When I turned 18, my mother married my stepfather, a retired mafia kingpin, and I moved with her into a luxurious mansion. Just when I thought my life was heading toward happiness, my stepbrother, the new mafia boss, stormed into my life. He was like a devil, with delicate eyebrows, a high, sharp nose, and lips that were always tightly pressed together beneath a cold expression. Every time our eyes met, I felt a chill run through me, making it hard to breathe. I tried my best to avoid him, but he had no intention of letting me go. "My stepsister, from the moment I first saw you, I knew I couldn't let you go. You can't escape-you're destined to be mine." I stared into his possessive eyes as his body pressed down on mine. "No, you're my stepbrother, we can't......"
Harper's POV
"Hi, sweetie, happy new semester," I said, smiling at my reflection in the mirror.
I tied my soft, golden-brown hair into a high ponytail and wore a lemon-yellow knit sweater over a white shirt, paired with a white skirt. This outfit wasn't exactly glamorous, but it made me look youthful and cute-perfect for spring. Luckily, I had taken the time yesterday to iron my clothes; otherwise, I'd definitely be rushing around in a panic right now.
Oh, it's already 8:45. I need to leave for school soon. Matthew has a game today, and as his girlfriend, there's no way I'm missing it!
Grabbing my backpack and swiping a bit of lip gloss on my lips as I ran downstairs, I nearly tripped over myself on the way. These complicated stairs!
"Sweetie, have breakfast-"
"No time, Mom! I'm in a rush!"
With time running out, I couldn't sit down for breakfast with my family. Oh, I'm so excited about the new semester. I didn't fall asleep until late last night, and my alarm had to go off four or five times before I finally got up. If I don't hurry, I'm going to miss cheer practice!
Just then, a voice sounded behind me. "Harper, your mom woke up early to make breakfast for you. The sandwiches are delicious. Don't worry, I've already asked my driver to wait outside. He'll make sure you get to school safely. Take your breakfast and eat it in the car. You're already skinny enough; no need to skip meals."
The man speaking with such warmth was my stepfather. He had a strong build, and though he liked wearing loose clothing, you could still see the outline of his muscles beneath the fabric. As he spoke, he set down the newspaper and stood up, moving beside my mom. His tall figure made her look even more petite.
He looked at me with his dark eyes. He was always gentle with me, but I could never meet his gaze. Every time I did, I'd picture a younger face-one that resembled his. The thought of that face gave me chills.
"Okay, Dad." I grabbed the breakfast and ran over to kiss Mom's cheek before heading out the door and into the car my stepfather had arranged.
Leaning back in the leather seat, I tried to empty my thoughts. My stepfather was Italian. No one would guess that this always-smiling man was once a mafia boss.
When he was younger, he married, but his wife was killed by an enemy during a period of fierce conflict between the mafia families. They said he locked himself in a room for three days to grieve, holding an elaborate funeral for her. For over a decade, he never remarried, focusing instead on raising his son.
He became even more ruthless, leading his faction to become the largest mafia in Italy and eventually expanding their reach to America. In America, he met my mom. Maybe he got tired of the violent life or decided it was time for the younger generation to take over, but he chose to marry my mom, settle in the U.S., and enjoy a peaceful retirement. Honestly, though the occasional appearance of mafia men at our house scared me, he had always been good to me. He saved my mom and me from a life of despair and gave us a warm home.
Snapping out of my memories, I glanced at the driver. Ever since marrying my mom, my stepfather had been very protective of us, like today-insisting I be driven to school even if I was in a hurry.
Being cared for like this wasn't so bad, I thought.
Except for one person...
That young face came to my mind again.
A handsome yet intense face, with sharp features, dark eyes, and lips always set in a tight line. His gaze made me feel cold and breathless.
That face belonged to Marco, my stepbrother-my stepfather's successor, the next mafia boss. When I first arrived in New York with my mom a year ago, she told me my stepfather was easy to get along with. She didn't know much about her stepson Marco, only that he was reliable and would protect us.
At the time, I was too caught up in my fears about fitting into a new life to think much about my stepbrother. I was more worried about whether my stepfather would like me.
I remember the first day we moved into the mansion. My stepfather and mom helped set up my room-a luxurious princess-themed bedroom. It had a huge walk-in closet filled with designer clothes and jewelry. My favorite stuffed animals were arranged neatly on my bed.
"I prepared these things ahead of time. I hope you'll like it here," my stepfather said, rubbing his nose. Like a beast hiding its claws, I felt warmth from a father figure for the first time and quickly accepted this new family, forgetting about the stepbrother I hadn't yet met.
The next day, as I walked down the grand spiral staircase, I ran into a tall young man. I froze, unsure what to do, while he squinted at me, then pushed me into the corner of the staircase, wrapping his hand around my neck.
His fingers were long, with calluses-probably from training.
The feeling of suffocation was unforgettable, and those few seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. I could see my pained expression clearly in his dark eyes.
"Don't think you can take what isn't yours. Remember who you are-this is not your home."
I was terrified, unable to understand what he meant. I only felt like I was about to die.
Just when I thought I was about to meet God, he let go. His eyes, like those of a hawk, studied me while his lips formed a tight line. I had no doubt that he could pull out a gun and shoot me at any moment. My legs gave out, and I leaned against the railing, my voice trembling, "Please."
He sneered, disdain filling his voice, then turned and walked away.
I didn't see him after that.
The next morning at breakfast, I overheard that my stepfather had sent him to Italy. I kept my head down, pretending to eat, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Apart from that unsettling incident, my life since then had been happy. With time, I slowly forgot the suffocating fear of that day. I started school in New York, made new friends, and eventually met my boyfriend, Matthew, the quarterback of the football team.
The car soon arrived at school, and after thanking the driver, I jogged into class just in time-the teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Matthew's game was after the second class, with cheer practice right after the first. As I settled into my seat, trying to catch my breath, I felt a poke on my back.
I turned to see Matthew beside me, taking my hand on the desk.
"Babe, you didn't reply to my messages this morning." He leaned his head against my neck like a big puppy, his warm breath tickling my skin.
"I overslept." I pushed him away, uncomfortable with all the eyes on us, especially those of my friend Lily. She was giving me a knowing look, barely suppressing a laugh.
Matthew knew I wasn't into public displays of affection. He chuckled. "I waited a long time, princess. Don't I deserve a little reward?"
Damn it, he knew how to play me. He always put on the puppy act, knowing I'd cave. Looking into his big brown eyes, I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Today's my 18th birthday, so if you win," I said, holding his hand, "I think the princess will give her loyal knight the best reward."
His eyes lit up, suddenly intense, almost scorching. "I'm counting on it."
After first period, Lily and I headed to the gym. On our way, we met the other cheerleaders. It was clear everyone was a little nervous.
We got to the changing room and put on our uniforms-bright red, representing our school colors. As we were changing, Lily gave me a playful nudge.
"Harper, you look amazing in red. You're definitely going to drive all those boys crazy."
Thank goodness for her humor to break the tension. Honestly, Lily was the more popular one with the guys, but we had a great friendship.
Matthew was always a little jealous of Lily, joking that if I liked girls, he wouldn't stand a chance-Lily'd steal me away in a heartbeat.
Dressed in our cheer uniforms, we walked onto the field for practice. We went through our routine, the familiar moves perfectly timed to the music. Everyone was giving it their all for today's game.
Time flew by, and soon we had to clear the field for the setup crew. Our seats were in the front row of the stands, ready for us after our performance.
The game was about to start.
As the announcer came on, I could feel my heart pounding faster and faster. My nerves were half for the cheer routine, half for Matthew's game.
Lily squeezed my hand. "Harper, don't worry, we're going to win. Matthew's probably in the locker room now, and he'll win for sure when he sees you cheering for him!"
Maybe it was Lily's encouragement, but my racing heart slowly steadied.
"You're right, Lily. We've got this."
Maybe today really was my lucky day-not only did our performance go smoothly, but Matthew and his teammates won the game at the last second. The crowd erupted as the referee blew the whistle to end the game.
Cheers echoed through the stands.
I don't know how I must've looked, but I was beyond happy, hugging Lily in excitement.
I watched Matthew on the field, his helmet off, his hair damp with sweat as he and his teammates were awarded their championship rings. Somehow, amid the crowd, he looked up and met my eyes.
He started walking toward me. My hands had nowhere to go as he approached. Before I knew it, he had lifted me up.
The spectators who hadn't yet left, his teammates, and my cheer squad-they all began cheering and whistling, their applause growing louder and louder.
He lifted me high, and then we kissed. It was my first kiss. Even though I seemed calm, I had no real experience with romance.
So when I felt his lips on mine, I was stunned.
It was a magical day. Golden confetti, the boy I loved, my first kiss on my eighteenth birthday.
These were the best days of my youth.
Even though a lot happened later, I will always be grateful for everything that happened back then.
Charles' breath quickened, and his movements became more urgent. "I'm close," he gasped in my ear, his voice breaking between moans. My own pleasure surged, and I couldn't hold back the scream that tore from my throat. A wave of electric tingles swept through me, my temples throbbed, and the world around me faded into white... Every pore on my body felt wide open, heat radiating from me in waves. It was surreal, as if I were in a dream, feeling everything but grasping none of it... I could hardly believe it-I had married this man, the infamous Alpha of the Black Valley Pack, Charles McLean, and I had just slept with him. But there was no love between us. We weren't fated mates. Since his first shift at eighteen, Charles McLean had never found his fated mate. And after one engagement after another, each of his fiancées had died under mysterious circumstances. Rumor had it that he wore a mask to conceal his hideous face and that he was a cruel, violent man who would kill without hesitation. People whispered that he had murdered his previous fiancées. His last fiancée-my sister-was terrified of him. Horrified by the stories, she had vehemently refused to marry him. And just before the wedding, she found her fated mate. So, without warning or preparation, I was forced to take her place, pushed into marrying Charles in her stead, to stand as his wife in name only and the unacknowledged Luna of the Black Valley Pack...
My life completely fell apart when I turned 18. My father's beta killed my family, took control of our pack, and replaced my father as the leader. "Survive, Emilia," were my mother's last words to me as I became his slave. To disgrace my family, the traitors made me serve guests at a banquet and shot at me. Just when I thought I was going to die, a man stood in front of me. He exuded the strongest ALPHA aura and looked at me with dangerous eyes, saying something that made me tremble: "I want this woman." Who was he? Why did he want me? Why were his eyes filled with desire and hatred when he looked at me? "Emilia, you must atone for your father's sins," he said as he tied me to the bed, pinning me down. I felt like this time, I wouldn't be able to escape.
Married for four years, Emily remained childless. A hospital diagnosis plunged her life into hell. Unable to conceive? But her husband was rarely home during these four years, so how could she get pregnant? Emily and her billionaire husband were in a contractual marriage; she had hoped to win his love through effort. However, when her husband appeared with a pregnant woman, she despaired. After being kicked out, homeless Emily was taken in by a mysterious billionaire. Who was he? How did he know Emily? More importantly, Emily was pregnant.
At a party, everyone sees Claire's joke. His fiance, chosen mate, walks past her with the ring and gets down on one knee in front of her stepsister. What the hell is going on here? "Joe and I are together now. Because we are each other's fated mates." Her stepsister said triumphantly. "We know you're hurting, but Cathy is your sister. You should bless them. Your sister will be the next luna, not you." Said her father coldly. In an instant, she changed from a happy girl to a poor person who had been abandoned and betrayed. "How dare you do this to me?" Desperate, she looked up and saw Prince Louis, who was also at the party. Although appealing directly to a member of the royal family would have been punishable, Claire had no choice. "Your Highness, I beg you to do justice and disinherit them. I claim my right." The crowd held their breath as they watched the murderous prince rumored to have killed his brother. He approached me with a dark look. I closed my eyes and waited for my punishment. But I felt big hands around my waist. He buried his head in my neck, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice. "You are a very smart and brave girl. I can help you, but I want something else in return." I ran into a hug, his scent all around me. I didn't know, until this moment, that I was in even bigger trouble.
Faye was an orphan who found her biological mother just before her 18th birthday. She will live in the same pack as her mother's two stepsons, Liam and Leander. Coincidentally, Leander turned out to be a fated mate for Faye. Attracted by mate bond, Leander sneaks into Faye's room at night after she goes to bed... "Come on, Leander." The man's hand paused. No, the man tonight is not Leander. Meanwhile, the other stepbrother, Liam, is getting weirder and weirder with Faye, and it looks like there's a mysterious pack behind his abnormality... Can Faye fix her problems with Liam? How would her relationship with her two stepbrothers develop? What other adventures await them?
1. Everyone knows that the most powerful alpha in the werewolf world is Harrison. There are many legends about him. One of the most mysterious things is that he never announced his Luna. For six years, he hadn't talked about his mate, and no woman could get near him. 2. Six years later, Kayla. returned to the city where she lived. In one encounter, Harrison, with red eyes and a hoarse voice, pressed her against the wall and said, “Do you think your tears still work for me?” Kayla looked down and did not speak. Suddenly a crisp child's voice sounded. “Mommy, what are you doing here?” Looking at the little girl, his pupils constricted. “Is this your daughter?” He asked. 3. “So you broke up with the father? He got you and dumped you and your daughter?” Harrison threw his cigar into the ashtray, the corners of his mouth twitching with anger. “Tell me who the father is and I'll make him pay.” Kayla looked at the man she had missed for six years. She didn't know how to tell her that he was the father.
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
"I will work for you till I pay back the amount in full.. I want to be a maid.. Please… I don't want to be a breeder" I started to plead once everyone left the ward.. He saw her begging but his stone cold heart didn't melt. "I never tasted a weak duckling Alpha.." He smirked and walked toward me.. I walked back with fear till I hit the wall. "I am not weak." I said in a low tone and tried to push him away.. But his solid body didn't move an inch.. I could not breathe properly because of his aura.. "I will make you beg me for pleasure…" His words disgusted me. I didn't talk back as his Alpha tone was overbearing.. I felt weak wherever he was touching me.. "You will be my toy till you get pregnant.." I turned my head away with disgust but he touched my cheek roughly and caught my chin. He made me look into his eyes.. His hand covered my neck and gripped it hard.. "I will come to you every night to f**k you.." His eyes became devilish as if he was looking at his prey.. Suddenly I felt scared of him more.. and my breathing became suffocating.. He is pressing my windpipe to make me suffer… My eyes become red while I shake my head slowly... "No… no.." I murmured and I forgot to breathe in his presence.. He was scaring hell out of me.. "Girl.. You will be lucky if you get pregnancy soon otherwise I will have my ways to f**k you.." I dropped my eyes not able to hear such f***y words.. Tears rolled down my cheeks when he loosened his grip.. I don't want to believe that my father sold me as a breeder.. I can't accept it.. "If you agree or not.. it doesn't matter.. spread your legs when I come to you.." He pushed me back again and the tip of his nose touched my cheek while I looked at him scarily.. He nibbled on the crook of my neck and kissed my sensitive places… "Remember I am your Alpha from now on and don't you dare to say no…" he said huskily and pushed me back fiercely.. His cruel and harsh words made me fall back on the ground..
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
A forensic expert of the 21st century finds herself at the wrong end of a mysterious criminal organization when she accidentally discovers something in a body she was dissecting. Forced to flee, Harper Chu decides to travel across time and uncover the tangles she has gotten into by pretending to be the daughter of an official of the Bright Dynasty. With her family members not on her side, and a Prince getting intrigued by her unusual skills, will she be able to save and avenge herself, all the while managing to keep her cover intact?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."