Harper is trapped in unrequited love. Orphaned, she finds refuge with Mr. Cooper and his children, Atlas and Amanda. However, as Harper's affection for Atlas grows, he only sees her as a sister. Mr. Cooper's passing leaves her under Atlas's reluctant care. Now, she must confront the painful reality of longing for what she cannot have. To complicate things, Atlas's girlfriend moves in with him in the same house as Harper-additionally, a mysterious professor of Harper, whose closeness to Harper might not sit well with Atlas. Will Harper find the strength to let go, or will she cling to a love that may never be returned?
I was just ten years old when I watched as my parents' coffins were solemnly lifted, their faces hidden from view forever. Their lives ended abruptly in a plane crash while en route to a meeting. Meanwhile, I found myself in the care of Mr. Benjamin Cooper, a close friend of my father's from childhood.
Initially intended as a short stay, my time with Mr. Cooper stretched into several years as he became my legal guardian following my parents' tragic passing. In my youthful naivety, I clung to the hope that my parents might one day return, but as the years passed, reality sank in. I slowly came to terms with being the lone survivor of the Miller family.
I was never formally adopted by Mr. Cooper, though the reasons remain a mystery to me. Nevertheless, his love for me was unwavering. He was a kind-hearted man, much like my own parents. A successful businessman, his days were often consumed by work, but he always made time for us – for me, Amanda, and Atlas.
Atlas, the eldest of Mr. Cooper's children, had a special place in my heart. When I first entered Mr. Cooper's home, Atlas was on the brink of college, an 18-year-old embarking on his own journey. Even before tragedy struck my family, Atlas had been a protective figure in my life, watching over both me and his sister, Amanda.
Before I became a permanent fixture in the Cooper household, my parents would entrust me to Mr. Cooper's care whenever they traveled. In turn, Mr. Cooper would reciprocate when he had to leave town, ensuring that his children and I were well cared for by a dedicated caretaker. It was a bond that extended beyond blood ties, a testament to the love and compassion that filled our homes.
Unlike Atlas, who always showed kindness and love towards me even in my childhood, Amanda and I never got along. She, being two years older, seemed to relish in bullying me, making my time at Mr. Cooper's house a living nightmare. Whenever Amanda tormented me, Atlas would rush to my defense, but his absence after moving out left me vulnerable to her relentless cruelty.
As I matured, I found the strength to stand up to Amanda's torment. What began as timid resistance evolved into a steadfast resolve, making it increasingly difficult for her to intimidate me. Thankfully, when I turned sixteen and she left for college at eighteen, peace finally settled over the household. Her departure, especially to a university in another state, brought me a sense of relief.
However, tranquility was short-lived. Mr. Cooper's battle with cancer shattered our newfound calm, and despite his valiant fight, he succumbed to the illness just months after treatment. At seventeen, I found myself once again alone, grappling with the weight of loss and uncertainty.
As I approached adulthood, fear gripped me, dreading the possibility of being sent away to a foster home. However, fate had a different plan. When Mr. Cooper acknowledged his impending fate, he took a decisive step: appointing Atlas as my guardian for the remaining year.
Atlas, the very same person I harbored a deep crush on, which later bloomed into love. Despite his increasing distance since moving out when I was eleven, he never ceased to be kind to me. His smiles and occasional acts of assistance were small comforts amidst the turmoil of loss and change.
As Atlas matured, so did his appearance, transforming from a boyish charm to a strikingly masculine figure. I watched in awe as stubble peppered his once clean-shaven face, his honey-brown eyes gained wisdom beyond his years, and his stature grew taller and more imposing. His evolving fashion sense, from casual tees to tailored shirts, only added to his allure, leaving me spellbound with each passing day.
I had always counted on Atlas's warm embrace, his unwavering kindness and protective nature were constants in my life for twenty-one years. Yet, upon his return home for his father's funeral, he seemed more distant than ever. I reasoned that the weight of grief must have burdened him, understanding all too well the pain of losing family.
A few days after Mr. Cooper's funeral, I found myself avoiding encounters with Amanda, who had returned from college for the somber occasion. As I made my way back to my room, I overheard Atlas conversing with Mr. Ghallenger, Mr. Cooper's lawyer, in his father's study. Intrigued, I paused to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"How can I possibly look after her, Jason? She is not a kid. I have my own responsibilities to juggle. Taking over Dad's business has already pushed me to my limits, and now I'm expected to take Harper under my wing?" His words sliced through me, carrying a weight of frustration that pierced my heart.
Outside the room, I stood frozen, my heart sinking with each word. Numbness crept into my fingertips, a chill racing down my spine. "Look, Jason, I do care about Harper, but I don't know if I can handle this. Maybe she can stay here for a while longer, with some other support. I'll drop by when I can, but do I really have to take her in?" His tone left me feeling undesired, like an unwelcome burden.
Mr. Ghallenger let out a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid so, Atlas. It's a significant responsibility, but it's your father's wish. And remember, inheriting the business is contingent upon it," he explained, his tone weighted with solemnity.
"Well, that's just great," Atlas muttered in frustration. Unable to bear any more of the conversation, I hurriedly retreated to my room.
That night, tears streamed down my face as I grappled with the harsh reality of my situation. I cried for my innocence lost, for the loneliness that engulfed me, and for the overwhelming sense of helplessness. With no one to turn to, I felt utterly alone. Knowing that I wouldn't gain access to my parents' wealth until I turned twenty-one, I had no choice but to comply with Atlas's guardianship, a prospect that filled me with trepidation and uncertainty.
The following month, I made the move into Atlas's penthouse. Despite his warm smile of welcome, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was forced, that he didn't truly want me there. I felt like an unwanted burden. I wanted to harbor resentment toward him, but his genuine kindness toward me made it impossible. Despite his initial reluctance, he ensured I was cared for and looked after. A year later, we both moved into Mr. Cooper's house.
Throughout the year, I carried the weight of shame for being a burden while Atlas dutifully fulfilled his responsibilities as my guardian, unaware of the turmoil within me. Despite sharing the same roof, Atlas remained distant, his presence fleeting as he immersed himself in work and travel.
I had harbored dreams of independence once I reached eighteen, but fate had other plans. The harsh reality struck when I discovered that my inheritance would only materialize upon turning twenty-one, a delay that dashed my hopes of breaking free. Despite Atlas's unwavering support, I sensed his disappointment mirrored my own, if not surpassed it. Throughout my university years, I toiled to save every penny, yet the goal of autonomy remained elusive. Now, on the cusp of my twenty-first birthday, liberation finally beckons. It's time to shed the weight of dependency and forge my own path.
As my 21st birthday loomed just a month away, I couldn't shake the crushing realization that I would soon be forced to leave. Unwanted and consumed by unrequited love for my guardian, the ache inside me grew unbearable with each passing day.
Most nights, I dined alone, but this evening was an exception. Seated at the dining table, I was in the midst of my solitary meal when Atlas returned home. I greeted him with a smile, and he reciprocated, his hand tousling my hair in passing as he made his way to the kitchen to dish up dinner. His touch always sent a shiver down my spine, a sensation I struggled to shake off.
"How was your day, kiddo?" he asked, breaking the usual silence with unexpected small talk. I hate it when he calls me a kiddo. I am not a kid. I am turning twenty-one soon. Nevertheless, his inquiry caught me off guard, and I found myself fumbling for a response. "It was fine," I murmured, my gaze fixed on my plate as I toyed with my food.
With Saturday stretching ahead, devoid of school obligations or plans with friends, I resigned myself to a quiet day at home. Engrossed in a book and later a movie, I whiled away the hours in solitude. As the day waned, I caught a glimpse of Atlas unbuttoning his shirt cuffs, rolling up the sleeves of his impeccably tailored grey shirt. The sight stirred something within me, a magnetic pull I dared not entertain, prompting me to avert my gaze.
He filled his plate and joined me at the table, prompting me to furrow my brow in surprise. "Why are you home tonight?" I ventured to ask, curious about his unexpected presence.
He chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to linger in the air. "Why? Can't I be home?" he teased, his hands deftly picking up a knife and fork.
"Of course, you can," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of surprise. "It's your house after all. It's just that you're not usually home this early, so I was curious," I explained with a shrug.
A smile graced his lips, softening the lines of his face. "True," he conceded, his gaze meeting mine. "I came home early tonight because I wanted to talk to you," he revealed, his words causing a sudden stillness to settle between us.
I felt a flutter of unease, quickly averting my eyes from his intense gaze. "What happened?" I inquired, my voice betraying the apprehension swirling within me.
He chuckled lightly, the sound carrying a hint of amusement. "Nothing to worry about," he reassured, gesturing casually as he began to cut into his chicken. "But your birthday is coming up next month," he continued as his words caused a shiver to ripple down my spine.
I braced myself for what I believed would be an inevitable conversation about my departure, expecting him to ask me to leave at any moment. Yet, to my surprise, he spoke of something entirely unexpected. "I was speaking with Jason," he began, referring to the lawyer who represented both my parents and Mr. Cooper. I listened intently as he explained, "Regarding your inheritance of your parents' wealth. It seems the will stipulates that you must be twenty-one years and nine months to inherit."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Nine months?! Why the extra time?!" I couldn't help but ask, my confusion evident in my tone.
"I don't know, but it's fine. Nine months will pass quickly. In the meantime, you can stay with me, and perhaps even start looking into some proper jobs. I'll help you with that," he reassured me with a gentle smile. If only I had the funds to relocate at this moment, I would eagerly seize the opportunity. However, given that my inheritance won't materialize for another nine months, I find myself tethered to this place for the time being.
His offer weighed heavily on my heart. I couldn't shake the feeling of being a burden, now prolonged for another nine months. It didn't seem fair. As I grappled with this realization, he cleared his throat, his demeanor suddenly uncertain.
"Um, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you," he began, his voice tentative. His hesitance struck a chord of worry within me.
"What is it?" I inquired, a knot of apprehension tightening in my chest as I watched him carefully.
He let out a heavy sigh, setting down his utensils before meeting my gaze directly. "Well, I've been considering asking my girlfriend to move in for a while now, but the timing never seemed right. I don't want to postpone it any longer, so I'll be asking her to move in with me. I hope you're okay with having one more person around," he explained, his words landing like a blow to my chest.
My heart sank as I struggled to process his revelation. Girlfriend? He had a girlfriend? The realization hit me like a wave, leaving me feeling hurt and blindsided. While I grappled with the pain of unrequited love, Atlas appeared unaffected. Of course, he would be-he couldn't possibly understand the depths of my anguish.
After all, it was only me who harbored unrequited feelings for him.
"Does it ever happen to you that you are attracted to someone you shouldn’t be attracted to? Or someone you don’t even like? Like, it is just like an urge. Although they make you go crazy, still you want to be around them. You don't like them, but you want to touch them. Everything about them irritates you, but you want to feel them. Their presence annoys you, but their absences ache.” .... Oscar Monet is a young and famous model/actor. He is insanely good-looking and talented. He has a huge fan following, mainly consisting of girls. He is hardworking, but he is hard to work with. Many people have trouble working with him, but his popularity always forces everyone to make peace with his rudeness. But no one knows what trouble Oscar. No one ever tries to find out what makes him so rude and hurtful. No one knows about Oscar’s troubles. Enters Jasper Seong, presumably a straight man, who cannot stand Oscar, but slowly and surely he learns more about the troubled man and soon line starts to get blurred for him. He never found a man attractive. He never had feelings for a man before. He doesn’t think he still feels for any other man, but Oscar. There is something about him that pulls Jasper towards him.
Luisa Perry lives a boring life. Her life is directed by her parents. After living eighteen years as an obedient child, she wants to break through the cage. She has been suppressing herself for most of her teenage life, but now it was her time to live as she likes. What does she want to do? All the bad things. That's where Aiden Harlow enters. A cold and rebellious college freshman - who also happens to be Luisa's ex-crush. For the brief summer break, he is back in the town, he introduces her to all the bad things and she enjoys them more than she believed she would. What if Luisa catches feelings for him again? Aiden doesn't care for feelings. What if Aiden's best friend enters the picture as well? What if Aiden feels a pull towards the nerdy Luisa? All boundaries must be broken. There is no right or wrong. Luisa jumps into it, thinking about the dreading outcome of being so rebellious all of the sudden - but what if in all the bad, she finds something good? Perhaps love?
Jo lives in her fictitious world until it crashes right in front of her. Her successful private plane pilot boyfriend of two years, Oscar, breaks up with her in the exotic land of the Bahamas. His reason? She is too materialistic. With the reality brutally rebuked at her, a broken heart and stolen luggage, she tries to return to her home but luck wasn't really with her when the storm strikes the island - causing her to stay with her recently ex-boyfriend and a guy she once humiliated and rejected in high school for being too dorky, named Keith, who is now a successful lawyer working for a law firm in Houston. Stuck in an expensive resort owned by Keith, with him, Oscar, and she at the same place is a formula of disaster, or will it be something else?
"What's fucking wrong with the name I gave you? You don't like it, Miss Goody Goody Pipsqueak?" He smirked. "No, I don't and I'd appreciate if you'd stop cursing in front of me," I replied impudently. He moved closer to me - so close that I could feel his breath on my face, "Does it make you uncomfortable?" He mumbled while looking straight into my eyes. "Yes." His lips curled into a slow smirk, "Too fucking bad." ........ Emma Goldberg lives a boring and dull life - there isn't any excitement in her life whatsoever. She works as an assistant at a small firm in Cleveland. Where else, her brother, Adam, knows how to enjoy his life - he's a music photographer and works with his best-friend/emerging-pop star - Cole Fitzgerald. They have a group of seven who mostly travels around together. When Emma accepts to work as Cole's assistant - she meets the most chaotic and recalcitrant people ever. Everyone was pretty good with her except for Roy Clarke, Cole's manager, who thinks that it was unnecessary to hire her. He makes her uncomfortable. He might be the most foul-mouthed, intolerant and discourteous man she ever met. And to make things more difficult for her, he calls her Miss Goody Goody Pipsqueak. They are like Harmony and Discord. Fire and Ice. Living and Dead. In short, they are completely opposite to each other. Where Emma needs a little excitement in her life - The group of seven needs discipline. In short, they need each other. What will happen when Emma and 'Pain in the ass' Roy meet? Will they able to help each other? Or will they make each other's life hell?
Emmett, Austin, Reuben, and Milo. Four inseparable friends. But everything changes one horrendous night. It was supposed to be Emmett's birthday party, but it all turned into a bloody rumpus. Thirteen died that night, many were injured and all that survived were left with tainted memories of the day they were shot at by a guy they all thought was normal, funny and a decent young person. They lost friends and their lives were also affected permanently. That was also the end of a great friendship, Emmett left with his girlfriend for New York shortly after the incident and didn't return until recently - after five long years. Everything changed in the last five years. People changed. Some moved on - many didn't. After returning he comes face to face with his best friend, Austin, and his best friend's sister that was madly in love with Emmett since she was a kid, Leah, but he had never felt anything for her. Leah was one of the injured by the shooting and like many others, her life was completely changed by the horrifying incident that is still fresh on her mind.
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
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!"
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!
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”