When Linda develops a crush on her best friend's dad, she knows it's a hopeless fantasy. But her world shatters when she catches him kissing her sister. Desperate to escape the pain, she enrolls at Brookstones University, determined to leave behind everyone who betrayed her. Yet, fate has other plans-her heartbreaker is now a professor in her department. Will Linda suppress her forbidden desires, or will she risk it all for a chance at the love she's always wanted? Dive into this captivating story to find out!
I always knew my sister disliked me, but it wasn't until my eighteenth birthday that I realized just how deep her bitterness truly went.
Dad, our only living parent, lavished me with gifts. Across the room, my sister brooded in the shadows, sulking like a spoiled brat.
But nothing could spoil my happiness. Especially when Dad confirmed his friend and the man of my dreams, Damien, would be attending my birthday.
"Dad, you're spoiling Linda too much,"Erica whined, her face scrunched up like she'd just bitten into a rotten lemon. "You didn't celebrate my eighteenth like this. You weren't even in town!"
I tuned her out immediately, because I've heard this jealous statement countless times. I picked up the short, black gown I'd been saving for tonight-the one that hugged every curve like a second skin and left just enough to the imagination. I glanced at my reflection, admiring the way it revealed the entire length of my back.
My phone buzzed. It was Damien's daughter, my best friend, confirming they were almost here.
Perfect.
My birthday was a cruel reminder of my mother's death as she'd died giving birth to me, and the anniversary always made this day hard. But for the first time, I was happy because Damien would be here.
Damien was many things to me: my dad's closest friend, my best friend's ridiculously attractive father, and my crush of the past two years.
From the day he and his daughter moved to town, he'd been the center of my attention-and pretty much everyone else's too. It was like he walked in with a spotlight attached, turning heads left and right.
Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, with that mysterious vibe. Every girl with a pulse practically drooled over him. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to notice me. No stolen glances, no casual smiles in my direction-nothing.
I was just another face in a crowd, and that stung more than I'd care to admit. The competition was fierce, and I was stuck on the sidelines. A classic case of one-sided love, and let me tell you, it sucked.
I'd picture him looking at me, actually seeing me, not just as his friend's daughter but as a woman who loved him. In my mind, he'd flash that roguish smile, call me by name in that deep voice, maybe even brush my hair behind my ear like they do in the movies. But nope-real life wasn't that generous.
No one knew about my feelings for Damien except my sister Erica, who had stubbornly read my journal. She threatened to report to Dad and I had to tone my obsession for Damien down.
"He's twenty years older than you, stupid. How are you not seeing that?"
Erica had no idea what it was like to be in love with someone you couldn't control your feelings for.
"All I want is for him to notice me as a woman, not a little girl."
"Are you out of your mind?" Erica bristled. "You're going to embarrass yourself, and when it blows up in your face, I'll be right there to tell you 'I told you so.' Mimi is your best friend. Do you honestly think she'll be okay with you dating her dad? If the roles were reversed, would you want her hooking up with our dad?"
I ignored Erica. She'd been riding the "I'm the older, wiser sister" wave for so long. But I was eighteen now, technically a full adult. What was so wrong with telling Damien how I felt? It wasn't like I was breaking some law by having a crush-especially one as serious as this.
And if he didn't like me back and ended up rejecting me, I'd live.
Sure, it might sting, but I could move on.
The party was in full swing, with music blaring and people dancing. My dad, ever the eccentric, was dancing around with my classmates, his long, scraggly hair flopping around his face like an old rock star.
Despite the fun atmosphere, I couldn't relax. I scanned the room, searching for Damien. He hadn't arrived yet, and without him, the whole party felt pointless.
The night dragged on. I kept my eyes glued to the driveway, waiting for that familiar black Range Rover to pull in.
After what felt like forever, Damien arrived. His daughter rushed ahead of him, excitedly holding a bag of gifts. She was saying something, but I barely heard her. All I could see was Damien, stepping out of his car with that same calm, commanding presence that made my heart race.
His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing just enough of his muscular chest to make my head spin. He was like something out of a dream.
He caught my gaze and gave me a brief nod, his face as unreadable as ever.
"Happy birthday, Linda," he said, handing me a neatly wrapped gift. "I'm not great at picking out presents, but I hope this is something you'll like."
Our fingers brushed as I took the gift, and the contact sent a jolt through my body. I quickly opened it to find a beautifully illustrated encyclopedia about forests. I smiled, remembering how he used to humor me when I'd pester him with questions about his environmental research.
"Thank you," I whispered, trying not to let my voice shake. He gave me a small smile but quickly looked away when I adjusted my top.
Before I could say anything else, Mimi dragged me inside, completely oblivious to the moment I'd just shared with her dad.
"So, tonight's the night you finally get laid?" she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I mean, seriously, how are you still single with that hot body? Are the boys blind or what?"
I shrugged, glancing over at her dad as he made his way toward the art studio.
"I don't need a boy. I'm waiting for the right man," I said proudly, letting the words roll off my tongue like a mantra.
Because, seriously, who had time for the immature, clueless boys running around with no ambition beyond their next video game session? Boys were fine for passing time, but I wasn't here to play games.
No, I was holding out for someone like Damien, a man who walked into a room and made every head turn. Someone who knew who he was, who didn't need to prove anything.
Mimi wrinkled her nose. "You sound like you're straight out of one of those weird romance novels you're always reading."
I laughed it off, but my mind was elsewhere. All I could think about was finding Damien alone. My heart pounded with anticipation.
I slipped away when Mimi got distracted, searching the house for Damien. I found him in the studio, but my blood turned cold when I saw him. He wasn't alone.
Erica's hands were on his neck, and she was kissing his neck!
My heart dropped into my stomach.
"Erica!" I blurted out, my voice trembling with shock.
Both of them froze, turning to look at me. Erica's face went blank, but Damien's eyes were filled with guilt.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief.
"Linda," Erica said, stepping toward me. "It's not what you think-"
I didn't wait for her to finish. I bolted upstairs, tears blurring my vision. I slammed my bedroom door shut and collapsed onto the floor, my heart shattering into pieces.
With shaking hands, I logged onto the college admissions website and accepted my spot at Brookstones University, far away from everything and everyone I'd ever known.
I needed to get out of here. Away from Erica. Away from Damien. Away from the broken pieces of my heart.
"You can't deny it. Every time I touch you, I see the desire in your eyes. He stole you from me, and I'm taking you back," Alex's voice rumbled low, fingers grazing my skin like he owned every inch of me.Alexis's life spirals into a dangerous game of love, power, and betrayal when she uncovers that her husband's estranged twin brother is not only her mate but holds even deeper secrets; everything she thought she knew crumbles.With this forbidden temptation threatening to rip apart the Campbell legacy and the son she fought to protect, Alexis must choose love or remain in a loveless marriage.
At twenty-one, Iris is a mateless virgin-a dangerous taboo in her world. Desperate to escape humiliation, she flees and enters a fierce competition for the hand of Adonis, the Lycan King who the loss of his first wife had shattered. But Iris doesn't know that her father is responsible for Adonis' tragedy and that behind the Adonis charm lurks a man consumed by a dark, smoldering fire-one that could either spark a burning passion or burn her to ashes. Will this contest be her salvation or her downfall? "What we share isn't love," his voice purred against my ear, "It's madness-an addiction that will ruin us both. In life or death, you're forever mine."
After a devastating valentine's breakup, Miracle never expected to find herself caught in a web of deceit and desire. A mysterious stranger approached her with an offer she couldn't refuse. Three million dollars to be a fake girlfriend to his wealthy client, with one catch: falling in love with him disqualifies her from the deal. Skeptical at first, Miracle agrees to the arrangement, but she quickly realizes that it's not as simple as she thought. Especially when her client turns out to be the infamous Leonel Hamilton, a billionaire with a reputation for breaking hearts without mercy. As Miracle navigates the complexities of their fake relationship, she finds herself torn between her desire for money and her growing feelings for Leonel. But when some truths are revealed, she must decide if the contract is worth the risk or if the lure of money is too strong to resist. Read on to discover the rollercoaster of romance and deceit.
"You are my curse, my obsession, my addiction. How can I love you when you are so filthy, so wrong?" Kira lives in a world where omegas are despised and shunned by everyone. An Alpha's bond with an omega is instant rejection or worse still, death But fate has a cruel twist for Kira. She discovers that her mate is none other than Alpha D'Angelo, the most feared and ruthless alpha in the land. She knows he will either reject her or kill her without mercy. What she doesn't know is that he has other plans. Plans that would either make her wish she were dead, or maybe, a spark in the alpha's heart that would either save or consume her.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
When they met again, Jason cast aside his paranoia and pride, warmly embracing Chelsey. "Please, come back to me?" For three years, she had been his secretary by day and his companion by night. Chelsey had always complied with his requests, like an obedient pet. However, when Jason declared his plans to marry another, she chose to stop loving him and to let go. But life took unexpected turns. His unyielding pursuit, her pregnancy, and her mother's greed gradually pushed her to the brink. Eventually, she endured tremendous suffering. Five years later, when she returned, she was no longer the woman she once was. Yet he had spiraled into five years of chaos.
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?