Where Are U Now

On the day Zachary Lake stands at the pinnacle of global technology, accepting his award, I'm lying in a hospital bed, abandoned by doctors because I can't afford treatment for kidney failure. On TV, the host asks him to call the person he's most grateful for. Without hesitation, he dials my number. "Shannon, do you regret leaving me?" he asks. I clutch the astronomical medical bill in my hand, the paper crumpling beneath my fingers. Forcing a light tone, I reply, "Can you take me on as your kept woman now that you're a big deal?" On screen, his face remains expressionless as he hangs up without a word. Then, his cold voice pierces through the broadcast. "Now, I have nothing to feel grateful for." But what he doesn't know is that when he was on the brink of death years ago, I was the one who gave him my kidney.

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it's time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred. Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse. It won't be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

“Nagliligpit ka…” puna ni Cassian sa ginagawa ni Ember na naabutan. “Why? Tapos na ba ang selebrasyon sa birthday ko?” Pilit na ngumiti si Ember at sinalubong ang mga tingin ni Cassian. “Naisip ko na hindi naman ako ang gusto mong kasama ngayon kaya hindi na ito kailangan. And about your birthday… may naisip akong mas magandang regalo para sa ‘yo. Sigurado kong magiging ma—” “Huwag ka na mag-abala,” putol ni Cassian sa sasabihin niya. “Hindi ko kailangan ng regalo mula sa ‘yo.” Natigilan si Ember. Napakurap. Mapait na nangiti sa sarili. Paano niya bang minahal ang lalaking ito sa harap niya nang gano’n katagal? Hindi lang lima kung hindi lampas dekada na espesyal ito sa kaniya at nag-iisang itinangi. “Promise,” muling wika ni Ember. “Promise at magugustuhan mo ang ireregalo ko. I want divorce, Cassian.” *************** Nang bumalik si Lauren, ang stepsister at dating kasintahan ng asawa niyang si Cassian Montgomery Syquia... alam na agad ni Ember na wala siyang laban. Mula pa noon ay alam ni Ember na si Lauren lang ang minahal ng asawa. At kahit ang sariling ina ay ito ang laging pinapaboran. Kaya bago pa siya masaktan ng lubusan, nagdesisyon si Ember na makipag-divorce para magparaya. Pero si Cassian? Bakit nang sabihin ni Ember na mag-divorce sila ay ayaw nito? At bakit kung kailan ayaw na niya ay saka naman ito naging interesado sa kaniya?

"Let's divorce. Bumalik na ang ex-girlfriend ko at kailangan na nating tapusin kung ano man ang nakasaad sa kontrata. Bibigyan kita ng pera para sa panibagong buhay mo.” “Wala bang halaga sa ‘yo ang tatlong taon nating pagsasama para itapon mo iyon ng ganun-ganun lang?” Si Manson, ang asawa ni Claire na gustong makipaghiwalay sa kanya dahil sa pagbabalik ng ex nito. Pero hindi pa man naproseso ang hiwalayan nila ay gusto na agad siyang balikan ng asawa? Gayunman ay tinanggap ni Claire ang asawa pero saka naman niya nalaman na ang kanyang kababata na first love at mahal pa rin niya hanggang ngayon ay bumalik at buhay pa pala? Huli na ba ang lahat para pagsisisihan niya ang naging desisyon niya? Si Lucas, ang lalaking handang magpakamatay para lang iligtas siya. Bago sila ikasal ni Manson ay nagmamahalan silang dalawa. At ngayong bumalik ito ay naging kumplikado ang puso ni Claire. Hihiwalayan niya ba si Manson para kay Lucas?

Anna Langford loved him once. She died for that love—betrayed and broken, watching Jackson Blackwell turn his back on her. But fate gives her a second chance, rewinding time to the moment before it all began. This time, Anna isn’t the same naive girl. She’s determined to protect her heart and take down the man who destroyed her. But as she steps back into Jackson’s world, the cracks in her memory grow wider… and the truth doesn’t seem so clear. When his rival, the dangerously charming Harris Liam, offers her safety—and something dangerously close to love—Anna must choose between the man she once trusted and the one who tempts her to start over. In a world built on lies, can she risk her heart again… or will love be her downfall?

Ronan Vale’s life changed in one night. He was a normal college student, until he was kidnapped and sold in a secret auction. He swore he would escape but unfortunately for him, fate had other plans. He was bought by Maddox Volkov, a man as rich as he was ruthless, powerful, dangerous, and untouchable. Maddox claims Ronan means nothing to him, that he only bought him for his brother. Yet he refuses to let him go. He keeps him close, protects him, and watches him like he’s something he can’t afford to lose. Ronan wants freedom and Maddox wants control of his life but neither of them expected the one thing more dangerous than captivity, feelings. When enemies come for Ronan, Maddox must make a brutal choice, to either set him free… or destroy anyone who dares to take him.

In order to save Alpha Varkon Stormclaw, who was poisoned with wolfsbane, I've used my life force to trade for the antidote with the witch. After the transaction, I become unusually weak. My wolf sinks into a deep slumber as well. Because of that, the elders have cast me out of the Moon Goddess Church. Nyla Ironcrest, the newly-appointed Luna, locks me up in a silver cage that's filled with wolfsbane. "How could a lowly and filthy defective she-wolf like you be a good match for the prestigious Alpha?" Varkon, who has once loved me with all his heart, gets tricked by Nyla into thinking that she's his savior. Not only does he sever our mate bond from me, but he also turns a deaf ear on my pleas for help. Defeated and devastated, I breathe my last breath in the silver cage. However, Varkon kneels before my corpse later on. He's struck with so much pain in the chest that he goes crazy. At the same time, he keeps spitting out blood. But I can never hear his confession of atonement ever again.

“..ชิ๊! ไอ้ผู้ชายคนนั้น ทำลูกค้าพ่อฉันสับสนไปตั้งหลายคน ตัวขัดลาภจริงๆ!” หญิงสาวผมยาวหน้าหมวยสบถด่าร่างสูงหน้าตาหล่อเหลาอยู่ภายในใจ เธออุตส่าห์ตามสืบข้อมูลของเป้าหมายมาหลายเดือนเพื่อที่จะลากให้มาเป็นลูกค้าประจำตำหนักเพราะเห็นว่าอัศวินน่าจะรวยและกระเป๋าน่าจะหนักเอาการ และแถมยังเป็นเพื่อนกับโทนที่เคยมาที่นี่เป็นครั้งที่สอง การเดินเข้าไปยื่นผ้าเช็ดหน้าให้บนรถประจำทางในวันนั้น.. ไม่ใช่เรื่องบังเอิญ แค่เป็นวิธีหลอกถามข้อมูลแบบตื้นๆในระดับคนแปลกหน้า.. “...ฉันต้องทำให้นายมาเป็นลูกค้าพ่อฉันให้ได้!”

Lillie Rome, a banished omega and daughter of a traitor is sold to the palace of her father’s worst enemies by her own mother! There, she is forced to participate in a game for the alpha king’s affection—the son of the man who put a sword to her father’s throat and branded them outcasts. But the game reveals an even deadlier secret: For the first time in over a thousand years, the triplet heirs to the throne of Dark Moon pack all share one mate: her! All hell is let loose as worlds collide, and Lillie is caught in a cross fire between a brooding rebellion and her feelings for her three mates. Revenge or love? Which would she choose?

She was reborn soft, sweet, and touched — surrounded by women who never learned to let go. Evangeline “Eva” Claire Maxwell — Lioré was once a brilliant, overworked woman from a cold, futuristic world. When exhaustion finally claimed her, she didn’t expect to wake up as a baby in the arms of luxury — a second chance in a modern world where time moved slower, kisses came warmer, and desire wore velvet gloves. In a world without magic, desire is its own spell. And love? It’s the most dangerous kind of possession.