A Once Crowded Sky

Even the street punks knew that in Chicago, Catherine Leone was untouchable. I had three deadly protectors watching my back. My husband, Raphael Falcone, was the youngest underboss in the Chicago Outfit. He was known for his cold, iron-fisted rule, yet in a crowded room, he would kneel to adjust the hem of my gown. My childhood friend, Luca Vizzini, the family's brilliant new consigliere. He'd sworn to protect me since we were kids. And my twin brother, Salvatore Leone, who cherished me above all else. He took over the family at eighteen and treated me like royalty, making me the most envied Principessa in the underworld. On my twenty-eighth birthday, I waited in the living room all day, clutching a pregnancy test with two solid lines, ready to share the news that would change everything. Instead, they brought me my brother's body, murdered by a drug dealer hailed as a hero. And standing before me was my husband, Raphael Falcone, ready to clear the murderer's name. "Tell me why," A scream clawed at my throat, but I fought it down, "You know damn well who the murderer is." "Catherine, control yourself." It was Luca Vizzini, my childhood friend, who tied my hands. "Salvatore's gone, but you still have us. You're still Mrs. Falcone, still the Principessa of the Leone family." "The Leones have looked after Chiara for years. You know her father is all she has." They wanted me to confess to my brother’s fabricated crimes and apologize to Chiara. But they forget. Before I was Raphael's wife, I was Catherine Leone. A master hacker who could breach any system. I will deliver my own justice in ways they cannot imagine. And I will make them regret it.

"You are trembling," Dante whispered, his hand sliding up my thigh, hidden beneath the white tablecloth of the crowded gala. "Please," I begged, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. "Please what?" He leaned in, his teeth grazing my ear, his grip on my leg tightening to a bruise. "Please stop? Or please... take me?" He dragged his thumb over my skin, ruining me in front of everyone, his eyes dark with a terrifying promise. "You belong to me, Evelina. And tonight... I’m going to make sure you scream it. *** Three million dollars. That was the price of my sister’s life. To save her, I sold myself to Dante Valenti. He is the king of Wall Street, a monster in a tailored suit who deals in acquisitions and ruin. He didn't just want my skills as a curator; he wanted me. My time, my freedom, and my absolute submission for five years. I thought I could withstand him. I thought I could keep my heart safe behind walls of hatred. But Dante doesn't just break walls; he burns them down. He strips away my defenses layer by layer, forcing me to play his dark, twisted games. He isolates me, controls me, and manipulates my reality until I don't know where the cage ends and I begin. He treats me like a prized artifact—something to be displayed, guarded, and owned. But as the lines between hatred and desire blur, I realize the terrifying truth: He doesn't just want to own my body. He wants to break my soul until I thank him for the chains.

Damn, you're delicious," he murmured into her mouth. "You taste like a goddess." She heard the sound of his belt buckle, and her frantic heart stopped because she knew what was coming. "Damn, I need to be inside you," he declared with a hint of desperation that she loved. She reacted and helped him free himself from his pants because she needed it, too, and she needed it now. But when his member was finally free, and she felt him position himself, his gaze wandered for a moment to a spot behind them. It was only for a second, but that second was enough to see how the entire expression on his face transformed. The desire froze, and instead of the fiery, passionate man from a moment ago, he was that block of ice he usually was again. He took two steps back and looked down. She sat up, confused. "What's wrong?" she asked, baffled. He tensed his jaw and shook his head while zipping up his pants again. A whirlwind of emotions crowded her chest and got stuck in her throat. "Enzo," she called out, but he didn't respond. He bent down to pick up his shirt and walked toward his room without looking at her. "Enzo!" she yelled, but he ignored her and entered his room, slamming the door. She was left on the island, naked, not understanding anything. All the fire went out, giving way to a sadness that settled in her heart. He rejected her. Enzo rejected her. After his wife’s death, Enzo Romano swore his heart was buried with her. Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. But when duty forces him into a contract marriage with innocent Arianna, the girl who secretly adores him, she finds herself falling for a man who will never love her back.

He's the Alpha the pack fears. She's the Beta-in-training who fears nothing. Xander Laven, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, is known for his strength and ruthlessness. His pack respects his power, but fear is their primary response. He attends the annual gathering expecting to secure a suitable mate to bear an heir, not to find himself drawn to a fiery she-wolf who challenges his every command. Chayse Vega, a Delta from the Amber Sky Pack, is a warrior at heart. Stubborn and independent, she'd rather train than attend frivolous gatherings. She certainly wasn't looking for a mate, especially not one as arrogant and controlling as the infamous Alpha Laven.Their first encounter is explosive, a clash of wills and personalities that sparks something neither expected. He's possessive and demanding; she's defiant and sharp-tongued. The mate bond is undeniable, but can two wolves so different navigate a connection forged in growls and witty retorts? When the feared Alpha meets the fearless Delta, their world is about to change forever.

Edmund Hills sakit hati saat mengetahui Alice berselingkuh. Ia menggugat cerai sang istri dan mengusirnya dari rumah. Ia tidak tahu bahwa Alice sebetulnya sedang hamil dan ia sedang dihasut oleh ibunya sendiri. Saat kebenaran terbongkar, Edmund sangat menyesal. Ia pergi mencari Alice, berniat untuk menjemputnya pulang. Sayangnya, ia terlambat. Alice sudah lebih dulu melompat ke sungai dan hilang tanpa jejak. Bertahun-tahun, Edmund terpuruk dalam penyesalan. Hingga suatu ketika, ia bertemu dengan Sky, seorang anak yang sangat mirip dengan Alice. Ketika Edmund melihat ibu sang anak, ia tercengang. Ia telah menemukan Alice! Akan tetapi, perempuan itu sama sekali tidak mengenal Edmund. Ia mengaku bernama Rachel dan sudah memiliki suami. Apa yang sesungguhnya terjadi? Benarkah perempuan itu Alice? Bisakah Edmund mendapatkan kembali istrinya yang hilang akibat hasutan ibunya sendiri?

Book 1 My BestFriend Zoe He was just my best friend until I found out how his lips taste. Sky She was just my best friend until I caught her using the vibrator. *** Book 2 My Stepbrother Stella I was a broken soul, and I never thought that I would be healed by my stepbrother. Alex My stepsister, whom I thought would hate her, but she became the one and only person whom I desire deeply. *** Book 3 My Father’s Friend Selena Since I was young, I accepted that I would marry the man of my father's choice, so I always kept my heart shielded. But everything changed when I kissed my father’s friend. James I had always been clear in my mind that I would never settle down with just one woman, but everything changed the moment I tasted my friend's daughter.

Jade was the only Lycan of a nomadic herd of southern Europe in 1800, she was rejected for being a Lycan, her grandfather was the alpha of the family and decided to sell her to be rich and get rid of the problem that generated him to have her around. Jade managed to escape from the ship that was taking her to an unknown place. In her escape she arrives to the city of the moles. There she meets Jhon, a doctor who recently lost his wife. He helps her heal the wounds she got running through the forest. However, he falls in love with her and almost a year later they get married. However, a blood moon covers the night sky of Europe for several months. Attacks on humans occur and they begin to blame the wolves for this. However the ones responsible for this are the Lycans who get out of control of the blood moon. However, a meeting is ordered with all the wolves of the continent to try to stop the wave of attacks, however, Jade will have to reunite with the family that hurt her so much and relive her traumas for this situation, will she forgive them?

Fresh out of Med school, Paris Martinez feels like the sky is her starting point, a perfect time to start chasing her dreams. Her dreams had to come to a halt when her father wants her to take over the family's business after his retirement and work for New York's most eligible bachelor, Dante Melendez. Abandoning a medical degree doesn't sound bizarre as having to work for the arrogant Dante Melendez. Paris would rather be in a theatre than anywhere near Dante but her father's wish has to be obeyed. Paris had a tiny plan, which frustrates Dante to the point of him firing her then she goes back to pursuing her dreams as a surgeon. Everything sounds easy until Dante craves a little plan of his too, frustrating Paris till she accepts he's above her. Maybe beneath all of the hate, there's something weird. Something that feels like passion and smells like love.

The story follows a person transported to another world as a dwarf named Karma. While living a quiet life in this new realm, Karma encounters Freya, a succubus Demon Lord, who commands him to undertake a seemingly impossible task: assist her in completing her mission in this world. Freya presents Karma with a stark choice—ascend the Sky Tower of Doom to kill her or remain in the tower and love her for eternity. As Karma grapples with this dilemma, he meets Mirai, the world’s hero, who is desperately hunting him to obtain the Black Crystal embedded in his body. Mirai pleads with Karma to sacrifice his life for the sake of humanity and her mission on this planet. However, when Karma refuses, she offers an alternative: she’ll stop attacking him if he agrees to join her and live peacefully in the city of humans. Caught between the conflicting demands and missions imposed by the goddess on both the Demon Lord and the hero, Karma is thrust into a chaotic, nerve-wracking, and relentless adventure that upends his tranquil existence, forever altering his peaceful life.

All along, I've been following a social media account that's dedicated to a couple sharing about their romance. It doesn't have a lot of followers, but the posts are all very heartwarming. The owner of the account records all the little details about his relationship with his girlfriend. They get into arguments over a plate of pasta before breaking into laughter and calling each other an overgrown child. They climb up the hill to hold each other under the sky full of stars, wishing they could make time pause at that very moment. Even though the owner of the account never reveals his face, I am always moved by the words he writes. The day before my wedding, the owner uploads a new post. "This marks the end of our ten-year relationship. From now on, she'll be his wife, and I'll only be his friend. There won't be any more updates to this account. I wish nothing but the best for my best friend and the woman he loves the most." The picture uploaded with this caption is one of my fiancee and me, taken from behind.