Smirking Synonym

Blurb "Sign the papers, Celeste." I wiped the blood from my nose, my hands trembling as I handed my husband the contract I had worked tirelessly to finalize for him. But instead of gratitude, he shoved divorce papers in my face. And beside him, smirking in triumph, was the woman he had replaced me with—the daughter of his boss. Five years of sacrifice, of love, of loyalty… all reduced to nothing. Ethan Carter had used me, discarded me, and now he was climbing higher on the back of another woman. I thought that was the end of my story. Until he appeared. Damien Sinclair—the youngest billionaire in the country, ruthless in business, feared by his enemies, and a man who never gave without taking something in return. And he wanted me. Overnight, I went from the forgotten ex-wife to the envy of high society, the woman draped in luxury, held in the arms of a man who commanded the world. But Damien’s interest in me wasn’t coincidence. He knew my past. He knew my pain. And when he whispered my childhood nickname in his sleep, I realized… he knew me. Now, I must uncover the truth before I lose myself in the passion, the power, and the dangerous game I never saw coming. Because in Damien’s world, love is just another negotiation—and I might be the one paying the ultimate price.

It was him. The man I had just been accused of murdering in cold blood. The man whom I've been forced to consume poison because of. Or, had I seen a ghost? Why was my supposedly dead husband standing in the midst of those people, smirking in accomplishment. As the venom of the poison spread through my body and like I was going to rip apart because of the pain, I gave in to the paralysis that rushed me and then closed my eyes shut, tears finding their way out of my closed eyes regardless. “P…please, G… God,” I mumbled with the final breath in me. ~~~ And, suddenly, my eyes were opened, and I was standing in front of him. And he was smiling widely at me, asking what I thought of the wedding dress. But, this was weird because this was from three years ago. Then, my eyes dropped on the calendar. Was I hallucinating? I… I have been reborn?!

Caelen valentine lives life with reckless charm—rich, desirable, and emotionally unavailable. As the heir to an empire of luxury hotels and secrets, he’s used to getting away with everything, especially hearts. But when a one-night mistake turns into a scandal, Caelen finds himself trapped in the deadliest consequence of his glittering life—he’s gotten the wrong girl pregnant. Not just any girl—Aria Throne, the innocent sister of the most feared mafia lord in the city. Lucian Throne doesn’t forgive. He doesn’t negotiate. He kidnaps. For Caelen, it should’ve been the end. But Lucian isn’t prepared for the chaos Caelen brings into his meticulously controlled world. The golden boy with a sharp tongue, smirking defiance, and maddening vulnerability begins to chip away at the steel walls Yuvraaj has built around himself. What starts as vengeance turns into obsession. Hostage turns into houseguest. Hatred turns into hunger. As forbidden emotions twist into dangerous desires, both men must confront the truth: there’s more at stake than just revenge and pride. A child. A legacy. And a love that could destroy them both. In a world of blood ties and betrayal, will they choose love—or war?