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When Jenna Brooks's family goes bankrupt, she's forced to move in with the Declan family in Houston for her senior year. Getting to Houston, Jenna quickly realizes that things have changed since she last saw them. The Declan brothers, once innocent little boys, now have now grown up to be hot and attractive guys. What Jenna doesn't know is that, her life is about to be changed. She is soon thrown into the world of heartbreak, boy kisses, make outs and school scandals. But will Jenna make it through senior year without losing herself in the chaos? Jenna's life is about to be forever changed, and the choices she makes will determine her fate. Prepare yourself for a journey filled with unexpected twists, as Jenna discovers just how far she's willing to go to find her place amidst the chaos.
Jenna Brooks's POV
"Hurry up!! You're going to be late for your flight!" I heard my mum yell from the kitchen.
Taking one final look at my room, I dragged my baggage out to the passage way. Although it had only been two months since we moved here, I was still going to miss my tiny room. I meant our tiny room since I shared the room with my little brother, Dustin whenever he came home from boarding school for holidays. There were only two rooms in the house.
As I closed the door behind me, I walked down the tiny passage into the living room. Dad was sitted, leg crossed as if he wasn't moved by his daughter going thousands of miles away for senior year.
He glanced at me as he spoke, "Good Morning, Jenna," he said, more blandly than I had hoped. I had already crossed my fingers for a laugh, or a hair rustle, or a hug, but they never came, or at least not yet. I was still hoping.
"How was your night?" I asked trying to ignite some sort of conversation.
"Fine." He replied dryly.
I was desperate for something else to talk about with him. For some kind of connection. With Mom, it was effortless. Why did everything always feel so stuck with him?
Dad used to be fun and vibrant and energetic and interactive but after we lost everything and had to move to Cronners, he suddenly went cold and distant.
I dropped my baggage and made my way to the kitchen where mum was making my favorite cookies to go. She said it was a lucky charm and it had always helped her get over the fear of flying but I doubted that.
I watched mom bring out a flat disposable plate from her 'bag of multiple stuffs'. Dustin and I always called it that because the bag seemed to always have everything, even stuffs we didn't need. The house itself, contained a lot of stuffs we didn't need.
Our house hadn't always been like this, I meant full of junk and unnecessary items. When we moved in two months ago, it actually looked pretty normal-a humble house with a little clutter, nothing out of the ordinary.
But it began when dad's company went bankrupt three months ago and we had to move from New York to Cronners, a small town in the middle of nowhere; that's when mom started not being able to let go of things. That would mean it started two months ago. Since then the problem had only gotten worse.
Dad had to move all the unnecessary stuffs to the garage when the house could no longer take the load. Now, our garage was fillled floor to ceiling with stuffs. Stacks of plastic bins, filled with old papers and receipts and clothes we no longer used and toys and tangled jewelry and journals and Christmas decorations and old candy bar wrappers and expired makeup and empty shampoo bottles and broken mug pieces in Ziploc bags.
Sometimes, I would fantasize about us going back to our old house in New York. Then we'd have to pack up the stuff we wanted to take with us into moving boxes. And if we had to pack stuffs into moving boxes, that meant we'd have to sort through all the stuffs in this house and get rid of some of it. And that sounded wonderful.
"Honey Pie, I packed you some cookies" Mum said as she handed me the packed cookies. I could see the look in her eyes. She didn't want me to leave but she had made the decision herself.
She didn't want me to spend senior year in Cronners, a town with a reputation for teenage troubles. Her decision, made over the summer, would have me spending my final year in Houston with Auntie Laurel Declan's family.
I had been to Houston a lot when I was a kid. We used to go and spend summer holidays with the Declans; my mum's best friend's family. That was way before Dustin was born. Although I was just six then, I could still remember some memories I had with the Declan family. I was so happy when mum told me they agreed to be my host family in Houston so I transferred directly to the school the Declan kids attended. I really hoped I would get along with the family just fine, like when I was little.
"Did you pack your hair clips?" Mum inquired, her eyes scanning my long, dark hair.
I gave a slight shrug, "I don't need them, Mum"
Mum had always treated me like a doll since I was little, she would pin butterfly clips to my hair. I had always hated the hairstyle, the rows of tightly wound hair fastened into place with painful, scalp-gripping little clips but I was over that now. I was finally eighteen and I didn't need them anymore.
After seeing the disapproving look on my face, Mum decided to give up on the hair clips. She held my hands and squeezed them tightly as she spoke, "I'm gonna miss you, Honey Pie" she whispered underneath her breath as I could see her eyes filled with unshed tears.
I gave her a comforting smile and pulled her into a warm embrace, "I'll only be gone for a year, Mum"
After what seemed like eternity, we finally broke the hug, the accumulated tears in Mum's eyes finally falling.
"Laurel is gonna take good care of you, okay?" She reassured me and I responded with a smile, swallowing my own emotions.
The honk of dad's minivan signaled that it was time to leave for the airport. With one last look at Mum, I grabbed my bags and rolled them out front. Dad helped me load them at the back of the van while I said quick goodbyes to our neighbors especially Mrs Rodrigo who always called on me every now and then to run errands for her. I wondered who she would call on now.
Soon, we were on our way to the airport. I gazed out of the window, silently saying goodbye to the place that had briefly become home.
...
I stood at the airport entrance, my heart heavy with the weight of the impending separation. Dad, eyes slightly red, approached me with a mixture of sorrow. "I'm so sorry I was cold to you, Jenna. I just felt so guilty that I couldn't be a good father and support you like other dad's do to their kids. I'm really sorry" He explained, his tone emotional.
I managed a weak smile through my unshed tears, my heart swelling with gratitude for being able to talk to him before I left. "You did all you could, Dad."
As the announcement for boarding echoed through the airport, we shared a tight embrace. The airport bustling around seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of us, a father and daughter bound by an unbreakable bond.
With one last heartfelt look, I turned towards the security checkpoint, Dad's gaze following me.
"GoodBye, Cronners" I whispered underneath my breath.
...
Somehow, I slept throughout the five hours flight. I had only woken up about ten minutes before the flight landed and it was because of a dream I had. It was kind of scary, and funny too. In my dream, Auntie Laurel tried to make me serve her and her three daughters, that was the scary part.
The funny part was the fact that she didn't have three daughters in real life. As far as I could remember, she had a daughter and two sons. The eldest was Conrad, we used to play tree house together when we were really really little and i could also remember the twins, Jamie and Jeanette. The last time I saw them was summer, twelve years ago and I hoped everything was still the same as I left it.
An unusual fear gripped me when the announcement was made that we were about to land. My palms became sweaty and it was then I realized I actually had the fear of landing, if that was even a thing. I grabbed the small box where mum packed the cookies she made me. I had left them out incase I got hungry but now I needed them for something else. To soothe my 'out of the blue phobia'.
After taking a bite of the cookie, I felt my body sink into relaxation. Mum was right, the cookies did work magic.
As the plane landed, we all started getting off. I got my baggage from the security checkpoint and soon, I was breathing the Houston air. As my eyes scanned the sea of people waiting to welcome their families, I caught sight of an old man, holding a cardboard upside down with my name on it. I walked up to him as I dragged my baggage along.
"I'm Jenna Brooks" I announced to the old man who didn't seem to hear me the first time until I had to repeat myself, "I'm Jenna Brooks"
He nodded affirmatively without saying a word and signaled me to follow him. I obliged and rolled my bag after him. He took me to where the limo was parked and asked me to hop in. Amidst breaths, I managed to get my bags inside. I hopped into the car and soon we were on our way to the Declan residence.
As we journeyed, I whined down the windscreen taking in the scenery. I couldn't recall the roads any longer until we passed a billboard that read 'WELCOME TO FOX LANE"
"You were just a tool, Imogene." Her heart stopped. "And I was foolish enough to believe you cared." *** Imogene Scott had always known her place-by Damien Shaw's side, even when his love was a distant dream. Marrying her only because of an unexpected pregnancy, Damien's affection never blossomed. Instead, her devotion turned him from a mere sales manager into the billionaire CEO of IMU, one of Europe's most powerful tech empires. But her sacrifices weren't enough. After losing their baby, Damien's coldness deepened, sealing their marriage with an unspoken "no meddling" rule. Imogene's reward? Watching Damien parade countless mistresses, all while she buried her own dreams to fuel his. She believed, naively, that one day he'd see her worth. But when he fell in love with her stepsister and served her with divorce papers, Imogene's world shattered. Realizing she was nothing more than a pawn in Damien's game, she vanished-pregnant and determined to protect her unborn child. Three years later, Imogene returns, not as the broken woman who fled but as a renowned artist and mother to their two-year-old daughter. Now, Damien realizes what he's lost and wants her back. But this time, Imogene is ready to fight, and she's not making the same mistake twice.
Teasingly, his fingers slides out of my entrance and I can feel that pulse between my legs. The pulse that comes with the endless need for him to be inside of me. His eyes on mine, he sucks on his fingers and gives me a masculine smile of satisfaction. I sag against the wall breathlessly. Then he grabs my body, hugging me to him as I try to catch my breath. "You see, Peaches." he whispers to my ear, his breath hot on my neck. "You love the things I do to you." --- All her life, Peach Salinger has always played by the rules. She's 23 and graduating college in a few months. She also just landed an internship with Acker Investments which can secure her a permanent job after graduation. But she's determined to get some sexual experiences before stepping into the professional world. In a bid to loose her virginity before she graduates, she hooks up with a hot stranger from a dating app. But that hot stranger turns out to be her new boss, Rhys Van Acker. An arrogant multi-billionaire who's nine years older than her. They both clash at first but Rhys cannot deny the mutual sexual tension between them. Rhys Van Acker wants Peach Salinger in his bed again, but Peach is determined not to succumb to the temptation. But how long can she be able to control herself when all she can think about is the one night stand she had with the older man?
Ryder grabbed Regina's chin firmly, his fingers curling around her jaw as he pulled her closer, his eyes burning into hers. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You belong to me, Bunny. Every inch of you. No one else gets to touch you, to claim you like I do. You're mine to control, to possess." ***** In a shocking turn of events, Regina Flynn, a young and talented fashion designer, agrees to a marriage of convenience with Ryder Steele, the ruthless businessman responsible for her family's downfall and her father's tragic death. Regina seeks to expose Ryder's corrupt empire and bring him to justice. But unknown to her, Ryder is more than he presents himself to be. He's a possessive man who likes to be in control. He also has an ulterior motive for the marriage - to acquire a property worth millions, that's secretly in Regina's name. As they engage in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, a passionate night together leads to an unexpected pregnancy, further complicating the situation. Regina is about to find out soon that Ryder's true nature can be more complex, darker, and more intriguing that she has ever imagined.
She's Sia Jenkins He's Alexander Luis-Diaz She's a failed junior reporter. He's a real estate multi-billionaire. She's the accidental one night stand he can't seem to get out of his head. He's the beautiful mistake she made that faithful night. What happens when a scandal breaks out and he's forced to introduce her to the world as his fiancé? How did a failed junior reporter become the contracted finance of a multi-billionaire? Because they found something together; LUST.
"Did you think you could just leave like that after getting married to me?" Blaine Sinclair's voice cut through the air, freezing the room. Yazmin's heart raced as his gaze locked onto her. "We are married, Yazmin, and you cannot walk out of this marriage unless I let you." … In the glistering world of the affluent, celebrity wedding planner, Yazmin Collymore is used to orchestrating love stories that shimmer like diamonds. When she gets her biggest clients ever, one that could change her life for the better, she is determined to make the wedding a success and find her place in the world. But when an ill-timed advice leads to the bride eloping with someone else hours before the wedding, Yazmin sees all her career goals turning to dust. Determined to salvage her reputation and not ruin the wedding, Yazmin takes on a daring alternative. Posing as the bride, she steps into a marriage of convenience with Blaine Sinclair, a cold, heartless and ridiculously hot billionaire mogul who is only getting married because of a merger. What was meant to be a facade, becomes a trap when Blaine refuses to let Yazmin off the hook. He askes her to remain his wife for a year so he can be able to secure his company merger with his grandfather’s, or jeopardize her career and future by revealing the truth about her. As their tangled lives intersect, the glamour of wealth and the weight of duty collide. In "The Billionaire’s Trapped Wife," bonds form, secrets unfold, and love's unexpected journey reveals that, in the world of the affluent, true connections are the ultimate treasure.
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?
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
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."