The Proof Is In The Plants

ในวันครบรอบงานวิวาห์ปีที่เจ็ดของเรา ฉันกำลังนั่งตักลูเซียนสามีมาเฟียของฉัน และจูบเขาอย่างดูดดื่ม นิ้วมือควานหาผลตรวจการตั้งครรภ์ที่ซ่อนอยู่ในกระเป๋าชุดราตรีผ้าไหมแสนแพง ฉันอยากจะเก็บข่าวเรื่องการตั้งครรภ์ที่มาอย่างไม่คาดฝันนี้ไว้จนกว่าจะถึงช่วงท้ายของค่ำคืนนี้ มาร์โกลูกน้องมือขวาของลูเซียนเอ่ยถามเป็นภาษาอิตาลีพร้อมรอยยิ้มแฝงเลศนัย “นายท่าน โซเฟีย นกน้อยตัวใหม่ของท่าน เด็ดไหมครับ?” เสียงหัวเราะแกมเย้ยหยันของลูเซียนแล่นผ่านทรวงอก ทำให้ฉันรู้สึกเย็นยะเยือกถึงกระดูกดำ เขาตอบกลับเป็นภาษาอิตาลี “เหมือนลูกพีชดิบที่เพิ่งเด็ดจากต้น ทั้งสดทั้งนุ่มนวลดีนะ” มือคู่นั้นลูบไล้ไปตามเอวของฉัน แต่สายตาของลูเซียนกลับไร้ซึ่งอารมณ์ “ปิดปากเอาไว้ให้สนิท ถ้านายหญิงของฉันรู้เข้า ฉันตายแน่” บรรดาลูกน้องหัวเราะคิกคักอย่างรู้ทัน พร้อมยกแก้วขึ้นสาบานว่าจะเงียบปากเอาไว้ เลือดอุ่นในกายของฉันค่อย ๆ กลายเป็นน้ำแข็งทีละนิด สิ่งหนึ่งที่คนเหล่านี้ไม่รู้เลยคือ คุณย่าของฉันมาจากเกาะซิซิลี ดังนั้นฉันจึงเข้าใจทุกคำที่พวกเขาพูดกัน ฉันพยายามคุมสติตนเองให้สงบ พร้อมกับปั้นรอยยิ้มไร้ที่ติในฐานะนายหญิงไม่ให้คลาย แต่มือข้างที่ถือแก้วแชมเปญกลับสั่นเทาไม่หยุด แทนที่จะสร้างเรื่องราวอะไร แต่ฉันกลับกดเปิดโทรศัพท์มือถือและเลื่อนหาจดหมายเชิญเรื่องโครงการวิจัยทางการแพทย์ระหว่างประเทศแบบรายบุคคลที่ได้รับมาเมื่อสองสามวันก่อน และกด “ยอมรับ” ภายในสามวัน ฉันจะหายไปจากโลกของลูเซียนแบบไม่ให้เขาตามหาได้อีก

After three years of marriage, William Harris’s first love, the woman he broke up with six years ago, returned from abroad. And she brought back a five-year-old son with her. Charlotte handed him the divorce papers with both hands. “Let’s end this. It’s better for you, for me, and for her.” William glanced at her and said dismissively, “Divorce? Can you afford to leave me?” Charlotte threw down the divorce papers and cut him out of her life for good. She severed every tie to the past and poured all her energy into her career, quickly rising to become an internationally renowned sleep disorder specialist. Powerful figures across the globe owed her favors and respected her work. The youngest heir of a foreign financial empire said, “Charlotte, just divorce him already. I can’t wait any longer.” The CEO of a multinational corporation said, “Charlotte, I’ll go with you when you file for divorce.” A world-famous attorney told her, “Charlotte, I’ll handle your divorce case myself.” Charlotte rubbed her temples. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the divorce. He was the one who refused to divorce her no matter what. Left with no other option, she made a public announcement. “Whoever can actually get this divorce finalized gets VIP seating at my divorce party.” Not long after, William received a divorce notice from her lawyer right in the middle of a shareholders meeting. Soon after that, a multi-billion-dollar project of his fell through. That same afternoon, he was nearly hit by a car right outside his own company. Later, Charlotte arrived at the hospital carrying a bouquet of flowers. “Let’s end this,” she said softly. “It’s better for everyone.” The cold and dignified William pulled her tightly into his arms, his eyes reddening. “You want a divorce? That’ll happen over my dead body.”

Angela Bailey spent six years believing her marriage was built on love, only to discover her devoted husband was nothing more than a polished illusion. When she filed for divorce and asked her daughter to leave with her, the little girl clung to another woman’s hand and called her “Mom.” Donald Turner, cold and entitled, told her, “As long as you apologize to Nina, you can still live your high-society life.” Angela scoffed. “You might not even stay in high society yourself.” She walked out of the Turner household with nothing, determined to rebuild her life from the ground up. With her own talent and grit, she joined a new company and went head-to-head with her ex. Just when Donald realized his mistake and wanted her back, another man stepped into Angela’s life—someone who protected her openly, supported her quietly, and cherished her without hesitation. Donald regretted everything and wanted her back. He appeared with their daughter, eyes red as he pleaded, “I’ll give you the entire Turner family. Please love me and our daughter again.” The man beside Angela laughed. “The Turner family? That means nothing. Angela doesn’t need it. And as for a daughter…” He looked at Angela, and together they said, “We already have one.”

Acid rain. Blizzards. Scorching heat and bone-chilling cold. Swarms of insects. Mutants. She had survived ten long years alone in the apocalypse, only to be betrayed and bled to death. But this time, she was back. Reborn with vengeance in her veins, she stocked up on supplies and raised an army of mutant dogs. She bought all kinds of things, including fried chicken, ramen, cola, and chips. If the world was going to end, she was determined to enjoy it in style. But... something about her pocket dimension upgrade seemed a little off. Why did the [Trash Processor] turn garbage into random supplies? The [Affection Ranch] usually changed animals based on her mood—wait, was that... an elephant? And her [Happy Garden] was supposed to grow crops, so why had it just sprouted a generator? When doomsday finally came, she was petting her massive dog with one hand, holding an ice cream in the other, and resting her feet on a massage device the pocket dimension had just spit out. Apocalypse or not, she lived with flair.

I'm rejected after asking for my boyfriend's hand in marriage for the 99th time. To my devastation, he turns and proposes to my best friend. I storm over to his office to demand an answer, but I hear them making out. My boyfriend says, "Don't worry. She offered herself to me in bed several times, but I've never touched her." I head home and trash the place. When I run out of strength, I make a call. "I'll marry you, Spencer." Since the man I chose doesn't love me, I'll now go for someone who does.

Judy’s fated mate rejected her to marry the Lycan Chairman - Gavin’s daughter. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he ruined her family and tried to make her his secret mistress! Judy’s response? “I’d rather sleep with your father-in-law than ever be with you!” Gavin is known for his power, wealth, and being the ultimate playboy who never sleeps with the same woman twice. But Judy’s about to break all his rules… again and again.

Alena Fleur has her dream job. Smart, confident, beautiful—she was everything. She was the COO of the Storm Dynamics. But only one particular problem, or more like a person, made her life hell, and that person was her rude boss, Elian Storm. Elian Storm, the CEO of the Storm Dynamics, kept a dark aura around him all the time; as if someone stabbed his heart and he could never move on. Everyone feared him, except his COO, who ended up earning a special spot in his heart despite their regular bickering. However, one unfortunate night revealed Elian’s side business to Alena. How would Alena handle herself after learning the boss she used to argue with was actually a ruthless mafia leader in the underworld?

Sienna Colton, the naive and innocent youngest daughter of the Colton family, makes the gravest mistake of her life when she falls in love with her sister's rival, Adrian Humphrey. To please him, she gives herself to him in every place imaginable. During a camping trip, after another reckless night together, Sienna is shocked to discover that her sister, Winona Colton, is Adrian's first and unrequited love. Adrian had only approached Sienna, showered her with affection, and taken her to bed as part of his revenge against Winona. Heartbroken, Sienna vanishes, leaving Adrian with nothing but her abortion papers. When they meet again, Sienna is no longer the docile, obedient young woman Adrian once knew. She is also the mother of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Adrian, who has long missed her, is no longer the prideful, arrogant man he once was. Trembling, he clutches the hem of her dress and pleads, "Anna, please come back. I'll treat your children as if they were my own." But Sienna flings his hand away and brushes off the spot he touched. A mocking smile curves on her red lips as she replies coldly, "They already have a father. There's no need for you to pretend."

From a campus romance to marriage, Dominic Fleming had always believed he led a perfect life. His wife, Isabella Sinclair, was dazzlingly beautiful. Their daughter, Lilith, was sweet and obedient. Dominic sometimes told himself he must have been a saint in a past life to deserve such happiness. Everything began to change the moment Isabella's so-called "sworn brother," Alexander Grant, entered their lives. Alex's name appeared more and more often, and it crept into every corner of their marriage. For Lilith's sake, Dominic endured the strain again and again until the day of the accident. As he lay on the operating table with his life hanging by a thread, Isabella was not at his side—she was with Alexander instead. That was the moment Dominic's heart finally turned cold. So why did Isabella regret it? She knelt with Alexander, who likewise barely clung to life, and wept as she begged Dominic for forgiveness. "Dom, I know I was wrong. Let's get married again. I will make him kneel and beg you for forgiveness," Isabella said. "Scram," Dominic replied. Isabella nodded eagerly. "Fine. I will throw him out right now!" "Get the fuck out too!" Dominic barked.

Nova Creed is running for her life from a marriage alliance to an Alpha twice her age, one with more enemies than morals. And when her twin brother Leo is deemed missing under suspicious circumstances, Nova does the unthinkable. She cuts her hair, steals his identity, and enrolls in the brutal academy where he was last seen. She claims she can feel the fact that her brother is dead. Everyone at home believes she’s making things up. Nova knows better. She’s here for answers. Revenge. Closure. But what she didn’t plan for was him. Rhydar Kane. Leo’s former best friend. His coldest rival. His possible killer. And now… her roommate. Rhydar’s wolf is restless and aggressive, drawn to “Leo” in ways that make no sense. But then, the bond kicks in and the truth starts coming to light. Nova Creed shouldn’t be here. Not at the Alpha Academy. Not in Dorm 314. And definitely not in Rhydar Kane’s bed.