Societal Pressure

When Alexander Reed, a successful architect, marries Ava Hart, a kind schoolteacher, he believes he’s found the love of his life. But his mother, Deirdre, has always viewed Ava as an unworthy match for her son. A wealthy and powerful socialite, Deirdre is determined to break them apart. Without hiding her disdain, Deirdre manipulates situations, plants doubts in Alexander’s mind, and even creates a scandal to ruin Ava’s reputation. She pushes other women, like the charming and flirtatious June, into Alexander’s path, hoping to replace Ava. As their marriage begins to crack under the pressure, Ava starts uncovering dark secrets about Deirdre’s past. Now, Alexander must decide whether to choose his wife or the woman who has controlled his life for so long. Will their love survive Deirdre’s manipulation, or will Deirdre finally succeed in separating them? Word count: 100,000.

Xalara Silvyn, a seemingly powerless girl from the Shadowveil slums, is claimed as a fated mate by Cassian Holt, heir to a powerful noble house of ember magic. After being brought to his estate, she discovers their bond was merely Cassian's temporary fascination. At his engagement gala to Vionna Kress, he publicly betrays Xalara, relegating her to servitude under his cruel fiancée. As Vionna systematically humiliates Xalara, the crystal pendant Xalara found in a hidden chamber beneath the Veil becomes her sole comfort. With help from Cassian's brother Verin, she learns the crystal may connect to House Silvyn—a noble family of essence-based primal magic supposedly destroyed centuries ago. When Vionna arranges to transfer Xalara for potentially fatal bond severance after her wedding to Cassian, Xalara's desperate situation takes an unexpected turn. During the wedding feast, she encounters Lord Elaric Nox, a feared shadow magic tyrant avoiding political marriage proposals. After overhearing his frustrations with traditional arrangements, Xalara's impulsive quip "Where do I sign?" intrigues him. Elaric's emissaries arrive at the wedding with a formal offer—a contract marriage of mutual benefit. Elaric gains a shield against political marriage pressure while offering Xalara protection from Vionna and access to knowledge about her crystal and heritage. Their three-year contract specifies a purely practical arrangement with no emotional obligations. At House Nox, Xalara begins training in essence magic under Elaric's guidance, discovering her "minor" warming ability is actually rare primal magic thought extinct. As she awakens to her true abilities and learns about her possible connection to House Silvyn, the bond with Cassian naturally fades. Meanwhile, a complex but respectful dynamic develops between Xalara and Elaric as they navigate their unconventional arrangement.

Allison Claire's world crumbled when her father, consumed by the despair of bankruptcy, ended his own life, leaving behind a family suffering from both financial ruin and emotional devastation. Her mother's grave illness further strained their life. Forced to work countless part-time jobs to make a living, Allison found rare peace in moments she could share with her boyfriend, Alex. However, mounting medical bills and relentless pressure from gangsters left her helpless. Then, she met Damien Ravenclaw, a billionaire who offered to financially support her if she became his mistress. Seeing it as her family's only hope, she agreed. Forced to break up with Allison, Alex was desperate to win her back, while Damien's obsession with her seemed to intensify. Caught between Alex and Damien, Allison faced a tough choice. Would she return to Alex or stay with Damien? Sold to the Bossy Billionaire is created by Lyra TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Sage Davis was once the name on everyone's lips, a rising basketball star with unmatched talent and a promising future. But one wrong move, one selfish mis-timed dunk during a critical game cost her team the trophy and left her with a shattered ankle and a fractured reputation. A year off the court has left her anxious and stripped of the confidence that once defined her. Now 19, she is back, taller, stronger, but haunted by doubts and the pressure of living up to her former glory. Enter Andrew Jefferson, turning forty, striking, with the kind of presence that commands attention. He is the new coach of the team and, awkwardly enough, her best friend's father. Sage expected discipline, rules, and professional distance but what she didn't expect was the spark, a mere fickle at first, and then a flame. He sees the fire in her, the talent she possesses, and the fragility she tries to hide. Against all odds, she finds herself drawn to the one man she should never want. Their connection is forbidden. Dangerous. Taboo. But as the line between right and wrong blurs, Sage must decide if she’s willing to risk everything, her future, her friendship, and the fragile pieces of herself she is still putting back together, for a love that was never supposed to happen. This is a story of redemption, desire, and the kind of love that breaks rules, norms……and hearts.

Louis has had series of failed marriages and he was about to have his third wedding when his bride-to-be vanished without warning, leaving him with a wedding in shambles and a reputation in tatters, desperate to salvage his pride and avoid further humiliation, Louis embarked on a frantic quest to find a replacement bride. The wedding plans are in motion and everything has been paid, so he was forced to turn to Flavia, a woman he despised with every fiber of his being. Their mutual hatred was very noticable, and their union seemed doomed from the start. Yet, they sealed their fate with a kiss, exchanging vows in a ceremony that was bound to end in doom. Flavia and Louis's home became nothing short of a battleground, a war zone where two menace clashed in anger, resentment, and disdain. It was obvious that their loveless marriage would be a never-ending cycle of conflict and chaos. But when a common enemy emerged, threatening to destroy everything they had, Louis and Flavia were forced to put their differences aside and work together. Could they find a way to put their hatred aside and forge an unlikely alliance, or would their marriage crumble under the pressure? The battle lines were definitely drawn, and the war between Louis and Flavia was about to take a dramatic and unexpected turn but what will be the outcome?

Elise is just a humble maid who never imagined her life would change after working for Reiner, the heir of a wealthy family—cold, enigmatic, and untouchable. As she carries out her duties, Elise begins to feel a spark of emotion she knows she shouldn’t have. But their growing closeness stirs conflict, sharp warnings, and secrets threatening to unravel. Can Elise withstand the pressure, or will she have to let go of everything to keep her heart intact?

"Masquerade of the Heart" Sometimes love hides behind the most unexpected masks… After a brutal betrayal and a painful divorce, Ethan Lockwood has lost all faith in love—until he finds solace in the red light district, not in lust, but in quiet companionship. There, he meets Ruby, a mysterious woman behind a masquerade mask who asks for nothing but time. What he doesn’t know is that Ruby is really Minnie Love, a determined law student fighting to stay afloat. As their bond deepens, secrets grow heavier. Minnie becomes Ethan’s fiercest ally in his divorce, all while hiding her true identity. When Ethan’s cunning ex-wife Amanda discovers the truth, she threatens to use it as ammunition. Meanwhile, under his powerful mother's pressure, Ethan finds himself in an unlikely contract marriage—with Minnie. What begins as convenience quickly turns into something real, but neither dares to admit it. When Minnie’s secret is exposed and the world turns against her, she vanishes—until a determined friend helps her find Ethan again, hiding in a remote cabin, wounded and lost. There, truths are faced, love is confessed, and a powerful choice is made. Tangled in lies, love, and legal battles, Masquerade of the Heart is a slow-burn, emotionally rich romance about trust, redemption, and the unexpected places we find home.

"You’re making a mistake," James smirked, lounging beside Chloe. "You’ll never find someone better than me." Betrayal shattered Sarah Winters’ world. She thought she had it all until she walked in on her fiancé tangled in bed with her best friend. Humiliated but determined, she refuses to be a victim. If James and Chloe think they’ve won, they’re about to be proven wrong. Elliott Remington is a billionaire CEO, ruthless in business, and completely uninterested in love. Under pressure to marry, he needs a wife to silence his father and secure a critical deal. Sarah needs power, status, and a way to erase the sting of betrayal. They signed a contract for marriage. One year. No emotions. Strictly business. But playing pretend isn’t so simple when lines begin to blur. As jealousy ignites, hidden pasts unravel, and unexpected feelings surface, Sarah and Elliott find themselves trapped in a game where the biggest risk isn’t losing control. It’s falling for each other. And when the truth about Sarah’s past comes to light, the stakes become even higher. Revenge brought them together. Love was never part of the plan. But when the contract ends… will they be able to walk away?

I never imagined that my scholarship to Nocturne Academy would lead me straight to my mate. At eighteen, I was supposed to focus on my studies, carve out a future beyond the limits of my modest upbringing, and leave behind the life I once knew. But then I met Elias Grey—my enigmatic professor, the man fate has tethered me to in ways I can’t begin to fight. He's everything I shouldn’t want: older, untouchable, born into privilege, and bound by expectations that would crush a weaker man. As the heir to the Grey legacy and the son of Nocturne’s powerful dean, Elias knows what’s at stake. But how do you turn your back on something that feels inevitable? The pull between us is undeniable. But desire alone isn’t enough—not when Elias faces relentless pressure to marry Claudia Castille, the woman chosen to secure his family’s influence. Caught between obligation, longing, and fate, Elias and I must decide: How far are we willing to go to hold onto something everyone tells us we can't have?

*You love me? No… you can’t love a maid—a daughter of a prostitute, a one-night mistake like me. We’re not from the same world. We can never be together. It’s a dream that won’t come true.* *Lily, that doesn’t matter. I don’t care where you’re from or what your past is. I love you—and that’s the only truth that matters.* Lily has always known her place—silent, invisible, and unworthy of love, especially from someone like Sebastian Kingsley, heir to a billion-dollar empire. Her life has been shadowed by the shame of her past—being the daughter of a high-class prostitute and born from a one-night mistake. Desperate for income as her mother’s illness worsens, Lily takes a job as a maid in the Kingsley mansion. She never expected to steal the heart of the city’s most powerful billionaire. But Sebastian, weighed down by family expectations and haunted by addiction and sleepless nights, sees something in her that no one else does—peace. Hope. To the world, Sebastian has everything. But behind the wealth and status is a man slowly breaking. Only Lily sees the truth behind the mask. Their love is passionate… but forbidden. Sebastian is already engaged—to Lily’s sister. The woman society believes is perfect for him. Lily is just a maid—powerless and easily disposable. She wants to run, to protect herself from the heartbreak she knows is coming. But how do you walk away from the only person who’s ever made you feel truly alive? Can their love survive the storm of betrayal, societal expectations, and painful truths? Or will duty and deception tear them apart ? In a world ruled by power, status, and secrets, Sebastian and Lily fight for a love that was never meant to be.