Golden Cucumber

Kai has spent his whole life trying to survive an abusive uncle, cruel classmates, and a world that never wanted him. He’s invisible. Until the day he walks into an empty classroom… and meets Mr. James Ashford who has a cold look. James sees everything Kai tries to hide—his fear, his hunger, his desperation—and he wants it. What starts as “private tutoring” quickly becomes a contract, new rules, a new home, and a new version of Kai shaped by the hands of a man who should never want him. But when threatening messages appear, describing what they’ll do to Kai just to break James, the teacher becomes something far more dangerous than a protector. James is willing to destroy anyone or anything to keep Kai safe. Or keep him his. Kai knows he should run. He knows he should be terrified. But the most dangerous cages aren’t locked… They’re whispered, touched, and promised by a man who says: “I’ll burn the world before I let it take you.”

I was the fat girl, the nerd who everyone bullied just for the fun of it. They even nicknamed me 'the ugly duckling.' They threw things at me, hurled insults at me and laughed at me. My parents choose my sister over me every time. My crush, Ashton Hill even humiliated me in front of the whole school. But I rose above it. I turned the pain into purpose—the humiliation into power. Now, the ball is in my court and I am about to make the game as hard as it can get for every single person who ever tainted me. Especially Ashton Hill! Everyone was about to know what regret meant because I would make sure to teach them a lesson they never forget!

He’s loved her since the 5th grade. She beat up his bullies, slapped his fears, and owned his heart—but never seemed to notice. Or did she? Punit Soni, a sensitive, lanky teen with big dreams and stage fright, has been hopelessly in love with his fierce, guitar-wielding best friend, Ankita Agarwal, for years. She's bold, brilliant, and has no clue how deeply she means to him—or so he thinks. From school fests to slapstick disasters, broken guitars to broken hearts, their bond survives every misunderstanding. But can friendship survive unspoken love?

Elliot Sinclair has it all—money, power, a picture-perfect fiancée, and the eyes of the world watching his every move. But behind closed doors, his life is anything but perfect. Because Elliot is in love. With Jonah Hartfield. A man. Jonah is everything Elliot shouldn't want—fierce, reckless, possessive. Their affair is a powder keg of passion and danger, one kiss away from destruction. The world can't know. His family can't know. And Clara, the woman he’s supposed to marry for the cameras, definitely can’t know. But Jonah is done playing games. He doesn’t care about appearances. He doesn’t care about the cameras. He just wants Elliot. Completely. And he’s not interested in sharing. When jealousy boils over and secrets get harder to hide, Elliot is forced to choose: keep pretending for the world—or burn it all down for the man he can’t live without.

" I am gay dad", I confessed, crying as I hugged my knees and rocked myself back and forth on the floor.       He glared at me with so much emotions running through him, the most prominent one was hatred and disappointment. " True dad, I may be smiling and trying my best to fit in your world but deep down I am dying."     I went mute as I waited for him to speak.  " You are a disgrace to this family", he spat, walking away.  ' disgrace' , that word changed my life forever. ______ Sebastian, bullied by all, rejected by his father, loved by one.    Kaden, hot, notorious and one of the most famous boy in pearl high. Literally, the golden boy of all times. Girls flirt with him, boys wants to be his friend and he care less about grades and school activities except basketball. Behind the golden facade lies a boy with dark secrets he desperately tries to hide to prevent ruining his reputation. When Sebastian catches a shirtless golden boy popping pills in the school restroom, the scars and bruises on his body draws Sebastian towards him. They both pretend they are fine on the outside but what neither of them know is that, however, they are both broken and their world is falling apart quicker than expected.  When Sebastian discover the truth about Kaden whose lifestyle hold a deeper meaning, he is set on knowing him more. Will love conquer all or will Kaden's past get in the way?

**Completed. This is the second book in the Baxter Brother's series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. Almost ten years ago, Landon watched his mate be killed right before his eyes. It changed him. After being hard and controlling for years, he has finally learned how to deal with the fact that she was gone. Forever. So when he arrives in Washington, Landon is shocked to find his mate alive. And he is even more determined to convince her to give him a chance. Brooklyn Eversteen almost died ten years ago. She vividly remembers the beckoning golden eyes that saved her, but she never saw him again. Ten years later, she agrees to marry Vincent in the agreement that he will forgive the debt. But when those beckoning golden eyes return, she finds she must make an even harder decision.

As waves of panic surged through the city, casting shadows of chaos over its once-familiar streets, Ciprian felt a fierce determination ignite. He knew he would stop at nothing to protect his friend, Adam, who stood beside him. In this tumultuous new reality, the air crackled with tension, and amidst the unfolding mayhem, unspoken feelings and long-hidden emotions began to surface, intertwining their fates in ways neither had anticipated. With every heartbeat, the bond between them deepens, revealing the complexities of friendship in the face of adversity.

Areum was born pretty enough to be mistaken for a girl and cursed enough to be hated for his parents’ betrayal. The kingdom kept him alive only because he was useful to punish. He learned how to survive fists, insults, and the constant threat of being exposed for what he really was; an Omega boy in a place where that alone was a crime. When the palace signed a treaty with the feared Alpha of the North, the royal family hid their own daughter and forced Areum to take her place. Dressed as a bride, given a title he never asked for, he was sent into a marriage meant to keep peace between two lands. And when the Alpha began to notice him, too closely, too often, Areum realized the truth was getting harder to hide, and the consequences will be fatal if it slipped. Trapped between a mate who already rejected him, a husband who kept shifting from gentle to cold, and a kingdom that wanted his head, Areum must survive a palace that would rather bury him than let his secret breathe.

I was like the pure and innocent Cinderella of a school romance novel. Unlike the aristocratic students around me, I didn't come from wealth or privilege. I earned my place at this elite academy through merit alone, my high scores opening the gates to a world far beyond my means. Cinderella is supposed to be stubborn, proud, and righteous—standing tall despite her humble origins. But I have none of those qualities. All I have is poverty.

When hockey superstar Jake Sullivan's career crashes, the last thing he expects is to find his ex-girlfriend Emma scrubbing floors in his new office building eight years after she crushed his heart and disappeared without a trace. But Emma's hiding more than just her identity; she's been raising his son in secret, a handsome boy with Jake's piercing blue eyes and natural talent on the ice. Now that the truth is out, Jake will stop at nothing to claim his family, even if it means facing the powerful enemies who tore them apart and proving that some love is worth fighting for, no matter how many years have passed.