Chapter Nine

He is supposed to be my best friend—at least I have been seeing him as one—doing a lot of things with him together. We go to school together, share the same hobbies, and love the same sports. He is my day one, my buddy. Up until after the summer vacation when we started a new life in the same college as freshmen. That is when I discover that I have developed a soft spot for him, which accounts for the way I missed him during the summer vacation. I have never missed Liam like that. I mean, I do miss him but not compared to last summer. I wanted him around me and his image occupied my mind's eye. Starting college with a crush on my best friend is not an ideal way to begin the academic year. No matter how I try to suppress it by going on dates and accepting relationship proposals from guys, instead of it going away, it doubles. Worse still, he sees me as his buddy. He has never looked at me the way he looks at other girls. I know I am a bit of a tomboy. My other friends tell me that my dress sense is a bit masculine. I try changing my fashion sense but to no avail. Sadly, all I am to Liam is his day one bestie and buddy. I do not want to tell him about the feelings I have because I do not want to put our friendship in jeopardy. I had already given up hope Until the dare at one of my other friend's parties _ Evie. The dare for Liam to kiss me. The kiss opens another chapter; I would never have believed in my entire life to be possible—Liam actually likes me!

Nicole is a sweet girl that is currently in a relationship with Louie. Louie is her best friend in high school and boyfriend during her first year in college but they broke up. After several years of separation Nicole is now working in an office in New York. She did reconciled with Louie. Along with their 2nd chance, Nicole is puzzled of the behavior of Louie as he's been secretive from her. Until one day as she joins her colleagues' night out, and met Marco. Marco is interested to her immediately that he keeps on pursuing her even he knows that Nicole is currently in a relationship. He is so persistence in winning the heart of Nicole. He asked help through her friend Terrence. Marco is courageous and patient person. He waits for the perfect timing to pursue Nicole. Until one day, all truth about Louie come out, Nicole is broken knowing the truth that Louie did cheat on her. She avoids Louie and Marco in the same time as she wanted to be sure about her feelings. Until she choose to close the chapter of her relationship with Louie. Marco never stops to pursue her until he asked her to marry him. They got married and after several months of marriage, Nicole gets diagnosed of ectopic pregnancy. After that she has multiple complications from the surgery, that her doctor was forced to look thoroughly and found out that the cause of all complication is she is already dying with AIDS. As advised by her doctor Marco should also undergo HIV testing. Right after they found out that he has also HIV positive. Nicole is depressed, questioned where they got the illness. She even doubted Marco. Marco never gets tired of understanding her and hope that everything gets better.

“Let me help you" I pleaded, my hands gripping her tightly. "Fine. If you're so bent on solving my problems, you can marry me then" the lady snapped in frustration, forcing the engagement ring on my fingers. "Let's go get our marriage certificate then" I urged with a knowing smile. ....... Behind the spotlight, Luisa's life is a complexity of lies and scandals. Haunted by the tragic drowning of her sister, which she blames herself for, she built walls around her heart. Her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble when a compromising video threatening to expose the death of her sister surfaces. As the past and present collide, Luisa has to confront her demons and face the lies that she's told. But there lies another secret Luisa has kept hidden - her marriage to a wealthy CEO, which she forced into a union, which was an attempt to escape the shame of being jilted by her cheating fiancee. Their marriage opens a new chapter where lies, deceit, betrayal, and love entwine. As she navigates the complexity of her flash marriage, will she be able to overcome the hurdles that come her way or will she succumb to the nightmares hunting her?

Mia Rodgers was a pampered young girl who had a seemingly perfect life, but when tragedy strikes and her parents are brutally murdered. Mia's world crumbles around her. The pack, quick to point fingers, frames her for the crime and she finds herself at the mercy of her own people. Abandoned by her friends and rejected by her mate, Luke, Mia is forced into servitude. But when she escapes and crosses paths with a charismatic vampire and a fierce werewolf, a new chapter in her life begins. Together, they form an unlikely alliance and set out to uncover the truth behind her parents' deaths. As Mia delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal that stretches far beyond her pack. With vengeance in her heart and the weight of the world on her shoulders, Mia must fight tooth and nail to bring justice to those who wronged her family. But will her thirst for revenge consume her, or will she emerge victorious and reclaim her rightful place in the pack?

Aria's world crumbles when she discovers her boyfriend Norman's betrayal. Heartbroken and shattered, she never expected that this painful chapter would lead her straight into the arms of James—gorgeous, wealthy, and a notorious womanizer. James is the kind of danger Aria knows she should avoid at all costs. Or is it that deep down, she simply doesn't want to? He only needs one thing from her—a child. But along with that comes something Aria secretly craves as well, something she knows she’ll want again and again. But what about her heart? How can she resist falling for James when everything she’s ever desired in a man, she finds in him?

When her mother remarries, Elena is ready to embrace a new chapter of life—until she meets her new stepbrother, Elliot. The shock is immediate and painful: Elliot is no stranger. He’s the boy who tormented her relentlessly in high school, the source of her most haunting memories. Just as Elena steels herself for more heartache, she discovers an even bigger twist of fate—she’s been assigned as his secretary in her new job. Bracing for the worst, Elena is stunned by the man she now faces. Gone is the cruel bully who once made her life a nightmare. In his place is someone kind, protective, and determined to make amends. But forgiveness doesn’t come easily. Memories of the past clash with the undeniable chemistry sparking between them, and Elena struggles to reconcile her lingering pain with the man who now treats her like a treasure. Can people truly change? Or is Elliot simply playing another game?

"I, Sebastian Knight, reject you, Rose Pecklewood as my mate..." Rose waited to hear these words tumble off his lips. Just a moment ago, they had found each other as mates and his burning gaze told her she was far from being accepted by him. She immediately shook her head no, "I don't want you to reject me. I'm in love with you, Seb." He smirked, the coldness in his eyes stretching. "Deal, but I will make you wish I did," he grabbed her by the neck, yanking her to him until their bodies merged. "You just dug your own grave, sweetheart, but there is no turning back for you now." She held her breath, fighting the urge to break as he continued brutally; "This, every fuckin part of you belongs to me now and I will make sure to ruin them one by one until there is nothing left, until you disappear like Leah. All of you." A tear strolled down her cheek but she quickly wiped it. He hates her but she couldn't bring herself to reciprocate the feeling. She had loved him for nine years, it grew into a habit. He was having fun, she could see the glint in his eyes and she knew it was only the beginning of her misery, but her stupid self was excited that a powerful wolf like Sebastian Knight accepted her as his mate. It was all she ever dreamed of, even though they were the only ones who knew about it.

“When you’re done shedding your tears, don’t forget to close the door behind you.” Those cold disdainful words shattered Starr’s world. Fleeing the scene of her lover’s betrayal, she is left ruined and wrecked by the man she once trusted, who now lies in bed with another woman, indifferent to the pain he has caused. Starr had poured her heart and all into building a life with Charles, only to discover that her love and sacrifices were used to build a life that she was never included in. Betrayed and broken, she learns that Charles only saw her as a way out of poverty and a means to support his true love and their unborn child. Determined to reclaim her life and shut out the pain, Starr seizes an opportunity to start over in France, taking a job offer from her boss that promises a fresh beginning. But as she navigates this new chapter, the wounds of her past linger. Can Starr truly move on and find the love she deserves, or will the scars of betrayal keep her heart closed forever?

I've raised my son, Caleb Bennett, for nine years, but today I found out he was never mine. Claire Bennett, my wife, shamelessly tells me to leave with nothing. She says Caleb's real father is Lincoln Lancaster, heir to the most powerful family in Berglaton. The Lancaster family has few direct heirs left, so if Lincoln acknowledges Caleb as his son, Lincoln can easily surpass his frail uncle and become the rightful successor. Caleb says, "You think you deserve to be my dad? My real father could crush your whole family with a snap of his fingers!" Margaret Quigley, Claire's mother, adds, "If Claire hadn't gotten pregnant with Lincoln's child back then, do you really think we'd have let someone like you marry into our family?" I don't fight back. I just sign the divorce papers in silence. After that, I take out my phone and call my father, James Lancaster, who has been waiting for me in Berglaton all these years. "Come pick me up on Christmas Eve," I say. "I'm ready to go home and take over the family."

It's been two years since Richie and Rachel went their separate ways. Despite the passage of time, Richie still yearns for her deeply, feeling a profound sense of heartbreak and a loss of purpose without her by his side. However, fate has taken an unexpected turn as Rachel is now a changed person and has embraced her true identity as Delilah, the daughter of a powerful Mafia King. She embraces her new chapter of life driven by an unwavering desire to seek her revenge and make Richie Maranzano pay for his actions.