"You are a Town Guard." "That is not a secret." "Then I do have a case for you," the lady said. "I wish to find my sister." "What is the nature of her disappearance?" If it was a simple disappearance, anyone could directly come into the Grand Guard Hall and file for the case. But with this woman's efforts, it was either a case that would cause a scandal or a petty, foolish one which was getting too rampant nowadays. He had been getting useless cases being presented to him by crying single ladies and their mamas in their poor attempt to get his attentions. Even a Town Guard could not be saved from the desperate single ladies still out in the marriage mart. "She had been banished," came the lady's reply. "I am sorry to tell you that we do not handle banishment cases. No matter how you may feel that your sister has been wronged, the law does not-" "I know of the law. I would not have come here if I knew I would not get your help." Ah, so she was confident he'd help her. McKenzie scratched at the scar across his right brow, a habit when he was getting impatient. "And why would you think I would take a banishment case?" he finally asked. Honestly, if this was another single chit who wished to trick him into marriage, he would throw her out of the house for having wasted his time. She finally pulled her hood off her face to reveal a beautiful lady with flaming red hair. Her cheeks were high and finely formed, her chin pointed and her eyes dark blue. She looked vaguely familiar and he quickly searched his memory for a name. He was quite good at memorizing faces and giving a name to them. Carrington. She was a Carrington. She talked of banishment and if his memory served him right, Belinda Carrington had been banished out of Willowfair five years past. Emmett Carrington had two daughters. This must be the other one. She did not know her name but he soon would. "I am Julia Carrington, now lady Trilby," she said, sparing him the trouble. Her face was too serious, her stand too stiff. He had heard of her recent marriage to the youngest Trilby son. "As I have said, Mr. Haverston, I wish that you find my sister, Belinda. You must know about her for her disappearance had caused a great scandal five years past." "And I have told you, lady Trilby, that a banishment case is not-" "The banishment is not unlawful, Mr. Haverston," she interjected, her blue eyes looking straight at him. "But where she was banished to is," she finished. McKenzie finally allowed a frown. "Where she was banished to?" Julia Carrington-Trilby's face tightened but McKenzie was certain that she was fighting back tears. "She was banished aboveground."
I. The Banished Lady
In a land not so far away, there lived a place that lived in the past.
The people there simply called it the Town because its founders never came up with a proper name. They were too much consumed with haste to build it and set the rules in motion. In every convention, in every meeting, they simply referred to it as The Town and it stuck up to this day.
Their rules were their law. And the people of The Town took their law quite seriously. If one would inspect them, they weren't even complicated at all. They were basic laws against crime one could easily find in any other towns.
But what sets The Town aside from the rest?
They refuse the use of anything more advanced than electricity in any way whatsoever and the children of the Town grew up knowing what other towns would call ancient or basic.
Oh, yes, they know about the other towns. They had heard stories. They believed the other towns owned carriages that didn't require a horse at all. They could talk and see one another even when the other person was not in the same vicinity as them. They could do things with the 'tip of their fingers' as what the teachers in the schools of the Town would say. The children thought it was magic.
The adults, on the other hand, saw it as threat. The leaders battled against each other whether or not to form alliances with the other towns, but they would always go back to what the founders believed: the Town was indestructible. In a sense, it was true.
The Town was not really a town. The other towns outside considered it a country, and a very strong one at that. And it spanned almost half of the entire continent in the west. The very few people who knew of the Town's existence would not dare distract the Town. No one dared think of invading it either. Its very presence was a threat to almost all other towns outside because they stood on it.
The Town was their very foundation, built deep underground with its own cities and streets and buildings. They destroy the Town, they fall with it. And everyone left them alone untouched, peaceful as ever, forever living the history that had long been forgotten by the other towns, unknown to the commoners aboveground and alien to the very few powerful who had knowledge of their existence.
The streets of the Town were made of stones, fitted perfectly for carriages to drive by and people to walk on. The houses, though with enough electricity to give light, were always on the side of dim. Businesses thrived. Livestock were kept on the other side of town as well as the farms with their own holes to provide sun to their crops. As a matter of fact, everything from irrigation to waste disposals had been thoroughly planned from the start by the founders themselves. The Town could stand on its own without help from the outside.
The people of the Town were generally content and happy with their lives. It was, after all, the only life they had known. But if there was one thing they would have liked to experience more, it was the sun. Yes, they knew of the sun. They could experience it from time to time and bask in its goodness in the many parks their founders had built. Such parks were built with perfect holes hundreds of feet above the ground, giving them natural light and ventilation. These holes were the only access to the other towns and they were surrounded by tall walls shaped like a funnel so no one from the outside could climb on them and see the Town below. And if ever one could manage to climb to the top, sliding down would be easy though the fall might lead to a sudden death. Climbing out, on the other hand, was impossible. Or everyone believed that to be so.
There were hundreds of such walls and only once had it been trespassed. That was almost a century ago and it never happened again. What became of the trespasser was never disclosed to the public though ideas that ranged from possible to insane circulated that the story soon became a myth and the trespasser was named Mr. Jones. Some stories said that Mr. Jones survived and married a woman from a higher class. Others said he was taken prisoner until he died. There was one that said Mr. Jones was amongst the first founders of the Town.
But this was not Mr. Jones' story for there were far better adventures in the Town that would awaken anyone's attention. One in particular was about the banished lady...
*****
She had never imagined such immense hatred.
She only knew of pleasing, of maintaining decorum and accepting. She also knew, or rather, perfected the art of being vile, being perfect, and of being the most beautiful.
She knew only of pride, haughtiness and sarcasm. She was the best at being hated-at being the enemy of pretty, powerless girls she had considered her prey for years. She fed on their weakness and ire, reveled on their fear of her hypercritical remarks.
But never had she let hatred rule her to full height no matter how many times she was tempted to.
Not when she had not gotten what she had always wanted, not when she was deprived of things she so desired, for the world was only good to those who do well, but never to those who were hated-to those who made the good look even better. No, she never felt hatred even when she felt wronged for having been deprived of the same happiness found by the girls who hated her.
No...she never felt it then for Lady Belinda Kate Carrington never new hatred until the day she was banished.
She had been in her room, getting ready for supper, unaware of men waiting for her to come down while her mother, lady Amber Carrington, insisted that she come down at once. Not even her sister, Julia, could look into her eyes while she descended down the stairs. It had only been a week since her great scandal-her very first one. Mayhap that was the reason, she had thought.
Her father, lord Emmett Carrington was at the door, his face hard and determined. Across from him were two men, both draped in large, black coats.
She had asked them what the fuss was all about.
And that was when her world started to turn upside down. It turned as they all moved, facing her, and the two men walked forward and loomed over her.
She shouted for her mother, for Julia. She begged her father to give her another chance, that she would not make another mistake once again, that she would never shame him once more. But no one listened and she was dragged toward a waiting carriage outside their doors.
Julia ran toward her before the carriage took off, ignoring their mother's orders to come back.
"Do not go far, Belinda," her sister told her. Her hope of her sister stopping the carriage sank down to her toes. "Do not go far. I will find you. Wherever they take you, I will find you. I promise."
"Do not let them take me, Julia, please," she begged.
"Be strong, Belinda. I'll be-"
"Julia!" their father's voice shouted for her sister. Julia cowered away from the carriage mouthing, "Do not go far."
Belinda's heart sank as the carriage went away, slowly driving her from the life she knew-the only life she knew. Tears wouldn't stop and she wiped them away, fear and cold suddenly enveloping her entire body.
They had not even provided her with a coat. Had they even packed her things? No, of course not, for she would have known.
She watched Willowfair pass by before her eyes, the unassuming gentries walking with their expensive coats and dresses, the expensive estates and carriages.
She was being driven away from all of it.
She did so many things but she did not deserve this, she thought as new tears flooded her eyes. Her breathing became short gasps as she fought for control. Her red hair had gone askew in her struggle earlier.
She was being banished, she realized.
That night five years ago was the last time Belinda Kate Carrington cried.
*****
The lady did not take her hood down even when she had finally stepped inside the Sperling Estate. Andrew, the butler, did not find it uncommon at all for his master had received visitors who assumed far worse attempts of secrecy.
She would not have been permitted entrance if she had not been coming by for nearly a month, asking for the master of the house. Andrew had let it known to his master of the lady's insistence but it had only been today that the man grumpily said yes.
Andrew led the visitor toward the study where the master did his business.
He opened the door and announced her presence.
Once Andrew left, McKenzie Haverston stood from his chair and said, "Please, do not find it rude that I would insist upon haste." He checked the clock and sighed. He'd be late for an important meeting. "I have only permitted my butler to take you before me for I can no longer take daily reports of the same lady coming by every day asking for my time."
"I do understand that you are quite busy, Mr. Haverston, but I am in need of great help." By the way she spoke he knew she was a lady with status. The question now was why such lady would come find him?
"What help?" he asked, looking at the lady's slender figure. Her coat was too large for her, obviously chosen for the same reason why she had not taken her hood off.
"You are a Town Guard."
"That is not a secret."
"Then I do have a case for you," the lady said. "I wish to find my sister."
"What is the nature of her disappearance?" If it was a simple disappearance, anyone could directly come into the Grand Guard Hall and file for the case. But with this woman's efforts, it was either a case that would cause a scandal or a petty, foolish one which was getting too rampant nowadays.
He had been getting useless cases being presented to him by crying single ladies and their mamas in their poor attempt to get his attentions. Even a Town Guard could not be saved from the desperate single ladies still out in the marriage mart.
"She had been banished," came the lady's reply.
"I am sorry to tell you that we do not handle banishment cases. No matter how you may feel that your sister has been wronged, the law does not-"
"I know of the law. I would not have come here if I knew I would not get your help."
Ah, so she was confident he'd help her. McKenzie scratched at the scar across his right brow, a habit when he was getting impatient. "And why would you think I would take a banishment case?" he finally asked.
Honestly, if this was another single chit who wished to trick him into marriage, he would throw her out of the house for having wasted his time.
She finally pulled her hood off her face to reveal a beautiful lady with flaming red hair. Her cheeks were high and finely formed, her chin pointed and her eyes dark blue. She looked vaguely familiar and he quickly searched his memory for a name. He was quite good at memorizing faces and giving a name to them.
Carrington. She was a Carrington. She talked of banishment and if his memory served him right, Belinda Carrington had been banished out of Willowfair five years past. Emmett Carrington had two daughters. This must be the other one. She did not know her name but he soon would.
"I am Julia Carrington, now lady Trilby," she said, sparing him the trouble. Her face was too serious, her stand too stiff. He had heard of her recent marriage to the youngest Trilby son. "As I have said, Mr. Haverston, I wish that you find my sister, Belinda. You must know about her for her disappearance had caused a great scandal five years past."
"And I have told you, lady Trilby, that a banishment case is not-"
"The banishment is not unlawful, Mr. Haverston," she interjected, her blue eyes looking straight at him. "But where she was banished to is," she finished.
McKenzie finally allowed a frown. "Where she was banished to?"
Julia Carrington-Trilby's face tightened but McKenzie was certain that she was fighting back tears. "She was banished aboveground."
A while ago, Juniel couldn't get enough of the gaze of a man sitting on the High Chairs near the Bar. Ever since he was hit by the man's gaze, he hasn't looked away even once. Meanwhile, he spent time with the man in front of him that he was talking to earlier. but no matter what the man said, it didn't seem to enter his ears. She was distracted, she admitted. No matter how he pretends, Tyron still has the same effect on him. Yes Tyron was the guy who was staring at her. when she and Tyron first met she couldn't sleep that night. Surely Tyron doesn't remember her. But what other reason why Tyron should remember him? He shook his head. Tyron should never know or remember him. he often sees Tyron because he is a stylist for the models of Tyron's company. It's like that's where the young man's feelings grew. When she tried to see where Tyron was, she felt dismay when she couldn't find the young man. maybe she feels strange when he stares at her but it's Tyron after all. He still prefers to see the young man up close He was very surprised to see Tyron on the dance floor still staring at him. She knew it! Tyron will approach him again! He quickly said goodbye to his companion and hurried away. But Tyrone's chasing her. He didn't want to talk to or get close to the young man. But Tyron quickly grabbed her by the arm. He was staring at her intently. it followed Tyron as he pulled him out of the bar and into the parking lot. "What!?" The young man yelled at him. Tyron's gaze stayed on Juniel. He felt as if some cold was rising in his system and his legs were shaking "You really don't want?" Tyron frowned. Juniel gasped. One night at Tyron's company party, the young man unexpectedly spoke to him. The conversation goes well at first until Tyron offers to have sex with her. That night Juniel couldn't sleep well. his whole body argued with Tyron's words. Well a part of her wants Tyron. Who is he to say no to someone like Tyron. But... Juniel has a pure feelings towards Tyron. she doesn't want to be like Tyron's girls that when they finish doing 'that' Tyron will just throw her away like one of his girls "I don't want to. That will never happen." The young man stepped closer to him. His heart felt like it was about to break out of his heart because it was beating so fast. "Are you sure? Why don't you?" "I'm not like your girls Tyron. So don't tease me anymore. My answer will never change. I don't want to!" Tyron smiled and put his finger to his lips. Gosh! he can no longer deny that the simple trail of your fingers on his lips attracted him. Especially with his baritone voice. Damn him! "Don't make me chase you Juniel. We both know that in this battle. I'm the winner. I will win. I will always win. I get what I want. Juniel will be yours."
"Your Highness!" "The Lord is here!" I heard shouts of someone in the palace of Paine.I saw mila outside the raging servants go to that noise. I went straight inside until I saw people gathering. "Intruder!" Shouted a soldier on the side and I was about to rush when I removed the cloak on my head. "W-Who are you?" A leader, maybe a servant, stammered. I said that because it was neat and classy. "I am the Lord bride.Princess Roseé Merald Stone from the Stone Palace." I said and got off the horse. All the servants who were blocking my path stepped aside when I saw who was the center of attention earlier. It looks like it's boiling — No! I don't think it's but my blood is really boiling in that lalaling. I slowly approached him and threatened him.
I don’t trust vampires, but if he’s the one that needs protection. I will gladly protect young master from danger.” –Maple Quinn Tempest."What?" I almost choked because I heard a suggestion from my friend. “Me? Be a bodyguard to a vampire? ”We are now in a café near our school. I’m Maple Quinn Tempest, 18 years old and currently looking for a job for personal reasons."Escort that." I rolled my eyes when she corrected me, art can only be a bodyguard. Even calling a bodyguard needs to be social, vampires are.Is he kidding? Me? Serving a vampire? “They are strong ah? Do we need a bodyguard? ”“He is different, you know that? He… needs protection from someone- AH BASTA! It's up to them to explain. ” Annoyed he says, psh. “Apple, you also need money for your brother. You know martial arts or defense, this job is perfect for you. ”I was frustrated, I shouldn't have said I knew how to kill. I've been looking for a job before, it's a difficult case because I'm still a student. I need money for my little sister, I have no choice.“Fine. I’ll guard este- escort this vampire… whatsoever. ” Phee's face suddenly lit up. Why does the fun he? what's up with that vampire?“Yesss! He will meet you today! He is coming! ” I was surprised by his answer. TODAY ?! IMMEDIATELY?“He’s hereeee ~”He immediately pulled me upright, I saw a black haired guy arriving in front of the café, I just couldn't see the color of his eyes. Ok, is he really that rich or something ?! Wait, is the limousine he rode in ?! WAIT BUSHET I'M NOT READY YET! I'M UGLY-"Wait, I'm not ready yet-"I could hardly breathe when he started approaching us, he had companions. His bodyguards are supposed to be in a suit and tie, confirmed. Rich old vampire.
Lucky is twenty-eight years old, NBSB but successful in her career as an erotic writer. Came from a rich family, but grew up independent and expected nothing but himself. She was happy and satisfied with her twenty-eight year career. but, suddenly came to the point where she wanted to have a child. Lucky is at the right age, she has saved a lot and has her own house, this is also what her parents have been asking for over and over again. Lucky has only one problem. she has genophobia, a mental health disorder characterized by a fear of sexual intimacy. No one else knows about Lucky's condition apart from her best friend slush Genesis. even to his own family, Lucky did not tell this for fear that her relatives would laugh at her or make fun of her condition, so adoption was not the answer to her desire to have a child. She only thought of one way, to conceive using the IUI procedure; a medical procedure in which a male donor's sperm is implanted directly into a woman's uterus. She told Genesis his plan, and her best friend supported him, but when she said she wanted to be a sperm donor, the man did not agree. He said he doesn't want to be responsible for any woman. Lucky has a way, but she didn't really think that she would have a hard time finding a sperm donor, she didn't want to be a Pontio Pilato donor, that's why he committed a crime one night after Genesis had sex with his flavor of the month. well, she just stole his friend's sperm. Will Lucky's pregnancy be successful? How will Genesis react when he finds out what his best friend did?
Tony Green, an A-list celebrity got into a serious car accident. The culprit? Ash Myers, an infamous singer, who was drunk driving. Due to this fateful event, Tony got into a coma and woke up with a condition called Savant Syndrome--a rare disease that he became a genius in music and math but at the same time, became an idiot in some activities of daily living. A favorable arrangement was offered to Ash. Will accepting it lead to her one true love or will it end in tragedy due to some twists and turns of life?
I was inside my car, driving as usual.But of course,Some enemies were following me.I'm not scared of anything,Even if it's death.What I'm afraid of,Is leaving something behind, Something.. Special. *Car crashed*" Sh*t! Sh*t!!! "" Call an ambulance immediately!!! "" Okay! Okay! Help!! "" I said call the ambulance!!! "I wasn't afraid of getting killed,What I was afraid of,Leaving someone behind, My precious mother." Hey, are you okay? "" Are you still alive? "" She's still breathing!! "" Where are the ambulance!!? "" We need to get her to hospital or she'll die! "I didn't know,That today is the end of me,I bet my enemies are happy,Of course they are, but who cares?I'm leaving my mother behind,Her daughter is gonna die,Not like she cares anyway,She has someone besides her even I'm gone,So that's okay,I have no regrets when I'm going to die, Even if it's for eternity." Here comes the ambulance! " I'm Meilippe Xiao, A daughter of a billionaire woman, Who is known for being a gangster, A woman who knows how to fight and defend herself on her own, Without relying to anyone, Independent, strong woman, That is me,All I know that before I was even brought to the hospital,I was dead on arrival,But how on earth,. . . Did I live again?
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
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.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.