Novels

My boyfriend, Ethan, and I had been together for three years. I noticed all his social media handles were "July." Assuming he just had a sentimental attachment to that month, I didn't think much of it. Until our wedding day. His ex-girlfriend showed up with a gift. The name on the card? Juliet. It hit me like a ton of bricks. He didn't love July, he loved Juliet. My world crumbled. 1. At the reception, a girl in a white sundress, clearly drunk, stumbled over to us. Ethan, face like thunder, told her to cut it out. Ignoring him, she turned to

It had been four years since we got married. This year, Ethan finally had some free time to see the Northern Lights with me. We booked tickets to Norway. But right before we left, Ethan bailed. "Last-minute business trip," he said, "I'll take you next time." The next day, a video of Ethan on a date with his first love went viral. The pink aurora borealis cast a romantic, otherworldly glow on the couple. A sharp-eyed commenter pointed out, "Is that woman, like, crying?" It had always been a dream of mine to see the Northern Lights before I turned 30. When Ethan

Mom always favored my cousin Tina over me. Designer clothes Dad bought for me? She’d whisk them away to Tina. The prestigious piano tutor Grandpa hired for me? Tina took my lessons. Then Tina had a car accident and needed a kidney transplant. Mom tricked me with a bowl of sweet dumplings and I ended up in a shady clinic. When I woke up again… Mom was off to my uncle’s house… again. I immediately gave Tina’s coveted grand piano to our housekeeper’s kid. "...Useless child." Mom saw me sitting there, motionless, and angrily threw my sheet music on the floor

The poor student sponsored by my mother is pretending to be me at school. At the crowded school gates, she beat me to the punch, slipping smoothly into the backseat of our car. Then, loud enough for everyone to hear, she called out to me: "I know we're close, and it feels weird to make a big deal out of this." "But, we don't live in the same direction. You can't keep bumming rides from me, taking advantage of our friendship to get my family's driver to take you home." Her words drew stares and whispers from the surrounding students, their eyes filled with

The earthquake hit, and Mom scooped up my little brother, Danny, and ran, leaving me behind. Later, as I sobbed, she said, "It was just a small tremor, you're being dramatic." "Besides, you were fine, weren't you?" She knew damn well if it weren't for our two golden retrievers, Goldie and Sunny, shielding me, I wouldn't be alive. I survived, but lost my dogs and the use of my legs. A surviving puppy, Lucky, helped me through the darkest days. Then, Grandma, complaining that the dog was distracting Danny from his studies, secretly sold him. I screamed, demanding to know why. Mom slapped me hard. "It's

I pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly:\n\"Alright, I'll make sure you're well taken care of

During the Fourth of July holiday, my usual go-to chicken and rice spot, Clucky's, was running a promotion: extra food, same price. Sounded great, right? I ordered my usual small, single serving. When it arrived, the portion was half its normal size. I asked Carol, the owner, what was up. She said, with a tone like it was obvious, "Honey, we're practically family. What's the big deal? It's a busy holiday, cut me some slack." I was floored. So everyone else's "extra" chicken came from my bowl? Carol's cheap move made me ditch Clucky's for good. I became a regular at the

Ashley's stepsister, Olivia, was a design prodigy. Every single time Ashley had a spark of inspiration, Olivia would somehow manage to publish it first. Ashley suspected foul play, but her boyfriend, Ethan, just scoffed. "Maybe you should consider that she's just more talented," he'd say, a frown creasing his forehead. In her past life, Ashley, fueled by a burning desire to prove herself, worked day and night. It didn't matter. Olivia still managed to submit the exact same design, a day before her. Then, with a tearful face, Olivia played the victim on social media. "Please, Ashley, stop plagiarizing my work!"

My husband, Mark, was a pharmaceutical giant. The day he perfected the "Lethean Elixir," a drug designed to erase deep-seated emotions, our son, Ethan, finally cracked a smile. “Can we give this to Mom?” he asked, “So she won’t love us anymore?” Mark nodded resolutely. Ethan brought the elixir to me, a syrupy green concoction, and with a practiced lie, convinced me to drink it. I gave a bitter laugh and downed it in one gulp. Father and son exchanged relieved glances. They were finally free to be with her. But why, then, did they weep and wail later, "Don't you love