Public Domain Library Of Congress

Mon fils cadet de 7 ans a été mordu par un serpent. Je l'ai immédiatement emmené à l'hôpital de mon fils aîné pour le soigner. Cependant, à ma grande surprise, la petite amie de mon fils aîné m'a prise pour une maîtresse. Non seulement elle a empêché mon fils cadet de recevoir le sérum, mais elle m'a aussi giflée. « Mon petit ami et moi, nous sommes un couple bien assorti comme s'il est fait par le ciel. Comment osez-vous venir me provoquer en public avec votre enfant illégitime ? » Elle m'a poussée par terre et m'a battue, en même temps, elle a même menacé : « Une sal*pe comme vous deviendra sage une fois que vous avez reçu une leçon. » Je suis restée toute meurtrie après avoir été battue et j'ai été emmenée à la salle d'urgence. Le chirurgien principal était mon fils aîné. Il tenait le scalpel et tremblait violemment, pâle, il a demandé : « Maman, qui t'a battue comme ça ? »

On our wedding anniversary, my CEO husband, Michael Grant, invited me to watch the ocean with him. Tragically, a typhoon hit. I stood there in the raging wind and rain for over two hours, and he never showed up. In the end, all I got was a text that he was suddenly going on a business trip and couldn’t make it. Right after that, his intern, Nora Blake, posted a video on her social feed. It showed my usually pampered husband barefoot while helping fishermen haul crates of seafood. Her caption read: "Our hardworking CEO loves to get his hands dirty!" I laughed and commented: "Diligent and enduring—a true role model for us all." The company Slack channel instantly exploded. Everyone was betting on whether I’d finally blow up this time. Michael called me, his voice tight with fury, "Lauren West! What the heck did you mean by posting that comment? Are you trying to humiliate Nora in public? "It was a typhoon. I helped her family move some fish. What’s the big deal? You’re such a pampered little princess who has no idea how hard life really is. Delete that comment now. I’ll take you to the coast another day." Disgust churned in me. I replied, "Let a man who’s already rolled in the mud take me to the ocean? Forget it." Yes. Michael was now tainted, and I didn’t want him anymore.

I have been the Donna of the Smith family for nine years— but only in name. I took my deceased twin sister Lily’s place, raised her daughter Emma as my own, and lived beside a husband, David, who never once looked at me with love. For nine long years, I gave everything. Emma, however, only saw me as the woman who “killed her mother,” never knowing it was Lily who stole my marriage, my identity, and the man who was supposed to be mine. She pushed me in public, screamed that I was a murderer, and even used the gun I gifted her to shoot the only thing that brought me comfort—a tiny bird I’d been nursing back to health. And David… David, the man I once loved with my whole heart, couldn’t hide the coldness in his eyes. Every time he looked at me, I could feel Lily’s shadow standing between us. So I made a decision. If this family wanted Lily so badly— then they could have her ghost. I would leave the Smith estate, the title of Donna, the child who hated me, and the man who never wanted me. But the night I packed my bags, David suddenly appeared in the doorway, blocking my path— his eyes no longer cold, but afraid. As if he had finally realized what losing me truly meant.

Born from tragedy, Nova grew up Born from tragedy, Nova grew up in the shadow of her mother’s death and her father’s cruelty. Neglected by blood, despised by her stepmother, and tormented by her stepsister, she learned early that silence could be both her shield and her prison. In high school, the only light in her darkness was Daniel — the boy she loved but who shattered her heart in the cruelest way possible. What began as innocent affection turned into a public humiliation that left her broken and alone. Years later, when her grandmother—the only person who ever truly loved her—falls ill, Nova’s world begins to collapse again. Desperate for help, she faces her father one last time, only to be offered a deal that would destroy what little pride she has left. But fate intervenes the night she meets Frederick Lawson — the cold, mysterious billionaire with eyes like winter and secrets of his own. From that night onward, Nova’s life takes a turn she never expected — one of redemption, hidden passion, and powerful revenge. As love blooms in unexpected places and old wounds are ripped open, Nova must decide whether to remain the quiet girl everyone once pitied… or rise as the woman no one ever saw coming. whether to remain the quiet girl everyone once pitied… or rise as the woman no one ever saw coming.

Ashley Dawson, a brilliant 22-year-old chemistry student, has lived a quiet life defined by loss and independence. Though she secretly owns a massive pharmaceutical empire inherited from her late mother and grandmother, Ashley prefers the simplicity of her lab over boardrooms and business deals. Her fiancé, Harvey West-a wealthy, charismatic CEO-was once her dream man, but their love story shatters the day before their wedding when Harvey asks for an open marriage and an NDA to protect his affairs. Heartbroken, Ashley is pulled into a dangerous new world when a domestic terror group develops a deadly chemical weapon. The military calls in Major Nathan Ford, Harvey's cousin and a decorated U.S. Army Special Forces officer, to lead the operation. Nathan needs a brilliant chemist to help decipher the weapon's formula-Ashley becomes that civilian consultant. Forced to work together under high pressure, Ashley and Nathan build an unlikely partnership, discovering strength, trust, and a slow-burning attraction. Meanwhile, Harvey refuses to let go, flaunting his mistress in public and humiliating Ashley. When Ashley finally breaks off the engagement, Harvey spirals, convinced Nathan stole her away. Nathan proposes a marriage of protection, offering her his name and his shield against Harvey and his powerful family. Ashley, tired of being powerless and cornered, agrees. Their whirlwind marriage shocks society, ignites scandal, and sets the stage for a passionate love story built on loyalty, respect, and redemption.

For seven years, I love Cody Rummish, clinging to his promise—once his sister-in-law, Luna Briche, conceives, our ordeal ends, and we finally begin our married life. But reality betrays me. Just months after moving into his home, Cody slips into Luna's bedroom 88 times—starting with once a month, now nearly one or two visits daily. Every night, I sit in the downstairs living room, counting the minutes, clutching a flicker of unrealistic hope. As the sole heir after his twin brother's fatal plane crash, Cody inherits not just power and wealth but also, seamlessly, his brother's widow, Luna. After the 88th visit, Luna announces her pregnancy. But instead of Cody honoring his promise, a public declaration shatters me—he will formally marry Luna. I unravel, demanding answers. Silent, Cody locks me in the bedroom's walk-in closet. "Luna was trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes! She nearly died because of you! Stay here for five days. Feel her fear!" Only on the sixth morning does Cody casually open the door with a chuckle. "Alright, lesson learned. Time to apologize, right?" He finds only the stench of blood and my cold, lifeless body. He's killed the fiancée who's loved him for seven years.

"Don't expect anything from me. Not my attention, not love." Hearing that, Leylah now knows that everything will never be the same again. The same man, the same voice, but it wasn't him. *** After almost three years of marriage, Leylah was still hopeful that a miracle would happen in her life. Hoping that her husband will have a change of heart and will love her again. But she was wrong. Love never happened. Not again. The universe must have conspired something behind her back to see horrendous scenes of her husband sleeping with another girl whenever he was at home. If only that alone happened then she could have forgiven him, but receiving a divorce papers from the man she love one day was a big blow she could never forget. She knew that this was bound to happen. After all, what can a one sided marriage like theirs end up, but a piece of white paper with a divorce written down on it? But no! She can't back down now! After hiding their marriage to the public for her husband's advantage, she can't back down now, looking more foolish than she has ever had! What was the purpose of those years she waited if she backed down now for nothing? So like a fool, she asked for a two months contract with her husband in turn for a divorce later on. But what do they know? Future is vague. No one knows what will happen.

LUNA He came for my sister. The scarred, brutal Bratva king from Russia, the one whispered about in mafia circles like a ghost story, traveled halfway across the world to claim her. But my sister was too fragile for a man like him. I tried to protect her. I didn’t know I was the one he truly wanted. From the moment Misha Petrov saw me, I became his obsession. He struck a deal with my father and took me instead. Forced me into a sham marriage, dragged me into his icy empire, and made me pretend in public that I belonged to him. But behind closed doors, the lines began to blur. I hated him. I needed him. And then, I ran. MISHA She thinks she escaped. She thinks I’ll let her go. But Luna Rojas was never going to leave me, not truly. I burned everything that stood between us, including the man she thought she loved. The one I had to kill. And when she fled to attend his funeral, I followed with five hundred men and a vow carved in blood. I cleared the graveyard. Claimed her—body, soul, and screams, right there, over his bones. Because if I can’t have her love… I’ll take her fear. And I haven’t even started yet.

A weekend together on a luxurious boat… She is desperate and he is filthy rich. They don’t know each other but they need each other badly… for different reasons. Is this the beginning of a beautiful love story or a disaster waiting to happen? Sunny is a struggling actress trying desperately to keep her job in order to survive in New York and help her mother. This becomes impossible since the theater where she performs the role of Sally Bowles in the musical “Cabaret”, is about to get temporarily closed. After her last performance, Sunny encounters Magnus Karlsen, a billionaire. And he is the answer to all her prayers. Magnus Karlsen must find a fake fiancée for the weekend ASAP! And the fiery, sexy, talented Sunny Makkena, the actress he just watched in the weirdest, sleaziest, most amazing show he had ever seen, is the perfect candidate for this vital role. He absolutely needs Sunny’s presence by his side during a one-weekend cruise with his parents. So, Magnus makes her a proposal he knows she can’t refuse. But the weekend doesn’t go as planned, and not because she isn’t doing her job. Sunny Makkena plays the role of Magnus’s fiancée all too well. Almost perfectly. She is absolutely real in public and she’s even more real in bed. Too bad that it’s all just playing pretend.

"Royce Devereaux isn’t your average hot professor. He has a lot of rules in his professional and personal life. He keeps both worlds separated. He has to. He’s somewhat of a public figure—and yes, he’s made enemies climbing to the top. Being a world-famous paleontology professor doesn’t mix well with his romantic life. He likes his sex rough, and a whole lot of naughty. Which means his students are 100% off limits.One problem. His new graduate student assistant, Kenzie. She looks at him like a kid looks at birthday cake, and he doesn’t like it. Except, he does. He likes it too much. She’s feisty and smart—which only makes him want to tie her up and master her body. And her buttoned-up librarian look—it makes him want to strip her naked…slowly. He has to find a way to ignore her. It’s only one semester. Right?But when an enemy decides to use Kenzie to force his hand, Royce has no choice but to keep her close. Very, very close. His two worlds have just collided. He just hopes he can let her go once the danger is over…The Darkest Hour is created by Lauren Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."