Urban Romance


I'm tricked into working at Hook-Up Club in Thesbia with my best friend, Tanya Sutton. It's an establishment where men only have to pay three thousand dollars to have us for the day.
I'm the club's top earner when the police arrive with the Suttons and see me straddling a rich man, counting cash. Meanwhile, Tanya lies in the basement, heavily pregnant and in a vegetative state.
I know the truth, but I maintain absolute silence even when the Suttons offer a five-million-dollar bounty for the human trafficker. I pretend to be asleep when Tanya's mother, Jasmine Cole, kneels and begs for the truth, and I also refuse to say anything during police interrogations.
Timothy Sutton, my boyfriend and Tanya's brother, loses his temper and violently straps me into the Memory Judgment Seat.
"How could you let the trafficker go while Tanya suffers? I feel disgusted knowing I loved you! I'll use this memory extractor to send you and the trafficker straight to hell, Miranda Lund!"
Yet when the entire truth is revealed, Timothy is struck dumb and falls to his knees.


Avery Langford finally gets pregnant after five years of marriage and 99 rounds of IVF.She carries the prenatal report home, ready to share the joy with her husband, Damien Whitlow, only to freeze outside the study when she hears him bantering with his friends."There are things Avery never knew. I faked her infertility report and made her go through 99 IVF attempts. The baby she's carrying isn't mine—it's Julian Whitlow's. And the truth is, the woman I've loved all along is Serena Langford."The shock hits Avery like a bucket of cold water, and Damien still keeps talking."Next week at our fifth-anniversary dinner, Grandpa will announce me as the heir. That's when I'll make sure everyone knows Avery's been sleeping with that bastard, Julian!"Avery trembles with rage, her whole body shaking. She crumples the report in her fist, pulls a number from her blocklist, and types, "Julian, I want to discuss a big deal." 




After marrying Clifford Fuller, Noelle Quinn becomes a stay-at-home wife for six years. She pours her heart into caring for him and their son, Zayne Fuller.In return, she receives Clifford's betrayal and Zayne's cruel words. "You're the worst mom and an old hag! Ms. Perez is better!"She has had enough and demands a divorce.Clifford scoffs, "All you can do is cook and clean. You'll starve without me!" But she walks away without looking back.A month after the divorce, Noelle joins the national racing team.Three months after the divorce, she has won three consecutive world championships.Six months after the divorce, her suitors and fans have stretched from one continent to another.Clifford and Zayne fall into panic. Who could have imagined that the housewife they looked down on turns out to be the legendary racer taking the world by storm six years ago?Full of regrets, they desperately want her back, but an adorable little girl steps in front of them. "No one is taking my mommy away!"A tall, strikingly handsome man wraps his arm around Noelle's waist and sneers mockingly. "Honey, who are these lunatic clowns?" 


For six years, Lorraine Reid has carried the title of the saint of high society. She has been married to Luca Frey, the celebrated star of the legal world, for three years, and yet, they've never been intimate.Luca's obsession with cleanliness borders on the extreme. Even after dating her for three years and being married to her for another three, he refuses any physical contact with her—no hugs, no kisses, and definitely no sex.She didn't believe it at first, but after trying and failing countless times, she thinks this is simply who Luca is. He's cold, untouchable, and far above it all. 

Valeria Neal brings her daughter to the hospital for a check-up, only to discover that the attending physician is her long-separated boyfriend.After seven years, she has already changed her name and shed all her excess weight, transforming from an overweight woman to a slender beauty.He doesn't recognize her and has no idea she has secretly given birth to his child.Her daughter, Selena Neal, clutches her hand. "Mommy, why are you crying?"Valeria can't answer her, only wanting to turn and run.In her youth, she had dared to chase that man who was so far out of her league.…At Stredview University, a scandal broke out. The campus heartthrob, Sebastian Grant, reserved but refined, was secretly dating someone. His mystery girlfriend? A chubby, ordinary woman.She became the target of endless ridicule and malicious gossip.It wasn't until a familiar, cold, husky voice admitted that their relationship was for fun since he would be leaving the country soon.…Valeria ended that bitter, one-sided love.However, meeting him again shatters the quiet life she'd built for herself.She tries desperately to draw a clear line between them, only to find herself tangled up in his sheets.He threatens her, cajoles her, feigns illness, and even shamelessly drives away every man who comes near her."Sebastian, don't you get it? I have a boyfriend now," Valeria says.Inside the Maybach, he grips her waist and kisses her like a madman. "Then let me be your secret lover. I'm richer than him, younger than him, and I can give you a better life."Seven years ago, he kept their love a secret. Seven years later, he's willing to degrade himself and be her secret lover.Valeria calls him crazy, but Sebastian says he's just crazy about her. 

In her previous life, Lilah Hart was a ruthless business queen, commanding respect and fear across the corporate world. Now, she wakes up in the body of a notorious villainess from a melodramatic romance novel, hated by everyone and destined to lose everything—her reputation, her marriage, and her sanity.But Lilah refuses to play the victim again. This time, she fights back. She slaps her fake best friend without hesitation and clings to her cold, powerful husband, Gabriel Wallace, with tearful eyes and a pitiful smile. "Darling, I know you still love me. Let's get back together."Gabriel has resisted her countless times, but her charm finally breaks through. With a dark gaze, he pins her down and asks, "How exactly do you want to make up?" Lilah gives him a sweet kiss and whispers her bold request—seven times tonight. 
The night Claire Richards caught her husband cheating, she planned her revenge.She transferred billions in hidden assets, gathered undeniable proof of his affair, and destroyed the mistress's reputation.When Claire handed Lucas Bennett the divorce papers, he tore them to pieces."Divorce? Not a chance!" Lucas snapped.But Claire only smiled. "The waiting period is over, Mr. Bennett. You're out."Sharp, stunning, and done playing nice, Claire steps into a world dominated by two powerful men: her furious ex-husband and the cold, mysterious CEO feared by all. But this time, she's calling the shots.Watch as a clear-headed woman takes control, turns heartbreak into strength, and brings the man who once cast her aside to his knees. 
In her past life, she trusted the wrong people—and betrayed the one man who loved her most. Blinded by lies, she pushed her fiancé into ruin. Yet even as the world turned against him, he forgave her. And in the end, he slaughtered all her enemies… before using the final blade to follow her into death.Now reborn, she swears to rewrite her fate.This time, she tears apart the fake innocents, crushes the traitors, and rises in brilliance—only for one purpose: to win back the heart of the man she once destroyed.But little does she know…He never truly left.From the shadows, he has already laid his trap, created a world where she can only fall—back into his arms.A love once buried in blood and regret will now reignite amidst vengeance, redemption, and fate's cruel game. 



My husband, Scott Lemire, admires the young, newly hired nurse at the hospital. Her name is Yvonne West, and he promotes her to a full-fledged doctor, even though she has only worked here for two days.
His colleagues urge him to reconsider his decision, but he insists that Yvnonne has the skills for it. He also condemns his colleagues for being inept and prone to jealousy.
However, Scott's mother, Agatha Kincaid, is suddenly involved in a car crash and breaks her leg. Yvonne gives Agatha the wrong blood bag, causing cardiac arrest and ultimately leading to her death.
After I check the blood compatibility log, I gnash my teeth in anger and press charges against Yvonne right there and then. The next day, however, Scott brings a group of men to the funeral home, wreaking havoc and forcing Agatha's casket open.
"Whitney, how can you be this vicious? Yvonne didn't mean for it to happen. Your mom is very old anyway. If she's dead, then so be it. You didn't have to ruin Yvonne's career!
"Your mom won't be happy if she knows the kind of crap you're doing! Sign the letter of understanding now, or I'll divorce you this instant!"
I try to stop Scott's men from ruining the funeral home as I question him.
"Are you out of your mind? This is Mom's funeral!"
Scott sneers and says, "I will do the same if this is my mom's funeral, let alone your mom's!"
And yet, he shows up at my place later, kneeling in tears and begging me to seek justice for Agatha. 
At the age of fourteen, she was already an elite in the war department, and by nineteen, she had become the renowned Goddess of War. Today, she returns with glory to claim her rightful place in society. However, upon her arrival, she discovers a grave injustice: her six-year-old brother has been targeted for murder by a scheming girl, and the CEO of a prominent corporation is responsible for the vile act.Fueled by fury, she vows to make the CEO pay for his crimes against her family. But to her surprise, she finds herself embroiled in a power struggle with the CEO's father, a senior officer in the war department who seeks to avenge his son's misfortune. Undeterred, she showed her badge of honor, which outranks his father's. "My way or the highway," she says with a sneer. 
After dating Isaac Slater for two years, Cassidy Sherman finds out that he has been pretending to be poor and has been toying with her feelings.
Cassidy thought Isaac was a college student who didn't even have enough money to buy food. But it turns out he can easily buy another woman a 300-thousand-dollar bag without batting an eye.
She hears Isaac say, "She's from a single-parent household, so she yearns for fatherly love. I'm just playing along with her so that she feels happy being in a relationship. Of course I won't marry her."
When Cassidy's mom is diagnosed with stomach cancer, she tries borrowing money from Isaac. However, he continues to insist that he's broke and doesn't have money.
Cassidy gives up on him and marries the cool and abstinent Stefan Archer, the promising heir of the Archer family.
Later on, Isaac drinks so much that his stomach bleeds. He calls Cassidy, hoping to get back together with her.
"She's asleep," Stefan says frostily over the phone. "If there's anything, just tell me."
…
Cassidy assumes what she and Stefan share is merely a marriage of convenience, where they each get what they need from each other.
But she finds out later that Stefan has been secretly in love with her for many years. 
In her past life, she suffered at the hands of a heartless man and a shameless woman, leaving her to die with a vengeful heart. However, the universe gives her a second chance at life, and she emerges with a burning desire for revenge, vowing to make that jerk and his mistress pay for their sins. He, the seemingly idle pleasure-seeker, hides a sinister power, pulling the strings behind the scenes. When he comes across her on his path to success, she claims to be able to help him ruin the Thomas family. He sees her as nothing, but a "burden". Little does he know that the woman, who is useless in his eyes, holds the power to turn his life upside down. ...The man's eyes darken as he challenges her, "Ariana, do you realize there's a line of women who would do anything to bear my child? If you marry me, I won't accept any responsibility.""Rest assured, when the child is born, I will raise it myself!" 


"It was just one night stand, and now I'm pregnant with triplets? Gosh!"Josephine Jade never thought that she would have to run away from her own family while pregnant. She was alone, without money, without connections, with three fetuses in her stomach. How can she survive?However, Josephine couldn't give up now, until she managed to reclaim her arbitrarily seized property and get back at everyone who tried to get rid of her.A sick child, a past crush that comes back, a mysterious eccentric man, and a family that hates her, will weave together the journey of Josephine Jade's new life."You have no right to separate me from my children, you bastard! I will survive and you will submit to me. Just watch!" 
Despite having dated Jonathan Zorc for three years, he still doesn't propose. Later, he falls for my stepsister at first sight and starts pursuing her.This time, I don't cry. I don't quietly wait for him to return to me after having had his fun, either. Instead, I throw away all the gifts he's given me and slash the wedding gown I secretly bought.On his birthday, I leave Pinehelm City with no one by my side. Before boarding the flight, Jonathan suddenly texts me. "Why aren't you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you."I smile without replying. Then, I block him on all social media.He doesn't know that I agreed to marry Evan Galford, my senior in university, half a month ago. Once my plane lands, we're going to register our marriage. 




Natalie Walker is a fake heiress who spends two decades acting as Diana Ashcroft's walking blood bank. When the true heiress returns, she's immediately kicked out of the house.
The true heiress mistreats her, and everyone mocks her. Then, the world is stunned when she suddenly turns out to be the only daughter of the Walker family, the country's wealthiest and most mysterious family.
Natalie's birth parents and five brothers dote on her like mad. Her allowance is boundless, and she can splurge on whatever she wants. She can drive any limited-edition sports car and buy haute couture if she wants…
She also has a fiancé who's supposedly the wealthiest man in the world. However, he either avoids meeting her or gives her the cold shoulder. He even comes knocking, saying that he wants to call off the engagement.
Natalie thinks it's perfect. Unexpectedly, after calling off the engagement, he pesters her, wanting to be affectionate with her all the time.
Natalie is irritated. "Can you have a little shame, Mr. Ex-Fiancé?"
Marcus Holden says, "What is shame? Can I eat it? Can it help me win my wife's heart?"
"Get lost."
"You're only telling me that because you love me. Why haven't you said it to anyone else?"
Everyone realizes that the revered Marcus is actually a hopeless romantic who only has love on his brain.
Meanwhile, Marcus wants nothing more than to beat his old self up for being blind. 
For three years of marriage, she had been nothing more than a shadow in his life. To him, she was invisible, a convenience he sought only when it suited him. He gave her no love, no affection—only physical on his terms when other women failed to satisfy him.When Enlyan discovered her pregnancy, she was overjoyed, hoping it might bring them closer. But her happiness shattered when she found him at the hospital with his lover for a maternity checkup.She finally asked for a divorce and vanished.Heartbroken and distracted, she met with tragedy—an accident that almost claimed her unborn child.Five years later, Enlyan returns with her twins."They are my children!" Damian's voice thundered, his eyes blazing with fury."You dared to hide them from me all this time? I’m taking them away from you. They belong with me." Damian Blackwood growled, his intention turning cruel. And She was powerless against his anger. 

Ethan Cooper is the youngest director in Fernwick. He looks cold and distant all the time, and he's very decisive whenever he acts. Everyone knows him as a fair and just man who cannot tolerate the slightest wrongdoing.
In order to stay by his side, Iris Whitman personally tears the admission letter to the prestigious Vantrel University during her senior high school year. Instead, she fills in the name of the law school Ethan is studying at.
After graduating from university, Iris uses all of her connections just to join the FBI field office where Ethan works.
In Iris' first year, the field office decides to distribute dangerous missions by having everyone draw lots for the very first time.
There are two sticks, with one long and the other short. Whoever gets the short stick will have to take on the mission.
Iris gets the short stick. So, Ethan dispatches her to infiltrate a cross-border human-trafficking organization as a spy.
In Iris' fourth year, everyone has to draw lots again. With trembling fingers, Iris draws the short stick once again. Her mission is to arrest drug dealers overseas.
In Iris' sixth year, the lot-drawing session greets her once again like an unshakable curse. As she stares at the familiar short stick lying in her palm, she lets out a chuckle all of a sudden.
This time, Ethan intends to dispatch her to Averlain to investigate a major corruption case.
Iris has drawn the short stick three times in six years. All she gets in return is countless scars on her body, the destruction of her family, as well as betrayal. 
I prepare a feast for my boyfriend, David Linton, on Thanksgiving, but he stands me up again.I sit in silence for a moment before pulling up the Instagram account of his first love, Selene Whitmore, like I always do."I'd like to praise someone. He abandoned his girlfriend and came to me just because I told him my light went out. I hope he maintains this valuable principle of putting his friend before his girlfriend," she writes.The photo she posts shows David standing on a stool, changing her lightbulb. She steadies his legs with both hands, her face brushing against his private parts. He doesn't dodge, and there's even a faint smile on his face. The image is an utter eyesore, but I don't have a meltdown or make a scene.I simply press the like button on the post and ask David for a breakup. David doesn't believe me at all."She's just throwing a tantrum. I'll just give her the cold shoulder for a few days. I can cheer her up easily with a beckon of my finger after that," he says.But what he doesn't know is that it's only easy for him to cheer me up because I love him.And from today on, there's no way he'll be able to cheer me up anymore. 

Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. The story contains explicit adult content of a sexual nature and should not be read by anyone under the age of 18.(Nora Moore and Ethan Allen). "Say you're a slut." He said, watching her finger herself, absentmindedly stroking his dick."I," she gasped,closing her eyes, but being thrilled at saying the words,"I am a slut.. oh, please fuck me."He turned her around, forcing her up onto her hands and knees. She felt him run his hands down her back, up her spread ass, and finally pull on her hips as he positioned himself behind her. She moaned and turned herself up for him, pushing her open cunt back onto him.He leaned forward and grabbed her braids, pulling her head back as he rammed his dick inside her hard. She cried out and tightened around his dick,"Oh god, yes, fuck me. Fuck me hard and dirty." She moaned out. "I'm a fucking slut. Hurt my pussy." 

In the third year of their marriage, Lynette Sterling and Zachary Wright have their worst fight yet.
On their wedding anniversary, Lynette presents forensic evidence of non-consensual intercourse and reports Zachary to the authorities. "I'm reporting my husband for forcing himself on me," she tells the police.
At the police station, Zachary remains the picture of composure in a tailored suit, his fingertips still faintly stained red. Even in custody, he carries the cold weight of a man who owns the room.
An officer approaches, casting an uneasy look at the legal predator looming nearby. "Mr. Wright, how would you like to handle this?"
Lynette's heart sinks. They aren't asking how to deal with Zachary; they are asking Zachary how he wants to deal with her.
Zachary lifts a brow, a captivating yet dark smile playing on his lips. He hooks a finger under Lynette's chin, his voice a low purr.
"Nettie, you really didn't hold back on trying to destroy me. But how can you tell such a bold lie? You weren't this heartless before. You used to do everything you could to match my freak in bed." 
On the day Jeanette Young is diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer, William Ashford cheats on her with his first love, Giselle Wills.
Jeanette doesn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she tries to fix the marriage with everything she has, only to be met with divorce papers and Giselle flaunting a baby bump at her doorstep.
That's when Jeanette finally gives up and agrees to the divorce. She takes the hefty settlement, and since she won't live long anyway, goes on a revenge spending and investment spree.
Who would expect a random project she invests in to go viral overnight? A lottery ticket she buys hits 50 million dollars in winnings, and even the broke college student she sponsors turns out to be a future business prodigy.
In the blink of an eye, Jeanette becomes the most powerful investor in the game.
With money comes health, so her condition steadily improves, her career soars, and countless suitors vie for her attention. Even her cold ex-husband—William—starts getting attracted to her and frequently begs for reconciliation.
One night, the teary-eyed William pleads, "Please just give me one more chance."
Jeanette smiles. "Your life's a mess, Mr. Ashford. You don't deserve me."
Later, she learns the hard way that careless words do invite trouble. 
Cressida Ashworth gives up everything for love, even her life, yet her husband, Luther Strudwick, repays her devotion with one word.
"Disgusting."
When she opens her eyes again, she's given three more months to live.
A mysterious voice says, "Should Luther speak the words 'I love you,' you shall live again."
But this time, Cressida would sooner lose that chance than stoop to begging. She returns under a stack of aliases, stripping the saintly mask off Natasha Ashworth and making every last snob eat their words.
And Luther, the one who once mocked her, falls into desperation when he finally sees her brilliance. He begs for her forgiveness, but she no longer cares.
"Cressida, I—"
"Too late."
She cuts him off with a smile and steps right into Tristan Leigh's arms.
The aloof doctor who has always stood guard behind her is revealed to be the heir to a vast corporate empire. He's had his sights on her for a long time.
"Cressida, I'll help you claim whatever you want. Now tell me, when are we getting married?" 
In the third year of their marriage, Asher Greene keeps flaking on Juliet Stone just to be with the daughter of his benevolent mentor, Evangeline Huxley. He even accompanies her to a prenatal check-up.
Juliet, who's officially dead on the inside, passes Asher the divorce agreement.
But Asher merely scoffs mockingly. "You've been with me for 15 long years, Juliet. Do you really have the heart to leave me?"
He thinks Juliet has nowhere else to go and no one else to rely on, so he sits back and waits for her to beg him to take her back.
What he doesn't expect is that his best friend, Zachary Wilson—who has been giving him relationship advice the whole time—has been secretly pursuing Juliet.
Everyone thinks that Juliet will fall from the ranks as a rich wife back to a commoner. But soon, someone witnesses Zachary, real estate tycoon and finance genius, cornering her while kissing her deeply.
Some time later, when Asher finally realizes his feelings for Juliet, he sees Zachary caging her in his arms with an obsessive look.
"Are you going to leave me after using me, Juliet? Tell him who you belong to now!" 


During her five years of marriage, Teresa Sutton has selflessly devoted herself without complaint.
She raises her child, is respectful of her in-laws, and gives her husband ample personal space.
Yet, her selfless dedication earns her a husband who keeps a lover on the side. He gifts her cars and houses. He arranges jobs for her. He kisses and hugs her. He even gives her piggyback rides.
Hoping to make her straying husband settle down, Teresa decides to try for a second child.
She thinks Cameron Langdon's willingness to have a second child with her means he acknowledges her identity as Mrs. Langdon. Instead, the reality is that her husband fears the risks of childbirth for his young lover, so he makes Teresa the breeding tool.
Despite losing her husband, Teresa thinks she at least has her daughter for company. However, her own flesh and blood she raised has also become someone else's snuggle buddy.
In the end, Teresa loses all feelings in an instant. She terminates her second pregnancy and is determined to get a divorce. She wants neither her husband nor her daughter.
While Teresa waits for the divorce formalities to be processed, her husband, who once never came home, now corners her in the living room.
"I thought we'd have a second child?" 

"Ms. Keane, the test results are not very favorable. You've been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. If you refuse treatment, you'll likely only have several weeks left to live—not even a month. Are you sure you wish to proceed without treatment? Does your husband agree to this?"
The doctor asks me over the phone.
"I'm sure… Yes, he agrees to this as well," I reply.
I gaze around the empty room after I end the call, feeling unbearably upset. I used to think the pain was just my recurring gastritis, but it's actually because of a tumor.
Sighing, I turn to gaze at the photo on the desk.
Silas Huntington, who's 18 in the photo, stares right back at me.
Even after all these years, I can still remember the day we took that photo. Snow had dusted our hair white, which made Silas ask whether this counted as us growing old together. 


To save Rowan Sinclair, heir to the capital city of Westhaven, Ava Hartley throws herself off a cliff and loses her memory.
Everyone believes she is dead, except Rowan, who keeps searching for her.
Three years later, when Ava finally returns, she finds a woman at Rowan's side who looks almost identical to her.
For that woman, Rowan repeatedly casts Ava aside. He forces her to undergo humiliating exams to prove her innocence. He even threatens her family's safety to pressure her into ending a pregnancy that never existed.
When the two of them are kidnapped together, Rowan still chooses the other woman.
"Ava," he says, "Lia isn't like you. She's fragile. You fell off a cliff and survived three years. You can wait for me."
Ava exhales, finally understanding, and steps back over the edge of the cliff.
Her years of amnesia have given her new goals, and returning to Rowan was only a final gesture toward an old attachment. Now, for the first time, Ava can let him go completely. 
I, Nadine Cross, transplant the nerves from my own hands to my boyfriend's "sister", who loses the use of both her hands in an accident.
With that, Irene Sawyer's painting skills improve tremendously.
However, I lose function in both hands. I can't even lift a glass of water.
My boyfriend, Thomas Graham, tearfully promises that he will forever be grateful to me and will take care of me for the rest of my life.
Because I love him, I silently endure the agony of rehabilitation treatments.
But one day, I accidentally discover that his so-called sister, Irene, is actually his lover.
I confront him, but they tie me up.
"Since your hand nerves work so well, your optic nerves should be good too. Irene's eyesight hasn't been great lately. If you're going to help, then you should help her all the way. Give her your eyes, Nadine," Thomas demands.
I fall into despair as I watch them approach me with surgical knives.
Thomas says, "Don't hate me. You've already lost function in both hands. Your eyes won't do you much good when you're in this state. I'm just making the rational choice."
Boundless darkness descends.
When I open my eyes again, I am back at the time right before the nerve transplant surgery.
This time, I get a dog's nerves instead. 

Miranda Payne is Ekason's most renowned genius pediatric surgeon.
With a scalpel in her hand, she has saved countless children's lives. The media hails her as Ekason's "guardian of children".
But right now, she is pinned against her office desk, a cold gun barrel pressed firmly against her wrist.
The man holding the gun is her husband, Jerome Cooper, heir to the Cooper family and the one who controls both Ekason's criminal underworld and its legitimate power.
Dressed in a black suit, he radiates a chilling, murderous air. Behind him, one of his men holds up a tablet. On the screen, a video plays.
Their five-year-old son, Fred Cooper, is being forcibly transferred out of the hospital.
Fred is burning with a high fever. His cheeks are flushed, his face twisted in pain. He murmurs weakly, "Mommy…"
"Freddie!" Miranda cries out, her heart shattering at the sight of him.
"Miranda, you have no choice with the two surgeries today," Jerome says coldly, pressing the gun harder against her wrist. "You either save Dami first, or I destroy your hand and let both Dami and Freddie die together." 
I have to admit that my husband's true love is a charming woman.
Upon her return, my husband, who claims he knows nothing about romance when he's with me, comes up with various ways to please her. Even my son keeps clamoring to my face that he wants his father's true love to be his mother.
To them, my only worth is in cooking, cleaning, and caring for them.
Later, an autistic little girl tugs on my clothes and says firmly, "Zachary might not want his mother, but I do!"
Only then do I realize that a rose can still bloom in a dessert. When I finally turn my life into what I imagined it to be, my ex-husband and son regret their actions.
My ex-husband calls and tells me Zachary misses me. I say, "I'm not his mother anymore."
My ex-husband says he knows he made a mistake; he's suddenly realized I'm the one he loves.
The man beside me kisses the back of my hand. He says jealously, "What makes you think you're worthy of her love when even I've yet to win her heart?" 
