Stepped Unscramble

"You like this, don't you?" His voice was dark velvet, wrapping around me, sinking under my skin. I swallowed hard, refusing to answer, but my body betrayed me-the sharp inhale, the way my lips parted, the way my thighs pressed together. He noticed. Of course, he did. He stepped closer, eliminating the space between us, his heat overwhelming. "Say it." I shook my head, a weak attempt at resistance. His fingers traced up my arm, slow, teasing, until they reached my throat. He didn't squeeze, didn't apply pressure-just let his touch linger there, making me hyperaware of my own racing pulse. "Liar," he murmured. I exhaled sharply. "You're too close." His lips brushed my ear, not quite a kiss, just a whisper of warmth. "And you're not stopping me."

SOLD TO THE ALPHA FOR A ONE NIGHT STAND When he stepped into view, all my breath left me in one sharp gasp. His presence filled the room, an overwhelming force that took my breath away. He stood tall and confident, his black hair styled back, a few stray strands falling over his forehead, giving him a wild edge. His jaw was strong, a neatly trimmed beard only accentuating his chiseled features. He was devastatingly handsome, but it wasn’t just his looks that affected me, it was the aura around him, the power that radiated from every inch of his body. His eyes locked with mine, and an overwhelming sense of power washed over me. My heart pounded in my chest, racing like I had no control over it. This man wasn’t just anyone. There was something primal in his gaze, something dangerous and alluring. Something...otherworldly.

The day I got back from a trip, my housekeeper filed a lawsuit against my father and me. In court, she stood with her visibly pregnant belly, her voice shaking with anguish. "Jethro Roberts and his son are nothing but monsters. They tricked me into moving into their home under the excuse of offering me a job as a housekeeper. They tied me to a bed and abused me. "The baby I am carrying belongs to Jethro Roberts." Her mother wept hard, nearly collapsing from the strain. "These two monsters destroyed my daughter's life! They should pay with their lives." As soon as she spoke, the courtroom burst into an uproar. "Shameless criminals! The dad couldn't even be bothered to appear in court. They must be punished severely!" "That's right. Look at the son. He's actually smiling. He has no conscience! They both deserve to pay for what they did." Then, I calmly stepped forward and presented my evidence. A stunned silence swept through the courtroom.

Bound by duty and unspoken love, Tessa stepped in to be her husband, Logan Wilferd’s comfort, to help him to collect the broken pieces of his shattered dreams and to be the mother to his son. Mending his broken home and loving him in silence, hoping one day she’d creep her way to his heart. When the woman he truly loved returned alive and unchanged, unable to deny his rekindled feelings, he asked for a divorce. Tessa didn’t beg or fight because she knew that she failed. On the day of third anniversary, she walked away, leaving behind a marriage where she was only a replacement. Only then he realized that she had left a void in his life which was deeper than the past. Desperate and regretful, he searched everywhere until nine months later, a withdrawal notification to a maternity clinic led him to the truth. She hadn’t just disappeared. She was carrying his child.

Scott Maynard and I were in love for eight years. I once believed he was my soulmate. We joined Doctors Without Borders together and ventured into war zones side by side. But everything changed the day Piper Ellison appeared. To protect her, he shoved me into danger during a rebel siege, using me as a scapegoat. Then, he fled the country with Piper, and left me to rot in the prison. Three years later, Miles rescued me. Yet upon returning home, the first thing I saw was Scott staging an elaborate proposal, surrounded by nine thousand roses. He twisted the truth about what had happened in Asternis, and those around us believed him. I revealed my wedding ring, and Miles stepped forward to shield me. Despite that, Scott still refused to let go. He became obsessed and relentless, even threatening his own life to force me back. This love, riddled with betrayal and cruelty, finally came to a complete end with his death.

Seraphina Skye Torres lived a simple life on the farm her grandparents owned. The animals and plants were her only companions, the ones she talked to when no one else was there. Living far from the city made her independent. She learned to stand on her own and never let anyone look down on her. She knew her worth. Her life changed when Nikolai Aleksander Sergei Moretti entered it. A billionaire CEO with wealth, power, and an attitude that clashed with everything she believed in. To save her parents' business, Seraphina had no choice but to marry him. Her life as an independent farmer slowly faded, replaced by a role she never wanted, being Nikolai's wife. As she stepped into his world, she faced judgment from people who wanted him and doubt from those close to him. Surrounded by pressure and expectations, Seraphina was left wondering if this life was only temporary, or if she could still find herself in a future she never chose.

Sierah Garcia met a lot of men already, experienced a lot of heartaches, and even experienced the worst part of a relationship. What if a man came up and plotted to break her heart? Will she be able to accept and move on? I sighed, staring at him. "Is this yours?" he cluelessly asked. He was about to hand me my handkerchief, when I stepped back. "Yes. Thank you." Kinuha ko 'yon sa kamay niya tsaka ko siya mabilisang tinalikuran. "Sie.." I stopped when he called my name, I blinked a lot of times before glancing at him. By just calling out the nickname he gave me, it brings back a lot of memories, such as pain. "Y-Yes?" I responded. He licked his lips, he looked so serious. "When will I see you again?" I unbelievably stared at him because of his question, I closed my fist. "Never again,” I whispered and walked away real fast.

Twenty-two-year-old Athena Paulsen’s life is a never-ending tragedy, but on the surface everything seems fine. A fine daughter, dependable sister, successful entrepreneur and renowned doctor. She is the envy of the town. But if you pull the curtain called skin and peep a little deeper you will see the reality: a scared girl who has nowhere to hide. Andrew Knight is a dashing and ruthless businessman akin to his last name. He would go to any lengths to get what he wants and stroke his massive ego. From the moment Athena stepped into his life it was never the same again. Initially he hated her but slowly her intelligence and kind heart melted away the Knight’s armour. Not all was rosy in the paradise. Athena’s past and the complex situation of both their familial ties was soon coming back to bite them hard and shatter their dreams of “happily ever after”. What is the big secret? Why is Athena trying to run from her past? What does the future hold for both of them? Every person has a skeleton in their closet.

"You will not wear that to my pool party, okay?" He was so close now, I could practically inhale his breath. "Why?" "Because I'm your brother and I say so." I scoffed involuntarily. "Yeah, right. You mean my stepbrother, whom I don't and will never accept as my stepbrother?" "Whether you like it or not, we are stuck together. And although I do not like it either," he stepped closer, his body pressed against mine and causing my heartbeat to increase erratically. "I would prefer not to add to my suffering by watching you flirt with some other guy." I swallowed, confused and conflicted. Does my stepbrother want me or not? Which is impossible, because seven years ago in high school, I was so convinced Liam Shedrach hated my existence. Why the sudden change after he found out we would be step siblings? Did anything change? Will the pretense to keep up the loving siblings appearances even last for long?

Heartbroken by her boyfriend’s betrayal, Evelyn Campbell was forced to sell her virginity to pay for her father’s medical bills, which led to an unplanned pregnancy. Five years later, the quest to provide for her son, Eddie, brought her back to her ex-boss, President Zuriel Scott, whose werewolf identity was concealed from the whole world. Her job of acting as President’s fake girlfriend was a trap, and she stepped into this silk web of supernatural world for only one thing, “I want to live with you, mommy.” The issue of his unknown paternity was destroying Eddie’s life. So, Evelyn trusted Zuriel as a father for her son’s future, who promised a lifelong companionship through mate-bond. But how did she get involved in the revenge story of bloodthirsty Alpha Zuriel? And what about that stranger from one-night stand, who came back to claim his right to his son? Hatred, revenge, betrayal: an emotional tale where love conquers all…