Smiling Through The Pain

This is not your regular arranged marriage love story. It is layered, intense, and rooted in an emotional journey. This story contains mature themes and complex characters. The female lead is not weak, nor is she waiting to be saved—she is on her own journey, growing through pain, survival, and strength. If you’re looking for a light-hearted love story with cliché romance and guaranteed happy endings, this one might not be for you. __________________________________ Sarah Darrell always longed for a simple life. But life never played fair. Scarred by an abusive childhood and teenage years marked by cruelty from her stepmother and stepsister, Sarah made a choice—to leave behind her city, her home, and her so-called family. Five years later, at 26, she returns to New York City as a strong, independent woman to take over her late mother’s company and fulfil her last wish. Adrian Parker, is the magnetic CEO of the world’s leading tech empire. He’s sharp, composed, and devastatingly handsome. Unlike other billionaires, Adrian believes in loyalty, and his heart is set on marrying Jessica, the woman he’s built a life with. But fate has other plans. When Sarah and Adrian cross paths, their worlds shift in ways neither of them expected.

Lillian Carter's life did not follow the path it was meant to. She was supposed to be normal and just like any other human, completely oblivious to the supernatural world. Yet in a cruel twist of fate she was snatched from her mother's side just a few hours after birth and experiment on like a lab rat. She grew up in a world she was not suppose to know about experienced pain no one person could endure and done things more horrifying than you could ever imagined. Always battered and abused only being regarded as a tool in service of someone else's selfish desires, been used, experimented on and sold. Then one day Lillian was finally free or so she thought. Now in a world where danger lurked at every corner and monsters dwelling in the shadows young lily has to be constantly running and fighting for her life especially with a curse coursing through her veins that seems to be attracting everyone she runs into. Trying to find a place for herself in this world lilly wants to live the life she should have, she wants to be the one thing she never felt like she was in all her years of life the thing she was meant to be, she wanted to be Human.

For five long years, Gwen believed she was living a life of love, marriage, and family. But her reality was a carefully constructed lie, manipulated by a cruel narcissist and a vengeful enemy. Forced to embrace false memories, she married Mason Burkely, a man whose obsession and violence left her bruised, both in body and soul. Even her daughter, Kayla, suffered at the hands of the very man she was supposed to call “dad.” When Adrian Salvador, the love Gwen thought she had lost forever, reenters her life, the truth begins to surface. With the help of the wise and enigmatic Doctor Liang, Gwen starts reclaiming memories stolen from her, uncovering the horrors she endured and the manipulations that defined her supposed life. But remembering comes at a cost. Gwen is haunted by betrayal, abuse, and the knowledge of the child she carried and lost because of Mason. As darkness and fear threaten to consume her, she must confront her trauma, face her abuser, and navigate the complex emotions of love, trust, and desire, especially with the man who truly belongs in her heart. A Kiss For Every Bruise is a story of survival, resilience, and reclamation. A journey through pain, lies, and heartbreak toward healing, justice, and the rediscovery of love that was never truly lost.

In the second month of my relationship with my best friend Sophie Vaughn's older brother, Elias Vaughn, Thanksgiving arrives. Sophie leans in, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Elias is bringing his girlfriend home for the holiday. Let's see what all the fuss is about." I take my time getting ready, heart fluttering with hope. Just maybe, I'll finally be formally introduced as his girlfriend. But the moment I step inside, I see him with another elegant, beautiful woman, smiling as he introduces her to his parents. "This is my girlfriend," he says. He then inadvertently looks over at me, stiffening for a moment, clearly caught off guard. But just as quickly, he recovers and turns to the woman beside him. "That woman over there is my sister's friend and a part-time student. You could say she's a maid in our household." A maid? As it turns out, I'm nothing more than someone for him to kiss and sleep with. I was never someone worthy of standing by his side publicly. I turn away and board the train back to Ashcroft University, choosing my future over another night in his bedroom.

“Kiss me.” The words tumbled out and Lex stepped back instantly. He turned away from her and Isis felt her pride being butchered. “Isis, I-” His voice travelled through the room. It was laced with uncertainty. His back was still to her. "I am sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I-uh. Good bye, Mr. Greyson.” Isis replied as she slid off the desk. She needed to leave, before her embarrassment killed her. Isis grabbed her bag and stalked off towards the door. A grip like iron encased her shoulder and she was spun around to face Mr. Greyson, he pushed her against the door and dropped her bag onto the floor. He pinned her body with his, a hand around her waist bringing her body against his and his other hand cupping her face. He ran his thumb along her lower lips and took satisfaction in her shuddering. He drew her hands up and anchored them above her head, pinning them to the door. His mouth slowly covered hers and moved teasingly. Isis gasped at the skillful movement of his lips against hers. He possessed her fully, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He tasted her, devoured her and nothing was sweeter for Lex. He fought to control his natural instincts firing to life and focused on giving her this but he was certain he would gain the most pain from it. He knew he would never forget this kiss, never meet its equal. He pulled away from her, their breath labored. He rested his forehead against hers and committed the moment to memory. He leaned off her, let her hands drop to her sides, he handed Isis her bag. "Good bye, Ms. Davenport.” He replied with some pain as he turned the door knob and allowed her to leave.

Ember, a mute and wolfless outcast, endures relentless torment as the disgraced daughter of an alpha's mistress in the Crescent Moon Pack. Betrayed by her family and rejected by her mate, Beta Benson, her existence is a living nightmare. Her prayers to the Moon Goddess for freedom—be it through death or a miracle—seem to go unanswered, leaving her trapped in despair. But Ember's pain masks a dangerous mystery. Dreams of blood-soaked hands and an unknown man haunt her nights, while whispers of betrayal and dark truths about her stepbrother, Alpha Leo, gnaw at her sanity. Even as her will is tested, she finds unexpected solace in her only ally, Lily, and fleeting moments of inexplicable connection to the wolf she thought she'd lost forever. When a powerful and enigmatic figure—the Lycan King Draco—arrives, his piercing gaze and commanding presence unravel everything Ember believed about herself. Her soul ignites at the revelation that he is her second-chance mate, a bond both fated and impossible. As her dormant wolf stirs within her, Ember faces the ultimate dilemma: will she embrace her destiny or become the assassin of the very man who might hold the key to her salvation?

Aderyn Brookes, a free-spirited and mysterious rebel, sets off on a solo drive through various countries in her luxury car. Her adventure takes a dark turn when she is abducted by two enigmatic men. Awakening in an otherworldly realm, she realizes she is the human mate of Dylan Black Bishop, the ruthless king of a werewolf kingdom. Dylan, who despises humans and believes them weak, initially wants to reject her. Unable to bear the mate bond, he orders his beta, Blake, to keep her in their pack house. As Aderyn learns about the werewolf world, she remains indifferent to Dylan’s advances, surprising him with her strength and resistance to the mate bond. Unlike other werewolves, Dylan cannot read her mind and becomes restless when she is not around. A turn of events reveals Aderyn’s dark past—she is a trained assassin, far stronger than Dylan imagined. Dylan begins to accept Aderyn’s past and her strength, and he learns to love her for the pain they both share, not just because of the mate bond. Aderyn eventually succumbs to Dylan's charms, and together they navigate the complexities of their intertwined destinies, finding love amidst the shadows of their haunted pasts.

Mafia Academy Series 1 (Book 1 of Red Duology) Kaytlyn Santiago only hates three things in life: rain, cliffs, and her second name. At a very young age, she had already experienced being kidnapped and tortured, pressured and forced into a life she never wanted in the first place. Kayt lived her life carrying all the hardships alone and blaming herself for the death of her mother. She'd already gone through any possible form of pain, making her heart numb and as cold as ice. She chose to build those walls around her that no one could ever break and wear the mask that was almost as perfect as a white lie. But her life changed when she entered the academy. She never once thought that someone would find a way to break those walls she built in. In a battle where she has to choose between her happiness and her family, who should it be, and was it worth taking the risk? She only has one chance, and the future lies in her hands. She mustn't pick the wrong choice. One decision can change everything. One wrong move and the game is over. *** Disclaimer: This story is written in Tagalog-English.

“I reject you as my mate!” he thundered, his voice booming across the clearing. Her breathing hitched, her heartbeat increasing, threatening to break through her rib cage.  She could see the cheeky sneer on her step-sister Eve's face; she didn't need anyone to tell her that she was the cause of her agony. “I'll never be bonded to someone who killed my mother!” he roared. In the world of werewolves, loyalty and honor are paramount. But when Nora, the former Luna of Zodak Pack, is rejected by her mate, accused of a crime she didn't commit, and forced to work as a maid in his household. She must rely on her wits and her strength to survive.  Nora's life had been a tangled web of pain and betrayal. But Alpha Alex's hatred for Nora clouded his sense that he didn't notice the true intentions of Ryder, the Alpha of the Stone Moon Pack, who would stop at nothing to claim Nora as his own. As the stakes grow higher, Nora must confront the darkness within herself and the secrets of her past. Will she emerge victorious, or will she succumb to the shadows that haunt her?"

On the wet sand beside the seashore, the strong, tall man was laying with a cigarette in his hand. His bike parked a few feet away from him. The environment there was serene and noiseless as no one was allowed then on the beach that he owned. It was not a big deal for a billionaire like him. He had a lot more than that. Wealth, power, the respect he had all of them but lacked the most important thing that couldn't be bought with money. He lacked inner peace. He inhaled the vinous smoke as the corner of his lips twitched in a sad smile. His eyes deceived him being moist and a lone tear slipped down his face on the sand. The sand sucked the water as soon as it fell on it, and he wondered if his pain disappeared in thin air like that. He breathed out a puff of smoke through his nose and mouth. Looking up at the sky with the sad smile plastered on his face he spoke up, "Why so hatred for me, ya Rab?" Miles away from him the girl with a cuddling baby in her arms uttered looking up at the sky, "I express my deep gratitude to You for sending this angel to me, Ya Rab."