Look at me,he says softly. I suck in a breath and match his expectant stare. "You can be vulnerable with me, Avalon." My mind races in suit with my heart. "I'm terrified," I admit. "So am I," he agrees, his voice only a whisper now. "But I think you're worth it." Avalon Stone is a twenty-three-year-old software engineer whose world has just been turned upside down. After finding out she is sick AND seeing her fiance in bed with another woman, Avalon embarks on a series of hilarious dates to get over her ex and live life to the fullest. This is when she meets Alexander Woods, the mysteriously handsome bartender with a dark secret. As the clock ticks and their love unravels, forces threaten to pull the two apart. Will Alexander save Avalon, or will she crumble to ash? Dying to Live is created by Halle Rae, an eGlobal Creative Publishing author.
My father used to tell me that life is what happens when you make other plans. I never quite understood that until my world was turned upside down, and I was left all alone in the rubble.
"Avalon Stone," The feminine voice calls. I direct my stare to the medical assistant standing beside the door. I offer my best smile and follow her into my regular Doctor's office. She writes down my weight and takes my blood pressure, before gesturing toward the familiar chair.
"Doctor Adams will be right with you," the girl informs me, leaving before I have the chance to say thank you. I brush out my rather wrinkled shirt and try to avoid biting my nails. It's been a nervous habit of mine for as long as I can remember. If this were any other routine visit, I wouldn't be fighting the anxiety that constantly threatens to escape, but this is nothing of the sort.
A week ago, my back started hurting terribly. I brushed it off as a pulled muscle or a normal ache, but something still felt off. Then, three days ago while I was ironing my fiance's work shirts, I stumbled into an atrocious coughing fit. It wasn't until I saw the blood in my hand that I really started to worry.
According to Google, I am well on my way to the grave right now. Little tip: Never turn to the internet for medical advice. Even though Jackson keeps telling me it's nothing, I don't see coughing up blood as a casual occurrence.
I went into the lab the same day for blood work and booked the earliest Doctor's appointment I could to talk about my results. Then, I took an unpaid sick day from work, and here I am. Luckily, my boss is only a year older than me and is casual about everything. Welcome to the modern world of software engineering in San Francisco.
Before I can overthink, the door swings open and I come face to face with Doctor Adams. It strikes me as odd that he isn't wearing his usual happy-go-lucky smile. The man clears his throat before speaking.
"Avalon, how are you feeling?" he quizzes. The concern in his voice is yet another reason to worry uncontrollably. I sigh and offer a shrug.
"Not too great. My back is still killing me."
Doctor Adams studies me for a few moments, probably picking apart the bags under my eyes and my pale skin. Worrying and lack of sleep are intertwined in my life. They always have been.
"We got your test results back this morning. The blood work revealed that you aren't producing the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets that your body needs. Avalon, this is occurring because you have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia."
I have a hard time following the sentence at first. I learned growing up that there are certain moments you can't decipher like the rest. These are the life-changing moments that we process differently because they define us completely. Suddenly, time is moving in slow motion, but not slow enough.
"Wait.... What are you saying?"
Asking for clarification is more like a last-fighting chance than anything. Maybe I heard him wrong. Maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding.
"Avalon, A.L.L is a very rare kind of cancer, and your's has progressed to stage four while managing to mask any symptoms until now. This is possible, but it's not common. Do you understand?" There it is again.... Another moment I can't break down in the expected 30-second response window. What will I tell Jackson? What will I tell my mother?
We already lost Dad a few years back. I don't think she could handle losing me, too.
The world seems more complex than it ever has before, and my mind races in a million different directions at once. I can hear Doctor Adams calling my name, but I'm stuck in a never-ending trance of fear and sorrow.
"How long?"
The question escapes me suddenly. The Doctor's eyebrows arch as he processes my words.
"Well, there's no certain answer but..."
"How long?" I interrupt, repeating the same question again. This time, Doctor Adams doesn't miss a beat.
"Six months at best. At this stage, your odds aren't great, but we do have a chemo pill you can take to increase your chances of survival. I recommend this option to most of my patients, especially the younger ones."
Twenty-three. How can I only have six months left to live at twenty-three years old? Some people haven't even finished college at my age. Somehow, life doesn't feel real anymore.
"Could this chemo pill save me? Don't give me a bullsh*t answer to make me feel better. Could this pill actually give me more time?"
Doctor Adams analyzes me thoroughly, most likely judging if I'll break down completely after I hear the truth. In reality, I already know the answer.
"It's possible, but not likely," he says finally. My heart almost stops beating here and now. I can already hear my mother crying and Jackson pacing the room a million times, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this dark oasis. I came here expecting the worst, and this time, it actually happened.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.