Still Water Runs Deep

My husband had a heart attack on his way to work and died. All I could see was his body when I rushed to the hospital. I was heartbroken and bedridden. When I was about to die, I saw on the news that he won a lottery ticket worth 300 million dollars. My bestie cashed the prize money with him. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day when my husband faked his death. But I wanted to make his death real this time! “Are you from the funeral home? My husband is dead. We need to plan a cremation for him right away!”

Patrick and Clare wake up trapped in a basement, a thin wall separating their cells. Their captor is mysteriously absent, which at first seems like a blessing. As more time passes with no food or water, they begin to realize a clock is ticking for their survival.They know their captor is still out there, and it is only a matter of time before he returns.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

When Noémie Rochester wakes up naked in bed with her boss, with no recollection of the previous night, she's more than just shocked—she's heartbroken. Never had she imagined, in the worst of her nightmares, that her boss, with whom she had been in love for three long years, would do something so awful to her. To avoid all the questions, confrontations, and humiliation, she runs off as far as she can. But little does she know, there's more than meets the eye. The truth is not as straightforward as it seems, and their lives are about to become more twisted in the precarious game of the unknown. {Excerpt} The cold water poured down her naked body, washing away all the evidence of what had happened to her—what he had done to her—all night. However, what it couldn't wash away was her aggrieved heart and the pain in her chest. The shock of being betrayed by a man she was willing to go to any extent for. "I loved you, Mr. Halest," she sobbed, collapsing on the floor as the water pounded on her head. "And you ruined me!"

I never expected to fall for him, my best friend's father. From the moment I saw Marcus stride across the deck, water dripping from his shoulders, I knew this summer would change everything. I was eighteen now, no longer the little girl who used to play in his backyard. But to him, I was still just Lily's friend. Still off-limits. Still invisible. One vacation. One chance. I'd make him see me differently, even if it meant playing a dangerous game. Because some desires are too strong to ignore, and some men are worth every risk.

After a fatal accident shatters her world, Octavia awakens in a realm ruled by savage werewolves only to discover she’s the fated mate of Alpha Xavier, the most ruthless and feared leader of all the packs. But fate is far from kind. Xavier is a beast cloaked in scars and shadows, still haunted by the brutal death of his first mate. His hatred for humans runs deep and Octavia’s very presence is a cruel reminder of everything he’s lost. Bound by ancient laws that demand he accept the bond or forfeit his throne, Xavier chooses duty over desire, even if it means tying himself to the one creature he despises most. Thrown into a world where she’s hunted, hated, and utterly alone, Octavia must fight to survive in a pack that would rather see her dead. But when whispers of betrayal echo through the trees and the truth about Xavier’s mate’s murder surfaces, Octavia uncovers a dark conspiracy rooted deep within the heart of the pack. As desire clashes with distrust and loyalty is tested, Octavia and Xavier are forced into a dangerous alliance. The bond that curses them may be their only hope but only if they can survive the secrets waiting to tear them apart. In a world where love is war and fate is a cruel master, will their connection destroy them or ignite a flame powerful enough to burn down the lies?

“That’s your stepbrother, Ivan,” her mother said as they stopped by the pool. His legs were in the water, a cigarette between his lips, smoke curling into the sky. And right then, Gianna knew she hated him. She hated men who smoked. Or drank. Or reminded her of the father whose scars still lived beneath her skin. After six months away, Gianna Vale returns home to find everything changed, her mum has remarried the alpha of the Wolfe pack— a new house, a new name, and a new problem: Ivan Wolfe. Cold. Arrogant. Impossible to ignore. She wants to hate him. She tries to. But one look is all it takes — one heartbeat, one spark — and the bond between them ignites. Ancient. Unbreakable. Forbidden. They’re mates. A truth neither of them asked for… and one they can’t escape. Because in the Wolfe Pack, love like theirs isn’t fate — it’s a curse. If two fated mates from their bloodline unite, one is to die or become rogue. And when one reckless moment crosses that line, the mark changes everything. And that curse runs deeper than Gianna ever imagined — tangled in her family’s past, in long forgotten memories , and in secrets that were never meant to surface. Now desire becomes danger, loyalty becomes war, and Gianna learns that some destinies were written long before they were born. She was supposed to stay away. He was supposed to reject her. But fate never plays fair.

As my due date approaches, my husband's precious mistress falls into the water at a banquet. After being rescued, she immediately accuses me of pushing her. To "avenge" her, he throws me into a modified stainless steel water tank. I beg him, pleading for the sake of our unborn children. But he only sneers. "Don't try to use the babies to guilt me! You've still got a week before you're due. I know exactly how vicious you are—any child of yours would be just as rotten. Stay in there and reflect on your behavior. I'll let you out when you finally admit you're wrong!" Five days later, my husband returns home from a night out with his mistress, calling for me to come downstairs and serve them, as always. He doesn't know that my babies and I have already rotted beyond recognition.

"we will play a game wrong answer and you learn to breathe under water"scar said coldly, Cindy gulped down deep breath in fear,as she stared at the cold unforgiving water in the bathtub. "What was your role that night,and wait a minute why are you getting married to my fiance" Cindy shivered her hands on her knees. "I Know nothing about that night,and the marriage is all a family plan,I'm away of nothing" Scar gripped her hair roughly. "Wrong answer"she shoved her head into the bathtub.....a very long night. She's Lisa Liam, young billionaire backed by wealthy family background, perfect life,a month to her perfect wedding to Malcom Ethan,most eligible bachelor,it wasn't just a wedding it was a union between two powerful families.Her life turned upside down in a night as she is the prime suspect of a murder, friends and family turned their backs, betrayed by those she called her own,she disappeared under circumstances beyond control,and she's back now as the huntress to everyone who had a role to play in ruining her perfect life.....

In the ruthless mafia world, loyalty is everything...until it isn't. Sophia Moretti has lived her entire life as the obedient daughter, hiding a sharp mind and a rebellious heart. But when her father's disloyalty puts their family in danger, Sophia is forced to make a sacrifice: marry "The Devil" the most feared man in New York's underworld. Dante Romano also known as "The Devil"—has built his empire on revenge and power. When the man who puts him through hell comes to him for help, he demands his daughter. Dante expects a submissive bitch, a pawn but Sophia is his undoing, his lesson straight from hell. She is fire wrapped in silk and Dante soon realized that taming her might cost him his revenge. But in a city full of rat and snakes, Dante is the one person she can trust when alliances are bought and enemies surface. Their forced marriage turns into a partnership of shared secrets and unquestionable desire. Still, betrayal runs deep in the mafia, can they trust each other enough to survive the betrayal that threatens to tear them apart?

My girlfriend called me frantically out of the blue, saying her mother's water had broken. She begged me to take them to the hospital. But I lazily hung up the phone and turned away, buying myself an ice cream bar instead. In my previous life, her mother had also gone into labor late in life. I had risked everything to rush her to the hospital, running twelve red lights, pushing my car to the limit until the fuel gauge nearly burst. Yet, despite all that, her mother had lost the baby. Worse still, she turned around and accused me of killing the baby. My girlfriend had hated me for it, blaming me for her mother's inability to have children again. That very night, she and her shameless relatives took over my family's house, forcing my parents into such anger and despair that they ended up in the hospital. My company went bankrupt, and as if that weren't enough, I was beaten so severely that both my legs were broken. In the end, I fell into a deep depression and took my own life. But when I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. This time, I uncovered the secret her mother had been hiding.