Standing Ovations

"What... What are these?" Selene stammered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Divorce papers?" She looked up at Maximus, searching his face for some sign of a joke, a mistake - anything to tell her this wasn’t real. His eyes flickered with a brief moment of hesitation before hardening into a steely gaze. "If Jess hadn’t disappeared, we never would have gotten married” he drawled before delivering the final blow. “Well, Jess is back now.” She couldn’t breathe. Despite her best efforts over their three years of marriage, Maximus had never acknowledged her nor loved her the way he loved Jess. **** She signed the papers, and left his life for good, taking the babies growing in her womb with her. A few years later, She became a top medical doctor and did everything possible to stay away from Maximus. However, on her twins’ fifth birthday, they came running to her, giggling: "Mummy, we found our billionaire daddy!" She looked up and saw Maximus standing in front of her, clearly expecting her to run into his arms. Instead, She chuckled. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when she responded with a deadpan expression, "No, babies, your Father is dead."

When my boyfriend invited me to the school rooftop to watch the fireworks, I went with excitement and anticipation. But what awaited me was a nightmare—a group of thugs ready to destroy me. They tore my clothes off, burned me with cigarettes, and used various objects to torture me. My boyfriend stood there, casually recording everything with his phone. He sneered, "Melanie, this is what you owe Sofia. You'll spend your entire life paying for what happened to her." It turned out he never truly loved me. The time we spent together was all part of his twisted plan for revenge, a plan crafted for his sister. Later, standing by the ocean, I called him. Through tears, I asked, "Will giving my life atone for what happened to your sister?"

Melannie couldn't remember the last time she felt something. While Ace remembers every sting and ache. Both of their chaotic worlds collide and through every moment they share, one starts to feel and the other starts to heal. The only thing standing in between is that it's a cycle of pain, and no one knows how to get out.

I was a famed assassin. She knew my name. Everyone did. Feral. Death's very own hound. But she was the one that'd left our hut in the dead of night. And I wasn't one to forget something like that. I'd gone looking for her when she left things the way she did. She was nowhere to be found then. Yet here she is now. Standing in my tavern. With her cloak in a pile around her ankles and offering me her body in plain view of every rogue in here. Bold move. But she was nothing if not that. She thought I'd give in and said yes to this venture to rescue someone she loved because of some misplaced honor. Not in the least! I said yes because I intend to wreak vengeance on her, for what she did to me. Every chance I get, I'm going to make her miserable. And I'm going to take great pleasure in doing so. Welcome to my world Warrioress. Where the price of vengeance comes much higher than a bit o' coin.

In the split second when the research lab explodes, my boyfriend, Thomas Bastion, dashes to Melody Harper, who is standing furthest from the blast zone. He shields her from the impact with his own body. When the sounds of the explosion stop, the first thing he does is carry Melody to the hospital. I'm lying on the floor. My body is covered in fresh blood, but he doesn't spare a single glance at me. Thomas has taken care of Melody for the past 18 years. His heart is filled with nothing but her. There's no space for anyone else. I only survived because my colleagues rushed me to the hospital. When I am discharged from the ICU, I call my teacher, Louis Carpenter. Both my eyes are swollen from how much I've been crying. "Mr. Carpenter, I've made up my mind. I'm willing to join you for the confidential research. It's fine if we have to leave in one month. I don't care that I'll be unable to contact anyone for the next five years." The wedding ceremony that I have been dreaming of is supposed to take place in a month's time. However, I no longer want to get married.

On the day I won the national esports championship, my girlfriend of eight years told me she wanted to go on stage and personally present me with flowers. Standing on the podium, my heart was racing. I reached into my pocket to pull out the ring I'd hidden there, ready to propose to her in front of the entire nation. But what happened next shocked me. She giggled and, instead of handing me the bouquet, she gave it to her male best friend. Under the bright lights, they became the center of attention. The crowd cheered, and their congratulatory messages flooded the trending topics. Even his fans tagged me in posts, mocking, [I told you not to get in the way of our couple, now look at you.] I simply posted on Twitter, [Respect and blessings. Please be locked together forever.]

When Ryder's professor sent him yet another email, he glanced around his cold, empty home. Faced with Seth's relentless provocations, Ryder made up his mind—he would leave Laura. With the wedding fast approaching, Ryder decided to give Laura the perfect ceremony—one that would please both her and Seth. His departure, however, would be the biggest surprise of the event. But after Ryder walked away, Laura looked at the groom standing at the altar, lost control, and destroyed the wedding in a fit of madness.

A man breathless, standing valiantly before all his enemies. He was called Chyou Chen, a swordsman who earned an unrivaled title. After being trained by nine demon swordsmen.

As I sipped the water which HIS mother offered me.... I heard HIS voice. My heart skipped a beat. My mouth popped open and eyes went wide. He was standing right in front of me. Tall, handsome, his eyes met mine.... I forgot how to breathe. It was him. It was ARMAAN MALIK my one true love..... "Who's this girl Mom?" Mrs.Malik looked at me and then at him. "She's your fan." ***** Ayesha is your ordinary fangirl ....um.... not soo ordinary actually. Let's call her a crazy maniac. She just gets fits whenever she even hears Armaan Malik sing. He's her everything. All she does is think about him.... Even soo she studied hard and became a Chartered accountant just so that 1 day she could meet him and atleast work with him. But....is it that easy? Yep.... She met him and became his assistant manager...but the story won't be interesting with just work. How about a brew of romance and a spice of humour? I wonder how it might turn out.....

CAMILLA I was sold to him, he thinks I am cute and treats me like a trembling maiden but he doesn't know I am using him, he is my tool to get revenge on those who have betrayed me. I am no trembling flower, I am Camilla De Luca and I will have my revenge. But until my plans are executed, I will be his little pet. DANTE I was awestruck, the first day I saw her standing on that stage waiting to be auctioned. She looked so fierce and beautiful and I knew I just had to have her. She is wonderful and I see myself falling for her but that can never happen, I will never love someone again, all love does is hurt me. She is just my pet, nothing more. Dante bought Camilla from an auction, he vows he would never fall for her, but vows can be easily broken especially when feelings are involved. Camilla is set on getting revenge on her father and nothing will stop her not even Dante who is nothing like she expected.