"Join Lucas, Sarah, and Emily on a heart-pounding journey of suspense, betrayal, and redemption in 'Shadows of Truth.' As they uncover dark secrets and face insurmountable odds, their bond is tested in a gripping tale of courage, resilience, and the enduring power of friendship. With twists and turns at every corner, this urban thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page."
Lucas sat at the kitchen table, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he absentmindedly stirred his coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of Sarah chopping vegetables at the counter.
"Hey, Luke, you've been quiet tonight. Everything okay?" Said Sarah she gaze at Lucas looking up, Lucas eyes met with Sarah's concerned gaze. He forced a smile, trying to push aside the weight of his thoughts.
"Yeah, just tired from work, I guess."
Said lucas, She frowns slightly, her eyes searching his "Are you sure that's all?"
In hesitation, unsure how to voice his inner turmoil "It's just... I don't know, something feels off."
Sarah immediately sets down her knife and moves to sit beside him, placing a comforting hand on his arm "You can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."
He instantly takes a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief at her words "Thanks, Sarah. It's just... I feel like I don't belong here sometimes."
Sarah squeezes his arm reassuringly "What do you mean?"
Lucas struggles to find the right words "I mean, your family, this whole lifestyle... it's not what I'm used to. Sometimes I feel like I'm just pretending to fit in."
Sarah gently brushes his cheek with her hand "You're not pretending, Luke. You're a part of this family, and we love you just the way you are."
His face clouded with weak smiles, grateful for her reassurance "Thanks, Sarah. I needed to hear that."
She leans in and kisses his cheek "Anytime, love."
As they sat together in comfortable silence, Lucas's gaze fell upon something on the floor. He reached down and picked it up, a small envelope that had fallen unnoticed during their conversation.
Lucas furrows his brow, examining the envelope "Hey, did you drop this?"
Sarah shakes her head, puzzled "No, I don't think so. What is it?"
Lucas instantly opens the envelope and pulls out a letter, his curiosity piqued "It looks like there's something inside."
Sarah leans in to get a better look "Who's it from?"
Lucas immediately reads the letter silently, his eyes widening in surprise "It's... it's from my father."
Sarah's eyes widen in shock as she listens to Lucas's words.
"Your father? But I thought..."
nods "Yeah, I thought so too. But it seems there's more to the story than I realized." Lucas responded.
Sarah reaches out and takes his hand, squeezing it gently "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."
He smiles gratefully at her "Thanks, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She returns the smile "You'd probably starve without my cooking."Lucas laughs softly "Yeah, probably."
Sarah gets up from the table and moves to the counter "So, what do you want to do for dinner?" Cos I'm Famished; as he sets the letter aside, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders"How about we order in? I don't really feel like cooking tonight."
Sarah nods in agreement"Sounds good to me. Thai or pizza?"
He considers for a moment "Let's go with Thai. I could use some Pad Thai." Okay then she accepted without arguing,smiles clouds her face "Pad Thai it is, then. I'll make the call."
As Sarah dials the number for their favorite Thai restaurant, Lucas can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her unwavering support. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knows that with Sarah by his side, he can face them with courage and determination. And as they sit down to enjoy their meal together, he's filled with a renewed sense of hope for the future.
The aroma of Pad Thai filled the kitchen as Sarah ended the call and returned to the table. She placed her hand atop Lucas's, a comforting gesture that spoke volumes without the need for words.
"It's all sorted. Should be here in about thirty minutes." Sarah said; Lucas smiles, grateful for her thoughtfulness* "Thanks, Sarah. You always know how to take care of me.""Well, someone has to look out for you." Said Sarah.
Their laughter filled the kitchen, momentarily pushing aside the weight of Lucas's newfound discovery. For a moment, it felt as though nothing else mattered, as though they were simply two people enjoying each other's company.
But as the laughter faded, Lucas's thoughts returned to the letter in his hand. He turned it over, examining the faded ink and worn edges, his mind racing with questions.
sighs "I can't believe this. After all these years, to receive a letter from him..."He speaks out surprised at what was happening Sarah squeezes his hand gently "It must be a lot to process. Do you want to talk about it?"
Lucas shakes his head "I don't even know where to start. There's so much I don't understand."
She stood up and leans in closer, her voice soft and comforting "We'll figure it out together, Luke. Whatever it is, we'll face it as a team."
Lucas turned to her with smiles on his face , feeling a surge of love and gratitude "I don't know what I'd do without you, Sarah. You're my rock."
Sarah returns the smile, her eyes shining with emotion "And you're mine, Luke. Always."
Their moment of intimacy was interrupted by the sound of a doorbell, signaling the arrival of their dinner. They rose from the table and moved to the door together.
As they sat down to eat, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the back of his mind. But as he looked across the table at Sarah, her presence a beacon of strength and support, he knew that together, they could handle anything that came their way.
And as they shared their meal and conversation, Lucas felt a glimmer of hope begin to blossom within him. Whatever secrets his past may hold, he knew that with Sarah by his side, he could face them all fearlessly.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
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?
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."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
"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?"