Treasure Birthday

On my birthday, the dining table was loaded with all my favorites. My mom had been cooking and baking the entire afternoon, insisting everything be perfect for when Mike got home from work so we could celebrate together. But then, he called and said his first love had been drugged at a bar, and he had to go help her. I stopped him and begged him not to go. Mike snapped at me. "Jesus, Em, don’t pull this jealous wife crap. She’s alone, defenseless, and unconscious—I can't let some random dude take advantage of her!" My mother heard those words and was so enraged that she had a heart attack. She died on the spot. Just like that, my mom died on my birthday. I called Mike, asking him to attend my mom's funeral. But before he could reply, I saw Cathy Miller's latest Instagram post, captioned: [Mikey… after all these years, it was always you.] Mike had liked it. My thumb moved before my brain caught up, typing out the only words that mattered: [A homewrecker and a lying bastard. Hope you rot together.]

I secretly ordered a delivery of a thousand roses for my wife's birthday, hoping to surprise her. After the delivery was completed, I got a message from the delivery guy. [By the way, I tossed the trash by your door on my way out. Didn't expect you to be so kinky. Good for you, man!] He even sent me a photo. In the picture was an open trash bag stuffed with shredded pantyhose. My mind went completely blank. I was overseas on a business trip. My wife was the only one at home.

I was the top bounty thief in the organization. The best they had. After turning in my final score, I announced on the spot that I was done for good. Then, I stood in my studio, blending paint. A single photograph was pinned to the wall before me. Black Viper filled the doorway, the light behind him casting his face in shadow. "What's it like," he asked quietly, "pretending to be an artist?" He stepped further inside. "Does paint smell better than blood?" I placed the palette knife down and wiped my hands slowly. "I'm done. I walked away." "Old Fox didn't approve of it." "That's not my concern." Black Viper crossed the room and tapped the old photograph on the wall. "Are you certain?" I did not want to look. I told myself not to. However, my gaze shifted anyway. A young boy stared back from the photo. "The blind kid?" I had spent ten years searching for him. "Where is he?" I moved toward the wall, reaching to rip the picture down. "One last job," Black Viper said, pressing his palm against the photo. My hand stopped in midair. "What's the target?" "The final lot at next month's auction that the Gilbert Group will be holding. "It's called Mermaid's Tear."

Ruchee had long forgotten what it meant to live for herself. Since the day life stole both parents from her and left a fragile little sister in her trembling hands, she became everything at once, mother, father, shield, and sacrifice. She built her world from sleepless nights, ruthless decisions, and endless risks, caring for no one beyond the thin line of blood that tied her to the only family she had left. People were distractions. Friendship was unnecessary. Love was a luxury she could never afford. For Ruchee, survival was simple: keep moving, keep fighting, and never let anyone close enough to become another weakness. Until one night, everything was ripped away. Abducted without warning, Ruchee woke up inside a world she never knew existed, a lavish empire drenched in money, sin, and human desperation. There, beneath crystal chandeliers and behind the smiles of monsters dressed in silk, she was no longer a woman. She was merchandise. A rare prize. One of the highest-valued items in the most notorious underground auction where the powerful came not to bid for possessions, but for people. Men with blood-stained fortunes and godlike influence watched her like hungry predators, each number called dragging her closer to a fate worse than death. But among them stood one man. An extraordinary billionaire feared even by the underworld itself. Untouchable. Merciless. A collector of dangerous things. And the moment his eyes settled on her, Ruchee realized the auction was only the beginning. Will she find a way to escape before her freedom is sold to the highest bidder? Or will she become the most prized possession of the one man no one dares to refuse?

As my murderer's claws tear into my abdomen inch by inch, my father and brother are seated in our family's banquet hall. They're celebrating Carly's 18th birthday and coming-of-age. "You'll always be my little girl." "Happy birthday, Carly." They light 18 pink candles for her. On top of the exquisite red velvet cake is a wolf figurine that they carved for her, and there are well wishes and laughter all around. Meanwhile, I'm curled up in a sewer filled with liquid silver as I bleed to death. My phone has been crushed, and I can't get out. I can only cry for help. A few days later, my father and brother show up together at the autopsy room. My brother stands by the operating table with a scalpel. He slices open the body and sews it back up like it's nothing. My father just covers his nose as he shoots a disgusted glance at my body. He urges my brother to hurry up with the autopsy report. "The victim is a young female wolf presumed to be of pure lineage. Before her death, she was subjected to prolonged captivity and torture. Her throat is nearly severed, her cervical spine is dislocated, and her chest cavity has collapsed. She was also injected with liquid silver before death." Hearing the report, my father looks so calm that it's just like a case study of no consequence. Neither of them can recognize that the body belongs to me—their daughter and sister!

Cedrick Marlan Wu, a physician also known as Doctor Alucard. He is also behind the multi-billionaire Wu Pharmaceutical Company & Wu Medical institution (WMI). During his wedding day, it turns the time as a nightmare to him. His bride showered to her own blood. It was known Wu Wedding Massacre. Where hundreds of people died on that tragic accident. After the accident, he obtains the phobia so called Philophobia. (Fear to love) He perform surgery during only full moon, reason why they called him Doctor Alucard.

Celebrating your birthday means you acknowledge your existence as a human here on earth. But what if your special day in life turns into nightmare that haunts you forever? What would you do? Kimberly Jade Quesada loves to celebrate her birthday every year eversince she was a child. Lahat halos ng gusto niyang regalo ay nakukuha niya magmula sa mga damit, gadgets at kahit na ang presensya ng kanyang mga magulang na abala sa trabaho ay nagagawa siyang paglaanan ng oras sa kanyang kaarawan. Ito ang petsa na palagi niyang inaabangan kada taon kung saan nakukuha niya ang lahat at nararamdaman niya ang pagmamahal ng mga taong nakapalibot sa kanya. Pero paano kung ang mismong petsa na minamahal-mahal niya ay unti-unting maglaho at mapalitan ng pagkamuhi at pagkasuklam? Anong gagawin niya? "No matter how many times we argue, I still think that you are the best and will always be the greatest mom here on earth," saad ko kasabay ng pagdausdos ng luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. "Open your eyes for me, Hyacinth. Mama, hayaan mo naman akong makabawi sayo," pakiusap ko pa habang nakayapos sa malamig at nababahiran ng dugo niyang katawan. She loves to celebrate birthdays not until binawi ng langit ang dalawang regalong ibinigay sa kanya.

She was hidden from who she really was until it was time for her to come of age to find if she was a werewolf or a humane. She never wanted to be who killed her mother. To find her death wasn't what she was told. That she is mated to no one other than to the son of man that killed her mother.

Charlotte “Charlie” Carver knows she’s in trouble when Jackson North shows up at her door in the middle of the night, nearly a year after he unceremoniously broke her heart.She’s always suspected her ex had secrets, but she never thought those secrets would put her in danger - until violent men show up on Jackson’s tail, and suddenly Charlie is caught up in a thrilling international adventure unlike any she ever imagined . . .Jackson is a professional treasure hunter. And this time, Charlie is entangled in his latest hunt. But with their lives at stake, is she ready for the sizzling connection they still share?MEET THE DEVIL'S SET: Treasure hunters. Adventurers. Bad boys.Love has never been this dangerous. . .or this thrilling.Due to explicit scenes, this action-adventure romance is rated 18+.Claiming His Treasure is created by Ember Casey, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

"Come to think of it. I thought I gave you the morning after pills after our sessions!" "What happened?" Da D,wei asked Bai Zhen with his emotionless face. She immediately lowered her head while fiddling with her fingers. "You didn't take them,right?" He asked again while staring deeply at her. "I...I took the last one" "So, what happened to the other ones?" "I...I...um, you see, I wanted to take them, but the smell was horrible. So, I decided to wait a little while but I eventually forgot to take them. I had to throw them away!" "Oh, really?" "Bai Zhen! What were you thinking while keeping those pills?" "What do you think those pills were meant for, huh?" "I did my job and you were supposed to do yours but you failed! So, don't blame me for the morning sickness!" "Bear with it, ok?! And don't disturb my son again!" Bai Zhen"........" ****** "A pure love story between two people from two different worlds" A billionaire CEO of the Da Surgical Hospital, who finds love in a poor beautiful girl, Bai Zhen. He is a well known skilled surgeon who is respected and feared by all. Bai Zhen is just a poor girl who lost both parents and becomes noticed by Da D,wei. They struggle as they fight for their love. Being poor is the main barrier in their lives. "Will they survive it? Will their love be strong enough to wedge the storm?" ******* Happy Reading! Please, Stay Safe! #For me and for all!