Novels by Zeaauthor

Evening skies painted the lake with a calm golden hue.A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the scent of earth and grass still wet from last night’s rain. In the backyard of a small lakeside house, the sound of children’s laughter filled the air, breaking the quiet of dusk with pure joy.“Eliana, don’t run too fast!” Hunter called out, laughing as he chased after the two kids dashing across the grass.Eliana, now nine, had grown taller and more confident. Her hair was tied into two playful pigtails, her cheeks flushed from running and laughing. Behind her, her four-year-old brother chased her while dragging along his beloved dinosaur plushie.“Dad! She cheated! She hid behind the tree!” the little boy cried.“That’s called strategy,” Eliana replied with a cheeky grin.Hunter gave up the chase, dropping into the wooden bench near the porch, watching the children play. His eyes turned toward Olivia, who was stepping out of the kitchen carrying a birthday cake that read Happy Birthday

That evening, the sky was painted with golden clouds, sunlight filtering gently through the falling leaves of the maple trees. Eliana sat on Olivia’s lap on the front porch, coloring with her pencils. Hunter was trimming the plants in the yard, glancing at them now and then with a quiet smile.Unexpectedly, Eliana stopped drawing. She looked up at Olivia, her clear eyes no longer just filled with curiosity, but with a growing sense of maturity.“Mama,” she whispered, “why did we used to live alone in that little house? Why are we only with Papa now?”Olivia fell silent. She had imagined this question might come one day, but never knew when. And now, with Eliana older and beginning to understand more, she knew the time had come.She pulled Eliana closer into a hug. “Sweetheart, sometimes life takes us through complicated paths. Your Papa and I were together once, but things happened that forced us apart.”“Was Papa bad back then?”Olivia shook her head. “No, he wasn’t. But back then, m

Morning air was crisp by the lakeside.A thin mist hovered over the water's surface, surrounded by green trees tinged with yellow as autumn crept in. Amidst the tranquil beauty of nature stood a small white house—gray-roofed, with large windows that opened directly to the lake.Hunter opened one of the windows and inhaled deeply. He was still wearing a light sweater and lounge pants, but the smile on his face was warmer than the morning sun. Behind him came the soft sound of footsteps and the comforting scent of fresh coffee.Olivia appeared, holding two mugs.“It still feels unreal that we’ve actually moved here,” she said, handing one to Hunter.Hunter took her hand and kissed the back of it. “This place feels… like home.”“More than home,” Olivia whispered. “It’s a place to begin again.”The house wasn’t big, but it was enough for the three of them—and one more, quietly growing in Olivia’s womb. The pregnancy was still their little secret. They weren’t ready to tell Eliana just yet

The scent of antiseptic stung her nose. The soft beep of the heart monitor echoed through the hospital room. Olivia sat on a plastic chair beside Hunter’s bed, her hand never letting go of his—despite the lack of response from the still, weakened body lying before her.Hunter’s face was pale, bruises still marked his temples. His breathing was steady, but his body had yet to recover from the brutal battle that nearly took his life. Olivia had barely left his side since they brought him to the ICU.Three days. Three nights. Olivia remained there. Her eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, but she didn’t care.That morning, the hospital door creaked open. Eliana walked in, clutching a few sheets of colored paper. Joe followed behind, carrying a bag of food and an extra jacket.“I made this for Papa,” Eliana said, skipping toward the bed. She looked at Hunter’s face with hopeful eyes.Olivia stroked her daughter’s head. “He’s going to love it, sweetheart.”Eliana stood on the chair and ta

The room was cold and dim. Only the ticking of the clock filled the silence. Shopia Joy sat in the interrogation chair, her hands cuffed, her eyes swollen but still burning with stubborn arrogance.Detective Molina stood across from her, stacking several files onto the metal table.“You’re charged with four major offenses, Shopia,” he said, voice flat but firm. “Kidnapping, attempted murder, identity and legal document forgery, and threats against a minor. We have full evidence. Recordings. Witnesses. Fingerprints.”Shopia gave a crooked smile. “So? You think that’s enough to imprison someone like me?”Molina remained unfazed. He slid a photo across the table—Eliana’s frightened face inside the warehouse. Then another—Hunter, bloodied and bruised.“Are they enough to make you think twice?” he asked sharply.For a moment, Shopia’s expression shifted. The smile faded, replaced by a distant look in her eyes… as if she had fallen into the past.---FLASHBACKA little girl with tangled bla

The old car Joe was driving crept along the dark road leading into the long-abandoned industrial area. The only sounds were the engine's hum and the rapid beating of their hearts. Beside him, Eliana clutched the folded, worn map, her eyes tracing the red line that marked the final point—the place where they believed Hunter was being held.“We’re almost there,” Joe murmured. “Are you still sure this isn’t a trap?”“No,” Eliana replied honestly. “But I’m more afraid of doing nothing.”They arrived in front of a decrepit warehouse. The building was old, with peeling walls, and only a single flickering light above the entrance. Joe killed the engine. Both of them got out, moving cautiously along the outer wall, eyes scanning the surroundings.On one side, Eliana stopped. “Joe, look at this.”Three horizontal lines were faintly etched into the wall—an old code from Hunter. Below them, dried blood stains were still visible. Joe swallowed hard.“He was here. Or… at least he was.”Just as the

"Vania!"The voice broke the silence of the hospital corridor. Vania, who was sitting on a bench in the waiting room, immediately turned her head.And there he was—Devandra—still wrapped in bandages, walking with unsteady steps. His breath was labored, but his eyes were clear—full of longing and remorse."Devandra..." Vania ran toward him.Devandra opened his arms, and in the next moment, Vania was in his embrace. She held onto him tightly, as if letting go would make everything disappear like the nightmare they'd just survived."I'm sorry... please forgive me..." Devandra whispered in her ear, his voice trembling. "I should have protected you... I should’ve been by your side from the beginning."Vania slowly shook her head, trying to hold back her sobs. "We both made mistakes. I pulled away too. I was too afraid to face you… because of the past..."They remained in each other’s arms, their bodies trembling—not from physical pain, but from emotional wounds that had been buried too dee

“Let her go, Lyra! This is your last chance to surrender!” Adrian shouted from behind the pillar, gun raised, eyes locked on the pistol in Lyra’s shaking hand.“One more step and I’ll shoot her!” Lyra screamed, her arm trembling as she pulled Vania tighter into her unhinged grip.Vania tried to stay calm. Cold sweat dripped down her temple, but her gaze remained sharp.“You don’t want to do this, Lyra. This isn’t who you are.”“You don’t know who I really am, Vania. You only saw the sweet side of me back then. But now? I’m someone the world destroyed—the world you stole from me!”Lyra’s grip tightened on the gun, her eyes wild. The police and Adrian began to spread out, searching for an opening.In that tense second, a soft breeze drifted through the half-open window. Dry leaves fluttered in, as if nature itself held its breath at the scene unfolding.“You’re going to lose everything, Lyra. You’ll never be free,” Vania whispered softly.“If I have to lose, then so will you!”BANG!A s

“Van…ia…”The voice was faint—hoarse, barely more than a whisper lost in the sterile air of the hospital room. But to Vania, it struck like lightning straight through her chest.She froze.Her heart skipped.Spinning toward the hospital bed, her eyes locked onto the lips that had moved again.“Dev?”Her voice trembled as she bent closer, tightly clutching his hand.“Baby, are you awake? Are you really awake?”Devandra’s eyelids fluttered open, slow and heavy. His gaze was unfocused, dazed—but undeniably alive. His eyes scanned the room, confused at first, until they landed on her.“Vania…”This time it was clearer. Real.Vania’s knees nearly gave out.“Oh my God…”She collapsed into his chest, holding his frail body with trembling arms, sobbing into his shoulder.“You’re awake… You’re really awake… I was so afraid I’d lost you…”Devandra winced, groaning softly. “Vania… my head… it hurts…”“I’m sorry! I’m sorry—I shouldn’t press too hard!” Vania quickly pulled back, wiping her tears w

“The last coordinates pinged in the Argani Mountains. Local police say there’s a hidden villa up there, not listed on any official maps,” Adrian explained, eyes locked on the glowing laptop screen mounted on the SUV dashboard.Vania gripped her seatbelt tightly, trying to calm the storm inside her chest. The SUV sped through the dense pine forest, followed closely by two unmarked police vehicles.“She thinks she can hide at the edge of the world? I’ll still find her,” Vania muttered, her jaw clenched.Adrian glanced at her.“You sure you want to go all the way in? If Lyra’s desperate—”“I have to face her, Adrian. This isn’t just about Devandra. This is about every wound and every ounce of hate she’s planted for years.”Adrian nodded slowly, unable to argue. The fire in Vania’s eyes could burn down anyone who dared stop her.---Moments later, they arrived at an old iron gate hidden behind thick trees. One of the officers got out and unchained the loosely locked entrance. Vania’s vehi

“Van…ia…”The voice was faint, hoarse, almost like a whisper swallowed by the air. But to Vania, it struck like a lightning bolt straight to her heart.Her body froze. She quickly turned toward the hospital bed, eyes wide as she saw Devandra’s lips move again.“Dev?”She bent over, fingers gripping his hand tightly.“Baby, are you awake? Are you really awake?”Devandra’s eyes opened slowly. His gaze was still blurry and sluggish, but there was unmistakable life in them. His eyes wandered around the room before stopping right on Vania’s face.“Vania…”This time it was clearer. More certain.“Oh my God…”Vania couldn’t hold back her tears. She immediately leaned in, hugging Devandra’s frail body, sobbing against his shoulder.“You’re awake… you’re really awake… I was so scared of losing you…”“Vania… my head… it hurts…”Devandra groaned softly. His face was still pale, and his body weak.“I’m sorry! I’m sorry—I shouldn't press too hard, right?” Vania pulled back quickly, wiping her tear

“Please hang on, Dev… don’t leave me…”Vania’s voice was barely a whisper, nearly drowned out by the steady beeping of the heart monitor. She sat on a small chair beside the hospital bed, clutching Devandra’s cold, unmoving hand. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her hair a mess, but she didn’t care. She had been in that ICU room for three days and nights, barely sleeping.Devandra’s body lay motionless, his face pale, an oxygen tube attached to his nose, and bandages covering part of his head. He was still in a coma, though the doctor had said that morning there was a slight neurological response—a sign he might be recovering, however slowly.“I know this is exhausting, Miss Vania. But the patient needs time.”A nurse’s voice broke the silence as she entered to check the monitors. Vania turned her head slowly and gave a silent nod.“I’m staying right here,” she said softly. “I won’t leave him.”The nurse gave her a gentle smile, then left, letting the stillness return to the cold IC

Aria stood frozen on the balcony, her heart pounding violently in her chest. The cold night wind bit at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the fear coursing through her veins.Down below, an army of hooded figures stormed the castle gates with overwhelming force. The guards fought back, but they were clearly outnumbered.Amid the chaos, a woman stepped forward with effortless grace.Seraphina.The Goddess of Darkness—who was supposed to exist only in legends—now stood before her, real and undeniable.Seraphina’s golden eyes gleamed in the darkness, her lips curling into a faint smile.“Aria…” Her voice reached Aria’s ears despite the distance between them.A shiver ran down Aria’s spine.Rael, standing beside her, grabbed her hand. “We have to go! She’s here for you!”Aria snapped out of her daze and rushed after Rael. They hurried down the staircase, heading toward the great hall, where the royal knights were already preparing for battle.Lorian and Elroth were there, along wit

Aria remained silent, her mind consumed by the name she had just heard.Seraphina.The Goddess of Darkness.How could she have seen a figure that was supposed to exist only in legends?Rael watched her with concern. "Aria, are you alright?"Aria nodded slowly, though her mind was filled with confusion. "I... I saw her. She spoke to me."Lorian frowned. "What did she say?"Aria tried to recall Seraphina's words. "She said she had been waiting for me for a long time."Elroth let out a heavy sigh. "That doesn’t make sense. If Seraphina is real and has been waiting for you… that means you have some connection to her."A chill ran down Aria’s spine. "That’s impossible. I’m no one.""But you can wield the power of Light," Rael pointed out. "And now… the Goddess of Darkness has come to you?"Lorian looked at the altar before them. "This stone might be the key to everything."Elroth stepped closer, staring at the black stone that still pulsed with energy. "I can feel the power within it. This

The darkness was supposed to be gone.Aria could still feel the lingering warmth of light energy coursing through her body, yet deep inside, something felt off. Like a faint whisper in the air, an elusive presence trying to break into her thoughts.Rael still held her hand, making sure she remained steady. "How do you feel?"Aria let out a heavy breath. "I'm fine. Just a little… empty."Lorian gazed at the altar where Vaelin had vanished. "Then we need to make sure he's truly gone."Elroth frowned. "He's not completely erased. I can still sense traces of his presence."Aria turned to him, eyes filled with concern. "What do you mean?"Elroth looked down at the cracked temple floor. "His energy hasn't disappeared. It has only moved. He might still be searching for a new vessel."Rael clicked his tongue. "Unbelievable. So, we can never really kill him, can we?"Lorian sighed. "He's not an ordinary being. He has surpassed death itself."Silence settled over them.Aria clenched her fists.

Their footsteps echoed through the dark, cold stone corridor. The flickering light from the torch Elroth carried barely illuminated a few steps ahead, casting long, shifting shadows along the walls.Aria could feel the air here was different. It was heavier, as if filled with an unseen presence. With every step she took, a cold shiver crept down her spine.“This temple has been abandoned for a long time,” Lorian whispered, tracing the ancient carvings on the walls. “But I can still feel the old energy flowing through it.”Elroth nodded slowly. “This place was once a temple of light, but after Vaelin's influence seeped in, it became something much darker.”Rael let out a heavy sigh. “Why do we always end up in places filled with dark energy? Can’t we, just once, fight in a more pleasant setting?”Lorian shot him a look. “Since when has battling darkness ever been pleasant?”Rael shrugged but then stopped short, his expression shifting as he spotted something ahead.“Oh, great. That’s n

Rael could still feel the warmth of Aria’s hand in his grasp. They had just returned from the battle inside Aria’s consciousness, successfully driving Vaelin out of her mind. But the victory felt bitter.Because they all knew—this wasn’t truly over.Elroth stepped forward, his gaze sharp. “You need to get ready. Vaelin isn’t the type to give up so easily.”Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her body still felt weak, as if the battle had drained every last bit of her strength.Rael turned to Lorian. “We need to make sure he never comes back. Is there a way to seal him away forever?”Elroth shook his head. “Vaelin is an ancient spirit. As long as darkness exists in this world, he will always find a way back.”Lorian clenched his fists. “So we just wait for him to attack again?”Elroth’s expression was grave. “No. We strike first.”The room tensed.Rael frowned. “What do you mean?”Elroth pulled a thick book from the shelf and flipped it open. “Vaelin may have lost Aria’s

Rael stared blankly at the spot where Aria had disappeared. The air around him felt colder, as if all warmth had vanished along with her departure.“No…” he whispered.Lorian slammed his sword into the ground, his breath heavy with rage. “Damn it! I knew this wasn’t over!”Rael lifted his head, his eyes filled with both confusion and fear. “What do we do now?”Lorian remained silent for a moment before responding in a firm voice, “We take this to the Tower of Light. If anyone can help her, they’re there.”The two of them ran through the tower’s massive gates, which swung open as they approached. The long corridor they entered was illuminated by floating magical lights, casting an almost ethereal glow.At the end of the hallway, an elderly man in white robes awaited them. His silver hair and sharp gaze marked him as someone of great importance.“We need help!” Rael called out.The old man—Grandmaster Elroth—studied them with keen interest. “I’ve been expecting you.”Lorian was taken ab

Ariana felt her breath catch when Axel stepped closer. His sudden presence reminded her of all the chaos she had gone through. The man was still as handsome as ever, but there was a hardness in his eyes, a hardness she had never forgotten. Axel was the man who had abandoned her during her most difficult times, and now he stood before her, his demeanor far from friendly.“Axel…” Ariana’s voice was weak, almost a whisper, but enough for Axel to hear.He looked at her with a vacant expression, as if he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him. “You dare come here?” His voice was flat, emotionless.Ariana swallowed hard. “I just want to meet Elio,” she said, trying to keep her composure, though her heart was breaking. “He’s my son. I have the right to see him.”Axel let out a sarcastic laugh, the sound like a knife to Ariana’s heart. “Right? You have no rights anymore, Ariana. I’m the one who’s raised him, I’m the one who’s taken care of him.” He stepped closer, his gaze full of war

That morning, the air in Seattle felt cold and fresh. Ariana gazed at the towering buildings veiled in a thin fog, her emotions a tangled mess inside. She and Nathaniel stood in front of their lawyer's office, ready to embark on the long legal process to meet her son, Elio. Yet, despite the certainty of their steps, Ariana couldn't shake off her doubts. What if Elio rejected her? What if he felt threatened by her presence?“Ari, you ready?” Nathaniel's voice broke her from her thoughts, pulling her back to the moment.Ariana nodded. "I can't wait any longer, Nate. It's been too long."They entered the meeting room, filled with lawyers and staff who would assist them. Leonard was already there, standing by the meeting table, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "We've got the permission to meet the child directly. They can't refuse anymore."However, what seemed like a smooth plan to meet Elio soon encountered a stumbling block. As they stepped out of the building, Ariana's phone vibr

The rain fell in soft drizzles as Ariana sat inside the private genetic lab, her fingers clutching the DNA test results that had just been handed to her by the technician. Nathaniel sat beside her, his face tense, nearly expressionless.Ariana took a deep breath before opening the envelope. Inside, two sheets of paper with graphs, numbers, and one sentence that made her body nearly collapse:"The DNA results show a biological match between Subject A (Ariana Valen) and Subject B (child in the matching system data). Matching degree: 99.98%."Ariana closed her mouth, her sobs breaking free. "He... he's alive, Nate. He's really my son..."Nathaniel held her tightly, allowing Ariana to cry out her overwhelming joy. But within the embrace, his thoughts drifted—her child was out there, living under a new name and with a new family. And if the people who adopted him had been hiding the truth... then this was just the beginning of a much bigger storm.---Leonard opened the door to his office,

Ariana sat on the rattan chair in Nathaniel’s living room, her fingers trembling as she turned the flash drive Axel had given her. Fear, hope, and anger churned inside her. The rapid tapping of Leonard’s laptop keys echoed as he opened the first file from the drive.“This is insane,” Leonard muttered after a few minutes. “CCTV footage from the hospital. The date matches the day you were rushed there after the accident, Ariana.”Ariana leaned in, holding her breath. On the screen, she saw herself lying on a hospital bed—pale and unconscious. A nurse entered with some documents, and shortly after, two men in suits—one of them her father—walked in and signed something.“No…” Ariana’s voice cracked. “That’s… my father.”Nathaniel stood behind her, eyes fixed on the screen. “They hid everything. Even your child.”Leonard continued digging, opening more files—altered medical records, fake reports of a miscarriage, and one barely legible adoption document. The adoptive parents’ names were ma

The night sky had already turned dark when Ariana arrived at the old park near the lake. The place was almost unchanged. The weathered wooden bench, the drooping willow trees by the water’s edge, and the calming sound of the rippling lake—all of it seemed to summon memories from the past.Ariana wore a long gray coat, her scarf pulled slightly to obscure her face. Her hand clutched a small locket—Axel’s gift from long ago—that she had secretly kept all these years.The night air bit at her skin, but she stood still in the middle of the park, waiting.The clock struck 8:03 p.m.Three minutes late.Her mind kept spinning—would Axel actually show up? Or was this just a cruel game played by someone trying to stir up her past?Footsteps.Ariana turned swiftly, her heart pounding. From behind the stone bench, a man emerged wearing a black jacket and a hat pulled low over his face. But as he stepped closer, the park lights illuminated his features just enough.Time seemed to freeze.It was A

As noon approached, a thick, overcast sky loomed above the villa where Ariana stayed. The atmosphere grew heavier by the minute, as if echoing the weight of her thoughts. Nathaniel was deep in discussion with Leonard in the study, while Ariana sat alone in the living room, staring out the rain-speckled window. In her hand, she held an old photograph—one of her and Axel.She stared at it for a long time until her eyes began to sting. Axel’s smile in the photo now mocked the false sense of peace she had tried so hard to maintain. His face hadn’t changed, but the meaning behind his gaze felt foreign now. Once, Axel had been her whole world. Now… he was a mystery she longed to bury, yet he kept clawing his way out of the graveyard of her past.Time seemed to stop when the front door was knocked on.Three times. Soft, but firm.Ariana turned her head sharply. Her breath caught in her throat. “Did you hear that?” she asked, half-rising from her seat.Leonard hurried out of the study and mot