The Selfish Gene

It was the apocalypse. A zombie apocalypse. We should've been running for our lives, but my girlfriend, Yvonne Brown, refused to. She wanted to buy as much time as she could for her incompetent childhood friend, Yves Claude, to hop into the last helicopter that would take survivors away. But the retreat was our group's only way to survive in this apocalypse. Yves was not showing up anytime soon. I had no choice but to knock her out and drag her into the chopper. And Yves, the one she could never seem to forget, died in the swarm of undead. I, however, survived thanks to what I did. Yvonne and I lived happily in a safe zone. And then that fateful day came. I was going to take over the territory and lead humanity on an attack against the zombies. The night before that decisive strike, Yvonne spiked my water with anesthetics. When I was caught helpless, she tossed me into the horde of zombies. The swarm of undead tore my flesh open, and the pain killed me. Yvonne? She stood on the wall coldly, a sneer decorating her lips. "Yves could've lived, but you took that chance away from him! You selfish monster, you killed Yves! I will make you suffer what he suffered! You'll pay for it with your life!" Death took me, but it tossed me all the way back to the day of the retreat. The day Yvonne adamantly insisted on waiting for Yves. Well, if she was so happy to live through a world like this with her friend, who am I to say no? I would grant her that wish, even if she would end up as zombie food.

"I am your master, I own you. Until your father is able to pay me what he owes, you are just a body for me to fuck and dispose of as soon as you give me an heir" His grip on my chin grew more hurtful as he said those words to me. His menacing scowl made him look like he would want want nothing more than to kill me on the spot. "I am going to pay you back, Tell me how much he owes you right now and I'm going to pay everything back, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I scream as hard as I can into his face. My hand balling into a fist. His head snapped back as he erupted into a wicked laughter, you think you can pay me what your father owes me?" He released my chin then moved to steps backward. His voice dropped to a whisper, vibrating with restrained anger as he continue to speak, "I dare you to try. Your father owes me half a million dollars, but since you have decided to take on this debt, I give you a month." Rue; Freedom was everything I have ever yearned for, a time when I can finally breathe a breath of relief, a time when I can finally be relieved of the burden of my alcoholic, selfish and gambling addicted father. Until my father sold me to the ruthless mafia Don, Alessandro Vanillin as a payment of five hundred thousand dollars. It was stupid of me to think I was better away from my father.

“Why are you being so selfish?” he sneered, his tone sharp enough to cut. “Have you forgotten your disorder?” His eyes raked over her, cold and disdainful. “You wanted me to marry you, fine. But don’t for a second think you’ll give me the kind of offspring I need. What am I supposed to do with an omega like you? The odds of you bearing an Alpha are slim. And even if you did, there’s a good chance you’d miscarry. I’m offering you the chance for an open marriage—you should be grateful.” Zara has always been seen as weak—her SSD a mark of shame in a world that values strength above all else. After enduring years of rejection and scorn, her heart dares to hope when she’s about to marry Leon, the Alpha who finally makes her feel special. But on their wedding day, his shocking demand for an "open marriage" shatters her dreams, plunging her back into a world of betrayal. When her twin sister, Lyra, agrees to play along with Leon’s cruel arrangement, Zara’s trust is broken, leaving her feeling more alone than ever. As her life spirals, Zara’s former mate, Calix, returns, sparking a second chance that brings even more chaos. With the revelation of a dangerous secret and a series of devastating betrayals, Zara must fight for her future—and for the love she truly deserves. As the war between packs escalates, Zara learns to stand strong, reclaiming her power and discovering that the most important battle is the one for her own heart. Will Zara finally find the love and acceptance she’s longed for, or will she be forever trapped in a world of lies and deceit?

On our third mating anniversary, I was shocked to discover that my mate Ethan Rivers had been spending nights with his childhood sweetheart, and even the mating certificate he gave me was fake. When I confronted him about it, Ethan coldly accused me of being ungrateful. "I performed the mating ritual with Bella to help her deal with her family's pressure to mate. How can you be so selfish?" "It's not like I don't love you. It's just a mating certificate - why are you making such a big deal out of it? I was planning to perform the real ritual with you this year, but I never expected you to be so greedy. Aria, you really disappoint me." I blocked him completely, and he immediately took Bella on their honeymoon. Five years later, we reunited at an elite pack gathering. His pack was thriving, and beside him stood Bella Rose, adorned in jewels with a perfect smile. Seeing me crouched on the ground searching through cake scraps in the trash, he clicked his tongue impatiently. "Look what you've become after leaving me. You scorned the fake certificate back then, but now even if you threw yourself at me, nobody would want you!" "For old times' sake, if you kneel down and apologize to Bella, I might let you come back as our servant." I had no time to deal with him. My son had mischievously hidden my eighty-million-dollar mating ring in some cake, and I needed to find it quickly. Otherwise, when his father arrived, the little one would be in trouble again.

Mature Content! When Valerie is kidnapped, in the late night by New York’s biggest drug lord and trillionaire for a crime committed by her twin sister. She isn’t prepared for the love drama, betrayal and love-hate situation that will come by being fancied, by a dangerous yet smokingly hot Donovan Castillo, a man who walks hand-in-hand with death! ~~~ Valerie Blackfield is an orphan, who dreams of living a simple life filled with love, and happy memories with the one she loves. But when trouble comes knocking at her doorstep because of her twin sister, all thoughts of living a happy life gets crushed at the interval of the big bad wolf, Donovan Castillo who drags her into his dangerous world. Donovan Castillo, is on the hunt to catch the woman who might be the reason why his step brother is lying in a vegetative state. But when he catches an innocent bunny instead of an assassin, he doesn't plan on becoming obsessed with the sister of his enemy. At first, it all started with a threat to kill her, but along the way, Donovan's cold heart was smitten by her innocent yet addicting aura, that would cause her death or the fall of his great empire. Forced into a marriage to tie her down with him, would marriage change Valerie's perspective of the man, who had taken everything and everyone she loved for his selfish interest? When the sins of his past come to play a vital role, would he set Valerie free of his dangerous entrapment to save her life, or would he do what he thinks is right and die alongside the love of his life? Let's read to find out! ~~~ A/N: Rated 18+. This book contains mature terms, read carefully!

"Don't you know how to fake a smile anymore? Those irritating little smiles of yours that screamed nothing but desperation? We're making an appearance in front of several high calibre people for goodness sake. You must carry this facade on without any slip, Rosalie.” He said.  My chest pinched, and I looked away, pretending to adjust my bracelet to hide the pain. “I know."  ~                                    ~ “Rosaline...” Ezra murmured. “Why help me to ruin a man you once loved?”   "Why?" I repeated. "Because they took everything from me—the one thing I loved more than life itself. They destroyed my life, my reputation, my happiness, all to serve their own selfish agendas. Him and his mistress. I've been maltreated and betrayed severally, countlessly! But no more. It's my turn to take what I deserve: their pain, their humiliation, their downfall." I paused, my face hardening into an expression of pure, vengeful rage. "And I will make them suffer for it.” *                  *.             * Rosalie’s journey had been a tumultuous one– betrayal and pain. The transactional marriage that she had entered into, hoping one day it would turn around to be a marriage for love, had instead left her heartbroken and betrayed. Her ex- husband’s infidelity, coupled with an unimaginable cruelty that he had subjected her to, had shattered her beyond repair.  Now, fueled by a desire for vengeance, Rosalie had returned to seek revenge on those who had wronged her. Joining forces with her ex-husband's rival, a ruthless business tycoon who harbored his own grudges against her ex-husband, she plotted a scheme that would bring them both justice...and ruin.

That isn't fair," I said, my voice cracking. "I cannot marry someone I do not love, no matter how convenient it is for you. "I am not going to do it!" I was shivering with wrath. Madam Angelica sighed heavily, her expression intensifying. "You're being selfish, Anna," she said. "It's not just about you; it's about the entire family and the future. I understand you don't want to marry someone you don't love, but I need you to understand the importance of this decision." I was at a breaking point. I'd always been a polite girl, following what I was taught and never challenging my family's judgment. But this time, I was willing to fight for what I wanted. My joy was too precious to sacrifice for the sake of family responsibilities. "I won't do it," I shouted."I won't be part of this arranged marriage" I clutched my bag firmly and dashed off to work in rage. Anna is forced by her mom to marry a billionaire suitor Kevin Beyer in order to save her family from the debt her late father caused them. Her mother reluctantly approves of the marriage without caring about Anna's feelings, Anna was left with no other choice than to marry Kevin. Anna wondered how Johnny, her boyfriend, would feel when he heard about this and how she would cope with the rest of her life as the wife of a man she didn't love. She knew that this arrangement would be difficult, but she had no other choice. Would she ever find true love or happiness in this situation ? What did her lover do on hearing about this marriage?

Dysis Salmon’s life has been shaped by the cruelty of her father, a man consumed by debt and selfish ambition. Struggling to survive in the shadows of his abuse, Dysis is forced into a terrifying new reality when her father offers her as payment for his debts to Alexander Levi, a ruthless and powerful mafia leader. Alexander, a cold and calculating figure, is used to controlling everyone and everything around him, but Dysis is different. Her defiance ignites something in him, both a desire for power and an attraction he cannot ignore. Dysis discovers she has lost control of her life after being brought to the Levi estate, a world of luxury and peril. She discovers the harsh reality of being imprisoned in a golden cage: resistance might be her only chance to survive, but escape is impossible. Despite Alexander’s iron grip on her, Dysis finds an unlikely ally in Vee, a loyal maid and bodyguard who shares her own dark past. Together, they form a fragile bond, but Dysis’s escape attempts are swiftly punished by Alexander, whose growing feelings for her complicate his ruthless, mafia-driven world. Meanwhile, Lucian Everett, the family doctor, offers Dysis a glimpse of kindness amidst the chaos, stirring emotions that further unsettle her. As Dysis navigates this twisted power struggle, secrets about her father’s betrayal and Alexander’s tragic past begin to surface. Dysis must choose between fighting for her independence at all costs or submitting to Alexander's domination in a world full of deceit, deception, and relentless control. However, a terrifying foe that threatens to destroy them waits in the shadows. Love and survival are the ultimate goals in the sinister romance *Claimed by the Mafia Billionaire*, which is full of passion, power, and danger.

Out of her mundane life Ava sparked the interest of one of the celestial. Something she read from books and heard from stories but she chose to reject their existence. Will her personal vendetta cost her life or lead her to something better? A mere human who thought she was just caught in the crossfire among the gods. When in fact she was the root of it. 'Words are powerful because you wouldn't know who is listening, huh?' That's what she said on their first meeting. Still forcing herself not to believe even if the proof is right in front of her. His intent was to prove his innocence to her. Yet he entangled himself for a bigger mess, is it really? The mere spectator from before is now part of a dangerous game. His choices will determine not only his fate but of the two worlds and the entire humanity. The more he wanted to break free the more he gets drawn to her. An unexplained phenomenon he felt for the first time since he was created. 'You wouldn't know how it feels unless you go through the same ordeal.' He remembered what his friend told him and realized that he was eating his own words. He was willing to abandon everything just to be with her. Even if it meant being selfish for the first time. He is changing for the worse but can't let go of her now. Not when she already meant everything to him. When the hope of redemption seems impossible, a revelation is unleashed. More questions emerge instead of answers they needed. Will it become the cure or just another poison? What are they willing to sacrifice for their freedom and salvation? Do they even have that choice? Or would they cease to exist leaving no traces behind?

  Lyra Daniel, an aspiring fashion designer, is on a mission to save her sick husband, Felix Thomson. Lyra crosses paths with Dante Cooper, a billionaire heir in need of a contract wife to appease his meddling family.    “I will give you $500,000 once we get married and $500,000 after the divorce is finalized,”  Lyra couldn't accept the deal because of her love for Felix.    But when Felix finds out about the contract...   "I swear to you, Lyra. I will never let you down. If you give me this second chance at life, then I promise you my life because…”   Unknown to Lyra, Felix's plea is part of deception to escape their marriage. She soon finds herself trapped in Dante's world, where he and his family view her as nothing but a gold digger.    Felix stopped responding to Lyra’s call, knowing that there was a high possibility that Dante wouldn't pay the balance of the contract. He then reconciled with his family, leaving Lyra divorced, alone, and depressed.    Dante finds out the truth, but it was too late. However, he refuses to give up on finding her.   Years later, Lyra has transformed into a powerful, celebrated figure in the fashion industry. She has rebuilt her life, but the scars of betrayal run deep.   Fate brings her back into the lives of both ex-husbands. Dante, now living in the same apartment building to escape his grandmother's matchmaking schemes.   "That scent… it reminds me of someone I used to know,"    Meanwhile, Felix, driven by selfish motives, seeks to exploit Lyra again.   "Lyra, we had something special. Let's not waste it,"  Will Lyra seize the opportunity for revenge? Or will the past pull her into deceit once more?