Handbook Of The Recently Deceased

Shantali Mae Cross, a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Ancient Arts, encounters an impossible phenomenon during her night shift—smoke from the heating vents coalesces into the form of a cobra near ancient Egyptian canopic jars, showing her visions of possible futures. She sees herself accepting a promotion, arguing with a dark-haired man in a hospital, wearing a wedding dress, and standing at a graveside in autumn. Shaken by the experience, Shantali becomes obsessed with understanding what she witnessed, diving into research about serpent smoke divination practices. Her investigation reveals that others throughout history have experienced similar visions at crucial crossroads in their lives, but those who became consumed with interpreting and controlling their prophetic glimpses inevitably destroyed the very relationships and opportunities the visions had shown them. As Shantali spirals deeper into her research, she begins shutting out her boyfriend David, a fellow security guard who loves her deeply. When David witnesses the cobra phenomenon himself, he helps ground her in reality rather than obsession. Through her studies, particularly the warnings left by Dr. Amelia Thorne—a researcher who died alone after chasing similar mysteries—Shantali realizes the cobra's true message: choose love over fear, presence over obsession. The visions weren't warnings of tragedy but glimpses of a life fully lived with all its ordinary struggles and profound connections. When David proposes, Shantali chooses their real relationship over her pursuit of supernatural answers. She completes her research by writing a fictional novel about her experience, transforming obsession into art while helping future cobra witnesses understand that some mysteries are meant to guide rather than be solved. The story explores themes of choice versus destiny, the danger of sacrificing present love for future certainty, and the wisdom of embracing life's uncertainties alongside those who love us.

The company had just taken off when a project my wife, Lenora Peterson, was in charge of ran into trouble. To ease her mind during her pregnancy, I went overseas in her stead, spending ten perilous years abroad before finally returning home, barely alive. Instead of the joyful reunion I had imagined, she greeted me with cold detachment and thinly veiled disgust. "Why are you back?" Lenora asked. "Today is Nathan’s housewarming party," she added. "Let’s head there first—we’ll talk later." We rode in silence the entire way. When we arrived, a ten-year-old girl came dashing over and clung to Lenora affectionately. “Mommy, why did you take so long? Daddy’s been waiting for you forever!” Daddy? My eyes burned with rage—until I saw my old friend Nathan Grant stepping out to greet us with a smile. "Lily, come to Daddy. Mommy’s tired—don’t bother her now." When I met Lenora’s eyes, the guilt I saw there told me everything I needed to know. I turned away and texted my assistant, Morgan Williamson, to begin acquiring the company that, by right, had always belonged to me. He soon reported back. "Mr. Brooke, the acquisition process will be completed in three days."

Aria Anastasia was working under Zaiden Storm for two years. One day when she was given to work overtime, she got into the cabin of her boss only to find him sitting on a chair while two other men were taking a dead body. Zaiden had a gun in his hand and Aria learned that he was in the mafia. Zaiden threatened her to keep it a secret, which she found hard since she never hid anything from her mother or her best friend. She tried to keep the secret of her boss, and later starts to know Zaiden personally, learning more of his secrets, including his donation to the orphanage, old-aged homes, and hospitals built where free treatments were provided. He was a nice person under the facade of his cold, mysterious self. She started to fall in love with Zaiden while he also started liking her, realizing he was habituated with her presence. Soon, a villain entered, who would try to harm Zaiden in the office, but Aria would save him every time. Zaiden learned that the person he killed for the mafia purpose, Jack Levi, his father Luke Levi was trying to kill Zaiden and an office employee was helping him. Later Luke tried to harm Aria, but he felt a fatherly affection for her. When he implanted a bomb to kill Aria, Luke saw Amora, Aria’s mother, and realized that Aria was his daughter. He felt guilty and tried to stop the bomb along with Zaiden. Aria was rescued by Zaiden and they express their love for each other. Amongst the cute love scenes between Aria and Zaiden, one-day Zaiden proposed to Aria, and she accepted his proposal and they live happily ever after.

He wasn't the biggest wolf of them all, far from it. But after his rejection, he had to find a new world. He would make them pay for everything. Terrell was back. A new Alpha, a new pack, and he marched right into that town that had turned his life from horrible to worse. He was back to make the associations needed for his pack, but more importantly, to show them they weren't in charge anymore. Rejected, lost, and now, a hot shot. Gavin would never know what hit him, just like she didn't.

"To hell with your boyfriend! You're mine now. Mine to fuck..." Sheila Dunbar's life is suddenly tossed upside down, when a notorious mafia group is after her for something she didn't steal from them. Her boyfriend had absconded, leaving her to face the wrath of the dangerous mafia alone. Somehow, billionaire and popular business tycoon, André Wolfe is able to save her but at a cost! She must marry him and be a mother to his only child. Sheila soon realizes that she had walked into the life of yet another mafia boss. Billionaire by day, mafia by night and now it's too late to leave...but why? What happens when she finds out much more about him than she can possibly bear? What happens when she realizes that their union is a threat to her life? What happens when her runaway boyfriend suddenly shows up again, demanding to have her back? Who will she remain loyal to?

"Shadows of the Past" is a story about *Natasha Fernandez* (26),the daughter of a billionaire who never enjoyed her childhood due to the loss of her mother and her father's busy schedule. She struggles with health issues and finding true love until she meets *Jamal smith* (29) who rescues her from a robber and becomes her friend, and eventually her husband. Years later, Natasha hires her childhood friend *Imade Martins*(25) a home tutor for her adopted daughter *Tessa* (3). However, Natasha is heartbroken when she discovers Jamal's affair with Imade, and she uses her power to frustrate Imade's business life. Unbeknownst to them all, Jamal is the biological father of Imade's daughter, whom she lost in the hands of a matron to an orphanage some years back. Imade leaves for another city where she falls in love with her boss, Mr. *George Henry,*(34) an influential business tycoon and a single father. Twenty years later, *Roy Henry,* George's son, falls in love with Tessa, Natasha's daughter. However, their love is jeopardized after a family introduction takes place, and complicated truths unravel, putting Tessa's life at stake. The story explores the drama and chaos that ensue as the characters confront their past and navigate their present relationships.

In a world where humans and lycans co-exist, both societies must adapt to new norms and circumstances. Lycans became prominent city leaders due to their superior strength and intelligence. As the idea of a destined mate faded into myth, lycans began to choose their mates from among human participants in an annual mating ceremony. And at that ceremony, human beings stay far away from Alpha Nero Aimilios Astadel. The human race has a long history of warning its young, especially female offspring, to keep their distance from the Alpha. Avert your gaze, stay out of his way, and under no circumstances should you anger him. What if, an average human named Verity Catina Eirian showed up at the mating ceremony and was mated with Alpha Astadel, the most powerful and notorious Alpha, who didn't believe in fated mates and who showed no mercy to his enemies? Will Verity heed her mother's advice and stay away from Alpha Astadel, or will he win over his destined mate?

"As you walk out of that door, walk out of my life as well." I told him as I looked him straight in the eye. All the love was gone. All the good memories faded. In their places were anger, hatred and disgust. He looked at me as if he couldn't believe what I was saying. "I'm sorry, please give me a chance to be a father to Dah-" "Leave!" I said in a dangerously low tone. He didn't deserve to be called a father. He didn't deserve to live at all, you know why? Because he took away everything from me. My virginity, my happiness, my education, my teenage life and my family. Everything. He was a monster and my daughter would never call him daddy.

Jonathan Shaw is busy taking his mentor's daughter, who's burning up a fever, to the hospital on the day I fall. I'm pregnant. I need to undergo surgery to stabilize the pregnancy, but it's risky. However, Jonathan's tone is icy on the other end of the line. "I know you've always been biased against my mentor, Tessa. Still, do you think you can use something like this as an excuse to get me there?" I lose hope in him as a lone tear rolls down my face. "Don't bother saving the child. Help me abort it." My love for Jonathan leaves with our child.

I am forced to become the slave of a cruel, dark, and powerful dragon prince from the Raven clan. A misunderstanding pushed my already miserable life into hell. He used me, bullied me, and made me his slave. I cannot live like this, but he will never let me die either. His obsession with me is scary. My misery will make his day. But something changed, and so so did he. The intensity of his obsession increased. He is Raphael Raven. He is a prince. My name is Valarie and I am nobody. This is our story. A time when Dragons rule the world. A place where humans are deemed as silent spectators and have no say in anything. In that world and time, a dark prince is born, to make a place in history, and write his story in blood. "Please, don't " she begged him. "If you think that your innocent act would melt my heart, then you are mistaken. Now strip " Raphael growled, which made her jump with fright.