Nineteen Steps

_"You can't hide from your past forever, Susan."_ That’s what my stepmother, Jessica, sneered at me six years ago before sending me off with nothing but a fake ticket to America and a shattered heart. I had always been the perfect daughter, but one scandalous photo ruined everything. Betrayed by my own family, abandoned by the man I loved, I was left with nothing but a broken heart and a daughter to protect. Now, I’m back, and I’m not the same naive girl they tried to destroy. I’ve fought my way to the top, and I’m ready to reclaim what’s mine. _"You’re the one with everything to lose, Jessica. Let’s see how you handle it."_ With my daughter by my side and secrets in my arsenal, I’m ready to face the family that betrayed me. But when Ryan, a man with his own dark past, steps into my life, things get even more complicated. He’s powerful, infuriatingly arrogant, and claims to be the father of my child. _"You think you can just walk back into my life and call the shots, Ryan? Think again."_ This isn’t just about revenge anymore. It’s about survival, about protecting my daughter. _"This time, I’m playing by my own rules."_ But with enemies closing in and the stakes higher than ever, I’ll need more than just determination to win. I’ll need to decide who I can trust—and whether my heart is ready to take the ultimate risk. _"Are you with me, or against me, Ryan?"_ This is my story, and it’s time to take back what was stolen from me. But in the world of power and betrayal, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Sage Whitmore’s world is turned upside down when her beloved Bluebird Café—her late mother’s legacy and the heart of her hometown—falls into financial ruin. Desperate to save it, Sage finds herself making a dangerous deal with billionaire Damian Cross, a man as ruthless as he is enigmatic. The terms: work as his personal assistant for one year, and she’ll earn the chance to reclaim her café. Damian is a master strategist, a man who rules New York’s corporate empire with unrelenting control. To him, Sage is a puzzle—unpolished, stubborn, and brimming with passion. As Sage steps into his high-stakes world, she discovers that behind Damian’s cold, calculating exterior lies a man haunted by secrets and driven by more than just power. Their undeniable attraction sparks a battle of wills as Sage refuses to be a pawn in Damian’s games. But with each passing day, the line between business and desire begins to blur. When betrayal and long-buried truths come to light, Sage is forced to decide: trust the man who could ruin her, or walk away from the one thing she can’t deny—her heart. Beneath the Steel and Silk is a story of ambition, redemption, and a love powerful enough to shatter walls—or build something unbreakable.

Raven Blaise never knew her destiny was darker than the legacy of a great name. As the last scion of the Blaise family, she steps into Arcanum University, a specialised university hidden between the real and magical worlds. There, her curiosity leads her to learn an ancient spell-a mystery from the past that no one dares touch. Together with her friends, Raven accidentally awakens an evil that has lain dormant for centuries, a dark creature that holds a grudge against Blaise's bloodline. Now, Raven and her friends must race against time, confronting forces of evil beyond their understanding. Can they stop the threat that seeks to erase Blaise's bloodline forever? Or will Raven drag everyone she cares about into eternal darkness? "When a legacy becomes a curse, the only choice is to fight or be destroyed. "

Elara has always believed that love would bring happiness, but when Connor Reece–her boyfriend, denies her pregnancy and betrays her by marrying her best friend, she is left with nothing but heartbreak. Pregnant and constantly ridiculed, Rowan Nightshade, her enigmatic and ruthless boss, steps in. But Rowan's help comes with a price, and his intentions aren't as clear as they seem. Rowan is unsure if he hates Elara because of betraying his best friend, or because of her resilience when all odds are against her. Love and Loyalty are tested at every turn. Can Elara find the strength to claim the happiness she deserves while fighting for her children a d their future? Why is the cold-hearted Rowan Nightshade suddenly helping her at every turn?

The day Seraphina Lovelace steps out of prison is also the day her boyfriend dumps her. For him, she has been imprisoned for three years, but he betrays her, getting engaged with another wealthy girl. What's worse? He even sends killers to kidnap Seraphina to prevent her from divulging secrets. To avoid the killers, Seraphina serves as a waitress in an underworld criminal bar. One night, she happens to save a seriously injured young man. His name is Alfred, and the surname he conceals from Seraphina is Vanderwood. Vanderwood, the Alpha King Family. When Seraphina is about to be killed by the bar's boss, Alfred saves her. Finally, she knows his identity. The new Alpha King, also the most powerful were-wolf in the world. Seraphina thinks he will kill her as well since she once tied his wrists, pressed him against the pillow, and almost had a forced kiss with him. But he doesn't. The only thing he asks Seraphina to do is pretend to be his cousin. Excuse me? What the hell is he saying? Seraphina finds it ridiculous, but Alfred is serious. It seems like Seraphina has no better choice but to agree with his requirement. However, she has no idea that when she says "yes" to Alfred, she also selects a path that she is unable to turn back. Become Alpha King's Faked Cousin is created by Cara TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Nichole’s perfect life crumbles when she discovers her husband, Blake Williams Hamilton, is having an affair with his childhood sweetheart. Her heartbreak turns into a nightmare when she’s falsely accused of poisoning his mistress and forced to sign divorce papers while locked away. Betrayed and humiliated, Nichole realizes she’s been living a lie. Just as she hits rock bottom, her ex-fiancé, Adrain Gonzalez, steps in to save her from the clutches of Blake. Now Nichole must step in as the heiress to Valmont Empires, Orion Heights’ most powerful conglomerate. Determined to rise from the ashes, Nichole embraces the opportunity, stepping into a world of power, deception, and second chances. But as she works to rebuild her life and seek revenge, she must also confront the lingering question: Can she truly trust Adrian, or is his help just another trap?

“I, Elena Black, daughter of Gabe Black, accept your rejection” I said, sitting on the floor as the tears rolled down my eyes. The physical pain was no longer there but I was broken. “From today, I, Alpha North, declare Elena Black, daughter of Gabe Black, as a slave to my mate and Luna, Leila.” he announced. *** Elena Black was a wolfless and weak. Degraded by everyone, she lost every hope of ever belonging or finding a mate who would accept her but Alpha North changed that. She felt relieved and excited but on the day she found out she was pregnant, she was rejected and the one person she loved rejected and made her a slave to the woman he got married to. When she felt she had lost hope, it came in the form of Alpha Elian, the Alpha of Emberfall pack who called her his mate. He retracted that statement soon after but refused to let her go. Her situation only became worse and she wished for anything apart from this life of chaos but what happens when her fated mate retraces his steps to undo all he had done? Would the rejected slave be considered a Luna or would she forever be placed on the ground and stepped on? Elena must fight but would she win?

Vanessa never expected her life to shatter in an instant. After getting kidnapped by someone dear to her, she is thrust into a brutal underworld, kidnapped by a mafia she barely knows exists. Her impulsive acts makes her make the horrible decision ever. Amidst the chaos, another mafia steps in to help her escape. Drawn to in ways he can’t explain, he risks everything to protect her from a deadly fate. But as she finds herself free yet in constant danger, she can’t deny the growing bond between them—or the sense of debt she feels towards him. With danger at every turn and enemies closing in, They must go through a world of violence, betrayal, and desire. Can they survive long enough to confront the past and take control of their futures? Their only hope may be each other, but in the mafia world, money comes first!

Lia Tan’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when she is kidnapped by the powerful, twisted Vincent Casella, thrusting her into a world of wealth, luxury, and terror. Just as Vincent plans to auction her off, mysterious billionaire Rafe Laurent steps in, saving Lia for reasons rooted in his own dark past.

Halo Remington has spent her entire life in the shadows of her perfect twin sister, Scarlet, the golden child, the chosen one, the family's heiress. No one ever sees Halo, and that’s just the way her family prefers it. Until Talon Ashwood walks into their home with a contract and a choice that was never meant to be hers. Talon needs a bride, quickly. His father had made it clear, no marriage, no inheriting the Ashwood empire. Choosing Scarlet should be simple, expected. But when a single glance at an old portrait reveals a hidden twin, Talon makes a last-minute decision that shatters the room’s expectations. He no longer wants the golden daughter. No, he wants the quiet lamb hidden in the shadows. Pulled from her place behind the closed doors of her room, Halo is thrust into a deal she never saw coming. Marry him, and she would finally be free of her family’s control. Walk away, and she would remain unseen and unwanted, a ghost in her own life and a shadow in the footsteps of her sister. After coming to a decision and going through with it, Halo steps into a world of power, deception, and an attraction she never anticipated. But as secrets unravel and ruthless tactics ensue, Halo realizes that this marriage harboured far more than just a business deal. It was the cost of being chosen by an Ashwood.