Devon Deya LaCruz is an eighteen year old high school student with very successful parents. Her mom being a well renowned lawyer and her dad a well renowned surgeon and entrepreneur who travels a lot and is hardly ever around, she is very close to her mom. Since from childhood, she loves being alone. Not that she necessarily hates being in the company of people. Not being very bright in school, she fails her final year and with her parents being rich, her dad decides to buy her out of school so she graduates and follow in his footsteps and become a surgeon as well, to which Devon declines, making her dad extremely angry and disappointed with her. Devon is an introvert and loves her alone time. There are two instances that makes her feel at ease. When she is behind the camera, taking pictures and when she is working out. Rhea Genova McMillian, is a twenty six year old arts teacher who is married to Ethan, her high school sweetheart. At first sight, Rhea knew Ethan was the one for her. They got married when Rhea was only twenty. Over the years, things have been a bit rocky for them. Hoping that moving into a new city will bring more stability to her marriage, she obtains on job from the prestigious Etherial High school. Things start to look up for her until, Ethan goes back to his old ways. Devon and Rhea meet in different stages of their life. Devon stuck between abandoning her dreams and making her parents happy or disappointing them and doing what she loves and Rhea on her end, stuck between leaving the hellhole she lives in. Despite the age difference, Rhea seeks comfort in Devon's embrace and they both start to pursue a love that is very risky for Rhea's career, but at the same time very beautiful, complicating everything. Will it be a happy ending for both of them?
One month before school resumption
I sit at the desk in my room, editing the pictures I took earlier in the day. I had left the house earlier that day, hoping I would make it to sunrise. Despite the rush and me driving 70kmph, way past the speed limit, I almost missed the sunrise.
One morning, probably when I was sixteen, I had a fight with my dad about me not wanting to follow in his footsteps of becoming a surgeon, which ended up very badly. I stormed out of the house and was just walking, with no particular destination in mind, just letting my feet carry me wherever.
And that is how I found this place, I sat there, watching the sunrise and as it rose, I felt a soothing feeling, telling me everything was going to work out for the best. So over the years, for the past months, I made it part of my morning routine to walk here and witness the sunrise.
What is so spectacular about sunrise you wonder?
Well, it's different for everyone.
I find it spectacular in that, after every darkness, the sun rises. The fact it rises on its own after the dark is enough motivation to help me carry on my days.
This is like saying, no matter what you go through in life, there is always hope. For the longest of times, I had lost that hope, but watching the sunrise every day, brings a certain kind of soothing feeling that you can't help but find comfort in it.
It hasn't always been my dream to become a photographer, but there is something special about capturing a particular moment in time that brings joy to the soul. There is more to photography than meets the eyes. To be able to capture one emotion is a rare gift and I found that gift being behind the camera.
So, I get to do my favourite things every morning. Taking pictures as the sun rises and capturing the emotions on the faces of strangers as they experience the magic of sunrise.
I feel more like myself when I am seated at my desk, editing the pictures I've taken.
The knock from my door takes me off my focus and I groan in annoyance. I guess it's probably my mom who wants to bug me, telling me I should stop locking myself in my room., asking me to go out and socialize.
I was happy being alone.
I didn't respond to the door knock, hoping whoever it was would pick up on the sign that I wasn't in my room.
But they didn't"t.
"Open up Dev, your dad wants to speak with you" I hear my mom say from the other side of the door,
Ha! Called it. I knew she would be one knocking. Although it"s for another reason.
"Coming" I yelled from inside my room.
When did my dad return and what could he possibly want?
Since we don't"t see eye to eye, usually when he comes back I sleep at the small cabin by the sea I acquired last year with my savings, to avoid any misunderstandings. Although she pesters me about going out more, I love my mom and I know the fights between me and my dad gets to her.
Promising not to talk back when he says something I don't agree with is very difficult, which often leads to me and my dad throwing words at each other.
So if I had known he would be back today, I would have made arrangements to sleep in my cabin.
I walk down the stairs.
The house is way bigger to contain just the three of us.
Yes, I am an only child.
It's no lie that we are rich.
Sorry, extremely rich.
My mom is a hotshot lawyer and my dad is an entrepreneur and a surgeon. He owns a chain of hospitals in some countries I have no idea.
I am not very interested in his career for the simple fact that he forces me to follow in his footsteps.
Reasons for most, if not all our fights.
The way our house was built, from the stairs, you could see the main area which was empty and that is exactly where my dad decides to be dramatic because I see my mom trying to calm him down.
"You ask to see me, dad," I say once I was down the stairs, standing next to my mom.
"Yes, what are these results? I got a call from the headmaster of your school telling me your A/level results are out and you failed" he says, clear anger in his voice.
"Oh! The results are out? I had no idea" I feign oblivion, knowing fully well that it will get him upset. I see my mom from the corner of my eyes, giving me a warning look not to push his buttons.
I roll my eyes.
"You registered for five papers and only made it in two papers" he raises his voice.
I knew this was coming. Honestly, I was not in the mood. I did not feel like arguing with him this night.
"Can you not yell?" I ask quietly.
"Are you telling me what to do?" he asks back with disbelief in his voice.
"I'm not. All I"m saying is that you please lower your voice so we have a civil conversation" I say.
"Civil conversation you say, no college will accept you with this rubbish you call results. How do you expect to get into Yale with these results? Worst still if you want to become a surgeon. We have no choice but to buy you results, because, with this nonsense, you can say goodbye to being a surgeon" he says.
Again with this matter.
"For the last time, I don't want to become a surgeon. What part of that don"t you understand? I would rather repeat upper sixth than get into Yale," I yell storming out of the house.
"Then so be it. But don't come back crying and saying you made the wrong choice" I hear my dad yell back.
I walk straight for the door, ignoring my mom as she calls out for me.
I went round to the garage, taking my car keys from the holder by the door, I open my car and drive off the garage, only stopping so the gates open. I see my
I am not entirely sure where I was driving to, but right now I wanted to get as far away from here as possible. My dad can be infuriating, always thinking about himself.
Did what I want not matter?
I was his daughter for fucks sake, my happiness should matter to him, regardless of what I do for a living. Even if don't earn as much as they do, so long as I'm happy, shouldn't that be all that matters?
I was so lost in my thoughts, driving in the dark that I don't see the figure coming toward me.
All I hear is a sound, causing me to abruptly stop my car.
Shit! Did I just hit someone?
”I know you love my warmth, but I didn’t think you would come back so fast” Reid Michelson smirked and whispered in a quiet tone. He looks into the eyes of the honey-blonde-haired girl as he gently lowered his lips to meet hers. He places a peck on her lips, then slightly leaned back, looked at her lips through his lashes and bite his. Sofea Newton couldn’t think. The blonde wanted nothing more than connect their lips and devour him. She wanted to test and explore every angle of his mouth. She want to kiss him so badly, it was driving her crazy. "But maybe this time, in real life. Not in your dreams" Reid Michelson added with a smug look on his face before walking away. Then Sofea woke with a gasp. Very aroused. What the hell just happened? ******** The life of twenty-two-year-old Sofea Newton gets ramshackled after a bad run-in with a rich lady. She is forced to work as the nanny for the wealthy Reik Michelson to pay off her debt to him. Her life gets bamboozled as she juggles her growing feelings for him and sudden demons from her past. She must do everything to prevent her past from destroying her future. -------
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, he settled between my legs again. "Now close your eyes. And try not to move." Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing, clever hand, seeking more. "Ohh-" My body trembled under his touch. "Please..." *** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic's dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?