Thin Young Man Fountain Pen

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.”

Clive Hawkins, who had been giving me the cold shoulder, posted on X. [First 100 likes get a breakup cash giveaway.] In no time, it had 99 likes and reposts. I knew he was waiting for me to give in, just like how I begged him to delete it during the ten times we fought before. But this time, I reposted it myself and wrote, [Count me in.] Then, I blocked him on every platform. Three days later, his sister messaged me. [Clive saved you a front row seat. Stop hiding and come back. As long as you show up, he's willing to forgive you.] I glanced at the plane ticket on my desk and replied. [I'm busy.] I really was busy. I’d been admitted to graduate school at Redstone University, and my flight was leaving that night for orientation. From then on, we would be separated by thousands of miles, never to see each other again.

My husband's brother dies before my husband and I marry. My mother-in-law has never liked me, and my husband is a mommy's boy. He listens to her when she forces him to remain in mourning for his brother—within the next three years, we can only register our marriage but not have a wedding. To help his widowed sister-in-law past these difficult times, my husband runs over to her place every few days, leaving me alone at home. Anyone who isn't in the know would think I'm the widow! My scheming sister-in-law even tells her child to address my husband as their father instead of uncle. I sneer. "How shameless of you to want your brother-in-law to care for two families at once. Thank goodness the child in my womb doesn't have such a disgusting father."

Permainan Api yang Danu ciptakan dalam pernikahannya bersama Kirani, akhirnya benar-benar membakar dirinya dan nyaris tak bersisa. Saat ia tersadar dan ingin kembali, Kirani sudah pergi menjauh membawa luka dan sakit. Meninggalkan Danu dalam sesalan. Lalu ia mencoba untuk menggapai lagi, tapi Kirani semakin menjauh dan memilih meninggalkan kenangan pahit itu. Ia memilih melabuhkan cintanya pada seorang duda beranak satu, membuat Danu semakin terporok dalam jurang sesal yang teramat dalam.

"Habis Mas Ivan siapa yang bakal nyusul nikah?" "Amanda ntar yang duluan nikah," kata Mas Ivan waktu itu. "Eh? Kok, aku, sih?" "Kamu pecicilan!" Lantas siapa yang menyangka, jika di hari sakral itu malah aku yang harus menikah dengan kakak sepupuku? Terkadang takdir memang selucu itu. Tak pernah terbayang sebelumnya, kalau jodohku cuma sejengkal. ** Kisah ini, bukan sekadar baper-baperan. Namun, mengulas tentang pernikahan sepupu yang terhalang tradisi, dilihat dari agama, kesehatan masyarakat dan dalam keluarga itu sendiri.

I'm in the hills for a project inspection when a sudden downpour hits. I lose my footing and tumble down a steep slope. Lying in a pool of blood, I fumble for my phone and call my husband, Joel Grant, who's supposed to be nearby. "Rachel has anxiety. I only brought her back to her hometown to help her unwind. Can you stop being so paranoid and jealous for once? You're due in two weeks. I'll be there, okay? Just behave." In the background, I hear Rachel giggle softly. "The models have to be in their birthday suit for sketching, right?" Joel hangs up without another word. My sister-in-law—and best friend—Chloe Murphy finds me. She's sobbing as she cradles me, desperately trying to call her husband, Michael Grant, for help. "Are all pregnant women insane these days?" Michael snaps. "Don't start with the same manipulative crap as Anna. Joel and I are busy modeling for Rachel. We don't have time for your petty dramas." Then he blocks her. My injuries are too severe. There's no way help will arrive in time. Despite being heavily pregnant herself, Chloe hoists me onto her back and carries me down the mountain to the nearest hospital. Somehow, I survive. My baby doesn't. Chloe, devastated and physically pushed past her limits, loses her child too. "I want a divorce," I whisper with my eyes swollen from crying. "Me too. I'm done with Michael." We filed for divorce together. That's when Joel and Michael finally lose their minds.

A night separated them. Now that the power is in his hands nothing can stop him from going after her. That night she saw his true face. That night she flew away. That night snatched everything from her. She was just left with an angel. She will run till her last breath. She is not meant to be caged. She will not be with a murderer. Not with a family who ruined hers. Decardo family holds deadly secrets. Secrets that will tear apart the earth and everything that is on it. Hidden Clutched roots that will threaten every existence. Then there is a man trapped within shadows. There are ones who wear masks. There is someone who wants justice. Present is hidden within the past. Nights have concealed everything.

Elena Vorontsov ( 21 tahun ) diasingkan ke desa Bergdorf selama empat belas tahun oleh ayah kandungnya sendiri. Namun, ia tiba-tiba dijemput dan dipaksa menikah dengan Meix Dalton (30 tahun), pria yang terkenal dingin dan juga mandul agar bisa menguasai harta warisan ibunya. *** Meix melepas kancing kemejanya satu-persatu hingga dadanya yang bidang terbuka lebar. Cahaya lampu temaram menyinari ototnya yang atletis. Mata cokelat Meix tak berpaling dari Elena yang semakin menjauh. Meix mengangkat paksa dagu Elena—membuat tatapan mereka akhirnya bertemu. "Buka gaunmu di sini," perintahnya dingin. "A-apa?" tanya Elena dengan mata membulat. Sudut bibir Meix terangkat. "Kenapa kaget? Kau istriku. Buka bajumu di hadapanku." Tubuh Elena menegang. Kelopak matanya bergerak cepat. Kakinya melangkah semakin mundur, namun dengan cepat Meix menarik pergelangan tangannya membuat Elena terjerembab ke dalam pelukan Meix yang tinggi dan kokoh. Lengannya yang kuat melingkar di pinggang Elena—merapatkan ke perutnya tanpa kelembutan. Ia menarik tengkuk istrinya itu, lalu menekan bibirnya dalam ciuman kasar, tanpa rasa. Elena tersentak. Ia mendorong dada Meix sekuat mungkin. Berusaha melepaskan diri dari cengkeraman suami yang tak diinginkannya itu. Nafasnya memburu, tangannya bergetar hebat. "Maaf, Tuan. Aku rasa... tidak seharusnya kita melakukan itu," ujar Elena. Nada suaranya cepat dan tidak teratur. Wajahnya terus tertunduk seolah enggan menatap kebringasan suaminya. *** Bagaimana perjalanan pernikahan Elena dengan pria kasar dan arogan itu? Akankah ia mampu membuat Meix jatuh cinta padanya? Atau... Justru membuatnya semakin terpuruk?

Remaja itu bernama Bimantara. Pincang sejak kecil. Dia nekad memasuki Perguruan Matahari. Perguruan termasyur dan terbesar di Nusantara kala itu. Tak ada yang percaya jika dia bisa diterima di perguruan itu, karena perguruan itu tidak sembarang menerima murid. Apalagi untuk dirinya yang hanya memiliki kaki satu. Impiannya untuk memasuki Perguruan Matahari hanya satu ; agar bisa menjadi pendekar termasyur hingga tak ada lagi orang yang meremehkannya.