The New House

Quinlan Torres has responsibilities - one more year of college, a brother who needs a lot of extra supervision, and a best friend in the middle of a hostile takeover of her late father's company. The best thing for her to do would be to keep her head down, her eye on the ball, and her mind clear of any distractions. Problem is, her best friend's boyfriend has this brother...

“Damien!!” I struggled against the cuffs, trying to free myself. “What the hell are you doing?” He leaned down, his face inches from mine, his voice calm. “Until you learn to behave, you’re staying exactly where I want you, Mon Cara.” *** Abandoned by her father to settle his debts, Tracey Luke never imagined her life would fall into the hands of the ruthless Mafia King, Damien Black. Thrown into his dark, dangerous world, Tracey quickly learns that survival is a game she must learn to play if she wants to escape. But as the days pass, she finds herself caught between fear and something she never expected to feel—compassion. When Tracey first meets Damien, he’s nothing like the monster she imagined. He is confined to a wheelchair, which makes him look more like a prisoner than a predator. With pity stirring within her, she decides to stay by his side and tend to his needs while secretly plotting her escape from his dangerous world. But, on the night she finally makes her move, everything changes.

Seven years ago, Aria was left shattered when Liam Brooks, the golden heir, denied her after spending the night with her and made her the center of ruthless humiliation. Once the broken nerd girl, she disappeared from that world—only to rise again, stronger, sharper, and untouchable. Now she's a celebrated fashion icon, Aria stands on the cusp of defending her crown at the Haute Couture Awards. But fate twists cruelly when Liam returns, no longer just her past tormentor but a powerful figure entangled in her present. What begins as a battle of ambition soon sparks a dangerous game of attraction and revenge. Aria is determined to win, to never bow again, even if it means turning Liam’s own fire against him. This time, the clash is personal—and only one of them might walk away unscathed.

One day, I received a call from the property management. They politely advised me that even if it was a wedding, there was no need to make such a ruckus all night long, disturbing the neighbors. They said they were caught in the middle, and it was hard for them to deal with it. I replied, "You must be mistaken. I don't even have a boyfriend, so how could I be getting married?" Since I refused to admit it, the property management sent me a video from the community's security cameras. In the video, the hallway was decorated with lights and flowers, and guests were coming and going. A large group of people were escorting the bride into the new home. And the groom was none other than my ex-boyfriend, who I had broken up with two and a half years ago!

Power is always associated with trouble. Sometimes it is great enough to save us from trouble, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it is so great that trouble can't get close and sometimes its greatness is the reason why trouble comes. Sometimes it's not about how you use it, sometimes it's about the power itself. The mere existence of a certain power could stir up fear, awe, hatred and envy depending on who percieved it and how they do.

You are entering an alternate world, where the Philippines didn't achieve its independence but remained a US colony. You will meet four people living in Neo Manila, where the government is repressive, prohibited drugs are legal, and crime is rampant. Undesirables are abducted and imprisoned in the Valley, which is a hidden prison island. A secret society called the Sons of Lapu-Lapu is working to undermine the government and has spies within the Valley and the governmental ranks. A young man and a woman are victims of circumstance and caught between two sides. She initially betrays him but made amends later and became lovers. The government leader (and main villain) have thought of a bold plan to use witchcraft in creating a perfect Utopian society for him and the one-percenters in the colony: the New Gods. The remaining unworthy would not be included and thus eliminated. The soul of Neo Manila and the whole colony is at stake. Will the Sons of Lapu-Lapu or the New Gods prevail in the end? Who will you pledge your allegiance to?

Half an hour later, Rowan called to say, "Chairman, I have checked, Miss Grainne is safe now, she is taking her son on a trip to Switzerland." "Are you in Switzerland?” Carwyn Levi frowned, the anxiety in his heart finally subsided. "Yes, that's right, Harry's school organizes an event for parents, it's going to Switzerland to see the snowy mountains. Did you forget? This activity is sponsored by you." Rowan said respectfully. Too many things happened in the past few months, so how can you remember something as small as this? Rowan continued: "Yes boss, there's one more thing, I don't know if I should say it or not." Carwyn Levi's face revealed an annoyed look, "If you have something to say, say it right away, don't hide it." Rowan replied: "Boss, Miss Grainne is going to Switzerland this time with Liam William of the William family. According to my investigation, Liam William participates in activities as the father of baby Harry." Carwyn Levi felt like he heard a thunderclap in his ears. Liam William as Harry's father to go to Switzerland with their mother and daughter? Just thinking about how Liam William would most likely be sleeping in the same bed as Grainne, hearing Harry coax an uncle William's voice, Carwyn Levi felt a chill all over her body. He clenched his fists and said to Rowan on the other end of the line: "Book me a plane ticket to Switzerland, tomorrow morning to the hospital and take me to the airport!" I was worried for her safety and rushed here to see if she was safe, but she and Liam William went to Switzerland to see the snow?

When I was 14, I ran away from home and met Rosalie Burke, the real Burke heiress who had been living on the outside. After her family finally brought her home, I was the one who helped her turn their business into a success. I spent ten years at her side, and on the day they named her heir to Burke Group, she shoved me into the sea. "My fiance is the next heir to Swain Group. You have no power or influence. You're beneath me now." I blink awake, and suddenly I'm back at the moment Rosalie returns to her family. I watch her shamelessly flirt with my enemy's son, then turn on my heel and head back to my own family. I'm not helping her in this life. This time, I'm going to watch her fall off that pedestal.

Children beware, and please give care of things that go bump in the night. It all seems like fun when you provoke mayhem and run through the graveyard to give one a fright. Please heed our warning from dusk until morning giving caution to the naive. Goblins and Ghouls wait on the foolishly brave to pull beyond the hallow grave.

Because I was a cheapskate, I rented a cheap apartment. The catch? Someone had died in it. The soundproofing of the house was bad, and I could hear my neighbor’s wife moaning every night. But my other neighbor told me that there was no one living in the apartment next to mine.