Quote Gifts

A medical report shows me my husband's true colors. I've been diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Yet, my husband gives our life savings to someone else. I lunge at him to take my anger out on him, but he shoves me to the floor. "Lillian needs the money to open up a shop, you madwoman! So what if I've given her the money? "You have late-stage stomach cancer, so it's the end of the line for you! Why are you trying to compete with someone who has a long life ahead when you already have one foot in the grave? You can't expect Mom and I to lose everything because of you, right?" I sit dazedly on the floor. I've never found him more unfamiliar. After that, I sneak all my wedding gifts out, wanting to sell them for money. However, I'm told they're all fakes. My husband sneers. "I'm glad I had the foresight to switch them out for the real deal. You would've taken all the money if not for that!" Later, the hospital called to say there was an issue with their system. The names on the medical reports were wrongly indicated. I ask my husband, "Why are you competing with someone who has a long life ahead when you already have one foot in the grave?"

"You look like my wife, but something tells me you're not her." Betrayed. Poisoned. Forgotten. Luna Hale thought the worst pain a mate could bring was rejection — until the night her own husband and twin sister ended her life in a hospital room that reeked of betrayal. Her last breath was a promise whispered to the Moon Goddess: “If I ever return, I will never forgive them.” But fate had other plans. Reborn in another body — that of Alara, the missing Luna of a rival pack — she wakes beneath a silver moon with no memory of how or why she’s there. The only thing she knows is survival. Yet the world she’s thrust into is darker than the one she left behind. Shadows whisper her name, and every heartbeat feels like someone else’s. When she’s brought before Alpha Ryder, her new husband, she senses danger beneath his calm gaze. And when her former mate, Alpha Damon, appears at a grand ball, the air itself crackles with an impossible truth — her soul still burns for him. The mate bond hasn’t died. It’s only changed. Now, two Alphas want her. One for love. One for redemption. But the Moon Goddess doesn’t give gifts — she trades souls. And to escape her curse, Luna must face the cruelest fate of all: Loving the man who killed her… or killing the man she still loves.

This story takes place in the esteemed Heaven and Hell, following Ashton Caliel (age 8-23) the caring, handsome King of Heaven, in his journey from only a prince to the leader of his vast kingdom. At the age of 8, the narrator shows the final moments before Ashton's princely training truly begins, bringing any childhood experiences to a halt. After a brief brush with an icy death, he spends his final free moments in front of the family fireplace. We skip time to the age of 18, Ashton training with his personal guard and close friend Matt (28). This was the day his father and current king was to sign another peace treaty with the King of Hell. Out of curiosity he took a peak at the demon king and came to find Damien Umbra (23-28) sultry, charismatic and flirty king of Hell. They did not officially meet at this time despite locking eyes as the demon laid an ominous future on the angel king. Very soon the prince would take the throne. After a second encounter with the demon king that resulted in heavy flirting, much to the new kings surprise, they had not met again for weeks. A single gift led the king to make a secret visit to Hell to interrogate the other king. During this visit Damien plays off his interest in the angel as only a fun game. This is to go on for years with only brief visits and gifts, causing the angel king to slowly fall for Damien in the process. Damien visits Ashton in the night, leaving a small gift for the angel to wake up to. Ashton is to accept this gift, but the council of angels in heaven give him trouble when they are to find out about this secret relationship.

I'm diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease. A wonder drug that is being auctioned off is my last chance at survival. However, upon winning the bid for the said drug, my parents hand it to my older cousin, Annie Harper, who is suffering from infertility instead. This time, I will not make a fuss. I will even purchase a variety of supplements for Annie. My fiance tells me that Annie deserves to be married off splendidly. He wants to give his wedding gifts, which were originally meant for me, to her instead. I consent willingly. On top of that, I transfer both the house and the car he purchased for me to Annie. My parents have relief and delight written on their faces. "You've finally grown up and understood that Annie needs this medication more than you do because she's getting married." My dad says, "Once I've attended the medical symposium for rare diseases and completed the dissection of a patient's cadaver, I will be able to develop a cure for you." Nonetheless, seven days later, I have become the cadaver meant to be cut open by my father. My primary physician calls my father out in public at the symposium, pointing him out as an unethical doctor who gave my life-saving medication to Annie. My parents and boyfriend are criticized by the audience for being murderers. Yet, they firmly believe that this is how I'm getting back at them. They intend to reveal my memories to the public so that everyone learns that I deserved to die.

Sophia was forced to marry a man she never loved just to stop her father from going to jail. The marriage however turned out to be a living hell after she discovered a painful truth that destroyed her. Sophia usually gets home late from work every day with expensive gifts, looking so flashy. She starts getting cold with Shawn, disrespecting him as though he never meant anything to her. He reported Sophia to Joana, her cousin, but she denied her involvement. Sophia kept her secret affair with Mathew away from everyone. Shawn stopped worrying about her mischief and decided to carry out his investigation on her. On her way to work, he trailed her movement and found Sophia heading to a different route. He was confused and kept trialing and behold, her cab alighted in front of a big mansion. Shawn was devastated and knew his girlfriend was cheating on him. He took a photo of her for evidence and returned home, disclosing it to Joana, her cousin. Hard for her to believe, they waited for Sophia to return. As usual, she returned very late. Shawn confronted her and accused her of cheating, but she denied it until he showed her the evidence. She was stunned! She had no idea Shawn trailed her. Frustrated by her act, Shawn beats Sophia to a pulp and throws her out of his house. Now his father's words were starting to get to him. He regretted not listening to his father. Sophia left his apartment in pain and went crying in Matthew's arms.

Mom has extreme mania. Dad was murdered when I was eight, and I went blind while trying to save Mom. I became her only family and weakness. Anyone who makes fun of me for being blind has their eyes gouged out; anyone who disrespects me is sliced and diced before being fed to the dogs. Later, Mom turns into a she-devil with a hundred-billion-dollar net worth. Everyone in Gristport fears her, but she treats me like a princess. The whole city knows not to offend Eleanor Heinrich's daughter. She scours the world for the best optometrists to treat my eyes. On the day I regain my vision, I hear about Mom finding her birth daughter. She says, "You'll soon have a sister who loves you very much, Sienna." I hear that my sister has been through a lot since childhood and is introverted. I prepare many gifts for her, even wanting to give her the pendant Dad gave me. Yet she instructs her people to take me to a deserted roof. "You're nothing but a faker who stole my place in life! I'm going to slice your tongue—let's see how you can continue lying to Mom when you can't speak!" She shatters the pendant, gouges my eyeballs out, slashes my tongue, and has several men torment me to death. Lastly, she includes my eyeballs as decorations in a bouquet and brings it to Mom. "This is a gift I've prepared for your birthday, Mom. Do you like it?"

“Oh do not cover up on my account. Not like there’s anything here I’ve not seen before.” “Keep your voice down idiot! I do not want people knowing that I fucked the most arrogant guy in this school.” I hissed but the bastard just shrugged and kept eating his chips. “Or that we are mates - it will be interesting to see how hiding THAT will work.” “I don’t care…” “Especially since every single time I see you, there’s this undeniable urge to…hold you…touch you- and do things to you that are beyond your wildest imagination.” I swallowed. Hard. Because damnit, I felt the same way too. Rules be damned. ----- When seventeen-year-old Aria Chen’s world crumbles in a single morning—divorce papers, cheating boyfriends, and a supernatural storm that tears through her high school bathroom—she discovers that some breakdowns are actually breakthroughs. Whisked away to Aethermoor Academy, a hidden school for those with elemental gifts, Aria thinks she’s finally found where she belongs. But one drugged drink and a passionate night with a brooding werewolf later, she’s thrust into a world of magical politics, dangerous enemies, and three supernatural guardians who may be more than she bargained for. Between mastering her storm magic and navigating the treacherous social hierarchies of magical society, Aria must learn to trust her power—and her heart—before her past catches up with her and her newfound family tears itself apart. Some storms destroy everything in their path. Others clear the way for something beautiful to grow.

Vince never planned to see his mate but he did and now he has to handle a relationship with his mate and at the same time try to find the threats against the Vampire world which wants to destroy it. ********* The primordials. The legend about how vampires came to be is a little sketchy but vampires have been known for the destroying of their race until the seven primordial. They changed the vampires world and now, vampires have a successful community, experience growth and development. They are also on the brink of war with the other two dominant races. The shifters (half man, half beast) and the sorcerers (Magic wielding folkes.) Gwen Stephens was as normal as a newly turned vampire could be. She was turned just a year earlier at 22 and she still had troubles with controlling her thirst and vampire gifts. Gifts which happens to be rare and very powerful. One fateful day, her life changed as she was going to the training center. She perceived the most tempting scent of blood and she couldn't control her thirst and she latch on the Vampire neck. Vince was on his way to find his sister when a vampire bit into his neck. He knew that she was his mate and he teleported them to his lair. Vince discovered at his mate was a spit fire and as much as he wanted to enjoy spending time with his mate. He needed to deal with the current threat as what he created would crumble if he didn't. As the Unofficial leader of the primordials he needed to ensure the safety of the Vampire race. He discovered soon enough that it was more complicated than he imagined.

In the third year of her marriage, Natalie Spencer uncovers a devastating truth. Her blindness wasn't caused by a car accident. No, it was because her beloved husband, Jason Pereira, plotted to have her corneas removed and transplanted them into his first love. The only reason he married her in the first place was to save that other woman. The marriage Natalie once took pride in turns out to be nothing but a calculated lie. Crushed, she quietly begins planning her escape. Half a month later, she vanishes without warning. She leaves behind nothing but a signed divorce agreement and a jar of formaldehyde containing an undeveloped embryo. Those are her final gifts to Jason. He loses his mind searching for her, scouring the world in desperation. But when he finally finds her, she's no longer alone. There's another man by her side. Jason stands in front of her, eyes red with guilt and regret. "Natalie, I was wrong. Please don't leave me. Not like this." But the Natalie standing before him now is radiant and powerful—she's an internationally acclaimed artist and a woman reborn. She looks at the man she once loved and feels nothing. "Jason, I'm not that blind bat who used to live and breathe for you anymore." She turns and wraps her arms around the regal man beside her with a smile. "Someone's bothering your wife. Aren't you going to deal with him?" The man smiles back, leans in, and kisses her in front of everyone. "Of course. Whatever my wife says, goes."

Richard Franklin has left his Midwestern roots behind to live on the coast of Maine with his family. But in the autumn of the year 2000, he must return to his Illinois birthplace on a sorrowful journey. His wife Michelle has been killed in New England by a hit-and-run driver who is never found, so back home he comes with her cremated remains, to fulfill a final wish and on her birthday scatter her ashes in the park along the river in Blackwater Valley—simply Blackwater Val to locals—the small town where they both grew up and fell in love. With him he brings his six-year-old daughter Katie who still grieves for her lost mother: Katie, who can sometimes guess who’s going to be on the phone before it rings. Who can stop all the clocks in the house, and break up clouds in the sky with her mind, and heal sicknesses, and who sometimes sees things that aren’t there...people who are no longer alive. All gifts she inherited from her mother. Only something isn’t quite right in the Val. Sinkholes are opening up, revealing the plague pits the sleepy hamlet was built over in the 1830s, when malaria and cholera outbreaks ran riot. Mysterious bird and fish die-offs begin to occur, and Katie can see ghosts of the dead gathering all around. But what she can’t see is the charred, centuries-old malevolence which has been waiting for her, and wants her for its very own. Or the pale Sallow Man who haunts the town’s nighttime streets...or the river witch—another Blackwater Val, of sorts—each of whom will be drawn one by one into the nightmarish bloodletting about to take place. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing