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Life was like a long thread, and the knot in it was a new beginning. Three lives. Three stories. But one shared fate. Ethan Lopez's life unraveled when he was accused of murdering Kaylee Anderson. On the day he was inaugurated as the CEO of Lopez Food Company, the murder occurred in Dylan Gabriel's penthouse, The Opulent Height. As the police continued their investigation, Ethan found himself targeted again, this time for kidnapping. This marked the beginning of the downfall of Lopez Food Company, benefiting their rival, Delish Delight Company. All evidence and leads pointed to Ethan until a new name emerged in the case: Blair Anderson, a seemingly ordinary baker at Lopez Food Company. Disclamer: R18+ This story may contain strong language, expletives, and mature content for adult readers, including themes of violence. It is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, places, or events is coincidental. This story is not intended to offend or defame any individual, entity, caste, community, race, religion, or to denigrate any institution or person, living or dead. Readers discretion is advised.
People said, "WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE DEVIL, THE DEVIL CAME." It was true because she also opened that door for a devil. She was the one who brought that devil into her home. She saw her reflection in the broken mirror on the ground and laughed at her own reflection. A monster like herself laughed at herself. Her skin was pale, too pallid with bloodied scars on her forehead. Her face lost all its color; it now looked deathly thin. Her lips cracked, and blood dripped from the corners of her lips. Her hair looks greasy. She looked sickly.
She turned around and looked out through the balcony of the third floor to see the night sky. And what did she see there? The brightest star of all. A shining star so close that when she closed her eyes, she could almost touch it. But when she opened her eyes again, it was already gone. It had moved further away than ever before, and there was no way she would find it again.
At the sound of the alarm, she got up in a panic. Drops of sweat glistened on her forehead. With trembling hands, she quickly wiped them off. She had not slept well for the past few months. Her mind raced with thoughts and fears about how she could kill someone. She quickly stumbled toward the bathroom, her eyes still half-closed. She limped as she dragged herself into the bathroom. She glanced at her reflection, and her black orbs stared back at her. She noticed that her face was injured and bloodied, just like she had seen in her dreams. Her black hair was messy and the dust was visible. She quickly stepped into the shower, bracing herself for the cold water. Despite the initial shock, she felt invigorated and more alert.
With every passing second, she became more aware of her surroundings. The pain subsided to a dull throbbing. She began feeling nauseous, as though her body was being torn apart. Images of lifeless bodies flashed before her eyes, and she instantly shook them off. She focused on washing her hair and scrubbing her body vigorously, trying to forget her nightmare. Her heart rate gradually slowed. As her shower continued, the image began playing in her head. The screams, cries, and chaos around her seemed to get farther and farther away until all she could see were her hands. A small scream escaped her lips as her skin began to change color, becoming paler, darker, and more grotesque.
Blood began dripping everywhere. The scene changed to a familiar room. The bed was empty. A large mirror hung opposite the wall. Its surface reflected the dark night sky as the moonlight illuminated a portion of the room. In a far corner lay a figure covered in blood. An overpowering smell invaded her nostrils. Her vision blurred as darkness swallowed her. Her heartbeat accelerated, and her breathing became labored. She gripped her chest as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat trickled down her temples as she leaned forward, clutching tightly onto the shower head as overwhelming fear crept up on her. She tried so hard to control her breathing, but it was impossible. She couldn't stop her breathing from growing irregularly. Every inhale felt more painful than the last.
She squeezed her eyes shut in vain attempts to escape. The bathroom began spinning as she clutched harder onto the shower curtain, desperately wishing to hold onto something. Eventually, even with the strength of her hands, she began sliding toward the edge of the bathtub, until finally she toppled over the rim and plunged into icy cold water. After lying there for a few seconds, she quickly got up, coughing uncontrollably as the freezing spray stung her exposed face. She struggled to get her head above water as the cold water washed away her memories.
She washed the blood from her face and cleaned her scars properly. She slipped into a formal swan-white shirt and beige pants. Before leaving the room, she concealed her scars so no one would ask about them. Honestly, she didn't know either. She headed downstairs, where the clattering of dishes and the enticing aroma of food filled the air.
"Good morning, Mum!" she greeted as she entered the kitchen. Her mother, Ms. Elizabeth, turned toward her and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Happy birthday, Blair," she said. Blair glanced at her, realizing that she had completely forgotten that today marked her 26th birthday.
"Thank you, Mom," she expressed as she swiftly grabbed her beloved Americano coffee and began savoring its flavors. It was a day when she had to arrive at the office early, yet she found herself running behind schedule. Placing the now empty coffee mug on the table, she turned her gaze toward her mother, who was busy with something in the fridge. Ms. Elizabeth seemed to be on a quest for something specific. Eventually, she discovered what she had been seeking-a cupcake adorned with a delicate pink candle.
Blair eagerly watched her mom, her eyes filled with excitement. With a smile on her face, she observed as Ms. Elizabeth placed the cupcake onto a small plate. Despite her forgetfulness in the morning rush, Ms. Elizabeth had not forgotten. She had a unique talent for turning even the most ordinary actions into something special.
"Mum, I'm running late today. Our company's president, Ms. Charlotte, is coming, and I cannot afford to be tardy."
"Ms. Charlotte? Why is she coming?" Blair glanced at her mom in astonishment, as she had told her last night that today was a very important day at the office.
"Because today Mr. Ethan is taking charge of our Lopez Food Company as the new CEO," she replied.
"Well, being five minutes late won't make a difference," Ms. Elizabeth said as she lit the candle on the cupcake. "I just wanted to ensure that you began your day with a small celebration."
"Mum, thank you," she managed to say before quickly extinguishing the candle, slicing the cake, and offering a bite to her mother. She then hurried outside, devouring the remaining piece. The delectable sweetness of the frosting and the tender texture of the cake filled her mouth, evoking nostalgic memories of past birthdays and the happiness that always accompanied her mother's presence.
As she joined the bustling crowd on the streets, the morning rush was in full swing. The air filled with the sound of cars honking and people chatting creating a lively atmosphere. Upon entering the office, she noticed a significant change in the air. Everyone seemed to be in a frenzy, rushing around. In her haste, she accidentally bumped into someone. However, she quickly sat down and began organizing her bag, gathering all the scattered pages until they were neatly arranged and ready to be picked up. Suddenly, her phone started vibrating, prompting her to retrieve it from her pocket. It turned out to be yet another text message from Masson.
In the heart of the Thalassa Kingdom, Grave 4897 held a mysterious power that five realms sought, each driven by their own greed. The journey to reach it was fraught with danger and sacrifice. Elowen was reborn from the depths of seven hells, Riven Brax was transmigrated to the Kaelith realm, and Issac prepared to sacrifice a newborn child. Dimriti took nine innocent souls and awakened the Malice Bloom flower, unleashing a plague.In a desperate bid to stop the catastrophe, students from the Ash, Stone, and Scale realms traveled to the human world to confront eleven sorcerers. Yet, despite their efforts, Grave 4897 was activated, unleashing a generational curse that would change everything. . . . . . The Thalassa Kingdom Series__Grave #4897 -Let The Butterfly Touch You -Cursed Quests -The Kaelithian World -Malice Bloom Plague -Cursed Chronicles: The Last Hope
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Chandler Su who had cheated by her boyfriend then got drunk at a bar. To take revenge, she grabbed a man randomly and took him to the room. After a crazy night, Chandler found the strange man was a super handsome guy the next morning. Shy and shocked Chandler run away after leaving 150 RMB and scorning the man of his poor bed skills. However, she never thought the story would become so dramatic as the next day, she found out that the new coming president of her company was exactly the man she slept the last night! Worse than that, this new boss seemed very narrow-minded as he asked Chandler to come to his office on the first day.
A twist of fate bound Allison to Derek in marriage-she, a powerful heiress with countless hidden identities; he, the city's most admired man, now lying silent in a coma. For three years, Allison used her unmatched medical skills to heal him, all while quietly falling in love. But when Derek's long-lost love returned from abroad, he handed Allison divorce papers without a second thought. Resolved to stop chasing shadows, Allison signed the papers and turned her back on love-rising to fame as a dazzling force in business, medicine, and more. Only when she stood high above the world did Derek finally see her worth. He knelt before her, eyes brimming with regret. "Will you take me back?" he whispered.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.