Staying In My Play Pretend

Lily Montgomery had always believed her life was marked by goodbyes. Her father, a mystery buried beneath lies. Her ex-fiancé, Matteo, who disappeared without explanation, shattering her heart and dreams. And now, her mother, taken by a cruel illness, leaving her completely alone. Returning to New York for the funeral, Lily—a failed writer struggling to rebuild her career—only hoped to close this painful chapter. But fate had other plans. Her father wasn’t dead as she had always believed—he was Luigi Romano, one of the most powerful mafia leaders in the city. And Matteo? The man who walked away without a trace belonged to that dark world… and now he was her future husband. Forced into marriage for her own safety, Lily finds herself trapped between betrayals, secrets, and a love that never truly died. As she fights to escape the mafia’s grasp and uncover the truth about her origins, a new dilemma arises: Did Matteo really betray her, or did he leave to protect her? And worse… will he do whatever it takes to win her back? In a game between past and present, between duty and desire, Lily must decide if she can still trust the man she once loved… or if he is just another lie in her life.

"So, what do you think about my brilliant idea?" he continued this time, with a glimmering smile on his face. "My name is Ghino Frost, by the way. Just like you, I was betrayed and cheated by the ones I loved the most."     Ghino's proposal completely tempts me as it makes me realize the reason why I dream of someone impossible. Dylan is my best friend - the love of my life.     And it appears that my one-of-a-kind dream - holding his hands - kissing his lips - and making love with him forever stays in a dream. Dylan and I will never happen.     But I badly need anything that can distract me and survive for the night. Just for the night. "Fine," I finally spoke up after a few minutes of considering everything. "Let's do it. Let's have sex."

AHEM *CLEARS THROAT* THIS STORY CONTAINS MATURE CONTENTS THAT ARE VERY VIVID, IT'S NOT ALLOWED FOR ANYONE UNDER EIGHTEEN, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. There were secrets I kept from everyone else because I would be sent for counselling or even therapy if I ever told anybody about it but there was no way that I could control the burning desire I felt when I saw my step uncle. "Forbidden!" the voice in my head would warn but it doesn't stop the throbbing between my legs. I see the way he looks at me and I'm certain that he wouldn't be able to hold himself much longer, soon, we both would have to keep dirty secrets from everyone else because there is no way I would tell after he has had me tied to his bed.

Keira buried her face in his chest, her voice trembling. “Maybe I’m not good enough for you.” He ran his fingers through her hair, then whispered. “You’re perfect for me. One walking disaster in this relationship is enough.” She sniffled, a small laugh breaking through. “Are you comforting me or mocking me?” He tilted her chin up, his lips hovering just above hers. “Both,” he whispered. And then he kissed her. ****** Keira Small has spent her life in the shadow of her family’s legacy as the daughter of the prestigious owner of Small Solutions Tech. But instead of following in her father’s footsteps, she chooses to keep her identity a secret and work elsewhere—all to be closer to the one man she’s never forgotten. When she’s sent to deliver documents to her enigmatic boss, the CEO of Dawnborne Inc., she doesn’t expect to find him intoxicated—or to end up in the bed of the one man she had never expected to have: her childhood crush. But one night of passion isn’t so easily forgotten, as an investigation was held by the CEO to find who the woman he slept with was. Buried feelings begin to resurface and secrets threaten to unravel, Keira must decide: will she continue to hide who she really is, or risk everything for the man she’s always wanted?

Elsie Sander lived without a father, and she was an omega. The worst part is that her mother has constantly mistreated her. So does everyone in the pack. Until one day, a new alpha showed up with his son. Her life, which she thought was improving, got even worse. The Alpha-to-be often did things that made Elsie hate him. But how could the man who bullied her be her mate? Would Elsie accept that? Or was this the beginning of something worse?

“What does it look like, Victoria?” Amelia replied with a smirk. “I see. You’ve grown bold", my mother said. “No, no, you’re mistaken. I’ve grown rich! Victoria.” When Amelia Harper storms back into Ethan Caldwell’s life, she’s no longer the girl he lost, she’s the powerful widow standing between him and in control of Caldwell Enterprises. As lies unravel and a daughter he never knew enters the picture, Ethan is forced to confront a scandal that could ruin everything. Torn between revenge, love, and the truth behind Amelia’s disappearance, one question remains: Can they rebuild what was shattered, or will the past finish what it started?

Evelyn Monroe is a 27 year old kindergarten teacher who absolutely loves kids. Things change when Evelyn's twin brother - Everett suggest she becomes his best friend (Cassian James)’s daughter's nanny for a month that was going to be very busy for him. As far as Everett is concerned, it's good as she’s between jobs since she’s planning to move states soon. There is only one problem. Evelyn and Cassian can’t stand each other. They’ve never been able to. She finds him insufferable, and he thinks she’s annoying. Everett convinces them that they haven’t seen each other in 6 years, and they’re adults now. He’s sure the childish bad blood is a thing of the past. He’s wrong. The two still can’t stand each other. They’re at each other’s throats the moment they meet again. The only thing that’s changed is… well… they can’t keep their hands off each other. As it turns out, anger is great passion fuel. Everything is fine, and Evelyn is even beginning to like Cassian. She stays an extra two weeks even, when Cassian can’t finish up work in time. His little girl Amelia is an absolute sweetheart as well. Everything is fine until Evelyn can’t find her period. She’s pregnant, and it’s Cassian’s. She asks Cassian if he wants another child and he says no, which is why he got a vasectomy. Evelyn says nothing about the child, and leaves for her fresh start as previously planned. A whole year passes like this until Cassian is visiting San Francisco for business and decides to drop in on her, hoping to rekindle their flame. He finds her with a baby, and realizes quite quickly that it’s his.

Ranveer Singhaniya is a self made billionaire; Aahana ends up in a contract with him, giving all the rights on her to his contractee. What will happen when a tough independent woman suffering from the harsh blows of the world has to work under a spoiled, ruthless inhuman Billionaire. She is full of love and compassion he is consumed by pride and arrogance; let's witness how their paths will collide and a spark will ignite.

Annalyn never expected her birthday to end in heartbreak nor to uncover this betrayal. But when she finds out that the man she had loved and sacrificed her entire life for is getting engaged to another woman, her world crumbles. But fate has other plans. A near-accident places her in the arms of Alexander Quinn…a grieving billionaire, guarded father, and her ex’s future brother-in-law. Offered a job as his son’s live-in nanny, Annalyn is torn between the pain of her past and the promise of something new. She was only meant to heal a child’s heart. But what happens when she starts to heal his father’s too?

Lucifron was one of the best friends of Hanna, the daughter of Boris, the Dragon King of the Southern Clan. Emotionless and stoic-faced, his only ambition was to follow in his father\'s footsteps and become the next General of King Boris's troops. An invitation to attend an Alpha title change party coming from his friend Ryan's pack, leads him to leave Dragons Island for the first time in his life and to find his fireheart in one of the guests, Gary, the Red River Pack's Alpha. A dragon and a werewolf was something he didn't think was worthy of a future General, but the attraction of the flame that would complete his heart and knowing that that man would be his only chance for love during his long dragon life, makes him avoid turning his back. Would Gary be able to prove to Lucifron that a werewolf heart could burn bright too? Can a wolf's heart contain the flame that will complete Lucifron's heart? Is he really able to be his firehart?