Quietly Hostile

The day my sister slipped away from her engagement party, she was certain Marshall Patton could never truly fall in love with me. Confident in her belief, she left the country without hesitation, leaving me behind to hold her place and secure the title of Mrs. Patton in her stead. I didn't cry or make a fuss. Instead, I played the part of the obedient stand-in, giving everyone the courtesy of maintaining appearances while I quietly bided my time. Then, I poured every ounce of effort into making Marshall fall for me, bit by bit. And when my sister finally returned, I made sure to walk away.

In the power games of the mafia, love is a dangerous gamble. Liora, the only daughter of the mafia leader, lives in a world woven with luxury and shadows. From a young age, she was taught to stay away from danger, but her heart is captured by the cold and powerful bodyguard, Kaelan, during an unexpected encounter. Their feelings quietly blossom in secrecy, but when Liora's father discovers their secret, a storm of fate ensues. In this suspenseful and emotional story, how will Liora and Kaelan confront each other's pasts? Amidst the shadows of hatred and betrayal, can they reclaim the love they once shared? As the truth gradually unfolds, what direction will their fates take?

While accompanying my husband, Austin Lockhart, to his class reunion, we run into his true love, Leticia Gomez. After the gathering, Austin learns that Leticia's been having a tough time. He corners her against a wall and says, "How much do you still owe? Be with me, and I'll give you a hundred grand a month. Is that enough?" I stand quietly at the street corner, capturing their touching reunion on camera. Then, I send the photos to my lawyer. I also forward them to Austin with a simple message. "Since you two are so in love, why not go ahead and marry her?"

He stood there, leaning against the desk with his dark eyes fixed on me like he already knew everything I was too afraid to say. “Do you know what happens,” He asked quietly, “to people who walk into fire without thinking?” “They burn.” I mumbled. “Exactly.” he said with a slow, cold smile on his lips. Rosalina Evans is a woman with simple dreams until one night changes her life. One moment she’s running from death, and the next, she’s locked inside the mansion of a man everyone fears, Christopher Romano, the cruel and powerful Mafia boss.

My husband's childhood sweetheart was diagnosed with a terminal illness. To fulfill her last wishes and let her experience the warmth of family, my husband, Aaron Turner, gave her my necklace. He even let her claim my birthday. Even our son started calling her "Mom" in private. He told me, "Chrishell, Sylvia is dying. Just give in to her, will you?" Whenever I asked him to spare even a little time and affection for me, our son, Lucas, would rush to speak on their behalf. "Mom, didn't you always teach me to be generous? Sylvia is dying. Why do you always make things difficult for her?" Over time, I stopped asking for anything at all. Then one night, I overheard my son speaking to his father after returning from the hospital. "Sylvia is so gentle and graceful. I wish Mom could be more like her." Aaron chuckled and affectionately brushed his hand over our son's hair. "Your mom may be a little strict, but it's all for your own good. Since you like Sylvia so much, how about we let her be your godmother?" So even the child I risked my life to bring into this world didn't like me. I lowered my gaze, quietly closed the bedroom door, and pretended none of it had happened. Since they were both filled with such regret, I'd leave quietly and give them what they wanted.

Having been living quietly in a human town and haunted by questions about her past, Leora Winters has always felt like an outsider. But as she nears her 18th birthday, strange changes begin to happen to her. When rogue wolves attack, she is plunged into a secret world of werewolves, destiny, and ancient ties. Kael Blackthorn, the distant and stoic Alpha of the Eclipse Pack, has buried his feelings deep after the betrayal of his ex-girlfriend, Selene. He never expected to find his destined mate, but saving Leora changes everything Leora rises as Kael's equal amid betrayal and strife. Can they overcome the shadows of the past to protect their love, their pack, and their future happiness?

On the day I was declared pregnant, I ran into my husband in the ob-gyn. He was with his long-lost love for a prenatal checkup. "I'm not going home tonight. As you can see, I have business to attend to," Lawrence said quietly as he left with an arm wrapped around Melissa. I fell silent and booked an abortion surgery. Everyone around us thought I was a simp for Lawrence. They thought I wouldn't leave, no matter how badly he mistreated me. He had the same thought. No one knew that I only married him to repay a debt. That debt was now repaid. Ten years was up, and I could finally end this abominable marriage.

She gave him her heart. He gave it to her best friend. Selene Ward’s picture-perfect life shatters the night she catches her husband, Cole Harrington, kissing her best friend in the shadows of their anniversary party. But betrayal is only the beginning. With secrets and lies buried deep in the heart of her marriage, Selene realizes the people she trusted most have been conspiring behind her back. Haunted by whispered warnings and cryptic letters, Selene must decide—will she break quietly, or will she burn everything down? Because sometimes revenge isn't loud. Sometimes… it wears red.

Joshua Thompson, Rain Zimmer’s husband, had a deceased ex he could never get over—Lily Smithson. Rain always hoped that there would come one day where she could replace Lily’s presence in Joshua’s heart. In the eighth year of their marriage, Rain accidentally destroyed a bowl Lily had bought on a whim for Joshua, and Joshua yelled at her, “Get out! I don’t want to see you!” At that moment, Rain finally came to realize that she could never win against Rain’s ex. This time, she quietly drafted the divorce agreement and left, but Joshua panicked.

"A great alpha handles pack affairs outside, and chores at home." my mate Luke had posted. I stared at these words. It was a post from my mate, Luke's Instagram. In the picture he was in a vineyard pruning grapes. Chores at home? Luke who would not even help me to clean a table was actually helping someone else. He had left this morning saying he was going on werewolf business, but from these pictures he was at a she-wolf's vineyard in our pack. A bitter smile escaped my lips as I quietly liked the post and put of my phone. Whatever was coming next, I did not know. But I knew it was over.