The Hard Thing About Hard Things Novels & Stories

When sculptor-turned-corporate heir Rae Collins returns home after years abroad, she finds her life carefully arranged, a fiancé chosen for business corporation, a future planned for perfection. But everything tilts the moment she meets Dane Mercer, the idealist who was once her biggest heartbreak and her forbidden past. Now, as old sparks ignite in a world of power, secrets, and lies, Rae must choose between the love that ruined her and the life that defines her. Because some hearts aren’t broken, they’re molded by fire.

Harper Bennett hated Ryker Blackthorn throughout her entire student life. He was the textbook definition of a bully, with a heart as cold as ice. For four long years, he was her nightmare. But despite his actions, why did she still harbor feelings for him? Beneath the surface lies a story of unexpected twists. When their paths cross again, it's a tale of secrets, sparks, and a journey that will challenge everything Harper thought she knew about. Especially, when he told her that what he did was all for her...because he likes her. "From the moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew you were mine."

"Do you have what it takes to make me fall for you, ever?" Aria smirked at Dalton, whose eyes were blazing with so much anger. His strong willed principles, were no match to her inducing and alluring skills. I will have you, and I will melt your heart," he gritted his teeth angrily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aria had been beaten and maltreated by the husband's family, and she took every pain without complaining even when her husband overlooked the fact. Her life had taken a painful turn, the moment she was married into the most powerful and wealthy home, of the Millers through an arranged marriage for years. She did everything to please everyone even if they felt she was not worth her husband! One sudden morning, everything changed and everyone soon came at her mercy. Why she was like that and where she gained the power from? They knew not. Not when shocking incidents keeps happening that were meant to claim lives.

All because of Leo Cullen’s words, I gave up a place at a top-tier university in Ceres and stayed behind to retake the entrance exams with him—three times. By the fourth year, a girl arrived at our cram school, and Leo forgot the promise we made. He started skipping class, picking fights, smoking—doing everything but studying. One day, I stood at the school gate, blocking his path with a textbook in hand as he tried to ditch class. He smirked, unimpressed, and blew a bubble with his gum, letting it stick to the ends of my hair. “Naomi…,” he began, “who still cares about studying these days?” So I stopped caring and avoided him entirely. When he fooled around in the classroom, I went to the library. When he played basketball, I sat in a quiet corner with my books. Even when I craved noodles from my favorite shop, I’d scan the room first to make sure he wasn’t there. “Are you avoiding me, Naomi?” he asked later, his face in a frown. I shook my head. “Why would you think that?”

"I'll do anything you say," isn't an offer you should make lightly. Dailey finds this out the hard way after she crosses the school psycho and finds herself with a debt she can't pay. Drake is cold-hearted and merciless, but Dailey soon learns being his pet isn't so bad after all and starts to enjoy hearing the words - "Get on your knees."

It was our seventh year of marriage when my husband, Joseph Lowe, brought my best friend, Teresa Shaw, to my ward. And they were the picture of a perfect couple. I gave them my most genuine blessing. "You two make the perfect match." Joseph tossed an agreement in my face. An asset transfer. He demanded that I give Teresa everything I had. I took the papers and signed my name without wasting a moment to think. Teresa laughed happily, pleased with my obedience. She then hugged Joseph and said, "Thanks for taking care of Joseph for me, Selina. Oh, there's the divorce papers, too. How about…" I noticed the look of impatience in Joseph's eyes, so I snatched the papers from Teresa's hand. "Yeah, I'll sign them all."

Everyone knew that the mafia family's second son, Luca Romano, loved Serena Vitale to his very bones. Five years ago, Serena climbed into bed with the Romano family's eldest son, Adriano Romano. Photos from that night spread everywhere, but Luca quietly suppressed them all. Four years ago, Serena gave birth to Adriano's child, but Luca raised the baby as his own. He could forgive Serena for anything she did, as long as she loved him. The underworld whispered that Serena stayed with Luca not out of love but to grab at the mafia's power and influence. Luca did not care. He poured every ounce of his strength into treating Serena and the child well, but it was not enough. Serena became Adriano's caged canary instead. The night they broke up, she threw his illegitimate birth in his face to humiliate him. Yet she willingly, even gladly, let herself be imprisoned by Adriano, enduring the wax and the whips. Everyone cursed Serena for being shameless and desperate, but she was the only one who knew the bitterness she endured.

I was eighteen when I got together with Sam Bennett. We were in love for two years—at least, that was what I thought—until I found out I was nothing more than a stand-in for someone else. After a huge fight, we broke up. Not long after, Paxton Gibson, the warm and caring senior who had always looked out for me, began pursuing me passionately. He was persistent, unwavering, and so sincere that I finally let down my guard and accepted him. Just when I thought I had finally found true happiness, I overheard a phone call between Paxton and Sam. “Don’t worry, Leah trusts me completely. Take good care of Georgina. The surgery will happen soon.” In the end, when I really did disappear, they changed their minds. “Leah, come home with me, please?” I smiled, at peace with myself. “But I haven’t had a home for a long time.”

Lina Watson works hard to support herself and pay for her college degree in Literature. When she thinks her life is finally getting back on track, she discovers that her boyfriend, Noah Perry, is just playing her. Resentful, Lina decides to use a mysterious and unknown man to get revenge and gets mixed up with the biggest mafia gangster in New York, the Don of Cosa Nostra, Vincenzo Bonaccorso. "A kiss and nothing more?" Really? Or is this unusual request just the beginning of a beautiful love story?

Ryan,a seventeen years old boy finally escaped from his abusive adoptive father after getting beaten to pulp. And ran away in a new city where he knew no one except his childhood buddy, Darius who lived in that city for his studies. This young man was delighted to hear from Ryan, who had gone incognito for over a year. Atleast finally Darius would get a chance to confess his feelings but he decided not to rush. However,when Ryan met Owen, a good-looking guy in the book store, he felt something. Something so different and dificult to understand for a teen boy who never went out of the mansion his adoptive father kept him like a prisoner. Will his budding feelings for Owen Davenport, son of a CEO, lead him to happiness with acceptance or someone else will take his heart, like his childhood friend who was blessed to have him again in his life? What will happen when Ryan tells Owen about his feelings? Acceptance or a heartbroken rejection, Read the novel to find