Stoic Expression

Even on my hundredth proposal, Isabelle Cole still turns me down. We've been together for seven years. For the previous 99 proposals, she said her childhood friend isn't married yet, and she can't bring herself to break the promise they've made. Staring at the ring in my hand, I finally can't hold it in anymore. "If Ronald never gets married, are you going to keep him company forever? What am I to you?" Isabelle's expression turns gloomy in an instant. She snatches the ring and throws it into the river. "Ron and I made a promise when we were kids that we'd get married at the same time. How can I just abandon him? "And besides, is that piece of paper really all that important, Lucas? We've been together for seven years. What difference would it even make?"

Sky Foster has survived plenty of things: family drama, high heels on marble floors, and growing up in a Mafia dynasty. But nothing could prepare her for someone babysitting her. Or rather, that's what it feels like when her family assigns her a bodyguard. Charlie Vale is tall, infuriatingly calm, and works for her family with the kind of deadly efficiency that makes people squirm. Especially her. He's there every day at school, in the hallways, outside her classroom, always watching, always quiet, always ruining her chances at even pretending to be a normal teenager. Charlie doesn't believe in distractions, and Sky just wants to have fun. Guarding the boss's niece should be simple: keep her safe, keep his distance, and keep his job. But Sky has a bad habit of finding trouble, and Charlie has a worse habit of following her straight into it. When a threat from the Foster family's past resurfaces, Sky becomes the target. Forced into close quarters, sparks fly and rules break as Sky begins to see the man behind the stoic guard. And Charlie? He discovers that babysitting the Mafia princess might just be the most dangerous job of his life.

Despite being the Daughter of the Beta of the BloodRose Pack, Alexandra Pearce has never believed in Mates or First Love. Her life revolved around three life goals; To protect her family, her pack and to enjoy life with her best friends. But the Moon goddess had other plans for her. With the emergence of her stoic, possessive and bad boy mate, Alexandra is thrust into a world unlike the one she had planned for all her life. Old secrets are revealed. Pandemonium is unleashed upon her life and to top it all off, she is in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to destroy them both...to destroy their story before it really begins. All her priorities shifted when she met Rhys and now, she was willing to sacrifice everything to protect him and their future. All Rhys Hayden has ever trained for was to become the Alpha of his Noble Family Pack. As the son of one of the most important Noble families in the Werewolf Royal lineage, his life has only ever been about securing his position. Not until he meets his quirky mate who changes his life in unimaginable ways. Cold and unfeeling before, everything that meant something to him before becomes nothing in the wake of her arrival. She is the only reason he drew breath and he would protect her with everything he has

"Is she his mistress?" "No, She is his wife." He regretted passing the information when the facial expression of their Boss changed. The only link to reach the traitor would be her only. "Enjoy the meal boys and don't forget to cut down her every part before throwing her into the burning mansion." She thought death was her escape but found herself in the clutch of another monster because of his husband's betrayal. What she didn't know, was the sin that would be committed by her too. Entangling herself in forbidden love with another man even being married. The end of her torturous life opened another sinful path for her to take. The desire took its turn. Will she accept this life or make herself free from every possible shackle she had? Copyright 2020-2021 by Irene Davison (Esperanza) Paperback Available

The powerful Will Hudson, Bardou City's untouchable kingmaker, was set to marry my sister. Everyone said he was a monster, a man broken in body and mind, that marrying him was no different from stepping into hell itself. My sister, Carrie Wheaton, wept as if her heart would break. I pulled her aside and said, "I'll marry him for you. But in return, you'll stay in the countryside and guard the safe buried beneath Mom's grave. For three years, you mustn't open it." She thought it held a fortune—billions, perhaps—and joy lit up her face. She agreed without hesitation. I watched her greedy expression twist with excitement and couldn't help the cold smile that rose within me. 'Carrie, guard it well. Let's see if you can handle the kind of fortune that can destroy you.'

My fiancé, Owen Lockhart, came from old money. He kept a canary in a gilded cage, spoiling her rotten. Just as I was about to break off the engagement with him, a barrage of comments suddenly popped up in my mind. [What did Owen do wrong? He just wanted to get your attention.] [Don't break up with him. All you need to do is shed a few tears, and he'll give you everything.] I turned my head, and through the window, I saw the canary in her high-end jewelry, smiling brightly as she hooked her arm around Owen's. He lazily lowered his eyes, yet his expression held a hint of indifference mixed with a subtle affection. I smiled bitterly, replying to the lawyer's message: [Go on with drafting the engagement annulment agreement.]

Kathryn Michaels is a country bumpkin with an honest personality. She's also a timid woman who tends to make careless mistakes at work. Just one glare can easily make her burst into tears. Chris Albert is the most well-known man in Harborlean. He's a cruel and bloodthirsty man with a penchant for brutal and inhuman methods. No woman dares to pine after him even though he's blessed with gorgeous looks. Unexpectedly, a woman actually manages to sneak into his room and sleep with him while he's drunk! Just as Chris scours the world for the mysterious woman, he realizes that his secretary is putting on more weight each passing day. With a dark expression on his face, he coaxes, "Tell me, Kathy. Were you the woman from that night?" Kathryn meets the dangerous man's eyes before shrinking away from him in fright. "N—No!"

On my wedding day, my groom's sister, Nadia Lawson, wears an elaborate ball gown and comes on stage to snatch the emcee's microphone. Before all the guests, she arrogantly says to me, "Can't you see the princess is here? Why didn't you curtsy and greet me? You deserve to be punished! Get on your knees and prostrate yourself before me as an apology!" My expression sours at her insolence. I turn around only to see the indulgent expressions on her parents' faces. The groom, Bowen Lawson, says dotingly, "We spoiled Nad silly since she was a child. You are her sister-in-law now. Don't make things hard for her." I am so mad that I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The clown thinks she's a princess, asking me to kneel before her? Ridiculous.

On our wedding night, my husband didn't stay long enough to toast with champagne. He left me alone at the reception and retreated to the chapel. Because from the very beginning, this stoic, untouchable man had only ever loved my younger sister. For three years of my marriage, I poured myself into thawing a heart of stone, only to be met with glacial silence. "Claire," he said coldly, "I'd rather take vows of celibacy than ever love you." But when the truck came barreling toward me, the man who had resented me his entire life used his own body to shield mine. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw him gripping the paramedic's sleeve, blood staining his lips. "Don't tell that crazy woman who saved her… And don't let my family… make things difficult for her." Tears welled in my eyes. Only then did I realize I wasn't the only one at fault in this marriage. After coming back to life, I chose to join the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces and head straight to the front lines. If we were never meant to grow old together in this life, then let my final wish for him be this: A lifetime of peace, and an eternity of never crossing paths with me again.

"kneel," His cold voice thundered in the quiet room. I shuddered as I quietly obeyed, gritting my teeth as I fought back the tears from falling down my eyes. Derrick eyes darkened as he stared at me, his eyes filled with disdain. He lifted my chin up with his feet. My gaze landed on his cold and stoic face He curled the corners of his lips up. You want to be my Luna? "You are not fit," He said, the words like daggers piercing in my heart. Raven, a young omega and the mate of Alpha Derrick, lived a brutal life under his indifference and cruelty. Forced to endure humiliation and torment. On the night she finally gathered the courage to disappear from his life. Derrick returned home drunk. Mistaking her for his lost first love, he forcefully claimed her as his mate. Raven fled that same night, only to discover she was carrying his child. She vowed to protect her baby at all costs and built a quiet, peaceful life in the human world. But five years later, Derrick came knocking. This time, he didn’t just want the children he wanted her. But Raven is no longer the meek and broken woman he once knew. Will she forgive the man who shattered her life?