Hidden Ruins: Chapter 4

It was Christmas Eve. Once again, my parents left me alone at home, chasing triple pay at work. However, after twenty years of the same lonely holiday, I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to sit in the quiet house by myself again, so I packed up some sandwiches and went to them. What I didn’t expect was to see them stepping out of a luxury car, arms linked with a boy who looked about my age, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world, heading straight into a five-star hotel. “Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Suzie all alone at home like that?” My mom waved it off and said, “It’s fine. She’s used to it.” My dad just brushed it off with a chuckle. “She’s nothing like you. You're our real treasure.” Upon hearing that, I turned and walked away. They'd been pretending to be broke all these years, lying to me about working overtime, about scraping by. Well, fine. If they don’t want me, I’m done wanting them, too.

Luke Fagundes is the son of billionaire Gonçalo Fagundes. The boy sees his life change completely when he discovers that his father betrayed his mother. Willing to reveal to the world who Gonçalo really is, Luke faces his own father, who sends him to another state, without clothes and without money. Luke will live hell on earth until he meets Aurora. Their lives, even with similar stories, will teach them that love heals many things, including wounds from the past. Will the son and also Billionaire Luke, abandon the idea of revenge to live a love story?

While working with the search and rescue team to save people trapped in an earthquake, an aftershock suddenly struck. Without hesitation, I pushed a hospital intern, Serena, out of the way. However, the force of the movement sent me to the ground, where a steel rod pierced my back, leaving me unable to move. When the aftershock ended, my husband, Derrick, came down with the others. Yet, instead of coming to me, he rushed to cradle Serena, who only had a few scrapes. Then he turned to glare at me. “What are you still sitting there for? Are you dead? Serena’s hurt, and you can’t even help her up?!” I was in so much pain I could barely speak, only able to force out a faint sound. “Honey, I… I’ve got a steel rod in my back… Please… help me.” Serena suddenly burst into tears in fear. “Mr. Nelson, I was so scared. Just now, Ms. Jones pushed me forward. If I hadn’t shifted direction, that huge rock would’ve crushed me!” Derrick, furious, shouted at me. “Gwen! You’re a doctor! What about your ethics? Your humanity?” Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. “I didn’t. Please, just save me. I really can’t move…” One of the medical team members who came down with him checked my condition and looked worried. “Director Nelson, the steel rod seems to have pierced her spine. If we don’t treat her now, there’s a risk of paraplegia!” However, Derrick yanked him aside. “Save her? Let her walk herself! Gwen, we’re saving lives right now. If you want to act, I’ll put on a show with you when we get home! “Serena’s injured. Since there’s only one stretcher, we’re taking her up. You can walk up on your own.” His cold, departing back left me in utter despair.

Layla Monroe has always been the overlooked daughter in a family that treasures beauty over loyalty. Betrayed by her boyfriend and overshadowed by her stepsister, Celeste, Layla has learned to survive without the support of those who should love her most. But when her family’s business teeters on the brink of ruin, they demand a sacrifice: a loveless marriage to Damian Blackwood, a man with secrets as deep as his grudges. Reluctantly, Layla agrees, believing Damian to be a penniless partner in her family’s plot. But her husband is hiding an empire—and a vendetta. What begins as a calculated alliance shift into something more as Layla uncovers Damian’s plans for revenge against her family and his unexpected role in her future. When old enemies and past lovers return, threatening to destroy everything she’s fought for, Layla must choose: protect the family that betrayed her or forge her path with the man who could be her undoing—or her redemption. In a world of lies and betrayal, can Layla find the strength to reclaim her worth and take control of her destiny?

Everyone has a dark past that you can never run from it. Theresa Young goes by the name of Terry may have left her dark past, but it still haunts her. Pretending to be a man, Terry became Odin King's hitman to gain unlimited resources to find a person. She killed countless people and stained her hands with blood Terry will do anything to find the woman who had ruined her. Her mind is filled with revenge and hatred for that woman she had to leave the people she cared about. When Terry was informed about the woman's whereabouts, she packed up and left California to go on a cruise ship. Disguise as a tourist and spot the person connected to her target, she was then bumped into someone she didn't unexpectedly make her heart race the moment her eyes met his ocean blue ones. Seth Wolfe, the second eldest among the Wolfe brothers and the playboy of the family, decided to follow Terry. He left without saying goodbye to his family and friends to follow the man he cared about. Seth was angry and upset that his best friend left him without saying anything and wanted an explanation. He followed Terry on a cruise ship, and he searched for him. Little did he know his eagerness ignored the people on the boat and accidentally bumped into a woman with the same pretty boy face as his best friend. One look at this woman made his heart race, and the thing between his legs jerked. That is until he realized this woman was his best friend in woman's clothing. Although Terry is a male, seeing him in a woman's dress made Seth feel something he had never expected towards a male or confused about his sexuality.

She was just a normal girl, or so she thought. Small Town, just her and her mother nothing seemed more perfect. Kali was no ordinary girl though, she was of Alpha blood but her mother hid everything from her until it was to late. Her mother no longer her to hide her. No longer here to protect her and guide her, left her to find everything out on her own. Not knowing that what was in-store was so much more than she was hoping for and took her from becoming the college track star to ending up in a twisted fate of betrayal, love and so many hidden secrets that just were buried so far away.

At 4:00 a.m., my husband, Rocco, gently shook me awake. His voice was a low murmur, . "Alessia, my love, could you do something for me?" But his next words shattered the illusion. "Scarlett is hungry. Go make her some seafood soup." Scarlett was our maid, and she was also Rocco's pregnant goomar. "I just had fresh seafood delivered. Get to the kitchen and make her a bowl of soup. Just for Falcone's heir." I refused, my voice cold. His anger flared in an instant. "Don't be so unreasonable, Alessia." "Is it really so hard for you to make some soup?" I shook my head, silent. He stroked my cheek, a patronizing smile playing on his lips. "Fine, Alessia. So you've learned to defy me now." "Think carefully, Alessia. Do you really want to keep your place as a Falcone?" "And your position as the family's lawyer? Think about whether you still want these… then give me your answer." Seeing the arrogance in Rocco's eyes, the last ember of love I had for this man died. I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time. "I want out of the Falcone family."

She was called Erica Johnson, an extremely beautiful young lady with blue precious eyes, she had straight blonde hairs hanging down her shoulders but her life was crippled by the thoughts of never being able to love and be loved by a man. She dreamt of having a husband and beautiful children someday but as days crept into weeks and weeks into months, she lost faith in the words "true love". The betrayals were unbearable especially from people whom she loved the most and her trust broken. Erica tagged herself unlucky and unfortunate until the very day she met a young man whom she believed would change her perception of things but when she thought things have turned out for the best, that was where the nightmare began.

When love is a sin, Ava Peony Lazarte is the sinner. Ava is a nineteen-year-old college student who is known for her beauty, wit, and respectable reputation. She is every guy's dream girl and every girl's insecurity. However, behind her alluring and almost perfect facade, no one knows about her scandalous secret; she is the billionaire's mistress. She knows her relationship with the CEO of Valderama corporation, Zachary Wolf Valderama, is wrong for so many reasons. He is twice her age, about to get married for the second time, and he is her friend's father. However, Ava has no plans of quitting her relationship with Zach because she loves him. She depends on him. And he's everything she got. Ava is a warrior of the painful tragedy most people call love. She is a true warrior; a wounded one. Read her story and discover how is it like to be the billionaire's illicit affair.

Over 700 years after the death of King Elijah and Queen Celeste, their son Micah ruled over the world. After searching endlessly for his mate, he gave up hope thinking he would rule the world alone for he was the only one to have ever lived for such a long time. When words got to the king that the omegas (humans) have been escaping 'his world' to live in the ruin for almost two decades he became livid going to the ruins to kill them all and teach others never to cross him. What Micah never expected was for his mate to be lurking in the ruined palace hiding from the harsh and brutal world he created and he never expected his mate to be human. "I found you.. Mate" He breathes bringing his hand to cup my cheeks but i snapped my head backwards. "I would never be yours" I said breathing harshly while glaring at him.