Novel & Cerita Smiling Through The Pain

Aurora, be honest with me. What do you truly desire?" Zane asked, his gaze unwavering as he stared deep into my eyes. "I'm...confused," I admitted in a low tone, struggling to maintain my sanity. Just then, my phone chimed. I swiped the screen to see a message notification, it was from Mark. It read. 'We have a history together, Aurora. A future.' A tear streamed down my cheek as I stared at my phone. "Well?" Zane's voice snapped me back to reality. "You have to make a choice." "But-" my lips quivered as my mind reeled. "But what if I can't?" He let out a sigh as he took a step back. "Then you'll lose everything." -------- Aurora's tenth anniversary was supposed to be a celebration of a decade of devotion with Mark.. Instead, it became the day her whole world shattered. Dumped and heartbroken by the only man she had ever loved and trusted, she kept the secret of her pregnancy to herself. Seeking momentary oblivion in a bar, she finds her surrendering to a one night stand with an unforgettable stranger. Fate's cruel test continued when Aurora starts a new job, only to find the man from her one night stand was Zane, her boss. Zane's interest in her was evident, while she was hesitant, still nursing the wounds from Mark's betrayal and the burden of her pregnancy, she tried her best to resist him in every way possible. When an accident forces hee secret into the open, Zane jumps to the conclusion that the child was his, but kept it hidden to himself. After few months later, Aurora finally told him the truth, but to her surprise, he wasn't disappointed and still insisted that he wanted them both regardless who the child's biological father was.

Lila’s world fell apart the moment she discovered her husband’s betrayal. But her heart began to heal the night she met Kyler King. With his devastating charm, piercing eyes, and an air of mystery, Kyler is everything her husband never was. He’s kind, protective, and impossibly wealthy—a man who seems to step right out of a dream. When Lila stumbles into his life, Kyler is determined to show her the love and care she’s always deserved. But breaking free from her cruel husband, Taylor, won’t be easy. Taylor’s obsession with Lila turns dangerous, forcing Kyler to fight not just for her heart, but for her life. As secrets unravel and danger closes in, Kyler becomes Lila’s unwavering protector and her chance at true happiness. Read more…

Just when I thought I had successfully moved on from a loveless relationship, I realized I made the same mistake again. I fell in love with a kind and handsome billionaire, and I thought he was already the perfect man. However, I learned about his deep secret--the secret evolving around my identity, and the secret that shattered my respect for him.I broke off with him and claimed everything that belonged to me. I hated him like he was the fiercest criminal in the world. I accused him as a thief, stripping him off from his once, dazzling glory.But then, a particular event led me to the truth. Only to know that I was already too late!

Sequel to "Submerged Land" Waking up in a new place wasn't easy, but it wasn't new for Nathalia Trayce. She, along with her brother and former general Byron and Skyr, managed to escape Atlantis with the help of Trei, her best friend. Now, Nathalia and Byron, as the reincarnated demigods, must train with the sea folks to unlock their true potential. And in order for them to protect themselves and fight back when it is necessary. But their problem doesn’t stop there. It gets worse when they found out that the true object of the Atlanteans was to awaken the legendary sea serpent. The serpent that was raised by the original demigod. In order for them to fully protect its location, they must build the scepter of the first demigod, which was scattered into three parts and in three different locations. With Lord Ylgarr learning of this information, it has now become a race for the two sides on who would be able to build the scepter first.

Leah had discovered her first real betrayal from the ones she loved the most... or so she thought. Her half-sister, wanted everything she had, but the one thing that was supposed to be hers, was ripped and taken from her too. When a kind stranger comes along, what does she do? Should she continue to seek her revenge or should she give up on the idea altogether? What happens when the stranger finds himself wanting her more and more? Is it fate or just a simple coincidence? One secret, one undiscovered truth, what will happen next? After all, there is pain before bliss...

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

To save up for my wife’s expensive asthma medication, I worked the dangerous high-rise job around our apartment complex, even on a day with winds strong enough to knock someone off their feet. However, that was when I accidentally witnessed my wife cheating on me with her ex-boyfriend, and to entertain him, she picked up a fruit knife and slowly cut through my safety rope. My body slammed into the ground so hard that the impact shattered the bones in my leg. Only later did I learn the truth: the one with asthma wasn’t my wife at all—it was her first love. All the money I’d been saving for her? She had been giving him every cent. Eventually, the same cold, proud woman I once married ended up on her knees in front of me, begging for help. I called the building security over and had them drag her out. “Get that filth out of here,” I said. “It’s hurting my eyes.”

"Did you kill him?" The detective asked again."I've already answered you like a thousand times... Yes, he was a monster. Yes, he beat me up a lot but I didn't do it. I didn't kill Jude!" Amanda replied."I'm sorry. I know what it's like to be a victim of abuse and all that, but you need to understand that murder is a serious case too. You'll have to forgive us for asking you continually it's just that you were the closest to him we've got here.""I wasn't. There was someone else he was seeing that knew a lot about him than I ever did," Amanda replied.*******The night was growing colder and the rains seemed to have agitated in full force. Amanda sat on one of the soft leather chairs that squeaked with her every move in the living room with tears in her eyes as she watched the rains drop on the floor forming small pools and waited for Jude to come back. She was worried sick about his whereabouts even though all his presence caused her were pain and more tears. The protruding bump on her stomach, made it quite difficult to move around at ease so she was stuck with calling his busied line while she watched the clock tick its way into the midnight mark.*****A heart rending story told differently. Stronger than Pain captures a dysfunctional Nigerian home where a callous man, beats his wife on a daily basis. Time flies and now he is dead. All the characters have a reason to kill him, but she's their number one suspect. The Question still remains, who pulled the trigger?

Two people who's trapped inside their dark past. Fell apart out of betrayal, hatred, and secrets. Will they find light into each other's arms?

This story follows Oliver Knight, a once-abandoned boy who grows up in the harsh streets after being disowned by his adoptive family. Alongside his loyal friends, Tomos, James, Bucky, and Daniel, he rises from a painful past to become powerful, wealthy, and feared. Despite their success, they carry emotional scars from rejection, survival, and a world that never truly showed them love. Everything changes when Ariana Blake, a strong-willed and intelligent new student, arrives at Westbridge High. She quickly becomes entangled in Oliver’s world after rejecting his arrogant reputation and refusing to fear him like everyone else. Their first encounters are filled with tension, misunderstanding, and emotional conflict, especially when Ariana becomes close to her cousin Liam, triggering jealousy and chaos within Oliver’s group. A tragic incident involving Liam leads Ariana to wrongly accuse Oliver of orchestrating violence, causing his downfall and loss of everything he built. However, as the truth slowly unfolds, she realizes he may not be the person she believed him to be. As emotions deepen between them, a devastating sacrifice changes everything when one of Oliver’s closest friends, Marcus, dies protecting Ariana from danger. This moment becomes the turning point for both characters, forcing them to confront guilt, pain, forgiveness, and healing. In the end, the story explores themes of trauma, redemption, trust, and emotional growth, as Oliver and Ariana move from enemies to understanding each other in a broken but meaningful way.