deadpan expression

Le jour de mon mariage, tout aurait dû être parfait. Je devais avancer vers l’autel, sourire, les yeux pleins d’amour pour Adrian, l’homme qui m’a sauvée, celui qui m’a fait croire en un avenir meilleur. Mais quand mon regard s’est perdu parmi les invités, mon cœur s’est arrêté. Là, assis au premier rang, un homme que je n’avais jamais pensé revoir. Un homme dont le regard m’a traversée comme une lame. Un homme que je connaissais trop bien… **Mon ancien client.** Celui avec qui j’avais passé cette nuit, des années plus tôt. Et aujourd’hui, il était là, devant moi, portant un costume élégant, une expression impassible… Parce qu’il était le père d’Adrian. Mon futur beau-père. Comment était-ce possible ? Que devais-je faire ? Tout avouer ? Faire semblant de ne pas le reconnaître ? Et surtout… que se passerait-il si Adrian découvrait la vérité ? Mon mariage venait-il de s’effondrer avant même d’avoir commencé ?

"It’s not just a deal. It’s an opportunity. I’m offering you a way out of all the bullshit—" "By tying myself to you forever?" I laughed bitterly, the absurdity of the situation hitting me. "No, thanks." Ethan’s jaw clenched, his calm demeanor faltering for the first time. "It’s not forever. It’s just... a few years. Until we both get what we need. Then we can go our separate ways. You’ll have power, money, and respect." I stared at him, incredulous. "You’re insane. You're offering me marriage just so I wouldn't expose you for being a vile and evil man" His voice dropped and his expression darkened, "How much do you want?." ------------ Madison Taylor never expected to see Ethan King again—the arrogant high school golden boy who made her life a living hell. But years later, fate throws them together when she takes a job at his billion-dollar company. Madison is no longer the shy, vulnerable girl she was in high-school, she had changed into a gorgeous confident young woman who was ready to make her mark in the world and Ethan is intrigued by this transformation. Now, Ethan is desperate to keep his past buried and offers Madison a $30 million contract to marry him and protect his spotless reputation. Madison agrees, but not for the reasons Ethan thinks. She’s ready to make him pay for every cruel word, every insult that scarred her. But as their contract marriage unfolds, so do feelings neither expected. Caught between revenge and undeniable attraction, Madison must decide: will she ruin the man who once broke her, or fall for him all over again?

Aria's life was chillingly quiet until a True Mate came along in the form of Relaz. He was noisy, extremely talkative, and especially annoying. Once allowed, there was no end to his gabbling. But when Aria realizes that Relaz is more than he seems, much more than just a carefree, always smiling and talkative man, he is something much more ruthless, will their relationship be put in jeopardy or will they try to work together irrespective of their misunderstandings and solve a puzzle, when they realize that the people around them are planning their destruction? Teaser... " You aren't my Relaz. That's right. I should get lost? Then no problem. All this while, you've been seeing me as nothing more than baggage, an extra load, right?" "I-i" Relaz stuttered. But he still didn't end up saying anything nor did he turn to look back at her. Aria laughed mockingly, "You're right. I'm so stupid. How could I have blamed the mood goddess all this while when she had given me such a treasure like Relaz as my mate. Now that he is no longer here, nor can I see the ghost of him, I've realized, how much the moon goddess had loved me. But it's a pity, I'm so stupid. Stupid, stupid..." She raised her hands and started slapping her cheeks with each 'stupid' she said and backed away slowly with tears on her face, desperately hoping that she could see the trace of the mate who once held, and loved her like no other. It was a pity she left too early and didn't manage to capture the tear that had managed to escape his tightly closed eyes, nor did she see the cold expression he wore all along, cracking and revealing immense grief. For what is love? Pain. Sacrifice.

A week after I gave birth via C-section, Mark Whitman invited his friends over to celebrate the birth of our son. The crowd was boisterous—more than a dozen people. Not one of them bothered to remove their dirty shoes. The wooden floor was soon covered in muddy footprints. Mark came into the room and, without a hint of concern, ordered me out of bed. "Everyone's waiting outside. Don't just hide here and rest—you're embarrassing me in front of our guests." I had no choice but to push through the pain, forcing my body to prepare a huge meal for the large crowd, all on my own. When I carried the final bowl of steaming soup to the table, Lily Hoyte—whether intentionally or not—jabbed her hand against the wound on my abdomen. My hand trembled from the sudden pain, and the bowl slipped slightly, spilling the hot soup onto Lily's shoes. Mark's face darkened instantly. "What the heck did you do, Cammy? Lily rushed here right after her plane landed from overseas to see our son, and this is how you treat her?" The crowd quickly chimed in. "Come on, Cammy, no need to be so petty." "Mark and Lily grew up together. If there was really something between them, do you think you'd even be here now?" "Do you even know how much those shoes cost? They're limited edition—easily over ten thousand dollars. And you just ruined them." Lily stood up awkwardly, her eyes misting with tears. "If Cammy doesn't like me," she said softly, "then I'll leave. I don't want to be a bother." But Mark grabbed her hand in an exaggerated display of protection, his voice harsh as he turned to me. "Wipe Lily's shoes clean. Right now." His partiality for Lily made something sharp twist in my chest. My lips quivered as I fought back tears. "The wound on my stomach hasn't healed yet. I can't bend over." At that, his expression grew colder. "Don't use childbirth as an excuse. If you can't bend over, then kneel and wipe them. And if you won't, get out of my house!"

“Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?!” Amaya screamed, tears rushing from her eyes. Logan, standing by the window, smiled. “Your existence. The crime you committed is being your father’s daughter,” he replied, his eyes glinting with amusement. “How could that be a crime?” Amaya mumbled, pain evident in her voice. Logan’s expression darkened. “Your father owes me, and you are simply paying the price. Don’t complain.” He expected a response, but she remained silent. Gliding closer, Logan grabbed her hair with full force. “You can’t die now, Amaya. This is only the beginning.” ____ Logan, blinded by revenge, used Amaya to make her suffer for her father’s sins. Yet, somewhere along the way, he fell for her. Just when he let go of his hatred, she betrayed him. One moment, she was his wife, his possession. The next, she was gone—standing beside another man, tearing his world apart. His power, his wealth, everything he built—shattered. Now, he's out for vengeance again—a battle between him and the woman he loves. Did Amaya truly betray him, or was Logan blind to a greater deception?

Evelyn Sinclair was the epitome of grace and sophistication, groomed to inherit her family’s prestigious legacy. But one fateful night, she was drugged and set up, leading to a scandal that shattered her world. With her fiancé canceling their engagement and her father stripping her of her heiress title, Evelyn found herself cast out of her family and forced to raise her twins abroad, far from the life she once knew. Years later, she returns to New Santerra, determined to provide a stable life for her children. However, fate has other plans when she discovers that the stoic CEO of the company she just joined is none other than Adam Dean—the man she had a one-night stand with, the one who unknowingly holds the key to her tumultuous past. “Sir, please watch your manners!” she challenges, her eyes blazing with defiance. Adam’s expression remains impassive, but his voice is low and intense. “This is my office. Who’s going to stop me if I want you here, right now?”

That isn't fair," I said, my voice cracking. "I cannot marry someone I do not love, no matter how convenient it is for you. "I am not going to do it!" I was shivering with wrath. Madam Angelica sighed heavily, her expression intensifying. "You're being selfish, Anna," she said. "It's not just about you; it's about the entire family and the future. I understand you don't want to marry someone you don't love, but I need you to understand the importance of this decision." I was at a breaking point. I'd always been a polite girl, following what I was taught and never challenging my family's judgment. But this time, I was willing to fight for what I wanted. My joy was too precious to sacrifice for the sake of family responsibilities. "I won't do it," I shouted."I won't be part of this arranged marriage" I clutched my bag firmly and dashed off to work in rage. Anna is forced by her mom to marry a billionaire suitor Kevin Beyer in order to save her family from the debt her late father caused them. Her mother reluctantly approves of the marriage without caring about Anna's feelings, Anna was left with no other choice than to marry Kevin. Anna wondered how Johnny, her boyfriend, would feel when he heard about this and how she would cope with the rest of her life as the wife of a man she didn't love. She knew that this arrangement would be difficult, but she had no other choice. Would she ever find true love or happiness in this situation ? What did her lover do on hearing about this marriage?

Little did Linxara know, her life was about to take a drastic turn. A chance encounter with a mysterious and powerful stranger would shatter the fragile world she'd built, leaving her captive to his desires... *** Paxton Carson stood at the edge of the rooftop, gazing out over the glittering cityscape. His eyes seemed to bore into the darkness, as if searching for something - or someone. The wind whipped through his hair, but his expression remained unyielding. In that moment, Paxton's thoughts were consumed by a singular obsession: finding the woman who had stolen from him. He would stop at nothing to claim what was his, and make her pay for her betrayal. Little did he know, his quest for revenge would ignite a passion that would destroy them both.

"Marry me, Olivia," Felix said to her, his expression stern and commanding. "What?" The statement was so unexpected that she choked on the water in her hand. Water dripped down her chin as she coughed and sputtered. She tried breathing while tears filled her eyes. "What did you just say?" She asked hoarsely when she recovered. There was no way he could have said what she thought he said. "Married? Just like that? You can't be serious!' she shook her head in disbelief. "Didn't you seduce and sleep with me just to be with me? Marry me and let's get this problem over with." Olivia Thompson's life takes a complete turn when she sees pictures of her boyfriend of two years with a new girl on the school's social media platforms and her father's demand for her to marry his 50-year-old friend to settle his debts. I'm an attempt to distract her from her problems, her best friend drags her to a lavish party, but everything changes when she wakes up naked on Felix Walton's bed, her best friend's enigmatic brother. Felix offers Olivia a marriage contract to protect his family's reputation after she unexpectedly becomes pregnant; Olivia accepts out of desperation. However, there is a problem: his parents have another woman they would prefer him to marry and she conceals secrets that could destroy the family. What will happen when Olivia faces her deepest fears? Will Olivia and Felix be able to overcome all the challenges in their way and build a future together or will the shadows of their past tear them apart forever?

“Where have you been, Cosette Blanche Warren?” he whispered darkly. My throat went dry. I could feel his hands roaming down my thighs, his touch possessive. “Someone saw my wife with Franklyn Carrington today,” Yohan continued, his voice deceptively sweet. “Tell me, Mrs. Warren… is that true?” A chill ran through me. His tone wasn’t affectionate—it was laced with something far more dangerous. “Open your eyes.” I jolted at his sudden command and immediately obeyed. My body trembled under the weight of his stare. His fingers curled under my chin, tilting my face closer. Slowly, agonizingly, he licked the corner of my lips before whispering against them. “What did I tell you before, wife?” Tears welled up as I struggled to form words. “I-I’m not allowed to meet…other men,” I stammered. “Hmmm.” His fingers traced lazy circles on my waist before pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Then explain what happened earlier.” “Franklyn is just a friend, Yohan. I-I wasn’t doing anything wro—” “Liar!” he roared. I flinched as tears spilled down my cheeks. A scream tore from my throat when Yohan suddenly lifted me, throwing me onto the bed. My eyes widened in terror as he hovered over me, his expression twisted with something unrecognizable. “No one else can come near you, touch you, or even look at you because you belong to me alone, Cosette Blanche Warren!” His voice was a venomous snarl. “You will never escape me! You will never be happy! Because I won’t allow it!” Then, he laughed. A dark, menacing sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Tears streamed down my face as I squeezed my eyes shut. This was my life now.