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Life has no background music unless you are Sebastian Michaelson. He was a young man with the ambition and skills to change the music industry and had practically written a song for every significant moment of his life. Until life sent him a memo that it was just not meant to be, he had to put down his instruments to live life with the buzzing gossip of Green Valley as its soundtrack. But what if a stormy night changed all that in the form of a woman representing everything Sebastian avoided but gravitated to? Would he remain a bystander or sing his way through life like it was a musical number? NOTE: I do not own any songs used in this novel. This non-fiction was inspired by music by several artists, particularly Ed Sheeran and Tori Kelly. Enjoy!
"It's my decision!"
"No!" He screams. "This is my family, my house-"
"Your house?" The woman laughs, "This is my house; you pay bills!"
"Why you-"
"Do it! Hit me, and I'll have you arrested!"
A 12-year-old boy held onto his little sister, asleep in his arms, covering her ears with his tiny hands, shielding her from downstairs chaos.
"Our kids are better off without you."
"I have the right to them!"
"You lost that right when you started sleeping with other women!"
"I told you, I never slept with anyone!" The man groaned, "You believe everyone in this town except the person who should matter."
"Cause all you do is lie! Where's that promotion, huh? That raise you were bragging about?"
"Krista, that's management...." He sighed, "They told me that I would get it-"
"Well, you didn't! Your daughter's sick, and moping around won't pay the bills."
"What do you want me to do? Leave them here alone at night while we both work?"
"We can get a babysitter-"
"You don't have time to look for one!" He snapped, "You don't want to leave them with your mother, and you won't let me choose either."
"Cause you'd probably get the easy young girl."
The man gave a tired laugh, "You know what, Krista? I can't do this anymore."
"What?" She watched as her husband walked to the door, "Wait, Ma-"
"Just..." He opens the front door, trying his best not to look back. "Just let me think, Krista."
Hearing the front door made the young boy sit up, setting his sister back in bed; he ran down the stairs past his mother, who was nursing a glass of wine; he threw the door open and ran out.
"Dad! Dad!"
Unlike his wife's, this is a voice the man would always respond to. He turns around and sees the boy standing a few feet away, tears brimming as he catches his breath. He waved his son over, and in an instant, the boy held on as if his life depended on it.
"Please don't go, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, buddy, but I don't want you and your sister to see me and your mom like this."
"Then we'll go back to how it was!"
"I'm not sure that that's possible, buddy." His voice was laced with so much kindness it was impossible to think he was in a screaming match with his wife moments ago.
"Where will you go?" The boy asks, looking at his dad.
"I don't know, maybe stay over at your uncle Jerry's place for the night."
As much as he'd like to keep the innocent look in his son's eyes, the boy already knew what was happening; he had heard enough parents separating stories from his friends that he felt left out of the trend.
Welcome to the club.
"Will you be getting a divorce?"
He sighed and wiped off the tears on the boy's face, "Go back inside buddy; I'll see you tomorrow."
"I have school." He sniffled.
"And who picks you up from school?"
His son gives him a toothy grin, "My rock star dad."
"That's right." His dad tousled his hair and kissed his forehead before lightly pushing him toward the house.
His wife stood by the door; the annoyed look on her face caused him more pain than it should.
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, son; kiss your sister for me." He faked a smile and watched his son run up the door.
"I will; I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Johan."
The boy watched his dad drive off as the rain started to pour.
That was the last time he saw him.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
"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 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.”
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”