Young aspiring writer Norah Jacobs needs to escape. In just two weeks, her life has been turned upside down. Her brother, a brilliant but deeply corrupt lawyer, is incarcerated for murder. His name, once synonymous with success, is now dragged through the mud by the media. And as if that weren't enough, his former partner-a man as dangerous as he is relentless-now lurks around her home, throwing half-threats her way, making it clear that her silence comes at a price... The peace she had been desperately trying to hold onto crumbles. So, Norah makes a radical decision: she packs her car, abandons her apartment, shuts off her phone, and disappears. Her destination is Bellvale, a small coastal town, far removed from the chaos she left behind. But in Bellvale, calm is only an illusion. Soon, Norah realizes that this secluded corner of the world harbors its own darkness. Strange whispers in the woods, too many piercing gazes, and an unsettling feeling of being watched... She finds herself drawn into an ancient power struggle, one between creatures she thought were only found in fairy tales. And she quickly learns an undeniable truth: no matter how hard you try to run from your problems... they always find a way to catch up.
Norah hummed along to The Turtles' classic, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel as the car glided through the cool night. The lights of the town had long since faded, and now it was just the open road, the dark trees of the Blue Briar forest standing like silent sentinels on both sides of her. The massive branches of the pines and oaks seemed to stretch up into the sky, shrouded in shadow, as if trying to reach the stars but never quite succeeding. The air outside was heavy, humid with the scent of pine and earth.
It was the kind of night that made you feel small, insignificant. But Norah, for all her worries, found some comfort in the silence of it.
The car hummed along, the headlights casting an eerie glow over the winding road. She had always liked driving at night. There was something peaceful about it, something that allowed her to think without distraction. Though tonight, her mind was far from calm. She had to admit, a part of her wasn't entirely focused on the road in front of her. There was an unspoken anxiety that gnawed at her insides, a tension she couldn't shake off.
She drove below the speed limit, her eyes darting nervously from side to side, afraid that at any moment, an animal might jump out in front of her. Earlier, as she'd driven through the outskirts of town, she had passed a wolf, its body sprawled by the side of the road, lifeless. The sight of it had sent a cold shiver down her spine. She couldn't understand why, but seeing animals like that-killed by some force beyond their control-upset her deeply. It wasn't just the wolf. It was the fact that the road, the vehicles speeding by, the humans who never stopped to think about the lives they were taking for granted, had ended that creature's life. If it had died naturally, it wouldn't have hurt her so much. But the idea that someone, some careless person, had caused that death made her feel a mix of guilt and helplessness. She knew she shouldn't feel responsible, but it was hard not to.
The knot in her stomach tightened even more when her thoughts drifted to Daniel. It wasn't just the wolf. It wasn't just the empty darkness surrounding her. It was him. Daniel.
The last two weeks of her life had been nothing short of a nightmare. Since Adam had shown up at her door, explaining everything that had happened, she knew things were only going to get worse. She had always tried to protect him, but the weight of what he had done, what they had all done, was too much to ignore.
Adam had confessed it all-every detail. And as she had feared, his job with Daniel had been illegal. They had planned to steal diamonds from a businessman who had been passing through town. The man was supposed to attend a fundraiser that night, but, as fate would have it, he decided to cut his trip short because of an upset stomach. He arrived home early, just as Adam and Daniel were about to carry out their heist. The man had caught them red-handed.
Things had escalated quickly from there. Adam had tried to flee, but the businessman had managed to stop him. And Daniel-Daniel, her so-called 'friend'-had done what he always did: he ran. He left Adam behind. Left him to face the consequences alone. Norah didn't know what hurt more: the fact that Daniel had abandoned his friend in such a moment or the look of helplessness in Adam's eyes when he told her.
During the scuffle, the businessman had tripped, and both he and Adam had fallen through the coffee table. The glass shattered beneath them, and in the chaos, the man had cracked his head on the table's foot. The moment Adam had realized that the man wasn't just unconscious but dead, Norah could see the panic in his face. Adam had tried to stop the bleeding, but there was no saving him. The man was gone.
The weight of that moment, the realization that a life had been taken-whether by accident or not-was something Norah could not ignore. She loved her brother, flaws and all, but this was bigger than just family loyalty. A life had ended, and Adam couldn't just sweep it under the rug. She couldn't let him. He needed to face the consequences.
It had taken seven long hours-hours filled with shouting, tears, pleading-to get Adam to do the right thing. For a while, Norah had half-expected him to run the moment she turned her back. But he didn't. To her surprise, he had agreed. He'd confessed, had taken the blame. But he left out one crucial detail-the identity of the person who had set the whole thing in motion: Daniel. Norah suspected Daniel had already skipped town, taking the diamonds with him. And frankly, she didn't care. She hoped she never saw him again.
For the last two weeks, Norah had put everything in her life on hold to help Adam navigate the consequences of what had happened. The case had been handled quickly. Adam's confession had led to a swift resolution, but that didn't change the fact that her life felt like it was falling apart. Adam had been given a plea deal, but his involvement in the crime, and the fact that he had been caught at the scene, meant his future was uncertain. Norah couldn't even begin to process how everything had gotten so out of hand. It was all Daniel's fault, and yet, she had no way of reaching him. He was gone, vanished without a trace, just as she had expected.
It wasn't just the criminal consequences that had shaken her, though. It was the fact that Daniel had been the one to drag her brother into this mess in the first place. Daniel had always been like this-reckless, dangerous, unpredictable. And somehow, Adam had always been loyal to him. It was maddening to think how much power Daniel had over Adam, even now, even after everything had happened. Norah couldn't help but feel resentful toward him.
A horn honked sharply in the distance, pulling Norah out of her thoughts. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel, her heart racing for a second before she realized it was just a car passing by in the opposite direction. Her eyes flicked toward the rearview mirror, and for a split second, she thought she saw a shadow moving in the trees. She quickly shook the thought off, telling herself it was nothing. Just her mind playing tricks on her.
But she couldn't ignore the creeping feeling that something was out there-something watching her. She wasn't sure if it was just the eerie silence of the forest or the knot in her stomach that refused to loosen, but she felt a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake. Her thoughts drifted back to Daniel, and she wondered where he was now. Was he sitting somewhere with the diamonds, counting his ill-gotten gains? Or was he on the run, hiding from the consequences of his actions? Norah knew one thing for sure: she didn't care anymore. As far as she was concerned, Daniel was dead to her.
But that didn't stop the worry from gnawing at her. There was something about him-something dangerous-that made Norah think he wasn't finished. Something told her this was far from over. Daniel had always had a way of weaseling his way out of trouble, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he would come back. And when he did, she wasn't sure what would happen.
Norah glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She had been driving for hours, the road stretching on endlessly before her. The trees, the dark sky, the quiet-everything seemed to blend together into an overwhelming sense of isolation. She longed for the comfort of home, for the warmth of the lights in her apartment, for the moment when this nightmare would finally end. But she knew, deep down, that it wouldn't be that easy. Life rarely was.
She pushed the gas pedal down a little further, the car picking up speed as she continued her journey through the night. The road ahead was dark, but it was the only road she knew, the only one that could lead her away from everything she feared.
Emma had always thought of herself as untouchable. With her sharp tongue, enviable beauty, and spoiled rotten demeanor, she had managed to stay several steps ahead of anyone who dared to challenge her. But somehow, Will Knight-cocky, impatient, and slightly dimwitted-had managed to kidnap her and her best friend not once, but twice. How? She was still trying to wrap her head around it. The first time had been a chaotic mess. Will had bungled the plan, getting caught halfway through, and yet, somehow, he still managed to pull it off. The second time was almost laughable. Emma had expected a more elaborate scheme, but instead, Will had used his brute force and complete disregard for any semblance of intelligence. It was absurd, really. He had no finesse, no strategy, and yet here they were, locked in his uncomfortably shabby hideout for the second time. "Seriously?" Emma muttered, pacing the room, hands on her hips. "How does someone this clueless get away with kidnapping?" Will shrugged with that stupid grin of his. "Dunno, guess I'm just lucky." Emma shot him a withering look. Maybe luck had something to do with it, but she had a feeling there was more to Will than met the eye. Perhaps he wasn't as dimwitted as she'd thought. That idea made her stomach twist in an unsettling way.
After the death of Peter McKinley, the fate of the McKinley Inns was left in the hands of Peter's firstborn son, Alexander. Thrust into leadership, Alexander was determined to protect the legacy his father built from the ground up. But when he uncovered the company's seemingly unending debts and mounting pressure from creditors, he found himself drowning in financial ruin. Desperation clawed at him as he scrambled for a solution to save the family's name and keep the company afloat. Then came an unexpected offer-one that both intrigued and infuriated him. George Garrison, a young billionaire and hotel magnate, approached him with a proposal: he would buy McKinley Inns, settle its debts, and keep Alexander on as the face of the brand. But there was a condition-George wanted to marry Alexander's younger sister. The deal sounded like a lifeline, but to Alexander, it felt like a betrayal. His sister was in love with someone else, and the thought of trading her happiness for a business deal sickened him. Refusing to give up so easily, Alexander sought out other options, determined to find another way. Meanwhile, George Garrison, under pressure from his late grandfather's will, was required to marry in order to claim full control of his inheritance. The catch? He was gay-and had no desire for a wife or a marriage of convenience. He saw Peter McKinley's daughter as a solution, a name to satisfy the will. But when Alexander stormed into his office, angry and desperate, George found himself considering a far more intriguing arrangement-one that just might change everything.
Keagan is the definition of bad boy. College man with a body that could make even God moan and an attitude to put the devil to shame. He walked campus halls like he owned them-tattoos inked across golden skin, smirk cocked like a loaded gun, and eyes that dared anyone to look away first. Between classes and drinking parties, sex and boys, Keagan had it all. He didn't chase love-he devoured it in the dark, left it breathless, and moved on before morning. Until Jamison. Small, skinny, anti-social. With glasses too big for his face and sweaters that hung off his shoulders like afterthoughts, Jamison barely existed in Keagan's world. Quiet, forgettable... or so everyone thought. But there was something in the way Jamison looked at Keagan-like he saw straight through the leather and lust. Like he wasn't afraid. Keagan should've ignored him. Should've kept walking. But something about that awkward little ghost of a boy stopped him cold. Curiosity, maybe. Hunger, definitely. Because suddenly, Keagan wanted more than a body to ruin-he wanted to see if someone like Jamison could handle the heat. The question wasn't if Keagan would break him. The question was... would Jamison beg for it?
Thea Gibson lived a perfectly ordinary life. By day, she served drinks at the local bar, earning just enough to pay the rent and keep her bills from piling up. She wasn't one for extravagant spending, preferring quiet nights at home with her nose buried in the latest paranormal fantasy novel. It was easier to get lost in a world of mythical creatures and epic battles than face the real one, where she tried-and often failed-to suppress the awkwardness that followed her like a shadow. Most nights, she relished her solitude, but that didn't stop her best friend Shae from dragging her to parties. "You need to get out more!" Shae would say with that infectious energy that made it impossible to say no. Thea would end up surrounded by strangers, nursing a drink in a corner, wishing she could escape into the pages of her book instead of pretending to enjoy herself. The only bright spot? Detective Josh Cooper. He was always there, with his captivating smile and those deep eyes that seemed to see right through her. Thea had a secret crush on him. But that was all it was-a harmless fantasy. That all changed one fateful night. The bar was quieter than usual when a figure appeared in the doorway. The air seemed to crackle with electricity as Thea stared at him. He was tall, his presence undeniable, with a calm confidence that seemed at odds with the tension in the room. Before she could even process what was happening, a group of monstrous creatures-Titans, she later learned-charged toward her. Panic surged in her chest. But before they could reach her, the man was there, moving with blinding speed, his hand raised. A bolt of light shot from his fingers, and the Titans disintegrated into smoke. "I'm Hermes," he said, voice smooth as silk. "Messenger of the Gods. And you, Thea, are a reincarnated deity with a destiny you've yet to remember." The words felt surreal. Thea opened her mouth to protest, but the world around her seemed to shift, and suddenly she wasn't sure what was real anymore. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. Hermes smiled, the corner of his lips curling up with a mysterious knowing. "You're about to find out. The Titans are free. And it's up to you to send Cronos back to Tartarus." Thea shook her head in disbelief. "This is insane." "You're not the first to refuse the truth," Hermes said, his tone soft, but unwavering. "But you will be the one to stop him." Everything she'd known, every bit of normalcy she clung to, crumbled in that instant.
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"You were about to cum in me." I said and sat up. That's when I felt a stinging pain across my ear as my hand caressed my face, then the realization hit me- he had slapped me, Lee had just slapped me. #Sex. Lies. Money. Power. *** Jessie, after finding out her fiance had married another woman, decides to have a one-night stand with his uncle, only to find herself married to him. But despite being married to his uncle, she was still attracted to him, so she started secretly seeing him. Well, the uncle wasn't willing to give her up now, not after he vowed to always be by her side; now she had two men fighting for her. And the woman her ex-fiance married wasn't just going to give up on him. Will Jessie realize old flames can never be and live a peaceful life with her new billionaire husband, or will Jade succeed in winning her back?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"