Pulp Fiction Pawn Shop Scene

Three months after my baby was born, I found out my husband, Joe, was cheating. The other woman? Hailey. Pregnant and smug. Joe actually got on his knees, begging for a divorce. I said yes. Until I could find a place, Joe's mom, Claudia, let me stay at the house. "Hailey," Claudia said, "you'll handle all the household responsibilities now." Hailey, all fake enthusiasm, chirped, "I'll take good care of this family!" Claudia replied, "Great. You'll start your day at five making breakfast. When Luca's hungry, you'll feed him and change his diapers. Once he's down for a nap, clean the house, grocery shop, and prep lunch. Laundry in the afternoon, tea service mid-day, then bathe Luca and cook dinner. After that, you'll put him to bed." Hailey's face? Priceless.

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

I was a semi-retired actress, joining a divorce reality show with my billionaire husband. "I want a divorce." Facing the camera, I spoke calmly. Off-camera, Hector Sinclair frowned as he reviewed the scene with me. "You need to show more emotion when you say it. That’s what will get people talking, stir up discussion, and drive the views. "Otherwise, who’s going to believe you really want to divorce me? They’ll just think you’re acting again. “Use your head. I can’t guide you every step of the way." Yeah. To outsiders, I was nothing more than a pretty face—vain, shallow, and talentless. Meanwhile, he was a shrewd and cultured businessman, commanding a fortune worth billion. No one believed I would willingly give up the title of Mrs. Sinclair, not even Hector himself. However, he had no idea that this time, I meant it.

My best friend and I signed up for the Dual Marriage System so the cancer wouldn't kill me. She and I managed to steal the hearts of the Hopkin brothers. Naturally, we became in-laws. Seven years later, my husband's son told me I was dull and useless. Meanwhile, my best friend's husband slammed her behind bars for the sake of his old flame. When she was released, the last thing she told me was, "Live on." Then, she rushed into the oncoming traffic and was crushed into a pulp by a speeding truck.

Isla Carter never imagined that one reckless night would change her life forever. Strong-willed yet innocent, she crosses paths with Killian Blackwood, a ruthless billionaire CEO known for his cold heart and devastating charm. After a heated night of passion, Isla discovers she’s pregnant—only to be met with an unexpected proposition. Killian offers her a marriage of convenience, a cold-hearted arrangement to protect his reputation while he secretly maintains his engagement to another woman. Isla, trapped by circumstance, agrees—but soon realizes she’s nothing more than a pawn in Killian’s twisted game of power and deception. Despite his cruelty, Killian finds himself drawn to Isla’s fire, but just as their tangled emotions begin to unravel, a shocking betrayal shatters everything—his fiancée is none other than Isla’s stepsister, the woman who has tormented her for years. Heartbroken and betrayed, Isla walks away, determined to reclaim her life, but Killian isn’t ready to let her go. Now, he must make a choice: the empire he has built or the woman who has stolen his heart. Will their love rise from the ashes of betrayal, or will it crumble under the weight of shattered vows?

After four years of a loveless marriage, Eleanor is blindsided by her husband Arthur's abrupt decision to divorce her. The convenient arrangement that had suited them both had, seemingly, run its course. As Eleanor struggles to come to terms with the end of their marriage, she can't help but feel discarded - a pawn replaced by Arthur's rekindled flame, a woman from his past. But just as Eleanor is starting to rebuild her life, Arthur drops a bombshell: he wants her back. His reasons are unclear, but one thing is certain - His regret.

Malia Ray Smith, the heiress to the country's largest chocolate manufacturer, thought she had it all wealth, power, and the love of her father. But her husband Maynard Salvador cheats on her leaving Malia feeling worthless and insecure Just when Malia thought things couldn't get any worse, Larson Reynold enters her life and sweeps her off her feet and Malia believes she has found her true love. But as she falls deeper, she uncovers a web of lies and deception, and realizes she's been nothing but a pawn in Larson's dangerous game. Malia must navigate a world of betrayal, corruption, and evil plotting, all while finding the strength to stand up for herself and fight for the love and happiness she truly deserves.

On the day of the Sacred Forest Rite, my Alpha father and Luna mother were mysteriously murdered. Soon after, my fiancé Jem abruptly broke off our engagement and held a bonding ceremony with his childhood friend, Sarah. While I was still drowning in grief, Jem's elder brother, Nom, came to me with a proposal. He swore he would uncover the truth and bring my parents' murderer to justice. So I married him—and brought what was left of my pack into his. Seven years passed. No killer was found. No justice delivered. Then today, I overheard a conversation between Nom and his Beta outside the study. I learned the truth. Someone had seen Sarah at the scene of my parents' deaths during the Sacred Forest Rite. However, Nom silenced that witness. He shut down the investigation, convinced Sarah was innocent—that her presence was nothing more than a coincidence. However, my mother died with Sarah's earring clenched in her hand. It was never justice. It was a cover-up. Seven years of marriage, built on a lie—his way of protecting the one truly responsible. This time, I will take vengeance into my own hands. Alone.

Curiosity isn't a bad thing... Particularly for two powerful men locked in a silent battle they refuse to acknowledge. When they allow a human to open a mysterious business between their tattoo shop and gym, they soon realize their new tenant plans to help them explore more than just surface-level issues. They're about to learn that desire isn't something you can control... and being stuck in the middle might just be the best place to start becoming more fluid in their beliefs.

Trigger warning: Matured content. Dark romance! ***** ~Jasper Morgan~ I hate him because he hates me. He's my first love, my bully. Yet, when his hatred turns into a burning obsession, I crave it, unable to live without it. Rhys' loathing has become my addiction, driving me to corrupt him, to claim him as my own. But what if he's just a beautiful nightmare? I can't let him go. ~Rhys Volkov~ I've never been drawn to men, never entertained the thought. Jasper Morgan was just a pawn in my vendetta against his father, who destroyed my life. I wanted to break him, shatter his perfection. But Jasper's twisted hate awakened something within me. I craved his scorn, his resentment. I wanted more than just revenge; I wanted him. His body, mind, and soul. He crossed the line. Now, nothing will stop me from possessing him. ******