Would've Could've Should've

Blurb: Nicolas Pov: I’ve built my life on control, power, and ruthless decisions. I never wanted to rely on anyone—especially not her. Isabella is young, full of hope, and entirely too naive for this world. I didn’t expect her to become someone I couldn’t ignore. But here she is, stepping into my life, challenging everything I’ve worked for. She doesn’t belong in my world, yet she makes it harder to push her away. I’ve lived in shadows long enough to know better, but something about her light makes me question everything. Still, the world I live in is too dangerous, and trust is a luxury I can’t afford. Isabella Pov: I never imagined this life. Married to a man who is more scarred than I could have ever known, his world of darkness and danger closing in every day. I didn’t sign up for this, yet here I am, holding my ground. Nicolas might think I’m naive, but I see the man behind the mask. He doesn’t know how to love, but I refuse to let that stop me. I won’t run, even if I’m constantly surrounded by threats and lies. This world doesn’t scare me, but what Nicolas won’t let me see—his pain, his demons—that’s what I’m fighting to understand. I didn’t come into this to save him, but maybe it’s time he lets me in.

“There is no way in hell you are going to convince me that it was not what it looked like!” I shout … I’ve spent the past four years living a lie. “Where the hell are you going dressed like that?” Eli growls, and I see the jealousy burn in his eyes. “Out!” I glare at him. A couple of weeks later, my entire life is turned upside down when I meet Silas and find out that my one-night stand with him will change my life forever. Will Silas love me the way I’ve always wanted to be loved? Or will secrets destroy my life?

"Today marks three years of our marriage, yet you've never looked into my eyes, hugged me, or shown any physical intimacy. Your father and everyone else think I'm barren! No one would believe that we've never been intimate. I'm tired of living this lie! I'll have to tell your father the truth; perhaps they'll stop blaming me!" Aurora exclaimed angrily, her frustration boiling over. "If you dare breathe a word of that to my father, mark my words; it'll be your last day. I'll personally strangle you, you old hag!" Caspian threatened, pointing a menacing finger at her. Aurora was treated disdainfully by everyone; the man she got married to never for once showed her love, not until she got a secret revealed to her by her grandparents. She planned to get revenge secretly on those that have hurt her in the past while working towards achieving her most incredible dreams and desires!

I saw someone who has been with me for a long time in a different light. But I was afraid to love. I've always been.

After my girlfriend returns from a month-long business trip with her first love, she notices that I've changed. She sides with him to take over my project, but I don't quit in anger. Instead, I throw myself into helping him, even drafting proposals for him. She destroys the design I worked so hard on to help him snag the year-end bonus, yet I don't try to defend myself. I take all the blame and let her punish me however she likes. Even when she goes as far as to promote him to general manager against the rules, I don't get upset. I hand over all my shares, letting her distribute them as she wishes. My girlfriend wonders why I've suddenly become so submissive, while her first love just grins smugly. "See? I told you—giving him the cold shoulder works. Once he's afraid of losing you, he'll fall in line," he says. It clicks for my girlfriend. She smiles, tells me I've been good, and offers me a promotion. Then, she unexpectedly asks me to propose. But she doesn't seem to realize that while we weren't speaking, she has already signed my resignation papers. And I've already broken up with her. From this moment on, I sever all ties with her, and we no longer have anything to do with each other.

I've finally gotten my wish after loving Christopher Lausten for four years. However, that's when his true love returns…

She's always been described as "her" shadow. The shadow of a beautiful, intelligent sister that she could never beat. Her whole life, she has tried her best to meet up to her sisters standards but it has never been the same. She has never been able to shine by herself without being compared to Willow. For 20 years now, she's been the shadow and never once has she realised that she was equally as beautiful and intelligent. Today was the day, the day that it would be all about her, well that's what she thought initially. It was her 20th birthday party where she will be revealed as her fathers heir of the company after being abroad for a year studying 24/7 to be able to live up to her fathers standards. Today was her day being in the spotlight after disappearing from it for 2 years. In this year, she has changed drastically. So much that her parents didn't recognise her when she stepped out of her fathers private jet. So much that her old high school bullies wouldn't even have recognised her. She was finally back and stronger than ever. Neveah was back to show everyone that she is not the same girl as she was 2 years ago. Alec McKinley, the typical playboy of the century. Having flings left, right and centre but discarding them after a night with their bodies. He was notorious for this but it didn't stop females from dropping their skin tight dresses to state to the world that they've has a night with the heir to the McKinley Enterprise. These naïve females all through that they would be the one to change him. To be able to tame the beast in bed. However, they leave empty handed, without their clothes but just a robe as always.

Isidora Moretti always appeared to be a chess player, overseeing her family’s massive enterprise and grappling with the city’s menacing mafia clans. Her father orders her to marry the Vescari heir, and she discovers that theirs is not romance that would involve love-it is of power and obedience. Declining could be her last word so she thinks of an escape-engagement, a lie she is betting would work. She teams up with Dante Romano,the boy who beats her every time in school. He is good looking, cold, smart and has chased the same deal she wants. He often mocks her stubborn ways and never offers real help. Still, he oddly agrees to act as her fiancé. The agreement sees only looks, no real feeling involved. It may mean just a clever contract. Business agreement looks clean, no feelings. But Dante seizes Isidora at the engagement party and kisses her in front of the city. Everything becomes upside down. Rivalry and obsession — everything seems to blur. Others soon witness Isidora as Dante’s Achilles’ heel. In another world, weakness is a weapon. Maybe they both have this tilt, not just one side. With threats growing closer-in business offices ,back alleys, and mob hits, both find they need to stand up together. As they fight, they come closer and closer, and each threat reduces the boundaries they’ve constructed between them on their feelings. As danger narrows in on Isidora, Dante’s left to contemplate the sacrifices he’ll make just to keep her safe. He’ll do anything he can to protect her, to make her his, even if it’s damaging everything in his path. In the end, the promises they’ve made, no matter how unserious, appear to be the only thing they can reasonably believe.

Mindy Horton and I got married on Thanksgiving. Coincidentally, her assistant went abroad to further his studies that day. I did not pay much attention to it until the eve of another Thanksgiving three years later. I was browsing TikTok and came across Mindy, who was in a street interview about couples. The reporter stopped her and asked, "Excuse me. Could I have a second of your time? Who would you like to spend today with?" Mindy paused for a moment. She struggled to answer after a long while, "With my lover." "Call him now. He should know how you feel!" I smiled as I sat up, ready to pick up Mindy's call. However, when I looked up, I saw Mindy sobbing to another man on the screen. "I know you've returned, and I still can't forget you after all these years. Do you know how much I regret not marrying you and marrying another man? We missed our chance with each other three years ago. Let's spend Thanksgiving together this year!" I sat in bed all night and booked a flight out of the country the next morning. "When are you leaving?" my assistant asked. I replied, "On Thanksgiving."

“He’s not yours,” I said, each word slicing through him like glass. Valentine stared at me, stunned, like I’d slapped him. Maybe I should’ve. That would’ve been easier than this. I thought I’d buried the past the day I ran—pregnant, heartbroken, and alone. Valentine Hale was the love of my life… until he shattered it. He never knew I was carrying his child. He never tried to find me. I raised our son alone. But fate doesn’t forget. Now I’m back in the one place I swore I’d never return to. And Valentine? He’s here. He’s looking at me like he still feels it. Valentine- She was human. Off-limits. But I touched her anyway. Loved her. Marked her. Then I walked away before the pack could find out. Before I destroyed us both. But now, Vivian’s back—with a kid who smells like me. But now I bear a secret, a curse from my father the previous alpha and I cannot risk their lives. I need to protect them. I need them. I feel it in my blood. He’s mine. She’s mine. They both always were.