Smile Dog

Three years after being brought back to my family, I jumped off a building. As my soul floated in the air, I wanted to see how my parents and brother, who always despised me, would break down in tears, filled with regret. But my father simply shook his head indifferently and looked at my lifeless body, saying, "How childish." My mother pressed her lips together and sighed in relief, as if a burden had been lifted. My brother stood in front of the fake heiress, shielding her from the gruesome sight of my death. Even so, the fake heiress burst into tears, prompting the whole family to rush to comfort her. I stared in stunned silence for a long time before a bitter smile crossed my face. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment I was first brought home.

"Dad, Mom, I've decided—I'll go through with the marriage arrangement with the Kingston family. I'll be back by the end of the month." Daphne Wharton made the decision in the middle of a camping trip with Luke Hardy. She curled into herself, pulling her scarf higher against the chill. For a moment, there was only silence on the other end of the line. Then, her mother's voice came through, thick with tears. "Daphne, we know this isn't fair to you. Our company is struggling, and the Kingston family is willing to help—but only if you marry their son. We've failed you as parents…" Her father let out a heavy sigh beside her mother. Daphne listened, her gaze unfocused. A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips. "It's okay, Mom, Dad. This is what I should do. I'll be back in fifteen days—when their son returns to the country."

Noah Hawkins is the broken brother. The one with the dangerous smile and the kind of eyes that promise sin. He's the one who's always having episodes and has been termed bipolar. He's the bad boy with a history and a mean streak of breaking girls' hearts. He maims, destroys and breaks everything he touches. – Isabella's scholarship to college comes with a price... no dorm, no place to stay. And the only spare room belongs to her boyfriend's brother. Noah. He's not supposed to want her. She's not supposed to want him. He tells himself he'll stay away. Until he doesn't. Because Noah's never been the kind to ask permission. And when he decides he wants something... He doesn't stop until it's his. Even if claiming her means breaking everything in his path... including her heart.

To fund my daughter's medical treatment, I consider reconnecting with my estranged family until an expected phone call changes everything. "Sir, your diamond necklace has arrived. You may come tomorrow to pick it up." After confirming the order is placed using my and my wife's contract information, my hope sparks. Perhaps the medical bills will finally be covered. When I arrive at the luxury boutique to claim the necklace, the sales clerk frowns, eyeing me from head to toe. "You're saying… you bought this necklace?" I nod, irritated by the condescension. "What happened to the service? Did all the luxury jewelers forget how to treat customers while I was away?" I said inwardly. The clerk flashes me a polite smile and turns to "retrieve" the item, but in reality, he radios the security. "Security, we have a suspected thief here."

Everyone in Vallermoore knew I was Cole Mitchell and Finn Archer's most treasured princess. At 12, Cole saved me from my abusive dad's grip and gave me a second shot at life. He vowed to protect me always. At 13, Finn rented out an entire amusement park for my birthday and whispered that guarding my smile was his mission for life. Now I was 23, and they locked me in a pitch-black, freezing attic for three winter days. As I slowly lost consciousness, they were busy fawning over Zoey Hart, their long-lost childhood friend. "Everything you have is mine, so it's time to give it back." After hearing what Zoey said, I left without making a scene or shedding a single tear. However, for years after, they tore the city apart and tried to find me like mad.

In front of the orphanage gates, Rebecca Schwartz, the impoverished student I had been sponsoring, stood glaring at me with a face full of disdain. "If you don't let Freddie come along, I'm not going to your house either," she declared, her tone sharp and unyielding. In the past, blinded by love and hopelessly infatuated, I would have caved to her demands, humbling myself just to keep the peace. But things were different now—I had been reborn. Staring at this despicable pair, who had once caused my tragic demise, a tidal wave of fury surged within me. Yet, it settled into nothing more than a faint, icy smile on my lips. "Then stay here," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Rot in this place alongside your precious Freddie. After all, trash like you belong in the garbage heap."

Why do I feel like I’m making a deal with the devil?” I murmured, signing the paper. I felt him smile as he said, “Maybe you are.” ~ After her father is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Selena receives an anonymous message from a stranger, offering her a way out. But on one condition— she must marry him. She agrees, desperate and determined to get revenge against the Devereuxs. But unknown to Selena, her new husband is Dominic Devereux, the son of the man who framed her father. The plot thickens when Dominic's estranged brother returns offering Selena support and something more. Now trapped in a dangerous world and a marriage built on lies, Selena must navigate a web of seduction and betrayal with secrets that threaten to destroy them all. And just when she’s ready to choose… Dominic forgets her name.

Dev, a regular train commuter, falls for Bhoomika after seeing her at the railway crossroad near her house, where his train had to stop daily. Despite being married and living with an abusive husband, Bhoomika manages to leave a profound impact on Dev. She is often seen alone and sad, yet her smile never fades. Dev starts to look forward to seeing her every day and becomes a part of her daily routine. As Dev's feelings for Bhoomika grow, he discovers that she is a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her psychotic husband. Bhoomika is trapped and unable to leave due to fear of being hunted down by her husband. Dev resolves to rescue her and provide her with everything she deserves. However, Dev's decision to save Bhoomika is complicated by his family's insistence that he marry their family friend's daughter Roohi.

“Feisty kitten. Curse all you want. Soon, I'll break you, tame you, and awaken your darkest desires. You'll become so addicted to me like a drug and beg for the crumbs of my love.” Adora dreamed of a fairy-tale romance, waiting for her charming prince. She was destined for not one, but two mates. Two princes who were as different as night and day. One, a devil in a hot body; everything she wanted, yet everything she feared. A seductive rogue with a wicked smile and a scorching touch. The other was too flawless, too perfect, everything she longed for, but she fell short of his expectations. Would she give in to the rogue's temptation and risk losing her soul, or would she strive to be the mate the gentleman deserved and risk losing her heart? Time is ticking and she must make a choice.

For three agonizing years, my mother struggled with kidney failure. Finally, after all the waiting and the constant dialysis, she was next in line for a transplant. Hope seemed so close. But then, my husband, Zachary Levi, an esteemed nephrology professor, did the unforgivable. He surreptitiously gave his lover's mother the kidney that was intended for my mother. He said almost dismissively, "Ella's mother couldn't wait any longer. Your mother's been on dialysis for so long, she's not going to die anytime soon." Later, my mother passed away. I called Zachary one final time. Yet, it was a woman who answered. "Margaret, right? Zachary's in the shower. Is there something you need?" I stared at my mother's smile on the gravestone, and an overwhelming emptiness spread through me. "It's nothing. Just wanted to talk about the divorce."