Real Self Care

It was Christmas Eve. Once again, my parents left me alone at home, chasing triple pay at work. However, after twenty years of the same lonely holiday, I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to sit in the quiet house by myself again, so I packed up some sandwiches and went to them. What I didn’t expect was to see them stepping out of a luxury car, arms linked with a boy who looked about my age, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world, heading straight into a five-star hotel. “Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Suzie all alone at home like that?” My mom waved it off and said, “It’s fine. She’s used to it.” My dad just brushed it off with a chuckle. “She’s nothing like you. You're our real treasure.” Upon hearing that, I turned and walked away. They'd been pretending to be broke all these years, lying to me about working overtime, about scraping by. Well, fine. If they don’t want me, I’m done wanting them, too.

This Christmas was supposed to be quiet. My boyfriend cheated earlier, bluntly, and I was left with nothing but heartbreak and resentment which now reeked from within me. I planned to spend the holidays curled on my couch, watching Tik Tok, scrolling through my social media accounts, anything that wouldn't make me cry. But then Chloe, my best friend, invited me over. Her family's place was warm, full of life and exactly the escape I needed. I never expected anything. Definitely not him. Dominic Callahan. Chloe's father. I've always noticed him, strong, distant, way too captivating for someone his age though he never looked twice at me.... until now. I noticed the change. His eyes lingered longer. His words slower, even his stare. The air between us became tighter. I assured my self it was greif.... My emotions were taking a better part of me. But when he kissed me, I didn't refuse. When he pulled me into his room, I didn't say no. And then it became a normal thing. Everything in me flagged it wrong. Chloe didn't deserve this betrayal. But my desires didn't care about rules. And neither does her elder brother. Now, before Christmas lights go down...I'm with child. I only came for peace. But I found obsession, dirty secrets and something way too dangerous to name. This was supposed to be my holiday escape....so why does it feel like the beginning of my doom? Find out what happens next!

“Alina!” he called out with wide eyes and tried to break free from the bonds that enslaved him but to no avail. I writhed in the grasps of the bouncers, attempting to get to him but my efforts proved futile, the drugs had taken all strength left in me. "Well, look what the cat dragged in", a voice that I had come to detest slurred, dragging my attention to the man that sat just opposite Stephan. "Bring her closer", Nikolai ordered his men and they did as he commanded. "Finally, I'll have you again", he exclaimed with my weakened self in his hands. " Not only will I make love to your fiancee right in front of you, I'll make sure to kill the seed inside her with my bare hands, and upon your death, I'll take good care of her...brother", he said with a loop sided smile before redirecting his gaze to me as I laid beneath him. *** Stephan Perez is rumoured to be one of the most ruthless mafia Don the century has ever produced, an underworld king who rules with an iron grip and plays by his own rules. Alina Lyubov is a naive and seemingly ordinary woman with a troubling past. Forced into a life of stripping to pay off her debts, she comes across Stephan, the man from her past and the very reason she had to flee home. What happens when these two cross paths and when one of her clients, who happened to be Stephan’s biggest rival becomes obsessed with her? Will the new couple drown in the flames that ensnares them or would they finally achieve true redemption? Take a chance, read “The Stripper’s Protector", and find out.

Cassidy Young is what most people compared to a wildfire - she has sass, beautiful looks, and knows how to make anyone turn in their grave but she has a dark past... In fact, she chasing both ghosts and murders, forcing her way from town to town, hoping to redeem her faults and somewhere along the way she meets a handsome and dangerous stranger... Dodge Moore is called the Reaper, he brings death and calm anger everywhere he goes; he has always been alone and even though he seems to care for no one, a new and beautiful stranger walked herself into his life, taking him in a whirlwind of emotions he has never felt before. Not only is he faced with a new challenge called Cassidy, he's also searching for a murderer... Will they help each other or will their feelings scare them away? Is love real on the Wild West frontier or is it just infatuation? Will Cassidy's wildfire burn her or Dodge? Will Dodge's Reaper presence kill him or the girl he's quickly falling for? Find out in Searching the Wild Lovely West to find out!

After being missing for eighteen years, I was finally found by my wealthy birth parents. The impostor—the young man who had taken my place all this time—dropped to his knees, sobbing. "Goodbye, Mom and Dad. Thank you for raising me. Now that Jason is back, this family doesn't need me anymore." My parents hugged him with heartbreaking tenderness. "Don't be ridiculous," they said. "You're our only real son." Even my fiancée confessed her love to him. "I don't care who you really are. You're the only one I love." They all orbited around him, like planets around the sun. When I was nearly killed in a car accident, they were too busy throwing a birthday party for his dog. So I packed my things in silence. Without a word, I accepted an invitation from the space agency to join a five-year satellite research mission in complete isolation. Yet after I left, it was like the whole family lost their minds. They scoured the entire country, desperate to find any trace of me.

Ellie was a good, ideal werewolf of her pack. Once abandoned by her family, she wanted to do everything she could to give back the love and care she received from her adopted family, even if it meant giving up her own wolf for a better future for them. However, what she did not know was that it was all a trick. That she was never loved by anyone in the pack; not her family, nor her mate. And the rite used for ‘her sake’? It was actually for her sister’s sake. All this time, Ellie was but a pawn to be used and tossed away. One day, she met an injured werewolf in the middle of the woods, who claimed her to be his mate, and later saved her from a cruel fate. Only… “We may be mates, but I feel nothing from you. All I want from you is to bear my child.” Once again, she was to be used as a pawn for someone else, when all she wanted was to at least be treated as any other werewolf. Will Ellie ever be able to change her fate? Can she get through to her mate? Will she find out what happened to her real parents?

Princess Ana Mae Villashne, the princess of Citrine is not just an ordinary mortal princess. She's the long lost daughter of the Goddess of love Aphrodite. Her destiny was long written in the book of prophecy even before she was born. She's fated to end the wrath of the evil and greedy Velion, the king of darkness. But being the child in the prophecy requires a great deal of sacrifice. After being born she wasn't able to feel the love and care from her real parents. She was sent to the mortal world for her own safety. But luckily she was adopted by the king and queen of Citrine who both treated her like their own child. Her journey towards fulfilling her mission has never been easy. When Velion finds out that she was long hidden in the mortal world, he sent his only son to kill her. But fate played a game on her and the Prince of Darkness. They have fallen inlove with each other. Two different persons, with two different missions was bonded by love. Will their love be strong enough to conquer their differences? And will love be able to reign in a world full of greed and hatred? Or it will just be turned into a myth and be gone forever?

Hannah Brown, an abandoned, shy, broke and heartbroken twenty-three years old woman accepts life time job offer as as assistant to, arrogant, self centered, cruel millionaire investor, Micheal Capone. It's no secret these two are complete opposites. Will these opposites heal and maybe even fall in love along the way? Read on to find out!

Faye Maravilla grew up being a pushover, selfless, and can't stand up for herself. She wanted to have a life that she can express her true self and live the way she wanted. That dream life can be possible when she discovered that she can world travel only if she can see a three line up stars in the

Jethro Miles was an orphan sponsored by my dad. The moment I laid eyes on him, I flipped. Despite my family's objections, we dated for seven years, even as my dad threatened to disown me. Eventually, my dad relented and consented to our marriage. But as we exchanged rings, a young woman in a white dress burst into the venue, staring at Jethro with tears in her eyes. He chased after her, abandoning our wedding. Later, I learned that the woman was his childhood friend from the orphanage. Jethro desperately tried to explain, "Nancy grew up with me. She is like a sister to me. She's been through abuse and divorce. Please, give me time to help her, okay?" Tears blurred my vision as I watched him plead so fervently, my heart plummeting into despair. I managed, "Okay." Jethro took care of Nancy and her son as if they were his real family. What he didn't know were the two secrets I'd kept from him when my dad finally agreed to our marriage: I was pregnant, and I was dying.