Echoed Meaning

" "You will bear my child, whether you like it or not. And if you refuse, I will make sure you suffer in ways you can't even imagine." In a blink of an eye, he had his hand around my neck. "Your silly little words won't stop me from punishing you," he sneered. "In fact, you've just given me another idea on what to do to you." He released his hold on me, and I coughed loudly, gasping for breath. "You should have just killed me, you devil." I managed to say. "You've tested my patience enough!" Seth barked. "I won't be needing this whip anymore, I guess." He threw the whip away, and the sound of it hitting the ground echoed in the room. “I know I said I will give you time to think about my proposal, but I think it's high time we get you to carry my child,” he said, his voice cold and devoid of compassion. ******************* In a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction, Lotus is a human slave who has given up hope. Sold to the ruthless and feared vampire king, Seth, Lotus believes her fate is sealed. But when she discovers that Seth only wants one thing - a child - she realizes that her life might not be as hopeless as she thought. Forced to bear his offspring, Lotus finds herself torn between survival and rebellion. As their relationship grows and passion ignites between them, they must navigate the treacherous waters of a world where danger lurks around every corner. With challenges and threats at every turn, Lotus and Seth must fight for their love and their future, against all odds. This is a story of forbidden love, resilience, and the unbreakable human spirit in a world on the brink of destruction.

ADRIAN'S POV My head was pounding, a dull throb that echoed the frantic beat of my heart. I was hot, too hot, my skin slick with an unfamiliar sweat. I knew it instantly: drugged. One moment I was escorting Aria, basking in the glittering lights and dancing with her in the ballroom at her birthday party. Next, a wine from a waiter, a trip to the bathroom, and then… darkness. I blinked, trying to focus on the blur above me. Damien. My stalker. The man who’d been haunting the edges of my life for weeks, whispering cryptic claims of a shared past I couldn’t recall. He was on top of me, pinning me to the plush velvet of some unfamiliar bed. His eyes, usually so intense and unsettling, were filled with a disturbing mix of guilt and desperation. "I’m sorry, Adrian, I'm so sorry I had to do this, but I can't stand seeing you with her. Watching you rewrite our history... please, remember me. Remember us." He leaned down, his breath hot against my ear. "I promise, I'll cherish you this time." Then, his lips crashed onto mine, a fierce, possessive kiss that stole my breath away. His hands moved over me, desperate and knowing, igniting a fire that both terrified and strangely thrilled me. Maybe it was the drug blurring the lines of reason. Or maybe… just maybe, deep down, my body recognized something my mind couldn’t. It responded to his touch with a shameful eagerness, a desperate need that mirrored his own. All I could do was surrender to the moment, to the heat, to the undeniable connection I felt with this man, Damien, as I returned his kiss with a fervor that shocked us both.

Ava “Run, Ava! Run and never come back.” It was only in that moment when I looked into Harper’s eyes that I could see the hatred she felt for me for the first time. Her canines were protruding and her long claws were shining in the moonlight. It was in that moment that I realized Harper loved Daniel just as much as I did. I wasted no time and turned around and ran. I knew if she wanted to kill me she could. I thought about Daniel and how much I loved him, then the memories of the past couple of months flooded my mind. The man I loved became cruel. He treated me as if I was just there to produce an heir. As though he would kill me rather than love me. I wouldn’t be able to return to ice-skating. I would never become the world champion. With all my dreams shattered, I stepped onto my grandmother’s porch hours after escaping in the hopes that she would take me back. Daniel “Where the hell is she, Harper?” I gripped her throat so tightly that she couldn’t breathe never mind speak. Harper had set Ava free. There was a very real possibility that I would never be able to find Ava which meant I would never be able to see my son. Harper had done that. All because she wanted the power and prestige that came with being my mate. “Let her go, Daniel!” My father’s voice echoed past me and I whipped around to glare at him. I could see it in his eyes. He was the one who put Harper up to this. I needed to find Ava. I needed to bring her and my son home.

When a young girl named **Emilia** moves to an isolated, fog-drenched city in search of a fresh start, she quickly discovers that something is terribly wrong. The streets echo with silence, residents vanish without a trace, and time itself begins to twist and collapse. As doors appear in places they shouldn’t, and her own reflection begins acting on its own, Emilia realizes she’s trapped in a place that is not just haunted — it’s alive. Each chapter peels back a new layer of horror: shadowy watchers, eerie apparitions, underground tunnels, and ghostly echoes of past inhabitants. But the real terror lies within — the city seems to feed on fear, loneliness, and the feeling of failure. It reflects Emilia’s own anxieties back at her, warping her reality into a trial of the soul. As she searches for meaning, and later for escape, Emilia uncovers the city’s sinister purpose: it traps those most vulnerable and forces them to confront their darkest selves. With the help of other survivors — some real, some echoes — she must navigate psychological mazes and make impossible choices to survive. But survival isn't enough. Emilia must transform — not by escaping her fear, but by embracing it. In doing so, she becomes something more than a victim of the city. She becomes a guide, a witness, and eventually, a keeper of the door. *Trapped in the Hollow City* is a suspenseful, haunting exploration of inner demons, resilience, and the eerie beauty of choosing to become — even when the world seems built to break you.

Twenty-year-old Francheska Dela Cruz, an aspiring writer was hired in one of the biggest publishing companies in Metro Manila and her first assignment was to interview a philanderer who had a scandalous reputation in his time. Driven by the determination to keep her job and to be noticed by her boss, Dale Trinidad made her decide to push through with the assignment. She found herself in the old capital city of Pasig City, near the Municipal Hall at the heart of Sandoval Avenue in Acacia Alley. A crowded and ragged place with people from all walks of life, Conversations with Micheal Benedicto brought her to the world of passion and lust. His overwhelming vast adventure with all kinds of love and each of his women portrayed a big role in his life. From his first encounter of a carnal affair with his supervisor in his first job to numerous women that came his way. His insatiable desire towards lonely single mothers and older women tainted his reputation and the radical conclusion of his story. All thirty-six women portrayed a big role in his life and shaped him for who he is. Francheska was not just an attendee to Michael's story. She was also about to find out her true identity and the confrontation of reality. It spanned two generations separated by fate, each had its struggle, its pain, lies, betrayal, and joy. Through this encounter, they will finally realize their connection and the real meaning of love, self-sacrifice, acceptance, and forgiveness. That in the end, love is all that matters.

My whole body began to quiver as I looked up at Ryan who wore a smug or was it? I couldn't tell as my vision was blurred with tears. "What is the meaning of this?" I questioned still in disbelief. Where had it all gone wrong??!. "It's exactly what it says in the paper, Ciara" "And what is that?" I stubbornly inquired. It was as if I didn't want to believe what the paper read until Ryan says it. A part of me still wanted to fight for whatever we still had left. But then he'd said it. Ryan had uttered those words I so desperately dreaded," I want a divorce, Ciara" *** Ciara is the heiress to her father's company but she left all of that to be in a contract marriage with Ryan. It was supposed to be a 'no-strings-attached' kind of feeling but, she couldn't help but fall in love with him. Just when she wanted to start a clean slate on their first anniversary, she was handed a divorce paper. Ryan is a billionaire and a man with a hardened heart. He never saw Ciara as something more than just a 'fake wife' who was willing to help him out with a case. Deciding that he had had enough, Ryan hands Ciara a divorce paper setting himself free from her. But on his way to the office of the new investor of his company one day, he is overcomed by a welling shock that the name of his new investor was Ciara. The same Ciara he'd once known. What happens when this two duo meets for the first time since their rough divorce? Find out!

“If I say that I am not okay. Would you help me?” Ivan's peering gaze bored deep into Skylar's eyes, as his strong arms suddenly grabbed her tiny waist and pulled her close, causing her heart to skip and her eyes to widen in alarm. His deep mellifluous voice resonated in her ears, echoed in her mind, and sent tremor signals down her legs. Maybe it was the shots of champagne she had taken, or the secret desire for him that had never fed too much in her mind that took over at that moment, Skylar had no idea. However, staring at his gorgeous face which was extremely close to hers, gleaming and staring at her with intense hunger, she knew she was fucked. ‘This man was a walking temptation!’ ************ Just with one night of passion and pleasure with her boss, Skylar found herself torn between her professionalism and the dire need to act cool and pretend like nothing happened, all while being the best employee, to her cold, arrogant boss, Ivan Hamilton. She knew it was just any ordinary night, so obsessing over details could complicate things. However, things started to entangle more than she bargained for, when Ivan kept giving her reasons to confuse and question his actions. Just how would she keep the feelings she was beginning to harbor to herself, when the relationship between them had never exceeded the employer-employee contract? How would she deal with the truth that she was no longer immune to his endless charms which got her the job in the first place. And suddenly, Skylar was dropped from her pedestal of assumptions and fantasies, when reality dawned on her. Ivan Hamilton could never be the one for her. He was way out of her league. It was time to leave now.

BLURB: I am Melissa Copper, chosen by the moon goddess as the fated mate of the Alpha triplets. I have always dreamt of being their mate but they cruelly discarded me, choosing my Twin sister Amelia over me at the Alphas coronation ceremony. They have always belonged to her. They despised me, that I know, I have always seen it in their eyes but the mate bond keeps drawing me closer to them. Now, I have decided to leave, to end the whole circus. I begged them to reject me, but they wouldn't do it. They wouldn't let me go… **** “Melissa, Please come back to us!" They all echoed in unison. “We want you…we have always wanted you!” Caleb said softly, his voice trailing off his breath, as he pinned me to the wall. I kept staring at his enticing lips, but I shook my head to get rid of the desires burning within me. “We promise to treat you right!” Cypril said, his breath warm and ticklish against my fingers that he brought up to his lips, as his other hand found its way to the warm spot between my thighs. I clenched my legs together, trying to force out his hands from my thighs but he didn't budge. “You will always be ours. Just come back already!" Cain pleading eyes met mine, as he leaned in pressing a kiss on my lips, his hands tracing the corner of my ear. “No." I said, my voice louder than I had expected it to be, especially with their bodies pressed against mine and their lips creating sparks across my body. “I am not coming back…go back to Amelia.”

“You mean nothing to me,” Andrew declared, his voice icy and final. My heart shattered with every word he uttered. My vision blurred with tears as our beautiful memories flooded my mind. We were in love, we were inseparable. So how did I become nothing to my husband? “Why…why would you say that?” I whispered, my lips trembling from the weight of disbelief. “You shameless cheat! I was bedridden, and you seized the chance to be with another man!” He snapped, his hand tightening around Anna's waist. My eyes darted to Anna, my best friend, “What did you tell him?” I asked, hoping this was all some misunderstanding. She smirked, “The truth.” “You were supposed to help me take care of him. I was going to tell him how I got the money for his treatment. Why would you lie?” I questioned as the feeling of betrayal stung. “Oh please,” she scoffed. “You expect him to believe someone paid you three hundred thousand dollars just to pretend to be their wife? You slept with him, Georgia. That’s cheating.” I staggered back, clutching my head as her words echoed through my mind like chaotic music on repeat. My mouth opened but no words came out. How do you explain a contract marriage to save your dying husband? I sobbed softly as the feeling of betrayal burned the shattered pieces of my heart. It stung deeper than I imagined possible. This wasn't from a stranger. It was from the two people I loved the most. Now, I've got nothing left to lose. And I'll make sure I get revenge for this. No one will be spared!

Catherine Montanari is the brilliant heiress to Montanari, a powerful company owned by her grandfather. With stunning beauty, sharp intelligence, and exceptional business skills, Catherine is determined to become the best manager possible. However, her life is turned upside down when she is forced to marry a complete stranger, unleashing a burning rage in her heart. Determined to prove her true worth to everyone, Catherine plunges headlong into a battle of obstinacy and determination. Thomas Conner, heir to a large company, also faces the pressure to marry in order to continue as CEO. At first he is firmly opposed to the idea, but everything changes when he crosses Catherine's path and is captivated by her strong and passionate personality. With each encounter, Catherine enchants him with her bright personality and stunning beauty, leading Thomas to become a possessive and protective fiancé. Driven by a burning desire, he will do anything to ensure that the wedding will take place and that Catherine will become his wife. Amidst a whirlwind of emotions, secrets, and ambitions, Catherine and Thomas embark on a tumultuous journey toward marriage. As they struggle against the expectations placed upon them and the challenges that life throws their way, the couple finds themselves involved in a dangerous game of passion and power. Will they be able to overcome their own fears and insecurities and discover the true meaning of love and trust? "Ties of Fire" is an irresistible story of two passionate souls who defy fate and fight for true love. Amidst a ruthless corporate world, hidden secrets, and an overwhelming attraction, Catherine and Thomas will discover that love may be the most powerful force capable of transforming their lives forever. Prepare to be immersed in an electrifying romance filled with intrigue, sensuality, and surprising twists and turns.