Proud

My name is Michael Lockwood. I am the CEO of Lockwood enterprises. You might know my family. Raphael Lockwood (The shark) is my father and he stepped down from his job as CEO for me to take over. He was also one of the biggest Mafia bosses this city has ever seen. My brother Gabriel and my sister Amelia are my two pillars. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. Whenever life gets tough we get together and we solve the problem together. I am the only one in my family that has no ties with the Mafia. Sometimes I do a dirty job here and there and help laundry some money but my siblings know better than to ask that from me. My integrity and honesty are my pride and joy. Too bad I can’t be honest in every aspect of my life. My life is controlled by old men with strict family values. Because of that I am part of an arranged marriage. If I want my business to succeed and make my father proud I need to get married to one of the old men’s daughter. I know. Great. The thing is... I am living a lie and I don’t know how to let the truth out. I am completely in love with someone. Someone my father and my business associates would never approve of. Will Mike give in to the pressure and let go of the love of his life? Or will he find a way? This is the Fourth Book of the Shark Mafia boss.This book can be read as a stand alone but for better comprehension of the characters and the story it is recommended that you read the previous books.

Why we all want to FALL IN LOVE? They say because that experience makes us completely alive. When you’re in love with someone, it inspires you and gives you hope. But it’s not the case for all - falling in love can be a BLISSFUL experience for many but a PAINFUL memory to some. Faith Anderson and Marco Matthews are happy and very much in love with each other. She doesn’t have an idea that he’s the heir to Matthews Group, one of the most successful companies in New York. But when she met his extended family and friends, it's clear that they are from incredibly different backgrounds. Destiny isn’t always good, it becomes playful sometimes and the influence of money is probably as old as time. The constant disapproval and pressure left her with no other choice but to let go. It was the hardest thing for her to do, not because she wants to but because she has to.  It hurts her even more - to hurt him who doesn’t deserve to be hurt.  But what’s really more important? - To be HAPPY or to be RICH? She can’t guarantee to help him in his success. She’s aware of how low her worth is. She knows that there are things in life that she can’t forever have, no matter how much she fights for them. Forcing herself to fit into someone’s world isn’t her thing. She won’t go low just to please other people who she knows that whatever she does - will never be proud of. But did she do the right thing to let go because she was hurting or she was doomed for not staying and trusting him? And here we realize that to LOVE is really to SACRIFICE.  

'Zsystem' is where I found myself as the sole survivor of the apocalypse. The system is supposed to be my mother's "in sample" antidote to cure the virus. She was a mad scientist of the base where uninfected humans habitats to survive from the outer world. While she is burying herself with works, I decided to be the useless child and the only one she has. Isn't it amusing! Being treated as the daughter of a crazy woman who is obsessed with antidotes. Even after failing hundreds and thousands of times. She should know my well-being but she didn't. No matter how much of a genius I am, it's worthless! I am still garbage in her eyes...! I tried so hard to make her proud but all she cares about is the antidotes and saving humanity! She even left me under my aunt's care. Not looking back even once...! Well, that is what I thought before the zombies conquer the base and being forced to drink a certain red liquid which is the antidote! Alast, being thrown into a foreign system. ________________________________________________________________________ From the useless garbage to the only human that holds the opportunity to change the world. Will Ava overcome the mission to level up and obtain the honour of saving the people she loves? Or will she abandon it and faced a wrongful death? ___________________________________________ Author: Thank you for reading The Zombie's Leveling... And please share my story with others... To be honest it's not scary at all! This story is more to fantasy because... I want to, so don't complain people.... I will try to update every Saturday so that I will not just do whenever I want...:O And whoever reads this... Do support my work if you like it.

I thought I knew who I was. I thought I knew what love felt like. Turns out, I didn’t know anything at all. Marvy was supposed to be my forever—until the night he went down on one knee and a stranger’s panties fell out of his pocket. In that moment, the illusion shattered. The man I loved, the life I dreamed of... it all turned to ash. I told myself I’d never fall again. I’d never let anyone close enough to hurt me. But then there was him—Darren Coldridge. Marvy’s older brother. The one they say has ice in his veins and no heart left to break. He scared me from the start. But when his eyes found mine, everything inside me changed. My pulse skipped. My breath caught. My body remembered something my mind refused to admit—I wanted him. I needed him. Now I’m caught between two brothers: one who betrayed me, and one who burns through every wall I’ve built. Marvy says he still loves me. Darren doesn’t say anything at all—but every glance, every touch feels like a promise he’s too proud to speak. And just when I think it’s only about love and lies, I learn the Coldridge family hides secrets far older—and darker—than either of them. Secrets that tie me to them in ways I never imagined. Because some bonds aren’t chosen. They’re written in blood, in moonlight… and in destiny.

Mariana Pérez was married to Diego Rivas, the Alpha of one of the strongest packs in the area. He gave her everything she could ever want. But when Diego goes back to his ex, her perfect life is over and she is all alone. Mariana is having Diego's kids, which is a huge betrayal that hurts her very much. She only has her pride and a terrible secret left. Diego is surprised when his old girlfriend comes back into his life. He is a famous Alpha and business tycoon. He makes the biggest mistake by leaving Mariana and their possible future behind because of old feelings and a desire to go back to an old love. He doesn't know that his own family's history will make him think about Mariana's leaving for a long time. Diego's life changes completely when he finds out about the kids he never knew about years later. This news shakes up his family, his pack, and his own heart. Can he make up for the harm his proud decisions have caused? Is it too late for him to win back the woman's heart after he said no? Diego wants to get back what he lost, but Mariana has to decide whether to forgive the man who hurt her or keep the walls she has built around herself. Is it still possible to love and trust again, or has the betrayal gone too far? Diego and Mariana need to deal with their past before it destroys everything they've ever known. This intense, emotional roller coaster of love, betrayal, and rescue shows that.

I'd barely been welcomed back into the inner circle when the fake heir tried to pull me into his little crew. The other rich kids, of course, couldn't resist messing with me. They pushed me to smoke and drink, treating me like some obedient stooge. I was pissed—steam practically coming out of my ears. He, meanwhile, put on this innocent act and said, "Hey, go easy on my brother. He just moved back from the middle of nowhere and doesn't know how things work around here. I'll take this one for him." Everyone ate up his "loyalty," and just like that, my reputation as some clueless hick was sealed. That day, he was set on dragging me to another rich-kid party. I was about to put my foot down when, out of nowhere, the steward from one of the capital's old-money families showed up at our door. He said it was a special order from the lady's father—an extravagant gift. My parents' faces lit up instantly. They clapped the fake heir on the shoulder, practically glowing with pride. "Ryan, you've made us proud! Looks like Sophia's family is more than pleased with you. This engagement—well, it's as good as done!" Ryan straightened his tie with practiced charm, shooting me a smug, taunting look. But when I glanced at the label on the gift box, I couldn't help but laugh. Every new hire at Harrington Group gets the same welcome package. If the Chairman of Harrington Group knew someone was mistaking it for an engagement gift for his daughter, he'd be furious enough to lose sleep.

**Book 3 to The Moon's Descendant** **Mature Content 18+** Contains graphic depictions of death, violence, sex scenes, course language and rape. Minimal trigger warnings in place. ------------------------------------------------ Zelena fights with her feelings towards her new-found mother, all the while struggling with the stress that being pregnant brings. Life takes a turn for the worst when a new and more dangerous threat emerges from the shadows, pushing Gunner to his limits and testing the strength of the bond that Zelena and Gunner share. As more secrets are revealed, Zelena's understanding of right and wrong, duty and choice, good and evil, all collide in a fiery blaze.  ------------------------------------------------------ I've dealt with a lot up until this point. I'm proud to say that through it all, I've not broken. All my life I've known pain. I've grown up on it. Lived it, learnt it, tasted it. I know pain. I have been pushed to the furthest limits imaginable. Both in mind and body. And I've still not broken. I am stronger because of how far I have been pushed. I have endured and survived more than anyone else possibly could. I have been molded into the ultimate weapon, created from pain to cause havoc. I am the shadow in the dark, the monster under the bed. I am the bringer of death. Nothing could ever break me. But this... This is unlike anything else that I have endured before. This is beyond the point of physical pain and mental torture. This is worse. This could break me. ------------------------------------------------ Book 1 - The Moon's Descendant - Told by Zelena and Gunner. Book 2 - Mother of the Moon - Told By Zelena and Lunaya. Book 3 - Twin Moon - Told by Zelena and Whiskey.

"Your insecurity is my temptation," I groaned, lowering my head and kissing every one of her exquisite curves. Araceli Serrano — innocent, sheltered, and trapped under the mercy of a cruel stepmother and a venomous stepsister — had no control over her own life. So when she was suddenly handed over in marriage to Matvei Orlov… a man she had never seen, never spoken to, never even dared to imagine — fear became her only companion. He was darkness where she was light. Power where she was powerless. Danger where she had only ever known silence. Thrown into his ruthless world, her insecurities and fragile naivety clashed violently with the cold man she now belonged to. But somewhere between his dominance and her fear… something began to shift. Because the more his dark world tried to swallow her whole, the more it awakened a confidence in her no one had ever seen before. Matvei Orlov — a powerful mafia king, feared, obeyed, and never questioned — was a man carved from ice. Cold. Cruel. Proud to the bone. So when he chose to marry a mere commoner, Araceli Serrano, it wasn’t out of love… It was revenge. A calculated move meant to spite his father and prove that no one — not even blood — could dictate his choices. To him, she was nothing more than a pawn. Soft. Powerless. Easy to control. But Matvei had ruled empires, not innocence. What he never saw coming was this —trying to tame someone so untouched by his dark world… might be the very thing that would drag the mighty Matvei Orlov to his knees.

I was the fiancee of Lucian Veris, the celebrated Swan Prince, who had offered up the principal role in exchange for my hand. On stage, he was proud and untouchable, yet he surrendered completely to the choreography I created for "Eternal Crown." When I came back after three years in Valmont, I discovered that the understudy who mirrored me had already claimed our private rehearsal hall. At the company's welcome gala, Lucian abandoned a room full of sponsors just to chase after the crying understudy. From behind the velvet curtain, I overheard words he had never spoken to me. "Elara, I chose you only because you reminded me of her. I was looking for a replacement. But you were different. Your choreography captivated me—more than she ever could. Just make sure she never finds out until the closing night of 'Eternal Crown.'" Then came the muffled sounds of their entanglement, followed by his whispered vow. "I'll give you the principal's place." Right there, in that same room, he had once held my hand and sworn that I, Astraea Lynelle, would be his only soulmate in this lifetime. I turned and walked away, the sharp echo of my pointe shoes striking with finality. Back in the dressing room, I dialed his greatest rival, Caelan Thorne. "Mr. Thorne," I said evenly, "I accept your offer to join your company. And one more thing—prepare a gift for me. I intend to turn Lucian's grand finale into the most spectacular downfall the art world has ever seen."

Zaki Delrama was known as a successful businessman at a young age. All his business is legal, so he has nothing to worry about like the business of his childhood friend and beloved Ian Mercado, who is a smuggler. Even though he loves Ian, he still gave him to Nate because Nate is what Ian really wants (must read the story It's Just I Love You.) He would have decided to leave Crown University to forget his childhood love, because that was the only thing he went to CU, but when he and his group were leaving CU, when Sharian Roden's group ambushed them. He overcame Roden's audacity but when he found out that Roden had set fire to his three establishments, he was there to find a way to punish the girl, for her audacity and her fearlessness towards him. Will he tame her, or he will kneel down to ruthless gangster chic? Sharian Roden Indelcio, a woman known for being stubborn, arrogant and ruthless. Just because she is the sister of Stygian Beast lord Stan Elthen Indelcio, she has the courage to hurt, steal and trample others. Stygian's habit of collecting money at any business in Cordova City. Every end of the month Roden travels throughout Cordova City to collect money and property from establishments, bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the City. If the owners of the establishment do not give money, she destroys or burns the building or establishment that does not pay or give properly ... She is a tyrant and proud, no one can tame her until Zaki Delrama came to punish her!