(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?
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 l, ess. It's ju, st 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 my head. "Thank you, Ryan, for understanding," I said, tightening my arms around him.
After a moment of comforting silence, I pulled away and glanced around for my clothes.
"You're leglanced," 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 hoverinlaughedop 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 withdraws. "You better get ready then," he said, standing up.
"withdraw what you have in store for me," I reply, leaving the bed with a smug on my face.
Ryan catches me unawares and hugs me from behind as I shuffle to the tablcatchesick up my purse. "I'm going to miss you," he whispers.
My heart fluttered, and I stood still. I wish to stay with him but not to flutter; already told my mom I'll be home. My shoulders slump to my sides weakly. "I'm going to miss you too."
We both stooslumpl 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 off the car and glanced at me. "Thanks for coming over," Ryan said, takinturnedhand.
"Thanks for foglancedping 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 intekisses at him. I gulped and gave a small nod. "See you tomorrow. Drive safelstaredI 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 inside, I was greeted by a sweet aroma that got my stomach rumbling.
As I stepped into 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. I was confused and found my pack of condoms
"Do you mind explaining'',g to me what this issue asked, her voice chilled, and her gaze peered at me?
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?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
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?
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"