Silent Photo

Celeste Cox sent me a photo on WhatsApp. I opened it to find a picture of the school heartthrob and me in an intimate embrace, the pose as suggestive as could be.

“Her body was the price. His obsession was the cost." Mona is out of options. With her mother’s life hanging in the balance, she’ll do anything for the money—even if it means striking a deal with a venomous socialite who wants to destroy Ian Harrison,the most powerful—and dangerous—billionaire in the city. The plan is simple: Get close. Get caught. Get paid. Easy right? WRONG. One staged photo leads to a night of rough hands, whispered threats, and pleasure that borders on pain. The deeper Mona falls into his world of power, deceit, and seduction,the more she realizes—this game was never hers to win. Now, the only way out is to play by HIS rules. But Ian doesn’t play fair. Will Mona escape or will she surrender?

It was midnight, and I was out at my stall when the cops took me to the station. They checked my profile and looked at me weirdly. "You're a Greatpeak graduate. What are you doing setting up shop in a bazaar?" That was odd. I went through the profile and realized that yes, while the student's ID was mine, the photo was not. I knew the guy in the photo. Josiah Ferguson. I had no idea I got accepted into Greatpeak University twenty years ago. Eventually, I was released, but I had no idea how I trudged back home. Then, I heard Hazel Quinley, my wife, talking to someone on the phone. "I won't let Michael get in your way, Josiah. Just go abroad." So that's it! It was her! My wife helped Josiah take what was supposed to be mine! I was sick. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to confront her and Josiah, but then she stabbed me in the back, and I died. "I'm sorry, Michael. I can't let you ruin Josiah's future." And then I woke up. I was taken back in time to my high school days. Our homeroom was giving out college application forms. This time, things would be different. This time, I would take back what was rightfully mine!

My college dormmate, who spread nasty rumors about me, sends me an e-invitation. "I'm marrying the richest man in the country and will soon be a trophy wife—I'll be leagues above you. Seeing as we were once dormmates, I'll begrudgingly allow you to be my bridesmaid. Don't miss this chance!" I frown. What is wrong with Jasmine Teach? I'm the country's richest person. When did a man overtake me? I want to block her number and delete the conversation, but I check the e-invitation to be sure. I'm stunned when I see the photo of her husband-to-be. Isn't that Harold Jackson, my husband? He's supposed to be on a business trip. My lips curve in a cold smile, and I type a response while gnashing my teeth. "I'd be honored to be your bridesmaid. I'll prepare a huge surprise for you, too."

"I love you, Willow. I love you so much." Elliot says, cupping my cheeks in his large hands. I try to pry his hands away from my cheek but his grip is strong. Silent tears fall from my eyes as I watch his desperate eyes. "I want you so badly, Willow. You don't know, my love." I can hear a slight tremor in his voice. The great Elliot Ivanov is begging me to believe his love for me. The most fearsome and powerful CEO and mob boss is showing his vulnerability to me but I find it hard to believe his words. ******** Willow Rae Johnson has nothing left in life. She is just surviving when she suddenly finds two purposes in her life with the arrival of her twin sister. Her twin sister whose existence was unknown to her till now. Her life goals are now to- 1.Date her sister's fiance disguised as her sister. She needs to make Elliot Ivanov, the billionaire CEO, call off the arranged marriage. 2.Find out why her parents had to abandon her. She wants to be loved and accepted by them. Turns out, reality is much more grim than the sweet and innocent Willow had expected. Instead of making Elliot call off the marriage, the situation brings her to make a deal to marry the man herself instead. She faces hurt, pain, lust and betrayal before she finds love in the man who seems to have ulterior motives. Can she find her answers? Can she get the love that she has been craving for? Only time can tell but time seems to be working against her.

When my husband, Drake Connor, posted a photo of me on social media, this random woman mistook me for his mistress. She confronted me in the street, a baby in her arms and a crowd of relatives and friends in tow, ready to teach me a lesson. "You shameless tramp! How dare you seduce my husband! "I’ll beat you to death, you disgusting woman!" The crowd beat me, smashed my car, and ripped my clothes. I left that encounter bruised and battered, suffering a concussion and a fractured arm. In the end, I called the police and demanded justice. I had a divorce agreement drawn up and threw it in Drake's face. "If it weren’t for me, you’d be begging in the streets! And now you dare to hide a woman and child from me? "Get out! Don’t expect a penny from me!"

Bella thought she could freeload off her wealthy husband for life, never imagining he'd suddenly want a divorce. A divorce? She demanded a reason! Calmly, in front of the elders, he stated, "Sexual incompatibility." The room fell silent, the parents shocked, their minds racing. Sexual... incompatibility? Damn it! Bella was furious. Where was the incompatibility? What was incompatible? You bastard! Explain yourself!

For years Hyacinth tried hard to live her life after leaving her childhood home. But she was taken by her father's men and forced her to marry a random rich man to save their company after her sister ran off. Surprisingly, she's marrying her ex-stepbrother. Her first love and first of everything. The man who protects her from her bullies. The man whom she surrenders herself to. What pains her was being the second choice... the substitute bride. For days with Raven, Hyacinth started to fall. From flowers to expensive things. She thought that it was meant for Rosie, her sister. The original bride. But she came back too soon, and that's where she sees that Raven was letting Rosie touch him. Rosie shows ownership toward Raven and even sent her a photo of them together making her decide to divorce him. She fled from him, to another continent. But he found her again and that's the start that Hyacinth get to know him better, through his friends and the people that are close to him. She's falling again and although she's terrified, she let herself fall into him. They start again and Raven shows the same love back when they were teens. However, after leaving Finland something weird arose. Unexplainable accidents and Raven was always involved. That's when she found out that Raven was hiding all of the flowers and letters from a suitors. Then, after that, a horrifying truth came from Raven's mouth, caused by Rosie and an unknown stalker.

Evelyn tried to open the door and pulled it hard but all her efforts were in vain. "Tsk... Tsk.. Looks like this bird didn't like her cage." Sebastian said while putting both his hands around her. Defeated, Evelyn turned her face and started looking at him, but finding him so close to her, she pressed her forehead against the door. "Pl-please let... me go." She said suppressing her hiccups. The teeth started grinding with fear. "Please...." "Hmmm....Why don't we make this time useful?" He whispered while he was close to her ear. Feeling his breath on her earlobe, she shivered again. Evelyn pushed him with all her strength, which caused Sebastian to take a few steps away from her and started laughing like a madman. "You... you... are you crazy?" He started laughing more on this and then he became silent at once and started looking at her with his cold eyes which were devoid of any emotion. "No my dear. I am not crazy. My reality is just different from yours." Saying this, he smiled sarcastically and then moved towards her. Evelyn immediately ran to the left. There must be another way in such a big house. "You can't escape from me. Not until I want to." He was enjoying this game now. Evelyn's fear had begun to provide him with a different kind of tranquility. He slowly put his hands in his pockets while whistling and started walking in the direction where Evelyn had run.

During a game of truth or dare, my boyfriend, Ryan Patel, chose to kiss his childhood friend, Michelle Woods, for three minutes to save her from a penalty. When I found out, I was furious. I called him in tears, confronting him about the unbearable intimacy between them. He remained silent for a long time before speaking coldly, "Are you done crying?" Then, he drove Michelle home. I crouched in the rain, watching couples huddle under umbrellas, and from that moment on, I never contacted Ryan again. Three months later, at an auction, I bought a men's wristwatch. When Ryan heard about it, he chuckled. "Forget it. In three days, I'll go and coax her back myself. She just needs a way out." His friends all sent me messages, congratulating me on how well I had him wrapped around my finger. I didn’t reply to any of them. I simply posted a picture in my feed—my newly issued marriage certificate.