Dancing With The Shadows

Velia Angelica Howell experienced a 180-degree life change in just one short night after the engagement party. A tragic accident turned laughter into tears. Losing her parents, there was no happiness left. She remained alone, struggling for the sake of her fiancé who fell into a coma. Misfortunes did not stop. Termination, eviction, and the terror of loan sharks made life even more difficult. Velia became desperate until one offer came. Not only could she return to work, but she would also gain something more. However, in exchange, she had to surrender herself into the grip of that man. Lucas Hernandez. * 1st book of seri 'The CEO'

"Don't bother running. You were under my possession the moment you decided to strike my face. How very bold of you, dear." Giselle brought it upon herself when she dared lay a hand on a prominent, adored, but also feared man. She couldn't help it, since that jerk caused her to lose her takeouts. He refused to apologize; he deserved her impactful hand. But little did she know that one distressing incident would open a different path. It's a path that is dark and thorny, leading her away from her peaceful life. She would soon face a challenge she least expected. "I've been spending my nights with a-"

The death of her sister shocked Belle but that didn’t stop her to step into the mystery of her sister’s murder. But what if those murderers aren’t done by a supernatural being? Belle’s sister died the day before her marriage. People claimed she had killed herself but Belle didn’t believe the investigation and decided to take it by herself. Everything comes down when she had no rules, and the only way for her to find the bottom of the mystery was to call up a demon. Except, this demon is a willful, selfish, and as handsome as devilish he was. Extract: In fear, Belle tried to dash but a hand had sneaked out from the black fog, holding tightly to her elbow. What followed the tight grip on her arm was a voice that sounded deep— deep enough to sound as though he hell was shallower compared to him. "Now, now, where are you running, little prey?" Belle didn't know what she had done. She didn't know what force had caused her to activate what she did. She didn't know what had happened either as her mind was slow to grasp her surrounding. But there was one thing she knew after staring back at the bright red eyes across her. She was looking at a demon. She had called a demon.

"I never plan of having children, let alone a pathetic mother of my child!" *** Gagawin ni Magenta ang lahat para sa inang may sakit, kahit pa ibenta maging ang kanyang kaluluwa sa demonyo. *** Because of her sick mother, Magenta has no other choice but to accept the job that she never heard of before and is offered to her. She has to work with a business magnate known in the business world as the king of investments as he owned the largest holding company in the country. A billionaire who prefers paying a woman to fill his bed in a one-month contract. And later, she had to pretend as his wife. Magenta didn't know him until she accepted the job of being his woman for a month. When she met him in person, all of a sudden, she felt reluctant to sign their contract. Brooding and mysterious, he's every inch of a dangerous man. But the thought of her mother gives her the strength to sign the contract with the devil. He is the first man she gives her innocence to. But she did not just give up her pride and dignity. She surrenders her heart, but it seems like he has no intention of taking it.

She opened the door, and when she stepped inside, someone else closed it behind her. She jolted. Her head spun in shock to see him standing there. Her nerves felt jittery. He couldn’t possibly kill her now, could he? “W-what do you want?” Anna stuttered. The usual smirk wasn’t on his lips as he glared at her. “One thing I hate is when things don’t go as I planned. Silly little loopholes,” he said, pushing away from the doorframe. Her heart rippled when he took a step toward her. He was tall and large—she felt like a little girl compared to him. “I will scream,” Anna breathed, cold sweat rolling down her back. He held her chin. His hold was gentle as he caressed her jawline. Anna shivered. Then his lips tilted into a smirk—not enigmatic like the ones she had usually seen. This one was… sinister. One that told her he didn’t have good plans for her. “Careful there. We wouldn’t want you ending up with a broken spinal cord now, do we?” His large palm flew to her throat, his thumb gently caressing it. Tears brimmed in her eyes. “What do you want?” Her voice came out as a low whisper. “Your body,” he deadpanned. “As manure for my apple tree.” After being thrown to the wolves by her own father, Annalisa must make the ultimate choice—follow her heart or destroy the man she’s come to love.

Roxanne seems to have the perfect life. Fairytale romance, doting family, a passion for the violin. The only imperfect areas of her life, like her elder brother's best friend, Florian, with whom she had shared her first kiss years ago, is carefully tucked away and paid no attention. That is until after she receives a call from an unknown number the night before her wedding. Damien, her fiance was supposedly taking some time with his friends at a country house, but after the caller prompted her to check the exclusive strip club in downtown California, Roxanne's blood runs cold. She drives all the way there, and to her greatest disappointment and heartbreak, her fears are confirmed, as the first sight to greet was her fiance and three other women all bent over. The sight is nauseating, and she could barely make her way out of the club when suddenly, Billionaire heir and her brother's best friend, Florian, appears out of nowhere. He offers to take her home, but during the drive, Roxanne changes her mind. The last thing she wants is to go home right now. The first thing on her mind was revenge, and she had the perfect person driving her. She would allow herself to use him for that one night, but was she really using him?

When Lana signs a marriage contract with the enigmatic Dax Salvatore, she believes she’s securing not just a lifeline but a chance at a new future. Her dreams of life-saving heart surgery come with a staggering price—a commitment to Dax for one year, with a payout of ten million dollars hanging in the balance. It seems like a fair trade until it becomes a tantalizing gamble that intertwines her fate with not just Dax but his fierce and unpredictable brother, Xavier. As the days turn into a whirlwind of shared secrets and unexpected emotions, Lana finds herself caught in a mesmerizing tug-of-war between the brothers—each pulling her further into a world of desire, connection, and conflict. Dax, with his protective charm, promises safety, while Xavier brings a thrill that leaves her questioning everything. Amidst the chaos of their intertwined lives, Lana grapples with what truly matters—her heart’s health or the unexpected love blossoming around her. With stakes mounting and the year counting down, can Lana navigate the complexities of attraction, loyalty, and her own ambitions? Will she emerge with the ten million dollars and the chance for a new life, or will she risk it all for the chance at a love that transforms her in ways she never anticipated? *** "You can't escape us, Lana, we own you," Dax sniffed my neck. But I could not move, Xavier's arms were around me, keeping me in place. "Please, I will pay back every cent that you paid me for the contract," I begged. "No, Lana, we both want to share you. Your contract will be mended," Xavier replied as he breathed on my neck, causing the hair on it to stand up.

Si Sofia Ramos lumaki sa isang orphanage. Musmos pa lamang, naintindihan niya na kung gaano kaimportante ang pera sa mundo. Kaya naman, nang makalabas na sa kinalakihang orphanage, napagpasyahan niyang makipagsapalaran sa syudad kahit ano pang trabaho ang pasukin niya. Pero isang lalaki lang pala ang mag-iiba at magaangat sa kaniya sa buhay. Sino nga ba ang lalaking ito na nagbigay ng kulay sa kaniyang walang kulay na buhay?

Jeff Pritchet isn’t much different from other teenage boys, with one exception. His monstrous, spider-like appearance and loner persona make him a target for bullying, when all he wants is a friend who sees beyond the surface.The unconventional pair find themselves marked for hatred, and when his bond to Aarav is threatened, Jeff discovers a sinister side he never knew he had, proving that, when pushed too far, emotions can be deadlier than venom.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing