Npcs Drew Hayes

“Will you give me your life in exchange for your father's?” He whispered in my ears, as he traced down my face, to the skin on my neck, with the cold edge of his gun. “No… Irene, don't…,” my father begged faintly from where he lay, straining against the grip of Diego’s men. "Yes,” I blurted out, a tremor in my voice. “If that's what it takes, then… Take me!” I surrendered, closing my eyes. *** How far would you go to protect the ones you love? Would you trade your soul to the devil to save theirs? Well, I did. I, Irene Herrera, offered myself to the Mafia Devil, Diego Vargas, in exchange for my father's life. I became his captive bride. He put me through hell, yet… I refused to break. I played his game, but I made my own rules, breaking his. I challenged him at every chance, defying the Almighty Diego. He was captivated by my rebellious spirit. As we drew closer, I started to see the man behind the mask, he was hurt, lonely, and haunted by the ghost of his lost love. I was drawn to his broken heart. Soon, the lines between captor and captive blurred for us, as we lost ourselves in a flaming love affair. But what happens when I learn that my long lost sister was Diego’s ex-lover, involved in a plot to destroy him? This conspiracy arises again and Diego’s life is threatened. I face a choice to either seize this chance to escape, and leave him to die, or stay and protect the man I now love, even if it could cost me my life. Whatever choice I make, Love or survival, am I justified? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

“Standing in a wedding dress meant for her sister, Naomi Hayes felt like an imposter.” Shy, soft-spoken, and always overshadowed by her glamorous sister Charlotte, Naomi never imagined her life would take such a dramatic turn. When Charlotte vanishes to chase love and wealth, Naomi is forced into an arranged marriage with the cold and ruthless billionaire, Damian Cross—a man who makes it painfully clear that she is nothing but a poor substitute for the bride he truly wanted. Thrown into Damian’s opulent but icy world, Naomi endures his disdain, her family’s relentless demands, and the whispers of betrayal that haunt their every interaction. Yet, beneath Damian’s ruthless exterior lies a storm of secrets and enemies, none more dangerous than Evan Reid—his greatest rival and the man Charlotte left with. Caught between two powerful men at war, Naomi becomes a pawn in a high-stakes game that threatens to destroy Damian’s empire and her fragile place in his life. But as their lives collide in unexpected ways, Naomi discovers an unyielding strength she never knew she had. When passion and vulnerability crack Damian’s icy facade, Naomi begins to wonder if there’s more to him than meets the eye—or if she’s risking her heart for a man who may never truly love her. What happens when betrayals come to light? When Naomi faces a choice between loyalty to her sister or the man who has both hurt and protected her? To find out what happens next, read this gripping story of love, redemption, and resilience. Let the unexpected twists and unforgettable characters keep you turning the pages.

Adriana Hayes never knew the true nature of her father’s dangerous life until he sold her. Now, she’s been handed over to Hunter Rivers, one of the most feared and powerful gang leaders in the city. Cold, ruthless, and determined to keep control over everything around him, Hunter doesn’t hesitate to claim Adriana as his own. What he doesn’t expect is the spark between them a spark that challenges everything he’s built his empire on. Adriana, caught between fear and attraction, finds herself torn between wanting to escape and the undeniable pull she feels toward the man who now holds her captive. As the days pass, their dangerous dance of power, control, and desire grows more complicated. Adriana discovers that beneath Hunter’s cold exterior lies a man who may have his own demons and the more she learns, the harder it becomes to keep her distance. But in a world where trust is a luxury and betrayal is always lurking, falling for the enemy could be the most dangerous choice of all. Will Adriana remain strong and fight for her freedom, or will she surrender to the passion that threatens to consume them both?

His hand slid beneath my dress, fingers curling around my thighs with a possessive grip. "I always knew that scumbag couldn't treat you right," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly as his lips traced a slow path from my jaw to my neck. "Still can't figure out what you ever saw in him." I drew in a shaky breath as his hands moved higher, fingertips brushing the band of my panties, sending a jolt of heat through me. "Women like you are prizes, Sienna," he whispered against my lips, the words melting into my skin. My grip on his shirt tightened, knuckles white. "And prizes? They're meant to be fucking claimed. Owned." In the haze of intoxication, Alexander Grayson looked like the most beautiful thing on Earth—or perhaps he really was. "Can... can you make me forget about Ryatt?" I breathed, my voice trembling. A smirk tugged at his lips, dark and predatory, as his hand slid inside my panties, finding the heat of my wet, aching pussy. A soft moan escaped me, and I clung to him, every nerve alight."I'll make you forget about yourself, flower," with that he crushed his lips to mine. *** From the moment I met Alexander Grayson, I despised him with everything I had. But when with fate's cruel sense of humor he forced his way into my life, everything changed. He was everything I loathed—a womanizer, a violent monster, a spoiled heir with an ego larger than life itself. He should have meant nothing to me. Yet, I learned the truth the hard way: nothing about Alexander Grayson was ever simple. Alex dragged me into the hell he'd created, where he sat as the devil on the throne of darkness And the most terrifying part? I didn’t want to….escape.

In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

Ethan Carter, the school’s notorious flirt, is used to getting any girl he wants. When a new literature teacher, the stunning and mysterious Ms. Vivian Hayes, arrives, she instantly becomes the fantasy of every male student. Confident in his charm, Ethan makes a reckless bet with his friends—to seduce the alluring teacher and secretly record their night together. But what starts as a game turns into something unexpected. That night, as Ethan watches Vivian under the soft glow of moonlight, he feels something foreign yet undeniable—love. For the first time in his life, he wants more than just a conquest. He wants her heart. His world shatters when Vivian discovers the existence of the video. Devastated and betrayed, she vanishes from the city without a trace. Ethan, consumed by guilt, desperately seeks redemption, but by the time he tracks her down, it’s too late—she is married to a wealthy man handpicked by her family. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Vivian forces herself to move on, yet deep inside, she knows the truth. The boy she tried to forget had already stolen her heart before she even realized it. Now bound by duty and haunted by love, she faces a cruel twist of fate—choosing between the life she’s obligated to live and the love she was never meant to have. Can Ethan win back the only woman he ever loved, or will fate forever keep them apart?

My body craves him. My mind resists him. My heart fears him. Noah Hayes is a sinful temptation with a sex appeal, unlike any man I’ve ever met. He’s also twice my age...and my new boss. After years of working a job I despised, for the sake of a family I was forced to support, I had enough. Finding a new job should have been simple, but working as a nanny for billionaire Noah Hayes is anything but. He may be arrogant and self-involved, but I can’t stop myself from wanting him. When I find myself in his arms and in his bed, I allow myself a moment to hope. But how could I have known what was coming for us...and how it would break us?

I'm just a biker princess held in the clutch of a rogue alpha who forces me to take his son as my mate. On the night of the sacred choosing, I was forced to stand before ten suitors under the eyes of the Alpha—the same monster who murdered my father and claimed my mother. His son, Lucious, marked my body with bruises, hoping fear would force me to pick him. But no flame ignited. Not for any of them. When I refused to choose, the Alpha drew blood. So I ran—leaving behind a mother I couldn’t save, a pack built on fear, and a future I didn’t choose. Now, in a place I never imagined, I found him. The one fate chose for me. He’s fierce. Beautiful. Dangerous. And he’s a hunter—sworn to kill wolves like me. So why does my soul still burn for him?

Sofia Hayes was a happy-go-lucky girl from a middle-class family. Life was perfect but she was fine with it. Full of hopes and dreams, in love with her middle-class boyfriend. Robert Arison is the CEO of Arison Group of Industries, the most famous self-made billionaire of the twenty-first century, and the most eligible bachelor in the country. What happens when the circumstances force the arrogant CEO with a dark secret to marry the young Sofia? Will they be able to lead a life as a married couple? Or will the ghosts of Robert's past come knocking on the door every night? Can Sofia fix her stoic CEO and make her love her? Especially when no secrets can stay buried forever.

After catching her boyfriend lip-locked with a pom-pom princess, Skylar Hayes swore off athletes for good. But when her brother’s best friend and incredibly charming captain from a rival team offer her the ultimate revenge plan and an irresistible distraction, she’s thrown into a game she never intended to play. What starts as a scheme to mess with her ex’s ego quickly spirals into late-night confessions, locker room secrets and heated moments she swore she’d never allow again. But the ice is thin when hearts are involved and Skylar’s not the only one skating too close to the edge.