Hopeless Pursuit

He looks at me like he already knows the truth I’ve spent a lifetime hiding. Ethan Vance—lawman, predator, believer in a system I learned to outthink before I could drink wine. His eyes don’t burn with hate. They study, measure, almost… understand. They call him incorruptible. Maybe he is. But I’ve seen incorruptible men fall, not to money or power, but to fascination. The kind that crawls under your skin and makes you wonder if the person chasing you might be the only one who truly sees you. He hunts me by the book. I survive by rewriting it. But somewhere between the pursuit and the silence, between his questions and my lies, the line blurred. And now, I can’t decide which is more dangerous, losing to him, or wanting him to catch me. --- He isn’t what I expected. Luca Vitale walks into every room like he owns it, and maybe he does. Calm. Calculated. Dangerous in ways that don’t show up on a rap sheet. He should be just another target, another name I take down and file away. But there’s something about the way he looks at me. Like he already knows I’m not as untouchable as I pretend to be. I tell myself it’s strategy, curiosity, control. It’s not. It’s a problem. Because every time I think I’m closing in, I realise he’s already two steps ahead—and for the first time in my career, I’m not sure if I’m hunting him, or if he’s letting me try.

Sweet stories are coming. Be brave, and tell him how you feel. We hide in the lonely corners, watching those charming boys, but we don't know as long as we are brave enough, we can win their hearts. The handsome schoolboy, the abstinent professor, the cool genius... Who says that crush is fruitless? The pursuit of true love never goes out of style. “Falling in Love With A Cool Guy” My bestie's brother was a cool guy. When I met him for the first time, he went out of the bathroom and covered my head with a coat. Chelsea, my bestie tried to smooth things over. "This is my friend. Is she beautiful?" He looked at me coldly and said in a mean tone, "Ugly." Well, you might be a handful, but I knew how to deal with this type. I showed him my care and consideration for a long time. In the end, I gave up. He was still so arrogant that he didn't even call me sister. Two days after I gave up, he sent me the first message. Cool guy: [Are you playing hard to get?] “Love You Long Ago” I had a crush on Matthew, who was my neighbor, for a long time. One day, Matthew took the initiative to find me and introduced his younger brother to me. I smiled bitterly. Everyone knew that his half-brother was the person he hated the most. “Crush” I never thought this scene would appear in front of me. A tall man stood before me, holding the pink lingerie I had just taken off with his slender ring finger. My jeans were halfway also down my thighs.

In a world where power is forged from ruthlessness, Mario reigns as the unyielding mafia king. When tragedy strikes and he loses a sister to cold-blooded murder, he takes Gia, the daughter of his enemy, hostage—not just to punish her father, but to bind her heart to his in a twisted pact sealed with marriage. Gia finds herself trapped in a life she despises, harboring a deep-seated hatred for the man who stole everything from her. Yet amidst the darkness of captivity, a flicker of something unexpected begins to ignite between them. As the walls close in and the intensity of their shared space compels them to confront their feelings, Gia finds herself torn between escape and the emotions that bind her to Mario. As she plots her escape, a secret unfolds—one that will change everything. A baby is growing within her, a symbol of both uncertainty and hope. With the stakes higher than ever, Mario must decide if he can truly win her heart after the pain he has inflicted or if he is doomed to forfeit love in pursuit of his revenge. Will Gia and Mario discover a way to heal their broken past? Can their shared destiny be forged from the ashes of betrayal? As they navigate the treacherous waters of their intertwined fates, brace yourself for a gripping tale of resilience and the profound power of love that might just redeem them both, if only they can find the courage to embrace it. *** "I'm sorry... That guy meant nothing to me." My voice trembled. "I don't care if it meant nothing to you. I don't want another man's hands on you," he said firmly. I nodded, "Yes. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." "It can't happen again, Gia, because you are mine."

What does the underboss of an infamous crime family have in common with a spirited primary school teacher? Absolutely nothing, except a marriage of convenience, of course. When Lionel Tyson defaults on a gambling debt and offers his most prized possession as collateral, Austin Hawthorne is underwhelmed. But in desperate need of a housekeeper and permanent child minder, he knows he’d be an idiot to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, against his better judgement, he accepts an offer he should absolutely refuse. Marybeth Tyson is horrified to learn that not only is her father wanted by loan sharks, but he has also sold her off to a mafia boss. Bound by duty and pushed by guilt, she agrees to give Austin Hawthorne one year of her life, despite common sense screaming at her to run the other way. After all, how hard can pretending to be madly in love with someone be? It’s all fun and games until play pretend becomes all too real, and an earth-shattering secret from Austin’s past comes to light, threatening to destroy his second chance at love with his dogged pursuit for answers. Betrayal, especially at the hands of his older brother Blake and long-time friend, Andrei Ivanov, is a bitter pill to swallow for Austin, and letting them off scot-free is not an option. Driven by his unquenchable thirst for revenge, Austin will stop at nothing to get to the truth, even if it means destroying decade-old friendships and fragile ties to The Corporation. 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publishers.

You should have died along with your friend. Because even if you live, you will never belong anywhere." Zach’s words were cold and final. Bernice gritted her teeth. "You're wrong! I survived because I was meant to! And I will keep surviving!" * On prom night, Bernice and her best friend were attacked by a savage beast. Her friend didn’t make it. Bernice did. But something changed. Her senses sharpened, her strength grew, and an unfamiliar instinct awakened within her. She wasn’t just recovering—she was transforming. Into a werewolf. Then came Zachary, the enigmatic new transfer student who seemed to know more than he let on. He pulled Bernice into a hidden world she never knew existed—the world of werewolves. But there was no place for her there. She wasn’t pureblood, nor was she hybrid. Bernice was an unknown. At the werewolf academy, Bernice was outcast, unwelcome. But she refused to bow, determined to uncover the truth and avenge Sara, the friend she lost. Yet, being divergent made her something else—something dangerous. It drew the attention of three powerful Alpha heirs: the cold and calculating Zach, the fierce and loyal Genesis, and the charming yet ruthless Jasher. They were bound to her, unable to resist the pull. But as Bernice faces their relentless pursuit, an even darker truth emerges—the wolf that turned her wasn’t just any wolf. It was an ancient, deadly Alpha. And it was watching and waiting. With three Alphas ready to fight for her, will Bernice be strong enough to take down the monster that started it all? And when the time comes to be crowned Luna, who will she choose?

“Hidden depths of Ambition” is a gripping tale of power, revenge, and the quest for justice, following the life of Alex, a young man driven by the tragic loss of his parents. The story begins with Alex’s childhood, where the seeds of ambition are sown as he navigates the challenges of growing up without his parents. Early on, he demonstrates leadership qualities that lead him to win a student council election, sparking his interest in politics. As he matures, Alex not only excels academically but also ventures into the business world, establishing his own successful enterprise. However, the shadow of his parents’ mysterious deaths looms over him, compelling him to investigate the truth behind their demise. This dual quest for power and revenge propels him into local politics, where he faces off against seasoned adversaries and uncovers a conspiracy that intertwines with his family’s past. As Alex’s political ambitions grow, so do the stakes. He announces his candidacy for president, employing innovative campaign strategies and facing media wars that test his character. Personal sacrifices strain his relationships, revealing the cost of his relentless pursuit of power. Allies become enemies, and betrayal lurks around every corner as he grapples with the dark side of politics. The narrative reaches a climax during the presidential race, where Alex’s leadership is put to the ultimate test amid a national crisis and the resurfacing of his parents’ case. With a coalition of unexpected allies, he confronts the forces threatening his presidency and seeks justice for his family. In the final sections of the story, Alex must navigate the aftermath of his decisions, facing the consequences of his quest for vengeance and the legacy he wishes to leave behind. What will Alex do?

The air crackled with menace, each syllable a poisoned dart. "You belong to me. You'll serve me. Do this and be quiet if you want to live." These were the ironclad words that slammed down on Miguel and Alejandro, forging a link of fear and obligation. Miguel , a shadow in the city's underbelly, found his deadly profession twisted into a personal debt. A botched hit, a life spared – the mafia prince demanded repayment in flesh and loyalty. Now, Miguel 's existence was tethered to a man he was meant to extinguish. Alejandro, the journalist with a voice too loud for the prince's liking, became collateral damage in this dangerous game. His relentless pursuit of truth had landed him squarely in the crosshairs. One careless encounter, a desperate attempt by Miguel to silence Alejandro's probing questions with a kiss – a spark ignited in the suffocating darkness. It was a kiss meant to quell, but it unfurled a landscape of unexpected desire. Suddenly, the stakes were higher than survival. The illicit touch had awakened a fierce passion, a dangerous intimacy blooming between captor and… something more. Yet, the prince's wrath was a constant shadow, threats lurked in every corner, and the chasm of their circumstances stretched between them like a vast, unforgiving ocean. Could this fragile connection withstand the forces determined to tear them apart? the constant threat of exposure, the weight of their conflicting worlds, and the ever-present danger? Could Alejandro find a way to reconcile his principles with the undeniable pull he felt for his captor? Could Miguel risk the stability of his empire for a love born in captivity? Would their love become a casualty of the very danger that brought them together, or would they fight to keep its flame alive against impossible odds?

Ciara Mendes is a talented and captivating journalist at Flare Magazine, the best, where she tirelessly chases compelling stories while grappling with the emotional fallout of a recent heartbreak. Her journalistic prowess is matched only by her determination to heal personally, as she balances the demands of her high-pressure career with her pursuit of emotional recovery. Meanwhile, Giovanni Haynes, a strikingly handsome and enigmatic CEO of Anton Industry, captivates everyone around him with his undeniable charm and affluent lifestyle. Widely regarded as L.A.'s ultimate womanizer, Giovanni embodies a magnetic confidence that conceals a haunted past filled with betrayals and unfulfilled desires that linger like shadows in his life. As fate intertwines their paths, tensions rise, and the undeniable chemistry between Ciara and Giovanni ignites a spark that neither can resist, drawing them into an intoxicating whirlwind of passion and vulnerability. Their lives grow increasingly intertwined as they confront unresolved issues from their pasts, leading to a cascade of secrets surfacing that reveal a world rife with deception, lies, and hidden agendas. Each revelation pulls them deeper into the complexities of their connection, forcing them to navigate a maze of ambition, longing, and trepidation. Torn between their professional ambitions and the burgeoning attraction they cannot deny, Ciara and Giovanni find themselves at a crossroads where love becomes both a beautiful gift and a perilous gamble. Ultimately, they will come to understand that the most powerful stories are the ones that unfold in the depths of the heart, guiding them toward a reckoning that could change everything they thought they knew about love, trust, and forgiveness. In a city beautiful city defined by ambition and allure, where the glimmer of neon lights often masks the shadows of hidden agendas, Ciara Mendes and Giovanni Haynes find themselves at a crucial juncture.

Happiness and contentment are the very things that defined Camilla’s existence on Earth. In search for her parents, she was lost and with it all she had. Disappearing into the unknown and brought to a world she never heard of. Rescued and with no hope of returning, she severed the feelings left of her previous life. She’s able to build a new identity in the peculiar world. Having friends and a purpose, she felt she’s living the one she used to have. But life isn't done with her yet. In hopes of gaining alliance of the strongest empire, King Rupert abducted the odd looking erudite woman to help him or risk going to war and lose everything. Camilla can choose to go back and keep living her happy days, knowing it wouldn’t last. Or go along with the King’s plan which might get her killed but’ll save the country for good if she succeeds. She chose the latter, became princess Thalyn, and was sent to attend the coronation of the Imperial prince. Imperial Prince Fazan found a way to bring his dead mother back to life. With a magical stone, he could accomplish the task. However he only possesses half of the stone and is in pursuit of the other which is buried in the forbidden palace of Myrtha. But only a woman of noble blood could open its gates. The stone chooses its lady and it came to light that the person it wants is princess Thalyn. Camilla has successfully achieved her task, regrettably her secret was uncovered by the prince who used it to his advantage. She once again found herself at somebody’s mercy, only this time she’d no choice but to accede. They began their long quest full of uncertainty, adventure, and perhaps romance.

When the past collides with the present, the heart can't be ignored. Darla thought her arranged marriage to the billionaire, and magnetic Elijah Houston was behind her. After all, what were forgotten vows and buried feelings in the face of new beginnings? But returning to Atlanta as his business partner, she discovers that some flames refuse to die out. Elijah is relentless in his pursuit of Darla, but as the stakes rise, their rekindled feelings threaten not just their careers but the very people they hold dear. Torn between ambition and affection, they face a heart-wrenching dilemma: choose each other and risk hurting others, or protect their loved ones and shatter their own hearts once more. Join a journey of second chances, heartache, and the fierce power of love that proves sometimes, letting go can be just as hard as holding on. Will they find their way back to happiness, or will the weight of their decisions tear them apart for good? *** "Are you going to say it?" "Fuck you!" I snapped. "You left and abandoned me when I was pregnant with your kids! How dare you think that you can come back into my life, and I'll just forgive you as if you didn't leave me to be with another woman?! You're a motherfucking cunt, Mr. Houston!" "I know that I lied, cheated, and divorced you on claims that Abigail was pregnant! I know that I was an asshole who doesn't deserve sympathy from you, but I love you!" He sighed. "I love you with all my heart, and nothing makes sense to me more than you." He breathed. "You're the only thing that wakes me up at night. Day and night, you're the only thing that I think about."