The Thing That Wouldn't Leave

I suddenly got a call from the police, telling me I was involved in an abandoned baby case. My best buddy was holding me up as we rushed to the scene when Shirley Dunn, the girl who had asked me for directions last week, suddenly pointed straight at me. "That's her. I saw her this morning, holding her stomach, going into the restroom! Now the baby's been born, and her belly's flat!" I was completely stunned. Before I could react, she shoved the newborn straight into my arms. "This is your own flesh and blood! How could you abandon him?" The officer's expression was equally severe. "Miss, I understand that becoming a mother at 20 can be scary, but abandoning a baby is a crime. If you didn't want to raise a child, you shouldn't have had one." More and more college students gathered around, their stares stabbing into me like needles. Cold sweat soaked my back. My best friend suddenly burst out laughing. "Congrats, man! You're a dad now!"

My love story with my Don husband was once the model relationship for couples all across Edale. But after his sudden death, the notary informed me that I was not the first in line to inherit his estate. I froze. Christian Fuzio was an only child. His parents had long passed away. We had no children. If I wasn't the first in line, then who was? That was when the boy walked in. His face was a perfect copy of Zoe Sgotti, Christian's assistant. The boy crossed his arms and sneered. "Mrs. Fuzio, the person my father loved most in his life was my mother. Of course, most of the inheritance belongs to us." Rae… Ray… Only then did I realize that the name he had whispered on his deathbed was never mine. I lunged forward to question Ray, but he shoved me into the traffic. The moment my head slammed against the ground, darkness swallowed everything. When I opened my eyes once more… I stared at my young, strong hands. Feeling the life that I had once lost growing inside me, I finally understood that I had been given another chance. Christian, this time, I no longer wanted your fake love. I would grant the three of you all the happiness that you wanted.

My husband's gym was celebrating its grand opening, so I grabbed my best friend and headed over under the guise of "checking the place out," armed with a $10 trial class we had snagged from a group deal. I never once mentioned that I was the owner's wife. The moment we wrapped up the workout, a female trainer slapped a price sheet into our hands and gave us a look that could cut glass. "Let me guess, you two came here to milk the freebies? Our private training sessions cost hundreds. They're not here for people like you to exploit." I let out a disbelieving laugh. "We bought a perfectly valid trial class. How does that make us freeloaders? Get your manager." She rolled her eyes, acting like she was the rules. "Call whoever you want! The owner is my boyfriend, and he can't stand penny-pinchers who show up trying to mooch off his gym." Then, right in front of us, she called him—voice raised, dramatic, dripping with fake indignation. "Babe, there are two cheapskates in your gym demanding the manager. Come deal with them for me!"

My adopted daughter, Phoebe Marsh, possessed an evil ability. Whenever she got hurt, the pain would also be inflicted directly on my biological daughter, Maisie Shaw. She deliberately hurt herself, covering her body with wounds and bruises. Then, she would turn around with cold eyes, watching Maisie writhe on the floor in agony until she passed out from the pain. With no medical solution available, I broke down and held Maisie close, begging my husband, Brandon Shaw, to send Phoebe away. However, he would erupt in fury. "It's obviously Maisie who's been faking illness for attention, and you're making up this ridiculous story to get rid of Phoebe. She's just a fragile, helpless child. How can you be so vicious?" After that, Phoebe escalated her self-harm even more viciously. Meanwhile, Maisie spent every day curled up in the corner of her bed, refusing to let anyone touch her. On Maisie's birthday, Phoebe threw herself from the fifth floor. Just as Maisie was blowing out her candles and making a wish, she suddenly began bleeding from all her facial orifices, and she died instantly. Yet, Phoebe only suffered minor scrapes. I died from overwhelming grief shortly after. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to Phoebe's first day in our home. Maisie was playing with her Legos when she suddenly clutched her ankle and started crying. This time, I grabbed the broom from behind the door and swung it toward Maisie, shouting, "I'll beat you up for faking illness and seeking attention!"

At the age of thirteen, Ashley secretly fell in love with a man. The man looks cold and lazy, talks like a bad-boy, often comes to her house and spends an afternoon playing games in her brother's room. Seeing Ashley come in to deliver some snacks, he would raise his eyelids carelessly, smiling like a tempting devil, "Kiddo, what's the matter with you? You always blush when you see me. "

My childhood sweetheart and younger brother both fell in love with the underprivileged student who moved into our home. After she took my family and fiancé away from me, I chose to disappear from their lives forever. But after I left, the fiancé who once told me he wished I were dead went mad trying to find me.

[WARNING!! R18+ CONTAINS SMUT SCENES AND OTHER ADULT STUFFS] Devyn Lowell, the youngest daughter of the Lowell Clan. A dominant werewolf omega, who changes sex partners every month in order to maintain her form. She never entered serious relationships. For her, alpha men were just toys. Kiel Arnoux, a recessive werewolf alpha. Living his life as the President’s shadow. Devyn’s personal assistant, who distanced himself and forgot the memories they made as childhood friends. *** “I can’t take her strong pheromones!!” The man who was supposed to be Devyn’s partner for the month stormed out of the room. The female omega sat down and lit a cigarette. A devilish smirk stretched across her cheeks. “What a useless alpha,” Kiel turned to her and bowed. “I apologize. Do you want me to arrange another—” He stopped when Devyn pulled his collar. She blew a smoke and ordered. "Kneel" Kiel wasn't stunned at all. He bent down and kneeled. Devyn grabbed the man by the hair and then she placed one foot on Kiel's chest. "You are so obedient. Do you know that it was a privilege to be stepped on by me?" she smirked. The man nodded. "Thank you for stepping on me, President." *** A hot and steamy connection between a CEO and her assistant. Is LUST the only thing that binds them? What will happen if both of them fall deeper into the dangerous pit of LOVE?

At the family meeting, my mafia Don husband spared his secretary one glance. I turned and walked away, canceled our wedding anniversary celebration, and decided I was done with him. I signed my name on the divorce papers I had prepared long ago. When Matteo Santoro saw the agreement, he called me at once, his voice tight with restrained anger. "What are you trying to pull this time? Is this really because I looked at Elena?" "Yes," I said. "Because you looked at her."

Life has a way of awakening us…Often cruelly. Astraia Ilithyia, a humble art gallery hostess, finds herself pulled into a world she never would’ve imagined existed. She meets the mysterious and charismatic, Vasilios Barzilai under terrifying circumstances. Torn between the world she’s always known, and the world Vasilios reigns in…Only one thing is certain; she cannot survive without him.

Plot Summary Emma and Jake fell in love young deep, real, and fast. But just when everything felt right, Emma disappeared without a word. Ten years later, she’s hired to redesign the estate of a secretive billionaire only to discover it’s Jake. He’s different now. Cold, powerful… and angry. But the fire between them hasn’t died. What Jake doesn’t know is: Emma left to protect him. From something, or someone. And what Emma doesn’t know is: Jake is hiding something too. As secrets unravel, Emma is caught between the man she lost, and the one she can no longer lie to.