Duke University Libraries Novels & Stories

I'm Cassandra Rivera. I'm eighteen years old and in my first year at University, taking up Fine Arts. My life has been hell since I was young. My parents, sister, and brother treated me as their slave. They beat me if I did wrong. I started working for my family when I was six years old, and if I did wrong, my parents would scold and beat me. When I was younger, I wondered why my family treated me this way, but when I was ten years old, my mother got angry at me and she told me that I was an unwanted child. She wanted to abort me when I was still in her womb, but I kept holding on. They don't like me out of this world, and since then, I didn't see them as my family but as my employer like how they treated me as their maid. Luckily, there's a helper at home who cares for me, and I saw her as my second mother. She would tend my cuts and bruises every time my family beat me. Sometimes, my father punished her because of me. I love Mama Amara, because she's the only person who cares for me, and love me. When I enter the university, I meet this guy. His name is Jaxon Garcia. He's from a wealthy family. He's good to me, and when he told me his feelings, I quickly accepted it. We were happy for a few months, but I found out he only courted me because of a bet with my brother Kris. I was devastated, and for the first time, I wanted the comfort of my father. But my father did the worst. He used me as collateral for his debt to the wealthiest man in the country.

Edward Sterling is playing in his university's freshman basketball tournament when my parents banish me abroad. My biological sister and my fiancée are both on the sidelines, cheering for him. That spotlight should've been mine. The jersey he's wearing, with a star player's autograph on it, was supposed to be my 14th birthday gift. Edward and I have been rivals for most of our lives. It never matters whether I'm right or wrong—the moment he plays the victim, my parents rush to defend him and scold me without hesitation. But I am their biological son! It's not until I die alone and sick in a foreign country that I finally understand one thing. If I ever get a second chance, I'll never again fight Edward for love that was never mine to begin with.

Sunshine Miller is a drop-out university girl who wanted to become a businesswoman. She lost her dream due to an accident that left her with two younger siblings to support. She was born with a golden spoon, but was forced to leave her life of luxury. Played by the hurdles of fate, she decided to never give up. One tricky night, Kyle Zandrous’ mercilessly threatened her to pay her parents' debt or she would lose a brother. The only solution she could think of was to make him fall in love with her. However, Sunshine couldn't pass his standards. "I will never love a woman like you, so better give up. You may leave." Will Sunshine Miller succeed in making this man fall in love with her to pay less of her debt, or will she fall for his handsome look first before he could?

Airin, faced with an unexpected pregnancy from a brief en counter with a man named Zidan, navigates the challenges of single motherhood when Zidan disappears upon learnin g about the pregnancy. Determined, Airin decides to raise her child alone while co ntinuing her studies. Despite facing judgment and pressur e at her university for bringing the baby to classes, Fachri, a young lecturer, consistently supports her and even helps care for the baby during lectures. Over time, their bond deepens, and Airin sees Fachri as a w arm and caring figure. Likewise, Fachri admires Airin's intel ligence and independence. As Airin contemplates choosing Fachri as the father figure for her child, Zidan unexpectedly reappears in her life. No w, Airin faces the difficult decision of choosing between Fa chri, who has been a constant support, and Zidan, the biolo gical father of her child.

After being reborn, I decided to write my sister's name on the marriage application. This time, I would help Sebastian Holt achieve his wishes. In this lifetime, I took the lead—I let my sister wear the wedding dress first and put the engagement ring on her finger. I personally orchestrated every encounter between Sebastian and my sister. When he took her to the capital city, I headed to Southport University without a second thought. In my previous life, even when I was over 50 years old, he and our son still knelt before me, begging for a divorce. This time, I would fulfill his final romantic destiny with my sister. Living this second life, all I wanted was to spread my wings and soar high, free from love's entanglements.

When 19 year old Lola transfers to the elite Westbridge University, she expects academic rigor, late night cramming, and maybe a few college parties. What she doesn’t expect is to be sandwiched between two dangerously sexy roommates the brooding senior with a wicked tongue, and the golden boy football captain who’s got her name on his lips. What starts as innocent flirtation quickly spirals into stolen glances, dripping secrets, and wild nights no textbook could prepare her for. Between late night dares, forbidden threesomes, and feelings she swore she wouldn’t catch, Lola finds herself drowning in a world of lust, drama, and dangerously addictive passion. But secrets in Westbridge don’t stay secret forever. And when jealousy, obsession, and betrayal enter the chat, Lola must decide: is it just sex… or is it something more? In college, there are no rules. Just bodies. And consequences.

The book narrates the emotional entanglements between Judy, a graduate of a prestigious university, and Lewis, the president of Caler Corporation, as well as their interactions with other characters in their orbit. Judy finds herself unexpectedly involved with Lewis and, fearing retaliation, decides to leave. She encounters confusion while sorting out her resume, which results in a misunderstanding with a male colleague. Subsequently, she is transferred to the secretarial department and, despite her bewilderment and apprehensions, elects to seize the opportunity. Susan, who has been a good friend to Judy, embarks on a relationship with Lewis while impersonating Judy, but their romance is anything but smooth sailing. Complications arise when Susan's original boyfriend appears at the company, igniting a series of misunderstandings and disputes. Amidst these trying circumstances, the friendship between Susan and Judy is put to the test. Despite the tumult, they ultimately reinforce their bond, providing mutual support as they courageously face the multitude of challenges life throws their way.

BOOK ONE of COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with? *** BOOK TWO: The Rogues Who Went Rogue BOOK THREE: The Indomitable Huntress & the Hardened Duke

Talia grew up without trusting anyone but herself to live. With no father figure to look up to and a clinically depressed mother who keeps on betraying her, Talia crawls her way to the top of the social chain to survive. But upon one drunken night, she meets her terrible end. Just like that, Talia loses all she worked hard for, or so she thought. When she wakes up, she becomes a duke’s eldest daughter in a medieval era where alliances and conspiracies dictate a noble’s future and where love is a luxury that will lead anyone to ruin. No matter how twisted the world she is pushed into, Talia is determined to live long. She realizes that she is given a second chance to live – or not. Reality slaps her hard when she learns that she is now inside the body of a sixteen-year-old villain character of the Netflix series that she binge-watched, “Thorny Crown”! Talia, who is now the infamous Lady Victoria, entered a popular yet twisted Netflix series two years before the plot started. And in that plot, the character of Lady Victoria is meant to die like cannon fodder for the female lead! Talia refuses to die again. And this time, she is going to extend her helping hand to another side character, the second prince of the story, Prince Cory. She decides to be the queen and defy the plot called destiny with the king of her choosing. In an era of deceit and conspiracies, will she be able to keep her head as she walks the thorny path of a villain? With her head on the line, will she be able to control her blooming feelings for the pawn that she has chosen?

Their youth is like that of a normal person until when they realize their feelings towards each other go beyond that of just friends. Sharlene and Daniel are friends since childhood but Daniel suddenly leaves without telling anything. One day he comes all of a sudden but he finds out he is not the only one who affectionate her. His rival is a very strong willed person and wouldn't easily give up. Entering the university life all of them have many ups and downs, but they wont give up. Growing from childhood friends, enemies and strangers to lovers, each find their own love story to tell and a future to have. Showing the struggle of a student life carrying on both studies and love life and proving that true love actually exists and having the best youth life. But who will Sharlene end up with?? A great twist comes up here.