Shield Drawing

Ever since my mom gave birth to her second child, everything in the household is tied to drawing lots. Everyone has to draw lots in order to decide whose favorite food will be served for each meal. We have to draw lots to see who among us gets a hug from our parents. Every time, I end up drawing the short end of the stick, so everyone automatically assumes that my younger sister, Anabelle Madden, gets the better lot. She easily reaps my parents' love without having to do anything at all. Whenever I feel like crying because of the injustice, Mom will scold me instantly. "I bought the lottery box because I was worried that you might feel upset about this. I'm doing this just to be fair to both of you. "If you want something, you have to be the one deciding who gets what. Your father and I won't interfere with your decision at all. Since you can't draw the better lot, that just means you have bad luck." Hence, I keep practicing my lot-drawing skills every day, hoping that I can eventually draw the better lot in order to obtain my parents' love. But for ten years, I never get to draw the better lot. Not even once. On my birthday, Anabelle wants to go to the amusement park, so Mom tells us to draw lots once again. I secretly glue two short lots together before giving it to Mom in an attempt to get her to stay with me. Instead, she slaps me and berates me for being a disobedient child who cheats in lot-drawing. Then, she leaves the house with Anabelle. When I fall to the floor, I feel the short sticks piercing through my neck.

Gianna Flores is a very beautiful amd intelligent girl who has a painful past which she is trying to forget. Her past makes her shield herself from the world and creating a giant wall between her and everyone around her except her family. Alexander McQueen is every girl's dream boyfriend,he has a dream of becoming a musician which is Father doesn't agree to. Alexander and his family move to a new neighborhood to start afresh meaning Alexander had to change into a new college. Discover how Alexander and Gianna path cross ways and the changes they bring into each other's life and also the unexpected feelings that come up. Watch out in this intriguing story. * * *

Who knew a single lie could ruin a life this much? Natalia Rossi, a scholarship student from a poor background pretends to be rich to survive among Italy's elites. But when she names Leonardo Moretti as her boyfriend during a party game, the lie escalates into something more dangerous. Because Leonardo is real, and isn't a man whose name can be used easily without consequences. Overnight, Natalia becomes a target meant to be cleared off. Hunted, shamed and stripped of everything she has worked for, Natalia watches her world crumble until an unseen hand begins to shield her from chaos. Will Natalia pay the full price of her lies, or accept the hand reaching for her… and everything that comes with it?

"His body was sin and I was a sinner.To keep myself safe I hide in the world and let life move around me.My new partner, Nathan, isn’t safe. Far from it.The darkness coils around him, hidden by a shield created by a blinding smile. But those who live in shadows see past the façade we create.Even in darkness, there is light. A spark that ignites, then explodes.Every filthy word from his mouth, every possessive touch—I crave them, need them. Violent and passionate and everything I need to fill the void inside me, but one thing is missing.He can never love me.More than my heart is on the line, and I don’t know if I’ll survive our breach."

Cassie Jones was the girl who went unnoticed—plus-sized, shy, and silently battling her self-esteem issues. But she had a secret: a gigantic crush on Jeffery Richards, the star athlete, golden boy and basketball hero of their school. What she wasn't aware of was that he too idolized her, secretly drawing her and composing poetry about her silent beauty. That was until the day a cruel bet forced his secret feelings out in the worst way imaginable. Cassie, heartbroken, disappeared from his life. Thirteen years later, fate brings them together again. Cassie is a tough PR executive, prosperous, aggressive, and not interested in revisiting the pain of her past. But Jeffery is resolved to demonstrate to her that he has changed—that his love for her never has. Will she learn to trust him again, or will the past repeat itself?

To encourage overall development, the kindergarten had asked each student to create a hand-drawn poster. My daughter Holly refused my help and insisted on doing it all on her own. Little did I know, most of the other children had their parents do the artwork for them. In comparison, Holly's delicate strokes were quickly dismissed. Not only was her work discarded into the trash, but her teacher also called her out in the parent group, criticizing her for being careless with the assignment. As I racked my brain trying to figure out how to help Holly regain her confidence in drawing, I was surprised to see Holly's artwork among the winning entries in the state-level children's art competition. But the signature wasn't hers—it belonged to another student from her class.

Lola Ezperanza, known as Ms. ER, grew up alongside a determined man with clear ambitions for territorial expansion. Despite their shared history, Ms. ER understands that love and marriage are secondary to his goals. She bluntly tells Kara that her worth is tied to his ambitions, and if she doesn't fit into his plans, she will be discarded. Ms. ER stresses that even pregnancy won't shield Kara from his ruthless decisions, underscoring the harsh reality of their social hierarchy. As Ms. ER's words strike Kara deeply, she realizes that her hopes of keeping the child and staying with Marlo are in vain. Ms. ER's calculated emotional attack is designed to make Kara relinquish any illusions about a future with Marlo, demonstrating that sometimes emotional cruelty is more effective than physical harm.

Zara is one of the twins born into a new Kingdom built by her Parents Summer & Damian. Able to control other people’s feelings, she struggles with her own and is unable to build real relationships outside of her Family circle. Feeling branded an outsider over her special abilities, her only escape seems to run away. She ends up Captured and imprisoned by a new pack. After being beaten for days, she finally finds the strength to protect herself which lands her a bit of respect and the opportunity to join the new pack as Bodyguard for the tyrant King under a false name. It's not all as it seems... Finally understanding some of her feelings, she is able to drop the shield surrounding her, letting people in. As her mate is forced to marry another Woman, she promises herself to come back fighting.

Nilayah and Jordan Monroe, daughter and son to the Alpha and future Alpha of their pack. Until the night of the inaugural ceremony. Instead of their father announcing that both will come to power. He makes Jordan the solitary Alpha. As time passes Nilayah wears her anger like a shield, and when she returns from a mission. Her father tries to dictate her life. Causing Nilayah to abandon her pack, only to end up in another one. When she is held captive and disheartened, Nilayah soon realizes not all hope is lost when she finds her mate. Within the new pack Maiden Blackstone. Maiden Blackstone refuses to take a mate no matter how much he craves the beautiful female Alpha imprisoned by his pack. Keeping Nilayah at arm's length will be the biggest test of his life.

They never knew about her… A fairy tale, for Irwen, was something truly extraordinary—a destiny tied by a bond that seemed unbreakably strong and magical. But her mate had betrayed her, treating everything she had done as meaningless nonsense. Fine. Irwen understood—and decided that betrayal deserved a revenge. The Alpha King had exceeded her expectations. He helped her, and even proposed a marriage contract. He began to heal her frozen heart, drawing them into a more complicated relationship. To Irwen, it felt like stepping back into a fairy tale—one that might end in pain again. “I want you to be my Luna.” “I will protect you.” “I will stay by your side.” But will those promises hold true when they’re faced with something that stands in opposition? The healer and her chains…