Celestine Hazel's perfect life is shattered when she uncovers a hidden world of crime, betrayal, and dark family secrets. As her father's sinister connections to a criminal syndicate come to light, Celestine is thrust into a battle for her future and her family's legacy. With the help of Ronald, her boyfriend, and Caroline, her estranged aunt, Celestine must uncover the truth behind her mother's death and decide whether to protect her family's name or break free from the shadows that have held them captive for generations. Will she survive the truth, or will it destroy everything she's known?
Celestine Hazel had always found comfort in the predictability of her life. The warm, golden afternoons spent in the garden of their grand family estate, her father's reassuring presence at the dinner table, the way Ronald Brown's laugh made her feel like the world was perfectly aligned. Everything was right. Or at least, that's what she though
That night, though, something had felt off. She couldn't explain it. She was driving home from her routine dinner date with Ronald-he was always so attentive, so careful with her, like he knew how fragile the world she lived in could be. The sky had been a brilliant shade of indigo, the air still and cool, a perfect evening for a drive.
But as the headlights of her car sliced through the mist rising along the road that led to their neighborhood, Celestine noticed a black SUV trailing her too closely. It didn't feel like coincidence. She pressed the accelerator, her heart picking up its pace. The car behind her matched her speed exactly, its shadowy figure a constant presence in the rearview mirror.
Her breath quickened. Who would be following her at this hour? She gripped the wheel, trying to steady her nerves. She knew this road well. The towering trees on either side blurred as she pushed faster, but the SUV didn't waver. It stuck to her, closer now than ever
And then, the worst part: the eerie feeling that whoever was driving that car knew exactly who she was. She could feel it. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as if willing the world to stop, to give her an answer, to make the night less menacing.
Before she had time to react, the SUV swerved and pulled alongside her, cutting her off. Celestine's breath caught in her throat as the window on the passenger side rolled down, revealing a man she recognized-John, the neighbor who always seemed a little too familiar with her family.
"Get in the car, Celestine," he said, his voice low, urgent.
Her pulse hammered in her chest. "What the hell are you doing? Leave me alone!"
But John didn't retreat. He leaned forward, eyes narrowing in a way that made her stomach twist with unease.
It happened too quickly. Another figure appeared from the shadows-Ronald. His hand was steady, holding a gun, its barrel gleaming in the dim light. Before Celestine could process what was happening, the loud crack of gunfire shattered the silence of the night. John staggered back, falling to the ground, clutching his side.
Get in the car, Celestine. We need to go." Ronald's voice was calm, but there was something about the way his eyes flickered-like he was as shaken as she was.
"Ronald!" Celestine gasped, unable to grasp what was happening. "What... what is this? What is going on?"
Ronald glanced at her, his face pale, strained. "I didn't want this, Celestine. I never wanted you to find out, but it's too late now. Too much has already happened." He motioned for her to get in, and despite every instinct screaming to run, she followed him.
The car sped off, the haunting image of John on the ground still burned into her mind.
On a rain-soaked night in Chicago, newlyweds Beatrice Cooper and Albert Sean are thrown into chaos when an unexpected car accident and a mysterious envelope force Beatrice to confront a dark legacy-the suspicious death of Sean's first wife, Vanessa. As Beatrice delves into a dangerous investigation with a grizzled private detective, every step unearths startling secrets about Sean's past and the corruption lurking beneath his polished world. In a race against time, love battles betrayal, and each revelation brings them closer to a deadly confrontation that will test the very core of their relationship.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
I'm a Luna. After three years of marriage to Alpha Nathaniel Blackwood, I'm finally pregnant with his pup. But he's unclaimed me for his first love. I'm leaving the pack with this secret, praying he never finds out. Nathaniel Blackwood is a handsome, powerful Alpha. In a world where humans and werewolves coexist, he has it all: a billion-dollar empire, untold power, a massive pack, and, most importantly, the perfect Luna. But the return of his first love shattered our marriage. When he finds out the secret I've been hiding, will he regret rejecting me? Will I ever be able to forgive him? Dive into this gripping serialized novel to find out more-Enjoy the ride!
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.