Smug Expression

“This is Abraham Blackwood, heir to the Blackwood empire, one of the richest families in the country." The moment I stepped ahead, he turned slowly and my breath caught in my throat. The shock of seeing him again struck me like a bolt of lightning. No… It can’t be him. But it was. Sitting there, casually sipping tea, was him—the man from the bar. The same piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, his expression shifting from mild amusement to disbelief. His sharp blue eyes pierced through the room and locked onto mine with an intensity that made my breath freeze in my throat. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. The memories of the night in the bar flooded back—his arrogance, his rude comments, his piercing gaze that had felt so unsettling. I stared at Alexander, still in shock. The man sitting across from me wasn't just any stranger. He was a billionaire—an heir to a vast fortune. My brother had been friends with him for years, and their families had arranged this marriage as part of a business partnership.

Quincy Laurent had everything—wealth, privilege, a spotless record—until one reckless deal landed him behind bars. Now, prison is his personal hell… until Jordan Vex storms into his cell like a hurricane with tattoos, a criminal reputation, and a dangerously captivating presence. From the moment they meet, they clash like fire and ice. Quincy wants nothing to do with the smug, infuriating inmate who seems to thrive in chaos. But there’s something about Jordan—something raw, magnetic, and unexpectedly comforting. The intense gaze in Jordan''s eyes are irresistible, making the strangest part of him—he never knew existed—surface. As walls crumble and secrets unravel, Quincy begins to question everything he thought he knew—about prison, about Jordan, and about himself. But falling for someone like Jordan isn’t just foolish… it might be fatal.

Suddenly, I was slammed against a cracked pillar. A strong arm pinned me by the throat, not enough to choke me, just enough to let me know I could be. And then I saw him. Amber eyes. Fierce. Burning. Too wild to be fully human. Too focused to be feral. Face contorted in boredom. The strange yet familiar man.. His body pressed against mine, tall, muscled, furious. I felt the tremble of his restraint as if the beast inside him was clawing to get out. “Smells like blood,” he growled, breath hot against my skin. “Yours?” I smiled despite myself, excitement seeping into my veins much to my annoyance. “Disappointed it’s not?” He didn’t blink. Just stared at me with that maddening, unreadable expression, as if I were a puzzle he already intended to break. I jerked my knee toward his groin, fast and vicious. But his reflexes were faster. He caught my leg. Held it midair, balancing me with one hand as if I weighed nothing. And for a heartbeat, we just… looked at each other. His eyes weren’t just amber. They were gold. Like molten metal cracked open under pressure. He was beautiful in that brutal, savage way, the kind of man carved from war and grief, not born. And I hated him for it.

Abigail Snow accidentally caught her fiancé being intimate with her sister. She learned that her fiancé had only used her to advance his business and had never truly loved her. Heartbroken, Abigail called off the engagement and left everything behind to start a new life with nothing. At her lowest point, she met Sawyer, a hidden tycoon who helped her rebuild her life and seek justice against those who made her suffer. As Abigail begins to fall in love with Sawyer, his childhood sweetheart reappears, causing doubt and confusion for her. *** Excerpt: "Okay. Tell me, where do you live?" Sawyer asked, focusing on the street ahead. Fifteen minutes later, Sawyer's vehicle stopped in front of Abigail's house. He was stunned beyond words when he saw the gates. After a few seconds, Sawyer, trying to suppress his shock, turned to her. "Is this where you live now?" he asked. "Yes, I'm staying here..." Abigail answered excitedly. She wanted to invite him to stop by, but she remembered the rental contract rule stating she couldn't bring her friends or family onto the rooftop. "Can I stop by your house?" Sawyer casually asked, but Abigail felt tense upon hearing that. "Sawyer, I'm so sorry. The homeowner forbade me from bringing guests or family over," she faintly smiled at him. Sawyer was impressed to hear her words, "Aah, so there's a rule like that?" "Yeah. That's why I can't let you enter. If you want to meet me, we can meet at the café. Or, you can call me if you pass by this area." "Sure." ... As soon as Abigail stepped out of the car, Sawyer's smile vanished, and his expression slowly darkened. His sharp eyes remained fixed on Abigail as she entered the small door.

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?