The Purpose

When His Majesty King Dominic Thornfield was attacked, my husband, Roland Wentworth, Commander of the Royal Guard, was busy placating his first love, Vivian Sinclair, who had stormed off in a fit of anger. I did not light the signal flare in my hand. Instead, I used my heavily pregnant body as a human shield to protect the King and help him escape. In my past life, I had lit that flare. Roland abandoned Vivian to rush back and save the King. He was rewarded for his loyal service by being made a Duke Protector. However, Vivian fell into a trap and died on the spot. On the surface, Roland said nothing. Yet, on the very day I went into labor, he threw me into the Beast Dungeon. My face twisted in agony as I demanded to know why. Roland merely glanced at me coldly and said, "His Majesty had plenty of guards around him, so why did it have to be me who came back? You must have done it on purpose, only caring about power and wealth. If you hadn't lit that flare, Vivian wouldn't have died. Whatever suffering Vivian endured, I'll make you pay it back tenfold!" In the end, I was torn apart and devoured by the beasts. Even the child in my womb was consumed completely. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day the King was attacked.

When a young girl named **Emilia** moves to an isolated, fog-drenched city in search of a fresh start, she quickly discovers that something is terribly wrong. The streets echo with silence, residents vanish without a trace, and time itself begins to twist and collapse. As doors appear in places they shouldn’t, and her own reflection begins acting on its own, Emilia realizes she’s trapped in a place that is not just haunted — it’s alive. Each chapter peels back a new layer of horror: shadowy watchers, eerie apparitions, underground tunnels, and ghostly echoes of past inhabitants. But the real terror lies within — the city seems to feed on fear, loneliness, and the feeling of failure. It reflects Emilia’s own anxieties back at her, warping her reality into a trial of the soul. As she searches for meaning, and later for escape, Emilia uncovers the city’s sinister purpose: it traps those most vulnerable and forces them to confront their darkest selves. With the help of other survivors — some real, some echoes — she must navigate psychological mazes and make impossible choices to survive. But survival isn't enough. Emilia must transform — not by escaping her fear, but by embracing it. In doing so, she becomes something more than a victim of the city. She becomes a guide, a witness, and eventually, a keeper of the door. *Trapped in the Hollow City* is a suspenseful, haunting exploration of inner demons, resilience, and the eerie beauty of choosing to become — even when the world seems built to break you.

Right after getting reborn, the first thing I do is start a livestream with the equipment I've brought to the main entrance of a bank. There, I humiliate myself on purpose just to attract the viewers' attention. Immediately, tens of thousands of viewers flock to my channel. After that, I take off my high heels on the spot and throw them at the armored truck that's carrying cash with all my might. "Get down! Don't move!" As I listen to the guards' stern warnings and watch as they aim their guns at me, I just spread my arms with a smile on my face. "This is a robbery! Hand over the money!" In my previous life, my business partner, Zachary Leed, and the finance director of my company, Yvette Sanders, had betrayed me. They used the perks that came with their jobs to receive illegal loans while using my company as a collateral asset. In the end, they fled with the cash, leaving me with the shitty aftermath to deal with. I was given a life sentence in jail in order to atone for the crimes Zachary and Yvette had pinned on me. My brother went all over the nation and spent all of his fortune just to seek justice for me, but he ended up dying from depression. When I open my eyes again, I yell loudly to the viewers watching my livestream at the moment. "Everyone, you shall witness the most historic moment ever! Come with me as I rob a bank right in front of your eyes on this livestream!"

"Logan, just give me some sleeping pills. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks," Xavier said to his psychiatrist and childhood friend. "You don’t need sleeping pills, Xavier. What you need is a break. How about taking ten days off on a cruise?" Dr. Logan Pierce suggested. "You know how much money I can make in ten days? And you want me to waste it sitting idle on a boat? Every minute I’m off that ship is costing me." "That’s exactly why you need it. The world will survive without you for ten days. Maybe you’ll realize you can, too." "But…" Xavier protested. "Xavier, sleeping pills won’t help this time. You’re becoming too dependent on them, and I’m not prescribing more. If you want your sleep back, take a break—a cruise vacation will do the trick." "Fine. But if this doesn’t work, I’m never listening to you again." "Deal. Now, go pack. And leave your laptop at home." Little did Xavier know that these ten days on the cruise would bring him a surprise. Girlfriend? No. Memories? No. Friends? No. Then what? Twins... Now, Xavier doesn’t need sleeping pills to sleep—just a sofa with no noise. The only purpose of Xavier’s life now is to find a mother for the twins.

Cassandra “Cassie” was the brightest movie star, adored by millions—yet behind the dazzling lights of fame, she was nothing more than the secret lover of Julian, the cold billionaire who had helped her become the most famous actress in the industry. Behind the scenes, she was merely Julian’s slave of desire. When a scandal ruined her career, Julian—the man she loved—betrayed her without mercy. Julian chose to return to his first love and married the woman. Heartbroken, Cassie decided to leave with what little pride she had left. But just as she was about to go, Julian kidnapped her, turning her into his pleasure doll. One night, Cassie finally managed to escape. But fate was cruel—her car brakes failed, and a terrible accident followed. The vehicle exploded into flames, and the world soon declared the beloved actress dead. Seven years later, the world still believed Cassie was gone. But she returned—with a new face and a little daughter by her side. She came back with one purpose: revenge. Would she succeed in making Julian feel the same pain he once caused her?Or would fate play its twisted game and make her fall for him once again?And how would Julian react when he discovered that Cassie was still alive—and that she had a little girl, his own flesh and blood?

I stopped fighting. The moment I came back, I stepped out of the family spotlight on purpose— no arguments, no expectations, no awkward “let’s bond” moments. And somehow… that’s when my parents lost their minds. They made my little sister the heir? I congratulated them and filed my transfer to the Vegas branch the same afternoon. They threw her a massive coming-of-age gala? I smiled, booked a flight, and left before the invitations were printed. They bought her a limited-edition luxury car? I claimed my “old wrist injury” made driving impossible and insisted she take it. I thought they’d be relieved. I thought they’d finally get their perfect family without me messing up the picture. But instead—my cold, distant parents started calling nonstop. Showing up at my door. Pleading with me to come home. Asking what they did wrong. Why now? Why only when I stopped trying? Because in my last life, I spent decades clawing for their love— only to die bitter, resented, and humiliated. Even my grown son told me I was embarrassing. This time, I came back different. I refused to fight for a place in their world again. I refused to compete with my sister. I refused to beg. But the moment I stepped away… the entire family empire began to crack. And now they’re terrified. Not because I left— but because they finally realized what they lost.

WARNING!! THIS STORY CONTAINS A LOT OF MATURE THEMES, ELEMENTS OF HARDCORE BDSM, PRAISE KINKS, SLUT-SHAMING KINKS, AND DEGRADATION KINKS. READ WITH CAUTION. (BOOK ONE OF THE DELUCA KINGS SERIES) Serena would do anything to uncover the death of her parents, including sleeping with the most dangerous man in New York, Nero DeLuca. And he knows this, so he strings her along so he can see how far she’s willing to go. *** “Get on your knees,” Nero said. “Excuse me—” “You’re my submissive, and you exist for the sole purpose of my pleasure. I don’t tolerate defiance. When I say get on your knees, you get on your knees.” “Yes,” I replied as I got on my knees, hating how much his commanding tone turned me on. He put his finger under my chin and lifted it so I could look at him. “Yes, what?” “Yes, sir.” “Good girl. Now get on the bed and show me that beautiful cunt. I want to see what it looks like before I destroy it with my cock. Tonight, the whole of New York will know you belong to me. I’ll not take anything less than you screaming my name, and by the time I’m done with you, you’ll feel me between your legs for a week.”

"Don't expect anything from me. Not my attention, not love." Hearing that, Leylah now knows that everything will never be the same again. The same man, the same voice, but it wasn't him. *** After almost three years of marriage, Leylah was still hopeful that a miracle would happen in her life. Hoping that her husband will have a change of heart and will love her again. But she was wrong. Love never happened. Not again. The universe must have conspired something behind her back to see horrendous scenes of her husband sleeping with another girl whenever he was at home. If only that alone happened then she could have forgiven him, but receiving a divorce papers from the man she love one day was a big blow she could never forget. She knew that this was bound to happen. After all, what can a one sided marriage like theirs end up, but a piece of white paper with a divorce written down on it? But no! She can't back down now! After hiding their marriage to the public for her husband's advantage, she can't back down now, looking more foolish than she has ever had! What was the purpose of those years she waited if she backed down now for nothing? So like a fool, she asked for a two months contract with her husband in turn for a divorce later on. But what do they know? Future is vague. No one knows what will happen.

Luke Mason, an average teenager who just turned 18, who lived with her mother, Angela, in the suburbs of Cebu City. He acquired his scholarship to study in a prestigious school, the University of San Carlos. A school unaffordable for low-class families like him. The scholarship made it possible for Luke to study in that school for free. His father, Erik Mason, left them four years ago for matters that he did not yet understand. Before his leaving, his father promised Luke to give him a gift if he turned 18. Luke met Maria Cruz at school and fell in love in secret. Maria was mysteriously beautiful, rich, and popular. But Luke sensed something peculiar about Maria and in one incident, Luke found out that Maria is a witch. The secret stayed between them and they eventually became friends. Months after Luke's birthday, his father Erik, visits them back home. Erik explained to his ex-wife, Angela, the purpose of his visit, to give Luke the long-time promised gift. Erik handed him an attache case. In it was a Moonstone Pendant and a dagger, weapons in killing witches. Luke then knew that his father is a witch hunter that came from a long lineage of witch hunters, called the Keepers. The Founders of the Keepers held a tradition to pass down their legacy to their children when they reached 18 yrs of age. The events now twisted as Luke tried to weigh his options, to kill Maria and her family of witches or leave them be, imposing danger to society.

Alessandra Marino, 35, runs New York's most powerful criminal organization from a penthouse forty-two floors above a city she owns. She has built this empire with one purpose: to avenge her father Vittorio, murdered seventeen years ago in a warehouse on Fifth Street when Alessandra was eighteen. She has a scar above her heart from that night — a knife meant for him. She has never once questioned the direction of her war. The night she executes a traitor named Theron, she receives a call from an unknown woman who claims to know why Vittorio really died. The woman is Giuliana Torelli — daughter of the man who pulled the trigger, made to watch as a fourteen-year-old, carrying the truth for seventeen years while waiting for someone ready to hear it. What Giuliana reveals dismantles everything Alessandra believed: Vittorio wasn't killed for his power. He was killed because he was going to go federal — because his wife was pregnant with a second child and he wanted to run, to be ordinary, to give his family a life outside the empire. Thomas Accardi, the man who married Alessandra's mother after Vittorio's death, was the architect of the murder. And Accardi has always known about the second child. Her name is Mara. She is twenty-eight years old, living in Williamsburg, and completely unaware that her entire life is a lie — or that Accardi has just wired a hundred thousand dollars to a fixer named James Sullivan.