Gone For Good Harlan Coben

During my graduation trip, my friends and I go on a road trip to the plateau. That's when I get afflicted with altitude sickness. As dark spots begin to form in my vision, I realize that my anti-sickness medication, which can definitely save my life, has been swapped for ibuprofen instead. I'm about to start demanding answers from the group when my fiance, Zayden Lowry, stops me. "Sorry, Noelle. I've given your imported medication to Erica. You should take some ibuprofen and try to ride out your sickness for the time being." I clutch the box of ibuprofen, already finding it difficult to breathe. "So, you're just going to make me wait for my death after taking ibuprofen, huh?" Zayden frowns deeply at me. "How could you say that? Erica is frail, but you shouldn’t curse her like that! "This trip is meant for us to enjoy Mother Nature's beauty, not an opportunity for you to show off your expensive medication! "My mom is right. You really need to change that spoiled temperament of yours. If not, I won't be able to afford your expenses, seeing as you're the frail type who collapses over the slightest inconvenience." I no longer pay Zayden any attention. Using what's left of my strength, I send my dad a text. "Dad, send someone here to take me home. Also, you can terminate the collaboration between our company and Zayden's."

CONTENT WARNING This story contains graphic sexual content and explicit scenarios intended for mature audiences 18 years and older. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Veronica Harper devoted five years of her life to a man who never loved her—because she was never more than a bet. Her devotion, vulnerability, and virginity were handed over… all for entertainment. She walked into her bedroom—and saw her best friend screaming her name from another man’s mouth. Her boyfriend’s mouth. Betrayed in her own bed, humiliated in public, and framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Then two lines on a pregnancy test changed everything. Pregnant, disowned, and hunted by lies she didn’t create, Veronica fled, carrying two secrets no one could ever touch—her unborn twins. Five years later, she returns for a funeral, keeping her children hidden and her heart locked away. She believes the past is buried. She’s wrong. Forced back into the orbit of the man she once gave herself to—and still loves—Veronica must protect the quiet life she built alone. But grief and betrayal are cruel guides, and the woman who destroyed her life now threatens everything she holds dear. The worst betrayal isn’t in the past. It’s happening now.

I'm the so-called 'Lady of Glory'—yeah, that girl from the Archbishop's prophecy. They said I'd bring endless glory to whatever Family I married into. But at our engagement party, my fiancé—Marco Falcone—swaggered onstage holding hands with his pregnant stripper girlfriend. Then he grabbed my wrist, dragged me forward, and made me kiss her hand. "Lola's the only woman I'll ever call my wife," he said with a smug little grin. "If you still want this marriage, your De Luca money better support her and the baby." I slapped him. Ripped the contract in half. Let it snow confetti. "Please. I can marry someone a hundred times better." Right when I was about to torch the entire Falcone Family, someone stepped out of the shadows. Marco's older brother, Dante Falcone. The one who'd been injured, underestimated, and pushed aside. He locked eyes with me, totally unfazed. "Signorina De Luca, do your words still stand?"

"You guys know what the situation is like in this industry this year. I need to cut our end-of-the-year bonus by half in order to overcome this difficult period." My boss, Peter Hurley, claims that things are difficult in the industry right now, yet his wrist still showcases the luxury watch that he's just bought. My 20,000-dollar bonus is reduced to 700 dollars. In addition, I also received a plaque that says "Award for Outstanding Contribution". "This plaque is worth a lot, Soren. It represents the acknowledgement this company has for you. Don't be so petty when it comes to money." As I stare at the plaque in my hand, I can't help but scoff furiously. "Fine. I won't be that petty when it comes to money. I hope you won't be that petty either when you're paying next month's rent." Peter is stunned momentarily. "What do you mean by that?" I toss the plaque into the trash can. "What I mean is, I'm the landlord of this building. From next month onward, the rent will be increased ten times. If you refuse to accept the new rent, you can pack up and scram."

“ Daddy had given me a set rules to follow. And I plan to disobey every single one of them.” Alec’s entire life was flipped by the mystery man who sipped on slowly on scotch. Three days was all it took to get him hooked and needing more. And then all of a sudden, mystery man disappears, leaving behind a fake name, and bundles of cash, like Alec was some sort of call boy. But Alec  cannot stop thinking about him. So he follows the thin trail he left behind, the need to find him and prove something to him was primal. After all, Daddy had called him, his little good boy. But could Alec handle all of him?

Alpha Ken spent years pouring his heart into his first love, Audrey, and her daughter while treating his true Luna, Kaida, like she was nothing. He ignored their innocent son, little Leo, and let the boy grow up believing his father’s coldness was his fault. Kaida endured it all in silence. She raised Leo alone, wiped his tears, and whispered lies to protect his heart: “Daddy doesn’t hate you.” But when Leo took his final breath without ever feeling his father’s love, something inside Kaida shattered forever. She walked away— No more begging but with so much pain. But after she left Alpha Ken discovered the awakening truth—The only people who ever loved him were the family he destroyed! Now he’s desperate to fix what he destroyed. But Kaida is gone… and she’s in the strong arms of another Alpha, one who sees her worth. Angry, desperate to take back what he claimed was his, he’ll beg, he’ll bleed, he’ll burn down anything in his path but would Kaida return to the love that once shattered her? Or stay with the new man who healed her?

Azalea Hart spent everything she had on taking care of her sick brother. No parents, no family, just a cruel stepsister who feeds her and bullies her every now and then. However, a light appeared at the end of her tunnel during one of he brother's sick days... "You're not almost dead... You're already dead!" Edwin Clark whispered eeriely as he sank his fangs into the nape of her neck. Azalea chocked, almost dying but his eyes had changed, filled with nothing but regret of.... What have I done? "You... You're my mate?" Fuck it! Azalea know nothing about mates. The burning pain has turned into horny sensation and the young virgin craves nothing.... But his touch. She touched him. He became obsessed.... No. Obsession is an understatement, he became mad. "My Mr Vampire, has gone mad, again" she would whisper anytime she met herself on his bed. But his appearance gradually becomes more than she anticipated.

"I've... I've never touched a girl. I've never gotten this close to them. Please... Please stay away from me" "Don't worry," She whispers into his ears, sending sizzles down his spine. "I'm going to teach you everything. I'm going to fucking ruin you and I will spoil you In so many dirty ways." Her hand reaches upwards towards his inner thigh and he stiffens once it touches his crotch through his fabric. With clenched teeth, he shuts his eyes and tries so hard to hold back the groan that threatens to escape from his throat. •~•~• Shane Dalton is the second son of the powerful billionaire. He's got good looks and charms that make everyone fall for him. Renee, the new girl in town isn't an exception but what she can't believe is how extremely good he is. The rich and handsome guys she knew were either bad boys or rude jerks but Shane is nothing like that. He is a well trained good boy who is not ready to break all his rules and fall for a bad girl overnight but his life is turned upside down when he decides to stay away from home to avoid his brother who bullies him nonstop. He moves in to stay with his best friend's family only to realize that this new, beautiful but crazy girl now lives there too. As long as they stay under the same roof, Renee swears to spoil him completely till he's fully damaged beyond repair. Will she succeed? He must either resist her charms and attraction or completely fall into her trap.

I died beneath the Ferris wheel. The killer took a photo of the Ferris wheel and sent it to my mother. 'Mom, I want to ride the Ferris wheel with you too,' wrote the killer. In my mother's voice message, her tone was filled with hatred as she replied, "How dare you ask to ride the Ferris wheel with me when you killed your own sister? Why won't you just die?!" As she wished, I was dead. However, what she didn't know was that the one who killed me was my so-called dead sister.

Everyone knows I'm Brooke River's bootlicker—I've stuck by her side for the past ten years. Now, she's getting engaged to someone else, and everyone's waiting to see me make a fool of myself. The problem is… I already got married three years ago.