Jaime Velasquez Park

RAVENNA COSTA Some women fear the fire Others simply become it... Ruling over a criminal organization wasn't easy especially when no one wanted you to rule. If they thought they could kick me out because I was a woman, then they had another thing coming for them. I'll show them I'm not to be messed with, and when I'm done, they'll know I was not just a woman. I am the woman. ************ Ravenna Costa found her house up in flames after returning from a park with her nanny. The house getting burnt wouldn't have bothered her if her parents weren't in the house. They receive a text message from her father telling them to run, and that was what they did for ten years. During those ten years, they lived on the streets. They thought they had escaped their old life of luxury, but that was until Ravenna's past comes knocking on her present. She gets kidnapped on her way to the rundown apartment she had managed to secure for herself and her nanny, and then she's knocked unconscious. Waking up, she finds herself in a room, and she gets the biggest shock of her life. Turns out her father had been involved in shady business she never knew about. She's introduced to the world of organized crime, and there she meets her childhood best friend. Only he wasn't a child anymore, but a full-grown man. A full-grown man she wanted. The problem was they fought on opposite sides of a war, but that doesn't stop Ravenna from wanting him, after all, the heart wants what it wants. Decisions must be made as the line between love and hatred begins to blur, and Ravenna is forced to choose between her duty or her love for her childhood best friend.

In the heart of Princeton University, nothing is as it seems. There lies secrets that are just beginning to come to light. Just when I thought that my college life would be a walk in the park for a studious student and werewolf like me, life had more curve balls to hurl at me. I became the target and obsession of a mysterious psychopathic mass murderer known as the Red Ghoul. I am an object he desires and the only thing keeping me safe is the wrath of my football Alpha. Meet Eren Blackwood—tall, dark, undeniably captivating, and Godlike handsome. The guy is the epitome of every girl's dream. He is the football captain and Alpha of the notorious and feared Black Blood pack. He’s every girl's dream and the name that strikes terror into the hearts of his enemies. But for me, he’s something else entirely: he is my protector, my temptation, and ultimately, my NIGHTMARE. Dive into a thrilling and youthful journey of passion and peril where love is a battlefield, and every choice could unleash a dark power neither of us are prepared to face. Get ready for a story that challenges everything you thought you knew about passion, desire, obsession, and danger. This is not just a romance——it's a revelation. ************* "Don't pretend like you don't feel anything" Eren's voice is low, sending shivers down my spine. "What do you mean?" "You know damn well what I mean." "I don't know what you're talking about." I feigned ignorance of what he was talking about, flipping some pages in my textbook. "Come on. I have all these assignments overdue. Aren't you supposed to teach me something tonight?" "It depends on what you want me to teach you, Stoneheart." He smirks, his voice sounding even more dangerous.

“I love you, Venus. But… it would be better if we divorced.” Venus Andalusia never imagined that her one-year marriage to Jupiter Shaw would end on the very night that should have been the happiest of her life—the night she discovered she was pregnant. Instead of an embrace filled with happiness, she was handed divorce papers. Jupiter couldn’t forgive what had happened in the past. And Venus had no choice but to accept his decision. She didn’t want to remain by his side while carrying a love that hurt like this—heavy, unreciprocated, and slowly breaking her. “Whatever you choose, Jupiter,” Venus said softly, “I’ll leave. Because I don’t think I could survive being in your place either.” But before she truly walked away, she asked for two weeks. Two weeks for Jupiter to relive the journey of how they had fallen in love—watching movies together, spending an entire day at an amusement park, watching the sunset on his private beach. Two weeks to remember them. Tragically, it wasn’t the past that shattered—it was Jupiter himself who ended up destroying his own life all over again. Venus was hurt while protecting the very man who wanted to divorce her. And before her wounds could heal, the world condemned her, labeling her unworthy to stand beside Jupiter. All because of her past. It only convinced Venus further that she didn’t belong at his side. As if that weren’t enough, Jupiter’s former lover appeared—bringing a child with her. Venus chose to disappear. She signed the divorce papers, walked away with her love… and with the child born from that love. When fate brought them together again, only one question remained: Was a wounded love still worth it?

Mira Dela Cruz, isang determined pero struggling IT graduate mula sa probinsya, ay halos mawalan na ng pag-asa matapos ang sunod-sunod na job rejection—hanggang sa isang araw sa park, isang lalaking presentable at gwapo ang nagkamali ng akala sa kanya. Akala’y isa siyang bayarang babae. “Hi miss, if you’re available tonight... I’ll pay—just once.” Ito ang unang katagang binitawan ni Ethan Alexander Reyes—ang CEO ng isa sa kilalang successful IT company sa bansa. Isang lalaking seryoso, focused sa trabaho, at ni minsan ay hindi pa nagmahal. Hindi niya inakalang ang babaeng inalok niya ng isang gabi sa hotel ang magiging simula ng kanyang unang pag-ibig. Isang malakas na pagtangi ang tinanggap ni Ethan mula kay Mira nang hindi siya maniwala na isa siyang matinong babae. “Layuan mo ako! Kadiri ka. Baboy mo!” Ang hindi alam ni Mira ang lalaking iyon din pala ang magiging bago niyang boss, at siyang magbibigay sa kanya ng panibagong pag-asa. “I’ll match whatever the other companies offer, even higher—just say yes. I need someone like you here, Miss Mira Dela Cruz.” Ayaw man ni Mira na makatrabaho si Ethan, wala na siyang nagawa. Malaki ang oportunidad na dumating, at hindi niya ito kayang palampasin. Naniniwala si Ethan na ito’y tadhana—lalo’t pareho sila ng mundo. Simula pa lang, may naramdaman na siya. Love at first sight? Maybe. "Do you believe in destiny? Because I do. I just hope this time, I get it right."

Ofelia Rosario - I take pride in being smart, careful, and independent. Fostering a pregnant cat was supposed to be the one soft thing in my life—until the fire. I stayed too long trying to save Spitfire, and I nearly didn’t make it out. But Zach Dayton pulled me from the flames—calm, strong, and way too charming. He’s everything I shouldn’t want. Everything that scares me. But he keeps showing up, helping, and making me laugh when I want to cry. And Spitfire? She seems convinced we belong together. Maybe love isn’t something you can logic your way around. Maybe it’s something you lean into. Zach Dayton - Falling in love isn’t supposed to feel more dangerous than running into a burning building. But then there’s Ofelia—stubborn, guarded, beautiful Ofelia. I was just doing my job when I found her trying to shield a pregnant cat from the smoke. But the second I saw her, something shifted. I’ve always believed I’m not built for love—too much loss, too many close calls. But she makes me want to try anyway. The way she looks at me, the way she fights for that cat, for herself… she doesn’t need a hero. But maybe she’ll let me be hers anyway. Book 8 in the Ravenwood Series. It can be read as a standalone. However, to learn about the characters and past events that may be referenced, you should check out the rest of the series. Book 1 - The Princes of Ravenwood (Zach's first appearance) Book 2 - Chasing Kitsune Book 3 - Expect the Unexpected Book 4 - Out of My League Book 5 - Man's Best Wingman (Ofelia's first appearance) Book 6 - Troubled Heart Book 7 - A Bark in the Park

Do you know I could sue you for assault, Miss Athena? I have lots of witnesses who could testify about it." "You, just because you are a billionaire, you think you can command me. Then you are wrong." "Of course, I could, and I would right now. Picked up all the papers on the floor and resumed reading the files." He commanded and settled back on his seat. "You cannot order me because I'm not your employee anymore." I resumed walking to the door, but the two bodyguards brought me back in front of him despite my screaming in protest. "Alex!!. "File the case against Miss Athena for assault." "Yes, Sir.". "You can't do that," "Of course, I could." Go, send me to prison. You asshole, bastard, animal, coldhearted, devil!!! Fuck you!!! "Do you have any family, Miss Athena?" Alex finds her family and makes sure... "I'll do it!!! I screamed in frustration. I crawled onto the floor and picked up all the folders and papers on the floor. "Now, resume where we stop." I hate him so much. *** Zachary Anderson, 23 years old. His father is the number one businessman in the country and his mother is the most sought actress of all time. He always gets what he wants until he meets her. Athena Park, 20 years old an orphan living with her fifteen years old brother. Athena has no other choice but to stop her study to find a job for their living because the money that their parents left is getting less every day. She got a different job within two years until she was hired at one of the Anderson buildings as a receptionist. She was only working for three months at the Anderson building when she meet him and her not-so-comfortable life turned into hell.

My father was critically ill. I begged my fiancé to keep his post-wedding promise—to withdraw emergency funds from the medical trust fund he had sworn to protect me forever. He refused. The next day, he announced his engagement to Pera. Overnight, I became the laughingstock of everyone. In my deepest despair, my childhood friend Seamus— The heir to a long-established Mafia family— Knelt down in the park and proposed to me in front of everyone. That night, he transferred a large sum of money to my account. I said yes without hesitation and rushed to the hospital to pay for my father's treatment. But he never woke up again. The hospital said he had suffered "unexpected complications." Everything after that—the lawyers, the funeral, all the arrangements—was handled by Seamus. Under the Mafia family's protection, everything went smoothly, and my father was able to be quietly buried. The wedding proceeded as planned. Years later, I overheard a conversation between him and the doctor who treated my father. “Seamus,” the doctor said in a low voice, “You tampered with the organ allocation priority list. You delayed Shirley’s father’s transplant so that Pera’s father could receive an organ transplant in time. You falsified the urgency level. Do you know what will happen if this is exposed?” “The list itself was legal,” Seamus replied after a pause. “I just…adjusted the urgency level.” “You committed medical fraud,” the doctor said sharply. “You ruined his only chance to live. All for Pera. Don’t you regret it?” “I don’t regret it,” Seamus answered without hesitation. “I would do anything for her. Even my life, even the honor of the Mafia family.” “Throughout our marriage, I’ve been trying to make up for everything I owed Shirley. That should be enough.” My vision blurred. Only then did I finally understand— The woman he truly loved was always Pera. "If that's really the case," I thought numbly,"Then I should leave."