Smiling Through The Pain

She gave him everything—her heart, her vows, her trust. He gave her nothing but rejection. Emily had loved Alexander Reed all her life, and when she became his wife, she thought her dreams had finally come true, but her dream quickly turned into a nightmare. To Alex, she was never a partner, only a burden someone forced into his life while his heart belonged to another woman. Every cold word, every look that passed right through her, reminded Emily she was nothing more than his forsaken wife. Humiliated and heartbroken, she walked away. He never knew the pain she carried and never knew her value until he lost her. Later, he realizes what he had lost, but Emily is no longer the fragile girl he once cast aside. She’s stronger now, colder, and untouchable. And this time, the tables have turned. The man who once rejected her now chases her shadow, desperate to win back the heart he broke, but will Emily’s wounds ever truly heal, or has his love come too late?

Maria Stone felt she had everything, love and the man she thought loved her by her side. But everything came tumbling down when he threw the divorce papers at her. She had to leave and when she came back five years later. She wasn't alone; her triplets were also with her, and she was ready to give love a chance. Not to him but to someone else. But when he came begging, she told him.  “I have moved on, and I have my kids and I. So, bye, billionaire ex-husband”. In an instant, Maria's life changed; the man she thought loved her, Ethan Woods never loved her in the first place. He was only with her to pass the time and to gain his inheritance.  After the 3-year contract ended she was hoping that the unborn child would bring them together and he would love her again but she got the shock of her life when she got back home to give him the good news, there professing his love for another woman was Ethan and the woman was no other person but her cousin who was his college sweetheart but kept it away from Maria. The truth was that they had been dating secretly without her knowing.  As if that wasn't enough, he threw the divorce papers at her and asked her to sign them. Maria tried to leave because there was no use staying back. But Ethan and Susan couldn't let her; she had to suffer all through her days of pregnancy until she gave birth through forced labor. Her heart shattered into thousands of irreplaceable pieces when her aunt told her that Ethan had finally married her cousin Susan.  With the pain and betrayal in her heart, she left the city never to be seen again.

My father is the First Warrior of the Moonflash pack. He often takes me to all kinds of banquets, and I always look forward to them. Today, he brings me to a banquet hosted by Judy. I take a bite of raw meat on my plate and immediately spit it out. I once ate raw meat when I was younger, and my stomach hurt for several days. I nearly died. The healer later told me that I'm allergic to the protein in raw meat, and that experience left a lasting impression on me. Judy looks hurt when she sees my reaction. "I went to the forest myself to catch that reindeer," she says. "I killed it just this morning. I didn't cook it so that I wouldn't ruin its freshness. I didn't expect Ray would turn her nose up at it." Dad is angry about how rude I am, so he chases me out of the banquet and locks me up in a cramped lounge. The lounge is hot and stuffy, and I soon start finding it hard to breathe. A sharp pain twists in my stomach like a knife. I want to find Dad, but no matter how much I bang on the door, he refuses to open it. Through the window, I can see Dad and Judy standing in the center of the hall. They're conversing happily, but no one even looks in my direction. I'm suffocating, so I lie on the floor. I want to shout for Dad, but I can't make a sound no matter how hard I try. Then, I realize that I'm standing up and can walk through the door. But why is my body still lying on the floor? That's when it hits me. I'm dead.

"You are no wife to me, do you get it?" He said, stepping forward crushing my already thinned personal bubble. "I am marrying you because of circumstances. The sooner you feed that to your peanut size brain, the better it will be for you and me. Do you understand?". Pushing me back against the wall with so much force it made me grunt at impact. Intense pain shot through my body when he pressed himself on me. It was like he was trying to ram me into the wall or something! - idiot- Big fat S-O-B. All these curses were going through my mind. All I want to do now is scratch his arrogant face and give him a feel of his own medicine. However, in this compromising position, I am right now! I can hardly move. So, all I did was look straight into his eyes and glared back with the same intensity. I try to break free by pushing and squirming. Alex had me in a grip so tight it felt like a hulk holding me down, so hard that it was painful. I tried to look away, but his voice made me freeze. "Answer me. Do not look away when I am talking to you bit*h!”. “Do-You-Get-What-I-Just Said? Or do I need to make myself a little clearer? hmm?" "Yes, I get it. I'm-Not-Your-Wife." "Believe it or not, I have no interest in being your wife," I said, more like spat it out, it was like poison coming out of my mouth. "Why are you smirking at me ?" he asked. Completely oblivious to what is about to come. I composed my happiness concealing it with my ‘I’m am innocent, like a kitty look’. "Oh, you're about to find out," I said.

In the heart of Chicago, the story No More Regrets is a true story based on two best friends, Sade and Isla, whose bond started in kindergarten and grows stronger through all of life’s twists and turns. They’ve been through everything together, from school dances to teenage heartbreaks and even the loss of a mother during high school. Their friendship is unshakable, so they thought. As they get older, life seems to fall into place. Sade marries her charming childhood, sweetheart, and Isla finds love with her steady and supportive partner. Their lives become so intertwined it’s hard to imagine one without the other, but just when everything seems perfect, one Halloween night changes everything. Sade’s world comes crashing down when she discovers a betrayal of the largest magnitude. Her husband and her best friend are they really having an affair? The betrayal cuts deep. Deeper than she ever thought possible, leaving her feeling broken and lost. She struggles to hold herself together, and the pain is overwhelming. When her perfect marriage falls apart, her friendship crumbles, and she’s left wondering if she’ll ever feel whole again. At her lowest point, Sade allows someone unexpectedly to begin breaking down her walls of dispare. He doesn’t try to fix her or make grand promises. Instead, he gives her the space to find her own strength and reminds her of who she really is.. No More Regrets is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and finding yourself after everything falls apart. It’s about realizing ones worth and picking up the broken pieces life gives you by proving to yourself that no matter how broken you feel, you can always come back stronger.

Sophia is thrown out by her husband, Marvin Carson, after being plotted against by her mother-in-law and her husband's childhood love as they drugged her. And, made her sleep with a complete stranger. A complete stranger who fell in love with Sophia in just a night. However, his love was only rewarded with a note of being abandoned in the morning rather than the smiling face of the woman he decided to spend eternity with. But, bounded by the words on the note left by his lover and his love for her. He couldn't search for the love of his life. The one who made his stone cold heart beat. And then, stole it away. As for Sophia, she got involved in an accident and forgot all the memories that she and the stranger shared in one night. The memories of trust, respect, dependency and matters of heart. As the two were forced to spend seven years apart, according to the wishes of fate. So, what happens when fate determines that their suffering is now to be over? Now, that these two people have children that deserve the affection from both of their parents? "There are 100% chances of your plans failing." "Hey! Who are you, Mister!?" "Yes! Who are you?" "Your father and your mother's man, whose position you are desperately trying to give away to another man."

"Did you just lie to me?" He asked in his lowly yet furious voice. She felt shivers running down her spine, as her heartfelt sinking. She tried to speak but couldn't find her lost voice, but she knew if she keeps him waiting, it could be dangerous for her, so she shook her head in a 'no'. But unfortunately, it was not convincing enough as he approached her, making her take a step back. Smiling sadistically at her whimpering body, he towered her. He licked his dried lip, sensing her fear and lowered to her level, purring in her ear, "On my lap, baby doll." ~ 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃| 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐎𝐑| 𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 ~ LOONA, University of Heros was established by dark Queen herself, in order to protect the super-powered kids, until and unless they are capable enough to protect themselves but others as well. The school was known for its powerful attire and not only providing students with high-quality facilities or topmost security but also helped them use their powers as the elementals. Saving herself she, recognised as a psychopath, dominated the whole super-powered school, alone. But what if she gets someone from her competition? Will she be able to save herself from the darkness of the universe? Especially when he himself is interested in getting the girl? 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆: This story not only contain sex scenes but also have BDSM and DDLG elements. So VANILLA readers QUIET the story RIGHT NOW!

Sylvia White was desperate for her eighteenth birthday to arrive, so that she could finally move away from her mother. She was exhausted of moving homes because of her mother's changing lovers. However, Sylvia was shocked to learn her mother will be getting married this time! And the marriage wouldn't only result in a stepfather but a stepbrother too! The very stepbrother that got her heart racing at first sight! But at the same time, she wanted the marriage to last, so that her mother wouldn't have to move again. Blake Knight was deemed dangerous by most; he was like a ticking time bomb. He made decisions without concern for anyone, and the only person he ever loved was his mother. Having someone taking his mother's place aggravated him, and he was ready to let this relationship fail. More so, he felt annoyed by the smiling Sylvia who made him feel all sorts of desires and wanted to destroy her to see how pathetic she was. Would Blake be successful in doing so or would he succumb to his desires? Will Sylvia be able to handle her feelings for her brother? Will she be able to break away those walls around him or scared away by him?

I waited for Alex for over five years. I endured the whispers of the clan, the mocking gazes, the judgment from his family who never thought I was good enough. Still, I waited—because I loved him. I believed in him. I trusted that he would choose me in the end. But the truth shattered me. One evening, I saw his laptop left open. And on the screen—countless photos of Elsa. His childhood sweetheart. His first love. It felt like a knife twisting in my chest. While I was drowning in problems, silently begging for his support, he was smiling by her side. All those years I gave him... all that waiting… I got nothing. So I left. Broken. Exhausted. Done pretending I was okay. I traveled far from our pack, seeking solitude under the excuse of pack relocation. But the truth was, I was trying to stitch myself back together—one breath, one step, one bitter tear at a time.But now… he’s gone mad looking for me. Why, Alex? Why do you search for me now, after crushing me so completely? When I stood by you, you looked past me. Now that I’ve finally let go… Why do you care?

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.