Once You've Loved Somebody

Zac Jesselton and I grew up together. From the time we were little, we never went more than three days without seeing each other. Ever since I confessed my feelings to him, he started avoiding me. He even went as far as hiring bodyguards to monitor my every move. “If Nancy ever shows up within half a mile, remind me to leave immediately.” That was the sentence he said most often to his bodyguards and friends. I did as he wished and stopped chasing after him. I married someone my parents introduced me to. However, the same man who had once insisted on keeping his distance started clinging to me and refused to leave me alone.

A NOVEL ON STOCKHOLM SYNDROME BOOK OF A THREE BOOK SERIES *TRIGGER WARNING* This book contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing… and also slightly annoying. “Miss. Iris, do you believe she has a point?” she asked and returned to her seat once again. “I don’t think so, her father and uncle deserve to go to jail.” My answer extracted a smile from her like she was proud of my response. “My name is Christine; I am a renowned medico-legal psychotherapist. Been in the business for over twenty years and that is what a case of Stockholm syndrome looks like. In my years of experience, we see situations similar to this but its our job to help the victims realize” “Wow…” I started, really amazed at what she had said and what her work entails. I was only concerned why they locked me in a room with a psychotherapist “it must be difficult at times” I added. “yeah, its difficult every time” she laughed “but today isn’t about me, I have a question for you.” There was a brief pause in between before she carried on “Does Hunter deserve to go to jail?”

"Don’t talk. Just listen.” Chloe tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “Do you remember what happened on October 13th, 2014?” she asked. Mira’s eyes widened. “Why are you bringing back my pain, Chloe?” she whispered, her voice trembling. Chloe giggled, a soft, wicked sound. “On that day, you lost the one thing that ever mattered to you,” she said slowly. “The one thing you wanted so badly with Ethan… a child.” Tears gathered in Mira’s eyes. Her heart ached with the memory. But Chloe wasn’t done. She leaned closer and said, “Have you ever wondered how your son really died, Mira?” Mira’s eyes flickered with confusion and fear. Chloe smiled and sat down beside her. “You see,” she began, “when I was abroad, I had a bone marrow issue. I needed a transplant. And guess what? Ethan and I were still in contact back then.” Mira’s throat went dry. She swallowed hard but said nothing. Chloe continued, her voice dripping with pride. “Ethan was the one who brought up the idea of using Adrian’s bone marrow. Your son’s.” Mira froze, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. “Yes,” Chloe said, grinning. “He secretly brought me back to the city to get it done. And do you remember the car accident he had around that time? It was all staged. Ethan did it to cover up what happened—because Adrian couldn’t make it after the transplant.” Mira stared at her, tears spilling down her

She was an heiress to one of the most prestigious luxury shipping lines in the world, a bi-product of nobility, by birthright, Aurora was meant to oversee multibillion properties and be in charge of the Cunard brand that was well-regarded in the world. But she chose to be an ordinary yet independent woman and pursued a life of service as a cardiothoracic surgeon. To safeguard her family's assets, her parents had to make a deal with someone capable of overseeing something as big and broad as Cunard Shipping while ensuring corporate ownership retains in their bloodline. There was only one way that it can be done. Aurora needed to marry. Not just anyone. She needed to marry someone capable, with a proven track record on managing multi-million properties across all continents, someone their family trusted, and powerful enough to wield authority in handling an inevitable merger. His name was Jared Rickford. Known in the business scene as a ruthless strategist, CEO, President of Rickford Hotels International. Also playboy, ex-military, and a womanizer of the first degree. He was the most unsuitable man Aurora could ever think to be her husband. But she had no choice. She could not play surgeon in the Board Room. She needed the man's expertise to ensure that her family's corporate assets are secured, and she would do anything in her power to safeguard her dying father's legacy. Including agreeing to be married to the devil.

Zaria’s world fell apart the day she learned she was pregnant. That same day, she also discovered the truth about her marriage: her husband, Renzo, had married her only to give his Mafia family an heir. The woman he truly wanted, Elix, could not have children—so Zaria had been used in her place. Afraid she would lose her baby and be pushed aside, Zaria made a desperate choice. She drugged Renzo and disappeared without a trace. Eight years passed. Zaria rebuilt her life in China and became known as the “Healer,” a respected expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine. When she was ordered to take a temporary job in New York, she agreed only because she had no choice. She planned to stay for five months and then leave forever. But her new patient turned out to be the least person she expected, Renzo, her ex-husband. He had used a fake name, to book her services. Zaria refused to treat him. Renzo refused to let her walk away. Old wounds reopened, jealousy grew, and dangerous secrets from the past began to surface. As Zaria focused on finishing the job and escaping once more, Renzo uncovered a truth that shook him deeply: Zaria had a child, and the child looked exactly like him.

For Him... She cannot be tamed. She loves freedom. She says whatever she wants to say. She is someone you cannot just easily handle. And she hates him. For Her... He is so lame! He just kept on following his parent’s orders. He is her manifestation of jail! And he is the only man that can keep her heart beating fast.

"Please help me!" Krystie's warm breath on Lucian's ears made him tremble in excitement, forcing Lucian to give in to his desires and lust. Amid chaos brought about by her family and betrayal from her fiancee Alex Washington, Krystie finds peace and serenity from the most unexpected person that she has ever thought of, in all this, she just wanted to play her role as a good contractual wife so as not to lose face from her ex while he on the other hand gives her the status and face from her adversaries, all this which started with a one night stand in a hotel room, but what of Lucian, Alex's's uncle, what does he gain in this whole thing?

He fell in love with the girl he had a one-night stand with. When her true nature revealed, he hated himself for loving her and decided never to see her again. However, his fate took an unexpected turn and entangled him in a contract marriage with her, turning the girl he despised into his temporary wife. Will their love-hate relationship lead to a deeper connection, or will it keep them forever bound by the terms of their contract? * “Stand up and bend over the bench.” I comply with his orders. “Are you yearning for me, Wifey?” “Yes. I want to feel you deep inside me.” “But do you deserve it?” He taps his hardness on my wetness. “Just f**k me, Steve.” “Seriously, you think I’ll listen to you after what you did today?” He asks, rubbing my with his thumbs agonisingly slow. As I grind myself against his hand, he tugs at my hair, pulling my head back. “Stay still if you don’t want me to spank your little this time. Understand?” “Yes.” “Good.” He pulls my hair and jabs deep into me without a warning. “You’re my wife.” He pulls out, but his tip remains inside me before thrusting himself into me again. “You belong to me”

**"This isn’t just any party, it’s your wedding."** The words hit me like a truck as I stood frozen in disbelief. **"To Angelo Rizzo."** My stepbrother’s voice was cold, detached. My heart pounded in my chest. **"You’re joking, right?"** But one look at his face told me he wasn’t. **"You’re the payment for my debt to the Cosa Nostra."** His betrayal was a knife twisting in my gut. --- Attending a party with my stepbrother, I was prepared for an ordinary night. Instead, I was thrown into a nightmare. Without warning, I found myself standing beside Angelo Rizzo—a man as feared as he is cold—as his bride. My stepbrother owed the Cosa Nostra money, and I was his only way out. With no escape and no choice, I now wear a wedding ring tied to a man I fear. Three hours later, my world has turned upside down. There’s no running from Angelo, no hiding from the life ahead. My only hope? To survive being married to the infamous Angelo Rizzo.

Running away is easy. For Dyanne Collins, it's by far the easiest thing to do—perhaps even instinctive, but running from her problems can only get her so far. After her father passed away, she left everything behind, and now, ten years later, she is back where it all began Working directly for Alexander Morgan, the man she had been in love with before she abruptly ended things and moved away. Dyanne's plan: 1) Work in Morgan's company for two more years, 2) Pay off her debt and run away again, 3) and for no reason, fall for her ex-lover, Alexander Morgan. If she could do it back then, she could again. How long, though, can she run? How long until she faces all that has been holding her back? How long can she keep the secrets and questions of her past from coming back to haunt her? “It's going to be nothing serious, I can do it,”, but sometimes serious can sneak up on you in ways you never expected.