"Guy why you dey look me like that?" His voice was steady, but the flicker of confusion and heat in his eyes made my chest tighten. "I'm not," I lied, though my gaze refused to move from the water sliding down his neck, tracing the hard lines of his chest before disappearing beneath the towel. " Huh! Really?" he asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Because you're looking at me like I'm some kind of forbidden fruit." I swallowed hard, cursing the way my breath hitched. He wasn't wrong. Something about him-his presence, his confidence, the way he stood there dripping wet like he didn't have a care in the world-had me unraveling. "You're the one standing half-naked," I shot back, though the words lacked bite. "What do you expect?" He laughed, the sound deep and rich, like the rumble of a storm. "I didn't expect you to be so easy to distract." "Distract? I'm not distracted." My words came out too quick, too defensive. He stepped closer, his damp hair falling across his forehead, and for a moment, the space between us felt electric. "Then wati dey make you dey blush?" I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Because he was right-I was blushing, my pulse racing, my thoughts a mess. And then, just as suddenly as he'd appeared, he was gone, leaving nothing but the memory of his smirk and the ache in my chest that told me this wasn't over. --- Can you survive the pull of gravity when it's not just the black hole that's consuming you-but him? Dive into ETHEREAL BLUE, a tale of cursed ghosts, forbidden connections, and the kind of chemistry that stops time itself.
NOTE- "Welcome to ETHEREAL BLUE, a tale of love and self-discovery set against the rich cultural backdrop of Korea and Nigeria. As you immerse yourself in this story, please note that the dialogue and narrative will blend elements of both Korean and Nigerian accents, dialects, and language patterns.
To fully appreciate the emotional depth and cultural nuances of this story, we invite you to use your imagination and 'hear' the words in your mind's ear. Envision the rhythmic cadence of Korean and Nigerian speech, and allow the emotions and intentions behind the words to shine through.
In this way, we hope you'll experience the beauty of cultural fusion and the universality of love, as our characters navigate the complexities of identity, family, and devotion. Thank you for joining us on this journey!"
PROLOGUE
BUCHI POV
The locker room hummed quietly, the soft sound of water dripping mixing with the steady rhythm of my breath. I leaned back against the cold tiles, feeling the chill seep into my skin after a punishing 5,000-meter run. Sweat beaded on my skin, tracing its path down my chest, sparkling beneath the dim lights. My reflection in the metal lockers caught my eye for a moment-dark skin glowing, muscles tense, shoulders heaving with each breath. I wiped my face with a towel, letting the solitude of the room soak into my bones.
Then I turned.
And froze.
Time seemed to slow, the sound of the dripping water fading into an eerie quiet. A figure stood a few feet away, someone I didn't recognize. His presence was like a shock to my senses-out of place, yet as if he owned the space. He didn't even need to try.
He was tall, posture perfect yet relaxed, his figure dressed in the most unusual outfit I'd ever seen. Layers of silk and intricate embroidery cascaded down his body like something from another time, the rich colors catching the faint glow of the fluorescent lights. His hair, long and neatly tied back, framed his face like a work of art. High cheekbones, sharp jawline, lips too perfect for any man. And his eyes-deep, dark, almost impossible to look away from-seemed to see through me, not just look at me, but into me.
But it wasn't just his face. No, his gaze didn't meet mine at first. His eyes followed the trail of a single drop of sweat that slid down my neck, down my chest, and stopped just above my navel. His expression was hard to place-somewhere between awe and confusion. He didn't move, and the stillness around him felt like the world itself had stopped.
I swallowed, suddenly aware of every inch of my body. My fingers clenched around the towel, but my voice came out steady, even though my chest felt tight with something I couldn't name.
"Abeg... you dey lost or something?" I asked, my tone sharper than I meant. "Wetin be this one? You dey shoot historical drama or something?"
His eyes flicked up, finally locking with mine, and for a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe. There was a sadness in those eyes, something that went deeper than time itself, like a soul worn by years of longing. He didn't say anything. He just stood there, staring at me with an intensity that made my pulse race.
I blinked.
And just like that, he was gone.
Vanished like smoke in the wind. One second, he was there, the next, the air where he stood was empty. As if he never existed.
My heart raced in my chest, the towel slipping from my hands. The silence in the locker room pressed in on me now, thick and heavy. Was I imagining things? Maybe the exhaustion was playing tricks on my mind. But no. I couldn't shake the image of his face, those eyes that seemed to stop time.
Whoever he was-or whatever just happened-something told me this wasn't the last time I'd see him.
MIN SOO POV
I wasn't supposed to be here. Not like this.
The bathroom was humid, filled with the faint echo of dripping water, and the world around me seemed to blur, hazy from the steam. I was struggling, battling the black hole that threatened to drag me into oblivion. My chest heaved, my legs weak as I leaned against the cold tile wall, fighting to remain tethered to this plane.
And then, just as I was about to give up, he appeared.
It wasn't subtle. It wasn't quiet. One moment, I was alone in my torment, and the next, he was there, stepping out from behind the lockers like he belonged here. My entire body froze, my struggle momentarily forgotten.
I'd never seen anyone like him before.
His skin was dark, smooth like polished bronze, glistening under the fluorescent light. Beads of water clung to his chest, tracing the ridges of muscle that rippled with every breath he took. His chest was broad, tapering down to a narrow waist, his six-pack defined and flawless. Fine hairs trailed from the center of his chest down past his navel, disappearing beneath the towel wrapped loosely around his hips.
And the water... My gaze followed a single droplet as it dripped from his damp hair, traveling down his neck, gliding over his collarbone, and sliding down his chest, carving a slow, torturous path toward his belly button.
Why can't I stop looking?
I blinked, forcing myself to tear my eyes away, but it was no use. My gaze was drawn back like a magnet, as though he was pulling me in without even trying. He moved with an effortless confidence, unaware of the effect he had, the way the air seemed to shift around him.
What is this feeling? Why does he look... beautiful?
I shouldn't be thinking this. I shouldn't be staring. And yet, I couldn't stop myself. Something about him was different, magnetic, and for the first time in over a century, I felt alive.
Then he turned, and our eyes met.
His expression shifted, surprise flashing in his dark eyes as he stumbled back slightly, his towel clutched in one hand. "Whoa, dude! Where did you even come from? And what's with the outfit? Is this some kind of joke?"
His voice was low, warm, with a lilt I couldn't place. It sent a shiver down my spine, even as his words snapped me back to reality. I tried to answer, but my throat tightened. My tongue refused to work.
Why can't I speak? Why am I acting like a fool?
He frowned, tilting his head, and I noticed the faint scar just above his left brow, the way his lips parted slightly as if waiting for me to explain myself. "Hello? Are you going to say something, or...?"
Say something. Anything. Stop staring.
But I couldn't.
Instead, I took one last look at him, memorizing every detail-the way the light hit his skin, the beads of water on his chest, the faint hitch in his breath. And then I disappeared.
Vanished into the thin air between us, leaving him standing there alone, towel in hand, confusion etched across his perfect face.
As I materialized somewhere far from him, my chest ached with something I couldn't name.
What just happened? Why did I feel like... I was meant to meet him again?
"Why do you hate me so much?" Amara asked, her voice shaking. "I've never done anything to you." Where power, passion, and painful memories collide, Amara Denz never imagined the same man who made her life a living hell at Lyons College would be her ruthless, charismatic boss. Now CEO of a thriving tech empire, CEO Leo reigns with cool efficiency-but beneath his shining exterior blazes an undeniable, forbidden desire for the very woman he once tormented. Amara Denz is desperate. Desperate to find employment to pay for the mounting bills, desperate to bury the pain of her abused past, and desperate to preserve her shattered pride in a company where every glance from Leo sends unspoken tension her way. Torn between old wounds and an incendiary attraction that she cannot deny or manage, Amara must navigate a landscape of office politics and personal demons. "Work hard, be loyal, and maybe you'll earn my respect," Leo declares with a provocative smile during their first meeting. But as the day unfolds, every accidental brush, every lingering look, transforms the mundane into a battlefield of raw emotion and sensual challenge. Set against the high-stakes halls of Baze, this scorching dual-perspective story of redemption and revenge tracks two individuals whose entwined destinies compel them to confront a past defined by brutality-and a present filled with desire. Can Leo demonstrate that he's reformed, or will the wounds of their past continue to keep them apart? And will Amara's need to transcend her past enable her to gamble everything on a second chance at love?
"Is this your idea of a blind date, Ms. Alejandro? Crashing your boss's table with that fiery temper of yours?" Luciana froze, her cheeks flushed as she stared at the one man she swore to avoid: Finlay Maverick, her enigmatic and infuriating CEO. Single mother Luciana Alejandro's move from Mexico City to Dublin was supposed to be a fresh start-a chance to provide her young son a better life. Struggling to rebuild her life after years of disappointment, she lands a job at Maverick's Corp, thanks to her best friend, Maddison. But life takes a chaotic turn when a blind date gone wrong entangles her in the orbit of the magnetic yet aloof billionaire, Finlay Maverick. Known for his icy demeanor and aversion to commitment, Finlay finds his world turned upside down when Luciana's fiery wit and quiet resilience ignite a passion he can't ignore. But Luciana has secrets-secrets that could shatter the fragile connection growing between them. As Finlay battles his own fears of love and fatherhood, Luciana must confront the betrayals of her past, the meddling schemes of jealous friends, and the resurfacing of the man who abandoned her and her child. When scandal erupts, threatening to destroy everything they've built, will their love be strong enough to weather the storm?
"You're marrying well, Vera. Ivan's family is influential. Don't embarrass us." - Vera's Mother "But Mother, I don't love him. I don't even know him!" - Vera "Love is a luxury we can't afford. Your duty is to secure our family's future." - Vera's Mother But fate had other plans. "Who are you?" Vera whispered, her voice trembling as a stranger's hands explored her body. "I'm the one who'll change your life forever," he replied, his eyes burning with desire. Little did Vera know, that stranger was Ivan, her future husband. Vera is a young, beautiful and talented girl. Raised by her family she grew to be hardworking and loved by everyone around her. Bored with a kind heart, she treat her Olivia with love despite all the hate she receives from her. Seen as a tool to climb the social ladder, her parents decided to arrange a marriage between her and a young master, Ivan, without her wishes. Luck seemed to deviate from her as she loses her virginity to a stranger a night before her in-laws come to get her. Only to discover later, that her husband was the same man who took away her virginity. Will she be accepted by Ivan? Will she succeed in winning over his heart? This novel embraces the struggles, Vera will encounter, the way she handles and goes through each situation with the blooming romance between her and Ivan.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
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."
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!
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
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!