Eight Legged Freaks

“You will move to the Emerson’s family,” the judge announced, his voice echoing through the cold courtroom. His final words hung in the air, making me jump as he used his gavel to close my argument to move to yet another foster home. My name is Emily. For the past three years, I have been caught in a perpetual cycle of living in between foster homes, on the unforgiving streets The tragic loss of my parents when I was only fourteen left me with no choice but to rely on the mercy of the foster system. Unfortunately, my only living relative, deemed me too much of a burden due to my unpredictable moods. Consequently, I have been tossed from one foster family to another like a forgotten toy. With only four months left until my eighteenth birthday, I find myself being sent to live with the Emerson family. From what I've heard, they have two daughters and a son named Aiden, whose ego supposedly matches his oversized shoes. Aiden Emerson, a name that resonates throughout the Ford Anglia School. He holds the distinction of being the youngest student to become a billionaire at the tender age of twenty-four he had become the proud owner of eight thriving establishments. Will they be able to cope with me, considering my troubled past? Or will I end up running away again, seeking solace on the unforgiving streets where I learned to numb my pain with drugs and temporary escapes? Now, here I am, on my way to the Emerson family, my last stop before I turn eighteen and gain the freedom to decide my own fate. I can't help but wonder what lies ahead. Will my past mistakes and inner demons continue to haunt me, pushing me towards the edge of oblivion?

Whenever Rachel Cooper loses it, I know I'm about to get divorced again. I close my eyes. "We are divorcing for the ninth time." Marcus Miller massages his temples and says regretfully, "Vivian, Barry died all of a sudden, leaving his wife and her unborn baby behind. I can't ignore them. Relax. Once the baby's born, we'll remarry. We won't separate ever again!" I remain silent. I already heard this promise eight times before. Barry Miller's sudden death is the reason for Rachel's breakdown. It also caused Marcus and me to divorce for the first time. Back then, Rachel was already pregnant, prompting Marcus to divorce me. He will remarry me once he has comforted her. Over the past nine months, we have married and divorced eight times. Everyone mocks me by calling me the Eight-Ring Wonder. I also find it ridiculous. After I accept the divorce certificate, one of the court staff secretly asks me, "When are you getting married again?" I answer calmly, "There's no next time."

Stanley Edwards, people claimed he mirrored a Russian man and had the heart of steel. He was an executioner who mercilessly took the lives of twenty women over a period of eight years. He is released from prison, can he get a whole new life? After he meets the love of his life, how will he protect their love? Is he still the grim executioner?

Two decades ago, the domain of courts waged battle on various types of enraged witches. Both groups lost a number of comrades during the five-year battle, but neither was willing to kneel to their feet. Until a sorcerer from one of the courts arrived with something that would put a stop to the never-ending power struggle. A stone-based octagonal crystal. It happened quickly but painfully: a light flashed in front of them, eight rays from various stones merged into one, and the crystal detonated like a bomb before they could comprehend what was going on. Their vision was being sucked out of them by the intolerable brightness, and it wasn’t only their sight that was being sucked out of them… their souls and the magic. They felt normal… and weak… when the light faded and the battlefield became dark once more, with shining dusts visibly dancing in the air. The enchantment has vanished. Both parties were defeated. The magic never came back.

Ava thought she had the perfect life until she found out her boyfriend of eight years was seeing another woman. One drunken night of heartbreak turned into a dangerous game of power, desire, and revenge when she stumbled into the hands of a complete stranger. They say revenge is best served cold, but no one warned her it could burn this hot. Especially when it comes wrapped in a suit, and looking at her with eyes that promise both salvation and sin.

Being abandoned by his father for eight years, Arson became desperate when his mother fell seriously Ill and needed an urgent kidney transplant, his situation became more complicated as he loses his high paying job at the night club after offending a big shot. Unknowingly to him, he already caught the attention of Giovanni, a ruthless mafia Don, step by step, Giovanni guided him into coming into his turf, to him, he already set his eyes on a prey and it is only a matter of time to claim him. What happens when Arson, as stubborn as he is refuse to be a plaything to him? What would become of their relationship.

I've been married for eight years, but my husband won't let our daughter call him "Dad" because his childhood sweetheart's son struggles with severe depression. After he missed our daughter's parent-teacher meeting again because he was with Susan Lawson and her son, I decided to leave. I prepare the divorce papers and decide to leave with my daughter. I go to her school and find her homeroom teacher, Laura Anderson. "Ms. Anderson, I'd like to apply for a school transfer." She looks surprised. "Why the sudden decision to transfer?" I reply calmly, "Her dad has been working out of town, but he's finally settled down and wants us to move there." Laura sighs. "Well, that's not bad. I always thought you were a single mom." I smile. I'm not, for now. But I'll be one very soon.

After Cynthia Musich causes a surgical accident, my husband of eight years, Xavier Goodwin, forces me to take the fall for her. "Being suspended won't have any effect on you, but Cynthia's just starting out! Leaving a mark on her record this early in her career will ruin her!" The accident victim's family cause a scene and stab me thrice in my pregnant belly. I call Xavier and beg him to save me, but he says coldly, "Cynthia was stabbed, and her life is at stake, so can you please stop making trouble? Just come out on your own." Later, when my dead body is brought to his department, Xavier loses his mind.

For eight years in a marriage devoid of light, I had abortions five times. Every time, Sam would grip my hand when I woke up, his eyes red, and promise to find the best doctors to help me recover. After the third miscarriage, he finally hired a team of top-tier nutritionists, ensuring that every single meal was planned perfectly. He always comforted me, "Don't worry, Penny. We're still young, so we can have another baby!" When I found out I was pregnant again, snowflakes were dancing outside my window. I wrapped my fur coat tightly around my body and rushed to the company, only to hear Wren's furious voice outside the VIP suite, "Are you insane? Those five babies were your own flesh and blood!" Sam replied coldly, "Nicole needs specimen for her experiments. All I'm doing is providing her with the materials she needs." His words dug into my heart like icy spikes, and I could even hear my own bones cracking. "As for Penelope…" He chuckled. "Do you think that our marriage certificate is the real deal?" Snowflakes stung my face like needles, and I finally found out the truth about our marriage. From the very beginning, I was nothing more than a living test subject for the woman he truly loved. Sam was right. Those unborn children never even had legal identities, and were worth less than a piece of paper, just like my so-called marriage. Glass shattered from inside the room, and I could hear Wren cursing, but I turned and walked towards the elevator. Since Sam's priority was Nicole and nothing else, I was hell-bent on making him pay the price.

  "You are clearly a disgusting whore for having slept with your own uncle!" *** Akiko never wanted to cause trouble, especially with her cruel mother-in-law, who would easily scold and insult her, even for the smallest mistakes. But disaster struck, when Akiko was trying to calm down at her uncle's house. Somehow, Akiko ended up under the same blanket as Kenji, her father's younger brother. Akiko's uncle had been caring for her since she was eight years old, following the death of her parents. At that time, Akiko was eight, and Kenji was twenty. Kenji's marriage fell apart immediately, and Akiko's situation wasn't much better, as her mother-in-law would never forgive that act. Akiko was cast out without being able to explain everything to Yuto—her husband. With no other choice, Akiko returned to live with her uncle. But her life did not become easier after that. Akiko had to endure shame and disgrace, and also Kenji's increasingly strange behavior. He once gentle and caring uncle often became harsh. What secret is Kenji hiding that has caused him to change so drastically? Can Akiko repair her marriage? Or will she choose a forbidden path that she should not take?