The Ties That Bind Us Novel Novels & Stories

My mom gave birth to a pair of twins. While I lived with my grandma in the countryside since young, my younger sister, Katrina Coffey, got to live with our parents. I only got to live with my family after I got into a high school in the city. I thought I'd be able to experience what it feels like to be loved by my family. What I didn't know was that this would be the start of my nightmares. My family alienated me, treating me as though I were an outsider. My status was even lower than that of Katrina's dog. Later on, Katrina forcibly stuffed a piece of mango, which I was allergic to, into my mouth. Her excuse was that she wanted to help me get rid of my allergy. I tried to plead with my parents for help with great difficulty, but they merely glanced at me icily. "What's with the complaints? Are you saying that we can't have mangoes anymore because of you from now on?" "What allergy? All you have to do is eat more mangoes, and you'll be fine!" What they didn't know was that people actually die from severe allergies.

After her boyfriend bailed on their wedding, my best friend broke down crying and begged my fiance to step in and save the day. Blake Keller comforted me gently. "Dawn, Noelle and I grew up together. We've been close for years—closer than family, honestly. Today is just for show. Besides, our wedding's next week anyway, so think of it as a rehearsal in advance." I felt terrible for my best friend. After struggling with myself for a long time, I finally gritted my teeth and nodded. Just like that, I watched with my own eyes as my boyfriend, who was supposed to be the best man, became my best friend's "groom." At the wedding, Blake held Noelle's hand, his eyes filled with affection. When the officiant asked whether he was willing, he answered even more firmly than he had when he proposed to me. I kept telling myself not to take it seriously, that it was just an act and I should not overthink it. That was what I believed—until after they exchanged rings. The officiant smiled and said, "You may now kiss the bride." The crowd instantly started cheering, urging them to kiss. Blushing, Noelle hurriedly reassured me. "Dawn, don't worry. We'll fake it with the camera angle." I believed her. But in the very next second, Blake lifted her chin and deeply kissed her for real in front of everyone.

My girlfriend, Clara Sutton, had severe mysophobia. Before every intimate moment we shared, she required me to disinfect myself thoroughly in advance. She even set strict rules about how often we could kiss or sleep together, and how long it could last. Without her permission, I was not allowed to touch her. I had always believed she treated everyone this way. I even secretly felt relieved, thinking that I must have been somewhat special to her. Then came that night at the bar. During a party, her childhood friend, Ethan Ford, drew a dare in a game of truth or dare. Then, in front of everyone, he leaned in and kissed Clara. Although it was supposedly a punishment for losing, they kissed deeply for a full five minutes. Our friends laughed and jostled one another as they turned to look at me. Only then did I realize that Clara’s obsession with cleanliness had never been a universal rule. It had existed simply because she did not like me. Disheartened, I asked for a breakup. But Clara soon regretted it. With reddened eyes, she begged me not to leave.

During an argument with my fiancé, he lost his temper and slapped me across the face in front of the entire family and guests. That same day, I called off the engagement and blocked him on every last platform so that he could not reach me. No one could believe it. After all, we grew up together. Everyone knew I had been in love with him since we were kids, and we were supposed to get married right after college. He just stood there, looking lost. "Why, Gia? Over a slap?" I held his gaze. "Sì. Over a slap."

Sarah Williams thought she had buried the mistakes of her past long ago. After a devastating breakup and years spent hiding a secret that could change everything, all Sarah wants is a fresh start. When she finally lands a job at the prestigious Hart Holdings, she believes life is finally giving her another chance. Until she meets her new boss. Calvin Hart. Cold. Powerful. Intimidating. And the same boy she once humiliated in secondary school. Back then, Calvin was the awkward nerd who followed her around with flowers and hopeful eyes. Now, he is a ruthless CEO with a dangerous aura and enough power to make her life miserable—and from the moment he sees her again, Sarah realizes he hasn’t forgotten the past. Determined to keep her head down, Sarah tries to survive working under him while hiding the biggest secret of her life: Her daughter, Emily. But as tension grows between them, strange fragments of memories from a forgotten night begin resurfacing—one reckless night neither of them fully remembers… yet one that changed their lives forever. Because unknown to both of them, the truth connecting them runs far deeper than old heartbreak. And when Calvin finally discovers the secret Sarah has been hiding… Everything will fall apart. Or bind them together forever.

On my birthday, my fiancé used his supermarket points to get me a pair of dishwashing gloves. But at an auction, he bought a five-million-dollar gem for his first love. I was mad, confronting him, but he called me a gold digger. "I've been giving you money to spend. Isn't it only right that you take care of me? This was supposed to be my final test for you. If you passed, we'd get married. You've let me down big time." I broke up with him. He turned around and proposed to his first love. Five years later, we ran into each other on a private vacation island. Alex Thompson saw me in the workers' uniform picking up trash on the beach. He mocked me on the spot. "You turned your nose up at the gloves I got you, and here you are, scavenging garbage. Now, even if you begged me, I wouldn't give you a second glance." I ignored him. My son's social studies project was to clean up the backyard with a parent. His dad had expanded the yard all the way to the beach. Cleaning it up was exhausting.

Maxello was her best friend, the one she loved in silence for years Rolex was his twin. Darker and deadly tempting. One bet changed everything. Now Mia must choose between the brother she’s always wanted… and the one she can’t resist.

On my birthday, the dining table was loaded with all my favorites. My mom had been cooking and baking the entire afternoon, insisting everything be perfect for when Mike got home from work so we could celebrate together. But then, he called and said his first love had been drugged at a bar, and he had to go help her. I stopped him and begged him not to go. Mike snapped at me. "Jesus, Em, don’t pull this jealous wife crap. She’s alone, defenseless, and unconscious—I can't let some random dude take advantage of her!" My mother heard those words and was so enraged that she had a heart attack. She died on the spot. Just like that, my mom died on my birthday. I called Mike, asking him to attend my mom's funeral. But before he could reply, I saw Cathy Miller's latest Instagram post, captioned: [Mikey… after all these years, it was always you.] Mike had liked it. My thumb moved before my brain caught up, typing out the only words that mattered: [A homewrecker and a lying bastard. Hope you rot together.]

Shayla Hale learned young that love is the cruelest lie of all. When her father brought home his secret family, her world shattered. When college was supposed to be her fresh start, Grayson Cross destroyed that too...with his charming smile, his devastating lies, and a bet that would break her completely. Seven years later, she's rebuilt her life far from the ruins he left behind. She has her son, her best friend, and walls so high no one can hurt her again. She survived the worst betrayal of her life and built a new world far from the wreckage. A world where she's safe. Where her secrets stay buried. Where the man who destroyed her can never find her. Until the day she accepts a job as a personal assistant to a powerful CEO, and discovers her new boss is the last person she ever wanted to see again. Grayson Cross. Cold. Ruthless. Unforgiving. He doesn't know why she disappeared seven years ago. He doesn't know what he took from her. And he has no idea about the little boy with his eyes waiting at home. Some bets have consequences that last forever. Some lies can never be forgiven. And some men will destroy everything to get back what they lost. He ruined her once. But this time, she might just ruin him back.

“I told you not to flirt with me when we're training," I told Andrea after she missed her sidekick to my left. “Oh really?! You're so cute when you tried to be serious." Andrea mocked me with her seducing whisper while already lowering her center ready to give another kick. That was it! I couldn't take it anymore, so I moved fast and pinned her to the wall while saying, "You ARE the death of me, Andrea," I growled so low and kissed her fiercely while she welcomed me with both her arms on her head. Her body was ready for my hands to trail every inch of her skin. ****************************************** In the world of Luna with blue or green eyes, Andrea from the Nasriantra clan was different because her eyes were glowing gold like a demon. Because of that, she became the rejected Luna after her mother died. Her mate threw her away. Suspicion aroused that she was a Hybrid or even a Tribrid, which was impossible because they all had died. Devastated, she joined the werewolf force with her timid best friend, Joe who had always been in love with her since they were children. There she met Hunt, the greatest warrior who was said to be the next Alpha because he was adopted by the Gursala clan. Andrea and Hunt always trained together, then love rose between them. But their happiness didn't last long, because Andrea's father wanted Andrea to marry Duncan, the other son of Gursala. Behind Duncan, there was the mysterious Kirk who was also secretly in love with Andrea. Who were Hunt and Kirk? How will Joe face Duncan? Will Andrea be happy with Duncan or with one of the others? Find the exciting stories of Andrea's loves and more secrets to reveal …