Small Mercies Dennis Lehane

Amara Ysabelle Santiago is a 21-year-old architecture student who has lived most of her life trying to survive, not to dream. Raised in a small province and thrust into Manila by a scholarship, she never expected to catch the eye of the country's most powerful and cold-hearted billionaire, Killian Alaric Dela Vega. When their paths collide due to an unexpected business arrangement involving her estranged father, Amara finds herself locked into a marriage contract she can’t escape. He’s rich, ruthless, and emotionally frozen. She’s warm, stubborn, and hiding a past darker than he could ever imagine. Will Amara melt the ice surrounding Killian’s heart, or will she shatter in his world of power games and betrayal? This is the story of a girl forced into a cold billionaire’s world, where love was never part of the deal—but destiny had other plans

In my previous life, I was born at the stroke of a cold, pitch-black midnight on New Year's Day, an omen the old town whispered about. They called me a Deathbringer's child, destined to guide the souls of the stillborn to rest. From the age of six, I carried small coffins alone to the graveyard by the church, burying them in silence. Each time, when I reached into the velvet shroud that wrapped the tiny casket, I would find a golden coin resting inside. My mother sold those coins for money, buying my brother a grand mansion, while leaving me behind in the crumbling family house to keep doing the work. No one expected the world of Haunts to descend. However, those coins turned out to be tokens of command, keys that bound the Haunts of the apocalypse to my will. With them, I became the Empress of the End, feared by all, ruling with every resource at my command.

“Honey, I want you to meet my new business associate, the CEO of Royal Empire Estates, Mr. Patrick Gale” “It’s indeed a small world, Susan, you still look as beautiful as ever” “Do you know Mr. Patrick Gale, honey?” “Yes, he is my Ex-husband” “I am also the biological father of our daughter, Isabella” Susan is thrown into a cycle of confusion and turmoil when her Ex-husband resurfaces, seeking reconciliation with both her and their daughter after their failed marriage. Just as she thought she had moved on from the heartbreak and found the perfect partner, her past rushed back to haunt her. Will the reappearance of her ex-husband rekindle emotions she thought were long gone? And what made him resurface after five years? Brace yourself for a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and the power of first love.

Harley was the product of an affair. After her mother died, she decided to make contact with her father, Ron Hale, a criminal and leader of a felon-filled, biker outlaw club, The Savage Scorpions. After months of virtual communication, she decides to visit him in his small Californian town of Pleasant-Tree-Ville. When she arrives, she gets less than a warm welcome from the other SS members. As the days pass, she starts forming friendships, bonds and something a little more with Alexander Coates, Her father's second-in-command... and best friend. It's not till Harley opens up to one of her new friends that some old, dark family secrets come to light. Mother betraying Daughter, Wife Betraying husband.. And Friend betraying Friend. All Harley wanted to do was meet her father... but she is about to get a lot more than she bargained for!

When Chloe came to Leighton High for the first time, in a small town, she didn't expect to come into a bully's radar. All her life, she had always stayed out of people's way, and was never really noticed. She had also always had to make an effort to make friends, but never enemies. Not that she didn't think she was way past getting one, but she didn't think it would be someone as Handsome as Zach was. The first time they met was a disaster, and she tried her best to stay away from him, the only problem was, he wasn't letting her, and soon, the hate he showed her, soon turned into something she had never experienced before. Would she be able to get rid of the unwanted feeling she was getting for him, or the unwanted attention he was showing her? Find out in the intriguing story.

In a small town, there lived a lady named Belle. She's the Unica hija of a merchant. She loved his merchant father dearly for it was her only family left. But one day someone knocked on her door saying that his father was in trouble. Would she be able to save his beloved father? Sure she will, no matter what happens. But she didn't expect the consequences that might happen. She didn't expect to marry a disgustingly handsome beast. A business tycoon beast named William. And she didn’t even think that she would fall for him but she did, easily and without a warning. And one more thing, she got pregnant at an unexpected time. What would she do first? Would she tell him or would she hide it from him? Would she be able to raise a baby alone? And would William learn to love her?

(R21+ Muture Content) When Alexander was a little boy, he heard a lot of scolding from his uncle. Because he has no parents and he was living on his uncle's money. Alexander wanted to befriend his cousin Orla. And he wanted to play with her, but his uncle strictly forbade his daughter Orla, from playing with Alexander. And they used to torture Alexander a lot. But Orla was very kind to him. But then one day he bought a small gift for Orla. And when he gave that gift to Orla, Orla threw it away and called Alexander very bad. And Alexander was crying all night that day. And then he left his uncle's house. And 20 years have passed and now. Alexander is a "MAFIA MAN" and a "BILLIONAIRE" and now he's looking for Orla and now he's going to get his revenge on Orla and her father. And his retribution is very dangerous.

One night of desire at my best friend’s wedding and One man I couldn’t forget. I had expected him to be my best friend who I had a crush on for years but now, staring at the stranger in my bed made me realize how I had messed up things badly. With every heartbeat, every glance, pulls me closer to a want I shouldn’t have. “Fuck, Tim… I want to ruin every thought you have about me.” He growled, a small smile making its way to my lips as I unbuckled his belt. I tug the waistband of his pants down. “Ruin me..” I said as his junior springs free from his boxers standing proud, staring at me like it just couldn’t wait for the next action. And I couldn’t either.

“It's time baby, come home now. You have wandered for too long. “He spoke in a calm tone as if he was coaxing a small kid to give up on her bad habit. My fingers tightly gripped each side of my dress and tears welled up in my eyes. I whipped my head at Adan for protection but my heart stuttered when I witness the look of betrayal on his face. “Please let me explain. “I pleaded in my mind. But he wasn’t looking at me. “What if I don’t let you take her then?” This time Adan spoke and a ray of hope sparkled in my heart. He snickered. “I can see my wife has thoroughly pleased you. Trust me, I don’t want any bloodshed. Give my wife back and I will leave without wagging war.”

Our grandfather had always been a strange man, but what he did before his death shook my brother’s and my world to its core. Stas had already come to terms with the fact that the entire inheritance would go to me as the older one. But the will changed everything—our lives, our bond, our closeness as brothers. The family business and property would go to the one of us who married the granddaughter of our grandfather’s best friend—the small, awkward, unattractive girl who had been pushed on us our entire lives. The old men had long dreamed of becoming family, and when they failed to earn our sympathy, they chose a far more twisted solution. Back then, we couldn’t even imagine that the ugly duckling would one day turn into a swan… or that our rivalry for the business would fade into the background.