playing dumb

‘He was going to reject me.’ My stomach twisted violently. Why had I thought this was a good idea? My palms grew clammy around the ring, my mind screaming at me to retreat, to salvage what little dignity I had left. ‘What kind of person pulls a stunt like this?!’ My own voice taunted me mercilessly. ‘This is it, Claire. Game over.’ But instead of the anticipated rejection, Giancarlo reached out—his hand brushing mine, sending a jolt up my arm as he plucked the ring from my fingers. The motion was fluid, deliberate, like he’d done it before—and then… “I do,” he said simply, his voice steady as he slid the ring onto his finger yh with mad confidence. ~~~ Claire Bennett’s perfect Valentine’s Day proposal ends in a disaster when she catches her boyfriend with another woman. In a fit of rage, she forces an engagement ring onto the finger of the first man she sees—a suave and mysterious passerby who shocks her by playing along. But Claire’s spur-of-the-moment fiancé isn’t just anyone. He’s Giancarlo Fiore Caruso—her ex’s boss and the ruthless CEO of her company. A fake engagement, a trip to the Maldives, and an undeniable connection soon turn her spur-of-the-moment decision into something she can’t control. Sparks of desire fly despite their stark differences, and attraction simmers just beneath the layers of deception. But will Claire’s impulsive decision mark the beginning of something real—or a recipe for heartbreak?

Amelia's leg tapped against the table as she asked, "What are your thoughts on love?" Her hands were clasped together on her lap, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Lucas met her gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. "Love is a waste of time," he replied. "It's a tool designed to weigh people down. Without it, we could achieve so much more." Amelia's eyes lit up with interest; he had just ticked almost all her boxes green. "I agree," she said, her smirk matching his. "Love is nothing but bullshit. We could save a lot of time by keeping our relationship minimal." With a proactive glint in her eye, she added, "What do you say? We should get married to fulfill our filial duties." _____________ Their marriage was a facade, a contract between two individuals who didn't believe in love but were forced to get married to fulfill their obligations. Everything was going as planned, until suddenly... "Have you eaten, dear?" "How is my baby?" "Is he doing well?" Lucas's words, once empty and mechanical, now held a tender tone. Amelia found him falling for her, and she seemed to be falling too. Why were they succumbing to the very thing they once scorned? Love, once a distant possibility, was now becoming an option. But would they choose it?

"What if she doesn't want me?" "You're made for each other. If she doesn't want you, then you'll convince her otherwise. Show her a side of you that no one gets to see, a side that I wouldn't even believe exists if I hadn't seen you with your mother." I swallow. "You're good, Logan. Don't let yourself miss out on the best thing you're going to have." *** When Ariana Flores said those words to Logan Smith, the son of the alpha and her bully, she didn't expect to be talking about herself. How could Logan be her mate? The moon goddess must be playing a very sick game with her. So she took matters into her own hands and rejected Logan as her mate. But Logan wouldn't give up without a fight, He used her very words against her and proposed that they make it work. Will 3 months be enough to convince Ariana that Logan is a changed man and he's willing to do anything for his mate?

The place his lips touched burned, "Your brother is in the other room," I told him, hoping (not) that he would let go. Walker planted soft kisses on my cheek and the corner of my lips, "We're in the bathroom. He can't hear us," he responded. I groaned, "Are you drunk? Or have you been playing this whole time?" I asked because he seemed very sober. Walker chuckled, "You won't believe how drunk I am right now. And I'm not hearing a no," he said and his hand moved up to my chest. Destiny and Walker had been married for five years and were given a second chance at love after a rough patch in their relationship when Destiny discovered she was pregnant. Walker is overjoyed and vows to keep her and their unborn child safe this time around. As they navigate this new chapter, they must confront their unresolved emotions and fears. Will they be able to rekindle their love and build a stronger, healthier relationship? Or will the weight of their past mistakes, along with external forces, tear them apart once more? Join them on their journey of separation and reunion.

Zeke, a street-smart thief with a knack for slipping into places he doesn’t belong and vanishing before anyone notices. But his luck runs out when he steals a gemstone unlike any other—one that belonged to a monster. Darius is no ordinary dragon. Cursed and trapped in a half-shifted form, he’s been waiting centuries for the stone that could set him free. And now, it’s in the soul of a cocky, sharp-tongued thief who has no idea what he’s just done. The moment Darius sees Zeke, another, far more dangerous truth becomes clear—Zeke isn’t just the one who stole his salvation. He’s his mate. Furious at fate for chaining him to a mortal, Darius takes Zeke captive, torn between wanting to break him and needing to claim him. But Zeke has no intention of playing the obedient prisoner. He’s spent his whole life running, and no dragon is going to keep him caged. Yet as they clash, the heat between them turns into something neither of them can control. And when the wizard who cursed Darius returns, demanding blood, Zeke faces a choice—escape and save himself, or stay and risk everything for the dragon who might just be his greatest heist yet.

Sold to the most ruthless mafia boss to settle her father’s debts, she learned to survive by playing the perfect, obedient wife. But beneath her submissive facade, she waited for the right moment to escape—to reunite with the one she truly loved. The night finally came. With her husband drugged and asleep, freedom was within reach. Yet, just as she thought she had won, he found her. His touch was deceptively gentle, his grip unyielding. With a chilling whisper, he shattered her hopes: "Did you really think you could leave me?"

The laundromat I regularly visit has been showing an odd fluctuation in its price lately. "This coat isn't easy to wash. We're probably the only store that's willing to clean this at a loss. The market price is 55 dollars per item, but I'll give you a discount and only ask for 200 dollars for four items." I look at the boss' mother, who's new at the laundromat. I'm a little pissed. Still, I hand her my membership card without saying anything. This laundromat is opposite my residential area, and they had a promotion during their opening. I topped up ten thousand dollars on the card because I pitied the owner for raising a child alone. Unexpectedly, the owner's mother looks at me and says sarcastically, "That dumb membership card means nothing to me—you have to pay me in cash. You youngsters are too lazy to wash your clothes, yet you're more than willing to use your brains for nonsense like this. My son is too kind to let you take advantage of him like this." I grab my clothes and leave. It's time to use my brain for some nonsense—I think the laundromat should have a new owner.

Cassidy North thought life was already a challenge—until she crashed into a catastrophe. A catastrophe named Johnny Miles. She didn’t realize her dignity had a price tag—until she took the deal. Half a million dollars to prove something to herself. Teach him a lesson. Make him fall. The problem? Johnny is a hard man to tame, too wild... and too damn irresistible. Now, the game is on. Can she outplay the billionaire at his own game, or will she end up falling for the man she was paid to play? But who’s really playing who?

When my father died, he left me The Costa Mafia, a broken family and a target on my back. Our enemies are waiting for their chance to destroy what’s left of the Costa name. My siblings are counting on me to save them, but I can’t do it alone. There’s only one man powerful enough to keep us safe. Luca Marino. The cold, ruthless Mafia king with blood on his hands and ice in his veins. THE MONSTER. The man everyone fears. I walked into his life with nothing to offer but my name and a desperate proposal. A marriage contract. No love, no romance. Just protection for my family in exchange for power and status for him. But Luca doesn’t trust easily. He doesn’t take chances, and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. To him, I’m just playing in a deadly game. And the closer I get, the more deadly it becomes. My mother betrays us, then his father, then Luca dies. Or so I think. In our world, loyalty is a weapon, betrayal is expected, and love is a weakness that can destroy you. And now, I’m caught in a contract I may not survive. And falling in love with him daily.

Sexually abused by her father and betrayed by her mother who sleeps with her fiance on the day of her engagement, Natalie involves herself in a one night stand with a young virgin, Liam Li. 3 years later, Liam Li returns back to country X and accidentally meets with the lady who disvirgined him and claims her as his girlfriend. "Can I kiss you Natalie" Liam sulked like a little boy deprived of his favourite toy. "If you kiss me, will you take responsibility?" Natalie asked while playing with his hair Liam blushed hard and lowered his head recalling what happened 3 years ago "Yes I'll take responsibility for you" Before Natalie could form another counter attack, Liam had already kissed her desperately like he had been starved of her. What happens when the hotel worker she had a one night stand with happens to be CEO of the company she was interning at, for her college grades? Who was the woman in the shadows or rather, the people in the shadows? "Kill her tonight or return to me dead"