The Light Shines Even When The Star Is Gone

Book 2 in Criminal Love Series. It can be read as a standalone!This is Isabel and Marco's story. So what happens when you judge people based on what you think? When you decide to punish another for a crime they didn't commit? What happens when you fall in love with the person? Will she be able to trust your love after everything? Marco felt betrayed when his best friend decided to take his sister and forcefully take her as his slave. He was going to make Ricardo feel the same way he felt and it just happens to be that naive Isabel was Ricardo's only sister who needed up being caught up in the web of lies!! Read on to find out!!This story contains mature content, language and violence. Read at your own risk.

On the day of my daughter Eleanor Baldwin's second birthday party, my entire family stood nervously by the banquet hall entrance. They were not there to greet guests, but rather to keep me from showing up and causing a scene. Mom's face was written all over with anxiety. "Lucas wouldn't actually crash the party, would he?" Dad's brow stayed tightly furrowed. "Who knows? That disgrace of a son is capable of anything." My younger brother, Cody Baldwin, had his arm wrapped gently around my wife, Kendra Clarkson, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. If Lucas dares to show up, I'll keep you and Ellie safe." Kendra nodded slowly. "If it really comes to that... maybe we should just let Ellie be his goddaughter. At least then, we're still family..." However, the party came and went, and I never appeared. I had already made up my mind to join a classified national defense research program. Only this time, it was for good.

I had always been naturally celibate. Yet somehow, I still ended up chemically castrating myself. It was all because, in my previous life, my wife's precious idealized lover, a libidinous playboy, went viral as a pickup artist and dumped every side effect of his indulgent lifestyle onto me. He spent nights partying in hotel rooms with groups of women while I collapsed from kidney failure and was rushed to the ER. He lounged in clubs with women in both arms, downing bottle after bottle, while I went into an allergic shock and nearly died. I confronted my wife about it, but she shoved me away impatiently. "Shane already told me nothing happened with those women! You're just jealous and faking illness to slander him!" However, the playboy's actions only escalated. Chasing bigger thrills, he even started getting involved with men in drag. Thanks to him, I caught an STD, which pushed my wife to demand a divorce. I went to the hospital for treatment, but the doctors could not find the cause. Instead, they tossed me straight into an addiction rehab program. Later, for the sake of boosting his live stream numbers, the playboy went wild in Southwind Asira's nightlife scene. After he spent an entire night drowning in pleasure, I, drained past my limit, collapsed and died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day he began his online hunt.

By the fifth year of my marriage to Noah Lester, everyone insisted that I, Emma Newman, was his eternal muse. But I knew the truth. Behind my back, Noah cycled through a parade of fresh-faced, eager lovers. He even flaunted them at social gatherings, swapping one for another with shameless ease. When friends teased him—"Didn’t you swear Emma was the love of your life? Why the revolving door of mistresses?"—he’d just laugh, arms slung around his latest conquests. "Once you’ve caught your muse the glow fades. Give me someone new and tender any day—at least they keep things exciting." So I began plotting my escape. What Noah never realized was that I had grown tired of him, too. Tired of this life, of these performances. I was done.

Eight years after running away pregnant, I found myself crossing paths with my ex-husband, Howard Quinn. His friends stared at me in surprise. "So, this is what you have become after leaving Howard? Reduced to a cleaner?" When I was six-months pregnant, I met with an accident. While I lay there, he was staying by the side of another woman, his so-called true love, in labor, never leaving her side. When I confronted him, in pieces, he looked at me bored and impatiently. "Don't be so jealous and petty. I have no time for you. As long as you behave, you'll always be Mrs. Quinn." I couldn't stand it any longer, so I ran away, staying away for eight long years. Now, those sharp eyes glared at me. "Have you had enough? If so, come home." What he didn't know was that my husband and daughter had already made dinner, waiting for me and my son to return home.

I'd loved my childhood friend, Colleen Decker, for ten years, until a car accident changed everything. She loses the ability to walk and never stands again. Her fiance, Ronald Coleman, and other self-proclaimed admirers disappear overnight. Even the Decker family turns their backs on her, cutting her off as the heiress. I'm the only one who stays by her side. I drop out of school and spend two years caring for her, doing everything I can to find the best specialists in the country. However, the moment she gets back on her feet—during the proposal I'd prepared—she announces in front of everyone that she's continuing her engagement to Ronald. When I confront her, Colleen grabs my hand, her voice soft and earnest. "Lucius, I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm marrying him to get back at him for walking away from me back then. You have to believe me. I only love you." But during a game of Truth or Dare, Ronald draws the King card. He points at me and says, "Lucius, choose any girl here and kiss her for one minute." I look to Colleen for help, but she turns her head away. "Don't look at me. I belong to Ronald now."

Sa likod ng ilaw, palakpakan, at mga kantang minahal ng marami, may mga buhay na tahimik na nasisira at muling binubuo. Si Alexa Emmanuella Padilla Villa—mas kilala bilang Axelle—isang babaeng piniling magningning nang mag-isa, hiwalay sa anino ng sikat na apelyidong kanyang pinagmulan. Sa murang edad, napatunayan niya ang sarili bilang isang singer at negosyante, dala ang paniniwalang ang tagumpay ay mas matamis kapag pinaghirapan. Ngunit noong 2026, nagsimulang magbago ang lahat nang mawala sa kanilang pamilya ang kanyang kapatid isang pag-alis na puno ng lihim, sakit, at katahimikan. Ang pagkawala nito hindi lamang nag-iwan ng lungkot, kundi nagbukas ng mga sugat sa kanilang pamilya na pilit tinatakpan ng paghihinagpis. Habang patuloy ang paghahanap, natutunan ni Axelle na ang katanyagan ay hindi sapat na panangga laban sa pagkawala. Sa gitna ng paglalakbay patungong South Korea at France, isang aksidenteng banggaan ang naglapit kay Axelle at kay Ryo Red “RR” Eun, isang dating K-pop idol na may imaheng matigas ngunit may pusong puno ng sugat at responsibilidad. Ang kanilang mundo ay parehong puno ng ingay, ngunit ang koneksyon nila ay nagsimula sa katahimikan at pag-unawa. Habang unti-unting lumalabas ang mga lihim ng nakaraan sakit, mga anak na iniwan, pag-ibig na hindi natuloy napilitan si Axelle na harapin ang katotohanang ang pagmamahal hindi perpekto. Sa gitna ng trahedya, pagkawala ng magulang, kapatid, at mga kaibigang minahal, natutunan niyang ang tunay na bituin hindi lamang ang kumikislap sa entablado, kundi ang nananatiling nagniningning kahit unti-unting nauubos ang liwanag.

WARNING: STRONG ADULT CONTENT/EXPLICIT LANGUAGE 18+ Prince Asahd Usaïd, Prince of seduction and sensuality. He has everything he wants, from the ladies to the sultanate's riches. Only son and child to his parents, he is sure to take over the throne. But he is spoiled, way too egocentric, rude, careless and proud. He hangs out with the wrong people and leaves his name in every nightclub. All these, bother his parents that are honorable people. They come up with the best form of punishment for him. One that is sure to make him change. Will pretty boy survive, living the common life?" A seducer, a sex god, a Prince. Read to discover his adventures and see how he handles the situation his parents will put him in. But most importantly, watch him seduce and prey, until he gets what he wants. 'Who' he wants. (SEXUAL CONTENT WARNING)

A daughter risks everything; her identity, her safety, and her heart—when she disguises herself as a boy to join an all-male hockey team in a bid to save her father’s life. But in the cold world of ice and ego, falling for the enemy could be her biggest slip.

Elena's Story continues where she has to cope with not having Jonathan and facing a new threat whilst Jonathan is stuck on the other side struggling to find his way back. Cole is wounded but not dead, he is coming for revenge by awakening another powerful force to go against Elena. He is not giving up without a fight, old and new enemies come for Elena and her powers. We will get to see how Elena's love brings back the one thing she wanted the most but not without paying a heavy price.