We Didn't Come This Far To Come This Far

I am about to book a room at a hotel owned by Luca Conti, a consigliere under my command, when a sharp voice suddenly cuts in from behind me. "Aspetta. That's not your price." I turn around. A woman wearing a manager's badge stands there with her arms crossed, scrutinizing me as if I am an unsightly stain she can't wait to wipe away. "We don't allow prostitution here," she says coolly. "If you're receiving clients, there will be a fine." As she speaks, she hands me a penalty notice. The charges are clearly listed on the paper. "Illegal guest reception fee: 350 thousand dollars. "Special soundproofing fee: 150 thousand dollars. "Special cleaning fee: 100 thousand dollars. "Total fee: 600 thousand dollars." Receiving clients? I have simply come straight from a Mafia cocktail party without changing clothes—that's all. What exactly does she take me for?" I lift my gaze and answer evenly, "You're mistaken. I am not that kind of person. You can contact the hotel owner, Luca Conti, and ask him who I am." A sneer flickers through Sofia Rossi's eyes. She spits to the side, full of contempt. "Still claiming you are not a puttana? Women like you come here every week. Every single one of them swears she knows him. "Our boss is the consigliere to the Russo family, the most powerful Mafia family in Seneriffe. Do you really think he needs someone cheap like you? "I suggest you pay up now, subito, before your client loses patience and drags you into the street and rapes you." I do not waste another word on her. I take out my phone and send a message directly to my secretary, Marco Bianchi. "Notify Luca. Either this manager, Sofia Rossi, disappears from this city, or he does."

On our Christmas break road trip, my cousin Felix Lloyd spotted some high-powered speakers at a highway rest stop. He had to have them—said he wanted to "blast it." "It's Christmas. We finally get to see everyone! We need some vibe!" My wife, Lana Ramsey, smiled and helped him pay. "Young people have energy. They know how to enjoy life." I yanked the power cord out. "Those aren't for regular cars. This is an EV. Overload it, and the whole system fries. Then what—just stuck in the middle of nowhere?" Lana's parents, Vincent and Donelia, booed me, calling me a buzzkill. Felix cranked the volume all the way up. Lana glared at me. "Say one more word and get out. I'll drive." Later, the speakers fried the battery system. We were stranded in total darkness on a rough mountain road. They finished the last of the food, then shoved me out to "go find help." I slipped, rolled down the slope, and died. When I opened my eyes, I was back—right when Felix jammed the speaker plug into the charging port. I grabbed a few more subwoofers and handed them over. "One isn't enough. Add more. That's how you really crank it."

"Dad, there are a few things that a teenage girl is supposed to hide from her parents. It's a rule. Read the rule book." I told him seriously. "Okay... So, does this friend of yours have a name?" He asked. "Daddy!" I exclaimed. "A father is supposed to know the name and addresses of all the boys his daughter ever thinks about. It's a rule. Read the rule book, missy!" He shot back. "But you're not supposed to know about the older, bad boys your daughter thinks about." I smirked at him, crossing my arms. I mean, he is older than me... Well played, Liv! "It's Hunter Kingston, isn't it?" Dad asked with a deadpan look. My smirk dropped much like my hands that dropped down like noodles by my side. "Yes." I answered sheepishly. "He's the only older, bad boy you can talk to." Dad chuckled. ❣💕❣💕❣💕❣ Do you remember who your childhood friends were? Probably. Probably not. Well, Olivia does. They were a close-knit group of four. Then they were a group of three. Then two. And finally, the group no longer existed... Olivia, Ryan, Kaylee and Hunter were the closest of friends till the end of middle school. But like always, high school changed everything. But what happens when Olivia decides to act upon her crush on her ex-best friend, Ryan? Will it reveal the secrets of the past or will it just lead to more trouble and distance between these four? Read on to find out...

While I was eating, I came across a post on X. [Found out my girlfriend has a nasty disease and is pregnant. I want my buddy to be the one left holding the bag. What should I do?] I was just about to comment that the poster was out of his mind when I scrolled down and realized people were actually giving him advice. [That's easy! If you two are close, just invite him on a trip.] [Get your girlfriend and your buddy drunk in the middle of the night, then have them stay in your buddy's room. When the time comes, catch them in the act. You can break up and push the kid onto your buddy to take responsibility…] Reading that comment, I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. I was about to show my friend this mind-blowing post so we could rant about it together when he suddenly looked up at me and asked, "Tyler, are you free this weekend? How about we go on a trip?"

All my life, I have been trapped in the shadow of my sister, Selene. She was the Silver Moon Pack's Daughter of Moonlight, blessed by the Moon Goddess, the prize every Alpha coveted. What she didn't know was that this time, I had been blessed as well. I was reborn on the night of my mating ceremony. Just as in my past life, she smiled that harmless smile, insisting on giving me the first choice of a mate, maintaining her perfect facade of a generous and doting sister in front of everyone. This time, however, I wouldn't give her the chance. In my last life, I genuinely believed she had my best interests at heart. I foolishly gave her the first choice and chose Alpha Damien of the Black Forest Pack, a man who suffered from Moon Sickness, sending him into frequent, uncontrollable rages. I gave up my birthright within the pack and became the balm for his violent wolf, staying by his side every moment like a full-time caretaker, even though he never offered me a single ounce of a mate's affection. It was not until a Rogue wolf attacked during the celebration for Selene's heir that he attempted to use dark magic to steal her unborn pup's spirit. In that instant, the Alpha who everyone believed had been lost to madness for years was suddenly lucid. He lunged forward to protect Selene, but in his haste, he accidentally pulled me into the path of the dark magic. The spell struck me instead, crippling my wolf spirit. Only then did I finally understand. He had never truly suffered from Moon Sickness. His pack had never seen him as a discarded monster. He had feigned madness only because he knew he could never have Selene's love and refused to bond with anyone but her. In my final moments, he apologized to me. "Forgive me, Elara." "I could never let anything happen to Selene. I'll repay you in my next life." When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the night our father ordered us to choose our destined mates. This time, they were the ones begging for my love.

During Christmas break, my boyfriend, Trevor Hayes, asks me to stop by and feed the dog that his childhood friend, Evelyn Summers, keeps at her place. I bring a bag of kibble over. But the second I open the door, a huge pit bull lunges at me and bites into my face and arms. Luckily, a neighbor hears me screaming and pulls me out of its jaws, but the damage is already done. The scars will stay with me forever. I break down, but Trevor blames me instead. "You must've done something wrong when you fed Mojo and set him off. You just got a scar, but Mojo's dead!" The weight of it all crushes me until I climb a rooftop and jump. After dying, I see Trevor holding Evelyn in his arms. "Honey, you're so clever. Starving Mojo for a few days really worked. Now, she's dead. We can finally be together." When I open my eyes again, I'm back on the day Trevor asks me to go feed that dog.

On a rainy day, I gave my pregnant neighbor a ride home since it was on my way. As a result, she became clingy and started insisting I drive her home every day. When I refused, she teared up and accused me of lacking compassion. Her husband even showed up at my door, demanding, "Why won't you take my wife to and from work? Are you looking down on us?" In the end, I sold my car and moved to a new place. If I couldn’t afford to offend them, at least I could avoid them!

Kehlani Cole had 2 rules since her ex boyfriend humiliated her on the rink and kissed her friend in front of everyone. 1. Never return to the rink. 2. Never date a hockey player. But, what happens when she violates the rules since Trevor, a hot hockey player with criminal records and Elliot's rival on ice ask her to fake-date him In exchange for winning the LensArt photography award scholarship program. Therefore, she's drawn back to the game. Now that she's been healed and moved on, her ex wants her back but she's no longer that broken and intimidated girl. She's changed and become more confident. When real kisses blur the line between pretend and reality, Kehlani must decide if she should guard her heart or risk it all for this criminal goalie.

Livia Lumiere Carlos is a beautiful lady. Others were always deceiving and tricking her. She had difficulty on their hands. Others used her as an errand girl - their slave - while mocking her behind her back for her brilliant mind, commitment, and innocence. But when her husband cheated on her with her best friend, she decided enough was enough. However, Livia died of a sudden heart attack with her dying wish to turn back time. "Whoever stands in my way, I will mercilessly trample them," she promised. "Livia, the slave and errand girl, is no more."

Stephanie is a shy nerd studying in Whitfield high with her only best friend Isabelle Geller. But in 11th grade, a handsome jock Jacob Smith took interest in her and they both started dating. Stephanie and Jacob were poles apart and she tried her best to fit with his set of people but her attempts always go to waste. Jacob’s closeness with his friend Rosemary always disturbed her. In senior year a transfer student Javier Altamira came into her life and they became friends. Though Javier is a close off person for the entire school, his whole demeanor changes in front of Stephanie. Jacob cheats on Stephanie and they break up making way for a new found love story of Javier and Stephanie.