Stepping Stones Synonym

Isabella Monroy is hours away from marrying the man she loves — until the night before the wedding turns into a nightmare. After her best friend secretly spikes her drink, Isabella wakes up in the wrong room, half-dressed, with a dangerously handsome stranger stepping out of the bathroom. Her fiancé and her guests witness her leaving the room. And that cost her wedding and reputation. The stranger is Dante Moretti — a seductive billionaire who is secretly the ruthless King of Mafia, known as Draco. Their encounter had been a complete misunderstanding… or so they both thought. Weeks later, with her life in ruins, Isabella runs into Dante again. Sparks and hate collide. Dante is amused by her anger, drawn to her fire, and refuses to stay away. But when a rival mafia faction uses Isabella as leverage, Dante’s true identity comes to light. As danger encircles her, Isabella uncovers the truth: her best friend Camila and her fiancé Sebastian betrayed her. The “accidental” night was a setup meant to trap her. Now forced into Dante’s dangerous world for protection, Isabella battles her feelings for the man who ruined her life… and then saved it. Their chemistry turns explosive, their enemies grow ruthless, and their pasts collide in blood, passion, and betrayal. But that only made Dante more obsessed.

“You’re mine.” “No,” she corrected, stepping closer until their chests nearly brushed. “I’m your obsession. There's a difference.” Then—again—that wicked, infuriating smirk. He leaned in slowly, lips ghosting over her ear. “I don’t share, Elara.” “Then you should’ve tried harder to keep me.” She turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the garden without looking back. Killian stayed there, jaw tight, fury simmering below the surface. She thinks she’s winning. But she hadn’t seen obsession at its peak. Not yet **** Elara Beckett picture perfect life crumbles when her step sister, Ivy, stole her fiancé, Aiden, and her father’s company. Heartbroken Elara leaves then returns five years later as a successful fashion designer who is determined to take back her legacy and bring her sister down. She teams up with billionaire Killan Hayes, a ruthless man who has his own vendetta against ivy. A fake engagement is created and they work together to defeat Ivy and Aiden. In the process, sparks fly between Killan and Elara, this complicates their alliance. Dark secrets about her family and Killian's hidden motives come to light threatening to destroy everything. Elara must rise up and reclaim her destiny and find love in the chaos.

Stay with me, please stay I need you to love me, I need you today Give to me your leather Take from me my lace Everly Vivienne Rock, ‘Lyv’ for her readers and followers, is a very… interesting woman. She’s an author of romantic novels, filled with love and fiery passion, but she avoids the limelight. Her only connection with her fans is through her weekly vlog called ‘HeartChat’. When Everly rants about the handsome and talented rock star who has inspired her love stories, whose voice fills her every day and night with wonderful dreams, he actually… responds. For the first time, she considers stepping out of the safe world she’s created for herself. Lennon Stark loves his music and performing, but not the fake women who come along with it. When his little sister shows him ‘HeartChat’, the vlog of her favorite romance author, he’s intrigued by how genuine and warm she is… by her angelic look. As he pursues Everly, he’s forced to evaluate the direction of his life. He wants to meet in person, but as much as Everly wants to, it forces her to face the anxiety that has held her back all these years. With as much courage as she can muster, she steps into the world she’s been hiding from. Unfortunately, her anxiety isn’t the only threat to their happily ever after.

The company had just taken off when a project my wife, Lenora Peterson, was in charge of ran into trouble. To ease her mind during her pregnancy, I went overseas in her stead, spending ten perilous years abroad before finally returning home, barely alive. Instead of the joyful reunion I had imagined, she greeted me with cold detachment and thinly veiled disgust. "Why are you back?" Lenora asked. "Today is Nathan’s housewarming party," she added. "Let’s head there first—we’ll talk later." We rode in silence the entire way. When we arrived, a ten-year-old girl came dashing over and clung to Lenora affectionately. “Mommy, why did you take so long? Daddy’s been waiting for you forever!” Daddy? My eyes burned with rage—until I saw my old friend Nathan Grant stepping out to greet us with a smile. "Lily, come to Daddy. Mommy’s tired—don’t bother her now." When I met Lenora’s eyes, the guilt I saw there told me everything I needed to know. I turned away and texted my assistant, Morgan Williamson, to begin acquiring the company that, by right, had always belonged to me. He soon reported back. "Mr. Brooke, the acquisition process will be completed in three days."

Dr. Mira Lane was never meant to return to the world of wolves. After surviving the night her pack was slaughtered, she buried her past and her pain, becoming one of the best trauma surgeons in the human world. She doesn’t shift. She doesn’t trust. And she definitely doesn’t believe in mates. Until the night he is brought into her ER. Alpha Grey Maddox. He was bleeding, unconscious, and radiating the same wild power she’s tried to forget. He’s the leader of the very pack that once betrayed hers. And fate just marked him as her mate. Saving him means more than stitching wounds. It means exposing her secrets. Reawakening the wolf she swore she’d never be again. And stepping back into a world where power is everything… and love can kill. Grey is dangerous, controlling, and loyal to a war she wants no part in. But the bond between them burns hotter each day and when enemies begin hunting Mira for reasons she doesn’t understand, Grey may be the only one who can protect her. But he wants more than her trust. He wants her submission. Her loyalty. Her heart. And Mira must decide: will she run from the mate who could break her or fight for the only love that ever felt real?

Aira Valerius, the poised and dutiful daughter of the Beta of Crescent Wane Pack, was raised to be Luna. Engaged since childhood to Rico, the Alpha’s son, her fate had always been bound to his whims his arrogance, and his indifference. And out of loyalty to her family, who owed everything to the Alpha’s bloodline, she swallowed her pride and wore the mask of the perfect mate.Until her wedding day.When Aira caught Rico in bed with her adopted sister, she walked away from the altar with fire in her veins but she never made it out alive. Betrayed. Silenced. Killed.Only… fate had other plans.Aira wakes up alive, in the past, in her bridal suite once more, memories of her death seared into her soul. And this time, she refuses to be anyone’s puppet.Still in her wedding gown, she flees, stepping into the unknown with one vow: never again.Then she meets him.Alexander Thorne, the mysterious man in the back of the sleek black car, with eyes like winter storms and a name that shakes the werewolf realm—The Alpha King.Desperate and cornered, Aira blurts out the impossible: “Marry me.”And to her shock… he says yes.But Aira is no longer just the Beta’s daughter, and Alexander is far more than a stranger. In his arms, she finds safety. In his palace, danger. Because the Alpha King has secrets of his own and a possessive streak that won’t let his new Luna walk away.Not now.Not ever.

On my eighth Mate-Marking anniversary, I had carefully prepared a special celebration ceremony. My Alpha mate, Derek, told me the pack had an emergency and the ceremony was canceled. When I arrived at the venue, I was shocked to see the ceremony proceeding as planned. Scarlett, once my best friend, was walking hand-in-hand with Derek onto the ceremonial platform. Her daughter and my son were being led by their hands, one child with each adult. The four of them stood closely together while other pack members, unaware of the truth, praised them: "The Alpha of Shadow Pack and his mate look so happy together." I stood up in the crowd and applauded: "I didn't know Shadow Pack had replaced their Luna with an Omega. They make such a perfect couple." The next moment, Scarlett's face turned pale as she collapsed on the platform. I ignored the chaos and walked straight home. The following day, Derek stormed back home and confronted me: "Scarlett's condition has barely improved. Why did you have to provoke her?" My son pushed me and accused: "It's all your fault! You made little Emma cry!" I pulled out the mate-bond dissolution agreement and threw it in their faces: "Yes, it's my fault. So I'm stepping out. Now you four can be one happy family." But my mate and son suddenly began to panic.

What would you do when you have no choice but to marry an possessive boss in other to save your only family member? Ava Addams is a young cheerful girl who was betrayed by her fiancé and best friend. Her younger brother was hospitalised on the same day her fiancé and best friend betrayed her, how painful and depressing can that be? but she was offered a position as the contract wife of the CEO of the leading company in country F and beyond. Derrick Anders is every woman's dream man as a husband but not to Ava. He is just a arrogant man to her. Do you think Ava will accept his offer? ******* "Come closer" Derrick said. "I....I can't because I don't know what you would do to me" Ava said stepping back. She was scared. Derrick became impatient but tried to control himself. "Stupid girl! After making me all riled up and now she is trying to run away... He would never allow her to escape!" Derrick thought. He was continuously staring at her. Ava became conscious of the way Derrick was staring at her. It was as if he could see through her. Sighs... Derrick sighs and raised his left hand to gesture for her to go close to him. "Be good and come to daddy" Derrick said smiled slyly while approaching Ava.... Read this amazing romance story to find out!

After my son’s surgery, I stayed overnight at the hospital. While keeping watch, I scrolled through my phone and came across a post. [What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?] An anonymous user replied. [I used the senior who sponsored me as a stepping stone.] [My sponsor was rich and clueless. He paid for my entire college education, and after I graduated, I slept with his wife. She even had my child.] [The best part is that he treats my son like his own. He works himself to exhaustion just to set that kid up for life.] [By the way, his family just received three million from the relocation compensation. My lover will be here soon. She’ll pretend we need it for a school district apartment and trick him into giving it to us.] [Once the cash is in hand and the villa is bought, I’ll have my son acknowledge me as his real father and then throw my sponsor out of the house.] A blurry photo of a little boy was attached. My heart skipped a beat. On his wrist was the safety charm I had given my son. Just then, my wife pushed open the hospital room door. “Honey, Xeno is starting elementary school soon. Let’s take your mom’s compensation money from the relocation and use it to buy a place in a good school district.”

[WARNING!! R18+ CONTAINS SMUT SCENES AND OTHER ADULT STUFFS] Devyn Lowell, the youngest daughter of the Lowell Clan. A dominant werewolf omega, who changes sex partners every month in order to maintain her form. She never entered serious relationships. For her, alpha men were just toys. Kiel Arnoux, a recessive werewolf alpha. Living his life as the President’s shadow. Devyn’s personal assistant, who distanced himself and forgot the memories they made as childhood friends. *** “I can’t take her strong pheromones!!” The man who was supposed to be Devyn’s partner for the month stormed out of the room. The female omega sat down and lit a cigarette. A devilish smirk stretched across her cheeks. “What a useless alpha,” Kiel turned to her and bowed. “I apologize. Do you want me to arrange another—” He stopped when Devyn pulled his collar. She blew a smoke and ordered. "Kneel" Kiel wasn't stunned at all. He bent down and kneeled. Devyn grabbed the man by the hair and then she placed one foot on Kiel's chest. "You are so obedient. Do you know that it was a privilege to be stepped on by me?" she smirked. The man nodded. "Thank you for stepping on me, President." *** A hot and steamy connection between a CEO and her assistant. Is LUST the only thing that binds them? What will happen if both of them fall deeper into the dangerous pit of LOVE?