Evolution Begins With A Big Tree Chapter 17

I decided to die on my 28th birthday. It was not suicide but homicide... by my dear sister, Susan Bruno. I had always known that she would kill me. I told my older brother, Barry Bruno, and he said, "Charlotte, don't always think so badly of Susan." I told my fiancé, Calvin Simmon, and he said, "You're making up a story to draw attention again." Hence, I decided to give them the evidence they wanted most—a corpse. I installed seven cameras, set up an automatic sending program, and wrote a farewell letter. I left clues for the killer, bait for Susan, and a time bomb for my family. Today, Susan texted: [Charlotte, Dad has something for you at the safe house.] I replied: [Coming.] Before leaving, I checked my to-do list one last time. Everything was checked off, except for one thing: death. I would die. They would never know that the moment my heart stopped beating... the countdown to revenge had only just begun.

Kehna had lost her mother when she was young she was only left with her dad who after awhile married her Stepmom. After her mother's death she still hadn't recovered yet, she wasn't doing so well in school anymore but when her dad got married nothing became better it all just became worse.

My sister, Fiona Miller, has recently opened a luxury spa for business. As such, I bring Dad along to check it out. Of course, we pick the most expensive treatment package available. But barely a few presses from the male therapist, and Dad feels a sharp pain in his chest and can't seem to breathe properly. All the color drains from his face, and cold sweat starts beading on his forehead. I call the manager over, but he seems annoyed. "Oh, he just has poor blood circulation. He'll be fine after the massage. That's just a normal reaction." I can't believe what I'm hearing. "My father has a heart condition. What are you lot even doing to him?" The manager, Seth Zeller, explodes as if I've insulted him and raises his voice. "That's his own pre-existing condition. How is that our problem? We run a legitimate business here. No refunds once treatment begins. Got it?" I gesture at the credentials displayed on the wall. "I don't see your name anywhere up there. You're not even certified. Is this the kind of operation Fiona's running?" Seth folds his arms across his chest, looking down his nose at us. "I'm the boss here. You and your dad look broke as hell. I can tell you're just trying to get a free massage and walk out without paying." "Let me spell it out for you. This package is 38,000 dollars. Adding in the cost of my emotional distress and lost time, the total is 100,000 dollars. Pay up now, or I'm having you both arrested." A massage that almost kills Dad costs 100,000 dollars? So that's why Fiona was suddenly so eager to open this spa. As it turns out, she and her boyfriend are running a fraud scheme. I reach for my phone to call her, but Seth is already making a video call. "Babe, you need to get here right now. A couple of deadbeats are trying to get a free massage and walk away without paying."

Malam sebelum pernikahan yang ke-17, suamiku, yang seorang mafia, berjanji kali ini pernikahan kami akan tenang tanpa gangguan. "Merry, kali ini aku janji," katanya dengan sungguh-sungguh. "Aku sudah bilang pada Agnes, besok, sekali pun langit runtuh, dia harus menanggungnya sendiri." Kandunganku sudah memasuki bulan kelima. Aku dan Lewis sudah bersama selama tiga tahun. Kini, aku hamil lima bulan, tetapi belum pernah sekali pun kami berhasil menggelar pernikahan. Sebab sebelumnya, dia sudah membatalkan pernikahan kami sebanyak enam belas kali. Setiap kali itu terjadi, alasannya selalu sama, yaitu karena adik angkatnya, Agnes. Pertama, katanya demam. Aku menemaninya semalaman di rumah sakit tanpa sempat ganti gaun pengantin, yang ternyata Agnes hanya flu ringan. Kedua, katanya sakit jantung. Lewis langsung pergi meninggalkanku, padahal sebenarnya dia sedang asyik mengobrol bersama teman-temannya sambil minum teh. Ketiga, katanya takut petir. Lewis meninggalkanku di tengah sumpah pernikahan, membiarkanku berdiri sendirian di depan para tamu. Namun, kali ini berbeda. Tiga hari lalu, aku menerima sepucuk surat dari Vireka Utara. Ayahku, kepala Keluarga Damian, secara pribadi mengirim undangan agar aku pulang. Jika kali ini Lewis masih memilih pergi demi Agnes, maka aku akan menghilang untuk selamanya.

20 years after the death of her father, Zeiah has grown up without knowing the true identity of her mother. She was raised by her mother Althea like an ordinary girl. Until one night when they were attacked by a gigantic monster that she had never seen in her entire life. Someone discovered their existence and her mother did her best to protect her. Clueless about the events unfolding in front of her Zeiah managed to escape without her mom but before that, she was instructed to go into the kingdom of Zeurion and head directly into the Rayon castle to find the person that could help her. She thought bringing herself in the City of Zeurion and finding her mom's true identity would be the last thing she would do to fulfill every question that keeps on crashing into her mind but unfortunately, she was wrong because stepping inside of Zeurion's City will be a matter of choice between her fate and love. What would she do? Zeiah has a choice but whatever it is, would it bring a great change into her life especially when the battle begins?

Four years after marrying Wesley Coleman, Emma Payne is expecting a baby. She shows up at the hospital with her forms to get registered, but when the nurse runs her info, she tells her that the marriage certificate isn't valid. Emma simply can't believe it. "No way. That can't be right." The nurse taps on the stamp. "Look at that. The seal is all crooked, and the code doesn't check out." Emma isn't convinced yet. She rushes to the courthouse, but they tell her the same thing. "Mr. Coleman is married, and his spouse's name is Sandra Payne." The news hits her like a ton of bricks. Her mind just goes blank. Sandra Payne is Emma's half-sister. Worst of all, she is also Wesley's first love. Years ago, she went abroad to chase her dreams. She never showed up to her own wedding and left Wesley heartbroken. And now, she is actually his legal wife.

Alpha Derek is wild, strong and… horny. After the death of his wife 3 years ago, Derek Compton has not found any woman within and outside his pack attractive and worthy of his attention until he finds a woman from an inferior and enemy pack in the woods. He could kill her to send a message to members of her pack who may think of wondering into enemy territory or satisfy the sudden desire brewing inside him to have her in his bed. Isabel is not only an omega in her pack, she’s also a constantly bullied loser and sometimes treated like an outcast. One night, while she blindly runs from her bullies, she accidentally gets lost in the most fearful and merciless wolf pack territory, the South Park, known for their brutal nature and super strength. Isabel is faced with the option of death or sex with her captor. Death may have been on her wishlist for a long time but the stories of the south’s cruel and merciless killings scare her out of her mind. Also, the new spark of hope that she may(to) find the Southern wolves that killed her parents ten years ago makes her agree to this proposal. Derek keeps lying to himself that he has no feelings for her but is unable to stop himself from protecting her when she was caught snooping around by his men. Isabel’s vendetta is the only thing standing in the way of her falling in love with him - only if she hasn’t. By the way, it is forbidden for the Southern wolves to be together with a wolf from an inferior territory. Alpha Derek made the rules.

“Shut up!” He roared, as he tore my slave garment from my body in less than a second, leaving my body bare, except for my bra and panties. I had given up already, tired of writhing on the floor, tired of trying to wiggle out of his hold, and tired of pleading. What was the use? My legs were already held hostage in the confines of his own limbs, my throat was now sore, and all my plea fell on deaf ears. I shut my eyes tightly, already welcoming my cursed fate, when suddenly the door burst ajar. “Who dares to interrupt my pleasure time? My assailant asked, about to turn his head way back to see who had been standing by the door, when suddenly, in a twinkle of an eye, his head went off flying from his neck, to the ground idly. And so, I screamed; especially as I felt his blood splatter all over my chest and face. But in my screaming and shocked state, I was still able to hear the first words of the man since he had stepped into the room. “How dare you to touch my mate?” He roared. ***** Olivera, the only wolfless girl in the Red Moon’s Pack was captured alongside her best friend by the deadliest pack in the entire region. While performing her slave duties for the new pack, she was almost raped by her taskmaster, but for the intervention of Raul, the Alpha of the pack, who is reckoned for his infamous curse, ruthlessness and womanizing traits. Journey along with Olivera, and see how a shy, seizure plagued wolfless girl tamed the big bad alpha, especially when it was discovered that she was a hybrid, the chosen who would restore peace between the two supernatural realms at war.

Past hurts have taught Vivienne Bouvier not to shy away from danger or show fear, not even when she encounters the ruthless Adonis Knight, CEO to Crimson Inc. But things are not always what they seem, and Vivienne may not be the only one with secrets up her sleeve—secrets of the shapeshifting, moon goddess, mates variety. As feelings and temptations ignite, old enemies start to close in on all sides, and with a potential war brewing they know they must fight to win, as failure could mean their deaths.

I'm the top salesperson at a tutoring center. Payday comes, and my commission is 50 cents. I'm so furious that I march straight to my boss to demand answers, but his secretary, Sasha Watson, steps in front of me. She digs through her pocket, pulls out 50 cents, and flicks it straight at my face in front of everyone. "Here's your 50 cents!" My ears ring. Heat crawls up my neck and into my skull. "Ms. Watson, this has to be a mistake. I closed 1.5 million dollars on my own last month. My team pulls in over three million dollars. My commission should be at least 200 grand." Sasha rolls her eyes. She reaches into her wallet, pulls out a dollar bill, and slaps it against my cheek. "Stop barking! Fine, I'll throw you a dollar. Keep the change!" I'm about to lose it. "My mom is still waiting on that 200 grand for her surgery. Without it, she could die." The coworkers around us start whispering. "50 cents? For the top salesperson? That's insane!" "Lower your voice. She's the boss's niece! What she says goes. Unless you want to get fired, pretend you didn't hear anything." I turn away, pull out my phone, and dial our biggest competitor. "I'm in. Five million dollars a year."