Smug Expression

Luca's expression turned serious. "What's going on, Isabella? You can tell me anything." Isabella took a deep breath before blurting out the truth. "I'm pregnant, Luca." The room fell silent. Luca's eyes widened in shock. Isabella continued, her voice shaking. "And the father... is Vincent Moreno." Luca's face turned grim. "The mafia king?" Isabella nodded, feeling a wave of fear wash over her. She knew what this meant. She knew that she couldn't keep her pregnancy a secret from Vincent. He would stop at nothing to claim his child. Luca's voice brought her back to reality. "You know what this means, don't you? You can't keep this a secret from him. He'll find out, and when he does... " Isabella's eyes flashed with determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my child, Luca. I'll go to the ends of the earth to keep them safe from him." Luca's expression turned somber. "How long can you keep running, Isabella? You can't hide forever." Isabella's jaw set in determination. "As long as I'm alive, Luca. I'll never let him near my child." *** "WHERE IS MY CHILD, ISABELLA?" He thundered, his eyes blazing with fury. Isabella's cup fell from her hands, shattering on the floor. She felt like she was frozen in time, unable to move or speak. The man took a step closer, his eyes fixed on hers. "You've been hiding my child from me for seven years. It's time I took what's mine."

On my wedding night, I joyfully lift the veil, only to discover that my bride has been replaced with the dim-witted daughter of my girlfriend's helper. The laughter surrounding me grows louder. My girlfriend's male best friend gloatingly says, "According to tradition, you must spend a night with her, Mr. Leeds! "I'll take one for the team and keep Carol company tonight instead." Just then, my girlfriend strolls in leisurely. "It's just a joke. Don't be a sore loser. Besides, she's a complete ignoramus. Spending the night with her won't hurt you." Seeing her sarcastic expression, I laugh. "Now that I've lifted the veil, how can one night be enough? Since I did it, I'll take responsibility for life."

I waited for Kai to speak, to claim me as his own. But he didn’t. Seconds passed. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. What was going on? “I don’t.” My entire body froze as I heard those words. “I reject her.” Gaps erupted from the crowd. My chest tightened. It felt like I was being stabbed with a physical knife. ~•~ Halle’s world is turned upside down after being betrayed by her twin sister and boyfriend on her wedding day. Forced to flee, she finds refuge with a powerful Alpha. But as secrets begin to unravel, she realizes her past is more complicated than she thought. Can she reclaim her destiny and rise above the lies that have haunted her family for years?

The expression he had on his face when I asked him for a divorce left me in shock. Why? Why does he look hurt? He never liked me. Five years in marriage, I tried everything I could to make my husband accept me, to make him look at me as a woman in his life as his wife. But instead, he goes around the city with his mistress and even brought her to our home. He disrespected me to the point I shouldn't take anymore, but I accepted it all and stayed back, all for Grandpa Walton. And now that Grandpa was gone, I had no reason to remain in the marriage anymore. “Let’s get a divorce,” I muttered again, as he stood, still puzzled, unable to believe this words were coming from my mouth.

How did this even happen? The girl whom she thought of as her best friend, the girl with whom she's sharing her room, is actually a guy? Hazel stood there with her feet rooted to the white marble floor, not even bothering to fake that utterly shook expression of hers by watching the handsome man dressed in woman's clothes. "She's a guy!?" Finally Hazel let it out straighning her mind. Tristan Sanchez is an undercover cop who by bad luck had to pretend as a sexy paino teacher According to his Cheif's orders. What would happen if the most dedicated and cold officer of the department falls in love with the clumsiest and cheerful girl ever. Can he complete his mission to find the culprit he's looking for? Or he will get distracted by the feeling called love.

"Ms. Longstaff, are you saying the wedding will proceed as planned, but the bride will be replaced with someone else? Is that correct?" Faced with the staff member's puzzled expression, Heather Longstaff nodded without hesitation. "Yes, the wedding will take place in two weeks as scheduled. I'll deliver the revised materials to you in the next few days." "Understood. Should I inform Mr. Bennett about—" "There's no need!" Heather cut the other person off, her voice sharp with emotion. Noticing the startled look on the staff member's face, she quickly composed herself and explained, "He's busy. All wedding-related matters should come directly to me from now on." This wedding was meant to be her final gift to Mitchell. And like any gift, it had to remain a surprise until the very last moment.

I wake up to a noise outside my room, my eyes widen to see my parents on their knees on the floor and a very tall man with a gun to his head. My dad had a pained expression on his face, he turns his face to the top of the stairs where our eyes meet. He quickly gave a smirk, it made me shiver. '' There!! '' My dad points at me making the man look at me. ''He can be the payment for your boss. He what? But there wasn't even time to think straight, the man grabbed my wrist and dragged me away. I look at my parents who smile, soon tears formed in my eyes. They... Are they selling me? I'm being sold to men I've never seen.

After Dad went bankrupt, Mom immediately started fighting for a divorce. I did not fight or argue, just watched coldly as my sister, Jessica Shaw, shoved me aside and threw herself at Dad. She cried out, "Dad, don't be sad! I'll stay with you!" In my past life, after our parents divorced, Jessica went with our wealthy Mom while I ended up with bankrupt Dad. However, what no one expected was that Mom's remarriage turned into a disaster when she married a scumbag who not only drained her assets but left her with nothing in the divorce. Jessica suffered right along with her. Meanwhile, Dad made a comeback and became wildly successful, eventually turning into a wealthy tycoon. Jessica grew bitter seeing me live well. Under the guise of catching up, she orchestrated a car accident that killed me. When I opened my eyes again, we had both traveled back to the day our parents filed a divorce. This time, Jessica shot me a smug smile and declared first, "I love Dad, so I want to stay with him." Little did she know, I could not have been happier with this arrangement. After all, I refused to spend another lifetime hiding and scraping by.

Kissing Jace Carter was never on my bucket list… but maybe it should’ve been. One impulsive night. One clingy creep. One fake boyfriend request blurted out to the first decent-looking guy behind me in a club. It should’ve ended with a nod and a “thanks for the save.” But no. It ended with his lips on mine — slow, smug, and heart-stopping. I didn’t know until the lights hit his face. I didn’t realize I had just kissed the Jace Carter. The Billionaire. Tech genius. Tabloid magnet. And now, apparently… my unfinished business. He said he’d find me again. He called me “Bella” because I never gave him my real name. I laughed it off, thinking he’d forget about a random girl from a crowded dance floor. But billionaires don’t forget. Especially not ones like Jace Carter Now he’s back in my life, popping up in places he absolutely should not be. Charming, arrogant, and dangerously curious about the girl who tried to disappear. And me? I’m stuck between hiding my identity… …and wondering if one kiss was really enough.

Late one night, I was scrolling through social media and stumbled upon a trending post. "Does your husband ever say you're obsessed with your brother?" One comment sat at the top with thousands of likes. The profile picture showed a cartoon girl covering her mouth, laughing. "Oh, I can answer this one! My husband used to say that too, but here's the thing: he's actually the son I had when I was 19!" Every word oozed with smug satisfaction. Some commenters tore into her, calling her manipulative and her husband a total sucker. She only got bolder. She posted a screenshot of a bank transfer with the details blurred out, right next to a photo of limited-edition sneakers. "All my son had to say was he liked them, and my husband caved! Then he gave him extra cash for a fancy dinner!” "A guy like this? If I don't milk him, who will?" I stared at the sneakers and the transfer amount. They matched exactly what I had bought for my "brother-in-law" that afternoon and the money I had just sent him. Down to the last cent. Ice shot through my veins. That sucker she was bragging about? That was me.