Port Isabel Public Library

Gabriella Halim woke up in a luxurious room she didn’t recognize. When she looked in the mirror, she nearly fainted. Her face was still beautiful, but… more mature. She was no longer the twenty-year-old girl she remembered—she had become a thirty-year-old woman. Even more shocking, she had been married to Adryan Lewis for three years, a young, ambitious, and notoriously cold member of parliament. Gabby immediately realized one thing: her husband hated her. Cold glares, cutting words, and an impenetrable distance left her bewildered. What had happened in the past ten years? Rather than crying or pleading for love, Gabby chose a different path: enjoying the luxury she now had. A grand house, wardrobes full of designer dresses, and an unlimited bank account. Why bother chasing love when life could be this comfortable? But the world of politics was never simple. Public scrutiny, rival political intrigues, and scandalous gossip forced Gabby to take on a role far greater than that of a mere “trophy wife.” And as Adryan began to notice the dramatic changes in Gabby, the question remained: would his hatred persist, or could it transform into something he never expected?

“You took a photo of me without my permission.” “Then why do you look like you want to be seen?” Elliot Marlowe is a struggling photographer living paycheck to paycheck in a tiny New York apartment. One accidental photo in Central Park changes everything—a haunting shot of a mysterious, brooding man who turns out to be none other than Damien Whitlock, the untouchable billionaire tech mogul with a reputation as cold as his fortune. Instead of suing, Damien makes Elliot an offer: become his personal photographer. It's the beginning of a dangerous game—one filled with stolen glances, unspoken truths, and a fake relationship meant to protect Damien’s public image. But behind Damien’s icy exterior lies an artist scarred by betrayal, and behind Elliot’s lens is a man desperate to feel seen for the first time. As the line between performance and passion begins to blur, secrets unravel. A fake kiss becomes real. A lie about love becomes a truth too big to silence. And when heartbreak and ambition threaten to tear them apart, both must choose between fear and vulnerability, between survival and surrender. In a world where image is everything, can two men find the courage to be each other’s truth? Or will the picture-perfect illusion destroy them both?

Jaxon Carter has everything a man could want—talent, fame, and a multimillion-dollar contract with the Titans almost within his grasp. The only problem? His reckless lifestyle stands between him and the contract. But his agency has told him that he can salvage the contract by cleaning up his image. Sienna Blake has two things in life she held dear —her ballet career and her house she grew up creating memories in. But when the bank forecloses her house and her ballet career barely covers her bills, she turns to her agency, only to be coldly rejected. When their paths cross at the agency, Jax sees an opportunity. She needs money. He needs stability. The solution? A fake relationship. He offers to clear her debts in exchange for playing the perfect doting girlfriend—just long enough it's beneficial to them. But what starts as a transaction soon spirals into something neither of them expected. Public appearances turn into stolen moments and close proximate intimacy blurs into something more. They find themselves trapped in a dangerous game—one where the greatest risk isn’t losing a contract or a house… but losing their hearts. And just when Sienna is ready to confess the biggest secret of all, Jax's past comes haunting them. Hurt and betrayed, she walks away without a second glance, choosing to protect her heart and her unborn child. Will Jax fight for what they had? Will he risk everything—including his career—to fight for the only thing that ever truly mattered?

Knile Monte Forteros, a CEO at the renowned Fragments Fox Newspapers and Magazines Company and hailing from a wealthy family, was about to marry his fiancée, Cayleigh Shaine Montemayor, who also came from a family of business owners and owned the Hotel de Montemayor, but it was thwarted due to an accident. Akira Rodrigo Salamanca, a fashion designer and owner of the famous Magic Fashion Boutique, was the one who hit Knile's fiancee, Cayleigh, causing her to lose both legs. Out of anger, Knile imprisoned Aki and hid the events from the public using his high position in society. Seeing no other hope, Aki made a deal to be Cayleigh's aide for life in exchange for his freedom. Aki became Cayleigh's legs and eyes, which also led to frequent interactions between him and Knile. But if the heart of the oppressed falls into false love, is the feeling of the heart heavier than the depth of gratitude? Is it wrong to fall in love with a conqueror? Maybe so, but it's worse to fall in love secretly.

Amelia Roberts has only ever known pain. Stolen as a baby and raised by the people who kidnapped her, she’s endured years of cruelty and control, hiding the strange powers that flare when she’s angry or afraid. She doesn’t know the truth — that her real parents are supernatural royalty: a rare werewolf–witch hybrid mother and a vampire lord father who believed their daughter was lost forever. When Amelia’s abilities erupt in public, three powerful strangers feel her presence for the first time. Mateo Mason, Jason Grim, and Dimitri Moore — werewolf/vampire hybrids and lifelong best friends — have spent years searching for their fated mate, never imagining she would be the same girl Dimitri once saw but couldn’t save. Drawn to her by an unbreakable bond, the three men will stop at nothing to protect Amelia from the danger closing in. But Amelia’s past won’t release her so easily. Her kidnappers know she’s unlocking her powers — and they have their own plans for what she can do. Torn between fear and an irresistible connection to her three mates, Amelia must decide whether to run from the supernatural world… or claim her place in it. Because her bloodline makes her the most dangerous being alive — and the key to a war that could shatter everything.

Seraphina Vale has always been a survivor. Bullied mercilessly by her affluent college classmates and betrayed by her closest friend, Isla Kensington, Seraphina has spent years hiding behind a quiet, unassuming façade. Her turning point comes when Isla’s ultimate betrayal, she leaked Seraphina’s private journal containing intimate reflections about her deceased mother and that led to a public humiliation so devastating that Seraphina ends up hospitalized. Emotionally shattered and at her lowest point, Seraphina stumbles upon Adrian Montclair, a charismatic yet ruthless Mafia boss who offers her an unexpected lifeline. Adrian, a man haunted by his own dark past, sees something in Seraphina that reminds him of the person he used to be: broken but not irreparable. He offers her a "contract." He will help her rebuild herself, reclaim her life, and exact justice against those who wronged her. In return, she must agree to one favor in the future, the nature of which he will not reveal. Desperate and with nothing to lose, Seraphina accepts, plunging herself into Adrian’s dangerous world.

Lena thought graduate school would be about focus, discipline, and finally proving to herself that she belonged in the world of academics. Books, research, and long nights in the library—that was the plan. Romance had no place in it. Especially not with the one man who should have been completely off-limits. Professor Jace Carrington is everything Lena was warned about. Brilliant. Confident. Dangerous in his quiet control. His lectures command attention, his presence silences a room, and when his eyes find hers across the crowded lecture hall, she feels both seen and undone. He is a man who draws lines with precision—and a man who knows exactly how to make someone want to cross them. What begins as a spark of curiosity turns into stolen glances, late-night office hours, and conversations that blur the line between mentorship and something far more intimate. Jace’s rules are simple: no one can know, and she always has a choice. But rules are easy to write and far harder to follow. The deeper Lena falls, the more she realizes this isn’t just attraction—it’s obsession, it’s surrender, and it’s freedom all at once. Secrets, however, have a way of surfacing, and on a campus where whispers spread like wildfire, forbidden love can burn everything in its path. Lessons After Dark is a steamy, character-driven romance filled with power, temptation, and the dangerous pull of a secret relationship. For readers who crave tension, intimacy, and the thrill of crossing every line you were told not to, this story will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out.

In the glittering heart of the city, where power plays and secrets intertwine, Serena Ward lives a life shadowed by her past and guarded by her independence. An Omega determined never to be tied down, she never expected a chance encounter with Lucien Vale — the formidable Alpha heir to one of the city’s most influential empires — to unravel everything. One intoxicating night burns between them, fierce and unforgettable. But when morning comes, Serena vanishes, leaving Lucien with nothing but questions — and a hidden truth neither is prepared for. Weeks later, Serena discovers she’s carrying triplets, each bearing the unmistakable mark of their Alpha father. Alone and defiant, she disappears into the quiet outskirts, determined to protect her children from the ruthless world Lucien inhabits. Bound by a cold marriage contract to the enigmatic Clara, Lucien’s life is a tightrope walk between duty and desire. When fate brings him face-to-face with Serena and the children he never knew existed, the collision threatens to shatter his carefully constructed world. Amidst corporate intrigue, family betrayals, and the harsh glare of the public eye, Serena and Lucien must navigate a storm of secrets, passion, and dangerous alliances. And when a shocking revelation about the marriage contract comes to light, loyalties are tested, and hearts are broken. Will love prevail in a city where everything, even the strongest bonds, can be bought — or lost forever?

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

They threw her off a bridge. The husband that she was willing to burn the world for was the same person who thought it wise to murder her. With Arya dead, Edgar frolicked with his mistress in public, assured that he had succeeded in life. But when his dead wife showed up at his wedding a year after he killed her, he knew his good days were over. With faked amnesia, Arya was ready to turn their lives upside down. She tormented them from the shadows, acted all innocent in their presence. She was no longer the naïve woman who let people take advantage of her. She was back, stronger. But there was Lucien, a former fiancé who would walk through fire for her. He wanted to be her revenge tool. He wanted to claim her and never lose her like he did in the past.