Prelude 12/21 Novels & Stories

NOEL DIDN’T JUST KISS ME, HE TRAPPED ME. AND AS I STARE AT THE FILE, I REALIZE THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS JUST BECAME A COUNTDOWN TO MY OWN PERSONAL DISASTER. When Anahera Kallio agreed to take on a high-profile client during the holidays, she never expected it to be Noel Rautio—the scorching-hot hockey star who is her brother’s sworn enemy on the ice. One stolen kiss under the mistletoe was bad enough, but now he’s got her cornered with a secret recording and a devilish ultimatum: stick with his therapy sessions or watch her career go up in flames. As the 12 Days of Christmas tick by, every heated session pulls them deeper into forbidden territory. Noel’s walls are cracking, Anahera’s resolve is melting, and the line between professional and passionate blurs into chaos. But with loyalties to her brother, hidden scandals and a ticking clock threatening to expose everything, this holiday fling could shatter more than just the ice. Unless they rewrite the rules and turn disaster into desire. Will Anahera escape Noel’s trap…or surrender to the ultimate holiday score?

Evelyn Larson's nephew, Maxwell Larson, has been staying at my home for 12 years. On top of sponsoring everything he has in life, I even view him as my own son. Heck, I'm the one who paid the down payment for Maxwell's new family home. But on the night we're having a holiday dinner, he throws me a list in front of everyone. "Uncle Lawrence, I've already hashed out the details with my fiancee's family. We'll be giving her family 700 thousand dollars as a wedding gift. You've raised me for so many years, so you need to prepare this amount for me." I frown instantly. "Didn't I just settle your down payment for you? Besides, Tiffany's about to get married soon. I need to save some money for her own wedding gift." But Maxwell instantly smashes a plate out of anger. "Since she's marrying into another family, that means she's no longer a part of this family! Are you saying that you're willing to give your money to an outsider rather than your own nephew? "If you refuse to agree to my terms, I'll make Aunt Evelyn divorce you right now!" I turn to look at Evelyn out of instinct, only to see her pulling out a gift agreement that she has already drafted. "We don't need to prepare any wedding gifts for Tiffany, seeing as she's the one marrying into another family. Max, on the other hand, is the only son of the Larson family. You should give your money to him instead."

The night before our wedding, Jason Scott receives the cancer diagnosis of my adopted younger sister, Helena Sanderson. His expression falters, and he says indignantly, "We'll cancel the wedding tomorrow, Victoria. Helena is very fragile now. I can't risk upsetting her at this point in time." I reply, "I don't agree with it! Why would my wedding upset her?" Jason doesn't show any displeasure after my rejection. He even thoughtfully prepares a glass of milk for me. … When I wake up the next morning, I realize the house that should be full of excitement is eerily quiet. Anxious, I dial Jason's number 99 times. He only picks up the call on my 100th try. "Where did my wedding dress and shoes go?" I ask. Jason falls silent for a moment. His tone is apologetic when he replies, "I'm sorry, Victoria. Helena wants to experience being a bride once. I can't let her leave with regrets. Please bear with this for now. I'll make it up to you once she passes away peacefully." As the line goes dead, I sit frozen on the bed, unable to recover for some time. … A month later, while Jason is on his honeymoon, I send the livestream of my wedding announcement with his rival, Frank Lawrent, directly onto his phone. Jason regrets it bitterly.

Brian Smith, a 29-year-old billionaire is stuck on his parent's condition of him getting married before he can fully take over the family business. He comes in conflict with a 26 year old accountant, Stacy Bennet over a misunderstanding at a bar. Stacy who just got fired from her job found herself in a critical situation, she's desperate for a new job and finds herself at an interview at Brian's company. During the awkward interview, hostility lingers between Stacy and Brian from their previous encounter, with the fear of losing the company to his cousin if he doesn't get married. He found himself thinking of a solution, he proposes a marriage contract as a business arrangement to get the company and to help her financially, but they develop unexpected feelings for each other and start to wonder whether their relationship is based on more than just a contract.

He was not a hero. And he wasn't aiming to be one. It just happened that he was born in this kingdom. The moment their kingdom falls, as a part of the royalty, he had to die—and he has no plan of dying for the second time. Ainsley Doherty, born from royalty, was given another chance to prevent the destruction of his kingdom. Armed with the advantage of possessing his memories before he died, he was determined to prevent the surrounding kingdoms from successfully capturing his homeland. However, as he ventures on the dreary path to achieve his goal, he realized that the future he was walking towards was not the same as the future he knew from his previous life. [date started: 7/12/21] [date ended:] | English

In a world where mystery blends with supernatural powers, the girl Iris suddenly finds herself in a strange place, far from her normal life. She does not know how she arrived at this place, nor does she know those around her, but a strange feeling haunts her: that there is something within her that is different from other humans. Its prelude is a gateway to a new world, where nothing is familiar, and every step reveals depths she never knew about herself and others.

Having dated for five years and been married for seven, she had never missed his birthday in the past 12 years. The 12 gifts from previous years were carefully placed in the storage closet. However, this year's birthday gift...

Cecil's life is a complete mess. Her parent's passed away when she was 12 years old with her new born brother. 12 years later, she and her brother Calix are living with her cruel relatives. But when Cecil is in need of a great amount of money, she didn't think twice but to sell her body to unknown

Diane Jacobs has survived her life by learning how not to react. Raised in a family where obedience is mistaken for grace and silence is rewarded, Diane moves through the world quietly observant, restrained, invisible by design. Control has always belonged to other people: her father, her family, society’s expectations. Then Eddie West notices her. Their first collision isn’t physical. It’s psychological. In a room full of people, Eddie makes a spectacle not of love, but of dominance using another woman to send Diane a message she never consented to receive. From that moment on, Diane is no longer unseen. When Diane unknowingly steps into Eddie’s world as his Personal Assistant, the power imbalance becomes unavoidable. Eddie is controlled, obsessive, and deeply intentional. He does nothing without purpose including hiring her. What begins as professional proximity becomes a slow, suffocating game of awareness, restraint, and unspoken desire. Eddie never crosses a line openly. He doesn’t need to. His control is in silence, implication, and patience.

In this werewolf world you are 21 when you find your mate nova is an 18 year old genius graduated with a phd and a gift for seeing the future but most of it is at the worst possible times