Sophie meets Ethan on her first day of college, and despite his aloofness, sparks fly between them. Sophie stumbles upon a series of strange occurrences and whispers about an old university secret-rumors about a hidden treasure linked to the founding of the school. When she finds a mysterious old letter tucked into a library book, she begins to investigate, inadvertently pulling Ethan into the mystery.
Sophie Matthews stood in front of the grand iron gates of Eastwick University, her heart pounding in her chest. It was her first day, and the sheer size of the sprawling campus made her feel like a small fish in an ocean. She adjusted her oversized glasses, hoping they hid the nervous excitement on her face, and grabbed her suitcase handle tighter as if to ground herself.
"Okay, Sophie. You've got this," she whispered to herself, trying to muster some confidence.
Her parents had dropped her off hours ago, leaving her to navigate the maze of buildings alone. The campus, with its towering ivy-covered walls and vintage stone pathways, was nothing like her hometown's small community college. Here, at Eastwick, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Students hustled across the campus with purpose, their faces radiating confidence.
Sophie wasn't sure if she was ready for the new life she was stepping into, but she had little choice. She had dreamed of attending this prestigious university for years, ever since she picked up her first book about the history of Eastwick. A history steeped in old legends, some of which seemed more like gossip than fact.
As she walked toward her dorm, a voice suddenly called out from behind her.
"Hey! You new here?"
Sophie spun around to find a girl with a wide grin and wild, curly hair standing a few feet away. She had a friendly, almost too-eager expression on her face, and Sophie immediately felt a wave of relief-someone who looked as approachable as her high school friends.
"Uh, yeah. First day," Sophie answered, offering a tentative smile. "I'm Sophie."
"I'm Grace," the girl said, with a cheerful wink. "I'm your new roommate!"
Sophie blinked, taken aback. She hadn't expected to meet her roommate so quickly-let alone someone as bubbly and energetic as Grace.
"You're, uh, Grace Thompson?" Sophie asked, suddenly nervous. "I thought you were a senior."
Grace laughed. "I get that a lot. But no, I'm actually a freshman. Just happened to end up in a room with the old souls like you."
Sophie couldn't help but smile at the teasing. Grace immediately put her at ease as they walked together toward their dorm, chatting about trivial things-life at Eastwick, how strange the campus was, and how excited Grace was to show Sophie the "cool places" around campus.
But as they walked past one of the older buildings on campus, a figure in the distance caught Sophie's eye. He was leaning against a pillar near a small courtyard, his head slightly tilted toward the ground, looking deep in thought. Sophie couldn't explain it, but there was something magnetic about him. His posture was effortlessly cool, and his messy brown hair seemed deliberately disheveled.
Grace followed her gaze. "Oh, him," she said with a half-smile. "That's Ethan Carter. He's a sophomore-been here forever it feels like. Don't get too close though. He's... well, mysterious."
Sophie wasn't sure why, but the idea of Ethan's mysteriousness intrigued her even more. She felt an inexplicable urge to learn more, but before she could voice her thoughts, Grace dragged her back to the present.
"Anyway," Grace continued, "this is going to be amazing. Eastwick is full of adventures, you just have to know where to look."
They arrived at their dorm, and Grace flung the door open, revealing their new home for the next year. Sophie was hit by the familiar smell of fresh paint, mixed with the faint scent of old books from the library next door.
Inside, Grace had already settled in. Her side of the room was decorated with posters, fairy lights, and a heap of clothes on the floor. Sophie's side, however, was neat-she hadn't unpacked much yet, but everything was in place.
"I'll help you get comfortable," Grace said, dropping her bag on the floor. "But first, let's go grab some dinner. I heard the cafeteria is serving something interesting today."
Sophie agreed, even though she wasn't quite ready to dive into the social aspect of college life. But she wasn't about to say no to Grace, who seemed determined to make her feel at home.
Later that evening, after dinner and some awkward introductions to Grace's friends, Sophie found herself back in the dorm room, sitting cross-legged on her bed, flipping through a book about Eastwick's rich history. The ancient traditions, the secret societies, and the rumors about the university's mysterious origins-all of it was fascinating. Sophie had always been a lover of mystery and intrigue, and Eastwick's history seemed to be filled with both.
Her mind wandered to the conversation Grace had briefly mentioned earlier, about Ethan Carter and his aloof persona. Sophie wasn't sure what to think about him, but the image of him leaning against the courtyard pillar stuck with her. There was something... off about him. But in an interesting way. A way that made Sophie want to know more.
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.
"Come in!" Sophie called, expecting it to be Grace.
But when the door creaked open, it wasn't Grace who stepped in-it was Ethan.
Sophie's heart skipped a beat. What was he doing here?
"I hope I'm not disturbing anything," Ethan said casually, his voice carrying that cool, confident tone. "I was looking for Grace, but I think she's out with some friends. So I thought I'd stop by."
Sophie sat frozen on her bed, unsure of how to respond. Ethan's eyes scanned the room, landing on her with a quiet intensity. He seemed unbothered by her silence.
"I'll leave if you're busy," he added, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
Sophie's mind raced. What should she say? She didn't want to come off as rude but couldn't exactly muster the courage to start a conversation either.
"No, it's fine," Sophie replied, her voice wavering slightly. "Grace isn't here, but I don't mind... you staying."
Ethan nodded, his eyes briefly meeting hers before glancing toward the desk. "You into Eastwick's history?"
Sophie blinked. "Yeah, actually. I've been reading about it."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Not many people are. Most just care about the parties."
Sophie chuckled, "I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to these things."
Ethan smiled, and Sophie's heart raced. For the briefest moment, she felt like she could see past the mysterious façade, a glimpse of something more. But before she could figure it out, Ethan's expression shifted, his eyes becoming distant.
"Be careful, Sophie," he said, his voice suddenly serious. "Some things about this place... should stay hidden."
Sophie stared at him, confused. What was he talking about? Was there something more to Eastwick's history than she realized?
Ethan turned and walked toward the door without another word, leaving Sophie to wonder if she had just witnessed a warning-or a riddle.
The first day of college had barely begun, but already, Sophie felt like she had stumbled upon something much bigger than she had ever imagined. A new life at Eastwick had just begun... and so had the mysteries waiting to unfold.
Elena Carter's world is turned upside down when she elopes with her boyfriend, Aaron, only to be kidnapped by the dangerous crime lord, Ezra Lockwood. Held captive in his mansion, Elena uncovers a dark web of lies, betrayal, and murder, leading her to question everything she thought she knew. As secrets unravel and lives are shattered, Elena's path to vengeance intertwines with a forbidden romance, and she must navigate a web of manipulation, deceit, and heartache to uncover the truth and seek justice.
Alana and Dan were in a relationship with each other for 5 years while Chris and Jannie were together. Alana And Dan decided to get married but on wedding day Dan backed off due to which Chris took his place.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
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!"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
After five years of marriage, my husband is always absent on my birthday. No gifts, no blessings. He said, "I've given you the money, buy whatever you want." But he started preparing for Fiona's birthday half a month in advance. He said, "She's different, she only has me." As the sole survivor of a unexpected fire, he has been heartbroken for over a decade. Watching Fiona in Moments holding a cake and kissing his face. I slowly commented. 【Just this useless person, I'm giving him to you.】
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
"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!