Forty-seventh

Selene’s life is shattered when her younger sister announces she’s pregnant—and marrying the very man Selene thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. In her family’s cruel tradition, the elder daughter must marry first, leaving Selene with an ultimatum: find a husband in seven days or be forced to marry an imbecile of their choosing. Desperate and heartbroken, Selene confides in an elderly man at her workplace, who jokingly offers his mysterious grandson as a solution. Thinking it’s just a lighthearted moment, Selene agrees—but the next morning, extravagant gifts start arriving with a serious proposal. With the deadline looming and no sign of her mysterious suitor, Selene fears the worst. But on the seventh day, a sleek luxury car pulls up, and the man she never expected steps out, claiming her as his wife. What began as a desperate joke turns into a marriage she never imagined—one filled with power, secrets, and a man more dangerous and captivating than she ever dreamed.

Sage Davis was once the name on everyone's lips, a rising basketball star with unmatched talent and a promising future. But one wrong move, one selfish mis-timed dunk during a critical game cost her team the trophy and left her with a shattered ankle and a fractured reputation. A year off the court has left her anxious and stripped of the confidence that once defined her. Now 19, she is back, taller, stronger, but haunted by doubts and the pressure of living up to her former glory. Enter Andrew Jefferson, turning forty, striking, with the kind of presence that commands attention. He is the new coach of the team and, awkwardly enough, her best friend's father. Sage expected discipline, rules, and professional distance but what she didn't expect was the spark, a mere fickle at first, and then a flame. He sees the fire in her, the talent she possesses, and the fragility she tries to hide. Against all odds, she finds herself drawn to the one man she should never want. Their connection is forbidden. Dangerous. Taboo. But as the line between right and wrong blurs, Sage must decide if she’s willing to risk everything, her future, her friendship, and the fragile pieces of herself she is still putting back together, for a love that was never supposed to happen. This is a story of redemption, desire, and the kind of love that breaks rules, norms……and hearts.

Having survived the deadly trials of Lyria and uncovered the haunting legacy of her ancestors, Maerwynn now faces a reality far more terrifying—a war brewing beyond the realms. She has transformed into a powerful being, but with her newfound immortality and role as the seventh stone, Maerwynn’s existence holds the key to maintaining Lyria's fragile peace. Alongside Valen, the Elusive High Lord who ignites both fury and passion within her, Maerwynn must wield her powers in ways she never imagined. Yet as they prepare for war against Kyante, the cruel queen of Hadeon, Maerwynn realizes that victory comes with perilous demands. A prophecy looms over her, foretelling betrayal, sacrifice, and a battle that will reshape everything she has come to cherish. As enemies close in and allies grow suspicious of her power, Maerwynn and Valen embark on a treacherous journey to build alliances, reclaim a weapon of immense strength, and face the horrors of Hadeon’s armies. Amidst bloodshed and treachery, In this heart-wrenching climax, Maerwynn makes an impossible choice that will forever alter her, the High Lord she loves, and the fate of both worlds. *** BOOK 2 in the AETHER series. If you haven't read the Book 1- " Court of Fae and ruin", please do so, or nothing in this book would make sense. Xoxo

As I was cleaning up the house, I noticed something had fallen out of the cabinet my wife always kept locked tight. I remembered Megan's constant warnings. "That cabinet holds all our family's important records. If anything gets lost, there's no getting it back. Just leave it alone and don't touch it." Worried something valuable might have fallen out, I rushed to pick it up. But what I found was a thick stack of remittance slips. From forty years ago to now, every month, my wife had been sending money to the same account. And that's when it hit me. My wife had been lying to me. The money I'd been pouring into this family had been flowing right out, into the hands of someone else.

Isabella Martinez never expected to trade her dreams for a marriage contract, but when her conniving step-sister flees an arranged marriage, she's forced to take her place. The groom? Alexander Kane, Manhattan's most ruthless CEO, a man known for destroying companies and breaking spirits. The same man who nearly ruined her father's company years ago. At forty, Alexander Kane has everything money can buy, except revenge against the Martinez family. When his intended bride escapes, he finds an even better alternative in her younger sister Isabella – the one person his rival truly loves. It's the perfect opportunity to complete his vendetta. What starts as a cold business arrangement soon turns into a dangerous game of attraction. Behind closed doors, Alexander's icy facade melts away, revealing a man haunted by past betrayals and unexpected tenderness. Isabella discovers that living with her enemy awakens desires she never knew existed, even as she uncovers the dark secrets that drive him. As their fake marriage transforms into something real, Isabella must choose between her family's loyalty and her growing love for Alexander. Meanwhile, Alexander faces his own demons: can he trust in love again, or will his quest for revenge cost him the only woman who's ever touched his heart?

Hindi ko alam pero parang napag iiwanan na yata ako ng panahon, sabi ng iba kaylangan ko na daw mag pakasal at mag karoon ng sarili kong pamilya, kasi daw hindi nako pabata pa. Bakit ika babata ko ba pag nag karon ako ng asawa't anak? "Khrizxxianna you need to have your own Family, darling," "Mom, I'm not on to that hindi ko kaya saka hindi madali ang gusto mo," "Mag blind date ka, may kilala akong anak ng mare ko na pwede mong maging asawa.' "No way Mom!, ayoko ng mga idea mo!" pasigaw kong sabi kay mommy. "Khrizxxianna you're turning forty this year and you should get married," sabi pa nito sa akin sabay inum ng hawak nyang baso na may laman na wine. "No, Mom I hate marriage, I just want to have a child that's it," and I just look at the pouring rain outside of the window. _SUNGYONGSOO15_

Romero”! Zarlia’s voice echoed in the room stirring Romero and Letisha who were locked in a kiss. “It’s not what you think babe” Romero jolted, his hands physically shaking as he pushes Letisha aside. Zarlia never expected Romero, her boyfriend of two years, to cheat with Letisha, a worker she had a feud with. Annoyed and frustrated with everything, Zarlia decided to go have fun at the club, hoping she would drink herself out of her distress. The pulsating pain on her neck would wake Zarlia, and the last thing she remembers would be drinking her seventh shot of vodka, and suddenly she’s laying on a bed laying next to a beast-like creature.

On the seventh day after my daughter goes missing, I kidnap an entire kindergarten. I lock away all 27 students and two teachers in a classroom. I tell the police that if they can't find my daughter, I will kill a kid every 30 minutes. The principal falls to her knees, wailing and begging, "It's not my fault that your daughter is missing. Why should other children pay for it?" I glance at my watch. "29 minutes left. Find her." I know she's in this kindergarten.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I was straddling my Mafia husband, Lucian, kissing him deeply. My fingers fumbled in the pocket of my expensive silk dress, searching for the pregnancy test I'd hidden there. I wanted to save the news of my unexpected pregnancy for the end of the evening. Lucian's right-hand man, Marco, asked with a suggestive smile in Italian: "Don, your new little canary, Sophia. How does she taste?" Lucian's mocking laughter vibrated through my chest, sending a chill down my spine. He replied, also in Italian: "Like an unripe peach. Fresh and tender." His hand was still caressing my waist, but his gaze was distant. "Just keep this between us. If my Donna finds out, I'm a dead man." His men chuckled knowingly, raising their glasses and swearing their silence. The warmth in my blood turned to ice, inch by inch. The one thing they didn’t know was that my grandmother was from Sicily, so I understood every word. I forced myself to remain calm, keeping the perfect smile of a Donna fixed in place, but the hand holding my champagne flute trembled. Instead of making a scene, I opened my phone, found the invitation I had received a few days ago for a private international medical research project, and tapped "Accept." In three days, I would disappear from Lucian's world completely.