Abigail Winter has always lived a shy, secluded life, until she meets and falls in love with bad boy Lucas Westmore. While hanging out with her best friend, Emily Collins on her twenty-sixth birthday, Abigail is directed to Lucas' path and she soon finds out that there is more to him than there is on the surface. Events quickly roll into one another and they find out that they are connected to each other in various, unexpected ways. As events unfold, Abigail is left with a very hard choice to make, a choice that could possibly change her life forever. But, will it be in a good way or a bad way?
"Come on Abby! Just do this for me! It's my birthday are you really going to be such a killjoy on my day?" Emily pouts, showing her googly eyes in front of me. "Pretty please?"
"You're already drunk, Emily. God, why are you so weak in alcohol?"
We're currently inside a famous bar in the city. Since she pleaded to take me with her to celebrate her birthday, how could I say no?
I let out a sigh in disbelief.
It's only been a few drinks yet I still can't seem to believe how my best friend always gets drunk so fast. It's not that I didn't want to do her dare, but my best friend of 20 years is basically trying to dare me to seduce an impossible man at the bar table right in front of us. Multiple women already tried to flirt with the dude but all of them ended up getting humiliated and ended up running for their lives in tears. We didn't know the guy but he looked powerful enough to send a few ladies out of the bar with just a raise of a hand.
I sighed, why am I still surprised at this point? Emily Zhang never fails to create a memory whenever she gets drunk, and if you don't go with her wishes, she turns crazy and we somehow end up in the police station. Yes, it's true. It has happened, not once, not twice! But plenty of times already that I'm not even scared to hang around the police station anymore. Most of the time I'd play along with her, but if the dare was too hard, I end up faking the deed to calm her down.
I glanced at the guy facing away from us.
He had a sad back for some reason and it was easy to tell that he was going through something by the way he was chugging the alcohol like water.
That my friend... is a Red Flag.
"Right!" She jolts up, "Didn't you say that you wanted a child on your own at this age? I remember you said that when we were in high school! We're already 26 years old Abby, might as well get the good genes of a stranger that you always fantasized about! I mean look at the guy!"
Ha... here she goes again.
"You don't even see his face, his back is literally facing us, Emily."
"Whatever! He has a sexy back and I'm here for all of it! Sexy back means handsome guy! I bet a hundred dollars that he's hotter than any celebrity that you've seen in your life!"
"You said that with every guy you try to hook me up with."
"And you always say no whenever I hook you up with a hot guy! It's my birthday. Come on, the last thing I'd want is my best friend turning into a 30-years-old virgin." She embraces me, playfully shaking my body while pleading. "Think about it, you get the baby with good genes and also get to experience great sex on your first night! How great is that!"
"I don't know..."
"Come on Abby! This is the last time I'd ask this for you!"
She was wriggling my body a bit too much that I had to stop her at some point. I raised my hand in surrender to her persistence and stood hastily from our table. I wasn't going to win against her whims anyway, so might as well just let her have her fun on her birthday... right?
Can I really trust a drunk person? Well, it's not like I was being forced to do this, when in the first place, Emily just knew how I wanted to be a single mother even before senior year. I vividly remember how she laughed at me when I said that. Who'd believe a woman to say so anyway?
In my case, I don't really believe in marriage or the love that everyone speaks about. For me, love is filled with lies and unhealthy devotion. One way or another, it's always going to be more painful than it was ever so blissful. Thinking back, I learned those things the hard way. I had to watch my mother believe in the lies of my cheating father with her whole heart.
She was simply blinded. That's why I'm not.
going to be married in this life, nor I'm going to be like my mother. In the end, seducing a guy isn't much of a big deal. After all, it's not serious and it's just a one-night stand to get what I want in life.
"Fine!" I sighed in frustration. "But if he's not as hot as I think, I step out, okay?"
"Deal!" She shouts, raising her glass in the air in excitement. "Don't worry bitch, I've always been good at distinguishing handsome men even in a baseball stadium! I'm sure you'll like this one!"
As I walked toward the bartender's table, my heart started to pace faster. There's this weird air of cold-heartedness around the guy that it makes it hard for anyone to approach him after all the scenes he just made earlier. At that moment, no one else but me was on the way to approach him. The women dispersed on time that I had the space to sit beside him.
Yet I don't plan to do that since I don't want to get my ass dragged out of the nightclub so I had to be careful. I slowly made my way to a nearby seat close to him, with a chair between us, I ordered a martini and waited. It was then I had a sudden realization as I sat there dumbfounded.
Oh no, being single all my life... how could I forget that I suck at flirting?
I cursed under my breath. How do I even dare forget? The reason I also keep rejecting the blind dates my best friend sets me up with was that I suck at pretending to be nice! I was praying that he would not be my type and I could just run back to my best friend. However, for some shitty reason, my jaw almost dropped when I saw how he looked.
He had blue eyes, a perfectly chiseled
nose from my view, even his jawline looked like it came right out of a magazine. I blatantly stared at him in disbelief as he continued to drown himself in alcohol. I simply couldn't believe that my drunk best friend's prediction would come true. But... this is beyond my expectation! This guy's out of my league! Maybe he's a celebrity or model? But wouldn't he be famous if he was?
Without knowing, I didn't know I was already blurting out some nonsense that I thought was all in my head.
"How could a guy like you exist? God, you're perfect!"
In the quiet town of Silver Peak, Luna Blackwood, a werewolf is hoping to abandon her life and start a new one altogether but her past quickly catches up to her when a string of murders happen in the town just a few days after her arrival. A local detective named Alex Carter quickly jumps on the case and his path eventually crosses with Luna's own. Two of them are immediately attracted to each other but they have to confront their pasts if they want to have a future together. And for that to happen, Luna has to embrace a side of her that she has been trying to run from while going against an enemy far more ruthless than anything she has ever faced.........
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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.
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."
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
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.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"