Shrek Saw Her Face

On our first wedding anniversary, my husband came home with a woman who was six months pregnant. He introduced her as his cousin, someone who had fallen on hard times, and asked me to take care of her. I was just about to agree when fragments of imaginary commentary floated through my mind: [She's just my 'cousin'. Uh-uh, that's a cliche.] [Poor supporting female character! A maid by day, the husband's bedwarmer by night.] [But she totally deserved it! If she hadn't broken up the main couple, they'd have a whole soccer team of kids by now!] Wait—what? Supporting female character? Me? And what's this about breaking them up? So now these two get to cheat under my roof, and somehow I'm the villain? Before I could process it all, my husband was already dragging her luggage inside. "Alice doesn't like fried food," he said matter-of-factly. "And nothing too salty or spicy. Make sure you keep that in mind when you're cooking. "Oh, and pregnant women love sweets. Go out now and buy a cherry cake. The one from that bakery in the suburbs."

I spend ten years helping my fiancé fight and claw his way to the top. Finally, he becomes the head of the local mafia. But once he has everything, he falls for another woman. Suddenly, he wants nothing to do with the promise he made to marry me. Just as he boasts about throwing her the wedding of the century, one of his men can't hold back his confusion. "Olivia stood by you through everything. Weren't you crazy about her? And now you're marrying someone else?" Joshua Harding snuffs out his cigarette, slowly turning the silver couple's ring he shares with Abigail Mauser between his fingers. "Olivia?" He scoffs. "She's got blood on her hands. How could she ever compare to my sweet, innocent Abigail?" The subordinate hesitates. "But Olivia's sharp. If she finds out and turns against you, then what?" Joshua frowns before smirking coldly. "Belcove is completely under my control. It's not like I'll lose it without her around." Little does he know I'm standing outside and listening to every word. I drop the medicine I brought him into the trash and pull out my phone. I text his biggest rival, Michael Sheridan. "Want Joshua's turf and his life? I'm handing them to you!"

Jeff Pritchet isn’t much different from other teenage boys, with one exception. His monstrous, spider-like appearance and loner persona make him a target for bullying, when all he wants is a friend who sees beyond the surface.The unconventional pair find themselves marked for hatred, and when his bond to Aarav is threatened, Jeff discovers a sinister side he never knew he had, proving that, when pushed too far, emotions can be deadlier than venom.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

I spend an entire year preparing to get my daughter, Quincy Lindell, into a top international school. By the time the application review date rolls around, I have all the documents ready. I just need my wife's and my original marriage certificate to seal the deal. However, when I reach the admissions office, my wife, Wendy, blames me for taking matters into my own hands. I am about to explode when the school staff member says with a strange expression, "Mr. Howards, our system shows that you are not Ms. Lindell's spouse." My blood turns to ice. Before I can react, Zachary Shea, who has been quietly standing behind Wendy, passes his wedding certificate to the person in charge. The school staff member nods after checking her computer. "Ms. Lindell, Mr. Shea, your certificate was validated seven and a half years ago. You can now register your child for this school." Seven and a half years ago… That was the date of Wendy's and my engagement party. She held my hand in front of a room full of guests and said that I would be the only man she ever loved. That one sentence was enough to fool me for seven years.

Life was like a long thread, and the knot in it was a new beginning. Three lives. Three stories. But one shared fate. Ethan Lopez's life unraveled when he was accused of murdering Kaylee Anderson. On the day he was inaugurated as the CEO of Lopez Food Company, the murder occurred in Dylan Gabriel's penthouse, The Opulent Height. As the police continued their investigation, Ethan found himself targeted again, this time for kidnapping. This marked the beginning of the downfall of Lopez Food Company, benefiting their rival, Delish Delight Company. All evidence and leads pointed to Ethan until a new name emerged in the case: Blair Anderson, a seemingly ordinary baker at Lopez Food Company. Disclamer: R18+ This story may contain strong language, expletives, and mature content for adult readers, including themes of violence. It is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, places, or events is coincidental. This story is not intended to offend or defame any individual, entity, caste, community, race, religion, or to denigrate any institution or person, living or dead. Readers discretion is advised.

The Richie Rich who violated my daughter has gotten off unscathed. He sneers and throws a wad of cash in my face. "I'll show you what people mean when they say money makes the world go round!" In that split second, I want to tear him to pieces.

Grazziena, a beautiful eighteen-year-old lad, struts her catwalk on the ramp. It is already ten o’clock in the evening, yet the Beauty Contest is just in its mid-way. She is afraid and she is getting nervous. She will shift into her cursed wolf form when midnight falls. She was cursed by Thutaara, the powerful witch of Mt. Reveree. Her only cure can be found in the last words whispered by her Luna Mother before she took her last breath. Finding the cure is however incomprehensible. Until she met Governor Draeko, who swept her off her feet. But then her life was swamped with doubts and confusion when Lumaro, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Cold Mountain Pack, suddenly appeared claiming her as his mate. Between the Young Governor Draeko and the soon-to-be Alpha Lumaro of the Cold Mountain Pack, who is her true mate and her cure?

In the dead of night, a strong male body pressed down on her... This became the fixed pattern every night: lights off, intimacy, endless each evening. She thought it was her husband, who she believed to be away on a business trip, returning early. But then, the other woman showed up, waving a pregnancy test, claiming that her husband had been with her all this time. So, who exactly was the man sharing her bed and her nights?

On Sue Andrew's first day working at Claw and Fang magazine, she sends an innocent email to her friend, not realizing that all internal emails are being monitored. It shouldn't have been a big deal, except for the fact that the email is all about her new and sexy boss werewolf Knight West. However that very email leads to an incredibly awkward workplace-harassment seminar which just makes Knight hate her all the more. Knight West has always had trouble controlling his wolf. And throughout the years, he's worked hard to master the beast within him. So when Sue Andrew walks in his boardroom and Knight's instincts go wild, it causes him to automatically dislike the woman. It doesn't matter, that he wants to throw Sue down on the table, there and then, and take her in front of the entire office—the human is still annoying as hell.

One night. No names. Just heat and hunger. Elara never thought that a wild night with a rich, sexy stranger would leave her with a baby… and a broken heart. She ran. Hide her child. Hiding her secret. Years later, she’s forced back into the world she escaped only to meet a new Alpha. He’s dangerous, charming, and nothing like the man from her past. “I don’t care who touched you first. I’ll be the last.” Now, the father of her child wants her back. But her heart is falling for someone else. Will she choose the man who gave her a child… or who gave her everything?