Trust Exercise

Alexander's mistress was pregnant. He turned his back on me without a shred of hesitation, canceled our marking ceremony, and brought her home instead. As he passed by, he didn't even look at me. He just left a brief order hanging in the air. "She's weak. You know medicine. From now on, you'll handle her meals." When he reached the first floor, he paused again. "She's pregnant. She can't be frightened, and she needs me to sleep beside her." His voice was flat, devoid of any feeling for me. "There are plenty of empty rooms. Move out of mine." I packed my things quietly, without a word, and walked out of the estate. The butler tried to stop me, but Alexander's voice cut through the hall, cold and final. "Let her go. Once she cools off, she'll come crawling back on her own." His men, watching the scene unfold, exchanged amused glances. They even placed bets right in front of me—how many minutes before I'd regret leaving and come running back. But none of them knew the truth. The Alpha King my parents had chosen for me had already sent a car to wait for me outside the gate. This time, I wasn't coming back.

When Tawny, a were-cat hybrid is called back to the Kingdom of Cambiador, by her estranged grandfather. Tawny can't help but be curious as to why he would want to meet her after all these years of disowning her late mother. ***** Tawny: I finally found a place where I felt like I belonged. Only I have never felt so unwanted in my life. The mysterious and sexy Kolby Crimson is my fated mate, yet he has been promised to another. Bound by a contract he has no intention of breaking. A team-building exercise turns into a nightmare trip. Secrets of Cambiador come to light and a night with a pride pack tilts my world even further from its axis. Only one person can get me out of the mess I find myself in. The question is, will he step up to the challenge and save me? His mate, or will he submit to the kingdom's laws and leave me in the den of Lions?

My sister-in-law, Esmerelda Black, hates that her mother, Ruth Jennings, favors me. To make things worse, she has the ability to hear Ruth's thoughts. And she uses that gift against me. When I tell Ruth to have more vegetables to stay healthy, Esmerelda says, "Clara is such a cheapskate not to buy you meat. She doesn't ask her own mom to eat more vegetables." When I encourage Ruth to exercise more to build strength, she says, "Mom, you're already old. You should be taking it easy. Clara wants you to work yourself to death." Slowly, Ruth grows to hate me. In the end, Esmerelda acquires the family business, seizes the fortune, and trafficks me to North Maldia to die. However, when I open my eyes again, I have her gift too—I can also hear Ruth's thoughts.

Raina Winters, once the beta's daughter, now finds herself relegated to the status of Omega and the bedmate of the ruthless Alpha, Tristan Knight who was once her fated mate and the first prince. Tristan became a cold-hearted beast due to her betrayal. Despite his abusive behaviour towards her, marking her and using her in bed, he is determined to make her hate him. She endures his wrath, biding her time until she will be set free. "I won't make it easy for you to run from me. You owe me too much; your life is bound to mine," Alpha Tristan Knight. In this tale, love proves feeble, while desire has the power to make it unforgettable. Content Warning: The following book contains themes and depictions of abuse, violence, and revenge that may be distressing or triggering to sensitive readers. These elements are integral to the narrative and are portrayed in some instances with detail. Reader discretion is advised, and individuals who may find such content emotionally challenging are encouraged to exercise caution or choose an alternative reading option.

After I get off work from the hospital, I decide to exercise by taking my mountain bike out on a ride. However, that's when I find out that the seat of my mountain bike has been lowered. There's even a blue sticky note with a scribbled heart pasted on the bike handle. I call my wife, Sabrina Yellin. "Who took my bike on a ride?" After a few seconds of silence, Sabrina replies nonchalantly, "Kelly's boyfriend wanted to learn how to ride a mountain bike yesterday, so he practiced a few laps with your bike. What's wrong, though? Is the bike damaged in any way?" Kelly's boyfriend? But he had boasted about going on an overseas vacation for one whole month last week on his social media account. My gut feeling tells me that something's fishy about this whole thing. So, I just curl my lips into a smirk. "Nah. He can keep using it." After that, I push the mountain bike back to its original parking slot. Then, I find myself two needles so that I can insert them into the seat. Three days later, when I'm working the night shift at the hospital, a nurse rushes in hurriedly. "Dr. Hart, there's a male patient in the ER right now. He claims that his crotch was stabbed by needles when he was riding his bike earlier."

Eric Clapton never expected his ex-wife would move on overnight, and be living her best life. His friends have always mocked him for marrying such an ugly woman. When his mistress showed up, he couldn't exercise the smallest patience to stay married to Liana. "My mind is made up, Liana. Let's get a divorce. $90 million and the penthouse in Rochester will be compensation for your mental damage. Is that enough?" Eric put down the envelope and pen on the pillow beside her. Liana sat up, eyes glued to the man she has dedicated three years of her life to. "Is that all you have to say and offer?" She asked, her eyes holding a trace of detachment. Eric was stuck in thoughts. This was unlike the fragile and indecisive woman he married. Liana smiled as she gazed at his unreadable expression. "I can see you're really prepared for this, you know. This is obviously the first time in three years since you returned home before 11:00 pm, Eric." She added, her lips curling up into an enigmatic smile as she decisively scribbled her signature on the papers. The next morning at the courthouse, she held the divorce papers, her fragile heart tearing apart as she watched her ex husband smiling when he walked away, his hands carefully wrapped around another woman's waist while they strode to his car. Seeing him replace her so quickly was really heart wrenching, but right there, she saw another man who just got dumbed by his fiancee at the crucial hour, and without hesitation, she walked up to him and proposed to replace his fiancee. Now, what will Eric do when at the moment of his regret, he realised that she didn't only move on, but she's now his boss's wife?

People say, “When you are torn between two lovers, choose the second one. Because there won’t be a second person if you really loved the first one.” But how would you know that you love the second one more than the first one? What if your mind was just clouded when you’re with the second one? People say, “Trust is the most important ingredient in love.” But would trust encompass distance? Would trust give you the insurance that one would not look away from you? Would trust give that certain assurance that one will always be yours? A story of betrayal. Tears. And drama.

Her past was a bit of a mystery. A close kept secret that she wouldn't dare utter to anyone. The chance of being vulnerable, to forcing her to actually trust another individual frightened her. Incredibly shy, but a silent warrior who came through with scars and all. She was sure to live the rest of her days alone, only to be captivated by him. Who is he? Can she trust him? Did she want to trust him? Only time could tell.

The things between truth and lies, honesty and secrets, trust and doubt. We surround ourselves with the right people and good people. People we trust and most of all, people we think they deserve to be a part of our lives. Truth can be manipulate. Lies can destroy. Trust can easy to break. Honesty can set aside. Secrets can keep you guilty. Doubt can bring out your fears. But what if your life of truth is full of lies, and those persons who you trust are keeping secrets and what if your life of honesty turn into doubt. I am Divina Clare Reyes and this is my story, life that I thought full of truth, full of trustworthy and honest people but it turned out to be full of lies and secrets.

The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool. It's funny because it's true. I was innocent. Someone naive enough to trust so blindly and for that I was taken advantage of by liars. And now I have lost everything. But I was given a new life. A second chance to right the wrongs done against me. Now vengeance is on my mind. Hatred is in my heart. And love is in the air. But I don't know where it's coming from. Because I don't trust anyone. Not even the air I breathe.