Sand Snakes Pregnant

A thousand-year dynasty would inevitably face decay, and a hundred-year noble family would eventually return to dust. What in this world could last forever? Was it an Immortal Body, tempered a thousand times, or the Martial Arts will, in Heart Unity with heaven and earth? Chen Mu came to this world, his sword in hand, and when he turned back at dusk, countless heroes and millennium-old Demons had all turned to dust, leaving only one person on the road paved with yellow sand.

“CONGRATS, Miss Baek— you’re pregnant with South Korea’s #1 Hunter’s baby!” Baek Gyubin, the leader of a flopped Kpop girl group, is beyond shocked after hearing that she's carrying Hunter Han Wooju’s baby in her womb. And to be informed that she's pregnant as a twenty-five-year-old virgin? That's crazy! It's even crazier that her ‘baby daddy’ is the Guildmaster of Blue Dragon— the strongest guild at the moment. Plus, Hunter Han Wooju is the CEO of a luxury shopping mall and a known member of Korea’s W1 Trillion Club. In short, Hunter Han Wooju is way out of Gyubin's league! “How did I get pregnant with your baby, Hunter Han Wooju?” Gyubin asked awkwardly. And then she remembered THAT incident, causing her to gasp out loud. “Is it because I ate your dragon ball?!” Wooju let out a long sigh. “Miss Baek, it was an egg and not a ‘dragon ball.’”

Children are disappearing. Nobody knows where they are... On the surface of the continent, factions have begun making their move. The Order, is taking children from the outskirts of the Kingdom of Umbra, planning to end the long-standing Eastern-Caliphate War in one fell swoop. The ancient Bloodcoil Sect, worshippers of the Divine Snake, are plotting their return to the martial world. Noble families vying for power are tearing the Kingdom apart, to be the next ruling dynasty. Underneath the chaos, below the very earth. Trapped. A boy, kidnapped and starved, stands at the centre of it all. If only he hadn't been so curious... Left in the dark, Aziz is imprisoned in a hole in the ground. But he was not alone. A black-death, thought to be extinct, mysteriously appears in the pit, bent on devouring the little boy. Try as he might, fate cannot be denied as Aziz dies in agony. Only to rise again, suddenly able to see in the dark. Every death, Aziz comes back—stronger. He will endure a thousand deaths if that’s what it takes to break free and exact revenge on those who condemned him to this endless nightmare. Revenge is a common desire, but all desires blind even the wisest from the truth. Will Aziz fall into his own pit of rage and despair, or will the puppet rebel against its master? THREE CHAPTERS EVERY WEEK

In February, on the train to Moscow, she met him by chance. He was a handsome man with golden blond hair and clear blue eyes. She was planning to go to Russia to spend the holiday there with her cousins. Who would have expected that the threads of her fate would be intertwined with that strange Russian man? (A novel translated from Arabic to English using Google Translate. Sorry if there are any spelling mistakesClassification: Romance among the rich)

Love is wierd, isn't it?, It encourages you to see the beauty in most despising thing. while, when shattered left you to hate with all the peices of your broken heart. Love has different kind, ranging wide from between parent, to children, to siblings. each love has its own sets of boundaries but what if it's indescribable? what if its becomes the specific reason for breaking of a beautiful bond. Garam, a 12 years old, who has always loved his sister, more like a soul-less without her. Would have given his life in a heartbeat, but came across a truth he never had ever comprehend or anticipated, which pushed him to shut his affection. However, What if you were to live a life,that wasn't yours? what if your identity is nothing, and more importantly the love you received is belonged to someone else. Gyu always ends up thinking does he even exist?, if he did then where his share of love is? But then again the love he gets in his deception, he clinge to cherished it. He tried hard to fit in, but suddenly getting caught he was pushed to something more brazen, only to be stumbling upon a different truth.

Married into a cold, billionaire family at just 19, she never expected her life to turn into a nightmare. Her husband, distant and always away, leaves her to face the cruel treatment from his family. She’s bullied for being "too average" and "too fat," and the only people who ever show her kindness are her father-in-law, who eventually dies, and the youngest sister. Her world shatters when she finds out she’s pregnant after her husband forces himself on her one drunken night. Thinking this could finally bring them closer, her hope is crushed when she receives a photo of him with another woman. Heartbroken, she runs away, only to be hit by a truck and drown in the river. But fate gives her a second chance. Reincarnated with all her memories intact, she wakes up pregnant again and decides this time will be different. She escapes, flees abroad, and is adopted by a wealthy Swedish family. Now, she’s transformed—strong, successful, and no longer the girl they used to walk over. Years later, her husband tracks her down, discovering she’s not only alive but raising their triplets. He demands she comes back, but she’s not the same weak girl. She’s ready for revenge, and this time, she’ll make them all pay for what they did to her. A story of love, betrayal, and sweet revenge—will she break before she gets even?

“Lin Yunfeng! Stop right there!” Lin Yunfeng gazed back at the speeding figure behind him. Heart racing, he picked up speed and ran through the abandoned corridor. “You better stop Yunfeng!!” Ren Muchen growled loudly. The little brat was much faster than he had expected. “This is how you wish to face me after you fucking slept with me? Fine! Run then! Let’s see how long you can last,” Panting Lin Yunfeng looked back in panic. “I’m so sorry, it was a mistake. think of it as Stepping on shit. Please forgive me!” he placed a hand on his lower stomach and ran even faster. “Watch out!” Yunfeng gazed ahead in surprise. a half-rotten corpse stood in his way. He came to a screeching halt but the slippery floor made it hard for him to come to a complete stop. He fell unceremoniously face down on the ground. “Fuck,” The zombie jumped onto him with its mouth wide open. Its bloody saliva dripped onto his face. Yunfeng held his breath. He had read about this before but this was the first time he had actually seen an undead. It petrified him. ‘Is this how I die?’ “Growl,” the beast aimed at his neck precisely, Just as he thought his life was coming to an end, a long axe cut through the decayed neck of the Zombie. The heavy zombie fell right on top of him, oozing blood and puss. A hand grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up. “You are not dying, not today, not anytime soon...” Ren Muchen said with a nasty grin/ Yunfeng gulped. Muchen peered into his trembling black eyes coldly. “You know why?” because we are having a baby.” Yunfeng’s hand reflectively went into his tummy. “h-how do you know?” “You knew?! Yet you ran!” Muchen laughed coldly and shook him like a rattle. “Take responsibility you bastard, we created a life that day! “y-yes, I’ll take responsibility!”

Six weeks pregnant. Shellshocked, I was riveted to the spot by the three words that appeared on my ultrasound report. It only happened once! How did I get pregnant? What should I do now? Should I tell Ashton about this? Will he refuse to divorce me because of this? Nah, I doubt it! He’ll probably think that I’m shamelessly using this child to blackmail him. Suppressing the frustration that was rooted in my heart, I stuffed the ultrasound report into my bag as I made my way out of the hospital.

An ordinary young man, Wang Chao, experiences a major shift in fate after encountering a mysterious woman named Tang Zichen. Guided by mentors, battle-hardened experience, and his own diligence and insights, he ascends step by step to the peak of Chinese martial arts. As the world descends into chaos and powerful figures emerge, an intense clash between martial arts and modern weaponry ensues. Which will prevail, and what allure lies at the peak of martial arts? What path awaits there? And who will claim the title of the world's greatest?

"Is it true that snakes mate all day long?"   One day, Won suddenly goes into heat at school due to a marking left by his ex-boyfriend without permission.   When he hurriedly hides in the bathroom, a man who appears to be a werewolf rudely confronts him, but in his desperate situation, Won promises to sleep with him and receives his help.   It turns out that he is not only Won's junior but also the illegitimate child of the center director who is monitoring Won...   "...Who are you really?"   "A crazy bastard who wanted to get involved with you."   What is the true identity of this man who seems to be lurking around Won?

In the mystical land of Vichitra Lok, where extraordinary powers intertwine with nature, a young and humble boy named Shivansh lives with his mother in the Green Kingdom. Though weaker than others his age, Shivansh is devoted to his mother, his only family. But his life shatters when his mother tragically dies in a mysterious fire. In her final moments, she reveals to Shivansh that her death was no accident—it was murder. With her last words, Shivansh learns of his hidden lineage and a legacy that could empower him to seek justice. Driven by love and a newfound sense of purpose, he embarks on a transformative journey, hoping to overcome his limitations and become a warrior capable of avenging his mother’s death. Will Shivansh unlock his potential, rise to the challenge, and embrace his destiny? Follow his journey in Divya Naag Garuda Yodha.

Kenshi Yamano was the only human who didn’t receive a skill from the gods, for what reason he didn’t know but one day he picked up an albino snake and little did he know this was the Goddess of snakes,the end,and poison. Baem Hananim never granted a skill to a human and was eventually labeled as a danger to the other gods so they attempted to kill her. This led to her escaping and meeting Kenshi who had saved her. How will the story play out? read to find out

What if? Naruto is raised and trained by Konoha's S-Rank missing-nin legendary Snake sannin a.k.a. Orochimaru the Mad scientist, how it will change Naruto's nature? Will he become cruel and cold person? Will he become mad scientist like orochimaru? Will he remain prankster like before? What influence will Orochimaru do on Naruto? Warning : 1. Story is gonna be slow, quite lot of initial chapters are around training arc (ex. first chakra training, basic ninjutsu training, basic weapon training). 2. There will be lot of killing, massacre and lot gore (maybe). 3. No harem, also not much romance either 4. This Naruto is not going to be op from starting for long time, he will gained his power and experience through hard work, his journey will start from weak to strong 5. I haven't read Boruto Manga, no offence but I watched Boruto anime and i didn't like it very much, so probably there will be no Boruto plotline. 6. Our Naruto is going to be battle maniac like his original ancestors Uzumaki and Senju clan members 7. Plot will mostly stay same as original (with slightly changed and some different new characters). What to expect :- 1. Lot of training 2. Lot of original arcs (with slight change) 3. Smart and cunning mc Disclaimer :- First i don't own Naruto and it's characters (except original characters that i will create) PS :- it's my first fanfiction that I'm writing, I'm hoping it will turn out well and good. All reviews and criticism are welcome. English and grammar will be fine, i will try to create good dialogues and scenarios.

After sleeping with Alex, Neomi finds out she's pregnant. She tried to hind it as long as she can. What happens when Alex and Chloe finds out? Will he want the baby or will he not do anything. Will Chloe find out? If so what will she do Read and find out

I woke up in this world with a System and a sword. Without hesitation, I chose to complete the princess’ quest with my weapons: Arrogance. Cunning. Pride. I will lead guild Sol Invictus. Denizens of the 7 hells, respect me. Servants of the 11 heavens, know fear. Guild Invictus, know the suffering of training so you can wrest victory from the jaws of those who dare doubt you. This is a story about a snake named Tycondrius waking up in a fantasy world of swords and sorcery. There is action, violence, unapologetic murder, and arrogant displays of power. There is an emphasis on combat growth as well as psychological growth on more than a few members of Guild Invictus. There is camaraderie and also the inevitable comedic dialogue amongst manly men. There are even elements of romance and Tycon running away from terrifying, powerful women. (Did you know most female snakes eat their partners after mating?) Give this book a read. I hope some of these stories can inspire you to fight your battles with analytical intelligence, heroic courage, and ruthless lethality. Work is completed as of 9May2024. There's also a few side-stories written in Chapter 1151! The Author is working on a new story called 'I Wish You Were Never Reborn.' After four or so years of writing, my skills have much improved. Highly recommend. Here is my discord: https://discord.gg/NNbAj7N Constructive criticism and corrections welcome. Other Authors extra-welcome. You can find a list of characters at https://snek.fandom.com/wiki/Character_List Cover image credit: Johnabrash at Fiverr

# PURELOVE "Be gentle! Don't be so rough!"Su Lu did not imagine that, when she met Bo Jingshen again in five years, he cornered her against the sink and..."Long time no see, Su Lu. Did you forget my promise?"His warm breath was ruffling her ears, but his words left her with a chill to the bone. "Play me for a fool, and you will eventually pay the price."He had come to settle the score, and Su Lu certainly did not forget what he said before. Groggy from alcohol, she did not have the strength to struggle, but she kept quiet and her jaw tightly shut. When Bo Jingshen pried her jaw open, she bit him on the back of his hand. He frowned but did not let go, even as warm blood dripped off her hand. Her tears were poison to the bones, striking a pang of pain Bo Jingshen could not ignore. Laughing with sinister coldness, he asked, "Was that fun?"Su Lu just wanted to leave as she dragged her feeble along. That was when a smoky-gray jacket was placed over her head, and his pine fresh scent swirled around her. Su Lu did not turn as she said hoarsely, "There's nothing between us now, Bo Jingshen. I don't owe you anything."

Based on the tale told before us, Medusa was a beautiful maiden who was seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess' wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes. Then, the Greek hero Perseus beheaded Medusa, and he used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. However, the truth was far more complex. Poseidon had attempted to seduce Medusa and failed; he then forced himself upon her. Her lover at the time, the powerful goddess Athena, saw that Medusa had fallen to the seduction of men, and in her wrath, she cursed Medusa by turning her hair to snakes. Athena then kicked Medusa out, far from her temple and home. Medusa met Perseus, but he did not kill her. Instead, he was given an artifact by Medusa that would help him on his journey, and Medusa chose to disappear from the earth. She lived in seclusion, far from the human world, wrapping her snakes in a turban if she needed to venture into the human realm, and lived alone for centuries. While the other gods and goddesses walked among humans, Medusa's tale was told as a villainess, an evil woman. That is, until a young woman in her twenties named Elysia, a beautiful woman with a heavenly voice who was not afraid of Medusa, walked into the deep water near Medusa's territory. Medusa watched the young woman from afar, and knows that she's indeed blind. Medusa and Elysia slowly became friends and daily companions, and Medusa began to grow fond of her. However, Medusa's fears started to build - would Elysia run away if she knew the truth about Medusa? Would she stay, or would she disappear? Everything descended into chaos when Poseidon and Athena found Medusa. One is finally realizing that she was mistaken about Medusa centuries ago, and the other one still want to pursue her, can't forget about Medusa. Will Medusa finally find happiness, or is she doomed by her curse?

After accidentally transmigrating to ancient desolate continent, Li Yaodao wakes up in the form of the weakest black monster snake. Trapped within a powerful thunder formation, unable to escape, his fate seems sealed. But just as all hope fades, the Super Evolution System awakens. Ding! Congratulations, you’ve evolved into a three-tailed mystic serpent! Ding! Congratulations, you’ve evolved into a six-winged shadow serpent! Ding! Congratulations, you’ve evolved into a nine-tailed abyssal python! With newfound powers Li Yaodao rise through the ranks of the food chain. His ultimate goal: to ascend beyond mere beasts, transforming into a dragon and making the world tremble in fear. In this life, I shall be invincible! ................................................................................................ Please support me at: https://ko-fi.com/madlogic999

The beginning of the apocalypse was sudden, without any warning. The intrusion of mutant energy caused plants and animals to mutate into something like their primitive ancestors. Chickens became T-Rexes, dogs mutated into gray wolves, snakes into dragons, and so on. Not only them, humans also started to mutate, awakening monster bloodlines in their bodies. After thousands of years, the precious glory of the world disappeared, ushering in a new era of Awakeners. Luna was an orphaned girl who lived in the outskirts of Atlantis, surviving by doing underworld work for a notorious gang. However, when she turned eighteen, in the age of awakening, she was forced to do something she didn't want. Beaten and thrown away to die, her awakening happened without anyone noticing. [Evil villainess system awakening] [Awakening of Ancient golden dragon bloodline]

Anna's world was crumbling. Her mother's life was fading away, and the medical bills were choking her. In desperation, she made a decision that would cost her a lifetime: a decision to become a baby mama for the wealthy and jerky Adams Winthrop. Adams, the sole heir of the Winthrop Fashion Empire, needed an heir to secure his inheritance. But with his playboy lifestyle and lack of interest in commitment, finding a willing partner seemed impossible. That was until he laid eyes on Anna at the clubhouse. She was in dire need of cash, and he needed a baby. It was a match made of convenience, not love, or so they thought. As the months went by, Anna found herself falling head over heels for the charming and captivating Adams. But could she truly fall for a man who only wanted her for her womb?

Owen's lips pressed against mine. At first it was soft like he was unsure of what to do. At least he was doing something while I stood like a statue waiting to be pleasured like an effing idiot. I thought he was going to break it off but his arms went around me,  as sure and hard like it held promises to carry me if my legs gave out. I felt the rush and the warmth. The surging sensation I had never felt before. I was naive as I  had never been kissed before but I knew and dreamt, it was exactly as Owen was kissing me. The sensations almost left me limp like a freaking coward. Owen's face gradually blurred and drowned to nothingness.  ******* Emily and Owen has been best friends since they were in diapers. Owen was the one person she could trust to be there for her. He was Alpha and she was a pariah, a wolfless girl born to an unmated mother and a human father. He was hot and she was fire. He was voice of reason and she was chaos itself. She was his mate and he rejected her. Follow Emily as she navigate through the mess she calls her life with no one but the cub she had with the best friend that rejected her. cover is not mine. credit goes to the owner, reach out if you want me to take it down

Anna find herself feeling very jealous that her ex boyfriend has now have a baby of his own. Heartbroken and stuck in a job she hated, She died and possessed the body of an 8th month pregnant Villainess. For Anna having a chance to have a child, is a dream come true. Only one problem though. She has no idea which webtoon she migrated to.

Meet Sam—a socially awkward, noodle-obsessed NEET who never expected his greatest achievement to be... getting flattened by two trucks at once. But hey, if you're going to die, might as well go out in style, right? Instead of moving on to the afterlife, Sam finds himself reincarnated in a magical world. The catch? He’s not a hero, not a wizard, and certainly not some mighty warrior. Nope, he's a snake. A tiny, scaly, noodle of a snake with zero chill, a sarcastic attitude, and a hunger for survival. Armed with a status window, some basic skills, and an unnatural obsession with eating other monsters to gain their powers, Sam’s got one goal: to become the ultimate predator. Along the way, he’ll unlock new abilities, devour anything that crosses his path (seriously, no one's safe), and evolve into increasingly deadly—and ridiculous—forms. But it’s not all fun and slithers. Between dodging overzealous adventurers, evading ridiculously powerful monsters, and navigating ancient ruins with world-altering secrets, Sam’s got his hands—er, fangs—full. It’s survival of the sneakiest as Sam tries to climb his way up the food chain, one bite at a time. Can this former NEET-turned-snake survive the wilds, outsmart his enemies, and become the nightmare every adventurer fears? Find out in "Snake’s Survival Guide: From Noodle to Nightmare"—a tale of deadly evolution, sarcastic humor, and one very persistent predator!

Jiang Ning limped out of her quarters one day and entered the Jiang family's second courtyard, just as the Emperor was selecting a concubine for Prince Yu.  Noble ladies from high-ranking families put in their best efforts to participate in the selection, but the flower fell on Jiang Ning, who was merely there to watch the spectacle.  Jiang Ning was confused. She dared not let Prince Yu be a scapegoat, so she tried every possible way to tell everyone she was pregnant. However, no one believed her.  When she vomited after eating, they laughed at her for feigning illness. When she felt tired, they laughed at her for pretending to be delicate. When her belly grew larger, they laughed at her for overeating.  When Jiang Ning wanted a doctor's confirmation, all eighteen doctors she consulted had the same opinion: "You're just eating too much!" The fifth prince, Prince Yu, was a dashing and handsome young man. He exuded an air of sophistication and regal beauty. This was how the common people of Chang'an City typically described him.  But the real Prince Yu was cold and ruthless, using women without any emotional attachment.  He knew that the second madam of the Jiang family was the Emperor's secret love, and he also knew that the daughter recently brought back by the Jiang family looked exactly like the second madam in her youth.  So, even though the girl had a limp, he still tossed the embroidered flower in his hand into her lap. After their marriage, he knew she was just a pawn. But for the sake of the throne, he had to pretend to cherish her even though he detested her, until...

Pregnant For The PlayBoy CEO Synopsis "I'm carrying his child," I confessed. "He despises you, doesn't care," she warned, her words cutting through me. "I know—I'm his mother. Leave now, or you'll suffer my fate. Trapped with a man consumed by his children and business, not you." … Reality changed for Hannah Cooper the second she realized she was pregnant. The one night stand responsible for this was none other than billionaire player, Jackson Miller. Soon to be CEO of his father’s company, he is tasked with the duty to prove himself by presenting responsibility away from his horrible reputation. Jackson, desperate to rule the company and collect his inheritance, convinces Hannah to act as the love of his life in front of his family, and later the media. With the tides turning and the secrets thickening, they find themselves in a fake marriage that carries not just the company’s fate, but Jackson’s heart.

"Ugh! Why did the author choose my name as the Villain's name of all the names in Coldbourne? And that damn villain killed his own baby in jealousy when he is the one who destroyed the lives of the lovely couple Arik and Maven." While walking on the streets, Hael Argyris, a bartender in his early thirties, cursed his heart out after finishing "The Two Alphas And Their Forbidden Love," his favorite Manga's last chapter. *Crash* *Bang* *Whack* Just like that, a truck ran over him and he was dead. *Swoosh* "Ugh, why is my whole body hurting like a truck hit me?... WAIT! I WAS REALLY HIT BY A TRUCK!" Hael Argyris looked at his body, which was perfectly fine, but the odd thing was... he was NAKED under the sheets, and beside him was lying a man. "What the hell-" He paused as he looked at the room with dilated pupils. "This is the room in Hotel Fortune where the Alpha Arik Esmeray and that shameless villain Hael Lucian spent their night together, right?" "I remember the details of the room very clearly cause I looked at it many times admiring the artist's work... but how can this be possible?" He stretched his neck to glance at the sleeping man and was left in utter shock. "ALPHA ARIK ESMERAY?" And shut his mouth quickly. He then saw himself in the mirror in front of him. He had wolf ears and a tail sticking out above his butt. "So, I got transmigrated into my favorite Manga? But... why am I the fucking Villain? And why at this scene?" Hael banged his head on the wall but sensed a sharp pain in his butt. "Yikes! My rear end! First, I have to get out of here before he wakes up. I need to run away from this fucking city otherwise I will end up in jail at this rate and meet a miserable end.... ahhh!" To save his ass Hael dressed up and left the hotel room leaving a small note on top of the drawer beside the bed. Three Months Later... "Hael, you are pregnant with twins." "WHAT?!" Hael was shocked. »»-----------«« What will Arik do when he gets to know that the person he had a nightstand with under drug influence was pregnant? Will he accept Hael and his pups? Will Hael give Alpha Arik a chance when he knows that there is someone else in the Alpha's heart? »»-----------¤-----------«« Author: Hottest Villainess. Published on: 24-07-2024. Genre: Omegaverse, ABO, Transmigration, Rebirth, Time travel, Angst, Melodrama, Romance.

Do you seek comfort from the harsh world in the arms of others? The world has a way of pushing people into each other's arms. This erotica involves a fantasy version of an ancient Egyptian priesthood where people live under real gods. What to expect: At least 2 out of 7 chapters are erotic. There are some genuine action scenes. The cover is AI; the content is not.

Xiao Ran was awakened by the sound of someone reading in his sleep. He opened his eyes and found himself back in the classroom! He held a note that had been passed to him by the girl in front of him, and suddenly realized that he had really been reborn! History repeated itself, and Ding Suiwan, the campus belle, looked at him helplessly and finally said those words. "I... I think I'm pregnant..." Having been given a second chance to live, Xiao Ran was determined not to repeat the mistakes of his past life. As someone who owned a thirty-year-old soul, Xiao Ran was resolute. "Let's have the baby!" He refused to believe that he had been reborn only to fail again. In fact, Ding Suiwan had not really been pregnant in his past life. They had just accidentally kissed. But the naive girl didn't know that and really thought she was pregnant. Xiao Ran's attempts to explain himself only made him seem like an irresponsible jerk in her eyes! Although the misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, he suffered a lot. Returning to 2000, Xiao Ran would never let history repeat itself. He would change the outcome of his fate!

"You already know, Rina," Victor said sharply, his voice cold and dismissive. "I won't love you, no matter what you do or how many times you beg. You knew from the start that Helena was the one I loved!" Victor went on, his voice harsh, "The only reason I married you is because it was my grandmother's wish. I'll provide you with money, but please don’t bother me or Helena anymore." Tears streamed down my face as I struggled with the pain and despair. My dreams of rekindling our love were shattered before my eyes. I had planned to surprise him with the news of my pregnancy, but now it seemed he didn't care. My hopes for our unborn child felt pointless in a world where its father had already rejected it. As Victor’s words lingered in the room, I was left in a painful silence, realizing that the love I had treasured was nothing but a cruel illusion. My marriage had led me into a desert of broken dreams.