Strand Gas

Her father put him in prison, and she let him out. Italy’s most notorious criminal, Emilio Vitale, has criminal charges that are enough to put him in prison for life. That all changes when Chiara is given an assignment to interview him three years after her father puts him in jail. Things go south, and Emilio escapes from custody. Chiara thinks she will never see him again, but she can’t be more wrong. Emilio has other plans, and he is far from done with rocking Chiara’s boat and punishing her father by using her as a pawn. Somewhere along the way, they forget they are supposed to hate one another, and they break the laws of attraction. Their attraction is magnetic and impossible to ignore. Can these two weather storms find happiness where there isn’t any? In a world where it’s impossible for them to find love, they find each other. *** He backed me into a wall, putting his hand above my head to cage me in. “This isn’t original, Vitale. Stay away from me, or I will call the cops on you.” I threatened, ignoring how wildly my heart was beating against my chest. His scent was intoxicating and I hated how my body reacted to him. He used his free hand to brush a strand of my hair out of my face and leaned in like he was about to kiss me. Embarrassingly enough, I closed my eyes in anticipation. “Does that little boyfriend of yours get your body in a frenzy like I do? I bet he doesn’t let you cum.” He asked as he traced his fingers down my waist to my hips. “I bet I would have you screaming my name in seconds. Will you let me?”

The evening wind and tranquility wiped away all the chaos that had been filling my mind for the preceding few days. It felt as though I had been granted a second opportunity at life, akin to that of a newborn kid. I'd always wanted to feel that way for so long, and that night was a very captivating time for me to begin with. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the breeze brush against my skin as I relived all the horrific events that had occurred. All the turmoil that seemed to escape reappeared in an instant. Tears rush down my cheeks as I feel my body shudder as a dreadful understanding dawns on me. It feels as if every second of my existence has been squandered, and as if the sense of despair and worry has taken over the little strand of sanity that exists for me as it pours through my veins and fills my spirit to the core. "You've got this. All you have to do is think that you can," I said to myself persuasively. "You can't, you just can't. You'll never be able to do it, and you'll have to live with the repercussions for the rest of your life," a familiar voice said. My senses begin to be overpowered by numbness. And with that, I realized I could not go away. The reality that this is my fate hits me like a ton of bricks. As I stretched out to wipe away all my tears, I felt thick moisture on my fingers and was terrified to find blood instead of tears. I felt as if my world was spinning before I could even scream. Then, all of a sudden, darkness crept inside me. And eventually sends me to oblivion.

“What do I want?” Simon repeated. “I want a competent Personal Assistant who will not mix work with personal feelings” Simon’s answer was straight, he stood from the chair and came closer to Gabriela, who stepped backward as he approached closer until she hit the wall. Simon kept coming closer and when he was just a few inches away from her, he lifted his hand slowly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and he whispered. “Are you competent?” Gabriela didn't say a word, her heart raced fast and her breathing was heavy, she wanted so badly to punch his face. Her hands clenched into fists, she knew she had no choice, her brother’s life stood on a thread. Gabriela, a young lady w ho ishardworking and ready to do anything for her family, is forced to work for an arrogant CEO, Simon Ramsey, who is mean, and ready to humiliate her. As a result of the financially draining and terrifying sickness of her little brother, she has no choice but to bear her Boss's ruthlessness in order to pay the medical bills. As they both detest each other’s presence, one unplanned night of pleasure turns into an unimaginable scandal that has the potential to ruin everything Simon has worked for. To contain the scandal, they are forced to get married and act as if they love one another. Was the scandal just a coincidence? Or is someone out there to sabotage them? As the lines blur between duty and desire, theCEO finds himself falling for Gabriela in a way he never saw coming. Can Hatred turn into True Love? Get ready for a whirlwind of suspense and emotions in this cute Haters to Lovers story, Buckle up, you are up for a ride.

On our wedding anniversary, I did not say a word to my husband. I simply booked a plane ticket and left town on a business trip with my supervisor. He grabbed my arm, anger blazing in his eyes. "It's our anniversary, and you're spending it with someone else? Have you lost your mind?" I frowned, impatient, and shook him off. Without another glance, I got into the car heading for the airport. In my previous life, everything had started with his so-called first love. After multiple abortions, her uterine lining had become too thin for her to ever carry a child. So, she stole one. When the child's parents tried to take their baby back, she hit the gas, knocking them to the ground and killing them. However, when the truth came out, the police arrested me. I protested my innocence. I appealed. I even demanded a public trial. In response, they produced dashcam footage that clearly showed me abducting the child and running down the parents. To make matters worse, my fingerprints were found inside the car. I was completely shattered. Convicted on the spot, I was sentenced to death. My parents, unable to bear the shock, both fell ill and passed away soon after. After my death, my husband remarried in grand fashion, with his beloved 'first love' by his side. Together, they even adopted the very stolen child, becoming a couple everyone praised as perfect. Only then did I understand. It had all been their scheme. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day it all began.

Amelie DaVinci never expected to be stolen from the altar. One moment, she was walking down the aisle. The next, her stepbrothers stormed in, guns drawn, tearing her from the life she never wanted. Luca, the cold and ruthless leader, plays mind games that blur the line between cruelty and seduction. Matteo teases her with whispered promises of pleasure and pain. And Nico, the silent one. As a mafia war ignites and betrayals cut deep, Amelie faces an impossible choice—fight back or surrender to the dark temptation of the men who refuse to let her go. Escape is impossible. Betrayal is inevitable. And surrendering to the darkness might be her only way to survive. Amelie knew she shouldn’t be anywhere near them. But here she was, trapped between Luca and Matteo, with Nico watching from the armchair. Matteo’s fingers brushed against her waist. “You know,” he murmured, “you keep running, but you always end up right back here. With us.” Amelie swallowed hard. “This is a mistake.” Luca hummed in amusement. “Then why haven’t you stopped us?” His fingers wrapped around a loose strand of her hair, tugging lightly. “Or better yet, why haven’t you stopped yourself?” She shivered. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered, but it lacked conviction. Nico finally moved, his gaze locking on hers. “Then walk away,” he said. “If that’s what you really want.” Amelie’s breath hitched. Her body betrayed her, leaning slightly into Luca’s touch, into Matteo’s warmth. Matteo tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “That’s what I thought.” His lips hovered over hers. “We’re not the ones keeping you here, Amelie. You are.” This was dangerous. It was reckless. But she knew she was already theirs.

His dark eyes raked her body from head to toe as if he was sizing her up and a terrifying chill ran down her spine when the corner of his lips tilted up in an ominous smirk. The beast of a man leaned closer as his nose trailed her neck, he inhaled her scent deeply and then hummed in ecstasy. "Your scent drives me wild, Jewel." He rasped. His fingers twirled with her strand as she tried to control the wild trembling of her body. "I want to claim you so f*cking badly. Everything of yours drives me insane, my wife.”He grunted in a low rasp. His dark stormy eyes glided over her beautiful features before peering adoringly at her quivering brims. The rough pad of his thumb felt the softness of her lips. "I want to drill it inside your head, that…” He grasped a fist full of her hair and yanked her head back making her gasp as her fear-filled eyes clashed with his sinister hues. "You're mine, Evelyn. Body, soul, and heart. All mine!” He growled like a deranged beast robbing her of her breath as terror gripped her soul. *** Evelyn Brown. A sweet 20-year-old girl. Her life revolves around her elder brother who is her only family. She has a dream for which she is working hard. But everything would tumble down in her life when her path would collide with a ruthless man. Axel Knight. A 26-year-old, merciless, and cruel billionaire. For him money and power is everything. The only thing he ever cares for is his family. For the world, he was a successful cold bachelor but the truth is he is the vicious Alpha, who is hell-bent on ruining Evelyn's life. But little did they know. Fate has its plans.

She froze, breath caught, facing the storm in his delinquent brown eyes. He leaned over her, hands gripping the rail, boxing her in. The air was thick, too heavy to breathe. Her gaze locked on his unwilling, yet unable, to look away. The closer he leaned, the harder her heart pounded. She bit her lip, nerves twitching. No matter how far she ran, he always found her. “Why do you keep chasing me?” she asked, barely above a whisper. Her voice trembled, as if volume might shatter her. He didn’t answer. Silence roared between them. His cold and expressionless never left her face. “Do you like me?” she pressed, ignoring the disinterest in his eyes. She needed something. He gave a soft tut, then brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, twirling it lazily. The touch was light, but his closeness made her pulse race. “‘Like’ is a bit heavy, Tinkerbell,” he murmured, voice low and indifferent. The nickname slipped out like smoke, mocking, yet oddly tender. He leaned in, close enough for her to feel his heat. Close enough to unravel her. But his eyes stayed dark. Empty. She swallowed hard, unsure what hid behind them. “It’s strange,” he added, voice softer now. “But you’re the first woman I’ve ever aknowledged as a lady, Snow White.” — She was the good girl. Quiet. Overlooked. Her life, a shadow. No warmth. No safety. For a moment, she thought she’d found love, someone who saw her. Someone worth clinging to. But he broke her. When he left, he took her love and her self-worth. She hated herself after that. Then she started to rebuild. And that’s when Zachary Gonzalez appeared. Mysterious. Magnetic. Dangerous. Everything she shouldn’t want.

I was a child who was born in a vocational school's toilet. To my mom, I was a stain in her life that she was given birth to after having her cherry popped by a delinquent when she was still young. I knew that Mom had been trying to kill me. Unfortunately, she hadn't succeeded so far. The first time she tried to get rid of me was when she decided to give birth to me in the toilet. It was a cold, winter month, yet she didn't give me anything warm to wear. The second time she attempted murder was when she got into grad school, which was based in the north. No one was around to take care of me, so she turned on the gas while holding me in her arms and clutching her train ticket. The third and last time happened when Mom was about to marry the man she loved. On the night before her wedding, she had tears streaming down her cheeks as she told me, "You're nothing but a burden. You ruined my life! "Do you know that I can only forget about all the pain and suffering you caused me after you die? Only then can I start a brand new chapter in my life!" I wiped Mom's tears off her face with my tiny hand. So, her wish was for me to die. On my birthday, my fever hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit. That was when I finally received the first slice of birthday cake in my entire life. I didn't have the heart to eat it, so I made my wish solemnly. "I hope that I will die soon." I heard that birthday wishes often came true. That way, Mom would be very happy.

Matapos mag-graduate ng socialite training course, ang aking kapatid na babae ay nanumpa na magpakasal sa isang mayamang pamilya. Upang lumikha ng mga pagtatagpo kay Pierce Holden, ang prinsipe ng mga socialite, ang kapatid ko ang nagmaneho ng aking kotse, na gustong i-tailgate si Pierce at bumunggo sa sasakyan nito. Tinapakan ko ang preno at sinabi sa kapatid ko na hindi tanga ang mga Holden. Hindi namin kayang bayaran ang sasakyan ni Pierce, kahit na isuko namin ang lahat ng mayroon kami. Pagkatapos, nagkaroon si Pierce ng isang marangyang kasal na ikinagulat ng bansa. Nababaliw na ang kapatid ko sa selos, sinabing siya na sana ang bride kung hindi dahil sa pagpigil ko sa kanya noon. Dahil sa sama ng loob, binunggo niya ang kanyang sasakyan sa akin at pinatay ako. Nang muli kong imulat ang aking mga mata, nakita ko ang aking sarili sa front passenger seat. Kumpiyansa na ngumiti si ang kapatid ko, napako ang tingin niya sa mamahaling sasakyan sa harapan namin. "Sigurado akong mabibighani sa akin si Pierce kapag nakita niya ako. Hindi ko na kailangan magmaneho ng isang basura na ganito kapag nakasama ko na siya." Ngayon naman, hindi ko na siya pinigilan. Tinapakan niya ng madiin ang pedal ng gas, na naging sanhi ng pagbangga ng kotse laban sa sports car na may presyo na napakalaking halaga ng pera.

Ketika Susan terluka parah akibat ledakan kompor gas, hanya putranya yang berusia lima tahun yang berada di sisinya. Rohnya berdiri di samping Julian, melihatnya menangis sambil menelepon dan memohon agar Ginos bisa pulang untuk menyelamatkan ibunya. Namun, Ginos hanya memarahi dan menyuruhnya untuk jangan belajar berbohong seperti ibunya, lalu menutup telepon. Julian menyeka air matanya dan akhirnya memanggil ambulans, tetapi ambulans malah direnggut oleh Ginos. "Ayah, Ibu berdarah banyak dan sekarat. Bisakah Ayah tidak merebut ambulans?" "Dasar penipu, jangan ribut! Minggir, Wenny akan melahirkan, dia lebih butuh ambulans daripada Susan!" Ginos mendorong Julian yang menangis sedih, lalu pergi membawa Wenny ke dalam ambulans tanpa menoleh. "Ayah... Ayah! Tolong Ibu!" Julian menangis dan mengejar ambulans, tanpa memperhatikan truk yang melaju kencang. Susan meneriakkan nama putranya sekuat tenaga dan mencoba mendorongnya. Namun, dia tak bisa berbuat apa-apa selain menyaksikan Julian terjepit di bawah roda truk. Lautan darah. Susan hampir gila! Beberapa tahun ini, Ginos berulang kali meninggalkan mereka demi Wenny dan putrinya. Susan bertengkar dengannya, tetapi Ginos bilang dia hanya membalas budi ayah Wenny karena telah menyelamatkannya. Dia mengira Ginos memang nggak bisa bedain mana yang pantas dan nggak. Siapa sangka, Ginos bahkan tidak peduli dengan nyawa mereka! Dialah yang membunuh Julian... Susan mengembuskan napas terakhirnya dengan rasa sakit yang menyayat hati. Kalau ada kehidupan selanjutnya, Susan tidak ingin berhubungan dengan Ginos!