Adeline lives a quiet, detached life, finding comfort in solitude and the small balcony where she sketches the world beyond her reach. Haunted by scars from a childhood marked by her mother's erratic, love-twisted rage, Adeline has learned to suppress emotion, keeping the world-and love-at arm's length. Her apathy is her armor, a way to stay safe in a life that has shown her only pain. That is, until she meets Xavier. Xavier is a man with his own demons, a powerful force whose need for control is matched only by his fascination with Adeline's indifference. For him, she is an enigma, a flame he can't help but reach for, even if it means getting burned. Their worlds collide in a storm of dark, undeniable attraction that neither can resist. As they grow closer, their fractured pasts rise to the surface, testing the limits of their connection and pulling them into a dangerous dance of passion, pain, and redemption. But in this turbulent love, Adeline and Xavier become both hero and villain to each other, forcing them to confront their darkest impulses. In a world where love and trauma blur, they must decide whether they are each other's salvation or ultimate downfall. Will Adeline finally allow herself to feel again, or will Xavier's need for control drive them both over the edge?
Dearest reader... you have been warned!
But like all nosy earthly sapiens, a throbbing desire for untold answers clings unto your chest.
To which graphic illustrations I assure, your mind is unable to contend.
But hey! You poked your little inquisitive nose in it.
For what it's worth you get to journey through my life's long contempt, twisted disdain and the most dreaded part...
The pitiful act of emotions
(Shudder) Mine.
So, grab a soft cushion, maybe a little snack. As we unravel the truths of what might as well become our ending misery...
But keep one thing in mind.
"I set the rules! I decide what 'we conclude' as the truth."
Cause this is gonna be a long ride.
I've never been one to subject myself to the futile movement of this world
My daring charisma telling one speech from every glance.
"I'm on top. Always have been. And always will..."
_Your most wanted knight.
A lot of times I thought about what to pen down. What pieces to put together. Maybe leave behind a few truths, compose a twisted story of make believes but here we are. In my endless circle of harsh realities.
I hope this is as normal as I can be.
You'd think having such an exquisite lifestyle would be enough. It isn't. While watching my life unfold. Taking an uncanny turn. Life's rose petals turning a dark Dalia.
Alright enough with the sob story!
(Whispers) Let's get real...
******
The walk to the airport takes a mile longer than I expect. My neck aching from the long minute queue until I get to the front row. It takes a while to settle in after I board my flight. I take my sit beside a stern looking woman. Tightlipped. Reading through her book like it holds the key to her survival. It takes a whole lot more to get me flipped over so I don't seem to care. Rather pleased to get a rare view from the window.
At least I appreciate her silence.
Inspite of it all, leftover pieces of shattered memories try its best to elude my heart. Wiping the smug smile away from my face while I stare out the transparent glass.
Memories from a few years aback sends a soft chill over my body. My clenched fist hiding my unstable harsh breaths. Brewing disdain mixed with a dash of anxiety spurns within. It had been a while since panic attacks came knocking at my door. It doesn't seem much like a surprise as the past week had been a roller-coaster of emotions. Dreading the day which had come. One which I loathed.
No one could truly explain the thin line between grief and self-loathing better than me; I felt it all. At some point. Unable to open up about my struggles till there was nothing left; A never-ending numbness. There wasn't anyone. Except of course old acquaintances pretending to understand the very root of my frustrations.
"I don't need vague explanations to my current diagnosis. What I need is someone who's broken the root of their core. Someone who can grasp the faintest understanding of how I feel. Who gets me!"
Tell that to my fired therapist.
I suppose it's all kisses and bobos for prince charming and fairytale princesses. How ironic if my childhood had turned out that way. I could remember the first rose I picked out at our little garden. Mother's warm embrace shielding me from the harsh realities of this world. I'd watch her smile brushing her hands against my hair while she speaks ever so warmly. "You're my little flower..."
All good things come to an end ... eventually.
Whatever sparkle of love got drained out the moment she fell apart. A complete stranger staring me in the face as tears trickled down my cheeks.
The pilot's speech draws me back to reality. I inhale deeply, adjusting to the loud muttering of other passengers locating their seats. I fight back the burning sensation in my eyes. Prepping my mind for the journey ahead.
*****
Crazy how the world spins in anti-rotating bars around me. Like my cosmos fighting against each other, blocking every hope of relief; Peace.
The drive to "The Reynolds mansion" was one I had abstained from for what seemed like forever. I walked in, fighting the strangely odd feeling like I was never meant to be here. Elegantly hung decorations surrounding the room as I stare around. faintly recalling some old faces from mother's funeral years back. Quiet mumbling echoes around the room as guests stood in clusters, gloomy expressions on one hand, champagne glass on the other.
Not for nothing did they call it; "A solemn remembrance".
The odd sense of feigned grievances nauseated me while I scanned the room. Stopping to assess my rather agile looking father. A rather blissful looking smile smudged all over his face. Exchanging mumbled words with a man beside him.
"He probably couldn't recall even the faintest memory of her" I muttered.
The ceremony goes on for a while longer before guests began to take their leave. I stood by the hallway, watching as our spacious living room gradually emptied out. A heaved sigh of relief escapes my chest while I compose myself. Ahead of the little family bickering at the dinner table tonight.
Mom's room had always been a stone throw from mine. I walk into my old room, amused at how swiftly eight years unravels in a nick of time. Hyper realistic memories of her knocking at my door flashes before me. Her fondest memories while she put me to sleep as a child mixed with the dreadful days of fright and loneliness crawled up beneath my sheets as I grew older.
A sudden knock on the door jilts me from my trance.
"We're having dinner now..." I turn at the sound of a faint voice as if reaching out me. My stunning face void of expressions while I watched my father walk in.
We stood a few feet apart from each other. No one making an effort to clear the strangling air amidst us. The piercing silence engulfing the room curled up my nerves. Upset that he had no words but somewhat a sign of guilt in his eyes. I would even dare say.
Responsible.
Yet, I brushed all of my concerns. Clearing my throat to ease the tension. "It's been a while... Dad." After what seemed like long minutes, he reached out to move closer but was soon interrupted by the maid's beckon for dinnertime.
We ate in subtle calmness to petty conversations flowing across the dining room while I appeared laid back. Completely detached from my present environment. A few exchanged glances from extended families to which I reciprocated a befitting scorn. I take a fast peek at the wall clock, lost in its rhythmic movement of its hands. hoping it swings fast enough so I can catch the next flight back to my cozy apartment.
But I knew one thing.
I hated it here.
The way in which the breeze calms my once weakened heart. The muffled laughter surrounding the room like we were one happy family. Nervous smiles tainting the sweet glare of perfection we all struggled to keep.
I hated how memories never seemed forgotten here. Like a thorn waiting to strike. At least for me. "A few more hours..." I mumbled within myself. Emptying my champagne glass in one gulp.
8:45am
I wake up to a dreadful headache. Struggling to get out bed. Then I remember it's a new day break. It takes less than a second to jump out of bed, arrange and get prepared to leave. "It'll take the whole universe to get me staying another second in this hell walls."
My insides had begun to churn at the aftermath of escaping fumes of memory lane. A deep breath and I grab my keys on the shelf, my luggage on the other and shut the door.
My brisk walk to the living room takes a halt as I am met with glaring faces of my loving family. Telling all sort of sappy emotions but I could read between the deceptiveness unmasked within. (I honestly would have played a better role of feigned surprises).
"I have a flight to catch in 2 hours". My voice sounding rather abruptly follows behind as I head towards the door.
"You should have breakfast..." a rather high-pitched voice mutters to which earned no response. Sweet aunt Catherine trying to act all caring. Desperate for points from father. I couldn't care less. It aint easy being the star of the show. I continue my walk. Shutting the door behind me.
The flight back to Massachusetts was a rather peaceful one. A soothing balm to my pent scorched soul. I spent the entire journey reminiscing within myself. Scattered thoughts fixating on my unstable subconscious. Unable to hold weight in my translucent mind.
Walking into my apartment held a different feeling. An anticipated but dim sense of relaxation. Not strange yet unexpected. Rollercoasters of the past few days must have had an impact in spite of my deliberate efforts to appear unfazed.
*****
Sixteen-year-old Anna's life is a storm of turmoil. Beneath her outward beauty lies a world shattered by major depression, drug addiction, and family neglect. Haunted by traumas she can't escape-including abuse she's too afraid to speak of-she struggles each day just to survive. Desperate to numb the pain, she spirals deeper into self-destructive choices that push her further into darkness. But in the bleakest moments, a flicker of light appears in the form of unexpected romance. The boy she meets is gentle and kind, an anchor in her chaotic world who sees her scars and accepts her without judgment. Their bond brings Anna moments of relief, a sense of belonging she's longed for. Yet as her past continues to drag her down, even love's warmth may not be enough to lift her out. Determined to find peace, Anna begins a painful journey toward self-forgiveness, courageously facing her traumas and the memories she's kept buried. As she teeters on the edge of giving up, the question remains: will Anna overcome the darkness within, or will her past consume her once and for all? MY MESSED UP TEEN a is a raw, unflinching story of survival, resilience, and the power of love.
She is the heir to Hades' throne, forged in unholy fire and bound to the underworld. For 365 days, she walks the earth, half-demon and half-human, caught in a tempest of forbidden love and dark destiny. Torn between two lovers-a fragile mortal who stirs her hidden heart and a powerful demon who promises her the throne-she must confront her deepest desires and darkest impulses. As her time on earth dwindles, the battle within her intensifies: will she forsake love to claim her crown, or surrender to a passion that could strip her of her birthright? In the end, the question remains: can a heart divided ever truly find peace?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
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!"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
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.