Fruits Basket Rice Ball

Two years ago, Carrie Lowe was a dedicated sports doctor whose life was ruined in a single night. After discovering her husband was cheating, she impulsively kissed the famous athlete and billionaire Jake Slater at a club to get back at him. Instead of being a gentleman, Jake went on national television and branded her a "desperate groupie" who was an embarrassment to her profession. This public shaming caused Carrie to lose her job and her reputation, forcing her to flee to Europe to rebuild her life under a new name and a cold, professional mask. Now, Carrie has returned to Los Angeles as Dr. Carrie Vance, an elite specialist that every top athlete is dying to work with. Meanwhile, Jake is facing a career-ending injury and a group of greedy investors trying to steal his sports agency. When he comes to her clinic for help, he has no idea that the brilliant doctor in front of him is the same woman he once humiliated. Desperate to prove to his board members that he is stable and in control, Jake offers Carrie five million dollars to pretend to be his devoted partner for a year. Carrie takes the deal, but her true goal isn't the money; it's the chance to get close enough to watch Jake lose everything. By stepping into his world as his private doctor, she gains total power over his recovery and his public image. However, as they navigate high-stakes galas and intense private sessions, the fake relationship starts to feel dangerously real. Carrie must eventually decide if she will follow through with her plan to destroy the man who crushed her, or if the growing spark between them is worth risking her heart all over again.

Elena Carter never thought her life could get any worse. After years of being treated as an outsider in her own family, she thought she had finally found love with her boyfriend, Brian. But everything shatters when she catches him in bed with her younger sister. Her father, a desperate gambler, sees her as nothing more than a burden. When a ruthless mafia boss, Dominic Moretti, comes to collect a debt, her father makes a horrifying decision—he offers Elena as payment. Before she can process what is happening, she is handed over to a dangerous man who sees people as nothing more than pests under his expensive shoes. Elena is taken to Dominic’s estate, where she is treated like a prisoner. But unlike the others who fear him, she refuses to submit. “I'll be a good girl," I said. "But only if you treat me right." Something crossed his face at the mention of my words. Amusement? Respect? Crossed his face. "We'll see," he said, pulling his hand away.

At 32, Freya Hart has successfully run her father's wine company and turned it into a billion-dollar company. She is to inherit the company but there's one problem: a marriage contract her parents signed years ago with the Wilson’s family. She has to marry Mark Wilson, the son of the Wilson’s family - unless he decides he doesn't want her. Hoping to get out of the contract, Freya plans to make Mark reject her. But her plan completely backfires. One heated encounter with the arrogant businessman, and he becomes obsessed with having her. Now Mark, who she can't stand, won't leave her alone. As they clash in the business world, their hatred starts turning into something else - an attraction neither of them expected.

The Price of Vulnerability follows the journey of Mr. Wells, a charismatic yet emotionally unavailable man who has built a wall around his heart after a painful past. As the successful CEO of a leading tech company, he hides behind his stoic demeanor and seductive allure, unwilling to let anyone get too close. Enter Naomi, a driven and intelligent woman who crosses paths with Wells during a high-stakes interview. Confident in her abilities yet struggling with her own hidden desires, Naomi finds herself inexplicably drawn to Wells. Despite his cold exterior and unwillingness to commit, there’s something about him that sparks a longing for more—a desire for trust, love, and a connection that goes beyond surface-level attraction. As Naomi navigates her new role as Wells’ secretary, she discovers the fragile layers of his heart. Slowly, she begins to unravel the mystery of the man behind the business mogul persona. But in the process, Naomi finds herself confronting her own vulnerability, torn between the power of her ambition and the intense pull of her feelings for Wells. In The Price of Vulnerability, trust, love, and desire collide as two people with guarded hearts risk it all to face the pain of their pasts and the possibility of a future together. Will Naomi break through Wells’ emotional walls, or will the price of opening up be too great?

"You're paying for my body. Not for my soul." Alpha King Thomas Blade is a man of pride and power. A year ago, he divorced his wife, Kiara. He threw her out of his pack and out of his life, trying to forget the bond they shared. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. While visiting a high-end bar, Thomas is shocked to find Kiara standing on an auction block. The woman who was once the Luna of the Moonlight Pack is being sold as an escort. Angry and confused, Thomas outbids everyone. He buys her for one night, determined to find out how she fell so low. However, the Kiara he meets isn't the shy, sweet girl he used to know. This version of Kiara is cold, bold, and claims she only cares about money. What Thomas doesn't know is that Kiara is hiding a heartbreaking secret: she is drowning in debt and selling herself only to pay for her dying mother’s medical bills. Unable to let her go, Thomas makes a new deal: He buys her for an entire month. He wants to punish her, but the more time they spend together, the more he sees the truth. Behind her "greedy" mask, Kiara is still the selfless woman. When Kiara’s mother finally passes away, Kiara disappears, leaving Thomas with nothing but the truth. He discovers the poverty and pain she endured alone while he sat on his throne. Now, the Alpha King must hunt for the woman he wronged. To win her back, he will have to beg for forgiveness, pay her debts, and protect her from a dangerous world where wolves are traded like shadows. He broke her crown. Now, he’ll do anything to give it back.

Beatrice is back to face her greatest threat since. . .well, the last time! In Cooper’s Cove a hapless team of archaeologists unleash the vengeful spirit of a 16th Century witch on the sleepy seaside town of Dorsal Finn. Hexes and curses fly as Beatrice and her friends must find out what links the appearance of this incredible foe and The Spirit of the Ocean, a super-yacht hosting the biggest celebrity charity event the town has ever seen. As the population of Dorsal Finn succumbs to witchcraft, so Beatrice must gate-crash the party with her motley-crew of friends and allies in the hope of stopping the witch's sinister plan, and save everyone from endless oblivion. . . Again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Oliver Woodling is a handsome and charming bachelor who wants more to life than money and business. After adopting a child, he thought that the loneliness would disappear. Some of it did, but he wanted love from a woman he would claim as his own. Kimberly Wingate is a ballet teacher with a secret who is looking for a safe place. Since her family rejected her for a crime that she did not commit, she runs away to start a new life in New York. When Kim meets the sweet and adorable Lora Woodling, she gains a friend. A little friend with a sexy as hell adoptive dad. This is a tale of romance, secrets and an obsessed stalker who wants Kimberly dead.

Lumaki si Lushiane nang hindi buo ang kaniyang pamilya. Pero hindi iyon naging hadlang upang siya ay sumuko sa mga hamon ng buhay. Hindi kalaunan ay nakilala niya ang taong nagbigay ng iba't ibang bugso ng damdamin na kahit kailan ay hindi niya pa nararanasan. Ngunit, ang kasiyahang iyon ay agad ding nadagukan nang malaman ang katotohanan, sunod-sunod na problema ang natikman niya. Nagmistulang walang kwenta ang kaniyang buhay, pero nanatili siyang nakatayo. Sa mahigit sampung taon at sa lahat ng problema, sakit, at panlolokong kinaharap niya... Makaya niya pa kaya? Matanggap niya pa kaya ang lalaking gumulo at sumira sa kaniyang sarili?

A king crab in the company's storage is about to die. In order to prevent the company from suffering a loss, I decided to buy it at the price of 480 dollars and treat my friends to a nice feast. The next day, my boss, Mitchell Wright, calls me to his office. "Ms. Langford, it's true that the net price of a king crab is 480 dollars. But the company has a rule that states that if an employee buys the company's products, they still have to pay according to the selling price." While I'm quite displeased, I still transfer an additional 400 dollars to the company's bank account. But Mitchell raises his voice at me. "Stop being a smartass! The selling price of a king crab is 88 thousand dollars, not 880 dollars!" I do my best to refute. "But we give all of our customers a 99% discount! Surely you can't force me to spend 88 thousand dollars on a crab!" Mitchell just chuckles icily in return. "Rules are rules! While customers are always right, you're nothing but a corporate slave! What makes you think you deserve to receive the same treatment as the customers? "If you refuse to pay the selling price for the crab, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" As I watch Mitchell, who keeps yelling at me with spittle flying everywhere, I find myself filled with an eerie sense of calm. I hope that Mitchell will still be able to chuckle when he finds out that my dad is the biggest seafood supplier.

Aria Donovan is a fiercely independent young lawyer, determined to rise above her humble beginnings and fight for justice. But when she crosses paths with Damon Reed—the ruthless, domineering billionaire who rules Veridion City with an iron fist—her world is turned upside down. He’s arrogant, cold, and infuriatingly magnetic. She’s smart, defiant, and refuses to bow to anyone—not even him. Sparks fly every time they clash, but beneath Damon’s icy exterior lies a vulnerability only Aria can see. As she becomes entangled in his world of power, wealth, and dangerous secrets, Aria discovers that the line between love and obsession is thinner than she ever imagined. For Damon, protecting Aria may cost everything he’s built—but letting her go could destroy him. In a city of skyscrapers, secrets, and ambition, how much is love truly worth when hearts are at stake?