Stoic Expression

Anais Vale vanished three years ago, breaking the terms of a legally binding marriage contract with billionaire CEO Cassian Vale. To the world, their short-lived marriage was a mystery. To Anais, it was survival. But when a mysterious legal summons pulls her out of hiding, she’s forced to return—not as a woman in love, but as a wife under obligation. Cassian, ruthless and unreadable, never divorced her. Their original contract still holds, and now he wants her back—if only to fulfill the remaining years and protect his corporate empire from a hostile takeover. Emotion is not part of the deal. But the contract hides more than just legal conditions. It conceals a past filled with betrayal, a family legacy steeped in secrets, and a shared history neither of them fully understands. Anais returns as a woman determined to endure it quietly. But things change quickly: she discovers Cassian’s health is failing, that someone wants her dead, and that her own tragic past may be connected to his family’s crimes. As the truth unravels, Anais is forced to confront who Cassian really is—and who she must become if she wants to survive in his world. Along the way, both begin to transform. Anais, once passive and self-effacing, begins to find her voice and strength. Cassian, seemingly heartless and stoic, is forced to feel and face the consequences of his past. Their story is a collision of control and vulnerability, love and guilt, power and protection. What begins as a contract slowly becomes a reckoning—and a second chance neither of them expected. But second chances come at a cost. And not every ending is fair.

Blurb Five years ago, the 18-year-old Mia was the most naive Italian teenager ever. The people she trusted took away her inheritance, identity, and fiance. Finally, she was thrown into the bed of a stranger. That night changed everything in her life. Five years later, she returned to Italy as a world-class model with a secret child. "Mommy, take a quick peek at that handsome uncle", the small girl with a ponytail cupped her cheeks and had a dreamy look on her face. Mia sighed and replied, "Chiara, don't forget our agreement. Anyway, that stranger is not half as handsome as your Dad". The said stranger had a darkened expression on his face. His subordinates felt the urge to laugh but his oppressive aura wouldn't let them do it. That was the first time their boss met a woman who wasn't afraid of offending him. Mia's goals upon her return are only three. One, bring down her enemies and take back her inheritance. Two, Restore her identity as an Arturo. Three, Find the man from that night. What if fate has other plans for her?

“Fine, I accept your pathetic rejection, but mark my words, I, Abigail, vow to make you regret this decision!” I screamed, my voice shaking with the raw pain tearing through me. I locked eyes with him—the man I had loved with every fiber of my being. But he stared back, his expression cold and unmoved, as though the years we’d spent together meant nothing. How could he be so blind? I was his wife, bound to him by sacred vows, while Amanda was merely his mistress. Yet he chose her over me, casting aside our bond as though it were nothing but dust. --- Abigail had endured years of neglect, overlooked, and discarded like a shadow in her own home. She was Luna, yet she’d never known the respect or love that came with the title. Her one failure? She hadn’t given Alpha Chris a child, an heir to strengthen their pack. But when Amanda, his first love, returned, Chris became ruthless, flaunting his betrayal before her eyes. But destiny has a way of bringing light to the darkest of hearts. He’s everything Chris isn’t: strong, compassionate, and willing to break all rules for her. His heartbeat calls to hers, but can her shattered heart ever learn to love again? Will Abigail risk opening herself to the possibility of new love and redemption, or will her thirst for revenge consume her completely?

A young psychologist, Maria Reyes, fresh out of college, decides to take her first freelance case to build her résumé. Feeling bold and free on her graduation night, she let herself loose after getting charmed by an alluring mysterious man. One drink leads to another and another, and she finds herself drowning in passion in his bed. She reads him like a map and falls for his scars before she even asks for his name. But the morning brings the brutal truth, Darian Wolfe is her father's enemy, a ruthless businessman, an heir to the empire sworn to destroy her father's legacy. She vanishes before he wakes, unable to face what has been done. Weeks later after being able to set up her new office, the past begins to blur until her first patient walks through the door. It's him, Darian Wolfe. Her expression freezes when she sees him. He walks around her office uninvited. He takes a seat without a word. The silence between them is thick with everything unsaid. And then, he looks unblinking in her eyes. "I have a lot to... unpack, Dr Reyes," he says, with a dark smile. "Let's start with a woman I met two weeks ago at a bar," he says, pulling out a red panty from his pocket.

Danielle Young is a kind-hearted and devoted woman who goes above and beyond to fulfill her parents' wishes. Due to this, her parents arranged for her to marry the wealthy heir of the Anderson family, in order to elevate their family's business to the next level. Unfortunately, everything took a dangerous turn, putting the Youngs' cooperation at grave risk.When the news broke out, Mr. Young fell ill, witnessing his company on the verge of falling apart. Left with no choice, Danielle had to seek assistance from her father's business partners, only to discover that they were colluding with the Andersons. Danielle had no option but to put aside her ego and approach the only person capable of assisting her. ******* Jake blinked innocently. "500 million? What do you need such a huge amount of money for?" he asked, arching his brows at her. "Can you quit the act already? Will you lend it to me or not?" she demanded, her voice coming out firm. Jake shrugged his shoulders "Why don't you be my wife instead, and you won't have to pay back a dime?“ his eyes shone with instrest which didn't last for a moment before he returned back to his stoic demeanor. A snicker escaped her lips. "Mr. Carter, are you doing this just to get back at me?" The man slowly got up from his seat and gracefully walked up to Danielle who was standing a few inches away. His lips curled up faintly as he closed the little space between them. "Do you think I'm over you, Bubbles?" He whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Will Danielle accept the offer of the same man she humiliated years ago? Are Jake's intentions towards Danielle as pure as he portrays on the surface?

James’s lips brushed against mine, sending shivers down my spine. His eyes remained aloof, but his mouth ignited flames within me. My pulse raced as his cold, calculated kiss unexpectedly sparked desire. I abruptly melted into him, seeking warmth. James expression remained neutral, but his grip on me tightened, betraying his character and his hidden emotions. *************** Ava's world changed into an adventurous one, the day she got involved in an accident with Simville's most cruel and heartless billionaire. Unlucky for her, she becomes James pawn as she finds herself in a marriage contract, in order to secure his next heir as his health dwindled. Ava on the other hand, agrees reluctantly, in order to amass wealth from their contract, to pay off her debts with her forced lover, Brandon, hoping to see her lost mother once again. But as the fake love become real, Brandon becomes nicer and more gentle,an evidence of their contract love coming into reality. After reuniting with her mom, Ava is forced to choose - Going to live with her mother in her new found home, or staying with James, who has fully fallen for her. Would she choose her last true relative over her first true love??

"Daisy Louise Harmony Thompson" is actually Marabelle Daisy Graystone, the sole survivor of the Blue Moon pack's destruction, living under witness protection. Working at Sneakz Burger Emporium under her uncle Mateo's watchful eye, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel when mysterious customers recognize her true identity. The story reveals that Viktor Bloodmoon, a rogue Alpha who once visited her family's pack, has been hunting Marabelle for years. After failing to challenge his father for pack leadership, Viktor murdered him and was exiled, but built his own rogue pack. His obsession with Marabelle stems from a potential arranged mating that was discussed between their fathers before her family was killed. When Viktor's agents find her at the restaurant, Marabelle escapes through secret tunnels with Alpha Maison of the Moon Diamond pack, who has been coldly watching over her for years. During their escape, Maison reveals the shocking truth: his wolf recognizes her as his mate, but he kept his distance to protect her identity. Further revelations show that Marabelle has been taking wolf suppressants that have been slowly poisoning her wolf spirit—a plan implemented by Alpha Logan (Maison's father) and administered by Uncle Mateo. As Viktor's forces attack, Marabelle and Maison reach the Moon Diamond pack house where they learn that as the last Graystone, she carries territorial rights to her ancestral pack lands—making her a valuable target for Viktor's power grab. The story culminates with injured Beta Dean returning to the pack house while others are still fighting, his expression showing an unsettling mixture of fury and triumph, suggesting further betrayal may be unfolding.

"I, Ortega Blackwood, daughter of beta Denzel Blackwood, am rejecting you, Killian Fitzgerald, future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, as my fated mate!" She uttered through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at her mate as he descended the stairs towards her. His expression twisted into a mask of fury, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, his imposing figure cast a shadow over her as she lay on the ground, vulnerable yet defiant. "Do you dare defy me, Ortega? Do you dare reject your fate?" His voice dripped with venom, each word carrying a threat that hung heavily in the air. "You cannot reject me, Ortega. You will be my mate whether you like it or not." ************** Rejecting her mate hadn't been easy. But when Ortega meets the powerful and ruthless Lycan and Mafia Boss, Alfredo Gambino, she finds herself falling in love with him, even though he is the rival and enemy of her rejected mate. And Alfredo also finds himself unwilling to let her go, especially now that her rejected mate wants her back.

A week after I gave birth via C-section, Mark Whitman invited his friends over to celebrate the birth of our son. The crowd was boisterous—more than a dozen people. Not one of them bothered to remove their dirty shoes. The wooden floor was soon covered in muddy footprints. Mark came into the room and, without a hint of concern, ordered me out of bed. "Everyone's waiting outside. Don't just hide here and rest—you're embarrassing me in front of our guests." I had no choice but to push through the pain, forcing my body to prepare a huge meal for the large crowd, all on my own. When I carried the final bowl of steaming soup to the table, Lily Hoyte—whether intentionally or not—jabbed her hand against the wound on my abdomen. My hand trembled from the sudden pain, and the bowl slipped slightly, spilling the hot soup onto Lily's shoes. Mark's face darkened instantly. "What the heck did you do, Cammy? Lily rushed here right after her plane landed from overseas to see our son, and this is how you treat her?" The crowd quickly chimed in. "Come on, Cammy, no need to be so petty." "Mark and Lily grew up together. If there was really something between them, do you think you'd even be here now?" "Do you even know how much those shoes cost? They're limited edition—easily over ten thousand dollars. And you just ruined them." Lily stood up awkwardly, her eyes misting with tears. "If Cammy doesn't like me," she said softly, "then I'll leave. I don't want to be a bother." But Mark grabbed her hand in an exaggerated display of protection, his voice harsh as he turned to me. "Wipe Lily's shoes clean. Right now." His partiality for Lily made something sharp twist in my chest. My lips quivered as I fought back tears. "The wound on my stomach hasn't healed yet. I can't bend over." At that, his expression grew colder. "Don't use childbirth as an excuse. If you can't bend over, then kneel and wipe them. And if you won't, get out of my house!"

She is off-limits. Pure as snow. Too good for Hades to claim. The stoic new COO of Hunter Industries was Will Hunter's right hand man and best friend. His sister isn't for Harmon to have. Eight years his junior. The life of any party. He would do anything to protect her smile. He fulfilled all her wishes… Except her persistent requests for him to fuck her. He would never cross that line. One too many drinks brings about a moment of weakness. Four years of restraint shatters and he finally succumbs to his secret desire for her. They fuck until dawn. Harmon plans to escape on a business trip to Cupid’s Cove, Will's private island. He hopes a month away will cool the mutual fire their one night stand awakened. But Olivia won't be deterred. After her decade long crush finally fucked her senseless, she wants more. She follows him to paradise, determined to make him fuck her again. What she doesn't know is Harmon is a dangerous man, hiding a past filled with sinister secrets and lethal, psychotic killers. One reckless mistake in her pursuit of him sees Harmon facing off with a deadly assassin. Stuck in the middle, Olivia has no choice but to entrust her safety to him. Forced to stay by her side, they get up close and personal. Day and night. Her questions are many. His willingness to answer is nonexistent. The mission: keep her alive until he can send her home. The problem: they are in paradise, surrounded by cutthroat enemies with scores to settle and hidden agendas. The shadows of the underworld are the least of his problems. How long can he keep her in the dark when all he wants to do is fuck the fear out of her eyes?