the proof is in the pudding

I'm playing hide-and-seek with my son when he locks me on the balcony. It's freezing outside, and my face turns blue from the cold. However, all he does is laugh at me while I call for help. He makes ugly faces at me through the glass. "You look like the stray dog downstairs, Mom! You're so ugly!" I die a frosty and terrible death. Before breathing my last breath, I see my son excitedly give my husband a video call. "Mom has frozen to death, Dad. Can you take Ms. Cole home to be my new mom now?" When I open my eyes again, I'm taken back to the moment my son wants me to play hide-and-seek with him.

"Marry me for three years. Once Leah is back, we’ll divorce, and I’ll give you ten million dollars." The words were a cold offer, spoken so close to her that she could barely breathe. Alexander King—ruthless, untouchable, looks to die for and heir to the King empire—has never been the kind to beg. But when his first love, Leah, disappears, he makes a deal with Athena Dawson, the orphan girl his family has sponsored for years. Three years of marriage to protect the position of wife for Leah. A contract. And a promise of millions. But Athena doesn’t want his money. She wants him. She agrees, hoping that in those three years, she can make him love her—not as deeply as he loved Leah, but just enough to make him keep her by his side. And for a while, it almost seems possible. He’s sweet. Protective. Almost hers. Until Leah returns. Just like that, the dream shatters. The warmth disappears. And the man who once held her so gently turns cold, placing divorce papers in her hands as a cruel reminder of the deal they made. Their dirty little secret. But what if Athena isn’t the same girl who agreed to the contract? And what if, for the first time in his life, Alexander King realizes he made a mistake?

In San Francisco, a piece of news occupied the headlines today. "The engagement was made in the early years, and the Smith couple will choose one of the five young masters to be her fiancé!" Everyone was shocked. Soon, the media found the woman"s photo. The woman in the photo was ugly and chubby, wearing outdated clothes. Everyone complained that she was not worthy! However, after the news came out, it was such a slap in the face. The chairman behind the scenes was her! The most popular female singer, Kate, was also her! The mysterious racer was still her! ...... One by one, her disguise was revealed. No one dared to say that she was not worthy of the five sons of the Smith"s. It is them who didn"t deserve her!

Aurora just got out of an abusive relationship and walked out with an inferiority complex, low self-esteem, and zero self-confidence plus depression. A few weeks later, she's jumping right back in but this time, with the hottest guy on campus. Ex on one side trying to get back her attention, Aurora on the other side, leaving her best life with her newly found knight in shining armor. What she didn't know was that her college prince charming wasn't exactly who she thought he was and she, on the other hand, was busy living in her imagination of a perfect gentleman while there was none. She discovered soon enough only to be left with two options; Stay just friends with her prince charming who had been secretly having an affair with the same girl that has been broke her previous relationship or walk out on the duo and leave behind a beautiful friendship she just started experiencing for the first time in 22 years. What she didn't know, however, was that her Prince Charming was already head over heels in love with her but was scared to admit it.

Shantelle Scott has been in love with Evan Thompson since she was young. When Evan's father arranged for her to be his wife, she willingly agreed, despite knowing it was against Evan's will. She devoted her life to him in their two-year marriage, forgetting her aspirations. She hoped her husband would love her back. Sadly, one day, Evan coldly said, "I want a divorce! I want you out of my life, Shantelle!" Years passed, Shantelle became a famous surgeon. When her ex-husband came to see her, he asked, "Doctor Shant, I need your expertise." "What is wrong with you, Mister Thompson?" She asked. Yearning reflected in the man's eyes as he suggested, "My heart is broken, and only you can mend it." Shantelle laughed and replied, "Mister Thompson, I am a doctor. I'm not God." *** There are two versions of the book. Old readers can access the old version in your library. Please scroll down. If you don't find it, kindly contact goodnovel (contact@goodnovel.com).

"Marry me and give me an heirs, but not with love! I'll give you 500,000 dollars as compensation or more." Allan Watson Evelyn Adam is a beautiful 19-20 year old girl who has always had misfortune. Her parents had just passed away in a plane crash. Evicted by his evil uncle from their home and seized his entire inheritance. Living on the streets without a penny in his hand. Worst of all, finds out that his only sister has cancer and needs a lot of money. She needs one hundred thousand dollars to pay for her sister's illness in two days! A desperate Evelyn Adams is forced to accept a one-year contract marriage proposal and produce Heirs for a handsome 28-year-old Billionaire named Allan Watson. The sole heir to the Watson empire that controls businesses across most of Wellington County. Will Evelyn be able to accept? Is Evelyn ready to be the wife of a Billionaire and give him an heir? Without love between them? Can they fall in love with each other? What happens when the Billionaire's ex-fiancée comes back into their lives?

“No matter how much you hate me, I will keep coming close to you. One day, you will be mine!” ..... What happens when a handsome rich CEO, is slapped by a waitress in front of his employees? His urge to possess the girl only increases and he will leave no stone unturned to come close to her. Ethan is an adamant man and now his eyes are set on the gorgeous girl, Hazel Hazel, a part time waitress, has a dream to become a successful interior designer. Unknowingly she ends up signing a contract with Ethan's company and is now stuck with him for two months in his home, on a secluded island. While Ethan wants to seduce her, Hazel only wants to concentrate on her job.

Morgana James is the cold and calculating mobster who has been given the mission to end the life of the detective hunting the organization. Driven by her duty, Morgana eventually becomes William Bale's secretary. She just couldn't imagine that he was that handsome or that his eyes were capable of making her heart soar. Suddenly, her mission became difficult to complete, for the first time. For, she didn't want to do her duty, she actually wanted to taste the lips of the handsome detective, William Bale.

“Please believe me. I didn't do anything!” Thalassa Thompson cried helplessly. “Take her away." Kris Miller, her husband, said coldly. He didn't care as she was humiliated for the whole world to see. What would you if the love of your life and the woman you considered your best friend betrayed you in the worse way possible? For Thalassa, the answer was only one; she's going to come back stronger and better and bring everyone who made her suffer to their knees. Let the games begin! ***** “I hate you." Kris gritted out, glaring into her eyes. Thalassa laughed. “Mr Miller, if you hate me so much, then why is your dick so hard?”

Samantha Davis fell pregnant, and she knew nothing about the man she slept with. After being disowned by her father, she left the city to start anew. Raising her own children, Samantha strived and overcame. Little did she know, her twins meant to find a daddy, and they weren't settling for any less! At three years old, her babies asked, "Mama, where Dada?" "Umm... Dada is far away." That was the easiest way for Samantha to explain to her kids the absence of a father. At four years old, they asked again, "Mommy, where is Daddy?" "Umm... He is working at Braeton City." Yet again, Samantha chose the easy way out. After nearly six years, Samantha returned to the place that had long forsaken her, Braeton City. She knew she was bound to answer her kids' curiosity over their unknown father, and she concluded it was about time to tell the truth. However, one day, her twins came to her with glistening eyes and announced, "Mommy! We found Daddy!" Standing before her was a block of ice, Mr. Ethan Wright, the most powerful businessman in the city. *** Book 1 of the Wright Family Series Book 2: Flash Marriage: A Billionaire For A Rebound Book 3: I Kissed A CEO And He Liked It Book 4: The Devil's Love For The Heiress Book 5: I Fell For The Boy His Daddy Was A Bonus Note each story can be read as a standalone. Follow me on social media. Search Author_LiLhyz on IG & FB.