Past Tense Smile

The wealthy Governor is in a fix when the wealthiest business family in the town asks his youngest daughter’s hand in marriage to their oldest heir in order to even their past betrayals and settle down their generation old enmity into an alliance. With both the families having their own secrets to hide, will this alliance be fruitful or will the first meeting of the billionaire heir and the Governor’s daughter turn things upside down? A story where Opposites Repel. ____ "Dream on, Mr Kayden Knight. I will never be your bride." Eleanor said through gritted teeth. "We are two headstrong people, Eleanor Watson. We will have enough time to clash after our marriage. So, stop creating problems now and smile for the cameras to give them their desired headline." Kayden Knight gives a gentle squeeze to her shoulder and continues smirking at the photographers. Eleanor gives him a wary glance and does as told.

She was deeply suffering inside, but she chose not to open her mouth about it. He's ignorant about her pain. Until one day, she chose to give up. _______ Fatima Jane Robles, whenever she's with people, she only shows them her faked and staged smiles. Sa bawat matatamis niyang mga ngiti, may nakatagong mga sekretong takot siyang ipaalam sa kahit na sino. She was running away from the past, but the past kept on hunting her. She was silently battling all her struggles alone. Her smiles may be faked and staged because of a different level of pain she felt, nagagawa niyang maramdaman ang tunay na kasiyahan dahil sa iisang lalake, si Vishnu Lloyd Conception. Whenever the both of them were together, enjoying each other's company, especially in bed, she always gives him her genuine smiles. And, her smile never fails to caught him off guard. And as the saying goes, 'love comes in so many ways'. Hindi mo na lang mapapansin na tinamaan ka na pala. Until one day, she just realised that she already had fallen for him. But the thing is, it was too late.

Five years ago, Nadia was heartbroken when her fated mate, Dylan Winters, heir to the powerful Silver Moon Pack publicly rejected her to mate another woman, Veronica. Everyone believed it was because Nadia was just the omega’s daughter, unworthy of an alpha. Shattered, Nadia fled the pack and built a quiet life away from the pain. Now, five years later, she’s forced to return home because her mother is dying. But stepping onto Silver Moon territory awakens old wounds and secrets buried too deep to stay hidden. When she sees Dylan again, he’s no longer the Alpha’s son, he’s Alpha of Silver Moon, hardened, powerful, and still bound to her by a mate bond that refuses to die. Their reunion is tense and bitter… until her dying mother reveals a shocking truth.

Her body went still. Then his voice dropped lower, laced with venom and promise. “By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you never said …I do.” Angelo placed his hand on the small of her back, pulling her closer in… closer than fear, closer than escape. He leaned in, his smile picture perfect for the cameras. “Now kiss your groom,” he murmured. Then…. His breath ghosted over her lips before sealing the moment with a kiss… cold, calculated and final. This wasn't marriage, nor love. Rather, it was war. It was the beginning of her sentence. Millicent felt it in her bones, the quiet threat beneath his touch. She hadn't just married a man. She had stepped into the arms of her executioner. “Smile for the crowd, Mrs. De Angelis,” Angelo whispered in a low and poisonous voice. “Because soon… they'll be watching you burn.” *Click* The cameras flashed. ~~~~~~~~ To save her brother, Millicent Romano agreed to marry the one man her heart never forgot, Angelo De Angelis. But he isn’t the boy she once knew. He’s a Don now. A powerful and ruthless Don who was hell-bent on revenge. To Angelo, she’s nothing more than a pawn, poisoned gift from an enemy empire. The wedding was never about love… it was about war. But desire doesn’t play by the rules of vengeance, and neither does the past they share. As vengeance dives deep, obsession dives ten times deeper. As secrets unravel, there's only one question left…. When love is laced with blood, someone's bound to bleed. In a world where loyalty kills faster than bullets.... Who will fall first?

Amber Cole is a 31-year-old stripper. With her prime years in the industry slipping away, she’s aware that soon her looks will no longer be enough to make the money she needs to survive. Struggling with her self-worth and looking for a way out, Amber’s world is about to be upended when she meets Ryan Carter, a cold, successful businessman from Chicago. Ryan, reeling from his fiancée's betrayal, is forced into a bizarre deal by a clause in his late grandfather’s will: he must marry and stay married for one year. When his best friend, Tom, suggests he hire a stripper to pretend to be his fiancée, Ryan reluctantly agrees. He picks Amber, offering her $500,000 for her time. Unaware of the deep complexities of her own emotions, Amber agrees, seeing the money as her ticket to a fresh start. Despite their differences — Ryan's polished world of wealth and Amber's gritty, down-to-earth life — they are drawn into a tense, fiery dynamic that forces both to confront their prejudices and assumptions. Amber start their arrangement, initially unaware of the emotional journey she’s about to embark on. As she undergoes a transformation, both physically and emotionally, Ryan begins to question his initial perception of her, discovering that beneath her tough exterior, Amber is more than just a stripper. As the months pass, their relationship evolves from contractual obligation to something far more complicated. Sparks fly, but so do their insecurities. Amber finds herself falling for Ryan, but can she ever be the woman he needs her to be? And can Ryan truly let go of his past and embrace the real, messy woman Amber has become?

Nicole Santoro is a harmless and delicate woman, which is why her ex-boyfriend was a scoundrel with her, cheating on her in the worst ways, but now she has turned things around and become an incredible woman and an exemplary secretary for one of the richest companies in the country. But no one was prepared for the tense dynamic that developed between her and her boss, Valentin Salvatore. Their relationship was marked by heated debates and a constant power play. Nicole never hesitated to challenge Valentin's impulsive decisions, while he saw her as an enigma that needed to be deciphered. When the fateful night arrived, the tension between them took an unexpected turn. That momentary weakness revealed an undeniable chemistry. They both knew that this union was far from conventional. The rules of the game had changed, and now they were forced to confront not only their insecurities but also the growing emotional connection that was slowly emerging between them. The question hanging in the air was: could they turn this fire and arrogance into true love?

“He’s unholy, he’s dirty, and you must be kept pure.” He said forcing our eyes to meet. The tip of his thumb brushed my lips. He let my hair go, stumbling back as tho he was tipsy. “Take off your clothes” I did as instructed, no questioning. When the miracle boy of Edevane is found in the arms of the Mayor's bastard son, the whole town erupts in a scandal. Simon, the adopted son of Father cadwell, was born to kneel and smile through pain. Behind the cathedral doors, Simon endures bruises because he's told, saints are meant to bleed. Arson Grey, the mayor's bastard son, reckless and irresponsible finds Simon attractive and sees through his facade. He wants the boy under the mask. Simon’s past comes back to hunt him, but things are different this time. When Simon falls, when he loses his faith, and scatters the boat of salvation. Would Arson be there to catch him? What happens when saints falls?.

The three hells!! Handsome, intelligent, tall and rich . Filthy rich. Cruel and devious in their dealings. Womanizer The utter type. They were enjoying the ways of life untill it all changed. The tables turned and the tide change. Their mother, Alicia Gerald a great disciplinarian and a no nonsense woman who has little tolerance for irresponsibility came. All the way from Italy to Newland "Get yourselves a serious girlfriend" she said to them The wanted to protest but couldn't. At the sight of that smile lurking on her lips. That old smile!! They lowered their head in submission as cold sweat broke out on their forehead Then it all began!! The search for a serious girlfriend

"Why aren't you dressed yet?" "W-what?" She stuttered. "You didn't say anything about joining you." He gave her a once over before clenching his jaw. "Now I have. Get dressed we leave in thirty minutes. I'll be waiting downstairs." **** Kallista Hughes Jones is a 25-year-old chef whose world is shattered when she loses her job and house and moves back into her family’s home. Life becomes even more chaotic when her half-sister, Penelope, disappears on the morning of her wedding to billionaire CEO Jaxon Hawthorne, leaving behind only a cryptic note. In a shocking twist, Kallista finds herself standing in for her sister, marrying the enigmatic Jaxon-the very man she spilled coffee on the day she lost her job- in a whirlwind of confusion and obligation. **** Jaxon Hawthorne, a 35-year-old billionaire known for his aversion to touch and disdain for emotional connections and relationships. Jaxon views marriage as a mere formality to placate his demanding parents. He has no love for Penelope, but when she vanishes, he goes ahead to marry Kallista to dispel rumors and appease his parents. What begins as a tense and transactional arrangement soon changes into something more as Kallista slowly cracks the walls around Jaxon’s heart. As Kallista and Jaxon grow closer, their newfound happiness is threatened by cryptic warnings, mysterious messages, seeds of doubt, and violent attacks that nearly claim Kallista’s life. An almost forgotten person from Jaxon’s past emerges, leading to a deadly game where betrayals are exposed, lives are lost, and their love is tested in unimaginable ways. In a story of love, redemption, and sacrifice, Kallista and Jaxon must overcome the darkest chapters of their lives to find their happily ever after. But at what cost?

Serena Miller is a young capable woman who strives to be something but is haunted by past. Raised by an adopted family who sees her as nothing but a tool, Selena views the world as a reflection of her past, beneath every smile is an agenda and behind every helping hand comes a chain. By fate, she saves a dying old man, Duncan Tate who is the patriarch of one of the most powerful elite families. He names her as his granddaughter Selena Tate bringing Selena into a world she could only dream about. Selena must learn to survive the world of the elite, amongst filial betrayals, masked enemies, schemes and even terrors from her past. And watching closely from the shadows is a cold and ruthless heir, Damian Montalvo, with ties to Selena than she could ever imagine. When long buried truths begin to surface, betrayals strike from within and forbidden feelings develop between two heirs, will Selena choose love and survival or will she choose to bring it all down?