Those We Thought We Knew

Maria Walker has spent her entire life under the weight of expectations in a world where reputation trumps happiness. As the daughter of the respected Walker family, every choice—including her relationship with kind, loyal Noah Bennett—is judged by high society, who see him as far beneath her standing. Daniel Rothfield faces a different pressure. The powerful, emotionally guarded CEO of Rothfield Holdings has avoided relationships since a devastating breakup left him unwilling to risk love again. Yet his parents and business partners insist a man of his status needs to project stability—and a serious relationship is the perfect image. When Maria and Daniel unexpectedly arrive together at a prestigious charity auction, a fleeting moment ignites rampant speculation. Within hours, social media explodes with rumors that the billionaire CEO and the Walker heiress are secretly dating. Rather than deny it, Daniel proposes a solution: pretend the rumors are true. A fake relationship solves both dilemmas. Maria’s parents would stop pressuring her about Noah, while Daniel’s family and associates would see him finally settling down. It’s meant to be simple, temporary, and strictly controlled. Rules are set: No real feelings. No crossing boundaries. No forgetting it’s just an act. But pretending to be in love proves far more complicated than planned. As they appear together at events, family gatherings, and public functions, undeniable chemistry emerges—shifting from performance to something dangerously authentic. Meanwhile, Noah grapples with quiet jealousy fueled by headlines and photos, Daniel’s past resurfaces to threaten the facade, and their carefully built lie begins to crumble. In a society that measures love by status and appearances, Maria and Daniel face an undeniable truth: the relationship they pretended to have may be the most real thing either of them has ever felt.

Living with my aunt and her family was meant to be a temporary, quiet arrangement just helping out and keeping to myself. On the first day of the new year, while everyone else was out celebrating, I stayed home, enjoying the rare silence and catching up on sleep. But when we ran out of water, I reluctantly stepped outside to fetch some, and that’s when I saw him. He stood by the gate of the house next door, effortlessly commanding attention with just a glance. A smirk played on his lips, and a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes behind his blue-ray glasses. At that moment, he was impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, I felt disheveled and barely awake, my hair was a mess and still shaking off sleep. But he didn’t seem to mind. There was something about him an air of mystery that made me wonder who he was and why he was there. Before I could look away, he spoke, “Hi.” Caught off guard, I managed a quick, “Hi,” while trying to pull myself together. “Can I know your name?” he asked. I hesitated but replied, “I’m Clara,” and kept walking. “Can I have your number?” he called after me. “Just as friends.” I almost refused but reluctantly agreed, entering my number into his phone. “There,” I said, handing it back. “I’ll call you,” he promised with a smile, as I turned to leave. What began as a chance encounter soon became an inexplicable connection. He had secrets, but there was something about him that saw through me, understanding things no one else did. The man I met next door wasn’t just a fleeting stranger,he became the reason I started questioning everything I thought I wanted.

Gwen Shivers worked as a fashion illustrator and designer at one of the biggest fashion companies in the country. Charles Emmett is the new CEO of Emmett Inc. met Gwen on an accidental encounter. They fell in love with each other at first sight. Their relationship was kept secret from everyone around them because of Charles status. Gwen got pregnant, Charles was so happy that he proposed to her. Their conversation was heard by his mother who vowed to do anything to split them apart. Seven months into her pregnancy, she was pushed down the stairs by Charles's mother and was rushed to the hospital. When she woke up from her unconsciousness, she got to know that Charles was engaged to another woman and they were planning to get married. She was devastated and vowed not love again and just take care of her child. Charles' mother told him that Gwen said she didn't want to marry him anymore and that their baby is dead. He didn't believe her but she showed him the engagement ring he gave her. He searched everywhere for her but it was as if she disappeared. He also vowed not to love again, he became ruthless and cold to everyone around him.... Six years later, they were brought together again......

A story about a strong woman (you won't regret, she isn't like other female leads) A story about an innocent girl, a girl who only knew how to spread love. She has the eyes of innocence, the face of an angel and a personality of a dreamer but her smile....her smile is so beautiful but what people don't see, is a smile that hides more pain than you can ever imagine. A story about a boy, a boy who was forced to grow up into a cold heartless monster. Every girl wanted to be with him and there wasn't a single girl in the campus who had not slept with him except for those who were the outcasts. He was a playboy, not caring about anyone's feelings except his friends and his sister. His sister was his world, he would destroy anyone who even dared hurt his beloved sister. What will happen when he gets trapped in misunderstandings, vowing to take revenge from the girl who caused his sister pain? What will happen when he breaks her beyond repair? What will happen when she loses her purpose in life and becomes lifeless? What will happen when he finds out the truth and regrets immensely for what he did to the girl he madly fell in love with? What will happen when he gets separated from her? What will happen when he goes insane in her love, yearning and craving for her attention....for her that he abused for something that she never did but rather saved? Will she forgive him or will he lose her forever? After all, the things he had done to her were unforgivable and beyond words..... "P...please don't leave me. Come back to me.... P...please...please Eyshana.... I... I love you" I pleaded and cried as I cradled her lifeless body.

After I turned sixteen, I inherited the huge fortune my parents had left behind. As soon as the money was in my account, I hired a fake family online. A dad, a mom, and an older brother. Then, I gave them their instructions. "My dad doesn't say much, but he always lets me have my way." "My mom is gentle and a wonderful cook, especially when she makes barbecue ribs." "My older brother has poor health, and he doesn't like me. Just act like I don't exist." The three of them froze, and their expressions darkened. A long time passed before the woman playing my mother took my hand and asked softly, "Why did you hire a family? Do you miss them that much?" I avoided the guilt in her eyes, buried my face in her arms, and smiled. "Being alone is too boring." They were obviously relieved, but when no one was looking, I quietly wiped away my tears. What I did not tell them was that… I was dying. So, please. Don't hypnotize me into forgetting your faces again this time.

18 years is a long time to search for someone who went missing but the Russo family never gave up on their Principessa and they never will. Luna is eighteen but her life has been anything but rainbows and sunshine, the complete opposite in fact she's known nothing but darkness and pain. She knows nothing of the outside world and that there are people out there searching high and low for her and these people are her real family. Can she be rescued and if she is can she lead a normal life after her past trauma? Join Luna on a ride facing I life she never knew.