Before We Drowned

--- River Witch Some bloodlines are bound to water. Some debts are never paid in full. When Evelyn Blake returns to the remote riverside village of Elowen after fifteen years away, she expects grief and silence—but not the whispers that rise from the mist-covered water. As bodies resurface and ghostly lights drift through the fog, Evelyn uncovers a buried legacy: a pact made generations ago between her family and a nameless spirit that haunts the river. With the curse's final reckoning approaching, Evelyn must confront the sins of her bloodline, unravel the truth behind her ancestor’s forbidden ritual, and decide whether to escape the fate written for her—or embrace it. In a village where no one speaks of the drowned, the river never forgets. And it always collects what it’s owed.

When the yacht was sinking, and only one spot was left on the lifeboat, Hendrix Zuckerman chose me. I was rescued, but Yana Bridgeton didn’t make it. She couldn’t wait for the second lifeboat and drowned in the ocean, her body lost forever. Hendrix pretended not to care and went through with our wedding as planned. For five years after our marriage, he trampled me into the dirt, blaming me for Yana's death. When I couldn't take it any longer and wanted a divorce, he decided to die with me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the yacht accident happened. This time, I’ve decided to give the chance to survive to the one he loves most.

Our eyes never lie, no matter how hard we try. “But you're my sister, Camila. You're my fucking sister and you and I know we shouldn't be doing this” He finally found his oral freedom, but I wasn't the one to be subdued, neither was I the one to give up easily, not when I have nursed the fetish fantasy of making out with my twin brother ever since I turned 18. We turned 18, and here I was, with him. After a year of being apart. Just before our 24th birthday, I had tried talking with a few friends of mine, Carolyn inclusive who had done nothing but to ignite more fire into the passion. “Girl, you need to take your chance! Take those chances baby girl. Your brother is hot! Very hot and you, only you alone can have him and you can do that all to yourself” Maybe she was right. Maybe she was wrong. I couldn't tell, all I knew was that I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.

Leo Parker, my fiance, shoved me out the door with his own hands. He used me as bait to buy time for himself and my best friend, Jessica Thorne, to escape. I'd never forget him shutting the door. I'd never forget his last words through the narrow crack. "Thank you for your sacrifice, Chloe." When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day before the zombie outbreak. Leo is gently urging me to hurry up and transfer 150 thousand dollars for the remodeling. It's the money we set aside for the home we plan to live in after we get married. In my past life, he set a trap and drained every cent of my savings. This time, I smile and agree. The only difference is that the 150 thousand dollars is going to build my doomsday bunker. And I'm also planning something special for them. After all, since I get a second chance at life, I should properly thank them for the "kindness" they showed me last time when they shoved me out to get torn apart by zombies.

My mother was dying. Her only wish before she passed was to see me married. For 27 days, I begged my girlfriend, Monica Teller, and she finally agreed to register for marriage with me on the 27th day. I waited at the courthouse until closing, but she never came. That same day, her childhood sweetheart, Gurney Barnes, posted their marriage certificate on social media. [Time sure flies. Three more days, and we'll have been married for a month.] It was then I finally realized that she had married her childhood sweetheart since the first day I started begging her. Not long after, an apology text from Monica buzzed on my phone. [I'm so sorry, Lincoln. Gurney's family was forcing him into marriage. I couldn't stand by and watch him get shackled to a stranger. Just give it three days. We'll file for divorce. Three days later, I'll marry you." Three days later, she showed up at the courthouse in a wedding gown, But the only thing waiting for her was my message. [Goodbye, Monica. May we never meet again.]

My fated mate, Riven, was the Alpha of a pathetic pack on the brink of collapse. For five years, I was his shadow, his strategist. I built his pack from nothing until the Alliance finally recognized us, and we were set to move to the fertile lands. Riven promised we'd have our mating ceremony once we settled in the new territory. But at the celebration feast, the night before the move, he threw me in a cell. He publicly announced that Jenna—the she-wolf carrying his pup—would be the pack's Luna. I couldn't believe it. I screamed at him, but he just sneered and pointed to a crystal pulsing with dark magic. "Jenna already has proof of your betrayal! Sleeping with Alphas for their support. You make me sick!" I begged him. But he just sliced my cheek with the silver-edged rejection letter, formally casting me aside. But he didn't know who I really was. I am the Alpha King's daughter. The strategies, the power, the alliances—they weren't his. They were mine. So I took it all back.

My parents separated last year. But we are very close to each other, my parents used to be best buddies before they got together. My mom's name is Rose Kings and my father's name is Gabriel Kings. My parents are very wealthy and my mom is the President and CEO of a 5-star Hotel and restaurant, my dad is the president and CEO of a hospital name Thomas clinic. Will he give up on chasing her or will he fall for his maid he knows nothing about.

Selena Patrick, due to her auspicious birth chart that is believed to bring good fortune to her husband, has caught the eye of the most prominent and influential family in J city. As she watches the man before her rise from his wheelchair, a sense of dizziness overcomes her... Wasn't he supposed to be so frail that he couldn't even lift a hand or shoulder a burden, with his days numbered? The man approaches her with an air of danger, "How about we have a child for fun?"

Patience, that's all we need, we needed time to get in there... Elijah was a wealthy man, who loved playing girls, but behind that attitude of his, was a fear in commitment because of his dark past. He was supposed to be a happy married guy but one month before his marriage his Fiancé, Stephanie disappeared without saying goodbye. He tried to find her but gave up after 2 years of hopeless searching. BUT one after five years, their paths crossed again. STEPHANIE has no idea that she would be working with her Ex-Fiancé, both of them were in great shock. Elijah couldn't believe it, but he thought that it was a chance for him to take an act of revenge. Stephanie never gave him the answers he was searching for years. Is there still a chance to bring back their broken past, or being together in one company will only hurt each other's hearts?

"You died four days ago. You were buried yesterday. That's fast healing, even for us," Clara explained. "Us?" Clara smiled. "You have risen from the dead and have healed all your wounds. You have no pulse. You do not breathe, and we've been giving you blood so that you can survive. And the last thing you can remember is a tingling in your neck before you died." She clasped her hands together. "I've read your personnel file, Shamira. I know you're not stupid, even if your former bosses thought you were. You can figure this --" "Vampire? You're kidding, right? You have to --" "Wanna go ahead and say 'But there's no such thing as vampires' so we can get that out of the way?" "There's no such thing as vampires!"