Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table

Ten years ago, the Harrington family went through a home invasion. My mother, a maid, shielded Liam with her life. Holding my hands tight, Liam promised, "Andrea, don't worry. I'll protect you forever." I believed him. Our bond grew naturally, and we had a beautiful daughter together. Then, she was diagnosed with leukemia. In her last days, all she wanted was to spend one birthday with her dad. I called him, desperate to make it happen. "Millie doesn't have much time left. All she wants is one birthday with you. Can you come?" His voice on the other end went icy. "Really? This your latest stunt? Using your dead mom wasn't enough, now it's our daughter for pity? Disgusting." I tried to deny it, but he cut me off. "Don't mess with her head. Learn from Vivian—she's got a real heart." That night, our daughter passed away. Later, Vivian posted on social media: [Finally taking that couples' trip someone promised me!] I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I just texted Liam: [We're done.]

In my past life, I was trafficked and gave birth to a son. When Noah Barrett turns six, I plan to take him and escape from the mountains. On my first attempt, I map out the route in advance and prepare to flee with him. But in the morning, my mother-in-law, Ruth Whitaker, blocks me at the door. She ties me up and locks me inside the shed. Then, she starves me for three days. On my second try, I secretly buy sleeping pills from an unlicensed village doctor and slip them into dinner. At the table, Ruth flips the table without hesitation and beats me until I am half dead. The third time, I take advantage of a village meeting and escape with Noah again. We hide in a concealed mountain cave. Neither of us makes a sound, yet Ruth finds us with ease. I am dragged back and locked away in the pigpen. Ruth takes a shovel and strikes me with it again and again. "You filthy bitch. You dare run off with my precious grandson!" Her eyes are bloodshot. With the final blow, she uses all her strength and smashes the shovel into my head. I collapse to the ground. My consciousness fades. My blood drains away, and I die. When I open my eyes again, I am back on the day I plan to escape the mountains with Noah. Suddenly, I can hear Noah's thoughts, his voice clear and dripping with viciousness. "Mom can't be allowed to run. Grandma says Mom is our family's slave. She's supposed to serve us for her whole life."

Arra, a young girl from the city was forced to live with her estranged father in a far away place after her mother passed away. She never thought that her life would be changed in her new environment. She meets the two popular and handsome students in her new school, the playful Cliff Aragon and the serious student and mysterious Shan Lark. These guys' family hated each other for decades that's why they can't get along. Cliff and Shan befriend her with their own purposes but only one goal, and that is to kill her. One is to avoid a big catasthrope that possibly happens in the future that could bring down his family while the other one is to make sure that this catasthrope will surely happen that could benefits his family after killing her. But what if these two guys would not fulfill their missions but instead falls for Arra and protects her from possible danger? Who would Arra choose to love among these two guys and be together at the end? How will she copes once she knows her real identity?

Johnny Simmons thrives on competition—whether in the pool, in playful bets, or in charming his way through life. He’s used to being in control, but when Jane Shepherd enters his world, she proves to be an unexpected challenge. Assigned to his study group, Jane is sharp, unfiltered, and unimpressed by his usual charm. Their first real interaction is filled with witty banter, subtle tension, and a clash of personalities that leaves Johnny both frustrated and intrigued. A fiercely competitive swimmer meets his match in a sharp-witted girl who challenges him at every turn, winning unexpected bets and forcing him to rethink what it truly means to win—not just in competition, but in love and life. Jenny & Jay - Volume 1 is the first installment in a five-novel New Adult series, following the lives of five childhood friends—Johnny Simmons, Paul, Brian, Aaron, and Daryl—all competitive swimmers bound by their deep friendship and relentless drive to win. While romance plays a central role, this is not a simple on-again, off-again love story; instead, the series explores the evolving relationships, rivalries, and personal growth of these young men as they navigate life, love, and ambition.

I had been in a relationship with Zachary Dawson for seven years and engaged for three when, out of the blue, Ruby White, the daughter of his mentor, moved into our home. Sitting casually on the bed that Zachary and I shared, Ruby lounged with an air of nonchalance, her voice playful and teasing. "Zachary, the dental god, sure has a nice bed," she remarked with a smirk. "I can only imagine what it would be like to spend the night with him in this bed." I captured the scene on my phone and sent the video to our family group chat with a brief message: Looks like Zachary might have a new girlfriend Zachary rushed home, wrapping his arms protectively around a tearful Ruby. He pointed at me, his voice seething with anger. "My mentor's dying wish was for me to take care of Ruby! If you can't accept that, then move out!" Honestly, my brows furrowed deeper than the wrinkles on the bedsheets Ruby had sat on. Fine. I didn't need the bed, and I didn't need a fiancé anymore.

Pia Norman is not your average human girl. She is nosy and playfull and a princess of the vandari kingdom . On the other side of the world is Dylan Pendragon who is a cocky, arrogant and a flirty lycan prince What does fate has in store for a this arrogant and flirty lycan prince who is meant to be mated to a nosy and playful orphan princess Extract Dylan's POV The seer walks to the middle of the hall. Walking like it's something very urgent then the King gestured for her to speak. "There is going to be an imbalance in nature and it's going to be soon" said the seer. Everyone face looked pale even Queen Adaline my mother was shocked and asked "how" looking confused The seer stamatia continued.... "A lady will come into the royal family and cause the destruction of lycans and werewolves with her powers" . "Then how do we stop her from coming or destroying us" Dominique questioned getting impatient. The seer thought for a while and continued " we can't stop it from happening but when she is here we will definately do something about the situation" "Then let's find her and kill her" I said leaving the hall.....

"Custom demanded that Prince Urban get a love mark tattooed to the side of his left eye as an infant, just like the rest of his people, but to him, the stupid things have only brought on the scorn of his father, the misery of his siblings, and caused his entire kingdom to go broke from fighting so many wars over the irritating ink stains. When Urban’s sister must travel to Donnelly, the kingdom within the sand, for her arranged marriage to align two realms, he goes with her. But he no sooner steps foot inside their castle than his mark starts itching like a son of a bitch, telling him his one true love is near. It just figures, though, that the woman meant for him is completely forbidden. Now he must decide if he should ignore the persistent mark, telling him she's the one, in order to avoid a possible war between kingdoms, or if he should discover whether she's worth risking everything for so they can be together. Either way, his life gets sucked into chaos with threats of beheadings, dark magic lurking, castle traitors scheming, and sword fights eminent. Who knew one little tattoo could cause so much trouble? (ONE TRUE LOVE is the author’s first attempt at a fantasy romance. Please forgive her; she might’ve read an overabundance of Cassandra Gannon, Sarah J. Maas, and Eve Langlais books, then gone off to watch too many episodes of Supernatural, Game of Thrones, and Outlander, because this was the outcome.)"

Carmen Anderson is an orphan, broken and suffering on the streets doing whatever she has to in order to feed and take care of her little brother Cody.After finding out that he has a deadly disease, the life she used to know just doesn't feel the same. Her tricks to put food on the table wont work anymore and she's going to have to stand on her own two feet and face the world from a whole new viewpoint.Adrian Romano is an Italian actor who's famous for his mysterious ways, and he has his eyes set on Carmen when she wanders onto his path. Like a bloodhound, he's determined to learn her big secret.

A Wolf Hunter for a mate? What in the world is the moon goddess thinking? Cathy, a strong - willed werewolf only wants one thing and that is to manage her club. Love hurt her once and it is not on the table again. Theodore Cyneric, a hunter wants one thing, "I want you to sit on my face, Cathy." When hot and hot meet there's bound to be an explosion and an explosion is what is waiting to happen when Cathy and Theodore come together. And that is the least of their problems. Theodore brings more than his own share of heat in their unusual relationship and that means old enemies and a long and unexpected connection with a crime syndicate. Will Cathy be able to survive in the turbulence of Theodore's world and will they be able to stand the test of time?

In the third year of her marriage, Natalie Shepherd decides to screw it all and flee from her husband while pregnant.But why does Henry Chase keep pestering her right after she serves him the divorce papers?When Natalie goes to the restaurant for a nice meal, Henry stares at her from the table next to hers. He's the judge of the competition she participates in, and he keeps staring at her with a small smile on his face the whole time.But Henry loses his cool instantly when Natalie's about to mingle with other young and handsome men."That's enough, Natalie! Come home this instant! It's time to change our baby's diapers!"