Painted Scars

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.

For ten years, Isaac was my fated mate. My Alpha. My future. Then, on the eve of his Alpha Ceremony, he chose another she-wolf to be his Luna, Chloe. His reason? She was wild and free...everything I used to be. "We are FATED MATES!" I screamed, my hand flying to the mark on my neck. "How can you defy the Moon Goddess? How can you just throw me away?" My wolf howled through our bond, trying to make him feel my pain. The backlash should have crippled him. But he didn't even flinch. It wasn't a real mark. Just a lie, painted on with magic. A trick to chain me to his side. My legs gave out. I hit the floor, a raw sob tearing from my throat. When the tears dried, the grief turned to ice. I stormed the Elders' Council and demanded they sever the bond. Then, I did the unthinkable. I chose his cursed uncle, Vincent. Isaac laughed. He thought it was a pathetic game to make him jealous. He had no idea. The Elders had already named his uncle the new Alpha. He didn't understand his mistake until he saw me crowned Luna on Vincent's arm. Only then did he come crawling back, begging for a forgiveness I would never give.

The thrill behind old Manors, old love letters and a lack of job inspires Meg to go write for a man she has never met. A man she has no idea what he looks like.But she has a fantasy built up in her mind, who wouldn't? With all the mystery and intrigue?But Jack is not like any of Meg fantasies.He is not a guy scuplted like Adonis with the perfect face and charming attitude, no.He is a man riddled with scars and a past that left him bitter against the world.Meg should not be attracted to him, this she knows,Yet, she finds herself drawn to him, inexplainably...wanting to do his every will, to submit...

Nihara decides to start her life anew in Berlin, determined to overcome the betrayal she experienced shortly before her wedding. With a strong focus on her career, she seeks professional success and intends to avoid any emotional entanglements. However, fate has other plans when Nihara meets Tobias Bernstorf, a charming and friendly man who awakens deep feelings within her. Despite her resistance, true love seems destined to bring their paths together. Yet, the scars of the past threaten their future. Will Nihara find the courage to allow this new love to heal her wounds and lead her to a fulfilling and passionate life?

Alana Solis gets a new job with a salary she can't refuse, however the contract failed to mention that the most feared man in the city is her boss. He's mysterious, ruthless and yet insanely irresistible. Nicholas Diaz lives a double life - he runs his own company whilst being the don of the Italian mafia. He will do anything to get revenge on the people who hurt his family. Even if it means destroying an innocent girls life. Lingering eyes and tempting touches grow into a sexual relationship where scars and old memories arise. Tropes CEO romance Mafia Romance Coworkers with Benefits Second Chance

After her Ex husband’s betrayal and toxicity which made her insecure, Alison finds it hard to ever trust her heart to any other man. She decides to live her life without love, her main priority being her daughter and work. Leonardo meets Alison, his heart dancing to the tune of love at first sight. But that wasn’t the case for Alison, her past had a strong hold on her ‘moving on’ With both of them having pasts that left permanent scars, will there be a chance for their love story to occur? Or would Alison continue to let her past rule over the yearning of her heart?

"Why did you leave me, Mom? I'm left alone in this cold world," Aries cried, still reeling from her mother's passing. After her father's downward spiral and remarriage to the cruel Victoria, Aries is forced to marry into the powerful Argent family to regain their status. She navigates her new life, she meets Alexander Argent, who hides his kind heart behind a cold exterior. As they grow closer, they face numerous obstacles, including Victoria's schemes, Alexander's trust issues, and the pressure to secure the Argent legacy. Can their love heal their emotional scars and overcome the forces against them? (Enjoy the story, cooking up something amazing)

Meet Kaya Daygon, a misfit in Crimson Pack. In a typical pack, wolves look out for each other, but Kaya is an exception. Everyone in her pack hated her because of the circumstances surrounding her birth, and some even beat her. As a result, she had more scars than she would have liked. She was despised for practically being born. In the midst of everything, Kaya discovers her mate when she least expected it. Meet Tyler, the Crimson Pack's Alpha. Everyone dreads him, especially since he overcame the most vicious Alpha in the area, Zerx, and took control of the pack. What will he do when he discovers his mate could be his ruin?

In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

My fiancé leaves me jilted on our wedding day and marries my sister. As I stand there, feeling humiliated, William Sterling gets on one knee before me and asks me to marry him. Everyone in my city knows of him—he's an elite bachelor and every woman's dream. Yet now, he slips a wedding band onto my ring finger and confesses his love for me. "I've always loved you, and I thank the heavens for giving me the chance to spend my life with you." We get married, and he treats me well. Everyone knows that he won't fall for anyone other than me. Everything changes when I accidentally enter his studio in the seventh year of our marriage. I see that he's painted thousands of portraits of my sister, Ivy Winslow. Each one is a tender confession of his love for her. The man I love with all my heart earnestly prays to the heavens and utters his wish. He's willing to sacrifice anything for Ivy to be happy, including his life. It turns out what I thought was seven years of love was nothing but a lie. Ivy is the one he's loved all along. If that's the case, I'll back out. I'll leave in three days, and I hope he and Ivy can be happy together.