playing dumb synonym

To my parents, I was their obedient and kind daughter. To my students, I was their gentle and understanding piano teacher. To my audience, I was the star performer at the cabaret. Of all these different identities, my favorite was by far the last. I enjoyed the hungry gazes that fell on me, searing my skin like flames. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between my different identities, never tired of playing different roles. In a sense, I was born to act, and I was passionately devoted to each of my identities. So, won't you come watch me dance?

Celeste is a worrywart single mother who has a phobia about her past catching up on her. Her teenage son, Neil, is growing up so quickly, and at his phase, needs a father figure which she's unable to give to him. Running from her past, she ran into Nathan, a talented chef. A handsome hunk is an ex-marine planning to start his restaurant business putting his wonderful cooking craft into reality in Celeste's hometown. There Neil takes a liking and a fond attachment to Nathan leaving Celeste no choice but to admit there is more than just the chemistry between them and she wants him in her life as a friend, lover, father to her son, and most importantly a life partner. But all seemed impossible when an acquaintance from Celeste's past comes to hunt her putting the lives of the most treasured people in her life in danger. With reassurance, faith, and love Celeste discovers there's more to life than just being uptight and playing hard-to-get. Nathan was one who is made just for her.

When Fallon Prescott returns to her parents’ mansion for what she thinks is just another family dinner, she’s blindsided by two shocking revelations: her father’s company is on the brink of collapse, and the only way to save it is to marry the last person she ever wanted to see again—Reid Callahan. Reid, the charismatic and wildly successful heir to the Callahan fortune, has no interest in marriage either. But business is business, and their parents have sealed their fate with an arrangement neither of them can escape. Determined to keep things strictly business, Fallon and Reid strike a deal: a marriage on paper with an expiration date. No love, no complications, just two years of playing the perfect couple to satisfy their families. But as they navigate awkward public appearances, nosy socialites, and unexpected sparks, Fallon starts to wonder if their arrangement is as simple as it seemed. Because Reid Callahan might just be the one man capable of breaking through her carefully guarded walls—and rewriting the rules of her heart. Can two people who swore off love find it in the most unexpected place?

【Two Male Leads + Power Dynamics + Slow Burn Romance + Corporate Warfare + 1v1】 "You came to kill me, didn't you?" "That was the original plan, but I've changed my mind." "Oh, what an honor that is." In game theory, when the sum of gains and losses among participants always equals "zero," it's known as a "zero-sum game," where cooperation between the parties is not possible. In the game of love, however, two initially opposing individuals repeatedly break the norms and find their way to each other. A mission sparks their complex relationship, with one falling first, and the other soon succumbing to the fall as well... *Dual-faced, affectionate mastermind ✖️ Undercover agent playing coy *1v1

I fished my boyfriend from the sea. I empty my pockets to treat his amnesia, and he turns out to be a CEO when he regains his memories. Due to the disparity in our statuses, Quinn Hoffman doesn't hesitate to dump me. He says, "You're just a fishmonger. How can you be worthy of me?" He refuses to pay me back for the money I spent on his treatment. I'm backed into a corner—I need the money for my grandmother's surgery. In the end, I get tricked, and all my organs are gouged out. On the day Quinn learns of my death, he holds my belongings and refuses to let go. "You're just playing hide-and-seek, Kay! Aren't you?"

His hand tightens around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. “Where did you go, wife?” “The bathroom?” I frown, scratching my head. “Don't play dumb Alessandra, we both know you're not stupid and neither am I.” “I don't know what you mean, Enzo.” I glare. “ I was here.” “Did you think I wouldn't notice who was in my house? I played dumb when you let her come over but you let her in our bed, Sasha. Did you expect me to fuck her too?” “I-” the words get caught in my throat, I don’t know what to say. This is it, Enzo is going to kill me, I’m dead. . . 🦋 When Alessandra Romano's sister angers the next Capo dei Cap Enzo Valenti, he picks her to replace Sofia. However, the only relationship Alessandra knows is that between her hand and her blade, she has secrets, secrets that will make Enzo kill her. But what happens when Alessandra finds out she's not the only one holding secrets in their marriage? Will their love withstand the chaos life sets around them, or will they break when push comes to shove?

"Say another word and I'll bite your tongue off, you'll lose it." He replied in a daring tone and my sense told me that he wasn't playing this time around. I would rather endure the pain than to make sure that I lost any part of my body. "I would prefer I die... Ah!" I screamed when his fangs sank into my neck drawing blood like it was a fountain gushing out. I was stupefied but my hands couldn't move anymore. My name is being called out in rooms I’ve not walked into..prestige echoing through. I knew how solid this thought was on me and how badly I wanted it to be my reality. It did. I found the bone of my bones but blood sure runs freely over here. Blood runs in the human system but with Lucian you can taste it a little tongue to lip tease. A charming billionaire with an aura,an opposite world and the face of a God. Oh stop! You would have fallen and flipped if you were in my position as his heiress. This is our story is it all love? Is this really how loving a masculine man feels? Take a guess! Naomi： a human girl who had been a slave for many years of her life, and now had zero hope of escaping it after being trafficked. Lucian： the vampire lord and leader of the Pure Bloods, and a very successful business man who is a Billionaire. What happens when both of their worlds collide, after Lucian agrees to work with the government of the country to unveil the underworld? This is a story of love, crime, and of course blood.

18+(For Adults Only)... In an unexpected twist of fate, a young woman finds herself playing matchmaker for the most unlikely of couples-her stunning, confident mother and her own charming boyfriend. What starts as a harmless setup quickly spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden chemistry and secret lusful desires. As tensions rise and emotions flare, the boundaries of love, trust, and loyalty are tested in ways no one could have predicted. Can they navigate the complexities of this unconventional triangle, or will their worlds come crashing down? This provocative tale dives deep into the messy, thrilling intersections of love, lust and attraction, where passion knows no bounds, and the heart's desires refuse to play by the rules. NB: This book is a compilation of thigh tingling and mouth watering stories for ADULT amusement only. It contains other erotic themes and it is of an adult, explicit, SEXUAL nature. Enjoy. >>>>

Synopsis: Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Leila Carter never expected to find herself trapped in a fake engagement with the most ruthless man she’s ever met—Adrian Blackwell, a billionaire known for his cold efficiency and ruthless control over everything in his life. But when a shared enemy threatens both of them, Adrian offers her an irresistible deal: pretend to be his fiancée and in return, he’ll ensure her safety. Adrian has built an empire by playing the long game, and this arrangement is just another calculated move. Leila is a means to an end, a pawn in a game of power and deception. Or at least, that’s what he tells himself. But the more time they spend together, the more she pushes back, challenges him, tempts him in ways he never saw coming. As their dangerous charade drags them deeper into a web of lies, betrayal, and simmering tension, their biggest threat isn’t just their enemies—it’s the undeniable pull between them. Because pretending to love someone is easy. Not falling for them? That’s the real challenge.

Fiona Woods has spent five years being the perfect shadow—playing Darwin Solomon’s stand-in for a woman he could never have. Her life has been dictated by his whims, her own desires buried beneath layers of quiet endurance. But when she discovers she’s pregnant, everything changes. Determined to protect her unborn child and reclaim her life, Fiona walks away from Darwin and the toxic world he represents. But Darwin isn’t ready to let her go—and neither are the secrets and enemies circling them both. As lies unravel and hidden truths come to light, Fiona and Darwin find themselves drawn back together, forced to confront the ghosts of their past and the enemies determined to destroy them. Can love emerge from years of pain and betrayal? Or will their chance at happiness be crushed under the weight of secrets too heavy to bear? CHARACTERIZATION FIONA WOODS (FL) Age: Late 20s Traits: Intelligent, resourceful, quietly strong, yet deeply scarred by her years as Darwin’s stand-in. Her resilience comes from enduring pain without letting it break her. Darwin Solomon (ML): Age: Early 30s Traits: Proud, cold, and emotionally detached, but beneath his sharp exterior lies a man struggling with his own guilt and loneliness. BELLA ROBBINS (ANTAGONIST) Age: Mid-20s Traits: Ambitious, manipulative, and desperate to solidify her position by any means necessary. WILLIAM NEWTON (SECONDARY ANTAGONIST) Age: Early 40s Traits: Ruthless, shrewd, and motivated by a long-standing grudge against Darwin that drives him to play a dangerous game of revenge. THALASSA CAREY (FL’S BEST FRIEND) Age: Late 20s Traits: Outspoken, fiercely protective of Fiona, and always ready with a sharp wit or a clever plan.