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What happens when a hook-up gets complicated by a baby? Can she hide the secret from him? Or will he show her how possessive he can be when he learns she's carrying his child? "Seven years ago, I had a one-night stand with my brother's best friend, who also happened to be my lifelong crush. The next day, he vanished leaving me pregnant. Now, I am a single mom raising our son in the same small town. Recently, he returned to attend my brother's wedding and the truth about our son was finally revealed. As he reclaims his place in our lives, the sparks between us reignite. However, danger from his past threatens to shatter our newfound connection. I am torn between my love for him and my fear of getting hurt again, especially now that I have two hearts to protect - our son's and my own."
Samantha
"Happy Birthday, Sam!"
I raised my red solo cup into the air and let out a wild laugh as my friends cheered for me.
Today was proving to be my best birthday yet, hands down.
My friends had planned a rager for me in the woods just outside our small town of Greenswood.
A bonfire blazed, and several kegs had been tapped.
I was feeling good and tipsy and happy as I danced to the music blaring from someone's pick-up.
I was eighteen at last. A woman! The future was mine for the taking, or some sentimental crap like that.
Whatever. I didn't have to think about that just yet. I just wanted to enjoy my party and forget about everything else.
Smiling, I spun in place and screamed out the lyrics to the song that was playing.
Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure emerging from the surrounding trees.
He was tall, with shaggy blonde hair and familiar golden eyes. Eyes that were just like mine. I came to a stop. It took a few moments for my vision to clear, but when it did, I let out a squeal of delight.
"Jason!" I threw my cup to the ground and rushed forward. "You came!"
Chuckling, he opened his arms as I threw myself into them.
"Of course I did," he told me. "Couldn't miss my baby sister's birthday party, could I?"
I gazed up at him with wide eyes. "Don't tell Mom and Dad! They can't know I'm drinking!"
Chucking me under my chin, he said, "Don't worry. I won't tell. Just don't do anything stupid, all right?"
"Stupid? What could I do that's stupid?"
Before Jason could answer, another person stepped up beside him. Startled, I turned my gaze and froze.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" I murmured.
My brother's companion gave me a small smile.
I often dreamed of that smile, as well as the sparkling, blue eyes gazing at me. He was slightly taller than my brother, with dark brown hair and wide shoulders. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen, and I had been all but obsessed with him since the age of twelve.
"Don't be rude, Sam," Jason teased, smacking me lightly on the head. "Ryan wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Say thank you."
I swallowed and gazed up at Ryan Carson, my brother's best friend, and my longtime secret crush.
"Than-thank you," I murmured, feeling suddenly shy despite the alcohol buzzing through me. I always felt shy around him. It was frustrating as hell, because I wasn't a shy person by nature. I was outgoing and social. The life of the party, really, but when it came to Ryan...
I was a crumpling, awkward mess.
"Seems like you've been having fun," Ryan said with a smirk, looking at me in a way that made me melt.
I blushed and nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
"Ye-yeah," I stammered, my lips twitching into a goofy, little grin. "It's been a good party. Lots of fun."
"Glad to hear it." He chuckled.
I gulped. There was something I wanted to ask him. Something I'd been wanting to ask him for a long time but had never had the courage to say.
At that moment, though, the words were on the tip of my tongue, on the verge of spilling from my lips before I could stop them.
Luckily, before I could mutter a single word, Jason clapped Ryan on the shoulder and said, "Let's go get a drink. I'm going to need one to hang out with all these kids."
Ryan chuckled and nodded before flashing me another smile.
"Don't let us get in the way of your fun," he said with a wink.
Struck speechless, I watched as he and Jason walked toward one of the kegs. I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him. He was just so...perfect.
I let out an unbidden giggle.
"Sam! What are you doing? Snap out of it, space cadet!"
Blinking, I turned just in time to catch my friend, Jessica, rushing toward me with a wild grin. She threw her arms around my neck and laughed.
"What? Sorry!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "I, uh, guess I'm more buzzed than I thought."
Jessica glanced in the direction I had been staring and her mouth dropped open and realization dawned on her face.
"Ahhhh, I see." She grinned. Turning her gaze back to me, she wiggled her eyebrows. "I see your Prince Charming has arrived. I thought he and Jason were still at school?"
"Fall break," I murmured, my gaze finding its way back to Ryan. "I knew they were coming home, but it never crossed my mind that they'd come here."
Jessica let me go and moved to stand beside me. We watched the two older men for several moments in thoughtful silence.
"Are you going to tell him?" Jessica asked after a while.
I scoffed. "Are you kidding me? No way!"
"Why not?" Jessica questioned. "It's the perfect night for it! You're legal, you're tipsy, and he's here and available."
"You don't know he's available. Maybe he's got a girlfriend back at college."
The mere thought had jealousy shooting through me, and I clenched my hands into fists at my sides. Jessica snorted.
"Right, I doubt he has a single girlfriend," she replied. "He's probably got a harem built up by now."
I scowled at my friend. "Don't say things like that. He's not that kind of guy."
"Right, right, he's perfect." Jessica chuckled and shrugged. "Not a manwhore at all, despite the many rumors saying otherwise. It doesn't matter, though. If you're going to make a move, you've got to do it tonight. You'll never get a chance like this again!"
"I don't know why you think I have a chance at all!" I exclaimed. "He hardly knows I exist. If he weren't Jason's friend, I'd be totally invisible to him."
"That's not true," Jessica insisted. "I've seen the way he looks at you. He's totally interested."
I gave her a skeptical look. "Bullshit."
Shaking her head, Jessica said, "No! I swear. I've seen it. There were a few times at your house that I spotted him watching you when you weren't paying attention."
I blinked, stunned. "Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"I didn't want you to get worked up," Jessica explained. "But honestly, I think you have a chance tonight. Come on. Do it! For your birthday!"
Chewing my lip nervously, I let my gaze stray to where Ryan and my brother were standing.
"Dad What do you mean, you sold me to the Russian mob?" Ana never thought her father capable of betrayal, but the truth hits harder than she ever imagined. Sold to New York's most feared Bratva boss, Dmitri Orlov, Ana's life turns into a waking nightmare. Dmitri is a man whispered about in dark alleys-a ruthless crime lord with a reputation carved in blood. With his sharp suits, chilling smile, and a voice that can command armies, he's the very definition of danger. And now, he owns Ana. Their arrangement is simple: she's the price her father paid, and Dmitri has no intention of letting her forget it. Cold and calculating, he's determined to use Ana to exact his revenge. But there's a darker, more complicated truth behind Dmitri's anger. The beast with a soul as black as midnight has a weakness-and it's her. Every heated touch, every possessive growl, chips away at Ana's defenses. Despite her fear, she starts to see glimpses of the man behind the monster, the one who wants to claim her not just in body, but in soul. But falling for Dmitri was never part of the plan, especially when she discovers she's carrying his child. Now Ana's running for her life, caught between her father's betrayal and Dmitri's wrath. But there's one thing she can't escape-the fact that no matter how far she goes, she belongs to him. And Dmitri will stop at nothing to bring his wife-and his heir-home. Because in their world, "till death do us part" isn't just a vow-it's a warning.
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
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."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
After a brief appearance at a birthday celebration, Ayra Carter's life took a drastic turn when the famous billionaire's heir chooses her to be his new mum.. "I like you a lot so you have to come home with me and be my new mummy" Arya's heart warmed as she stared at the cute little boy in front of her.. "Cutie.. Why don't you pick again?... I'm about to get married" "My son chose you and that's final! become his mum!" A loud authoritave voice broke into the room.. Now what??? ... Not him! Mr Kyle Anderson! The man who doesn't take no for an answer..