Within These Wicked Walls

Mafia Academy Series 1 (Book 1 of Red Duology) Kaytlyn Santiago only hates three things in life: rain, cliffs, and her second name. At a very young age, she had already experienced being kidnapped and tortured, pressured and forced into a life she never wanted in the first place. Kayt lived her life carrying all the hardships alone and blaming herself for the death of her mother. She'd already gone through any possible form of pain, making her heart numb and as cold as ice. She chose to build those walls around her that no one could ever break and wear the mask that was almost as perfect as a white lie. But her life changed when she entered the academy. She never once thought that someone would find a way to break those walls she built in. In a battle where she has to choose between her happiness and her family, who should it be, and was it worth taking the risk? She only has one chance, and the future lies in her hands. She mustn't pick the wrong choice. One decision can change everything. One wrong move and the game is over. *** Disclaimer: This story is written in Tagalog-English.

“Let me help you" I pleaded, my hands gripping her tightly. "Fine. If you're so bent on solving my problems, you can marry me then" the lady snapped in frustration, forcing the engagement ring on my fingers. "Let's go get our marriage certificate then" I urged with a knowing smile. ....... Behind the spotlight, Luisa's life is a complexity of lies and scandals. Haunted by the tragic drowning of her sister, which she blames herself for, she built walls around her heart. Her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble when a compromising video threatening to expose the death of her sister surfaces. As the past and present collide, Luisa has to confront her demons and face the lies that she's told. But there lies another secret Luisa has kept hidden - her marriage to a wealthy CEO, which she forced into a union, which was an attempt to escape the shame of being jilted by her cheating fiancee. Their marriage opens a new chapter where lies, deceit, betrayal, and love entwine. As she navigates the complexity of her flash marriage, will she be able to overcome the hurdles that come her way or will she succumb to the nightmares hunting her?

The strong willed and stubborn CEO must strike a deal with the famous Alan Weasley to save her company from bankruptcy, but she realizes she needs more than his monetary help when her family comes back into her life. She must learn to be vulnerable and break down the walls she built around herself, or lose all that she loves and worked so hard for.

Roselle, bound by an arranged marriage to a seemingly gentle man, soon learns the horrific truth—her soul was stolen long ago by a sadistic mafia kingpin. Trapped in a life that isn’t hers, she’s nothing more than a pawn in a dark game of sin and deceit. As the walls close in, she must face the terrifying reality: her existence was never her own. Will she break free, or remain lost in the shadows of their twisted world?

Evangeline has a destiny...to be the greatest hunter ever born. Trained by her father, Evangeline has learned to be as cold and remorseless as the werewolves she hunts until her 18th birthday when everything changes. Meeting a strange wolf awakens something within her and Evangeline finds herself pitted against two worlds: the one she was raised in and the one that she was taught to loath. Has destiny played a cruel joke on her and she's fated to a wolf? Or is there another hunter hidden within her waiting to escape?

Prince Hendricks Wilberforce of Westminster grappled with his sexuality during high school, harboring a secret crush on his seatmate, Julius, but lacked the courage to confess. Years later, facing immense pressure from his parents to choose a suitable princess bride before his twenty second birthday, Hendrick remains steadfast – his heart belongs only to Julius. Meanwhile, Julius Reagan faces a desperate crisis. His gigolo father abandoned his mother for wealthy mistresses. Julius was heartbroken because he could not provide significant financial support. Frantically searching for a high paying job without success, he settled as a waiter. When the pressure by other lovers increased, he settled to work for the King of Westminster who is hiring female janitord for the Crown Prince's quarters, and offering exceptional pay. In a risky move born of sheer desperation, Julius disguises himself as a woman, 'Julia,' and secures the position. He finds himself part of a harem of beautiful women handpicked by the King, who hopes constant proximity will finally spark Hendrick's interest in one of them. To Julius's astonishment, he was only thinking of his former crush, Hendrick. Working closely within the palace walls, Julius's old feelings for him resurfaced and intensified. Despite the allure of his fellow attendants, his attraction remains solely fixed on Hendrick. With Hendrick's birthday deadline looming and still no bride chosen, the King's fury erupts. He storms into Hendrick's chamber, where Julius (as Julia) was dutifully waiting. 'Your freedom ends until you choose a wife, Hendrick!' the King roared locking both Hendrick and the terrified 'Julia' inside the room. Trapped and panicked, Julius wrestles with a terrifying fear, his powerful, rekindled feelings for Hendrick, combined with the dangerous secret of his disguise, could lead him to lose control in this confined space, potentially taking undue advantage of the Prince.

He’s dangerous, addictive, and my newest assignment. The future I desperately crave rests in the palm of his hand. Breathtakingly handsome and painfully private, he’s the sinner who killed a saint. That’s what the world sees when they catch a glimpse of Giorgio Mahone. He’s the mysterious billionaire that lurks within those that barely knows him. That lurks within me. My job is to understand him. His goal is to break me. Only one of our hearts will survive. Let the cruel games begin.

If you start with a lie, you live within the lie and die embracing the lie. She who is clueless about the world yet has a strong personality, enough to not get intimidated by others. Is now held captive within the realms of someone dear. Is it for the best or for the worst? Will happiness finally find it's way or will the past repeat itself like a curse to her tragic love story. Will she finally start appreciating her new life or is even that a rose mirror. "I...I can't remember anything! W...who are you?"

Maureen's seventeenth birthday was an amazing experience even if it was a one-sided pleasure, but not for Darren who continues to avoid her and considers everything that happened between them a mistake. Six years later, there is nothing they can forget. Darren, who has a wife and childrens, falls for Maureen's charm again. But, unfortunately, Maureen is always involved with another men. Darren who is conservative, and Maureen who wants to live freely. Their walls of difference is too high. Can they be together just by love?

“Feisty kitten. Curse all you want. Soon, I'll break you, tame you, and awaken your darkest desires. You'll become so addicted to me like a drug and beg for the crumbs of my love.” Adora dreamed of a fairy-tale romance, waiting for her charming prince. She was destined for not one, but two mates. Two princes who were as different as night and day. One, a devil in a hot body; everything she wanted, yet everything she feared. A seductive rogue with a wicked smile and a scorching touch. The other was too flawless, too perfect, everything she longed for, but she fell short of his expectations. Would she give in to the rogue's temptation and risk losing her soul, or would she strive to be the mate the gentleman deserved and risk losing her heart? Time is ticking and she must make a choice.