Stuff To Trace

One night of passion with Carl Grey, her supposed uncle, led Renee Lacey down a path of eight years of misery. On the day she decided to end it all, holding her daughter's ashes, Carl was throwing a big party for his ex-girlfriend's son. Talk about adding insult to injury. But life had a surprise in store. Renee got a do-over, and this time, she's not pulling any punches. Carl's going to learn that karma's a real piece of work. Last time around, when Renee tried to explain things, Carl shut her down, accusing her of drugging him for a hookup. Well, not anymore. This time, she's cutting him loose in front of everyone. Remember when Carl's ex stole Renee's work and he called Renee a green-eyed monster? Now, Renee's going to leave them both in the dust and grab that award herself. And let's not forget how Carl always took his ex's side when Renee was blamed for stuff she didn't do. This time, Renee's giving as good as she gets. Poor Carl. He always thought Renee would stick around, no matter what. But when she finally walks out without so much as a "see ya," his world falls apart. Now look at Mr. High-and-Mighty, all teary-eyed and desperate: "Renee, don't go. Can't I come with you?"

After my divorce, I went to the southwest mountainous regions to volunteer for rescue work, where two years passed in the blink of an eye. One day, our daughter gets diagnosed with aplastic anemia, and her life can only be sustained through a bone marrow transplant from me. It's only then that my ex-wife thinks of me. She heads to the mountains with a group of bodyguards and searches everywhere, but she can't find a trace of me. She thinks I have deliberately hidden myself from her. "As long as you're willing to donate the bone marrow, I'll promise you visitation rights to see our daughter in the future." However, the townspeople tell her that I have long since passed away. She frowns slightly, her expression full of impatience as she says, "I never thought that, after all these years, he would still play these childish games." In the end, she searches high and low, only to unearth my bones.

Jason Reed had been my boyfriend for seven years. He suddenly disappeared, and the last place I was able to trace him was Melvaris. That night, I received a video call. In it, a man holding an electric baton yelled, “Bring 50 million dollars as ransom to the industrial zone. Otherwise, don’t expect him to return alive.” Jason was beside the man. He was covered in blood. He pleaded desperately, “Clara! Save me! They promise to let me go if we give them the money!” Without thinking twice, I did as I was told. However, when I arrived, I was drugged and knocked unconscious. In the end, I was tortured to death. What hurt the most was not that. Jason took one-third of the ransom I had prepared. Then, he returned to Caldovia and married Hannah Blake, the student who had received financial assistance from my family. But when I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day he went missing.

During the holiday season, a flood hits. The company's warehouse is submerged up to the third floor. Due to the emergency, I have my assistant tell everyone to come back a day early to help. I promise that the company will provide stipends and extra time off to make up for this. But on that day, a Gen Z employee goes live across the internet to report me. "Oh, my God. It's 2025, yet there are still companies forcing employees to adjust their time off and work overtime! Is this heartless boss so broke that she needs to exploit us like this? Will she die if she doesn't squeeze us out of every drop of usefulness? Company notices override the law. Impressive stuff, this is!" Soon, the company ends up on the trending list due to criticism from the online community. Even the regulators come knocking to hold us accountable. In the end, the company is forced to cancel the notice. A lot of equipment isn't salvaged in time, resulting in significant losses. The employee even posts a victory lap. "Give the boss a little reminder—see if she dares to force overtime again!" I'm so angry that I laugh out loud. I tell my assistant to cancel the annual benefit we give all employees—an entire month of paid time off for Christmas and the New Year holidays. If we have to stick strictly to the law, then fine. Have it your way!

A gas explosion kills both me and my wife, Riley Sawyer. When I open my eyes again, we have both returned to our lives before we ever got married. In our previous life, Riley and I grew up together. We were inseparable as kids, and after we married, our relationship only deepened. People envied how well we got along. But in this life, she doesn't choose me. She accepts the romantic pursuit of Benjamin Prescott, the son of the wealthiest man in the city. I quietly erase every trace of her from my life and act as if she never existed. Five years later, the two of them announce their engagement in the grandest way possible and invite all our former classmates. When I show up wearing the same custom suit Benjamin has on, a diamond ring in hand, Riley's face tightens with anger. "Jared, it's been years. Why can't you let me go?"

Three years of a calculated arrangement. One moment of cold finality. Calista MacQuoid walked into Ranya Windsor’s life desperate and poor, leaving behind a contract that saved her family and transformed her world. Their relationship was based on a clear agreement - his protection in exchange for her companionship - until the moment he uttered four crushing words: “She’s back. It’s over.” With remarkable dignity, she accepts her dismissal, refusing to become another broken-hearted conquest. A million-dollar check and a week to retrieve her belongings are all that remain of their intricate past. Leaving Texas’s wealthiest man behind, Calista vanishes completely, erasing every trace of her existence. As Ranya receives her final goodbye, he finds himself haunted by her absence, torn between his diligent search for her and the rekindled love of his past. Will he succeed in finding the woman who left a void in his heart, or will he focus on his dying love for his ex, the woman he truly loved?

'Clothes wouldn't be necessary here, Milady' He should have known she was up to something when she suddenly started to act naive, when she was after all, an escort. 'W-what the hell are you doing in my room?' She had asked when he first entered But he let his third leg do the thinking and forgot to be rational. 'I usually find the hard-to-get game, silly and boring. But, I think this roleplaying stuff gets your juices flowing. How about you be my naughty student instead.' He gently tucked her hair behind her ears and stared at her lips 'I am an escort sir. Not. A. Prostitute. My job description is escort and not call girl. I'll appreciate it if you leave my room or I'll call security.' 'Is this some sort of twisted role play? I already told you to stop. I paid for the night. What the fuck is going on here?' *** It wasn't role play. The slut had a nasty game up her sleeves. Set up and then blackmail. Fucking sleazy reporters were already at his door. Louis knew how deadly the media was in pushing stories about people like him. A false story about him had previously ruined his life. His father had suffered for it as well. He decided to give the media a story that wouldn't ruin him. Who didn't prefer romance to anything else? He looked into the slut's face and threw the proposal in her face. 'You would have to marry me.'

"Book 1: Mikhail: A Royal Dragon RomanceHe’s a dangerous jewel thief… she’s the gem expert standing in his way…Mikhail Barinov knew he F’d up, five hundred years ago. His ‘one job’ as part of a Russian family of imperial dragon shifters? To protect the family hoard of jewels. But a dazzling virgin—who just happened to be the Elizabeth I, the Queen of England—tricked Mikhail and stole the jewels. But now he has a chance at redemption. The jewels have been found five centuries later. The only problem is they’ve been turned over to gemologist, Piper Linwood. She’s sexy, smart, ripe for seduction—but if centuries of exile taught him one thing, it’s never trust a beautiful woman.Piper Linwood can’t wait to get her hands on her latest project. But hot damn she never expected how badly she’d want to get her hands on the dark, brooding man she sees at the museum. Of course she didn’t know he was a jewel thief. Or a dragon shifter. But all that becomes abundantly clear when he takes the jewels and her, then flies (yes, flies) to his ancestral castle. While all the alpha-male stuff is what fairy tales are made of—and frankly sexy-as-hell—the fact Piper disappeared with Mikhail has her labeled as his partner in crime. Now she must choose. Will she betray him to save her career? Or will she stay and become the dragon’s greatest treasure?Brothers of Ash and Fire is created by Lauren Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

In a kingdom ruled by magic and shadowed by secrets, Princess Elara was born to uphold a prophecy—one that demands her heart, her blood, and ultimately, her sacrifice. Magic belongs to the elite, and power is passed through bloodlines, but nothing prepared her for the storm of desire and danger that would unravel everything she believed. Vesper Moretti, the ruthless heir to a deadly mafia empire, was the first man to shake her world. Cold, calculating, and intoxicatingly powerful, he vanished without a trace—leaving behind a shattered heart and unanswered questions. Now, he’s back… alive, dangerous, and claiming what was once his. Torn between Vesper’s dark pull, Kael’s fierce loyalty, and Dain’s quiet rebellion, Elara is caught in a web of betrayal, prophecy, and passion. As the prophecy unfolds, one truth becomes chillingly clear: only one man can survive the end—and her choice will ignite war or salvation. With ancient powers awakening and the line between love and ruin blurring, Elara must uncover the truth buried in blood and magic… before her kingdom, and her heart, are lost forever.

Sandra Campbell tried her best to become the perfect wife for her husband, Andrew Flynn. But her husband never looked at her once. One night, after her husband mistook her for his mistress, Sandra decided to leave her husband for good. Andrew always thought his wife married him for money. His family is rich and well-known. So he ignored her. But one night changed his life forever. Sandra left him without a trace, and he realized his ex-wife loved him. Several years later, they meet again. But Andrew is shocked to know that Sandra is not alone; she has a kid now. And he is pretty sure the kid is his. Ethan Nathaniel always thinks he is a gay man who won't fall in love with women. Until he meets Sandra, who makes him realize that he is not gay but bisexual. Unknowingly, he starts to develop feelings for Sandra and decides to protect her at all costs. Will Sandra give Andrew a second chance to be her husband again, or choose Ethan?