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Connie Reid doesn't date athletes. She doesn't talk about her past. And she definitely doesn't play hockey anymore. She built her new life at Crestfield University carefully — warm smile, sharp instincts, a matchmaking reputation that keeps everyone else's love lives running smoothly while her own heart stays locked away. It works perfectly. Until the university board decides her skills belong to them. The deal is simple and non-negotiable: fake a relationship with Kyrian Maddox — Crestfield's most controversial hockey recruit — on a live reality dating show, or watch her most painful secret broadcast to every student on campus. Kyrian Maddox doesn't explain himself to anyone. He arrived at Crestfield already carrying a scandal he didn't cause and a reputation he can't escape. The PR arrangement forced on him is just another thing he has no choice but to endure. The girl they've paired him with is warm, clever and reads people like open books. He finds that deeply suspicious. Off camera they're strangers who tolerate each other in cold silence. On camera they're convincing enough to trend. But the longer they share a house, an ice rink and the weight of secrets neither will speak aloud, the harder it becomes to remember where the performance ends. Then the boy who destroyed Connie's life walks into the show house smiling like no time has passed. And everything she buried starts clawing its way back to the surface. Kyrian notices the shift in her before she can hide it. What he doesn't know yet is that protecting her might cost him everything he came to Crestfield to rebuild. Some performances become real. Some secrets refuse to stay buried. And some people are worth burning everything down for.
View MoreChapter 1
The hot transfer student
"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the way...."
Christmas was right around the corner and the city was filled with snow, decorated by lights and Christmas carol masked the street noise.
On her way home, Arielle spotted a small shop at the end of the alley, "hmm was this shop always here?" She stared at the shop for a moment. She always walked through the street, it was her way home which she knew by heart but it was strange that she didn't notice the shop here before, she thought.
She opened the door to the shop, and the bell on the door tinkled as she entered, "Welcome." A lady greeted her with a smile. She was probably around the late 50s, her smile had its own charm, graceful and wise, "How can I help you, child?" She asked.
"Just looking around." Arielle smiled back.
The shop was wide and spacious inside, completely different from how it looked from outside, numbers of decorated Christmas trees at every corner of the place, the shop was glittering with pretty lights, decorative materials, plush toys, music section with the music player and albums and many more, the shop had almost everything. The place was huge, but there wasn't even a single salesgirl or someone to help the older woman? How odd! She thought.
She strolled around and spotted few scented candles which had a unique and sweet smell, she took one for her best friend-Tasha, a Christmas present, she made her way to the counter. On the way she spotted a booklet which picked her interest, it's paper were of unique quality, she was fascinated by them she wanted to buy them immediately but decided against it, she already had numerous booklets back home which she had bought but never used. With a heavy heart, she left the booklet at its place and went to pay the bill. "I'll take this." She handed the candle.
"Gift?"
"Yes, a Christmas present." She answered.
"And yours?" The lady asked.
She shrugged.
"Any plans for Christmas?"
"Yes, me and my blanket, snuggling on my bed," she whispered and laughed. "Too cold outside."
After buying the gift she was checking out of the shop when the owner gave her the booklet, the same one she wanted to buy, " A gift for your next novel. May you have a miraculous Christmas!" She winked.
After walking a few blocks away she halted, "Wait, how did she know I write?" She was a popular mystery/thriller web novel writer, soon she was going to have her book published on paperback but no one knew her identity except for her best friend. She went back but found the shop closed. 'Strange!'
****
"Wake up sleepy head!" She heard someone shout into her ear. "it's a big day for you! wake up already!"
Arielle slowly opened her eyes to find her best friend trying to pull her up. "Come on wake up already!"
"Are you all set?" She asked with a wide smile on her face.
"yes! Finally, the day has come! To be signed by the Capriana publication!" She hugged her best friend and cried with joy. Capriana publication was one of the top publications of the world. It was unique too, they only signed with mystery/thriller/horror genre and every book they published was a bestseller.
"Keep that manuscript and the contract ready, I'll freshen up." She instructed her best friend and rushed to the bathroom.
"What's this?" Tasha found something on her desk. she picked up the booklet and turned the pages, "A new novel?" she exclaimed.
"Wait!" Arielle shouted from the bathroom, she had the habit to write it down instead of typing her stories, she used her gift to write 2-3 chapters of her new novel last night before going to bed. She rushed out with the toothbrush still on her hand. "Give that to me."
"Nope. You're writing a new novel? A romance novel at that?" Tasha ran around the room reading the notes.
"Just give it back." She finally managed to catch up and snatched it.
"So? when are you going to upload that?" Her best friend asked.
"Upload what? I'm not uploading it anywhere."
"But why?"
"Cause I'm very comfortable with my genre."
"Why? What's bad with romance genre?"
"I'm not good at it."
"But I liked it."
"Whatever! Let's forget about this one and focus on my current book, please? We're getting late."
"Fine, but promise me that I'll get to read that when you complete it."
"Complete it? I just scribbled a few scenarios I don't think I'll ever complete this. Now don't argue, we're getting late!"
****
The next day she searched for the booklet everywhere but couldn't find it.
"Where did it go?" She had searched the entire house.
"Did you take my booklet?" She called her best friend to inquire.
"Which booklet?"
"The same booklet you were after yesterday."
"Why? Didn't you say you're not completing it?"
"So you did take it?"
"No, I haven't touched it after you snatched it from me."
"But I can't find it anywhere!"
"where will it go? Why would anyone steal your booklet? Search for it properly, it must be somewhere inside the house."
"Okay, but are you sure you didn't take it?"
"Of course not."
"Alright. Bye, Talk to you later."
She again searched for it but couldn't find it anywhere.
***
The next day she visited the same shop to buy another booklet of the same kind but to her surprise, the shop was entirely different from when she last visited. It was narrower and dull, the beautiful lady with a kind smile was nowhere and when asked about the booklet, she only found the ordinary ones, disappointed she left the shop with a sad face.
******
On the day of the Christmas eve, on her way back home she slipped on a banana peel on the road and fell, "What the hell?" She shouted. Glaring at the peel she shouted, "who in the world throws that thing on the road? you have a bin for that!" She picked up the banana peel and threw it on the bin by the side of the road. There she found something unexpected, her booklet was thrown inside the bin, "How did you end up here?" she picked it up and cleaned it with her kerchief.
After reaching home, she placed her booklet on the table, and after writing a few more chapter she dozed off.
At the stroke of 12, the booklet began to glow and wrapped the entire room with a bright warm glow.
When Arielle opened her eyes, she was standing in front of a book shop.
"Where the hell am I? How did I reach here?"
Latest chapter
Off Camera Open Doors
Connie’s POVThe brass knob was still cold when my hand froze against it, but the air on the other side was thick and stifling.The room didn't just feel crowded, it felt very weird. The heavy scent of sweat hung in the air. Sasha was scrambling, her face a mask of pure panic as she reached for a discarded blanket, her eyes wide and glassy.Daniel didn’t move. He didn’t even look startled.He leaned back against the headboard with a slow, predatory ease, his lips curling into a sharp, knowing grin that didn't reach his eyes. He looked at me with an arrogance that made my blood run cold. “Well, well,” Daniel drawled, his voice low and scraping against the silence. He made no effort to look decent. “Come to join the party, Reid? Or just checking up on your friends?”A cold spike drove through my chest. The heat that rushed to my face was a violent, suffocating memory. It was the same vertigo that had swallowed me whole two years ago—the feeling of a trap snapping shut.“You’re pathetic
Last Updated : 2026-06-18Off Camera THE PERFECT COUPLE
Connie's povI sat cross-legged on my bed, the soft glow of my phone screen the only light in the room.Kyrian was stretched out on his side, one arm tucked under his pillow, his breathing deep and even.It had been like this for the past few nights—us sharing the space but orbiting each other carefully.On camera, we played the part.Stolen glances during group challenges, my hand brushing his during dinner setups.Enough chemistry to keep the rankings from tanking completely.Off camera?We were... figuring it out.Or at least trying not to let the silence swallow us whole.My thumb hovered over Hori's contact.I wanted to text her everything.The knot in my chest that wouldn't loosen.The way Daniel’s presence echoed in my head every time I closed my eyes.But I couldn't.Not yet.Some things were better left buried until I had a plan that didn't blow up both our lives.The door creaked open softly.Kyrian stirred, sitting up slowly, his dark hair messy from sleep.He rubbed a hand
Last Updated : 2026-06-01Off Camera EASY TARGETS
Daniel's POVThe thing about people was that most of them thought they were harder to read than they actually were.They weren't.I sat in the corner of the common room, one leg stretched over the arm of a chair, lazily spinning a marker between my fingers while pretending to watch the giant television mounted on the wall.In reality, I was watching everyone else.It was a habit I'd developed young. Sitting still, going quiet, reading a room before I decided how to move through it.Most people never bothered. They walked into spaces already talking, already performing, already desperate for someone to notice them.That desperation was the first thing I clocked.Mira and Cole were arguing again near the window — not a real argument. One of those couple arguments where both parties were secretly enjoying the attention it generated. Mira kept glancing toward the camera crew lingering near the doorway while Cole kept raising his voice just enough to make sure everyone heard him.Neither o
Last Updated : 2026-06-01Off Camera PRETTY LITTLE CRACKS
Caroline’s POVI caught Connie in the kitchen the next morning, alone for once, without her bodyguard trolling her everywhere she went.The cameras were on but distant—one fixed in the corner, the other guy yawning behind his rig like he’d rather be anywhere else.Perfect.She was pouring coffee, shoulders a little too tight.I slid up beside her, all smiles, grabbing a mug.“Morning, Connie,” I said sweetly, bumping her hip lightly. “You look like you barely slept. Rough night with the hockey boy?”Connie glanced at me, that performative smile that everyone wore around here snapping into place.“Caroline, right? Yeah, I was just busy with some stuff. You know how it is.”“Oh, I know.” I said as I poured my own coffee, leaning against the counter so we faced each other.“Roderigo told me all about the drama already. Maddox has quite the temper. It must be exhausting playing house with him.”She stirred her coffee slowly, her gaze focused on it as she did. “He’s fine. We’re figuring i
Last Updated : 2026-05-31Off Camera NEW ERA
Roderigo’s POVThis goddamn place smelled like fake-ass vanilla candles and desperation.I kicked the front door shut behind me harder than necessary, my bag slamming into the wall.Caroline—bitch looked good as always—trailed in after me, flashing that fake sweet smile she’d perfected over the yea
Off Camera SHARED ICE
Kyrian’s POVI leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching her from across the room.Connie moved through the common area like she had a script taped to her palm.That bright, easy laugh she used when the cameras were rolling.The way she touched my arm just long enough for the lens
Off Camera ECHOES IN THE HALLWAY
Connie's povThe dining room buzzed with forks scraping plates and overlapping voices.I sat wedged between Kyrian and the edge of the long table, the familiar smell of takeout pasta and garlic rolls filling the air.The first dinner back felt forced, like everyone was back to performing again.Pat
Off Camera PORCH LIGHTS AND TAKEOUT
Connie's PovThe doorbell echoed through the house just as I reached the bottom step, still tugging my oversized hoodie straight.Mom’s voice floated from the kitchen first—“I’ll get it, honey!”—but I beat her to the door anyway, pulse kicking up like it had its own agenda.Kyrian stood on the we
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