Torn between her pain and the allure of Gavin's enigmatic charm, Sofia battles with her feelings while uncovering secrets that might either ignite a new flame or burn her hopes to ashes. Will Sofia dare to trust again, or will Gavin's pursuit only add fuel to the fire of her past heartbreak?
Chapter One
"Kiss me one more time," Ryan says, his voice barely a whisper.
I snuggle next to him on his bed, giggling. And without hesitation, I place another tender kiss on his lips. "You want more?" I tease, letting my tongue tickle the corner of his lips.
He gave a throaty groan pulling me into his comforting embrace. "You do know that I can never get tired of your kisses," he replies, his fingers tracing invisible lines on my bare arm.
It feels so good to be with the one you love. The feeling sometimes distracts me from all the responsibilities I have to deal with. Speaking of responsibilities, I need to pay my brother's tuition fee tomorrow. I sighed softly and rested my head on Ryan's chest.
"When are we going to get married?" Ryan's question suddenly pops up.
He's at it again. All he talks about is marriage. I've told him countless times to wait until I have enough money before we get married, but I don't think he understands.
"My love, I thought I told you when I have enough money, we'll get married?"
"When?" his voice sounded impatient. "It's been three years now since I proposed to you, and we've been dating for five years already. How much do you need before you get married to me?"
I slowly raised my head from his chest, and I sat up with the duvet covering my half-naked body. He followed my position.
My hands sweep my hair to the back, finding the right words to say. "Look, Ryan, I love you, and you know that. But we can't just get married when I have a lot of responsibilities to cater for."
"Responsibilities? Really? Is that why you don't want us to get married to me?" Ryan asks, his voice laced with...anger or sadness, I don't know which.
"C'mon love, what do you want? For me to be a liability when we get married? I can never do that. I want to be financially stable enough to assist you and the kids we'll be having. I just don't want to be a burden, please," I said, softly, reaching for his hand.
He sighs heavily and shakes his head. "I just want you to be mine. I want you here with me every day. I love you too much, Sofi."
I squeeze his hand gently and place a kiss on the back of his hand. "I promise we will get married. Please, just give me a little bit of time."
"What if I take care of your responsibilities, would that change your mind?" Ryan offers.
A smile tugged on my lips, and warmth spread through me. "Ain't you the best sweetheart? I'd really love that, but no, I can't accept you taking charge of my responsibilities. Like I said, I don't want to be a burden to you. My brother will soon be out of high school, and by then, the workload will be less. It's just a little bit of time."
He stares at me for a moment, his eyes a hint of sadness and disappointment. "Fine. I guess there's nothing I'll say to change your mind," he mumbles.
I scoot over and hug him. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me. "Thank you, Ryan, for understanding," I said, tightening my arms around him.
After a moment of comforting silence, I pulled away and glanglancedund for my clothes.
"You're leaving?" he asks.
I gave a nod, picking up my clothes from the floor. "Yes. I need to be home for dinner with my family."
"I see," he muttered, lying back down on the bed.
I snickered. "I guess you don't want me to leave. Don't worry, we'll have dinner together tomorrow."
"I don't want," he pouted with a frown that got me laughing.
"If you keep your lips that way I'll come kiss you," I joke, and instantly his eyes lit up.
"What stops you?" he wiggles his brows.
I chuckle and walk over to him. I lean in and kiss him passionately. "I just recharged you. Your battery is full until tomorrow," I whisper, smiling sheepishly.
He laughed and pulled me over. Before I knew it, he was hovering on top of me and I was beneath him. "Well...what do you have in mind, Mr. Ryan Jones?"
"So many things, Sofia Cornell," his lips curl upwards into a smirk.
A goofy grin spreads across my face. "You'll have to wait until tomorrow to carry it out."
Ryan groans and slowly withwithdrawsou better get ready then," he said, standing up.
"We'll see what you have in store for me," I reply, leaving the bed with a smug on my face.
Ryan caugcatchesunawares and hugs me from behind as I shuffle to the table to pick up my purse. "I'm going to miss you," he whispers.
My heart flutters, and I stoostandll. I really wish to stay with him but not tonight, I already told my mom I'll be home. My shoulders slump my sides weakly. "I'm going to miss you too."
We both stood still for a moment enjoying each other embrace.
"Let me drop you off," Ryan finally said, releasing me from his embrace.
I nod in response. He took my hand and led me out of his house to his car.
When we arrived in front of my apartment, he turned the car and glanced at me. "Thanks for coming over," Ryan said, taking my hand.
"Thanks for dropping me off," I reply, smiling warmly at him.
Ryan leans in and kisses my cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
My cheeks flushed crimson as I stared at him. I gulped and gave a small nod. "See you tomorrow. Drive safely."
I alighted from the car and watched as he pulled out of the driveway. With a sharp sigh, I approached the door and pushed it open. The moment I stepped aside, I was greeted by a sweet aroma that got my stomach rumbling.
As I made my way to the kitchen, my mom suddenly appeared in front of me causing me to almost keel over. "Jeez! Mom why..." I trailed off when a pack was held to my face.
I was confused at first, but then I looked into the half-open pack, and my mouth flew open. Shit! My mom found my pack of condoms.
"Do you mind explaining to me what this is?" she asked, her voice chilled, and her gaze peered at me.
(FL)Sofia Cornell is a fiercely independent and devoted lady struggling for financial stability. She's also shouldering the responsibilities of caring for her mother and younger brother in high school. Her dreams of a secure future with her longtime boyfriend, Ryan, crumble when she discovers him having an affair with her neighbor. Sofia, still nursing her wounds from Ryan's betrayal, has sworn off men entirely. She is a college graduate working as a receptionist in a fashion house. Torn between her pain and the allure of Gavin's enigmatic charm, Sofia battles with her feelings while uncovering secrets that might either ignite a new flame or burn her hopes to ashes. Will Sofia dare to trust again, or will Gavin's pursuit only add fuel to the fire of her past heartbreak?
When struggling artist Eva Harper is hired to paint a mural at the luxurious estate of enigmatic billionaire Lucas Voss, she is drawn into a world of opulence and mystery. Lucas is magnetic, charming, and seemingly perfect, but Eva senses there's more to him than meets the eye. As sparks fly between them, Eva begins to let her guard down, believing she's found her fairy tale. However, Lucas harbours a dark secret: Eva is the daughter of the man who ruined his family years ago. For Lucas, seducing her was part of an elaborate revenge plan to destroy her emotionally and financially. But as he gets closer to Eva, he finds himself captivated by her warmth and sincerity. His cold-hearted plan starts to crumble as genuine feelings emerge. When Eva accidentally discovers the truth about Lucas's vendetta, her world shatters. Heartbroken and betrayed, she leaves him, vowing never to look back. But Eva isn't one to stay down for long. She channels her pain into a new art project that gains international acclaim, catapulting her into her own success. As Eva thrives, Lucas is consumed by regret and guilt. He realizes his revenge has cost him the one person who truly matters. Desperate for redemption, he tries to win her back, but Eva is no longer the naive woman he once knew. She's stronger, wiser, and determined to make Lucas pay for what he did. In a world where love and vengeance collide, will Lucas be able to prove his remorse and win Eva's forgiveness, or will his betrayal leave them both shattered beyond repair?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]