Nicole Jane Parker is an incoming grade twelve student who lives in luxury and enjoys her freedom as much as she can. But even though she had the privilege to do whatever she wants and gets anything that she will ask for in life, it's not enough to fill the emptiness in her heart. Having trust issues with other people, she grows up with no friends at all. While her parents are always away for business trips. These are the reasons that pushed her to live independently. Things will then start to change the moment she transferred and set her foot in Clarkson Academy. There she will meet Kyle Ethan Clarkson- who is treated by the students and other people in the academy as a prince. But as she started to get along with him, she will discover something about him that is beyond her imagination. Because Kyle Ethan Clarkson is the Pureblood Prince of the Vampires- the creatures whose existence is unknown to the humans, and the one destined for her to marry.
Nicole Jane's POV
Even though it was already late at night, the surroundings were still bright because of the flashing lights while the loud music that was currently being played could be heard from every corner of the mansion. There are even some people who are shouting and laughing as if there's no tomorrow, which irritated my ears even more.
My debut party had a fairy tale theme. I was actually against it because I preferred a gothic theme instead. But my parents won't give in to my plea. As their only child and daughter, they insist that I should look like a princess on this night. That everything around should look magical.
But what I really hate tonight is the fact that they have invited my classmates to come over. Even though they knew that I wasn't friends with any of them. I even barely talk to any one of them. Unless, it's school-related. Besides, they also had invited some guests that I didn't know personally.
Fortunately, they somehow allowed me to remove eighteen roses from the program. I didn't feel like dancing with anybody anyway.
I'm currently drinking by the pool. Since I'm already eighteen, I'm allowed to drink whatever I want already. I'd rather grumble here than be a hypocrite and socialize with them on the dance floor.
"Happy birthday!"
I was stunned when someone suddenly spoke from behind. Slowly, I looked at the newcomer.
I frowned when I saw a tall man with gray eyes. If I wasn't mistaken, he's one of my parents' friends.
"Thank you," I said casually.
He was about to speak when suddenly, my parents approached together with a meticulous-looking woman.
"Hey, there you are! We've been looking for you," the meticulous-looking woman said to the man who greeted me earlier before she gazed in my direction. "Hi! Happy birthday! It's been a while, and you've grown into such a beautiful young lady already."
I raised an eyebrow. She spoke as if she knew me very well.
"Sweetie, we just have something to discuss with. Entertain your visitors, okay?" Mom ordered.
I frowned. "You have nothing to worry about, Mom. They can manage themselves just fine."
Mom gave me a stern look. So, I stood up lazily and rolled my eyes with my back facing them.
My gaze followed them discreetly. Even though today is my birthday, it looked like my parents still had a business agenda mixed in.
But another thing I noticed about my parents' friends was the color of their skin. They were too pale.
I just shook my head and took another drink from the tray that the waiter was carrying, then drank it straight.
When the glass was already empty, I couldn't help but look up at the sky. In particular, at the moon. I didn't know why, but it seemed to have a hypnotic effect.
"Nicole! What are you doing here? Come on! Let's party!"
I blinked and was not able to object when someone suddenly pulled me towards the dance floor. However, I knew that the only reason why my classmates were here was to flex their business and their parents to my parents to become their business partners.
But I just let it go. They're not the only ones capable of putting on a mask. After all, this is my day. That's why I did nothing but have fun this night. Until I was completely drunk, and my surroundings were slowly swallowed by darkness.
***
I quickly covered my right arm over my eyes when they opened because of the rays of the sun that suddenly came into view. But I winced when my head suddenly hurt. So I waited a few minutes before slowly getting up and leaving the room. One of our maids was standing right in front of the door causing me to step back in shock when I opened it.
"You startled me, Riza! What are you doing here?" I couldn't stop my voice from rising.
She bowed slightly. "Good morning, Ma'am Nicole. I'm sorry. I was just about to knock to wake you up and ask you if I should bring your breakfast here?" she asked politely, with a slight tinge of fear in her voice.
I yawned. "No need. I'll just go to the dining room", I answered gently.
"All right. I will prepare your breakfast right away." She walked away first.
It seemed that the sleepiness I was feeling flew out of the window when I suddenly remembered something. When a maid comes to my room to wake me up, my parents are sure to be here. Whenever they're not around, the maids do not disturb my sleep because that is what I strongly instructed them to do so.
I just shrugged and reluctantly continued walking while my eyes were still half-closed. When I got to the stairs, I descended slowly because I might fall. If I'm not mistaken, it was already dawn when I fell asleep because of my debut party last night.
But I was stunned when I heard Mom and Dad's serious conversation in the living room. I also massaged my temples as numbing pains shot through them. I still felt disoriented from last night.
The party was smooth and successful even though I passed out due to drunkenness. But even so, I still can't help but wonder about where my parents met their invited friends last night.
There seems to be something different about them. Their skin looked pale, and they were so emotionless.
Actually, some of them surprisingly look familiar. I just don't remember where, or if I ever really saw them before.
I shook my head at the thought. My head was definitely still on turmoil right now.
"After four long years, I'm glad to know that he will be back already," Dad said.
My eyebrows raised because of what I heard. Who is the person that they are referring to who has returned here? As far as I know, we didn't have any relatives in other countries. All of them were already here.
Well, that's what I knew.
"Yeah. I still couldn't believe it when they told us about it. We need to make a move already. Most especially now that everything is happening according to the plan," Mom said cheerfully.
Plan? What plan? What the hell are my parents talking about? The curiosity is killing me!
"It may be hard for the two of them at first. But Nicole will surely like him. I'm sure of that," Dad said confidently.
Wait, why was my name suddenly dragged in their conversation?
I couldn't stand it anymore and quickly made my way to the living room. Dad was the first one who saw me because he was facing my direction. His eyes widened in shock. Mom stared at him in confusion. That's why she also turned on where I was standing.
They both stood up upon seeing me with their mouths hanging open.
What is going on with the two of them? Could this be the effect of their frequent stays in other countries?
I crossed my arms at them. "Who is the guy that you say is coming back, and I will like?
I looked at both of them. There was still a hint of shock on their faces when they saw me. They looked like criminals that had been caught in the act.
A few seconds passed before they finally recovered. A wide smile then formed on my Mom's lips that made me shiver. Because there seemed to be something different in the way she smiled at me.
I gulped. I had a strong feeling that I was not going to like whatever the answer to my question was.
Our situation were reversed in an instant. It felt like I was the one in the hot seat this time.
Dad suddenly became serious, then looked straight into my eyes. "It's your fiancé. He's coming back."
My jaw dropped at what he said.
When I was still young, I already heard stories about my future fiancé. That I'm going to meet him once I turn 18.
Though I didn't take it seriously and chose to ignore it instead. Because I thought that maybe it was just a joke and there was no taint of any truth about it.
But now that my parents are the ones confirming it, I could no longer ignore it.
I gasped as the realization hit me. I just turned 18 yesterday! So, it means...
"What? No way!"
Nathalia Sarmiento is just one of those ordinary teenagers who wishes to graduate from college in order to help the people she treated as her real parents, who did nothing but love her as their own daughter as well. Everything seems to be perfect in her almost fairy tale story. She had a bunch of good friends, loving parents, and a comfortable life. Not until her eighteenth birthday comes. She's about to go home when, suddenly, a black van stops right in front of her. Before she could even escape, a group of men came out and took her away. The next thing she knew was that she would arrive in a familiar mansion, and when she finally met the one who planned it all, the realization hit her hard. A mafia boss captured her. Much to her surprise, he even had the pair of shoes that she had lost before.
Tiffany Salazar has witnessed how her once-perfect family turned into a broken one. That’s why she did everything she could to make sure that her relationship with her boyfriend, Travis Jason Vernon, would not share the same fate as what happened to her parents. But as the years passed by, the realization hit her. In order to be with the man that she truly loves and maintain the stability of their relationship, she had to give up one thing that she ever wanted: Freedom. Wherein no one will have full control of her life. To the point that she doesn’t even know her true self anymore. That’s why, no matter how much she wants to protect the love that they have, in the end, she chooses to protect herself first. And it will only happen if she breaks up with Travis. So she did. As she finally goes on with her life, she notices that something is still missing. That the freedom she wants never gave her happiness and contentment. Much to her regret, it only became the reason for her to lose her first and true love. Determined to win Travis back, will she be able to correct the mistake she made and restart everything from that Christmas night? Or will she end up drowning herself in regrets and embracing her chosen freedom?
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?