independence

[Don't trust your family. Be careful—be very, very careful. They will kill you.] The text popped up out of nowhere. Weird, but I brushed it off. My husband adored me, my family was solid. Life was picture-perfect, like I'd hit the jackpot in some cosmic lottery. Then the nightmare started. Three people. Three secrets. One was pulling all the strings.

During the tenth year I had a crush on Ron, I was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. With a critically ill notice in hand, I stood at the door to the room where my former classmates gathered, and I heard Ron holding his crush and cooing at her, “Just ignore it. Willow has been bothering me for ten years. If there was even a possibility of us getting together, we would have done so a long time ago. Honestly, I would never like her. Even if she continues bothering me for another ten or twenty years, I still won’t like her.” My former classmates cheered, and Ron looked like he was about to kiss her. I stood at the door and cried so hard that I trembled, but I did not dare make a sound. Ron, I would not be able to bother you for another twenty years. I was about to die.

Amaya Rosario - Moving to New York was supposed to be all about independence—college, city life, making my own way. But then there was Alan Chambers: quiet, kind, and impossible to read. And then there was his dog, Rufio, who seemed determined to make us happen. I didn’t mean to fall for the guy who doesn’t talk about himself. I just wanted to help out and do something meaningful. But now, between dog walks, city strolls, and a park worth fighting for, I can’t stop wondering if there’s more to Alan than he lets anyone see—and if maybe that something more could include me. Alan Chambers - I’ve built a quiet life in the city—just me, my dog, and the kind of peace that comes from staying in your own lane. I don’t talk about my past. I don’t let people get too close. And I certainly didn’t plan on Amaya Rosario. She’s bright, bold, and keeps showing up in places I never expected. I should keep my distance. I’ve got too many reasons to stay in the shadows. But something about her makes me want to step into the light—for the first time in a long time. Book 7 in the Ravenwood Series. It can be read as a standalone. However, to learn about the characters and past events that may be referenced, you should check out the rest of the series. Book 1 - The Princes of Ravenwood Book 2 - Chasing Kitsune Book 3 - Expect the Unexpected Book 4 - Out of My League Book 5 - Man's Best Wingman (starring Amaya's sister Xenia and introduced Alan and Amaya as side characters) Book 6 - Troubled Heart (Alan appears as a cameo)

Amelia seems to have it all - beauty, wealth, and a handsome boyfriend from an influential family. But her gilded life shatters when she learns her boyfriend Alexander has been cheating with her own stepsister. Devastated, things go from bad to worse when Amelia's parents announce they are marrying her off to Harrison, the son of a disgraced billionaire family, while giving control of the family company to her backstabbing stepsister. Amelia is distraught, feeling utterly betrayed by those closest to her. The only person she has left is Martha, the kind maid who is more of a mother to Amelia than her own ever was. But Martha falls gravely ill, leaving Amelia desperate to get the funds for her medical treatment. Forced to go through with the engagement for Martha's sake, Amelia steels herself to marry Harrison. Yet upon meeting Harrison, Amelia is surprised to find herself intrigued by this handsome, down-to-earth stranger. As they continue to connect, she realizes there may be more to him than just his family name and reputation. But Amelia remains wary, focused on securing her independence and caring for Martha. As the wedding looms closer, a whirlwind of shocking revelations and twists will turn Amelia's world upside down once more. Will she find an unexpected saving grace in her marriage to Harrison? Or will sinister secrets beneath the surface threaten to destroy her world yet again? Little did she know, she was going to get married to the conqueror, the one who had conquered everything.

Vivian Caldwell gave up everything for Luca Moretti—her dreams, her independence, and ten years of her life. As the heiress to the Caldwell fortune, she built his empire, enduring his family’s abuse and his emotional neglect. But when she catches him red-handed with his first love, her world shatters. Confronting him only leads to more heartbreak when Luca cruelly throws her from a balcony, leaving her for dead. But Vivian wakes up in the past, years before her death, with one clear goal—revenge. This time, she won’t be the naïve woman sacrificing everything. She’ll take back her power, her fortune, and her life. The elusively attractive Dante Moretti, Luca's uncle, becomes her greatest ally—but on one condition: she must marry him.

In a world where change is seen as the ultimate sign of power, Lily's failure to transform into something else resulted in her becoming the subject of ridicule. However, she always remained unaffected by their teasing. She confronted her tormentors directly with a fiery spirit and unapologetic attitude. Yet, her life drastically changed upon realizing she was destined to be the mate of all three triplet heirs to the throne. The name Luna came at a high cost - a lifetime of serving, meeting expectations, and yielding. However, Lily has always desired freedom. Will she give in to the dominant charms of the triplet as the mate bond strengthens, or will she resist to keep her independence? Will she be able to withstand the temptation of their strong magnetism, or will she plead for their forgiveness? Immerse yourself in a realm of raw desire, where passion and surrender clash in a struggle for power.

Sienna Carter never wanted to be part of Damien Cross’s world. She built her life on independence, fighting to keep her struggling business afloat. But when a devastating financial blow leaves her with no options, she’s forced to make a deal with the most ruthless billionaire in the city. Damien Cross doesn’t believe in love. He believes in power, control, and getting what he wants. And right now, he wants Sienna. Their arrangement should be simple cold, transactional, without emotion. But from the moment she steps into his world, the lines begin to blur. Sienna challenges him in ways no one ever has. And the more he tries to keep his distance, the more obsessed he becomes. What starts as a deal quickly turns into something far more dangerous something neither of them are prepared for. Because in this game of power and passion, the greatest risk isn’t losing control. It’s falling in love.

After I bought my new home outright, my relatives organized a housewarming party to celebrate. During dinner, my nephew Leo suddenly said, “You’re just a spinster living alone in a huge apartment. What do you need all that space for? I happen to be getting married soon. That’s a huge deal. You should transfer the place to me. I’ll even cover the transfer fee.” I was stunned. “Are you out of your mind?” His mother Linda said, “How can you be so ungrateful? Him using your place for his newlywed life is doing you a favor. It’ll bring you good luck! Other people would jump at the chance!” The son and mother were united against me. “Anyway, tomorrow’s a great day. Grab the property deed and come with us to transfer ownership!” I rejected them without hesitation and called them crazy. Who knew they would get so furious that they would storm into my brand-new apartment and go on a rampage, smashing everything in sight. They even said smugly, “We need to show you our family doesn’t get pushed around! Go ahead and call the police! What proof do you even have that it was us?” What they did not know was that I had installed surveillance cameras on the day I moved in.

I worked for a restaurant, and our boss loved making empty promises about giving us restaurant shares. The boss said we would start with zero shares, but we could earn 0.01% for every two hours of overtime, covering someone else’s work or saving the restaurant 1,000 bucks. I suggested she write this down in an official document and have someone track it properly. She just smiled and told everyone to work harder. She never actually put it in writing. The experienced staff did not believe her, but one prep cook took it seriously. At the end of the year, he went to the boss to claim his shares. The boss said, “Sorry, the head chef told me there’s no official document, so it doesn’t count. You can’t claim any shares.” The prep cook worked hard all year and got nothing for it, so he took his anger out on me. The day before I was going home for the New Year, he killed me with a knife. “If you hadn’t said it doesn’t count without an official document, this whole restaurant would’ve been mine!” I lay in a pool of blood. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day the boss first made those empty promises.

Sophia Lin’s dream of independence and accomplishment become abolished when she is forced into an arranged marriage with Ethan Gray, a cold hearted millionaire and the founder of DaeVille. An action taken by her husband, Ethan Gray, prompts Sophia to take a step and break free from her bondage. Her road to independence leads her to Alexander Dolan, an handsome billionaire who happens to be Ethan’s business rival and Sophia’s secondary school mate. What started as a partnership quickly escalates into a romantic attachment. But Ethan is possessive, he wouldn’t lose what is his to anyone, much less Alexander. The choice falls on Sophia. With Ethan having a bonding leverage on her, Sophia is torn between following her heart while leaving a broken home in her wake or saving a marriage that could ruin her future.