Julian Maxwell

After deciding to leave Azurea and follow Clara Miller to Northwood City, I was cast out by my parents. "That girl is an orphan–what can she possibly give you? If you choose a life of hardship now, you’ll spend the rest of your life suffering! Once you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back!" I left anyway. For five years, I watched Clara rise step by step, becoming one of Northwood City’s most respected psychologists. Just as she had promised, she gave me a home. As the New Year approached, I planned to take her back to Azurea to reconcile with my parents. However, just before boarding the plane, she abandoned me again–this time for a depressed patient threatening to take his own life. She let go of my hand, her eyes full of pain. "Julian Vance… he’s just like I used to be–alone, with no one to rely on. If I don’t go, he’ll jump. I’m sorry. Just this once. I’ll catch the next flight and meet you there." Then she turned and ran toward the exit without hesitation. I stood there, staring at the two plane tickets in my hand. She had saved everyone who needed redemption. Everyone… except me. Slowly, I tore up her ticket. Then I walked alone toward the security gate and turned off my phone. What Clara did not know was this: Some journeys home, once missed, are gone forever.

On the day the Cole family went bankrupt, Adrian Cole left behind a suicide note and went alone to the snow mountains to end his life. I chased after him without hesitation, searching for him in the snow for a full ten hours. Just as despair hollowed me out completely, I saw his secretary, Zoe Bennett, livestreaming Adrian's proposal on social media. One of his friends joked in the comments, "You're about to be a groom. Aren't you afraid your woman will get mad?" His reply was icy cold. "I only promised her the title of Mrs. Cole. She shouldn't even think about anything else." Another comment followed. "She's marrying in with ten billion in investment. Is she really willing to swallow that kind of grievance?" I could almost see Adrian sneering as he typed, "She got ten billion for the position of Mrs. Cole. She's not losing out. If it weren't for her, Zoe wouldn't have been forced to go abroad. These last few days are my compensation to Zoe." My fingernails dug deep into my flesh. Calmly, I burned everything that had anything to do with him. On the day of the wedding, he went mad searching for me everywhere. In the upscale venue across the street, I had just slipped on a diamond ring given to me by another man, Julian Cross. Unbeknownst to him, while he was calculating the countdown to our breakup, I was also preparing to marry someone else.

“Don’t freaking touch me you liar!” Diana yelled, the tears spilling down her face. She couldn't believe the man she loved and trusted had lied to her. “You told me you loved me!” “Yes, I do. Diana, listen, I…,” Xavier gasped, his voice breaking. He knew he was losing her. His heart ached. He had never meant to go this far with her. He had wanted to hurt her but it hurt worse to see her like this. “You're all the same. I never should have loved you. I hate you! You're dead to me!” She screamed and walked away from him. Xavier chased after her, yelling her name but she shrugged him off, slamming the door in his face. Diana Pierce had always wanted love. She couldn't have it. Not after her ex husband Julian had cheated on her with her mother and tore her life apart. Now, Xavier, the savior she had dreamed of had been a secret sworn enemy out to get her from the start. What will she do when she finds out Xavier truly loves her? Will she ever forgive him? What happens when she learns her family isn't all that great and had been responsible for a heartache that had tormented him for years? Read on to find out!

For years, the witches and vampires of Shadowbrooke co-existed secretly, without much incident. Until one winter evening in 2002. Luca Delacroix was on a hunting trip when the monthly court hosted by his clan turned disastrous. What began as a normal night for the residents of the sleepy town ended horribly when fledgelings in blood-lust took Shadowbrooke under siege. It took a small coven of witches, a powerful spell, the Chaos Star and a virgin's blood to end the terror. But in the aftermath, Julian Delacroix, Luca's brother, along with several of their clan members, were eternally bound to the manor's cellar, forsaken to wither and perish from thirst. It's 2022, and Luca's returned to Shadowbrooke after two decades. His sudden reappearance threatens to destabilise the peaceful town again. He'll stop at nothing to get his brother out, and the Youngblood Coven will not hesitate to destroy him. While the witches scramble to get the missing piece of the Star of Chaos, the rune they once used against Luca's clan, he has to fight hard to stay one step ahead of them. But, his plans go awry when he meets and falls in love with Cadence Youngblood, the same woman responsible for his brother's infernal prison. Cadence is everything he shouldn't want, but for her, Luca is willing to take the backlash from his clan and risk her coven's wrath. © 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.

“Damn it, Viola! Do you even hear yourself? You’re miserable, and you’re pretending it’s normal!” Logan says, clenching his fists beside him. I drag in a shaky breath. “What do you want me to do, Logan? Just leave my marriage?” “Yes!” I freeze. He steps closer. “Leave. And let me love you the way you deserve.” *** She thought heartbreak was the worst thing he could do to her. Then he came back. Three years ago, Logan Reynolds chose ambition over love, leaving Viola McCoy behind—and breaking her heart in the process. Determined to move on, she made a choice—one that led her into the arms of Julian Cruz, a man who vowed to love her but only saw her as a means to an end. Now, trapped in a loveless marriage, Viola endures the whispers, the neglect, and the bruises she hides beneath designer sleeves. But when Logan returns as the new CEO of Reynolds Publishing—her boss—Viola’s carefully constructed world begins to crack. He sees through her forced smiles and polite lies. He soon realizes the woman he left behind is still fighting to be heard. Logan is determined to save her. Viola? She’s certain she can’t be saved. But in the middle of stolen glances, midnight confessions, and the words they can’t say out loud, one question remains: Can love be rewritten, or are some stories doomed to end the same way twice?

Bagi Lily, hidup adalah tentang bidikan yang presisi dan loyalitas tanpa batas pada negara. Namun, saat misi mengejar sindikat narkoba Blue Swan, sang Inspektur Muda dipaksa menanggalkan pistol Glock-19 miliknya. Dia harus bertransformasi menjadi Ibu Lilyana, seorang guru Bahasa Indonesia yang lembut di SMA Merpati Putih. Di balik kemewahan pilar-pilar sekolah elit itu, tersimpan busuknya konspirasi yang melibatkan para penguasa. Lily harus bermain cantik di bawah pengawasan ketat Adrian Pradipta, Wakil Kepala Sekolah Bidang Kurikulum yang dingin dan penuh curiga, yang seolah mampu membaca setiap kebohongan di mata Lily. Namun, kejutan terbesar tidak datang dari misi itu sendiri. Di tengah kepungan musuh, Lily justru bertemu kembali dengan Julian. Pria yang seharusnya sudah mati lima tahun lalu. Pria yang dulu dia cintai kini berdiri di sisi kegelapan sebagai tangan kanan sang Mafia. Dia adalah pengkhianat, musuh, sekaligus hantu yang menghancurkan kewarasan Lily. Di antara desingan peluru dan aroma buku sastra, Lily terjebak dalam dilema mematikan. Apakah Julian benar-benar monster yang harus dia hancurkan? Ataukah ada alasan tragis di balik tinta merah yang menodai tangan pria itu? Dalam perang ini, merpati tak lagi putih. Dan setiap kata yang tertulis, bisa menjadi kalimat terakhir bagi nyawa mereka.

In a world where family ties and business deals are intertwined, Ivy Smith finds herself trapped in a nightmare. Her father's company is struggling, and the only way to save it is by forming an alliance with the powerful Blackwood family. The cost? Ivy's hand in marriage to Victor Blackwood, a ruthless and cunning man with a reputation for getting what he wants, no matter the cost. Ivy is devastated. She's always been a strong-willed and independent person, and the thought of being tied to someone like Victor is unbearable. But her family's situation is dire, and she feels she has no choice but to accept the arrangement. As the wedding preparations begin, Ivy's brothers - Ethan, Lucas, and Julian - are fiercely protective of her. They know Victor's true nature and are determined to keep her safe. But they're also bound by the agreement, and their hands are tied. Victor, on the other hand, is determined to break Ivy's spirit. He's cruel, manipulative, and has a hidden agenda. He sees Ivy as a trophy, a way to solidify his family's power and control. And he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. As Ivy navigates her new reality, she must find a way to survive Victor's abuse and manipulation. She's trapped in a gilded cage, with no escape in sight. But she's determined to fight back, to find a way out of this nightmare and take control of her own destiny. The story is a dark, twisted tale of love, family, and power. It's a tale of survival and rebellion, of one woman's fight against the forces that seek to control her. Will Ivy find a way to escape Victor's clutches, or will she be forever trapped in this living hell?

When Sadie Blake died clutching divorce papers, watching her husband Marcus Whitmore and best friend Gwen celebrate over her poisoned body, she swore her last breath would not be in vain. Betrayed, beaten, and robbed of her unborn child, she closed her eyes on a life of shattered dreams. But fate had other plans. Sadie awakens three years in the past, standing before the same three marriage contracts that once sealed her doom. The first belongs to Marcus Whitmore—the man who would become her murderer. The second to Julian Ashford—her childhood sweetheart who chose Gwen over her. The third to Damien Cross—the disabled CEO she'd callously rejected, pitying his wheelchair-bound condition. This time, Seraphina knows exactly who to choose. What she doesn't know is that Damien Cross harbors his own deadly secret. Reborn from his own violent death at Marcus and Gwen's hands, he's spent three years plotting their destruction. When the woman who once scorned him suddenly appears at his altar, willing to be his bride, Damien suspects a trap. Two souls reborn. Two hearts burning for vengeance. One marriage contract that will either unite them in their quest for justice—or destroy them both when their hidden truths collide. In a game where love and revenge intertwine, will Sadie and Damien become each other's salvation, or will their secrets tear apart their second chance at life? Sometimes the greatest revenge is living well... together.

Daisy’s heart raced with excitement as she entered the elegant wedding venue, the sweet scent of flowers filling the air. She held onto her boyfriend Noah’s arm, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. But as she laid eyes on her best friend’s soon-to-be husband, her world shattered. The man standing before her was the one she had been searching for all these years. The room seemed to spin as she struggled to comprehend the cruel twist of fate. Her heart sank as she realised he didn’t remember her, treating her like a stranger. The disappointment was crushing, but she accepted the harsh truth with a heavy heart. She steeled herself, determined to witness her best friend Julian’s wedding with the man she had longed to meet. But she didn’t knew that fate had a unique plan in store for her. Unbeknownst to Daisy, she was about to find herself standing on that very aisle, adorned in a wedding dress, instead of her beloved Julian. However, the man she has married - Dylan Astor, despises her with an intensity that is palpable. He has transformed into a completely unrecognisable figure from the man Daisy had encountered years ago. His once radiant, charming smile has transformed into a dark, icy countenance, causing Daisy to hold her breath whenever she sees him. The tension in the air is suffocating, as if a storm is brewing. Dylan knows very well that Daisy doesn't have feelings for him, which only makes him even more angry at her.

Sarah Miller spent three years as the invisible and neglected wife of Jason Vanguard. The story begins when Jason serves her divorce papers to marry the socialite Elena Vance. believing Sarah is a penniless nobody. However. the divorce triggers the secret Vanguard Pact of 1995. Sarah discovers she is the heiress to a hidden 30-billion-dollar fortune. Supported by her childhood protector. Julian Thorne. Sarah sheds her timid persona and begins a brutal corporate takeover. She systematically dismantles Jason’s empire and humiliates her enemies in public "face-slapping" revelations. As Sarah rises to power. she uncovers a dark family conspiracy. Her father. Arthur. faked her mother’s death to hide his own crimes. and Sarah eventually finds her sister. Lily. who was hidden away for years. The conflict escalates when Sarah discovers her mother. Catherine. is actually alive and is the true villain of the story. Catherine is a cold mastermind who has been pulling the strings of both families from the shadows. She views Sarah as a rival and uses deepfakes. holograms. and identity theft to frame Sarah for global crimes in an attempt to steal the 30 billion dollars. The final battle takes Sarah from Singapore to London. where she survives assassination attempts and psychological warfare. Sarah eventually locates her Aunt Rose. the only person with the legal authority to override Catherine’s control. In a final showdown. Sarah triggers a financial "Poison Pill" that bankrupts her mother and leaves Jason paralyzed and imprisoned. Sarah emerges as the "Glass Queen." an independent titan who turns her corrupt family legacy into a global foundation. She finally finds peace and a true partnership with Julian. having destroyed the ghosts of her past.