The Secret Lives of Crystal & Jude In a world where everyone has a secret identity, Crystal never thought hers would matter. Growing up in wealth did nothing to shield her from the toxicity of a loveless home, and she long stopped believing in fairy tales. Love? It was a fantasy she had no interest in-until she met Jude. From the moment their eyes met, something shifted. He was different. Mysterious, guarded, yet undeniably captivating. What Crystal didn't know was that Jude carried a secret darker than any she could imagine. A detective by trade, but a runaway from the very underworld he now hunts. The mafia is in his blood, but his heart? That was never meant to belong to anyone-until her. Jude swore never to love, never to betray the vow he made to himself. But Crystal changed everything. Now, their worlds are colliding, their truths threatening to unravel. Can love survive when built on hidden pasts and dangerous lies? Stay tuned as the story of Crystal and Jude unfolds-where love, betrayal, and secrets intertwine in a game neither expected to play.
Crystal POV
I woke up feeling weak and rushed to the bathroom to silence the alarm. An hour later, I came out, got dressed, and went downstairs. My parents were having breakfast, and I joined them.
My father asked, "When are you going to leave the restaurant and join me at the clubhouse?" I stopped eating and replied, "The day you stop cheating on mom."
My mother dropped her phone and looked at him with tears in her eyes. My father yelled, "How dare you talk to me like that?" My mother slapped him.
I ate in silence, watching my father try to explain himself to my mother. This was the first time he wanted me to join him at the clubhouse, but I preferred working at the restaurant.
My mother yelled, "You promised to stop cheating!" My father claimed, "I've stopped, I don't know what she's talking about."
I got up, took my car keys, and said, "He's lying, mom. He had a threesome yesterday." My mother started yelling again.
I left the house, knowing my words were true. I had been keeping an eye on my father's activities.
The previous night
My father didn't come home, and my mother grew tired of waiting. I was fed up with her whining, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I tracked his location and discovered he wasn't at work.
I put on a black outfit, mask, and snuck out of the house on my motorcycle. I headed to his location, careful to avoid detection. I entered through the window, ensuring the cameras wouldn't capture my presence.
I easily found his room, thanks to his enabled phone location. The door was unlocked, and I quietly turned the knob. What I saw made my blood boil: my father in bed with two women, having sex. Their annoying moans filled the air.
I spat in disgust and walked out, this time using the door. I didn't want to cause a scene, but I caught the security team's attention. I ran out before they could catch me.
present
I let out a sigh and drove to school, parking my car and heading to class. I quickly finished the test and submitted it. As I approached my car, a group of bullies blocked my path - three boys and a girl.
The girl sneered, "Want to cry? Want some breast?" holding hers out, and they all laughed. I smiled innocently, chewing a piece of gum. "That's a funny joke, but my breasts are bigger than yours. Want to suck?" I asked, pointing to my chest.
The boys struggled to stifle their laughter, while the girl's face turned red with anger. As a loner, I was used to being cornered almost daily.
I tried to walk past them, but the girl pushed me back, and I fell to the floor. She laughed, but I stood up and walked towards her. She didn't expect the punch that broke her mouth.
I stepped back, "Try me again, and you'll get more." She yelled, attracting attention, and the three boys charged at me. Luckily, my dagger was with me. I unsheathed it discreetly and stabbed one boy in the shoulder. The others stepped back, seeing the blood.
The girl ran off, and the boys followed. I calmly cleaned my dagger. The crowd watched me with wide eyes, staring as if I had two heads. I simply smiled and entered my car.
I drove out of the school and headed to the restaurant. I arrived early, so I walked in and changed into my uniform.
"Good morning, Mrs. Elle," I said to my boss.
"Welcome, Crystal. You're quite early today," she replied.
smiled, taking the tray from her hand, and began serving customers. Although smiling didn't come naturally to me, I'd mastered the art of faking one while working.
I'd developed a reputation for handling harassment from male customers. Those who crossed the line would often find themselves on the receiving end of a warning visit from me. Married men, in particular, would get a taste of their own medicine – a beating they wouldn't soon forget.
The day flew by smoothly, and before I knew it, my shift was over. I changed out of my uniform and drove home.
I entered the house, hoping to sneak into my room unnoticed. But after taking a bath and lying down, I was jolted awake by a knock on the door. I groaned, burying my face in the pillow.
"Come on, smile and put this on. We're going out," my mother chimed, holding out a box. I reluctantly opened the door, taking in my parents' matching outfits. They looked like a happy couple, but I knew better.
"Thanks, I'll pass," I said, trying to close the door. But my mother's foot blocked my way, and she pushed the door open, pulling my father in.
I tried signaling my father to leave, but he was too afraid to disobey my mother. I opened the box, revealing a red glittery dress with a daring thigh-high split and a pair of black heels.
"I already have all these things," I groaned.
"You need more," my mother said with a smile. I scoffed.
Inside the box, I found a matching panty and bra set. I held them up, inspecting them, and my father's face turned bright red with embarrassment. I changed in my dressing room, and my father helped me brush and style my hair.
"That's enough, you're making me jealous," my mother said, her voice laced with a hint of jealousy.
To annoy her further, I pecked my father on the cheek, and he smiled. My mother frowned.
"Hey, I'm here," she said.
"Too old, I'll pass," I replied, walking past her.
I grabbed a red purse and found it filled with jewelry. I put on a few pieces and added some light makeup. The dress's exposed back and long sleeves made me look elegant. I walked downstairs, leaving my parents behind.
I got into the car, settling into the backseat as I waited for my parents to join me. Soon, they slid in beside me, my mother immediately snuggling up close to my father. As we set off, she started peppering his face with kisses, her hands roaming over his chest. He just sat there, smiling blandly, as I rolled my eyes in disgust.
I pulled out my phone and put on some music, cranking up the volume as I started singing along. I was being intentionally loud, trying to annoy my mother, who hated it when I blasted music. She asked me to lower the volume, but I just smirked and mouthed, "I'm not hearing you."
My mother groaned and snuggled deeper into my father's arms. They started getting intimate, playing with each other's hair and clothing. It was like they'd forgotten I was there, sitting just a few feet away.
As things started getting too explicit, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I stopped the car, moving to the front seat in a desperate bid to escape the awkwardness. The driver, seemingly oblivious to the tension, continued driving, his eyes fixed on the road.
I gazed out the window, trying to distract myself from the uncomfortable sounds coming from the backseat. Even with the music blasting, I could still hear their moans and screams. The driver was clearly affected, with a noticeable bulge in his pants and sweat dripping down his face.
I rolled down the window, taking deep breaths of fresh air. The atmosphere inside the car was suffocating, heavy with the scent of sex. I felt like I was going to vomit.
As we continued driving, I couldn't help but think about how messed up my family was. My parents were always like this – completely absorbed in their own twisted desires, without any regard for how their behavior affected me. It was like I was just an accessory to their dysfunctional relationship.
As I gazed out the window, my attention was diverted by the driver's labored breathing. His bulge was now unmistakable, and his face was contorted in a mixture of pleasure and pain. He grasped the wheel with one hand, while the other disappeared into his pants.
My eyes widened in alarm. "Heyyyyyyy!" I almost screamed, and his face turned pale.
"Get out! Don't come back here again!" I yelled, throwing him out of the car. I swiftly took his place behind the wheel, spraying perfume to eliminate the heavy scent of sex. I blasted music, grateful that I knew the route to our destination.
Twenty minutes passed before my parents finally emerged from the backseat, still adjusting their clothes. I stared at them, my disgust evident.
My father attempted to hug me, but I dodged his grasp. "I can walk on my own."
My mother chimed in, "Stop acting like sex is disgusting, Crystal. It's not."
I nodded, though my expression remained skeptical. As I opened the back door, I was met with a nauseating sight: cum stains everywhere. I felt my stomach churn.
My mother approached me, patting my back. "This is disgusting," I said, pointing inside the vehicle. "Please clean this."
She nodded, and we walked into the hotel, where our table was reserved. My father inquired, "Where's the driver?"
"I sent him away," I replied.
My father nodded knowingly, while my mother added, "You would have spared the guy misery before sending him away."
As we took our seats, I couldn't shake off my disgust. Everyone's eyes were on us, and my parents beamed with smiles, while I maintained a stern frown.
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?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
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.
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.
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."
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!