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U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1960 July - December by U.S. Copyright Office

Kara Wilson is your average twenty-year-old college student, striving to make herself and her family proud while currently studying Economics at the prestigious private University, Premiere University in Sicily, Italy. She gets along fine with everyone, well, everyone except her mother's cold boss, who she'd discovered likes glaring at her and treating her coldly for no reason. Stephano Alfonsi is a twenty-five-year-old billionaire from a famous family of businessmen and public figures. He's had his eyes on a certain beauty, Kara Sofia Wilson, his cook's daughter since she was at a very young age, having watched her grow from a teenager into a ripe, mature lady, and when Stephano discovers Kara is in her third year in university and might bring a man home anytime soon, he realizes he'll have to act fast. And act fast he did, the only way he knew how to get a woman. He claimed her. Made her know she belonged to him.

When Marisa first met Thomas, both of them were fully naked. She was a UCLA student on gap year and he, an alien from a war-torn planet. He saved her from thugs and their attraction was mutual. But, he had a hidden agenda : he wanted to study his enemy's weapon which had embedded inside Marisa. Thomas hired Marisa and brought her back to the HQ of the high tech corporation he founded with alien technology. She loved him but as an alien, he had a lot to learn about human love. His number 2 in the corporation, CEO Ray Coleman, who had been planning a mutiny, took advantage of this and went all out to win Marisa's heart. At the same time, the beautiful CFO Nicole, who had been in love with Thomas for a long time, did not want to be left behind and revealed her love to Thomas. What made things worse was Thomas' arch rival, Hawk, arrived at Earth and started a war with him. "I'm an alien who knows nothing about love. But with you around, I believe love can conquer all!" Thomas declared. Will Thomas finally win back Marisa's heart after knowing what love is? Can he and Marisa defend themselves and Earth from Hawk's attack?

On the night of my triumph, my husband chose her. As the champagne flutes toasted my resurrected Renaissance masterpieces, the news channels showed Lorenzo "Enzo" Conti shielding his new business ally—and rumored future bride—from a storm. I stood alone in the glittering gallery, the perfect, neglected wife of Chicago's most formidable shadow-king. For four years, I was his most beautiful possession. A restorer of broken art, trapped in my own gilded cage. That night, I saw the final crack. So I began my own restoration project. Myself. I forged my escape with the precision of my craft, embedding my divorce papers within a genuine museum loan agreement. He signed it without a glance, too busy building his empire to notice he was losing his wife. I vanished into the Swiss Alps, carrying two secrets: my unborn child, and the cold resolve to never be erased again. I thought that was the end of the story. I was wrong. He followed. The man who once commanded a criminal empire now lives in a mountain hut. He chops my wood, clears my path, and learns to soothe our daughter at 3 a.m. When assassins from his old life came, he buried them in the frozen earth with his bare hands. "Let me be your sentry," he says, his eyes holding a peace I've never seen. "Let me use the only skills I have left to keep you safe." This is not a story about forgiveness. This is a story about fracture, and what grows from the ruins. It's about the Don who became a carpenter, the restorer who learned to break free, and the new life we're building—piece by scarred piece—in the shadow of the mountains. Some masterpieces aren't found in museums. They're forged in the silent space between a second chance, and the courage to take it.

Elena Monroe has always believed that ambition trumps emotion. As a rising star in the world of financial journalism, she's built her career uncovering the secrets of the wealthy elite-without ever getting too close. But when she's assigned to investigate Nicholas Hastings, the enigmatic billionaire known for his ruthless business tactics, her carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Nick Hastings doesn't let anyone into his life, and for good reason. His empire was built on grit, sacrifice, and an unshakable focus on success. Love? That's a distraction he can't afford. But Elena's sharp wit and fierce determination chip away at the walls he's built, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about power and control. As Elena delves deeper into Nick's world, she uncovers a dangerous secret-one that could either save him or destroy everything he's worked for. Torn between her duty to expose the truth and her growing feelings for the man behind the mask, Elena faces an impossible choice. In a world where money always comes first, can love find a way to rewrite the rules? Or will ambition and betrayal tear them apart forever?

When Katrina started working as Lucas's secretary she never envisioned falling for the handsome and arrogant CEO but as she worked alongside him, she discovered that there is more to him than he lets the outside world see and her heart couldn't help but fall for him. But Lucas only saw her as his secretary. .... Or so she thought.

Trajectory presents classics of world literature with 21st century features! Our original-text editions include the following visual enhancements to foster a deeper understanding of the work: Word Clouds at the start of each chapter highlight important words. Word, sentence, paragraph counts, and reading time help readers and teachers determine chapter complexity. Co-occurrence graphs depict character-to-character interactions as well character to place interactions. Sentiment indexes identify positive and negative trends in mood within each chapter. Frequency graphs help display the impact this book has had on popular culture since its original date of publication. Use Trajectory analytics to deepen comprehension, to provide a focus for discussions and writing assignments, and to engage new readers with some of the greatest stories ever told."The Moving Picture Girls: Or, First Appearances in Photo Dramas" is part of "The Moving Picture Girls" series. "The Moving Picture Girls" is a series about the adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere who live with their father who is an actor.

I'm Nina, a she-wolf who gave everything to my mate Ethan, only to face betrayal with Clara. Heartbroken, I broke our bond, reclaimed my life, and returned to my Nash pack. As I navigated grief and power, Julian, my childhood friend, stepped in-offering protection and a new bond. Through pain and healing, I found love again, proving my strength and embracing a brighter future.

In the ancient kingdom of Akun, four royal princes are sent on a quest ordained by prophecy. The crown is no longer inherited - it must be earned. With the kingdom at the brink of betrayal and war, the fate of Akun rests on a race against time, blood, and destiny. But behind the throne, darker plots brew... and the crown has a mind of its own. A story of faith, betrayal, royal destiny, and the test of true legacy.

Excerpt from What Germany Thinks: The War as Germans See It It is true that the conflict between Austria and Serbia forms the starting point. Whether or not Serbia was seriously in the wrong is a matter of opinion, but it is generally held that Austria dealt with her neighbour with too much heat and too little discretion. Austria kindled the flames of war, but it was Germany's mission to seize a blazing torch and set Europe alight.

Essie wakes up on her bed in the morning and is shocked to find an unknown good-looking man sleeping beside her. On the desk, she also discovers the marriage certificates bearing the names of her and this man. She tries to figure out what has happened and finds that it's only a mistake. Yesterday, she was rejected by someone she loves and was told that he would be engaged to her deadly foe. In great despair, she went to a bar and met this guy. They drank a lot and played games. Under the influence of alcohol, they got married. However, it's hard to get a divorce now because she wants to use the dramatic yet genuine marriage to keep her proud in front of her deadly foe. Would it be possible that they fall in love with each other in the future?

I gave up everything for him. My spot at the world' s most prestigious art conservation guild, five grueling years working three dead-end jobs – all to pay off the $50,000 "debt" from my boyfriend Liam' s "failed startup." Tonight, I held the final cash payment, ready for our new beginning. But when I arrived at the exclusive VIP lounge to meet his "loan shark," my world imploded. Liam wasn' t the struggling entrepreneur I knew. He was in a tailored suit, laughing with a socialite, Chloe. And his "loan shark"? Just an employee bowing to him. Then I heard his voice, cold and smooth: "Another fifty K from the little workhorse. She actually did it." My sweat, my exhaustion, my sacrificed dreams-all a cruel joke. They had used me. And then, the sickening climax: his plan for "phase two," a fake $100,000 "debt" to "keep her busy, keep her grateful." The delicate touch of my hands, capable of restoring centuries-old masterpieces, now calloused and trembling with a rage so profound it stole my breath. How could the man I loved orchestrate such a monstrous deception? How could he watch me suffer for years and feel nothing but contempt? My entire life felt like a meticulously constructed lie. But from the ashes of betrayal, a new fire ignited. That $50,000 wasn't for him. It was mine. A desperate call to my old mentor offered a lifeline: a job across the ocean. I wouldn't cower. I was taking my life back, reclaiming my destiny, and I would face him one last time before soaring free.

20000 Lieues sous les mers Part 2 by Jules Verne

WARNING!! FORBIDDEN, DARK ROMANCE!! EXPLICIT SEX SCENES!! Vincenzo's hand trails down to my thigh, lifting it slightly to his hip. "Do you want that?" He asks roughly. "Do you want us?" I stare at him lustfully. My eyes clouded with lust, passion and desire. I'm surrounded. Drenched in lust. Filled with passion and burning fire. Filled with the heat of desire pooling in my stomach. I'm horny as fuck. I should say no. I should. I'm not supposed to be doing this. Not with my stepbrothers. Not with three of them all at once. But what comes out of my mouth is a whisper. "Yes." All three of them groan. "Your wish is our command, my vixen," Riccardo says hoarsely, and I shiver. **** After Elena's mother marries a powerful billionaire, she moves into a lavish estate only to discover that her new stepbrothers are triplets. They're older, hot, intimidating, dangerous, sinfully attractive...and nothing alike when it comes to how they treat her. Her mother says "They're just your brothers now." But they don't look at her like brothers. Not even a tiny bit. Elena never meant to fall for them. But they all seem to want her and won't back down. To make things worse? They're heirs to a Mafia empire. And they've all decided that Elena belongs to them...in very different ways.

" Kylian?! We are friends. Shut up and stop talking to me like that. " She shouted while getting up from the living room couch. " Hazel , this is how I am and I show what I think about you. " He told her while grabbing her little finger and tried to calm her down. "Are you serious? You… She is my friend. My best friend. How can I date her husband? " She shouted and slapped his hold. " We just dated and she dumped me . You clearly knew how I loved her , more than her Hazy. " He gave a painful face. His deep brown eyes were annoyed but helpless. " Yes, I know how you loved her and even now you do love her . Please don't use me in this mess. Kylian…let's stop things here. " She told him while a tear came out from her eyes. She walked fast towards the door but…. A kiss can solve things between us? Can I really date my friend's ex boyfriend? Just because I have feelings, I can't date the person anyways! Am I the only one who is seeking and looking for my true love like an alchemist who is looking for an elixir? I don't know when and where I fall for this rough, annoying, red flag behavior and dominating guy with a hidden perverted side man. Even though he has mesmerizing rare dark black eyes, long thick lashes, sharp nose with thin soft lips. It's not thin but also not plump. It's just perfect. Ayoo! Enough about his lips. So when? My story with him starts from a tragedy just like other movies and web series but more dramatic than those I guess. It's more like forbidden love?! Or maybe not! I don't know whether I can take him as mine or if he is still someone's property. All I knew about this situation was that I deeply hardly fell in love with the wrong person in the whole world at the wrong timing, maybe worst timing. Hazel, she is a mizzle in my summer and the star of my sky during heavy storms. Too poetic right? I know it doesn't even suit me. *chuckled. I know very well that I fell in love with her for everything to be honest. At first I fell for her honest sharp words, then for her beautiful face and delicious lips that have never been tasted by anyone before. Then for her pure heart that can make anyone fall in love with her. The only good thing is she won't open her heart to anyone that easily. So I have less competitors. Then her body… her slim waist, thick legs and sexy breast. Everything is perfect. I never noticed that before but after noticing it once, I can't stop myself from thinking about her. I am not a pervert but she is making me a pervert. She healed me completely. I don't think it was the wrong timing for us to meet or fell for each other but the only wrong thing I did was I used to date her bestie, my ex girlfriend Rachel. As you all know, girls have that untold rule, " There is no hesitation, just a big no for ur bestie's ex! Stay loyal to your friend till the end! " Fuck that philosophy and philosopher. Does that bestie really deserve that loyalty? I will make her open up. No, she already told me that she loves me . So all I have to do is seduce her and make her mine.

Five years ago, when Jarvis was looking for a surrogate mother, Nina came to him to pay off her brother’s medical bills. She gave birth to the twins. When they met again, she didn’t recognize him. However, he had been missing her for all these years. He swore to himself that he would never let her run away this time. While the lovely baby twins became their father’s little helpers to get their mother back home.

My life was a perfectly curated display: a philanthropic heiress, a devoted husband, and annual galas that outwardly celebrated our unwavering love. But beneath the glittering facade, I stumbled upon a chilling truth: my charming husband Julian and my beautiful sister Liv were not just having a secret affair, but meticulously plotting to strip me of my family's fortune, revealing our entire marriage was a calculated lie, designed solely to gain control of my inherited shares. Julian had always prioritized Liv, abandoning me during my health crisis or fleeing to her side whenever she summoned him, yet nothing prepared me for the night my sister Liv maliciously shoved me into our estate' s ornamental pond. As I struggled to breathe, watching my heavy gown pull me under the shockingly cold water, I saw my husband, my father, and even my college sweetheart all swim past me without a glance, their sole focus on rescuing Liv, who theatrically thrashed and feigned distress in the shallow end. I was left to sink, utterly and completely abandoned. My entire life, it seemed, I' d been the overlooked second choice: my parents showered Liv with affection, my first love chose her vivacity over my quiet nature, and now my husband, the man who had promised unwavering devotion, had merely used me as a pawn for her ambition. How could every single person I ever trusted consistently choose her over me, again and again? As the dark water enveloped me, a strange, profound peace solidified my resolve: the suffocating, theatrical performance of my past life was finally over. I would burn down every painful lie, completely erase Ava Chen, and painstakingly sculpt a new identity, a new life, a true sanctuary where I was the main character, never just an afterthought in someone else's story.

Charlie Kingsley was once a pilot. Once, he suffered an air crash and was saved by Zoey Carter. Unfortunately, he became a cripple after that. Besides, his ex-girlfriend left him without saying a word. Charlie was so depressed at that time and wanted to die every day. Thanks to Zoey, who had been in love with Charlie from a very young age, accompanied him every day. She didn’t dislike Charlie because of his disability. However, she took good care of Charlie. And Charlie also gained courage again to live. Besides, Charlie finally knew what love was. This story is not that astonishing and thrilling. It just shows us the love in trifle things and common life, which is a life we can relate to.

The white lace of my wedding dress felt heavy on my shoulders. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Then Mark' s voice, a mere whisper, shattered everything. "I can't do this, Chloe." He stood there, perfectly tailored, his eyes avoiding mine. "I'm sorry," he finally managed, "I love Ashley. We're already married." The world tilted. My bouquet fell, scattering petals on the cold stone. A mechanical voice, only I could hear, boomed in my head: `[System Alert: Primary Life Mission 'Marry Mark Johnson' has failed.]` `[System Failure initiating... Host life functions will terminate in 60 seconds.]` I collapsed, a crushing pain in my chest. Mark just stared, frozen in cowardice. Ashley, my stepsister, rushed in. Not to help me, but to pull Mark away. "Mark, let's go! She'll be fine," she snapped, a look of pure triumph on her face. They left me to die on the church floor. `[30 seconds remaining.]` My world was almost dark. Suddenly, a stranger burst in, desperate to help. He threw himself over me as a chandelier crashed down. He saved me, but lost his legs. Three years later, I was married to him, Ethan Miller. Out of gratitude, I gave him my life. Tonight, our anniversary, I overheard him talking to his friend. "Tell her what? That I'm the best actor in the world?" Ethan laughed, his voice cold. "What happens when she finds out your legs are perfectly fine?" Ashley had put him up to it. My life, my sacrifice, was all orchestrated. My salvation was a lie. My marriage, a cage. The pain was worse than any system countdown. I looked at the man I married, the hero I thought he was. A stranger. A liar. A conspirator with my sister. This had to end. I would burn it all to the ground.

The ninety-ninth time Jax Little broke my heart was the last time. We were the golden couple of Northgate High, our future perfectly mapped out for UCLA. But in our senior year, he fell for a new girl, Catalina, and our love story became a sick, exhausting dance of his betrayals and my empty threats to leave. At a graduation party, Catalina "accidentally" pulled me into the pool with her. Jax dove in without a second's hesitation. He swam right past me as I struggled, wrapped his arms around Catalina, and pulled her to safety. As he helped her out to the cheers of his friends, he glanced back at me, my body shivering and my mascara running in black rivers. "Your life isn't my problem anymore," he said, his voice as cold as the water I was drowning in. That night, something inside me finally shattered. I went home, opened my laptop, and clicked the button that confirmed my admission. Not to UCLA with him, but to NYU, an entire country away.