Number Meaning

“Any conversation we're going to be having is going to be in the four corners of my wall and after that, I'd love and appreciate it if you forgot my name, home address and social security number— if you have that, of course.” “Cute,” he laughs and then winces when I open the drink can with a pop. I raise a brow at him, urging him to continue and then take a sip of my drink as I wait patiently. “ Contrary to what you may think, I'm not here to hurt you or whatever it is you're thinking —” “No shit.” “I'm here to offer you a deal. One I know you wouldn't be able to refuse.” “Sure, Professor Xavier.” This is getting fun and it's the most fun I've had in a few days. “Marry me.” ********** I had a one night stand with a handsome, enigmatic stranger. It was drunk decision; one I promised myself never to indulge in. Putting aside my regret, I continue with life and the trials it keeps throwing my way. As a girl used to surprises, what I don't expect is seeing this stranger from months ago at my doorstep and offering me a deal I can't seem to refuse: a marriage contract in exchange for my biggest wishes to be fulfilled.

Kill or be killed: That was the motto of a predator and a prey. Turns out that was the same motto in love and relationships. Walking in on my fiancee making out with someone else was the last straw it took for me to break but to save myself the humiliation, I couldn't let the huge proposal I had planned out go to waste. What happens when the stranger I had forced a ring on turned out to be the Capobastone of the Ndrangheta Clan? Even worse, my ex boyfriend was involved in the mafia and the stranger was his boss. Fate twisted and lies were uncovered and I was caught up in a little cat and rat chase with a Mafia boss and there was no hope for me getting out. His words sealed my fate: "Now i didn't force this ring on myself, you did. Might as well add more meaning to it.”

Karina Wilson and Ethan Whitmore had been college sweethearts, who had promised to spend eternity together to prove the strength of their love. Karina has sacrificed her own career and an arranged match by her family to be with Ethan through thick and thin, but all that changes in one night when Ethan’s first love, Katharine, returns to the country and Karina realizes that for five years, Ethan had only considered Karina as a placeholder while he waited for his true love to return. Heartbroken and devastated, Karina returns to her home, agreeing to marry the man that her family had chosen for her. With her fiancé, Michael Hudson, she finally begins to understand the meaning of selfless love and starts to build her life anew. But with Ethan’s life crumpling, he finally realizes that Karina had been the reason he has managed to become who he was today. What happens when Ethan comes back into Karina’s life, begging for a second chance? Will Karina make the same mistake twice or will she finally choose to live for herself and the person who truly loves her?

On the day of the company's annual gala, my CEO husband suddenly assigned me an unexpected business trip. The plane had barely touched down when I received a call from his young assistant. Before I could utter a word, her voice came through, "Matty, did you send Daphne on that business trip just so we could spend more time together?" And then, as if to hammer the nail deeper into my heart, I heard his unmistakable tone—light, indulgent, full of affection, "What do you think, silly girl?" Her laughter rang out before she teased, "Then tonight, let's try something new. I promise you'll be satisfied..." The call ended amidst a swirl of suggestive murmurs. Staring at my phone, I waged a silent war with the pain gripping my chest. Again and again, I dialed his number, each attempt met with either silence or the cruel finality of his phone being switched off. Finally, I let out a bitter laugh, tucking the phone away as if to bury the wound it carried. From that moment on, I resolved—no more questions, no more efforts to understand this man who had once been my whole world. But fate has its own irony. Later, it was he who came back, pleading, begging me to love him again.

A year ago, my life was simple. I was just Ariel Anthony…a regular college student, cheerleader with decent grades, daughter of a struggling baker, and recently appointed step-sister to a guy I barely knew. Nothing special. Then came the storm. Not just the thunderstorm that trapped me in Professor Grayson's apartment that night, but the storm that followed. The one that's still raging around me, that I created. They don't warn you about men like Luther Grayson in freshman orientation. They don't tell you how a single glance from the right person can make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. About what you want. About what you'd risk to get it. They also don't warn you about guys like Ethan Cross, with his perfect smile hiding something dark. The kind of guy who's used to getting what he wants and doesn't understand the meaning of the word "no." And no one, absolutely no one…prepares you for what it feels like when the person who's supposed to be your brother looks at you with something else in his eyes. Mom once said I had a gift for making complicated situations worse. If she only knew. My phone buzzed beside me, and I glanced down to see Luther's name on the screen. My heart still jumps every time, even when I'm aware of what could happen if people learned about the two of us. I should ignore it. I should block his number, focus on my classes, help Mom with the bakery, and pretend none of this ever happened. But I'm already reaching for the phone. That's the thing about crossing lines… once you step over them, it's almost impossible to step back. And I've crossed so many lines now, I can't even see where I started.

Kierra Hail had already lost everything—her child, her marriage, her dignity. Betrayed by the man she once loved, cast aside for his mistress, and left to rot as he stripped her of everything she owned. But the cruelest blow? Her daughter’s death, a tragedy her husband could have prevented if he had only chosen her life over his secret lover’s son. Now, broken and gasping for one last chance at survival, Kierra dials a number she swore she’d never use. A man who calls her princess. A man who doesn’t forgive. A man who owns the underworld. Sebastian Novair—heir to the infamous Noir de Costas Syndicates and a merciless mafia king with blood on his hands and fire in his veins. Years ago, Kierra saved him. Now, he’s back to collect his debt—with interest. He offers her power, vengeance, and the sweet taste of retribution. But making a deal with the devil has its price… and he’s more than willing to make her pay in ways she never imagined. He’ll ruin her enemies. He’ll break her chains. And he’ll claim what’s always been his— her.

Number 1: Kidnap the Mafia's Wife. Number 2: Great, the bitch is gone. Stage an accidentally-on-purpose meet up to get his attention. Number 3: Have his eyes on me the whole night. Number 4: Let him take me home. Number 5: Experiment: take one; put a gun to the bastard's head. The last thing Indigo Mae expected was for a terror from her past to come knocking on her door at midnight. And by all means, the last thing she could have possibly hoped for was this little visit being the reason she gets roped into a twisted and deadly experiment, using the most dangerous man in the continent as her labrat. All Indigo ever wanted was a breakthrough. Unfortunately, life has other surprises. And it all begins with her getting thrown, hands tied, into a sinister Mafia world of conspiracies, lies, desires and death. Or, in other words, this mad man called Alessandro Ferrara.

Because of Claire's incitement and slander, Jackson accused Grace of having an affair with Shane. He even disowned the child in Grace's womb, as he felt that he had never had sleep with his wife after they got married. When Grace's child was born, Jackson took a DNA test and the results showed that the child did not match his DNA, meaning that Grace's child was not Jackson's. Grace couldn't believe it, because she had only done it once with Jackson when he came home drunk. However, repeated DNA tests showed that the child was not Jackson's. Grace took a DNA test on herself, and the results didn't match either. It turned out that the baby was not her baby. Then, where did Grace's real baby go? Why did her baby suddenly become not her baby? Jackson chose to divorce because he felt betrayed. Grace agreed to divorce, because she was sick of living with the cold and sharp-mouthed Jackson. Until the truth was revealed, it turned out that Grace had never been wrong. However, Grace was already angry. She signs the divorce papers and together with Shane they search for Grace's real baby, which has been swapped and thrown away by someone else. Until a fact about the baby makes Grace furious and wants to avenge the death of her baby.

After being forced to marry a man she didn’t know to save her father’s business, Cassandra thought her life would change. But it didn’t. The marriage was married on paper that meaning nothing. After she married, she was still allowed to continue living as she wished. A year after her marriage, Cassie applied for a job at a big company that brought many changes to her life. That was when she discovered that her boss was a cold-blooded mafia who killed with his bare hands—the worst man she had ever met. Their first encounter happened when she accidentally walked into her boss’s room and caught him having sex with a woman. And to her shock, her boss turned out to be her husband—the man who hadn’t shown up on their wedding day. *** “Cassandra Ainsley Floyd?” Chris repeated the name, then looked up to see the woman standing in front of his desk. “Yes, Sir." “Are you married?” The question slipped freely from his lips as he waited for an answer. “No, Sir. I’m not married.” Her answer broke the silence between them. “Alright, you’re hired, Miss Floyd. Starting tomorrow, you’ll work as my secretary. Come in tomorrow morning, and my personal assistant will show you what you need to do.” As soon as Cassandra walked out of his office, Chris called his trusted person impatiently. “Yes, Christ?” “Do you still have my wife’s information? I’ve forgotten her name, but as long I remember, her last name is Floyd, isn’t she? I think she just applied for a job at my company without knowing I’m her husband. Interestingly, it seems she has a special relationship with my cousin.”

“How could you both do this to me?” Matilda's voice trembled as her eyes darted from her best friend to her husband, whose sweats were dripping, obviously from the adulterous act he just committed. Her disappointed self wanted to hear an explanation, an excuse, or something and wished all was just a mistake but..... “You came in just in time.” He uttered with no iota of remorse as he fixed his pants and belts. “What? Eduardo!” “You've seen and heard it all, so what now? Want me to start telling some boring story and silly excuse? Hell no, young lady!” He raised a brow, and Matilda couldn't believe her eyes and ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After being betrayed by those she loved and trusted so much, Matilda Smith wished nothing but to vanish from the face of the earth. Her five years of marriage was ruined in a single day by those she thought were on her side. But they didn't end there. Despite taking everything she had inherited from her family, they still wanted her dead. And that was when their paths crossed. Xander Hamilton, authoritative, charismatic, confident, and ruthless, was the sole heir to the number one company in America and a rival to many businesses. ~~~Extract~~ “Please, help me. I'm willing to do anything. Just help me get revenge and my inheritance back.” “Your life became mine from the moment you witnessed that man's death. What makes you think I'll help the life which I want to end badly even at this moment? I just need two reasons.” He smirked dangerously. His presence screamed danger, yet she was drawn to him like a magnet. However, will she be able to face the danger in his world? What if their destinies have been intertwined from the beginning?