The world is aware of creatures that lurk in the dark-at least quite a number of them are. Following the most devastating battle the planet experienced in its history decades ago, rules were set up to keep the supernatural and humanity as a whole at peace. It is one that compels all mythological beings to conceal their presence - an act designed to prevent the masses from being overwhelmed by the knowledge of the magical world. But, as we all know, secrets do not remain hidden forever. What happens when a girl who has always been fascinated by the idea of paranormal entities learns they aren't legends? The unexpected happens right when she is digesting this surprising reality. Her life takes a sharp turn, and everything she previously knew is turned upside down.
A small figure curled up in a queen-sized wooden bed that could be seen inside a dimly lit room where the only source of light was the gentle rays of sunlight reflecting through the tiny space that the thick and vintage curtains hung on the double door window missed covering.
Her fiery mid-waist hair was strewn across the soft pillows-a stark contrast to the grey cotton linens.
She let out a low groan as she slowly awoke from her deep slumber. Her heart was pounding as though she carried the weight of the entire world on her shoulders.
Genova's groggy, sapphire blue eyes took a moment of adjustment to realize she was back in her bedroom. A slight frown graced her smooth and youthful brow as she wondered if the events of the day before were all in her head?!
Could she have merely dreamt of all that happened on her sixteenth birthday?
She shook her head to organize her thoughts, but the pounding in her head was too loud to ignore. Her reasoning and focus were becoming erratic as a result.
She had migraines on a regular basis, but never to this extent. And she was certain it had something to do with last night. Her mind couldn't have made up all of that!
'How did I get home, though?' She was perplexed.
'I think I made it back before I completely blacked out!'
Or perhaps, the dreadful experience on her sixteenth birthday was indeed just her imagination. Otherwise, how else could she explain how she had managed to get out unscathed from a situation that almost ruined her life?
Genova hoped her parents went to bed early because she didn't want them worrying about her any more than they already were.
A sad sigh left her throat as she slowly yet gingerly crawled out of bed. So much for her much-anticipated 16th birthday celebration, which of course, was a complete flop.
Thank God, there wasn't much damage! But why was her memory so disorganized? Why is it that she can't remember anything after she blacked out?
Genova made a mental note to stay away from pubs at all costs. She didn't want the same thing to happen again in the future. For the time being, she will push back all the negativity that her dream/last night's deed had instilled in her and concentrate on the life that lies ahead of her.
Genova was overjoyed because it was Sunday. That being the case, she should try to get a little more sleep because her body was begging for it.
She looked at the time on the nightstand and realized it was still early. The antic golden alarm clock she'd received from her father for her fifteenth birthday and had kept beside her bed since then showed it was only 6:58 a.m.
There was no need for an early rise today because she wasn't required to be at work or school. The advantage of weekends!
With that, she laid down and soon drifted back to sleep.
It was 11:25 am when her eyes fluttered open again.
Her eyes fluttered open again at 11:25 a.m.
And with the burning sensation in her stomach, she knew she needed to eat something quickly before it got worse. She was starving!
Her previous throbbing headache had also subsided significantly, much to her relief. So Genova got up, showered, and went downstairs for brunch.
When Genova entered, her mother Mary was sitting alone on the kitchen couch with a cup of tea in front of her.
"Good morning, honey!" Mary smiled warmly at her daughter.
"Good morning, mom!" Genova smiled back and leaned in to kiss her mother on the cheek. "I hope you got a good night's sleep?" She added as she drew away from the older woman.
Mary chuckled. "My night was well rested, honey. I could say the same about yours; I came to inform you of breakfast earlier but found you deep asleep."
Genova's mind took a quick spin to the night before and she unknowingly pursed her lips. She was still unsure exactly what had happened or if her parents were aware of anything. But looking at her mother right now, the woman appeared relaxed, a reaction which contradicted how it would be should her mom had found out about her unanswered questions.
She was snapped out of her reverie when she heard, "Come, sit while I fix you something to eat." Mary signaled her daughter to come closer by patting the space beside her.
"Hmm." Genova hummed and sat down beside her mom.
Mary drew a new teacup from the tray and poured a pinkish-reddish liquid into it. "Here, have some tea while I prepare you brunch."
"Mom, have I told you how wonderful you are?"
"I'm not sure... but I'm always happy to hear," Mary winked.
Genova chuckled while bringing the cup to her lips and sipped the hot liquid. Her eyes shut close as she hummed in satisfaction.
"I could never get tired of your cooking and tea-making abilities, Mom. No one can beat you in these, I tell you," she commented while grinning from ear to ear.
Mary shook her head and laughed quietly. "You and your father are the most important people in my life. And, as they say, "the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach." And that includes you, my dear!"
Images of her dad's face and how he always made such delightful sounds which always came off annoying to her mom whenever he ate, flashed through Genova's mind. Her head couldn't help but tilt back as she reverberated in a burst of laughter.
Mary's smile broadened. "I know what must be running through that head of yours. The fact that you immediately started laughing after my remark about your father... It can only be about him."
"You know me too well, mama."
"Indeed I do. You are my child after all!" Mary stated while walking back to the dining table with a bowl of lentil soup and three slices of flat bread.
"Thank you so much, mom," Genova said gratefully. She then took a soup spoon and began digging into her food. But as she did so, it occurred to her that she had not seen her father anywhere.
"Where is dad?" She inquired.
"Oh, he's out! Should be back soon, honey."
"Ok!" Genova said nothing more as her attention returned to her food.
Mary refilled her teacup and kept tapping the table with her fingers while watching her daughter eat.
Genova became aware of the older woman's unusual behavior. "Is there anything bothering you, Mom?" She asked, her eyes narrowed.
Mary came to a halt as she realized she had been tapping the table while her mind wandered away. She forced a smile with, "Nothing to be concerned about, dear. I'll tell you after you've finished your meal."
Genova became even more tense. She took the soup bowl and gulped the liquid down her throat with one goal in mind.
"There, I'm done!" She said, showing her mom the empty soup bowl and urging the woman to begin.
"Indeed!" Mary sighed. "Well, your father and I decided to have you move in with your aunt in Wooddale." She went on to say, "You are aware that your chances of finding a good job are better in larger cities. A small town like Roseville has nothing to offer a girl like you."
[Warning: Mature Content] "Don't give me that look, or I will take you right here right now!" His eyes gleamed with danger, and Amelia gulped down her saliva nervously. How perverted can this man be? Amelia is a girl who remained a wolf-less after her 18th birthday. She is regarded as an abomination, a disgrace to their kind, and she is treated as such at the Pack she is offered shelter. Amelia's life takes an abrupt turn when she discovers a secret that results in her escape from the Pack and unknowingly runs into the hands of a man she couldn't even dream of. This man is the prince charming in every woman's fantasy and the worst nightmare in every man's dreams. More secrets are yet to unfold, and so is an untold prophecy.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
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.”
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Looking at the divorce papers my lips curled up into a mocking smile. 'How big fool I am? How can I think that he will give a chance to this marriage? How can I forget that I was nothing more a tool in his eyes to vent his anger until his beloved Tara is back. Since, she was back, how can he let me stay there?' "After you will sign these papers, you will receive 100 million dollars as alimony." the lawyer added. Because of his words, I came back to my senses took the pen from him, and signed the name. I have also gotten exhausted from this marriage both physically and mentally. Even though I had wanted my child to be born into a complete family, I didn't want my child to have a stepmother and live miserably like me for the rest of his life. After taking the papers from my hand, the lawyer gave me the bank card, turned around, and was about to leave when he paused at the door. He then turned around and added, "Mr. Carter said that he hoped that you won't pester him, or you have to bear the consequences." The lawyer's words were like a knife stabbing in my heart, but I still nodded. Anyway, I also don't plan to have anything to do with him anymore. I just want to live a good life with my children. After the lawyer left, the ward fell into silence. I placed my hand on my belly and said to my children, "Baby, I am sorry, Mommy can't give you a complete family! But I promise you, I will do my best to give the love of both mother and father." 'As for giving one of my child, I will never do that. They are my babies and my alone. I and I will give birth to all of them and raise them no matter what.' Four Years Later... Anya came back to the country with her three kids, to inherit the company left by his grandfather...
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!