Ashy Knees

Have you ever had the same dream so often that it starts to blur into reality? The same man. The same scent. The same fire, except every night, it’s a different position, a different fantasy… and by morning, it all slips away. That has been my life for weeks, until everything changed. Just when I thought I could finally get over the stranger in my dreams, I convinced myself that my new boss might be the distraction I needed. A way out of my sex-starved world of fantasies. Then he walked in. Hotter than my imagination ever allowed. Sharper. Darker. Dangerous. And with one look, I knew. It was him. The man who owned my nights. But who was he? And why was he suddenly here in my reality? “I own this place,” he growled, his deep voice making my knees weak as his grip tightened around my wrist. “I own this motherfucker you call a boss… and I own you too.” His black eyes locked on mine, dark and unreadable. “So you better start walking before I take you right here and now.” He meant every word. He dragged me out with him, and everything I thought I knew cracked open. Was this the beginning of my love story with the man they called the Mafia Boss? Were my dreams finally becoming real? But with constant gunshots, threats, and attempted abductions… I’m starting to realize this might not be the fairytale I imagined. And my life may never go back to normal. Not ever again. But I don’t seem to mind anymore.

My father-in-law said he wanted to experience "how the young folks have fun these days," so I took him to my wife's newly opened upscale cocktail bar for a quiet drink. I’d just finished ordering him a custom cocktail when a man from a booth across the room swaggered over, glass in hand. His eyes scanned the drink menu on our table, and a condescending smirk twisted his lips. "Only ordering the cheapest well drinks?" he sneered. "Brought the old man here to enjoy the free air conditioning? Trash like you belongs in a dive bar. Who even let you in here?" Anger burned in my chest. I stood up, my jaw clenched. "We're paying customers. What's it to you?" But before I could say another word, his face darkened with pure rage. He snatched the half-finished beer bottle from our table and smashed it on my head. "My girl owns this place!" he snarled. "Even if I crack your skull open, I can afford the payout! You filthy pauper—either get on your knees and lick my shoes dry, or get the hell out of my sight. You're an eyesore." The beer dripped down my face. My hands trembled with fury as I wiped it away. Then, a cold calm settled over me. I opened my phone, switched to the camera, and went live. "Alright, everyone," I said into the screen. "You won't want to miss this. We're going live to catch my cheating wife and see the double life she's been leading."

In my past life, my boyfriend Jared Xanderson's childhood sweetheart, Cindy Smith, pretends to be a rich heiress and fools around recklessly. When I expose her lies, she snaps and rams her car straight into me. As I lie on the brink of death, Jared's older brother, Mark Xanderson, gets down on his knees and begs him to save me. But Jared doesn't even flinch. "That's impossible. Cindy's of noble status—why would she dirty her hands over a nobody like her? Just because she's dating me doesn't mean she can climb above her station. She needs to remember her place." Mark kneels and pleads for three days and three nights, but it's useless. In the end, he's beaten to death by thugs Cindy sends after him. Even as my heart stops beating, Jared is still defending Cindy. He covers up the evidence and refuses to believe she killed someone, even as she destroys his own brother. Now, reborn, I don't waste time begging Jared to visit me. This time, I call my brother, Eric Spencer, first. "Eric, there's a woman out there impersonating me and running wild. Handle it. Also, about the Xanderson family engagement—I'm switching grooms from Jared to his brother, Mark." Over the years, I've poured massive resources into the Xanderson family, but it seems I've only raised a pack of ungrateful snakes. Now I want to see how long Jared and his precious Cindy can stay on their high horse without me!

Behind every great Queen stands no one; something Miliani Hwang learned from the early age of ten after she was forced to take over the Hwang Family Mafia when her parents died in a murder-suicide. In light of their tragic end, she built herself up from the ground for 11 years, trusting no man to stand behind or even beside her. The sheer sound of her name was enough to have even the toughest men on their knees and despite not ever taking a life with her own hands, everyone in the crime world knew they should never cross The Great Miliani Hwang. It doesn't surprise her when she is betrayed on her 21st birthday but she never expected her own blood to be the mastermind. She flees to Sicily with the help of the Ravello Crime Family, where she learns many secrets about her lineage and starts falling for the smug Vincenzo Ravello. Now a disgraced mob boss with nothing but her name and rage a lingering question lingered in the back of her mind; who was she now if not The Great Miliani Hwang? Vincenzo Ravello, the eldest son of the Ravello Crime Family knew all too well about the dangers that come with his title as heir to the Cosa Nostra. He's spent the past few years of his life reminding his enemies time and time again that he wasn't a man they wanted to mess with. His heart was made of stone and women, to him were nothing more than playthings until her. He would do anything for her. Every Queen needs a King to avenge her and Miliani must learn to trust her heart to stand beside hers because he will burn the whole world until all her enemies bow at her feet.

Raya Monroe had always belonged to Noah Vale, at least, that’s what she made herself believe. He saved her once, long ago, and from that moment, her heart beat only for him. She obeyed every command, bore every sacrifice, even when it meant stepping aside for the girl fate chose in her place, Nora. But nothing shattered her more than his final request. “Give her your wolf, Raya. And when it’s over… I’ll mark you as mine.” She agreed. And she died for it. On the other side of the lake, Riley Hart, Alpha princess without a wolf, newly mated, newly betrayed by her mate, alpha Eric, fell to her knees begging for the agony of rejection to end. “Who wants a wolfless mate like you?” Two girls. Two broken hearts. Two final wishes whispered into the same night. “Let me come back.” Raya whispered. “Please… let it end.” Riley cried. __ What if those wishes intertwined? What if death answered them both? Raya returns, reborn in a new body, carrying the pain of two fates, and her second life is bound to the wrath of the Alpha King, Ajax Blackstone. His armies are rising, his vengeance is unstoppable, and Eric and Noah’s pack stands at the edge of ruin. What is Ajax hunting? Can Raya take revenge from the pack that destroyed her… while living in the body of the girl that was cast aside? Or will fate destroy her a second time? One thing is certain. They took everything from her for love. Now love turned wrath is coming back for them all.

Sebastian Sterling was the CEO of the Sterling Group, ranked third among the world's wealthiest business leaders. We had a five-year-long relationship, three years of which we lived together. He told me he loved me so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself for me, yet he never gave me the title of Mrs. Sterling. During those three years of living together, he betrayed me three times, pushing me into hell with his own hands. The first time, he secretly obtained a marriage certificate with his close friend's widow. However, he knelt before me, crying and begging me to believe that it was just for protection. The second time, under the spotlight of media cameras and thousands of watching eyes, he held her hand and announced that she was his wife and the lady of the Sterling family. Backstage, he gripped my hand and swore in a low voice that he would marry me once everything ended. The third time, he spent a passionate night with her and got her pregnant. I discovered the truth when I saw them at the hospital, attending a prenatal appointment together. Loving him was death by a thousand cuts. I forgave him again and again, yet he betrayed me every time. One day, I finally walked away. In my pocket was my positive pregnancy test—I was carrying the child he had always wanted. Only then did Sebastian collapse to his knees in regret, crying out my name with a broken voice. However, he had lost not just me, but the heir he never knew existed too!

"You don't belong in this world of mine," Liam whispered, his lips inches from mine. "But I'm selfish, and I can't let you go." "I want to stay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I'm falling for you too, Liam." - I should be sneering, laughing even. How blind could he be? Liam Sterling—the killer, master manipulator, the ruthless, untouchable king of New York’s underworld—brought to his knees by the one woman sworn to tear him apart. For years, revenge was all I had. Liam destroyed my family, tore my life apart, leaving me with nothing but rage. I rebuilt myself piece by piece, every step driven by the thought of making him pay. But then... I got close to him. Close enough to touch. His touch is fire, burning through every wall I’ve built. Each kiss, every stolen moment, weakens my defenses, awakening a need that terrifies me. How can I want him like this? Crave him, when every scar I carry is a reminder of all he’s taken? I should hate him. I should destroy him. But when he looks at me, when he holds me like I’m something he needs to protect, I’m lost. And as I watch him break, all I feel is a strange, hollow ache where satisfaction should be. How can I keep fighting him, when I’m already falling, already broken, for the man I was supposed to ruin?

"What do you mean it’s over?" Bella’s voice trembled, her heart shattering with every word. "You heard me. I can’t be with you anymore," Michael said coldly, watching as tears streamed down her face. "I did everything for you. I sent you to school, supported your career, and now I mean nothing?" Bella cried, falling to her knees, her emotions spiraling out of control. "I’ll send you money for your dad’s hospital bills, but you’re not the one for me," Michael replied dismissively. Bella’s world collapses when the man she’s loved for six years walks away, choosing Vivian a woman she once called a friend and the younger daughter of the powerful Copperfield family. Despite warnings from her best friend, Elowen, Bella trusted Michael. Now, she’s left heartbroken and betrayed. Swearing off love, Bella focuses on rebuilding her life and plotting her revenge. But her plans take an unexpected turn when David Copperfield the ruthless billionaire and CEO of Copperfield Group enters her life. Abandoned on his wedding day, David offers Bella a one-year contract marriage, needing her to protect his reputation and restore his pride. How will Bella react when she discovers David has a son with a mysterious mother? With her father’s life hanging by a thread, can she survive this cold-hearted arrangement? And what will she do when she uncovers the ultimate betrayal that the man she’s called her father isn’t her real father, and she’s been living a lie?

Astrid Olsen was not your typical heiress since her mind was more on the scientific side of things. She did not want to be tied down and when her father claimed that she will be marrying someone that was his business partner's son, Astrid did the only thing that she knew ever since she was a little girl. She pursued higher education and never turn her back on it. She had gained 6 Ph.D. scrolls, so what's one more, right? Well, it all changed when she was short on funds for her research and she had to make a deal with a devil. Even when he was a fair hair specimen with cobalt blue eyes that would sure to make any woman weak in their knees, including Astrid herself. Eliot Park, a brilliant scientist and inventor as well as a notorious billionaire, wanted more than anything to be the best of the best. And he managed to do it until one person was determined to see him fail in the newest pharmaceutical discovery. He knew that he had to do something drastic if he has to maintain at the top. Even sacrifice his bachelor's life to be tie down to the one scientist that will be making a ground breaking discovery to the world. And he did marry her for financial gain in his life. But, the more time Eliot spends his time in the company of Astrid, the more he felt something that he never did before. Was this just lust between them or something more? What will Eliot do when he realized something has shifted between him and his contractual wife? What will Astrid do? Will she run away again like she did before or will she be brave enough to convey her feelings?

“Druida, did you hear me? What are you doing? Where are they going?! MISSY COME BACK HERE!” Silvan screams. “Sit down and shut up, Silvan. You are a pathetic disgrace right now.” I tell him, waving my hand at the chair, which buckles his knees so he falls into it. “A.. What did you just call me woman?!” He hiss, glaring at me. I unleash some of the power he felt yesterday, staring him directly in the eyes. “I said you are a pathetic disgrace right now. Shut up and listen. How the fuck do you think they died?” I ask him harshly, almost facepalming myself. Silvan’s eye darkens in rage. “Jessica.” She traveled back in time to save her brother from becoming evil and her parents from dying, but now she finds herself in the middle of the enemy camp, close to high ranking officers and the stakes are higher than before. Druida means Wise One, that that is exactly what she needs to be if she wants to do what she came back for. Her mission is simple, but is it? She came back with one objective, not calculating on the Faiths putting twists in her way. She does not count on meeting people she'll get close to, not counting on meeting her mate nor counting on how difficult it is to keep the knowledge from the future to herself when she confronted with the parents she is so desperately trying to save. Will she succeed and save the future for herself, her brother and her entire family, or will she return to a future where things are worse than how she left them? Only time will tell, and everything is at stake in this thrilling sequel to His Magic Luna.