Eighty Eight

On the night she thought her forever would begin, Evelyn dressed like a bride without a ring–hopeful, steady, certain that eight years of love would finally be sealed with a promise. Instead, she was handed a check. Eight years reduced to a transaction. Six abortions buried beneath a man who now claims he “deserves better.” And just when she thinks humiliation cannot go deeper, before she can even process the betrayal, he invites her to his wedding. In two days. Broken but not destroyed, Evelyn disappeared from the world quietly. But not to heal. To watch. To learn. To rebuild. Because the most dangerous thing Jason ever did was not just leaving her.. It was teaching her how disposable she was. Now, Evelyn is about to return the lesson. Not with tears. Not with pleas. But with a quiet, calculated revenge that will make a powerful man wish he had not let her go.

On the way to get our marriage certificate for the twentieth time, Rolf Trivett regretted it once again. In eight years, this was our twentieth attempt to get the certificate. But every time we reached City Hall, he would always say he needed time to care for his seriously ill childhood friend and couldn't promise to marry me. This time, I couldn't take it anymore and asked him, "If she’s never going to get better, does that mean you’ll never marry me? What am I to you?" Rolf immediately lost his temper and yelled at me, "I've already promised to take care of her for life. Can you stop being so selfish? "Besides, we've been together for eight years. What difference does it make if we don't get this certificate?"

On my mother’s seventieth birthday party, I ran around handling various matters, paying out of pocket and putting in all the work. I did not even have the time to sit down and drink a sip of water. When I finally found the time to surprise her, I prepared eighty-eight grams of gold jewelry as her gift. Just as I was about to give it to her, I heard her talking to the other relatives. “See that? My daughter is truly my sweetheart. She woke up so early this morning to bake me this cake. I wouldn’t trade this cake for gold.” Our relatives immediately began praising my younger sister, Jessie Radley, for being so devoted. Only a couple of them pushed back. “Why aren’t you praising your eldest daughter, Mary? I heard she handled the entire birthday party.” “Tch. She only knows how to muddle through things. None of it had been done to my liking. Jessie is the good one. She got up at seven in the morning just to bake me this cake.” I turned around and walked away from the doorway. Since she loved Jessie so much, she could pay for this birthday party, worth eighty thousand dollars.

When Matthew Sinclair accused me of selling company secrets, I expected my girlfriend to stand by me. Instead, Selena Oxford told me to apologize. To the man who framed me. That was the moment I understood that trust was not something you pleaded for. You either had it, or you did not. I resigned the same day, cut every tie, left a ring on the table that she would never wear, and walked out of her life without looking back. I believed we would never cross paths again. Eight years later, at a black-tie banquet, Selena spotted me across the crowd. I was dancing with another woman, moving through the room as if I belonged there. In front of everyone, now known as a corporate powerhouse, she met my gaze with red-rimmed eyes and asked, "Was it for her? Is that why you left me eight years ago?"

What do twelve years of captivity make of one? What lines behind the new Laurel Brown?Laurel Brown was only eight when she was snatched.Twelve years passed and the Browns had long moved on when Laurel Brown returns with the truth as well as secrets.

"You don't simply stop playing a game. Especially when it's mine; you either win. Or loose." Vasili had told her this eight years ago, and eight years later she'd said, "Wrong. Allow me to introduce you to the word 'draw'." *** Emily Moralez was certain the universe was determined to screw her over. She's been caught in a crossfire between two rivaling syndicates, her father's made arrangements for her to get married to a don twice her age--despite knowing she has a boyfriend. And said boyfriend cheated on her the day before their engagement. And it gets worse. Vasili Romanov. The name was feared, revered, respected: hated. Emily knew where she fell. In the percentage that hated him. Vasili Romanov was back for her family. Back to destroy it, her, and everything she held dear with a vengeance that burned as hot as the passion he ignited in her.

"Thirty million" I heard a male voice echo round the walls of the hall which silenced everyone. Who would bid that high just to buy me? "Thirty million dollars" the male voice spoke up once again, a young man striding confidently forward like he owned the very building with his bidding card raised up. He was eighty percent taller than everyone in attendance. I sucked in breath at his refined but cold appearance. His tuxedo hugged his body and showed of his impeccable muscles. His dark long hair was slick and let to fall, not a single strand out of place. He had the profile of a greek God but his features lacked warmth and empathy. His brown steel eyes burrowed into mine, a look of disgust on his face for me. "Sold!" the chairman hit the gavel on the table after a brief moment of silence since no one else was willing to bid higher. A wave of ovation took the hall, men chattering amongst themselves and whistling. "Get her ready and bring her to me" he pivoted and sharply ordered one of the armed bodyguards standing close to the podium. He owns me now. **** When a ruthless mafia lord bids for an innocent girl, can her innocense survive in the abyss of his darkness?

Lyra’s POV: “I don’t like her the way you think I do.” If you hear the love of your life tell this to another person, what will you do? Well, I left for eight years and returned with my fiancé. The last thing I would ever do is to sneak around with an Alpha who does not love me. Kade’s POV: “I don’t like her the way you think I do.” This was what I told her brother. I had to. I made a promise to stay away from his sister. My biggest mistake, because I would always choose Lyra over anybody. I won’t choose even myself over Lyra. I don’t know how to not love and want her. Eight years later and staying away still feels like driving a sword through my chest.

“They’re mine, aren’t they?” Valerian’s voice was a low, breathless murmur, each word heavy with a truth he’d been fighting to deny. “You’re the omega I was with that night eight years ago. Which means… there’s a strong possibility those twins are my children.” Billionaire Alpha, Valerian Rutherson rules his empire, but his fiery secretary, Luna Hart, rules him. He can't deny her loyalty, or the spark that ignites between them, even as she challenges his every move. But their simmering tension explodes when Valerian discovers Luna's secret: she's the woman he marked eight years ago, the mother of his twins. Now, he's determined to claim his family. But Luna is bound by a promise to Valerian's father, a vow that forbids her from ever becoming the Alpha's mate. Will Valerian break down the walls around Luna's heart and convince her to defy fate, or will their past and her promise keep them apart forever?

Nine students were invited to the mansion of the famous Artist Gregorio Santillan. But, the students were unaware of the danger that awaits them. What do Alyssa's dreams mean? Is that a warning or it just a dream? How Alyssa can save the eight students from the curse of every painting they sign if she is also a prisoner of the cursed painting?