lauren reynolds criminal minds

"This is the body donation agreement, Mr. Lewis. Please sign here." Joel Lewis looks at the paper before him. His hand trembles as he grips a pen. The other party can sense his hesitance. They say considerately, "Body donation is a big thing, and it's normal for people to change their minds at the last minute. You can go home and discuss this with your family—" "I've already signed it." Joel smiles bitterly. "Family" is a term that's beyond him. There's no longer any space in his wife's heart for him, after all.

Three years in a loveless marriage, whilst enduring disdain and hatred from her husband for being a barren, Dany witnessed him cheating on her with her best friend. And they were unbothered by her realization, turns out it was a deliberate plan all along manipulating her into signing off ownership of her father's company that she Inherited to him and putting her on an infertility tea so she doesn't conceive for him. Dany lost everything after the divorce, whilst drowning herself in her grief she had a one night stand with a random gigolo before fleeing the country, and she had Sextuplets for the gigolo after three years of barrenness. Unbeknownst to her the gigolo was a powerful billionaire Magnate Laurent Jade who loathes her so much.

Isabella Marino has spent her life toeing the line between duty and desire, torn between her family’s expectations and her dream of freedom. When her father arranges her marriage to Leonard Ricci, the most powerful and ruthless mafia boss in Italy, she’s thrust into a world of power, violence, and deception. She knows Leonard’s reputation—a man feared by his enemies, respected by his allies, and untouchable in the criminal underworld. But as their marriage forces them into each other’s lives, Isabella soon discovers the man behind the ruthless façade—a man scarred by betrayal, driven by loyalty, and desperate to protect the empire he’s built. In the shadowy world of mafia politics, where trust is a rare commodity and enemies lurk at every corner, Isabella and Leonard must navigate a dangerous game of power and survival. As secrets unravel and bloodlines are tested, Isabella faces an impossible choice: follow her heart and risk everything, or remain loyal to a family that sees her as a pawn in their game. But Leonard has his own battles to fight, and in a world where love is a dangerous weakness, the only thing more treacherous than their enemies is the growing connection between them. Power. Betrayal. Love. When the stakes are life or death, can two souls caught in the crossfire find a way to save each other, or will they be torn apart by the very forces that brought them together?

“I can’t believe you just said that!” I burst out, staring at Ethan like he’d sprouted twenty extra heads. “You want me to... to pretend to be your girlfriend? What, like, fake holding hands? Fake kissing? Fake everything?” He didn’t blink as his nonchalant gaze met mine, a hint of a smirk playing on those lips. “Yes, Riley. That’s usually how fake dating works.” All Harper Adams wanted was to get through one evening pretending to be her best friend on a blind date. But when her date turned out to be Ethan Reynolds—her infuriatingly handsome CEO—things quickly spiraled out of control. Now, she’s caught in a whirlwind of fake romance to help him dodge his family’s relentless matchmaking schemes. Between awkward office run-ins and public displays of “affection” at high-society galas, Harper is discovering that fake dating might be a lot harder than she thought—especially when her feelings for Ethan start to feel all too real. With secrets piling up and hilariously disastrous moments at every turn, Harper’s left wondering: can she survive this charade, or will her fake love life blow up in her face?

I was suffering from period cramps, so I ordered some painkillers. I asked for a woman to deliver my painkillers to me, but a drunken man came over instead. This time, I did not call my brothers for help. I called the police instead. In the past, not only did my brothers send all of their bodyguards to me, but they also rushed back. In the process, they ended up missing the theater performance of our adopted sister, Gloria. Gloria was sad and grabbed a prop to stab herself. My brothers comforted me. “Don’t blame yourself for it. At the very least, you’re safe.” But, right after, they arranged my kidnapping and gave me over to a group of drunkards. “That was just a drunkard. You could have just chased him out. Did you have to call us? Look! Gloria’s dead now! You’re not getting out of this alive either!” When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the time when the drunkard was knocking on the door. This time, I did not call them, and my brothers got to watch Gloria’s theater performance and cheered her on. But once the performance ended, they regretted it.

Kira Rojas is a ghost in the world of shadows—an assassin trained to kill without question. Her latest target is Luca Romano, the heir to a powerful mafia empire. Love at first sight causes her to spare his life, but the consequences are severe. Luca Romano, the dark legacy of his family’s criminal empire lives frivolously with the exterior of a CEO. When Kira reappears, the woman who spared his life becomes the woman he can’t live without—even if it means defying his family. As Kira’s ruthless organization hunts her for betrayal, the Romano family retaliates against escalating attacks. In the midst of the warring parties, Luca and Kira find themselves trapped in a love triangle with a journalist Vanessa, driven by jealousy and armed with explosive truths that can ignite chaos and destroy them all.

Zaverio's eyes blazed with intense obsession. "You're mine to claim, and possess. I'll do whatever it takes to make you mine again, Alma." Alma's heart raced as she struggled to get out of his grip. "You can't own me, Zaverio. I'm not a slave to your selfish desires. Do not play with fire." Zaverio's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "You're mine, Alma and so is that baby in your womb. I'll chase you to the ends of the earth, I'll burn down the world or burn in hell to keep you by my side." Alma's voice trembled with fear and desire. "You're a monster, Zaverio." Zaverio's face twisted into a snarl. "And you're the beauty to my beast, my cruelty, my obsession." **** Alma Sinatra, a beautiful and innocent young woman, has been bound to the Riccardo estate as a housegirl. But her life takes a dramatic turn when she falls deeply in love with Zaverio Enzo Riccardo, the son of the powerful and feared Italian drug lord, Don Riccardo. Their forbidden romance blossoms in secret, with Zaverio reciprocating Alma's affections. But their love is torn apart when Zaverio departs for Italy, rumored to be groomed to take over his father's criminal empire. Years pass, and Zaverio returns, transformed into a ruthless and cunning man. His cold exterior hides a dark past, and his eyes no longer sparkle with the warmth Alma once knew. Though his indifference pierces her soul, Alma's love remains unwavering even when Zaverio's desire for her body is undeniable. They engage in a passionate yet dangerous dance, Alma clings to the hope that Zaverio will rediscover the love they once shared. Will she be able to penetrate the armor of the man he has become, or will their love be forever lost to the darkness?

"I've spent my entire career fighting for justice, but my heart just betrayed everything I stand for. I'm a lawyer, and I've fallen for the one person I should hate - the most notorious criminal in the country.

In a ruthless world where survival is a daily battle, Alyssa’s life takes a dark turn after losing her parents. Left to endure the torment of her abusive uncle, she fights to stay alive—until his actions lead to his untimely death, leaving her homeless and alone. Desperation pulls her into the orbit of Zero Blackwood, a powerful and enigmatic leader of a criminal network. Forced to join his ranks as a “wild cat,” Alyssa learns to play her role in a world of crime. Her quick rise stirs jealousy in Serial, the group’s leader, who sees her as a threat. Things take a sharp turn when Zero starts falling for Alyssa. His feelings put her in more danger as Serial grows hostile. Torn between Zero’s affection and her dream of freedom, Alyssa plans her escape. But when she’s caught, Zero shocks everyone by sparing her and confessing his love. Now, Alyssa must survive in this dangerous world, outsmart her rivals, and decide if love or freedom is worth the risk.

In a world ruled by power and betrayal, Atticus Escoban, the younger daughter of the influential Escoban family, has always lived away from the dangerous chaos of their criminal empire. For 21 years, she was sheltered, hidden, and protected. But her life changes forever when Alijax Costaloña, the cold and calculating heir of the Costaloña dynasty, violently confronts her father, leaving him gravely wounded. Atticus never expected to be caught in the crossfire of her family’s schemes. Worse, Alijax discovers her existence and shocks everyone by choosing her—over her older sister Anneth—to be his fiancée. The engagement is a sham, a dangerous ploy to secure alliances, but Alijax has plans no one can predict. Determined to protect her family at any cost, Atticus agrees to the engagement, kahit na lumalaban ang puso niya sa ideya. Behind her composed exterior, she plots her way out, refusing to let the Costaloñas dictate her future. But the closer she gets to Alijax, the harder it becomes to distinguish between the man who ruined her family and the one who seems capable of understanding her like no one else. “Do you think you can escape this, Atticus?” he said, his voice dangerously low as he cornered her in the dimly lit study. “You’re mine now. Whether you like it or not.” Her fists clenched, and she met his cold, unreadable gaze with defiance. “You can own the world, Alijax Costaloña, pero ako? Hindi mo ako makukuha.” In a game of power, deception, and forbidden emotions, Atticus must make the ultimate choice. Will she sacrifice her freedom to protect her family, or will she risk it all to claim the life she truly deserves? Love and survival collide in a story where nothing is what it seems, and every decision could be deadly.