Sunoo Smile

A NOVEL ON STOCKHOLM SYNDROME BOOK 3 OF A THREE BOOK SERIES *TRIGGER WARNING* This book contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing… and also slightly annoying. “Miss. Iris, do you believe she has a point?” she asked and returned to her seat once again. “I don’t think so, her father and uncle deserve to go to jail.” My answer extracted a smile from her like she was proud of my response. “My name is Christine; I am a renowned medico-legal psychotherapist. Been in the business for over twenty years and that is what a case of Stockholm syndrome looks like. In my years of experience, we see situations similar to this but its our job to help the victims realize” “Wow…” I started, really amazed at what she had said and what her work entails. I was only concerned why they locked me in a room with a psychotherapist “it must be difficult at times” I added. “yeah, its difficult every time” she laughed “but today isn’t about me, I have a question for you.” There was a brief pause in between before she carried on “Does Hunter deserve to go to jail?”

The day Yancy Shepherd died, Benedict Page poisoned our dinner. His eyes were wild, and bloodshot, as he watched me writhe in agony. There was a madness in his gaze, but worse was the hatred, a disgust so deep it twisted his face into something unrecognizable. "If it weren't for you forcing your way into our lives, Yancy wouldn’t have died from heartbreak. You ruined us! It’s all your fault!" A photo slipped from his trembling hand and landed at my feet—Yancy at twenty, looking radiant, her smile as bright as a blooming flower. I collapsed to the ground, my strength fading fast like a rose withering in the final grasp of winter. Helpless, I waited for the darkness to claim me, consumed by despair and bitter regret. Why hadn’t I listened to the system and killed him when I had the chance? But when I opened my eyes again, everything was different. I stood watching Benedict flee our engagement ceremony. My brother moved to chase after him, but I quietly raised a hand, stopping him. This time, things would be different.

Leo Parker, my fiance, shoved me out the door with his own hands. He used me as bait to buy time for himself and my best friend, Jessica Thorne, to escape. I'd never forget him shutting the door. I'd never forget his last words through the narrow crack. "Thank you for your sacrifice, Chloe." When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day before the zombie outbreak. Leo is gently urging me to hurry up and transfer 150 thousand dollars for the remodeling. It's the money we set aside for the home we plan to live in after we get married. In my past life, he set a trap and drained every cent of my savings. This time, I smile and agree. The only difference is that the 150 thousand dollars is going to build my doomsday bunker. And I'm also planning something special for them. After all, since I get a second chance at life, I should properly thank them for the "kindness" they showed me last time when they shoved me out to get torn apart by zombies.

Everyone knows Francesco Greco, heir to the largest mafia family in Solerio, is a notorious playboy. Yet when he swears to God that he'll love me for the rest of his life, I choose to believe him. He lives up to his words during the first year of our marriage. The Greco heir, whose presence alone terrorizes others, clings to me like a loyal puppy at home. But by the second year, he starts returning home with one lover after another. Rumors of his scandalous affairs spread, and I become the laughingstock of Solerio. On our eighth anniversary, his 99th lover taunts me in front of everyone at dinner. "Don't sleep in the master bedroom tonight," she says. "Mr. Greco and I are going to have some fun there. Also, change the sheets. I can't stand how dirty your things are." Everyone expects me to break down under such humiliation. Instead, I smile and turn on my heel. Then, I dial Madre Greco's number. "Madre, it's been eight years," I say, my voice steady. "It's time for me to leave."

When I was discharged from the psychiatric hospital, my brother and sister-in-law dropped everything to personally pick me up. Even my nephew, who had just finished his college entrance exams, arrived with a box of carrot cake he had waited in line all day to buy. His warm smile was the picture of innocence. “Auntie, congratulations on your discharge. With me here, you’ll never feel lonely again.” To outsiders, we were the perfect family—envied by all and even awarded the title of a local model family. But behind the facade of family bliss lay a very different story. On the very day my brother transferred the last of the family properties to me, I went live on social media. In front of an audience that idolized my so-called perfect family, I boasted about my "accomplishments." I conned my nephew into paying for a spot at an elite school, duped my sister-in-law into stepping into a scandalous club, and tricked my brother into losing everything he had worked for. “My brother has treated me with nothing but kindness. And I can only repay his kindness with betrayal.”

"Say you love me, Calantha," Favian demanded, those oceanic blue eyes piercing deep into hers. "Uhmm... No, thanks. The deal was to get married for a year. Smile before those fucking cameras and pretend to be absolutely in love with, after which you pay me my fucking money. So Mr Drake, cash or transfer?" Her indifference and cold response caught him off guard. A week ago, he could have sworn she was hopelessly in love with him. Or was it all a show? **** Calantha Donovan’s life takes a devastating turn when she’s fired from her dream job, leaving her drowning in debt and with no way to save her brother’s life. Desperate, she crosses paths with the mysterious and aloof billionaire, Favian Drake, who offers her a shocking proposition: A one-year contract marriage. No strings attached, no love—just a business arrangement to save her from her spiraling fate. But when the lines between duty and desire blur, Calantha finds out about Favian's haunting past. Will the price of their passion be more than either of them can bear?

Luis John $anchez a cold dominant boss. A famous engineer and a business tycoon who managed his own real estate. He didn't know how to smile, ika ng lahat napag-iiwanan na ng panahon. At the age of 35 years old, for him love is bullsh*t and hindrance to his goal in life. Pero, biglang magbabago ang buhay mo ng bigla kang ipakasal sa babaeng inakala ng lahat na nabuntis mo. "Hinding hindi ko matatanggap ang batang yan." matalim ang tingin ang iginawad niya sa babaeng kaharap habang binibigkas ang mga katagan 'yon. Ang akalang masayang buhay ni Kristell ay napalitan ng sakit at pighati nang makasal sa kan'yang boss na walang ginawa kundi pasakitan ang damdamin niya. She left him without any reason. After 7 years she's back with her son. Handa pa ba siyang muling papasukin sa kan'yang buhay ang lalaking nanakit ng kan'yang damdamin..

I'm Sophie Gould, the only daughter of the wealthiest man in Arberton. My mother doesn't like me, though. She treats her niece, Tanya Hall, like her own and allows her to take over my identity. At a banquet where all affluent families are gathered, Tanya takes my seat before I can. Then, she says in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "You wouldn't even be here if not for Mom wanting me to show you around so you can expand your horizons, Sophie. "Remember this—you might not be a member of the Gould family, but your actions are linked to us. Don't disgrace us." In the past, I would've stood there with my eyes red, at a loss for what to do. It was too bad I'd been reborn. I smile icily at Tanya and kick her off my throne. "I should've expected this of an impostor. To think an insignificant banquet like this is enough to make you act so obnoxiously! And did you say you're part of the Gould family? You have no idea the sort of trouble you'll be getting yourself into!"

"Anong Gusto Mo?" A simple yet tricky question that turned Bella's world upside down. A breadwinner and a loving big sister, Bella will sacrifice everything she could just to make her little sis happy. Little did she know, the innocent lil sis that she adore deeply would stab her back. Betrayed and left by the people she once loved, Bella felt helpless and was at lost of hope... Until one strange but familiar man appear out of blue... Who??? He is the infamous living demon, who can control life and death of one person. A single glance, can take anyone's soul... But a rare smile was enough to capture anyone's affection and Bella's frigid heart ain't an exception... Nevertheless... In his arm holds warmth and mystery... They've never met, but in his cold, ruthless dark pupils lies deep sadness and longing.. *** Who would have thought after her lil sis and boyfriend's betrayal, she would meet an accident, an accident that could dig the pain, danger, happiness and mysteries that has been buried for years.

Ever since my CEO husband returned from his business trip, he's been acting strange. His hugs are stiff, and his kisses are empty. Even when we're intimate, something just feels off. When I ask him why, he just smiles and says he's tired from work. But everything falls into place the moment I see his first love stepping out of his Maybach, her body covered in hickeys. That's when I finally give up. I don't argue or cry. I just smile… and tear up the 99th love coupon. Once, he wrote me a hundred love letters. On our wedding day, we made a promise—those letters would become 100 love coupons. As long as there were coupons left, I'd grant him anything he asked. Over the four years of our marriage, every time he left me for his first love, he'd cash in one. But what he doesn't know is that there are only two left.