Onyx Flower Bracelet

After two years abroad in seclusion as I recovered, I received a selfie from my daughter, Lila Ashford. She was sitting on a bike, dressed in a work uniform. "Mom, you’ll be home soon, right? I miss you so much." My heart softened as I thought about how my girl had grown up. She understood that she needed to start from the bottom and work her way up. I was about to praise her when I noticed her skin seemed tanner, and her fitted shirt was the same one I’d bought her three years ago. It was frayed and worn thin, yet she still hadn’t thrown it away. As a child of the wealthiest family, Lila shouldn’t have to live like this, not even for "life experience". I zoomed in on the picture again. Her shoes were falling apart, the front gaping wide open. The more I looked, the more uneasy I became. The next second, I stumbled across Serena Ashford, my adopted daughter’s posts on social media. She was showing off male models, luxury cars, and on her wrist, the global limited-edition diamond bracelet I had given Lila. What shocked me most was the car that appeared in nearly every photo, the very one I had gifted Lila for her college graduation. How the hell had it ended up with her instead?!

On our fifth dating anniversary, my boyfriend, Luke Bolton, gives me a cheap bracelet worth less than a hundred dollars. On the same night, he splurges ten million dollars on a yacht for his first love, Cindy Gale. I refuse to accept this, and he accuses me of making a scene. "I gave Cindy that gift to boost the company's stock price, not because I still have feelings for her," he says. "You're poor, and I still promised to marry you. Isn't that enough? This was actually your last test, Elisa Gray, but you failed it." I break up with him, and he immediately proposes to Cindy. Five years after that, we meet again at a luxury hotel during a business summit. His company is about to become an industry giant, and Cindy is holding onto his arm. When he sees me, I'm standing in a fountain, all drenched and disheveled. "Elisa," Luke sneers. "When you turned me down back then, did it ever cross your mind that you might end up worse than a homeless person? "Don't think acting pitiful here will make me feel sorry and take you back." I ignore him. My son's cherished blue diamond was a birthday gift from his father, and he accidentally dropped it into the fountain. He's so upset that he's about to cry, and I have to find it right away.

For a decade, my world had been measured in laundry cycles, grocery lists, and the ever-growing pile of dishes in the sink. I was elbow-deep in soapy water, scrubbing the remnants of another family meal, when it happened. A sudden, silent cascade of text flickered at the edge of my vision, like subtitles for a movie only I could see: [Gosh, the heroine is so tragic. Her husband's entire family has been feeding on her luck like parasites!] [Her husband stole her graduate school admission and her career!] [The in-laws are literally siphoning her health away. No wonder she's always sick.] [And the sister-in-law took her "romance" stat! No wonder her love life is a desert.] [Heads up! Her husband's about to give her another "gift." Let's see how much more he takes from her this time.] My hands, clutching a greasy plate, froze. Right on cue, my husband, Tristan, sauntered into the kitchen. A smug, self-satisfied smile was plastered on his face as he took my wet hand. He slid a flimsy, garishly colored plastic bracelet onto my wrist. "Look what I got for you, sweetheart," he announced, his voice dripping with pride. "I made a special trip after work. Found it at the dollar store. It's romantic and economical, just like you always say you want. You love it, don't you?"

[COMPLETED] Fates... How much do you believe in Fates? Centuries ago, a prophecy was told. In time, bits of pieces were lost. The remaining was preserved but it left many questions: "Every period of time comes forth the Archnemesis. The night will fall like the snow in winter season and the day will come like a flower that blooms in springtime. War shall cause the lives of many and the weak shall suffer. But lo, and behold, in a family of winter shall come the Blood Star of every generation. Strength and might that shall spill the blood of its Adversary by the death with its soul." Chloe Liu just wanted to become a fully pledged Kryst, a soldier of the Kingdom of Demetrius. Lucian Liu and the members of the Seven Geniuses just wanted to protect his sister. Prince Ciaran, the Særi ust Trūx (Future King), just wanted to protect the Kingdom of Demetrius along with his friends. What if the Fates wanted more? Ambition, love, manipulation, and power. The 27th Blood Star Bellatrix has to get through to the end. But will Bellatrix be able to turn the water to blood?

Welcome back to Clifton Heights. Sheriff Chris Baker and Father Ward meet for a Saturday morning breakfast at The Skylark Diner to once again commiserate over the weird and terrifying secrets surrounding their town. Sheriff Baker shares with Father Ward the story of a journal discovered in the ruins of what was once an elaborate koi pond and flower garden, which regales a tale of regret, buried pain, and unfulfilled debt: “Sophan” – Jake Burns has always been a bit...off. Rude, awkward, sometimes brutish, he's tolerated by Nate Slocum and his friends because he hits a mean line drive, and because they all know but don't discuss the abuse he faces at the hands of his troubled father, a Vietnam veteran consumed by his demons. But Jake is suffering something far worse than domestic abuse, and when Nate discovers what, he faces an impossible choice: help Jake and put himself in the path of evil, or abandon him, only to damn himself in the process. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Because of her father's brain cancer, Karen Goodwill became Gordon Williams' concubine to earn money for her father's hospital bills and treatment. She dropped out of school at the age of eighteen. After five years with Gordon Williams, Karen Goodwill has accumulated a large amount of money. After the deal ended, Karen Goodwill gave up her life as a concubine. She runs her own flower shop for a living. Meanwhile, Mr. Williams asked Gordon Williams to get married so that Williams Gems Group could receive a huge investment from the Joyner family. Unexpectedly, two years later, his wife betrayed him, the Williams family made a loss. While going to a bar to relax, he met Karen Goodwill again. They meet each other again, no longer have a relationship to exchange money and sex, falling in love with each other and together revive the Williams family estate, build their own empire and avenge the Joyner family.

"I did what I did for you!" Knight exclaims pain flashing in his eyes. "I did it to protect you, and now that I'm strong enough, I want you mind, body, and soul." "Marry me, little fairy, and I will make sure you and your unborn pup are safe from the darkness that surrounds you. what do you say?" Massimo asks, his eyes filled with hope. Tatiana's life was one series of bad events since the day she woke up with no memories and found herself being sold as a maid to the alpha of Hunters Moon pack. Since then, she endured beatings, insults, and ridicules from all those around her, while the one who insisted she be brought there turned a blind eye to it. However, when she turns eighteen, she thinks her luck is looking up when she discovers she is the alpha heir of Hunter's Moons' mate and ends up sleeping with him. But what started as a beautiful moment turned into a nightmare that ended with her rejection and being auctioned off to repay the debt she owed Hunters Moon for taking her in. Now Tatiana finds herself in a dark world where it is revealed she was once part of, and she is the future leader of the ruthless Onyx River pack and meant to be wedded off to Massimo Stalone, the heir of Obsidian River. when she feels that things are finally beginning to take a turn for the better, Tatiana discovers she is pregnant by none other than the one who so cruelly rejected and sold her Terrified and unsure of what to do, Tatiana finds herself forming a marriage contract to protect not only herself but her unborn pup while many lies and deceit begin to come to light.

Ang sabi nila, ang pinakamasayang tao ang pinakamalungkot sa lahat. That they are faking their happiness. That even they are alive, they are dying deep inside. All I can see is my pain. My anger towards her. She's the cause of my loneliness. I lost the love of my life because of her. Why should I care? She deserves it anyway. But little did I know, she's dying deep within. I've hurt her. All I did was give her pain. Ipinamukha ko sa kanya na kailanman ay hindi ko siya mamahalin. Little by little, I am killing her. I took out her shine. Her bright smile. Her own life. I've crushed her heart. Michelle is like a flower, slowly withering without my notice. Melting my heartless heart is her only option.

The very first thing I do after I come back to life is find a pig and get married to it. In my past life, I was on the brink of getting engaged to my lover of ten years, Anthony Warner, who was a regimental colonel. In order to celebrate my engagement, Hannah Larson, my cousin, gave me a bracelet, and since it was a thoughtful gift from her, I wore it all the time. Yet, on our engagement day, Anthony didn't just call off our engagement, but he also berated me, calling me a tramp and a homewrecker who destroyed his relationship with Hannah. I was completely at a loss and tried to defend myself, but Hannah suddenly stepped forward and burst out crying. "I know my family and educational background surpass yours, but you can't just ruin my relationship with Anthony out of jealousy, Natalie! Anthony and I have already made a lifelong commitment to each other, so please just let it go!" Anthony turned and led Hannah away. They then got engaged shortly afterward. I was left standing there, becoming the subject of gossip from my relatives. They called me a shameless home-wrecker, and their scorn extended to my parents, who were shamed for raising such a child. They eventually took their own lives from all the rumors, and I couldn't bear the pain of losing them, so I ended myself, too. I suddenly open my eyes and find myself returning to the day Hannah presents me with the bracelet.

Delicate Freakn' Flower – Naomi doesn’t want to follow tradition and settle down with a shapeshifter. When fate makes her meet not one, but two mates, Naomi digs her heels in and refuses to give in without a fight. Jealous and Freakn' – For a long time now, Mitchell’s been avoiding Francine, his bratty sister’s friend. However, the girl who tortured him in his youth is all grown up, and when he sees her in the arms of another, a need to claim her overrides all his common sense. Already Freakn' Mated – Meeting the woman of his dreams would have worked a lot better if she didn’t already belong to another man. He’ll do anything to win his mate, including throwing his attractive cousin at the pesky husband.Freakn Out - Derrick is angry, and bitter, but with good reason. As if that wasn’t bad enough, fate just has to kick a wolf when he is down and send him the curvy and luscious Janine. Freakn’ Shifters is created by Eve Langlais, an eGlobal Creative Publishing Signed Author.