A Half Built Garden

<> - Vanessa thought rock bottom was signing divorce papers with Derek Holland, a man with the emotional depth of a teaspoon. Turns out, rock bottom had a basement, and Ryker Holland was waiting for her down there with a smirk and a plan. Ryker, Derek's older half-brother (aka the family's dirty little secret), shows up offering Vanessa a deal: help her make her ex-husband, Derek Holland, jealous enough to come crawling back. In exchange, he secures his position as CEO. But Ryker isn't doing this out of kindness for he is petty and cruel. He would do anything to trample all over Derek, and now he has the perfect weapon. Vanessa, freshly dumped and just desperate enough to play along. And if she happens to enjoy making her ex suffer too? Well, that's just a bonus. As Vanessa sinks deeper into Ryker's twisted world of fake romance, secrecy and family dysfunction, things start getting real. Because fake love? It's a lot easier to control than real feelings. And Ryker has no idea what to do when the game stops being a game. Is Vanessa walking into a trap or building one of her own? Either way, the Holland brothers are going down. One's going to break, and the other's going to enjoy every second of it. _Disclaimer: This story features morally complex, flawed characters with twisted motives. It includes themes of manipulation, deception, and emotional cruelty. Reader discretion is advised.

An awkward and unattractive girl Maria Priscilla Bantoc came across an old woman named Helia Baal who owned a mysterious garden at the crag to the north and west of the craggy hill. She also had encountered a strange black riding apparition which first appeared once fateful stormy night when Maria was born. Things had been turning out difficult for the awkward and unattractive Maria, especially after the marriage of Celeste and the betrothal of Petunia, Maria's two sisters. The old witch named Helia Baal had trapped a powerful storm spirit named Elohim Hefasto, the mysterious black riding apparition. Maria had to save Elohim from Helia's entrapment and also save the people living at the craggy hill. However, at the end, Elohim had to choose to become a mortal or return to his home, the spirit world called Mundu.

On our third wedding anniversary, I received a cake from my husband. It had the names Clarisse Burke and Antonio Carey written on it, along with Happy Third Anniversary. But I felt like I'd been plunged into ice. That wasn't my name. Clarisse was his secretary. Sure enough, I saw my cake in Clarisse Burke's latest post, labeled Iva Grant and Antonio Carey. [Three years, and someone's already treating me like his wife.] Below, there was a comment. [Delete that post! The cakes got mixed up. Don't let Iva find out.] That was when I realized he had planned every romantic surprise in pairs. Holding my phone, I laughed at his pathetic attempt to cover it up. But I was done. I started planning my exit.

Ezekiel Richard Wright is not only charismatic, handsome, clever, and a world-class architect, but his characteristics and achievements make him more alluring. The CEO, who suffers from sleeplessness, is arrogant, cold, and distant. Chen Xiu Ying, also known as Bella Chen, is a mixed-race woman with an American mother and a Chinese father. Her family is one of China's wealthiest, owning four mansions in Peking and three in Shanghai. She is the daughter of the CEO of Chen Entertainment. She is also the brilliant, stubborn, and acrophobic president of La Bella Fashion Threads Co. What if the worlds of these two CEOs collided as a result of their parents' arrangement? Can they figure out what's behind their phobias and cure each other, or will they trigger each other's fears and end their marriage?

Ezekiel Richard Wright is not only charismatic, handsome, clever, and a world-class architect, but his characteristics and achievements make him more alluring. The CEO, who suffers from sleeplessness, is arrogant, cold, and distant. Chen Xiu Ying, also known as Bella Chen, is a mixed-race woman with an American mother and a Chinese father. Her family is one of China's wealthiest, owning four mansions in Peking and three in Shanghai. She is the daughter of the CEO of Chen Entertainment. She is also the brilliant, stubborn, and acrophobic president of La Bella Fashion Threads Co. What if the worlds of these two CEOs collided as a result of their parents' arrangement? Can they figure out what's behind their phobias and cure each other, or will they trigger each other's fears and end their marriage?

Sophia Miller has spent her life cultivating beauty in her tulip garden, a family-owned flower shop nestled in the heart of Eldenbrook. Her mother’s legacy lives on through her prized “Midnight Flame” tulip, a rare and radiant bloom that symbolizes hope and resilience. But as land developers close in on her beloved shop, Sophia faces losing everything she’s worked to preserve. When Alexander Kane, a reclusive billionaire and tech visionary, wanders into her garden, Sophia sees him as just another customer with deep pockets and shallow intentions. But Alexander isn’t there for tulips—at least, not entirely. Desperate to salvage his company’s struggling renewable energy project, he believes Sophia’s unique flowers may hold the key to revolutionizing biofuels. Drawn together by unexpected chemistry, Sophia and Alexander find their lives entwined in ways neither of them could predict. As Sophia shares the secrets of her garden, Alexander begins to question the cost of his ambition. But when she discovers the truth about his hidden motives, their budding romance is uprooted, leaving betrayal and heartbreak in its wake. In a race against time and corporate greed, Alexander must decide: protect his billion-dollar empire or fight for the woman who taught him to see beyond the numbers. Can they find common ground in the soil of their shared dreams, or will their love wither before it has a chance to bloom?

“Bro, it’s not a big deal. I’m just fucking her.” My heart stopped. Kendall’s voice replied, “But man, what would people think if you made her your girl? That’d be crazy work.” “I’m not stupid,” Jalen said flatly. “I’d never make her mine. It’s only sex, nothing more. And honestly? It’s not that good anymore. I was gonna let her down easy before break.” ...... Aria, a plus-size beauty, thought her scholarship and condo arrangements were a dream until she met her roommate, Talia. Rich, spoiled, and instantly cruel, Talia made Aria's life miserable. Talia’s new boyfriend, Jalen, was the campus golden boy. When Aria and Jalen were paired for a project, they clicked in ways neither expected from late night talks to shared secrets and undeniable sexual chemistry. On Halloween night, during an all campus party, Aria sees Talia cheating on Jalen. One emotional night led to an affair that changed everything… until Jalen says some really damaging words to his roommate that were unforgivable and also heard by a once happy but now upset Aria. Disappointed, fed up, and heartbroken, Aria leaves campus and never looks back. TEN YEARS LATER Aria returns for the ten year reunion, confident, stunning, and a self-made CEO. Jalen is still gorgeous… but stuck in a miserable marriage with Talia. She ignores him. Talia tries to humiliate her. Aria wins the room. As she leaves, Jalen kisses her. She lets herself feel it, then slaps him and walks away. THE BUSINESS MERGER Jalen’s cruise line needs Aria’s brand to revamp their image. She agrees, reluctantly. Now they’re forced to work side by side, trapped between old wounds and new sparks. Some love stories never die. But some can burn you twice.

Neriah's perfect life was a lie. Her husband's loyalty was a facade, shattered when she discovers his illicit affair with her own sister. The ultimate betrayal: her sister just gave birth to her husband’s child, a replica of the man she loved. But that was only the beginning. A brutal accident nearly claims her life, and in the depths of her recovery, her husband's true intentions are revealed - a press conference announcing her death, a twisted attempt to erase her existence. Consumed by a thirst for vengeance, Neriah finds an unlikely ally in Denver, her husband's sworn enemy and half-brother. A proposal is made: a contract marriage, a union of convenience, with one rule - DO NOT FALL IN LOVE. . As the stakes rise, Neriah and Denver dance to the tune of vengeance, but they must confront the ultimate question: Will their hunger for revenge consume them, or will they succumb to the one thing they cannot afford— Love?

ALPHA OF DARKNESS AND THE HALF-BREED HEALER (Gael’s Saving Grace) Nia’s life has been one fraught with pain and agony. Being a half-breed might be the worst fate of all: Adopted and maltreated and rejected by her mate. Sold to an Alpha of Darkness whose cruelty strikes beyond the land, Nia knew her life would never remain the same. She prays to the Moon Goddess to shine luck on her, only for the gift bestowed upon her to become her undoing when she turns out to be the Alpha’s Saving Grace.

A week before our marking ceremony, I told Ethan Stormwind I wanted to break up at his friend's party. Everyone laughed. They all knew that for the past six years, my life's goal had been to become his marked Luna. With only a week left until the ceremony, how could I possibly want to break up? Even Ethan thought I was being unreasonable. "Just because I need to take Selene to the healer for her follow-up on our ceremony day, you're throwing a tantrum about breaking up?" "We're both adults. Can you act more mature? You could just reschedule the ceremony. Why do you insist on that specific day? I don't have time for your jealous games." I nodded silently. Yes, something needed to be changed. But it wasn't the ceremony date. It was him. I was going to accept someone else's mark instead.