughter of the all powerful Duke Evanson! Lady Satiana Von Evanson! Living a life of pleasure she enjoys beeing rich and live a carefree life... But that all will change when she realize that the world she's reincarnated in is that of a Role play game called "Saga of Regulus". A fantazy world where magic and monsters exist... and what ? she is the main stories Female Villainess ! The Solis Family that rules over the Regulus empire, she is engaged to the heir to the throne ! The blonde Crown Prince Lukretus La Solis! Her nemesis! To escape a fate of ruin and destruction, she struggle day and night under the cover of the Sorceress Satania. With schemes and devious toughts she takes on the role of the Villainess with the sole purpose of survival! And during her journey... her fated encounter with the Red haired boy will change everything... "Who is this man? Why is he so familiar !? And why the hell am i falling for him! i don't have time for this! i need to continue with my plan!" With such toughts will she achieve her happiness? Will her hard work pay at last? Folow the story of the Sorceress and her journey against the fate of the Villainess!

SYNOPSIS: Nancy Coronel is a powerful girl, 5 feet 9 inches tall, of mixed Chinese ancestry, and has an athletic build as a result of her love of sports. She has an attractive, sensual, and modest Asian beauty, but she also has a split personality that suggests the ability to be a strong leader and manager of the family's hacienda. She develops into a valiant warrior willing to fight in the battle against rebellion as she accepts responsibility inspired by her passions as a woman with faith striving to acquire a law degree at the university. When confronted by rebels, Nancy Coronel assumes the person tough guy wisdom of a man to defend the hacienda and the lives and property of her people from torture and assault and her man came to be her partner. She learned that her hidden weakness was falling in love. Jason Steven Chang approaches as a partner and guides, a wealthy and well-known man who works as a covert spy for a significant international organization. He is familiar with the numerous conflicts caused by the opposition's uprising. Despite his knowledge about rebelling workers, he chose to live a life of peace, but they became lovers. Despite being 6 feet and 2 inches tall and stunning, he made her feel insecure about his love interest. She insisted on portraying herself as a tough guy, which he challenged and discredited. She secretly becomes pregnant as a result, and she chooses to leave him behind to begin a new life with her kid. Their paths cross oftentimes. As a single parent of their son, she disregards him. Nancy still displays a dual personality to test him but made her his legal counselor when he is allegedly confronted by his real mission. He still loves her and courts her again to propose marriage.

Amara Kol endured three years of Kalus Mike's compliant, subservient wife, enduring his chilly disdain silently while reserving his affection for herself. But when he serves her with a divorce notice, eager to wed his long-time sweetheart Lydia Osita, Amara is confronted with harsh reality: the union, to him, had been three years and a mistake that could not be erased. Heartbroken and spurned, Amara vanishes into thin air, leaving only tears-soaked divorce papers behind. What Kalus fails to know, however, is that Amara Kol was never the woman he thought she was. She is actually Dera Denz, only child and heiress of the powerful Denz clan—a woman infinitely wealthier and more powerful than he could ever imagine. By the time Dera re-emerges as the gorgeous, hot, and untouchable CEO of Zz Group, she is no longer the modest wife who pleaded with him to love her. She is a queen on her own terms, determined to get everything that had been lost—her dignity as well. Now Kalus is haunted by guilt, unable to shake the memory of the woman he spurned. But Dera is gone—and doesn't want to come back. As he watches her climb to the top, with a clique of powerful acquaintances surrounding her—including Frank Denz, ominously guarding over her—Kalus learns too late: The woman he had cast aside is the one he can't do without. But Dera isn't that woman who asked him to stay once before. It is his turn now. Will Kalus reclaim the love he never cherished, or will Dera depart leaving him where he so rightly belongs, in the past?

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

When Elyssa's mom married Greg Almendarez - a wealthy businessman who lifted them from modest means into a world of luxury, their lives were irrevocably changed. But that glamour came with a shock she never saw coming: Theo, her new stepbrother - furious, arrogant, and spoiled who hated her for a reason she could never fathom. Their constant bickering ignited the moment they moved into the sprawling mansion. He teased her, mocked her, seized every chance to make her feel small, yet beneath every cutting word, a current of attraction pulled them so fiercely neither could look away. She'd catch fleeting glimpses of his muscular frame as he lifted weights or swam, each accidental view sparking a flutter of desire she quickly suppressed. Theo, in return, watched her from afar, his gaze lingering on how her loose clothes draped over her curvy body, finding her impossibly alluring. One night, a misunderstanding sent him into a rage; he burst into her room unannounced and froze when he saw her naked. The image burned into his memory, haunting his dreams and awakening a desire too intense to deny. The next time they fought, Theo's annoyance curdled into something else. Instead of lashing out, he pulled her close and drastically kissed her leaving her stunned. Then came the night when trust and passion collided, and she gave her virginity to the man she'd once hated above all others. Can they resist their feelings and attraction knowing they're stepsiblings? Can they hold back their lust and longing? And what happens if their parents find out? Will they fight for this forbidden pull, or surrender their hearts to spare their parents from hurt and pain?

"Get off me, you moron!" I shouted, pushing at his chest as he pinned me against the wall. His lips crashed down on mine with unexpected force. His kiss trailed to my neck, roaming across my skin until weakness washed over me. When his hand squeezed my breast, clarity jolted through me and I shoved him away with all my strength. "No! This is wrong!" I restrained. "My mind says the same, but why does it feel so right? Tell me why I can’t get you out of my head. Why all I can think about is f**ck*ng you!" His voice cracked with agony, lips still burning against my skin. "We’re stepsiblings. This is so wrong!" "We’re not real siblings, we share no blood at all!" He pulled back, his eyes blazing with emotion. "Even so, it’s still wrong!" "Then let it be wrong. I don’t care anymore." He kissed me hard again before his lips moved back to my neck. __________________________________ When Elyssa’s mom married wealthy Greg Almendarez, their modest life transformed into one of glitz and privilege. But she gained a complicated reality in Theo—her new stepbrother. Arrogant and angry, he hated her for reasons she never understood. They fought constantly, every cutting word hiding a pull they both felt. Then a misunderstanding led him to burst into her room and see her naked. The image burned into his memory, waking a desire he couldn’t ignore. Their next fight ended not with rage, but a kiss that broke every rule. Soon, trust and passion collided, and she found herself giving her virginity to the man she hated most. Can they resist this forbidden draw? Will they risk everything for their love, or walk away to save their parents from heartbreak?