Self-efficacy: The Exercise Of Control

A flicker of hope, a spark amidst the neon grime of New Shanghai. Anya, a slave to the Volkov Mafia, had long buried her emotions under layers of calloused defiance. Years of servitude had carved a burning desire for vengeance into her soul. Then, a whisper of rebellion arrived – a message smuggled in a package, hinting at a Volkov family secret. Anya's heart, long numbed, stuttered awake. This wasn't just a chance to escape; it was a weapon. A weapon to dismantle the empire that had stolen her life, her family, everything. But the path to freedom was a razor's edge. Fear gnawed at her, a constant companion in the Volkov's watchful gaze, their merciless enforcers lurking in every shadow. Yet, a flicker of something else bloomed – a strange, almost forgotten warmth, a sliver of the person she used to be. Could she trust it? As Anya navigated the labyrinth of lies and high-tech security, a deeper truth unfolded. This Volkov secret wasn't just about her escape; it was a key to exposing a far-reaching conspiracy, one that could reshape the city's criminal web. Suddenly, Anya's burning desire for revenge transformed. It wasn't just about herself anymore. It was about a sliver of justice, a chance to dismantle a system that preyed on the weak. But with this newfound purpose came a terrifying weight of responsibility. Was she strong enough to risk everything, to ignite a war she might not survive? The weight of human emotions – fear, anger, and a desperate yearning for freedom – threatened to suffocate her. The price of vengeance was steep, and Anya had to decide if she had the strength to pay it.

Suffering abuse from her father Alpha Landre, Bianca was forced to flee from the pack with her mother, Chloe. In order to make life more bearable for her and her daughter, Chloe remarried Alpha Ethan, a rival pack of her ex mate. Finding a good and new family, Bianca was sent to an elite werewolf academy, Moon Lake Academy where she hid her identity in order to protect her mother. However, she crossed paths with quadruplets, Oak, Rowan, Ash and Maple, her stepbrothers. But she didn't expect them to either bully her along with other students or stay quiet when she was being bullied. Unexpectedly, on her 18th birthday, she found out that her stepbrothers who had always bullied her turned out to be her mates! Their attitudes changed drastically and they began to all vie for Bianca's attention. However, Bianca wouldn't agree to their demands and would even reject them, or would she?

My residential area suddenly catches on fire, and the twins my husband had with his first wife are trapped in the room. This time, I call 911 without hesitation. After informing my husband of the fire, I don't stop him from leaving. In my past life, when the fire broke out, my husband was about to leave on a vacation with his ex-wife and true love. The trip was to a deserted island—it was to make up for past regrets. I ripped his flight ticket to shreds, stopping him from leaving the house. We successfully saved the kids. After the fire, my husband hurried to the island. However, he learned his ex-wife was declared missing after being taken away by a strong wave. He was calm and composed after returning, even being extra caring to me. Three months later, I discovered I was pregnant. I wanted to surprise him, but my vision went blurry. I collapsed on the floor while twitching violently. He stood aside and watched me coldly. Then, he placed a photo of his ex-wife before me. "You've gotten your wish, Caroline. Are you happy now that you've killed Sasha? You can accompany her now! No, you don't deserve that. An evil woman like you only deserves to go to the underworld!" I breathe my last breath as my vision clears, allowing me to see the frostiness in his eyes. When I open my eyes again, I'm taken back to the day the fire broke out.

For five years, I thought our marriage was solid. Then, my husband, Lionel Franco’s first love, Sandra Howard, posted a photo of a property deed on her social media. The caption read: [Thank you, Lionel, for transferring the house to me.] I stared in disbelief and left a single comment: [WTF?] Lionel called within minutes. “She’s a struggling single mother. Transferring the house to her makes it easier for her son to get into school. It doesn’t affect where we live,” he snapped. “How can you be so lacking in compassion?” In the background, I heard her muffled sobs. Half an hour later, she tagged me in another post.  This time, she flaunted her Mercedes worth over a million dollars, with the caption: [Paid in full. As the saying goes, ‘Where a man spends his money, that's where his heart is’.] I knew he bought it to soothe her temper. But this time, I had enough. I decided to divorce him.

In a world where the broken are hunted and the powerful are feared, refuge is a dangerous promise. Alejandro was never meant to lead. Bound to an ancient force known as Inferno, burdened with power that bends wards, spirits, and history itself, he becomes Alpha not by ambition, but by necessity. When the unwanted, the cursed, and the discarded begin to arrive at his mountain stronghold, the Haven of Shadows is born. It became a sanctuary for vampires, witches, rogues, humans, and beings too dangerous to exist anywhere else. At its heart stood Zenith a nineteen year old human luna. A healer whose touch mends more than flesh.The one thing powerful enough to ground a god. As Alejandro’s fated mate and Luna of the Haven, Zenith becomes the calm within the storm, altering scents to make enemies live as family, healing wounds the world refuses to acknowledge, and reminding monsters of the humanity they have buried. Together, they build something fragile and unprecedented. A home without hierarchy, a family without fear. But sanctuary never goes unnoticed. As war looms and loyalty is tested, Alejandro must decide how much of himself he is willing to surrender to protect the woman who reminds him he is still a man, and the home that proves monsters can choose something better.

To end a bloody mafia war, Isabella Rossi is handed over to the most dangerous man in Chicago as a peace offering. Ruthless mafia king Alessandro De Luca is cold, brutal, and completely untouchable, men fear him, women obey him, and when Isabella is dragged into his penthouse, she becomes his prisoner… his possession… and his temptation. But Isabella refuses to bow, her fiery defiance awakens something dark and obsessive inside Alessandro that he can no longer control. Every stolen glance turns dangerous, every argument burns with tension, and every touch feels like a sin neither of them should crave. What starts as hatred quickly spirals into a deadly obsession filled with possessive kisses, dangerous secrets, and nights so intense they leave scars on both their hearts and bodies. But as enemies close in and betrayal lurks in the shadows, Alessandro will spill blood, destroy empires, and burn the entire underworld to the ground before anyone dares take Isabella away from him.

The mystery behind their births and the sacrifices that were made to keep her them safe and apart from each other is brought to light when a brother and a sister reunite seventeen years after their birth. Their world is completely altered by this revelation but an answer must be found as to how who they are and their destiny.

Dahlia is a 3rd year college student whose life transforms in a blink of an eye. Archer, a top notch secret assassin is assigned to assassinate Dahlia. Unable to carry out this mission, he ends up with things he didn't bargain for as he falls dangerously in love with Dahlia. Does the mafia organization succeed in tearing them apart?

Have you ever loved someone so much you thought you would crumble without, but then met someone who gave you a thousand million more thrills? And the question that base an honest answer is do we really move on from our first love or we just learn to recuperate? *** Growing up to only love and learn how to love one person <..Cadeau had always had one dream and that is to get married to the love of her life, Lijie_the person she was betrothed to. But what happens when she finds out moments before her wedding that he does not feel the same way? Forced to live under the same roof with Akarui_her ex fiance's bestfriend who has always been in love with her secretly can Cadeau manage not to tap in to Akarui's love??!

"Lift your hand," I said looking at how he held onto his bicep with a tight grip. "Let me take a look at the bullet wound." "No tesoro. I can do this myself," Vittore grumbled and I gave him incredulous look. "Don't start that bullshit with me Vittore. Remove your arm and let me help you or..." I trailed off, not able to say more. I was still in shock but I could do this. "Just... just let me help." "No." I glared at Vittore. "Why are you being so damn egotistic?! Let me help you! Do you know what it was like to find you like... and to..." I couldn't even get all the words out. "Let me help you. Please." Begging wasn't something I'd ever do but I just needed him to let me help him. "No-" "Why?!" I suddenly exploded. "Why won't you just let me help you?!" "Because I don't know how to handle it ok?!" Vittore suddenly exploded, his dark eyes glaring at me. "I don't know how to handle these... feelings. Fuck tesoro you drive me crazy! Don't you see that? You make me question everything I've ever known and... I can't..." I watched Vittore as his expression turned determined. "Fuck it." He leaned forward and pressed his lips on mine.