Wounds of the Heart Clara, a brilliant young woman marked by a tumultuous past, returns to her hometown after a ten-year absence to attend the wedding of her childhood best friend, Emma. This return is far from a simple visit: Clara must confront Lucas, her first love and the one who broke her heart. However, Lucas is no longer the same. Consumed by remorse, he has become a more mature man, but still haunted by the mistakes he made. Tensions mount when Clara discovers that Lucas is the brother of Emma's future husband, making any attempt to avoid their confrontation impossible. At the same time, Clara struggles to hide a painful secret: the true reason for her sudden departure ten years earlier, a departure that has never been explained. As events unfold, Clara and Lucas are forced to revisit their shared past. Between tears, conflicts, and memories, their story evolves. As love resurfaces, the wounds of the heart seem to open again. The question is whether they will be able to heal them together or whether they will separate them permanently.
It had been ten years since Clara last set foot in her hometown-ten years of silence, distance, and buried memories she was unwilling to awaken. Yet, there she was, standing before the grand house of her childhood. The wrought-iron gate remained unchanged, and the intoxicating scent of bougainvillea lingered in the air. Clara adjusted her bag's strap and took a deep breath. She needed to face it, to summon the courage for this return.
I'm here for Emma, nothing else, she murmured to herself, as if trying to convince her own heart.
Emma, her childhood best friend, had begged her to come to her wedding. Clara hadn't had the strength to say no. She couldn't turn her back on Emma-not after everything her friend had done for her in the past. But with every step toward the house, Clara felt her heart grow heavier.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a familiar figure appeared.
"Clara?! You're finally here!" Emma threw herself at her, arms wide for an embrace. Her radiant smile was contagious, and for the first time in days, Clara felt a faint glimmer of lightness.
"Emma, I'm so happy to see you," Clara replied, a shy smile gracing her lips.
But the moment of happiness was fleeting. When Clara lifted her gaze, her breath caught. He was there. Lucas. Him. Leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that unsettled her. Ten years. Ten long years without seeing him, without hearing his voice. And yet, there he was, more mature, more commanding, but still unmistakably... him.
"Clara..." His voice was like a wave of memories, crashing through the fragile barrier she had built around her heart. She immediately averted her eyes, unable to withstand his gaze.
Emma, of course, didn't seem to notice the tension thickening in the air. She continued enthusiastically talking about her wedding, her plans, her dress... but Clara heard none of it. Her mind was elsewhere, stuck on Lucas-on this moment she had dreaded so deeply. Why does it have to be him? Why now?
Clara followed Emma into the house, her shoes clicking softly against the marble floor she remembered so well. The walls were still the same creamy hue, but the decorations had changed. Everything was elegant, orderly, perfect-a reflection of Emma's well-structured life. Clara placed her bag on a chair, attempting to relax, but her eyes instinctively searched for Lucas. She hadn't yet gathered the strength to truly face him.
"Sit down, rest! You must be tired from the journey," Emma said, handing her a glass of juice. Clara accepted it with a smile, though she wasn't really hungry or thirsty. The weight of her return was too overwhelming for her to feel anything else.
She sipped the juice in silence while Emma kept talking. "You wouldn't believe how excited everyone is about this wedding! Pierre and I planned everything-it's a dream come true. You'll see, the celebration will be stunning. Oh, you must meet my family too!"
Clara nodded, trying to appear engaged. But she could still feel it-that presence, that shadow in the room. Lucas wasn't far; she knew it. Her hand trembled slightly as she placed the glass on the table. The past was surging back like a brutal, unbearable gust of wind.
"Clara, look who's here!" Emma exclaimed, as if reading her thoughts.
Lucas stepped into the room, his gaze locked on Clara, still just as intense. Her heartbeat quickened, and a strange warmth coursed through her body. But she couldn't allow herself to succumb to that weakness. Not yet.
Lucas approached slowly. "It's been a long time, Clara."
His voice was deep, tinged with emotion. But Clara refused to fall into this trap. She abruptly stood, flashing a strained smile at Emma.
"I think I need some air. The journey has worn me out," she said.
"I'm stepping out for a moment."
Clara left the room before Emma or Lucas could say a word. She strode quickly into the garden, finally pausing to breathe. The fragrance of the flowers was calming, but her mind remained restless. Why did I agree to come here? she wondered. The thought of seeing Lucas again was unbearable, yet she knew she couldn't avoid him forever.
Clara stayed in the garden for a while, observing the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. She hoped Lucas wouldn't follow her, that he'd understand her need for solitude. But the sound of footsteps behind her dashed that hope.
"Are you planning to avoid me all weekend, Clara?" Lucas asked as he approached.
She turned slowly, her gaze locked on him. He had changed, yes, but not enough to erase the pain. "I'm not avoiding you, Lucas. I simply prefer not to have this conversation."
He frowned, crossing his arms. "What conversation? The one we've dodged for ten years? The one where you tell me why you disappeared overnight without a word?"
Clara felt her throat tighten. She didn't want to dredge up the past-not now, and especially not with him. "This isn't the time or the place. Emma is getting married, and I'm here for her."
Lucas let out a bitter laugh. "Of course, it's always for Emma. And me, Clara? Where do I fit into all this?"
Before she could answer, Emma appeared, running toward them and cutting their exchange short. "Lucas, don't be hard on Clara. She just got here. Clara, come on, you have to meet my family!"
Clara seized the escape route and followed Emma back inside, leaving Lucas behind. But she knew this conversation wasn't over-it was merely postponed. Her heart continued to beat erratically, the tension piling up.
Inside, the house buzzed with voices and activity. Emma introduced Clara to her parents, Pierre (her fiancé), and a few close guests. Clara tried to keep a smile on her face, but every time she felt Lucas's gaze on her, her focus wavered.
"Clara! You have to tell Pierre how incredible you are as a friend. She was there for me in my darkest times, Pierre. Without Clara, I wouldn't be here today," Emma declared, visibly emotional.
Pierre smiled at Clara. "Emma talks about you all the time. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Clara nodded, replying politely, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She sensed Lucas drawing near, and her heart began to race. When Emma and Pierre wandered off to chat with another guest, Lucas seized the opportunity.
"So, Clara, are you planning to keep pretending?" he murmured, low enough that only she could hear.
Clara turned to face him, her eyes filled with defiance. "I'm not pretending. I'm here for Emma. Nothing more."
"Nothing more?" Lucas echoed, incredulous. "You can say that as often as you want, but I know you, Clara. Coming back here isn't 'nothing.' Not after everything that happened."
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I don't have time for this kind of discussion, Lucas."
Lucas shook his head. "You'll have all the time in the world. I won't let you leave this time without answers."
Once more, Clara left Lucas, retreating to Emma to hide within the wedding's bustle. But she knew this encounter was only the beginning. The wounds hadn't healed, and the past would catch up to her no matter how hard she tried to outrun it.
A group of friends, in search of a break far from the daily routine, rents an isolated house on the edge of a mysterious lake for a stay of a few days. At first, the place seems peaceful and perfect for relaxation, but little by little, strange phenomena disturb their tranquility. A evil presence, linked to the dark past of the house and the lake, is gradually revealed, playing with their most buried fears and secrets. Day after day, the atmosphere becomes more oppressive, their personal tensions are intensifying, and friends find themselves trapped in a spiral of terror. While they try to understand what is happening to them and find a way to escape, the truths about the past tragedies and the claim that they share with the house come in the light. Their friendship, put to the test, will be the only hope to survive ... but not all will leave this unharmed place. While the shadow of the lake continues to hover over them, the border between reality and horror becomes more and more vague.
Elise, a woman haunted by the disappearance of her old love Thomas who had perished during a boat trip, embarks on a quest for truth that upsets everything she thought she knew. What she discovers far exceeds her suspicions: a sprawling criminal network involved in abominable traffic, led by individuals in whom she thought she could trust. Helped by Samuel, a man who felt guilty of the death of Thomas and whose loyalty turns into a sincere love, and Clara, a perceptive and determined ally, Élise faces lies, manipulations and betrayals to destroy this empire of corruption. In this fierce struggle for justice, Élise not only finds the truth, but also a new strength, a hope, and the love she no longer expected. This story is an exploration of resilience, the quest for self and renewal in the face of darkness
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
What happens when an all business Alpha planning his chosen's mating ceremony, smells the most wonderful fruity scent that belonged to his curvy mating ceremony planner. Confident plus size Ji'lahni, her two cousins, and friend owns a successful Wedding planning company along with a dance, and self defense workout studio, get hired by their new friend who is like a mother to them to plan her sons wedding I mean mating ceremony? What will happen when the sassy plus size women step into the world of werewolves? Read to find out.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?