Waves Lines

I’d just set sail to escort the cargo to the border when a Category 8 typhoon warning suddenly blared. I steer the ship back in the direction of the harbor, only to realize that the ship has run out of fuel. The distress beacon has been dismantled, too. Immediately, I pick up the radio and call the maritime rescuers for help. As soon as the call gets connected, I hear my wife, Melanie Watkins' mocking laughter instead. "I've already rewired the emergency number so that you can never reach the rescuers. Have fun surviving in the ocean!" Her student, Darell Parker, is with her as well. "Remember when you made fun of me for not knowing how to swim, Clifton? Well, now you're given the chance to show off your swimming skills! You can swim all the way back to the shore on your own! You'd better not be as slow as the sea turtles!" The waves have almost capsized the cargo ship. If I can't get rescued anytime soon, I'll end up dying in the sea. I can only grit my teeth before pleading to Melanie, "No one can possibly swim back to shore! Help me call the maritime rescuers—" But she laughs coldly in return. "Why do you need the rescuers' help? Didn't you say one must learn how to protect themselves? Now swim! "If you think the waters are too cold, then swim faster! Maybe you'll feel warmer the faster you swim!" I give up on arguing with Melanie. After that, I head toward the cargo area with a blade in hand and get ready to sever the ropes tying the cargo down. Said cargo contains the ransom money that's capable of saving Ella Zimmerman, the daughter of Hugh Zimmerman, the wealthiest man in Starbury.

What's happens when Isabella Joe, a beautiful, young and talented struggling art conservator, who is on the verge of losing her late father's most treasured art gallery. In search of a breakthrough she crashes into an extravagant billionaire gala, only to be thrown off guard when her first encounter with Noah Jack leads a rather embarrassing moment. The mysterious billionaire Noah Jack, who's wildly reputed for lacking emotions proposes an irresistible offer to Isabella to act as his girlfriend in exchange for financial assistance, that will save both her gallery, and the ever increasing pressure from his family to settle down. Isabella agrees out of sheer desperation, only to be thrown into a whirlwind of deception and desire. The thick lines they drew between fake and reality begins to blur. And what started as a transaction quickly becomes a dangerous game that either of them ever expected. A steamy clash between two desperados is unleashed.

She was his fated mate-until he cast her aside. Marked by rejection and left to pick up the shattered pieces of her heart, she swore she would never let herself be broken again. But fate is relentless, and when a second chance mate steps into her path, she faces a choice: risk her heart once more or guard it behind the walls she built to survive. Yet love is not the only battle she must fight. The rogues are rising, their threat creeping closer like a storm on the horizon. War is inevitable, and with it comes the ghosts of the past-secrets buried, betrayals unmasked, and a reckoning that could tear everything apart. As the lines between love and loyalty blur, she must find the strength to face her enemies and herself. Will she embrace the future waiting for her, or will the scars of the past hold her back when it matters most? The heart can heal, but only if she dares to let it.

Ariana Carter never imagined her life would take a complete turn when she tripped—literally—into Ethan Cole’s world. One moment she was a struggling nurse, and the next, she was locked in a year-long marriage contract with a ruthless billionaire. Ethan, cold and calculated, needs a wife for 365 days to secure his company from his cunning cousin, Jared. Ariana, clumsy yet full of life, is everything he isn’t. But the more time they spend together, the more lines begin to blur. Jared isn’t one to back down easily. And when Emma, Ariana’s estranged sister, shows up with a shocking revelation—a fake pregnancy—Ariana finds herself in the middle of chaos she never signed up for. With betrayals, hidden agendas, and an undeniable pull between them, will Ethan and Ariana’s contract marriage last a year… or will it end in heartbreak?

My boyfriend of eight years didn’t just leave me. He left me for my sister. And then suddenly, they were getting married. I hate being seen as the weakling, the ugly one. So I did what I could. I made an offer to Liam Carter —my Highschool Bully when we met in Tuscany. The last person I ever wanted to owe anything to. We pretend to date for the summer, to make everyone believe I’ve moved on and in return I help with his PR stunt. It was supposed to be fake. No feelings. No strings. Just a deal between enemies with something to prove. But the more we pretend, the more the lines blur—and suddenly, the boy who once made my life miserable might be the only one who truly sees me. And the worst part? I think I’m starting to fall for him.

I know I shouldn’t want him. Or them. There’s my best friend’s father, whose low, velvety voice makes my pulse stutter whenever he speaks. My stepbrother, whose accidental touches make my skin burn with unspoken tension. And my sister’s mate, whose cold, lingering gaze betrays a hunger I shouldn’t see. Every glance, every brush of skin, drags me deeper into temptation. Every heartbeat reminds me that wanting them is dangerous, forbidden… and maybe reckless. I’m caught between loyalty, morality, and desire, and every moment I give in only makes the fire stronger. Some lines aren’t meant to be crossed. Some fires are impossible to resist. And I’m learning the hard way… forbidden has never felt this good.

When Ariana Blake, daughter of one of the world’s most powerful CEOs, becomes the target of a shadow organization, her father hires an elite personal bodyguard—Cole Maddox, an ex-special forces soldier known for his cold precision and zero emotion. Cole’s rule is simple: Never get involved. But Ariana isn’t the spoiled heiress he expected—she’s brave, wounded, and desperate for freedom from her father’s control. When danger strikes close, Ariana and Cole are forced into hiding—alone, off-grid, and pretending to be married to stay safe. Lines blur. Hearts fall. And soon, protection becomes passion. But the deeper they fall, the more secrets surface—about her family, the threats against her, and Cole’s hidden past. The man she loves might be the reason she’s being hunted. Will Ariana survive the truth… or the man sworn to protect her?

One Forbidden Night. Three Brothers. No Way Out. Millie was supposed to clean up after the rich—not sleep with them. But one reckless night with a mysterious stranger shatters that rule. The next morning, he's gone... And so is her sense of control. She never expected to see him again. She definitely didn’t expect to find herself working as a live-in maid for the ruthless, filthy-rich Moretti brothers—Ethan, Aidan, and Evan. Each man is powerful, possessive, and hiding secrets behind cold eyes and cruel smiles. Millie swore she’d keep things professional... but lines blur fast in a house full of temptation and danger. Now she's caught in their web—a pawn in a brutal game of power, lust, and blood-soaked secrets. To them, she’s supposed to be just the maid. But what happens when all three brothers want more? Three kings. One maid. No mercy.

Kang Jae Woon is the youngest prosecutor in his department. With his handsome appearance, outstanding achievement, and powerful family background, he is being admired and envied at the same time by many people. One day, his best friend, Han Ryan is murdered by a serial killer and Jae Woon felt his world is crumbling down. Due to his excessive sadness, Jae Woon drowns himself in alcohol at his house, alone. He drunk and snacking food until his body suddenly convulsed in an allergic reaction. "Shit! Who the fuck put almonds in my snack?! I clearly remind the salesgirl to not put any almond in my baggage! Damn it! Where is my medicine?!" As he's groping around in agony, searching for his precious medicine, Jae Woon felt his body plopped on the bed as his consciousness faded and darkness is embracing his body. How miserable. To think I would die because of a stupid almond...Ryan will be laughing when he heard this. ------ "Wake up, you pig!" A harsh voice is jolted him away from his sleeping state. At the same time, his body is being drenched by a bucket of smelly water. "Since you're a pig, you didn't mind to bathe in poop, right?" Mocking waves of laughter are resounding in the dark, small room. Three boys and one girl are looking down at him with disgusted expressions plastered on their faces. One of the boys is holding an empty bucket. Jae Woon is dumbfounded. Wha...? Where is he? No, no, no. Actually, who are these pompous brats?! How dare they...Jae Woon suddenly felt that something is wrong with his body. He had difficulty in moving around and felt extremely sluggish. What is this?! Since when his slender and sturdy body changed into a piggy in just one night?!

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing