The Art Of Saying No

I had been secretly in love with my childhood friend for nine long years. When we finally got married, my family and friends thought I was the happiest person in the world. After I became pregnant, he used the excuse of "helping an old classmate" and invited the most beautiful girl from our class into our home. During the worst of my pregnancy, when nausea and exhaustion hit hardest, he took her to the hospital, made crafts with her, and watched sunsets with her. He even had the guts to accuse me of being small-minded and petty and acting like a bitter, jealous wife. Only then did I realize that it was just my foolish fantasy that I lived my dream of marrying my childhood sweetheart and had a happy life. I let go of the love I had for him and of the future I thought we would share. Now, however, he was the one who regretted it.

Despised by her father, Emma Walker finds herself trapped in the net of the ruthless mafia boss in exchange for her Mother’s treatment, and revenge on her selfish father. Salvatore Barone was a nightmare everyone avoided, a man rumoured to be selfish, yet his mother was his weakness. Faced with the decision to give his dying mother, a daughter-in-law, he gets into a contract marriage with the daughter of his sworn enemy. What happens when they start to fall in love with one another? Especially when it turns out that his mother lied.

Grace Hammond lost the most important person in her life, her grandmother, Juliet. Left with little beyond a failing farm and not much clue how to run it, she's trapped-- either she gives up three generations of roots and leaves, or she finds some help and makes it work. When a mysterious letter from Juliet drops a much needed windfall in her lap, Grace knows she has one chance to save the only place she's ever called home and posts a want-ad.The knight that rides to her rescue is Robert Zhao, an Army veteran and struggling college student. A first generation Korean American, Rob is trying desperately to establish some roots, not just for himself, but for the parents he's trying to get through the immigration process, a secret he's keeping even from his best friends. Grace's posting for a local handyman, offering room and board in exchange for work he already loves doing, is exactly the situation he needs to put that process on track.Neither is prepared for the instant chemistry, the wild sweet desire that flares between them. But life in a small town isn't easy. At worst, strangers are regarded suspiciously, and at best, as profoundly flawed-- and the Hammond women have a habit of collecting obscure and ruthless enemies. Can their budding love take root in subtly hostile soil and weather the weeds seeking to choke them out?

Calla was living a peaceful life with her niece Sophie. Until one day she vanished from her school yard and the only person could answer her is the man who tells the future.

"I'm coming for you. No matter how far you think you can run, I can assure you that you can't hide and I'm closer to you than you think." Cassandra receives this letter from her mailbox. It's the millionth time she's been receiving these threats on a regular basis and her entire life is at stake and the tragedy of her life puts not only her but her husband, Mustafa on the edge as well, as Sandra is curious as to who is planning to desperately to put her in bondage again. Who could want to put her in captivity? Could it be her ex boyfriend, Dan? No. He didn't love her. He only broke her heart and cheated on her severally so there was no way on earth that he would want her. Could it be the loan shark that enslaved her when she was nine? Or could it be her mother placing yet another risky gamble over her life?

Bisi, a timid Nigerian boy, discovers that he is attracted to the same sex, but he is determined to change his preference, leading to more frustration. Bisi meets and falls in love with his married boss Ebuka and a sizzling affair begins between them, an homophonic waitress, a jealous wife, and his own family make his life a living hell. Betrayed by his bisexual lover JUDE, Bisi escapes Nigeria in search of love. Fate connects him with a foreigner Scott and he experiences true and unjudgemental love. love as he had never felt before. Would the world and his family accept him for who he is or would it be over his dead body?

Alpha Raul… That is his name, The Alpha of the Night. His name was dreaded among his neighboring packs, and nobody dared to cross his path. Alpha Raul has been known for his conquests, he is a cold-hearted, possessive, dominant, power-hungry leader who fought battles and conquered territories, which earned him the title “The Alpha of The Night.” What happens when he was mated to one of the most beautiful, yet innocent young lady of a pack, Hayley, whose Alpha he had betrayed because of his hunger for power? What happens when he found out she was not only a werewolf but also a seer? Little did he know that Luna Hayley also had her secret agender in his life. What could this agender be? Let’s find out in this heart-racing piece containing love, romance, and betrayal.

"Watch and learn. On how the person you called a pathetic commoner would be the one to bring you to your knees." - Augustus Fordman. *** In a world that shunned him, August Fordman was the perpetual outcast. From being labeled as the "pathetic commoner" to the heartbreak of Samantha betraying him, followed by a reputation-shattering scheme, he reached rock bottom. But this was the last time everyone could cast stones at him. Rising from the ashes, he reclaims his true heritage as the heir to the highest-ranking family. Now armed with immense power and wealth, he vowed a promise to himself: They'll soon taste the torment he once endured. He will return the same pain everyone made him feel!

Madison Byers returns to the dazzling city of Los Angeles, determined to reclaim her family's legacy after the tragic loss of her father. Yet, standing in her way is a menacing uncle with ambitions to seize her father's empire. In a city where power and wealth rule, Madison's last hope for redemption takes an unexpected twist when she shares a passionate one-night encounter with Tyler Marshal, the charismatic billionaire playboy. Tyler Marshal, accustomed to a world of deceit and danger, suddenly finds himself captivated by Madison's wit and determination. Their lives collide, and a whirlwind of events propels them into an arranged marriage neither of them saw coming. As they navigate the treacherous waters of high society, deceit, and hidden agendas, the fate of their families hangs in the balance. Trusts are shattered, and long-buried secrets claw their way to the surface. In a city where destiny can change with a stolen kiss or a fleeting touch, Madison and Tyler must dance to the unpredictable tune of fate while facing relentless opposition at every turn. Sometimes, destiny also begins with the brush of lips or touch, but how well can both parties dance to its tune with the many oppositions?. In "Thorns of the Heart", a tale of love, intrigue and power, will they emerge victorious or be consumed by their demons?

Love has many colours every colour has its own side. Join the journey of our characters to see every shade of loveIts a collection of short stories with many different shades of love