Large Sticky Rat Traps

When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne receives an anonymous invitation to Wintercroft Hall—a decaying mansion on a fog-shrouded island—he is promised the story of a lifetime. But upon his arrival, Elliot finds himself among six strangers, each with their own shadowy past. Their enigmatic host, the frail and reclusive Vivienne Ashworth, claims she has summoned them to reveal a deadly truth about the Ashworth family legacy. Before she can confess, Vivienne collapses, and chaos ensues. A violent storm traps the guests on the island, and the discovery of a gruesome murder sets paranoia ablaze. As Elliot uncovers cryptic messages, hidden rooms, and a chilling photograph that ties him to the Ashworth family, he realizes that nothing about this gathering is random. With the mansion’s dark history unraveling and secrets surfacing at every turn, Elliot must confront the ghosts of his own past to survive. But the deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes—someone inside Wintercroft Hall is playing a deadly game, and not everyone will make it out alive. When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne is invited to the remote and crumbling Wintercroft Hall, he’s promised the story that could save his career. But the mansion’s sinister halls conceal more than just secrets—they harbor a legacy of betrayal, murder, and lies. Elliot is joined by six strangers, all summoned by the enigmatic Vivienne Ashworth. Frail and reclusive, she claims to know the truth about their darkest sins. Before she can reveal anything, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world—and the first body is discovered. As cryptic messages and chilling clues emerge, Elliot realizes that his connection to the Ashworth family runs deeper than he could have imagined. Someone in Wintercroft Hall knows the truth about his past, and they’ll stop at nothing .

Blackmailing a billionaire was Mia Roseford's last shot at keeping her dying sister alive. It was a desperate plan, but desperation was nothing new to her. The moment she walked into Lucas Norwig's office, she believed her hope was finally turning into reality. But something felt off—Lucas's intense gaze, the way he seemed to know her better than she knew him, like he was holding on to something—something she should remember but couldn’t. Lucas had never forgotten her. He met Mia and was in love with her over ten years ago but Mia abandoned him heartbroken and only returning now to threaten him with his past secret that can ruin his reputation. However, instead of paying her off, Lucas decides he’ll make her his wife. If she can't remember the past, he’ll ensure she has no choice but to create a future with him. What starts as an intricate game of leverage and desperation soon spirals into a battlefield of forgotten memories, rekindled feelings, and undeniable passion. Now caught up in an arranged marriage that neither of them exactly planned for, Mia and Lucas must cautiously navigate fields filled with traps of trust and betrayal. As their shared history slowly gets revealed and buried feelings resurface, they are forced to confront the truth about their past. With old enemies lurking in the background and new threats emerging, the question becomes: can they restore what was lost, or will the very secrets that brought them together tear apart their rekindled love?

In Dean Murray's eyes, Rachel Gray was a ruthless gold digger who would go to any lengths for money, even setting traps and faking a pregnancy to force a marriage. Therefore, Dean had never treated her well after they got married. Rachel endured this for a long time but finally decided to file for divorce on their third anniversary. "How much more do you want?" Dean said with a dark expression. "I don't have time to play these childish games with you." "Not a penny," Rachel replied calmly. She thought they would never intersect again, but not long after the divorce, Dean appeared before her once more. "If you regret it, I might consider giving you another chance." Rachel responded, "Thank you, but I'm good."

Sienna Calder swore she’d never touch her father’s world—Dorian Ashford, shipping mogul and billionaire king, left her mom to rot while he built his empire. She’s there to curse his grave when he dies, not to claim a dime. But his will traps her, naming her co-heir to his $50 billion legacy alongside Roman Valtieri, the brooding, hard-edged protégé who’s clawed his way into Dorian’s shadow—and now into hers. They’re to run the empire together or lose it all, and Sienna hates him for it: too slick, too close, every look a spark she doesn’t want. Then a letter from Dorian’s cold hand ignites the fire—he was murdered, and Roman’s name’s scratched beside the truth. A silver key and a vial of blood—hers, his—drag her deeper, promising answers locked in Ashford estate.But the walls crash in fast: Ezra Locke, a scarred snake with a grin like a blade, wants that key, and he’ll drown the place to get it. Roman’s her lifeline—gun drawn, hands steady, pulling her from the flood—and she loathes how his touch burns, how his voice steadies her when the water’s at her throat. Caught between rage and a pull she can’t name, Sienna fights the heat growing with every near miss—Roman’s too damn solid, too damn close, and she’s torn between shoving him away and pulling him in. The empire’s crumbling, the cliff’s falling, and Ezra’s not the only shadow circling—something darker watches, waiting. Love’s a gamble when blood’s the stake, and Sienna’s playing with a deck her father rigged. Can she trust Roman’s hands to hold her up, or will the crown they’re fighting for crush them both in its ashes?

19 year old Waverly never knew her father, she had never even known his last name since she had been the product of a one night stand. Her mom never saw the guy again after their one heated night together. At age 12 she & her mother settled down in the peaceful town of Mansterville and had lived there for the past seven years. Sure the place could get a bit boring at times but the beauty of it all was worth a tad of boredom here & there. All that is about to change when the huge moving trucks suddenly come rolling down the private drive to the large mansion across the road that had remained vacant the entire time they'd lived here. Waverly & Shay had always assumed the old manor had been condemned for one reason or another, however their assumptions are proven wrong when three gorgeous brothers suddenly pop up out of the blue one fall day and move into the home. These three will definently shake things up and bring more excitement than these two stunning ladies have ever experienced. The new neighbors may also bring out a side of Waverly she never knew existed, along with a fair amount of chaos with their sudden arrival. So...Come on folks lets all go visit the little town of Mansterville and watch as this wild adventure unfolds.

With a large pack and the duty of the gods on her shoulders Drew is becoming all her parents had ever dreamed, a leader, an enforcer, a punisher. Heavily set in her role and the responsibilities of her pack, Drew is not one to relinquish her control, at least not without a fight. Arden is no stranger to being walked on, over looked, and taken for granted, but eight years ago, he made a decision that would change the course of his life. Now a rogue from the Tracker pack; the world, the forest, is his to roam. Finally free of the shackles of conformity and a degrading caste system, Arden is set on a track that will intertwine his path with an overachieving, strong willed, stubborn Alpha female. Can they grapple the challenges one another bring forth and become one of a whole as the goddess believes, or will they destroy one another trying.

Selene grows up in a large family, mother absent, father lost too soon, and raised by her grandparents. Amid grief, trauma, and early abuse, she exhibits remarkable intelligence, resilience, and a compassionate heart. Adolescence brings rebellion, self-discovery, and her sanctuary—running. High school tests her emotionally and socially as she navigates heartbreak, weight struggles, and first love, reclaiming her power along the way. Young adulthood introduces pregnancy, an abusive relationship, and devastating loss. Through motherhood and perseverance, Selene finds healing and meets Eli, a love that mirrors her strength. This is a story of survival, courage, and transformation.

Emilia Clark, a young woman struggling with mounting family debts, responds to a mysterious job posting that arrived unexpectedly in her email. When she arrives at the upscale office for what she assumes is a standard interview, she discovers she's the sole candidate for an unusual position that wasn't clearly described in the original correspondence. The role, as revealed by the formidable Mrs. Grey—matriarch of a wealthy and traditional family—is that of a surrogate mother. The Greys are offering an extraordinarily large sum of money for Emilia to carry a child for their family, with the biological father being Mrs. Grey's son. The older woman presents this as a business transaction, delivered with cold efficiency and an underlying air of entitlement that comes with generations of wealth and influence. Mrs. Grey makes it clear that this is a one-time offer with no room for negotiation or delay—Emilia must accept immediately or leave and never return. There will be no second chances, no time to consider, and no opportunity to ask questions or seek advice. Caught completely off guard, Emilia finds herself in an impossible position. The money would solve her family's financial crisis and lift a burden that has been consuming her life. Yet the weight of the decision—to carry a child for strangers under such pressured circumstances—leaves her reeling. As Mrs. Grey waits for an answer, Emilia must quickly weigh her desperate need for financial security against her autonomy, dignity, and the ethical implications of entering into such an arrangement under duress.

Because her precious Jeremy needed a lab rat, Harper shipped me off to Bendora Mental Health Institute after my surgery. I got electroshocked until I was drooling and twitching, and she? She just slapped her hand over Jeremy's eyes like, "Ew, babe, don't look." Jeremy scored a Research Award nomination off that mess. Harper celebrated with fireworks so loud they could've woken the dead. Meanwhile, I was lying there in the dark, staring up at the sky while they took my leg. To keep it quiet, Jeremy slapped on a prosthetic and threatened me if I ever opened my mouth. He told Harper I just got "a little banged up" in the trial. Numb, I boxed up my leg in a freezer box. Seven days later, at Jeremy's big gala night, guess who would unwrap it like a party favor? Yeah. Harper.

Growing up to become a rejected, is nothing anyone would pray or wish to encounter. Ember, who is caught up in the deep web of rejection and unplanned love, is left in the ocean of self destruction. Now, she'd have to think about the best way to be free and leave her life. In the middle of the island, the gigantic and luxurious castle of Alpha Dino Aloysius, is located. Sources say that it is the most expensive and sophisticated home facility in the entire world. Every facility in the home, is controlled by advanced technology and robots. The center of the castle looks like a another universe of its own because of the magnificent design that surrounded it. At the north west end of the castle, a large statue of a wolf can be seen. To every other person, it was just a wolf but to Alpha Dino, it was his representation of strength and power. Each of the rooms are sound proof and designed with a colored marble. The walls are discretely painted with black and red colour ink, and also the blood of some of the people that Alpha Dino has killed in past, especially the alphas from other packs. The staff that worked inside the castle, were more than a thousand. You must literally see a maiden at every end of castle, bending down their head. The reason was that it was prohibited to make eye contact with the Alpha.