Norton Introduction To Literature

Celeste Virelli is not your typical private investigator. Sleek, calculating, and always three steps ahead, she specializes in one thing: seducing unfaithful husbands to trigger the fidelity clauses in their ironclad prenups. Her clients are wealthy women trapped in golden cages—wives who want out, but only if they can take half the fortune with them. Celeste doesn’t advertise. She doesn’t need to. Her name passes in whispers between yoga mats and charity galas, a whispered promise of justice wrapped in silk and steel. When Vivienne Cross, the young wife of tech mogul Julian Cross, walks into her office, Celeste expects another routine takedown. But Julian isn’t like the others. He’s elusive, calculating, and hiding more than just a wandering eye. As Celeste draws him into her web, she uncovers a deeper game—one that involves offshore accounts, a missing woman, and a secret that could destroy more than a marriage. For the first time, Celeste finds herself questioning the rules she’s lived by. Because this time, the seduction might not be an act. And the most dangerous lies aren’t the ones told in bed—they’re the ones we tell ourselves. The Seduction Clause is a taut, stylish psychological thriller about power, betrayal, and the cost of playing with fire where every glance is a gamble, and every kiss could be a weapon.

"Limang taon na tayong kasal, pero kahit kailan hindi mo ako minahal! " “Wala sa kontrata ‘yon, Sofia.” Malamig na sagot ni Eduardo Nang ipagtanggol ng sikat na abogado na si Eduardo Almira ang kaso ng ina ni Sofia, kapalit nito ay kasal, isang kasunduan na tatagal lamang ng limang taon. Pero paano kung sa limang taong iyon, natutunan niyang mahalin ang lalaking hindi kailanman tumingin sa kanya bilang asawa? Hanggang sa isang umaga, natuklasan niyang hindi lang puso niya ang nakatali sa kasinungalingan—pati ang batang tinatawag niyang anak ay anak pala ng babaeng tunay na minamahal ng asawa niya. Ngayon, habang papalapit ang pagtatapos ng kontrata, kailangan niyang pumili: manatili sa lalaking hindi kanya, o bitawan ang tanging lalaking minahal niya. Pero paano kung sa oras na handa na siyang umalis… doon naman siya gustong habulin ni Eduardo?

On seeing Francesco’s name, I temporarily forgot all about my cramps and swiftly answered the call.  “You are so hot, it’s fucking insane. I just can’t seem to get enough of you, April.” Francesco growled, and my eyes widened into the size of saucers.  “Ugh, i-it just won't go all the way in, should we try a different position?” April moaned, which made me cough out a joyless laughter.  “Maybe you should stop moving and let me do the work, baby,” My husband replied, and I huffed mirthlessly. + Josephine Perkins used to believe happy endings existed only in fairytales until she met Francesco De Luca, her angel in human form. However, when she’s diagnosed with infertility three years into their marriage, Francesco’s attitude changes toward her completely and she becomes miserable. Her despondency is further heightened when she finds out about his other woman. One day while Francesco is with his other woman, she surprisingly has a miscarriage and nearly bleeds to death. Having had enough, Josephine divorces him amidst several obstacles. Five years later they meet again, when Francesco’s company is about to get taken from him and Josephine has now become a renowned lawyer. Will Josephine put aside their past differences and help him keep his company? What more when a new man shows up to win Josephine’s heart, will Francesco ever get a second chance to make amends?

Zara Taylor’s life crumbled when her father died, leaving her trapped in a loveless marriage with Ronnie Phillips, who only valued her business intellect. Betrayed by Ronnie’s affair with her stepsister, Zara fled the City, raising her IVF-conceived daughter, Hazel, alone. Years later, Matthew Russell, her first love and the IVF donor, reappears with a ruthless proposition: marry him to reclaim her father’s stolen shares. “Marry me, Zara. It’s the only way you get your father’s legacy back.” “I’d rather burn in hell,” she spat. “But you need me,” Matthew replied, his touch igniting desires she swore to bury. Their alliance uncovers mysteries and conspiracies rooted in her father's death, all pointing to Caleb Ross, the man who orchestrated it. But Matthew has secrets of his own, shadows Zara’s determined to drag into the light. Desire simmers between them, impossible to ignore. But will Zara surrender to the passion that’s always burned for him, or will betrayal consume them both?

When secrets hide in the shadows, love becomes the light that dares to expose them. Amber, a brilliant aspiring lawyer, and Miguel, a captivating student with a guarded past, find themselves entangled in a web of desire and truth. As their hearts collide, so do the risks—because this love could heal their wounds… or tear them apart. Step into a world of emotion, risk, and redemption. Amber and Miguel’s story will leave you breathless.

Hakim was every girl's dream at Northwest High, and every guy's role model. He was hot, smart, popular, romantic and all, and every girl's dream was to get laid by him. He was living the dream life, but he had one single problem; Dante. Dante was the complete vice versa of Hakim. Soft, gentle, unnoticed, innocent, and these traits drew Hakim's heart towards him, and for that reason, Hakim hated him. He hated his lingering gazes and admiring glances, and he hated that he felt the need to hold him, to protect him, and for that reason he resolved to torment Dante, making his high school days unbearable. Dante was forever scarred by him, and his heart broke into pieces. Now, years later, after the two drifted apart, going on to their two separate worlds, Dante builds an image for himself, he is no longer the timid, innocent boy he was back at Northwest High, but is now a top corporate lawyer in the industry, and a fine one at that. What happens when he is hired by a law firm and finds out that his boss is no other person but Hakim? What will evolve as mysteries unfold and actual truth gets told?

Princess Christie has secretly desired her older brother, Gregory Halrion, the crown prince of Aerithia, since childhood and has always feared she was cursed for harbouring such forbidden feelings. But when a secret DNA test reveals she isn't a Halrion by blood, her shame turns to hope. She believes she was meant to be with him. The royal family knows the truth. Yet, her love for Gregory remains forbidden. As rumours grow into scandal and a palace conspiracy threatens to destroy her bond with Gregory, and the Halrion dynasty itself, Christie is forced to choose between duty and desire. And when her true identity is finally revealed publicly… Will her love for Gregory still be forbidden?

แม้จะเจ็บมาหลายครั้ง ผิดหวังมาหลายหน แต่ฉันก็ยังเชื่อว่ารักแท้มีอยู่จริง จะทำไงได้ล่ะ คนนี้ก็หล่อ คนนั้นก็โดนใจนี่นา>⁠.⁠< คาริสา: คุณใต้หล้าหน้าตาคุ้นๆนะคะ หน้าเหมือนเนื้อคู่หนูเลย ใต้หล้า: ...

Aurelia cross was never meant to fall for the one man that held her future in his hands, not when he was her professor at her law school, not when he was the boss and owner of the law firm she had just started to intern at, not when he was the Levi Vale, the infamous billionaire and prolific lawyer who hides too many scars behind his icy blue eyes and stony expression. Should the fact that her brother’s freedom hung loosely in the balance should she choose to give in to her forbidden desires stop her? Probably but what’s life with a little sin right? Levi Vale, the enigma of a lawyer and business mogul however has one too many skeletons in his cupboard, one of them- he is an unfeeling sociopath who is caught by surprise as he watches the talented and confident Aurelia in his class as she dominated every single time. Diagnosed by his therapist, he is declared to have a condition where he feels nothing but the brown skinned sharp mouthed lawyer in his class and office fills his heart and mind with something that feels a lot like……emotion.

Love was never part of Alexandra Reign Sy’s five-year plan. Ang goal lang niya: magtagumpay, umasenso, at huwag maging tanga gaya ng mga babae sa romantic movies. Pero nang pumanaw si Lola, iniwan nito hindi lang yaman—kundi isang terms and conditions na kayang guluhin ang buong buhay niya. “To inherit, Alexandra must be legally married within six months.” And just like that, napilitan siyang maghanap ng lalaking papayag sa fake marriage setup na walang halong feelings, drama, o commitment. Simple lang ‘di ba? Well, not until she said the words... “Then maybe we should get married.” —kay Callisto Maxim, ang tahimik, intimidating CEO na parang embodiment ng Excel sheet at control issues. Pareho silang walang time sa love. Parehong practical. Parehong may dahilan. Pero habang tumatagal ang kasunduan, napapansin ni Alex na hindi lahat ng bagay pwedeng i-manage or i-schedule—lalo na kung heart na ang nagka-crash sa system. In a city where everyone is hustling, can two people built on logic survive the chaos of something they swore to avoid? Or will their perfect plan turn into the biggest disaster of their lives?