From Despair To Devotion: A Love Rekindled

Jack Saunders wanted one last hurrah before taking the mantle of DS Oil & Gas, the billion-dollar company that his father founded. His friend, Owen, let him borrow his mansion on a tropical island so that he could throw a final party before “marrying” the business that would dominate the rest of his life. He brought his secretary, Brandy, hoping that he could kindle a relationship that would last through the long days and nights of running a company. However, while the party was great, the gold digging woman he brought was not, and Jack resigned himself to a lifetime of loneliness. That was until he took a walk down the beach and met her. A woman who didn’t recognize him from the tabloids and only saw him, the man behind the money. Of all the women Jack had ever met, there was nobody like Emma LaRue. With one pretend marriage ceremony, she would change his life forever, and become the only one he ever wanted to give his saltwater kisses to. This novella is the first half of Saltwater Kisses written from Jack’s point-of-view, with a few bonus scenes thrown in as well.

"It happened again. I failed again." I finally clicked send on that single, edited line.The reply came almost instantly—three dots, then a message that made me frown. "You should see someone about this. A doctor, maybe?"A doctor… for being broken. ***** The passion is gone, replaced by a chilling silence. Mabel desperately tries to reignite the spark with Ethan, but her efforts are met with indifference and a growing sense of dread. Then, a single piece of evidence exposes a devastating truth. With her world collapsing around her, Mabel is faced with a choice: confront the betrayal or risk losing herself completely. But can she trust anyone, even herself, to find the answers she seeks?

Caveat: Trigger alert and TRAGEDYYYY~ First Firne Fantasy Series Book #1 A tough tie between Xaulfur and his demonic possession bounds Allegra to a rough Fate. Her sanity begins to slip away with her choice enslaved, and while she could not stop the darkness that engulfs her, she grabs a blade. If she can drive it into her nightmare’s cruel heart—regardless that he is her unborn child’s Father—she may find a bit of sour happiness. Yet, the only words that ring in her ears are; “Destiny bonds you with him. Stay, Luaya, for the Child’s breath; otherwise, it would cease.”

*You love me? No… you can’t love a maid—a daughter of a prostitute, a one-night mistake like me. We’re not from the same world. We can never be together. It’s a dream that won’t come true.* *Lily, that doesn’t matter. I don’t care where you’re from or what your past is. I love you—and that’s the only truth that matters.* Lily has always known her place—silent, invisible, and unworthy of love, especially from someone like Sebastian Kingsley, heir to a billion-dollar empire. Her life has been shadowed by the shame of her past—being the daughter of a high-class prostitute and born from a one-night mistake. Desperate for income as her mother’s illness worsens, Lily takes a job as a maid in the Kingsley mansion. She never expected to steal the heart of the city’s most powerful billionaire. But Sebastian, weighed down by family expectations and haunted by addiction and sleepless nights, sees something in her that no one else does—peace. Hope. To the world, Sebastian has everything. But behind the wealth and status is a man slowly breaking. Only Lily sees the truth behind the mask. Their love is passionate… but forbidden. Sebastian is already engaged—to Lily’s sister. The woman society believes is perfect for him. Lily is just a maid—powerless and easily disposable. She wants to run, to protect herself from the heartbreak she knows is coming. But how do you walk away from the only person who’s ever made you feel truly alive? Can their love survive the storm of betrayal, societal expectations, and painful truths? Or will duty and deception tear them apart ? In a world ruled by power, status, and secrets, Sebastian and Lily fight for a love that was never meant to be.

I used to work as a model, but not the typical kind. In our profession, everyone had a benefactor, someone who supported them financially. I dedicated myself to my benefactor for a year and a half, tending to his needs diligently. Despite my dedication, I was eventually abandoned. Just when I gathered my courage and decided to start afresh, he showed up again, "Do you want to date me? Officially."

What to do when you're in love with your best friend's girl? For Jordan Baker, the answer is obvious - steer clear. But sometimes, life has other plans... Evan and Karli Anders have been married for five years. She’s making plans for them when he gets home from his business trip. An unexpected knock at the door turns out to be Jordan Baker – confirmed bachelor, Evan’s best friend, and the man she’s convinced can’t stand her – standing there, still in his EMT uniform, to give her the most horrible news of her life… Evan’s been killed in a drunk driving accident. Karli must now navigate burying her husband, then prepare to face an additional challenge alone - have and raise the child she just found out she's carrying. Or so she thinks. What she doesn’t realize is that Jordan would happily step up and be the loving partner she wants and needs for the rest of her life - if she’ll only let him in. But an unforeseen twist could dash all Jordan’s hopes for good.

"Zack, tatlong taon na tayong kasal, at ni minsan ay hindi mo pa ako sinipingan. A-ayoko na, Zack, hindi ko na kaya pa, kaya naman sumusuko na ako sa pagsasama nating ito para maging masaya ka na kasama ang tunay mong minamahal. H-hindi ba't ito naman ang gusto mo? Ang makalaya sa kasal na ito?" Garalgal at may halong pait na tanong ni Rhian. "Pagkatapos ng gabing ito, hanapin mo na siya at puntahan. Ngunit sa ngayon, isipin mo na lang na kabayaran ito sa pagmamahal na inilaan ko sa iyo sa loob ng nakaraang mga taon..." Matapos sabihin iyon ni Rhian, yumuko siya at mapangahas na hinalikan sa labi si Zack na ngayon ay nasa kaniyang ilalim, naghahalo ang kaniyang kasabikan at kawalan ng pag-asa. Parang isang gamu-gamo na siyang dumapo mismo sa apoy na siyang tutupok sa kanya. "Rhian, ang lakas ng loob mong gawin ito!!!" Alam niyang marumi ang kanyang mga paraan. Gusto lang maangkin ni Rhian ang asawa sa una at huling pagkakataon. Pagkatapos ng gabing ito, siya ay lalayo. Ngunit ang una at huling na pinagsaluhan nilang dalawa ay nagbunga at sa kanyang pagbabalik ay muli silang nagkita... “Zack, bitiwan mo ako! Baliw ka ba? Nasa isang pribadong silid tayo! Maaaring may pumasok anumang oras!” Ang kanyang ex-husband na ‘hindi siya minahal ay hinahalikan siya ngayon... ngayon, ito naman ang naghahabol sa kanya!

“I hate you for bringing me here! I hate you for forcing me to live among wolves when I'm the only human. They all hate me! I am a prey, a pet, a weakling waiting to be devoured. How could you do this to me?” I cried as I stared the Alpha in the eye. I had just tried to escape again, but he caught me as always. There was something in his eyes. It was rage. Possessive and protective rage. “If anyone makes you feel insecure because you're human, I'll make sure their heads roll at their feet. Nobody is permitted to hurt you. Because you're mine. My mate. My Luna,” he replied. *** For 18 good years of my life, my father has kept me hidden from the outside world. Everything I wanted, he provided... Except to interact with people and live outside the walls of my wing in his mansion. All of a sudden, one night, he wants us to leave everything behind and flee. Flee from what? He won't say. Until strange men barge in and the leader of them has the face of the monster who has plagued my dreams every night for a decade. And then the monster proclaimed me his mate and took me away from the world I’ve ever known.

When you are growing up adults usually tell you that you can be whatever you want to be, right?! I was told I would be a starving artist if I became what I wanted to be. I let their words become me. All their words. I let them dictate the person I became. I kept the real me to myself after so many years of their hatred for that person. I let little bits of my soul break away and die to keep their torment to a minimum. I learned to not rock the boat, just keep my head down and do as I was told. I was the party crasher on their life that never left. Until I shocked them when I did. Out on my own, I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was. I settled for the first “nice guy” to come along. That quickly fizzled out after a shotgun wedding. After a year alone I met Prince Charming #2 at a backyard BBQ. I didn’t know my jerk radar was still broken. Then out of nowhere, the one I had always thought was a jerk turned out to surprisingly be my Prince Charming. Being the man, I need in my life. He became everything I needed, and everything I didn’t know I wanted. Allowing me to grow and blossom as a person which inspires him to do the same. And we live happily ever after.

The story follows Jasmine Smith - a maid who relies on her intelligence, kindness, and courage to help herself and her best friend overcome the difficulties and pitfalls of the Curie family's mansion. There, she also accidentally helps Peter - the only heir of the Curie family to overcome difficulties and find his true love. In this journey, Jasmine has realized she loves Peter, and can they come together with a happy ending?