Starting With A Lie

On the day of my wedding anniversary, I was cleaning my house when I found a picture album. As it turned out, my husband had been religiously taking pictures with the girl of his dreams every year on this precise date. He had been doing it since he was forty years old and he was now sixty years old. His hair had progressed from a jet black to a faded white and yet, he kept up the tradition. There was a written message in his handwriting at the back of the picture that read, “Eternal Love.” Since he doesn't love me, I will no longer bother washing his clothes and cooking for him. I will no longer care for his children and grandchildren. I may have foolishly wasted half of my life, but it was not too late to make a change.

My mother and I pushed ourselves, slaving away to pay for my girlfriend’s debt. The work was too hard on her, and she was soon diagnosed with lung cancer. By the time I arrived at the hospital with money for her treatment, my mother had taken her own life and left behind a note. “I can’t go on, Gab. The money is best put toward settling the debts. Noelle is a good kid. She loves you. She’s just lost her way. That’s all. You two should settle down once the debts are cleared.” I held my mother’s ashes and gave Noelle the thirty thousand dollars she had left behind. Back in the office, I overheard Noelle talking to several creditors. “Ms. Strom, Mr. Lamb has passed your test. What’s next on the agenda for him?” Noelle’s childhood friend, Charles, jumped into the conversation. “Gabriel has proven that he’s willing to be there for you through thick and thin, but will he stick around in wealth? Noelle pursed her lips. “I need to know if he genuinely loves me. If he isn’t blinded by greed when learning about who I am, I’ll marry him.” I stared at my mother’s ashes, tears rolling down my face. “Noelle, my mother was wrong about you, and so was I. I don’t want to marry you anymore.” I thought to myself.

When divorce and betrayal turn into a real life fairy tale after a chance encounter with a movie star, Pearl’s life becomes a whirlwind when a love triangle she wasn’t prepared for changes everything. Rock stardom, romance and getting a second chance at life and love means everything when you have nothing to lose.

I've been caught in a relationship with a divorced man for eight years. We've broken up and reconciled too many times to count. In the end, I tallied ninety-four breakups and five divorces between us. One more would make it an even hundred, but I'm too exhausted to continue this cycle. The first breakup happened when I was giving him my virginity. Halfway through, his ex-wife called asking him to pick up some bread, and he simply left. The fifth breakup occurred when he abandoned me, newly pregnant, on the highway to comfort his ex-wife who was having complications with her own pregnancy. I ended up in a car accident and miscarried. He arrived at the hospital with his clothes disheveled. Despite all the pain he caused me, I could never bring myself to truly leave him. Our most recent divorce happened for an equally absurd reason. His ex-wife and their child were participating in a family reality TV show that required them to appear as a complete family unit. To protect his ex-wife's public image, he divorced me yet again. When filming wrapped, he called to discuss remarrying. This time I refused, because I'm going to marry someone else.

Valerie My own image haunts me Two billionaires deceived me and broke my heart just because of my face. Now the woman who stole their hearts smiles blissfully as I'm forced to plan her wedding. Drew threatens to ruin me if I break my silence. Aiden's volatile nature scares me. But I am worth more than a borrowed life. My once hopeful heart now burns with an icy flame. I will reduce their empire to embers. Their lies will have ruinous consequences. I am Valerie. When Valerie's heart is shattered by two men and she is forced to plan a wedding for one of them she swears revenge to ruin them for life. But will Valerie escape the trap these two billionaires that have caught her in? Or will exposing their lies ruin her too?

He owns the night of this city, so he should also possess the most delicate white rose of the nation, Serena, a girl nurtured by love and art, his pure prey. Even though his brother also desires Serena, he’s certain she’ll never escape the palm of his hand. But is that really the case? Because Serena came for one purpose; to destroy this ruthless mafia king. Who is the real prey?

Step siblings, Kiro and Fhey, grew up together with a happy childhood. Until they turned 10, where everything went wrong. They had to be separated and never saw each other again. Years passed and the two meet again. But things weren't the same. The inseparable became estranged. And the truth finally started to unfold.

Ava Sinclair had two rules for her dream New Year's cruise: no heartbreak and no impulsive flings. But when she catches her boyfriend cheating and a charming stranger, Ryan Carter, offers a deal she can't refuse, pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for revenge. Her carefully laid plans are tossed overboard. What started as a harmless charade turned into a whirlwind night of passion. But when the cruise ends, Ava and Ryan return to their lives, leaving their connection behind. Ryan showed up months later needing Ava's help to maintain a facade for an Important business deal. Ava agreed again despite her better judgment only to find herself thrust into the spotlight when their photos went viral, branding her as Ryan's girlfriend to the world. Caught between her desires to stay out of the limelight and her undeniable feelings for Ryan. Ava must confront the truth: was their connection always just an act or is there something real worth fighting for?

A fake engagement. A dying billionaire. A truth that could destroy them both. Eva Monroe is drowning in debt, desperate to save her ailing brother from loan sharks and hospital bills. When she’s offered a life-changing deal—to pose as the fiancée of terminally ill billionaire Cassian Vale—she takes it without asking questions. It was supposed to be temporary. A lie. Until he lives. The treatment works. Cassian survives. And now he wants Eva by his side—for real. To the world, they’re a power couple. To Cassian, she’s the only person who ever saw him as a man, not a wallet. But Eva is hiding more than just her heart. She’s not just a waitress. She’s the daughter of the man who tried to expose Cassian’s corrupt company—and paid with his life. Now the same empire that saved Cassian is hunting her. When the truth explodes, Cassian must choose: Protect the woman who lied to him… Or save the legacy that nearly killed him. One built an empire of lies. The other holds the truth that could burn it all down. And love? It may not survive either. ---  

Because of a last-minute business trip, my husband missed the Thanksgiving family dinner. I spent the entire day helping out at my in-laws' place in the countryside with our five-year-old son, only to receive a complaint from the downstairs neighbor just before dinner. "Ari, could you please close your kitchen window when you're cooking? I can smell the hot sauce from all the way here. My husband has a lung condition—he can't handle it." My neighbor's words shocked me, and I immediately called my husband, who was allergic to chili peppers. "Honey, did someone break into the house? The neighbor said there was smoke coming from the kitchen." His breathing hitched for a second before he let out a casual laugh. "No break-in. My flight got canceled, so I was home alone cooking. When are you two coming back? I really miss you." I smiled and told him we'd stay a couple more days, but in the middle of the night, I packed up our son and drove straight home.