Long Shadows David Baldacci Novels & Stories

Lilia Morgan spent her whole life forging her own path, determined never to be a pawn in anyone’s game. But when a long-buried engagement agreement forces her into marriage with Damian Crawford—the cold, calculating heir to an empire—her carefully built independence begins to slip through her fingers. She refuses to surrender. Determined to escape, she strikes a deal with the devil himself: one year in his world, and if she can settle her family’s debt before time runs out, she walks away—no strings attached. But Damian never makes a deal he doesn’t intend to win. For years, he has watched her from a distance, knowing she was meant to be his. Now, with Lilia trapped in his orbit, he will use every opportunity to remind her that control is an illusion—and in his world, she belongs to him. As corporate warfare, long-buried betrayals, and the ghosts of their pasts threaten to tear them apart, Lilia and Damian are drawn into a dangerous battle—one where power, passion, and obsession collide. But when desire turns into something far more dangerous, Lilia must decide: is Damian her greatest enemy, or the only man who was ever meant to stand by her side? A gripping enemies-to-lovers romance with ruthless power struggles, slow-burning intensity, and a billionaire who refuses to lose. Love and war have never been so intoxicating—but in this game, only one of them can walk away unscathed.

"Who are you to her?" "I'm her boyfriend and if you don't get out of here, I'll be the man who will be responsible for putting you six-feet underground," Zendaya heard Jayden say, shocking her. Zendaya's life unravels when she discovers her fiancé's infidelity two days prior to the wedding. Devastated and desperate to escape reality, she gets drunk and decides to have a one-night stand. But fate has a twist in store as her one-night-stand turns out to be Jayden Gerano, the man who hated her since their childhood, the one who made her life a living hell, yet the man she couldn't hate no matter how hard she tried. She decides to forget about her impulsive decision, but Jayden has other plans. With a charming grin and a determination that surprises them both, he refuses to let her slip away. He wants her back in his life—and this time, as his woman. He had let her go once, and he’d be damned if he made the same mistake. Will Zendaya embrace a future with the man she never expected to want, and let go of the past, or will her hatred for Jayden win? Find out in Entangled with my Childhood Enemy.

Introduction: Modern + sadomasochism + love + domineering president In this modern city, two hearts begin to intertwine, but they are destined to experience joys and sorrows. Isabella loved him deeply, but was framed and imprisoned by him and her sister, and suffered all kinds of hardships. However, fate still took pity on Isabella after all. "Fortunately I no longer love you" is a sadomaso chistic novel that reveals the bitterness and warmth of modern love through Isabella's growth and experiences. In the bustling city, they traveled through dreamy time and faced the cruelty of parting, but they also discovered the sincere beauty in life. This is a melody of love and pain, leaving the afterglow of parting and blooming in the depths of the soul forever.

Ariana Torrey has been Brian Lodge's simp for three years. She casts aside her dignity and principles for him. But to Brian, she's only a plan B or even a zero. She's someone he can cast aside at a moment's notice. The whole of Gleaston knows Evelyn Granger is the one Brian loves. Ariana is nothing but a cheap substitute. On the day of their wedding, Ariana is abducted and tormented for three days and nights. However, Brian refuses to pay the ransom, even marrying Evelyn at a wedding that's supposed to be his and another woman's. Only then does Ariana wake up to reality. When she's reborn on the day of her engagement to Brian, she experiences him leaving her behind to go to Evelyn, who's threatened suicide. Everyone waits to see Ariana make a fool of herself. To their dismay, she doesn't shed a tear or kick up a fuss. Instead, she calls off the engagement, claiming that Brian, the CEO of Lodge Co., can't get it up. The news of this spreads like wildfire, stunning everyone. Meanwhile, Brian turns and pins her to the wall. "Is it fun playing hard to get, Ariana?" "Has anyone ever told you you're full of it, Mr. Lodge?"

One day, I get lost in the forest. Frozen out of my wits, I accidentally barge into the Bloodmoon pack. That's when Raul Wolfgrim, the Alpha King, stares at me, as though he's looking at the personification of a miracle. He claims that I'm his fated mate, and that he's spent years looking for me. From that day onward, Raul gives me everything he has. He gives me the spot next to him as well as the pride and glory of being the she-wolf who has power over the other wolves in the pack. Every look Raul gives me is filled with hot, passionate love. Every touch proclaims his possessiveness toward me. I used to think that I've finally found my actual home. Hence, I give up on looking for my name, my past, as well as my position in the world beyond the pack. Instead, I choose to stay next to Raul. But five years later, Raul brings back another she-wolf named Eva Grayback after surviving a battle at the border. As he stands before the pack with his hand intertwined with Eva's, he declares solemnly, "Eva is my actual fated mate." As for me? I'm nothing but a liar. While Eva is forced to suffer in life as a Rogue, I'm the one who have apparently taken up her slot in Raul's bed and shared countless nights of pleasure with him. That's why he must rectify this mistake. On the day before Raul and Eva hold their bonding ceremony, I'm tossed back into the forest. The beasts' fangs tear through my flesh, while wolfsbane burns in my blood like fire. When Raul finally dispatches a squad to look for me in the forest, everything is far too late. I've already remembered who I am and have awakened my hidden potential. That's when I decide to leave him with the unborn pup in my belly.

I was super clingy, always trailing after my boyfriend, Nate, like a lost puppy, constantly craving more of his attention. Tonight as I snuggled in his arms, pressing soft kisses to his lips as usual, I suddenly saw translucent comments fleshing across my vision, one after another. "Hasn't she noticed our Nate, the male lead, is trying his best to avoid her?" "Nate hates physical contact, especially with her. She can't seriously think he's with her because he loves her, right?” "Relax. Nate's true love, the heroine, is about to appear. Once she does, he's going to dump this stupid bitch so hard." My heart skipped a beat. The next second, I pulled away from Nate's chest. Nate glanced down at me. Something that looked suspiciously like irritation flickered across his face. “What’s wrong?" he asked.

I'm six years older than Bernard Jackman, but he always smiles and says, "Lucky me. I got to marry you." I think we will live happily ever after until a message pops up on his phone and shatters the illusion. "Bernie, be honest. Who's better in bed, me or your wife?" "Come on. That old hag smells like mothballs. She can't be compared to you!" And yet, he still showers me with love. How can a man say he loves me while sleeping with another woman? So, I tear off his mask and leave him. "Bernard, it's not that I can't live without you! You're filthy, and I don't want you anymore! I can find another man just fine!"

Everyone knew how much I was in love with Alex Carter. I was willing to do anything for Alex just to see him happy and never bothered if they ruined my dignity or worth. But to Alex, I was seen as a desperate shameless lady who wanted him by all means even though I knew he always had a lover. After we got married, he treated me like dirt and threw me in prison, accusing me of financial crimes. Killed by a jailer sent by him, I died with regret of loving him. When I woke up again, I found myself back on my wedding day with Alex in my previous life and realised it was an afterlife, a second chance at life. This time, I wouldn't let him ruin me twice.

Pain. Regret. Betrayal. That was all Nadia Holt was left with as life slipped from her grasp. She had learned one painful truth at the expense of her life: Love cannot be forced. She spent the last three years of her first life raising children who never saw her as their mother only as the unwanted stepmother. Worse still, she was married to a man who no longer saw her as human. And what did she receive in return? Death. She died alone on the cold pavement, regret filling her heart for every year she had wasted on people who had never loved her back. She died with vengeance on her lips and rage in her blood, swearing that if she were ever given a second chance, she would choose herself. Then, the impossible happened. Nadia wakes up one month before her death, armed with memories of the future and determined to rewrite her fate. This time, she will leave before they can break her. But what Nadia doesn't expect is for the husband who once ignored her to refuse to let her go. Nor does she expect the man who had always been waiting in the shadows, watching, protecting, and loving her in silence to finally step into the light and confess his feelings. In this life, Nadia refuses to shrink herself for anyone. She will fight and reclaim her place in the world. And this time, she will win.

Yvonne Jamison wants to get married after being with Jared Ford for seven years. She prepares her own wedding dress, but he doesn't pop the question. On the day they're scheduled for a pre-marriage medical checkup, she waits for him at the hospital from day to night. Yet, he's busy throwing a celebration for his new secretary. The secretary shares a social media update and tags Yvonne in it. The update comes with a photo of a diamond ring from Jared and a suggestive caption. Yvonne doesn't cause a fuss. She likes the update, quits her job, and goes home for a blind date. Jared is unfazed. He's sure she won't actually leave him. "I'll just give her the cold shoulder for a few days to teach her a lesson. She'll be back soon enough." However, the days pass, and Yvonne doesn't return. Jared loses his cool. For the first time ever, he submits to Yvonne. "Have you had enough of this tantrum? Come back if you still want to marry me. This is your last chance!" "Mr. Ford, Ms. Jamison has already met someone else on a blind date." Later, Yvonne shares a photo of her marriage certificate on her social media. Jared, who has always been arrogant and aloof, loses his mind. He kneels outside her house in the rain for three days and nights. "Please come back to me, Yvonne!" The door opens, and a man clad in nothing but a towel around his waist emerges. He says hoarsely, "My wife has fallen asleep from her exhaustion. Please leave, Mr. Ford."