Garden Of Lies

Aurora Miller's life is turned upside down when her grandfather hires a new butler, Silas Sinclair. Mysterious and undeniably alluring, Silas quickly captivates Aurora, but his gentle demeanor hides a past full of secrets. As their bond deepens, Aurora begins to unravel the truth. Silas is more dangerous than she ever imagined. Falling for him might be the biggest mistake of her life, one that could cost her everything.

Detective Aaron Cole’s past is a scar that refuses to heal. Once a promising star in the police force, his career ended in tragedy when a botched case led to the death of his partner and the destruction of his name. Now, a down-and-out private investigator, Aaron lives in the shadows of the city, taking on small cases that barely make a dent in his guilt. That all changes when a mysterious woman enters his office, asking for help with her husband’s sudden disappearance. Her husband, a respected journalist, was investigating the city's most powerful people. The deeper Aaron digs into the case, the more he uncovers a sinister conspiracy, stretching back decades, involving politicians, criminals, and a crime buried in the city's forgotten past. As the case threatens to unravel his already fragile sanity, Aaron must confront the buried truths of his own downfall, and the shadows of his past threaten to consume him entirely. With each revelation, he inches closer to a dangerous truth—one that could cost him everything.

When Special Agent Celeste Carter goes undercover to infiltrate the deadly DeLuca crime syndicate, she never expects to find herself drawn to the enigmatic and dangerous Adrian Russo—the heir to the empire she’s sworn to take down. As she gains his trust, their game of cat and mouse turns into something far more dangerous: an undeniable connection neither of them can ignore. But when a shocking revelation shakes the foundation of everything they believed, Celeste and Adrian must choose between duty and desire, loyalty and betrayal—before the truth destroys them both.

When Amber Benson, a New York City Upper East Side bombshell, plunged from her burning yacht into the Hudson River, she clutched a photo of her fiancé, Jared, cheating on her with his best friend, Lila. Three years later, Violet, a redhead born under the knife of Paris' most mysterious plastic surgeon, returns to Manhattan with a $300 million trust fund. A plan for revenge is laid out in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of a Fifth Avenue penthouse suite, only to run into the broken starlight in the gray-blue pupils of Ethan, a Wall Street upstart. When four bodies turn up one by one in the Central Park Rose Garden, those diamond-cut vows finally ooze blood.

After losing his mother as a child, Hoshino Aki clings to the legend she once told him—every 400 years, a falling star brings a celestial girl who grants a wish to someone in true need. Now, 20 years later, Aki is a high school student who has long dismissed the tale as a fantasy. But when news of a rare celestial event shakes his world, forgotten memories resurface. Could the legend be real? And if so, will he finally receive the wish he once longed for? As the fated night approaches, Aki is about to discover a truth far beyond his imagination.

Truth Truth is a bitter, harsh reality— sought only when absolutely necessary. If it were up to most, they’d choose to live within lies. The best lies carry a sliver of truth, enough to make them believable. Death Much like truth, death is rarely desired. Only those weary of life seek it out. But for many, it feels like a curse— a curse they long to break. Immortality A sweet lie that countless souls chase. Yet death, with its bitter truth, has claws that may be delayed but never denied. In the end, death is the truth that all living beings shall acknowledge whether one wants or not… ... after running away... why did I come back? ... Discord server link: https://discord.gg/htcCHBHjXd

Gabriel, a dominant omega, is caught up in a complex web of intrigue and danger at the royal court. After uncovering the truth about Olivier, a member of the royal family, and inciting a rebellion, he is marked by an unknown alpha. As the rebellion overthrows the old order, a new empire emerges, driven by a ruthless ruler whose rise Gabriel inadvertently enabled.Haunted by the weight of his actions, he flees from his family, his past, and the dangerous ties of the court. On the run, Gabriel must deal with shifting alliances, hidden enemies, and the growing power of the mysterious alpha whose mark he carries. As the empire's grip tightens and ghosts from his past resurface, he must decide whether to confront the forces threatening to engulf him—or risk losing himself completely in a world that regards him as either a pawn or a weapon.

She was always reckless—climbing castle walls, sneaking into town, chasing danger like it was her birthright. But the day they decided to chain her with marriage, she didn't just rebel—she became feral. And when a cage threatened to close around her, she did what she did best. She ran.

Rowan sees beauty in death. The Order he has sworn to obey only sees defilement. As the reviled Caretaker of the Order, Rowan has accepted his role as a dutiful outcast because he believes it is the only way to prove his worth to the man who holds his sisters’ souls as collateral. With his magic and his voice, Rowan can absorb death and transform it, but only in ways the Order deems acceptable to maintain the stability of the reality it claims to protect Order must subdue Disorder. Reality must triumph over illusion. He is tainted and always will be. Rowan has never questioned those lessons, but that changes the night he harvests a crimson soul that is more than human and chooses to keep it a secret. When Rowan’s song transforms that soul into a beautiful and mysterious man he names Wren, he is forced to accept that sometimes duty is a lie and illusion is the only thing you can trust. As the fabric of the Order begins to unwind and a new kind of Disorder takes hold, Rowan will need to choose again, stand with the Order that held him down, or forge a new path with Wren at his side. He may be the only one who can restore balance to the worlds, but only if he can find balance within himself first. ************************************* Updates 3-4 times per week. Note: This story focuses on relationships. I promise an epic romance, lots of swoon-worthy moments, and a healthy amount of fluff. When it does get steamy…you might get burned. Fair warning for explicit content. I don’t shy away from my spice. There are lots of side characters and couples to fall in love with, in addition to the main couple. If you love the idea of found family, you will be happy. This book is set in a non-heteronormative world, so you will see various gender identities/expressions and types of love. ************************************* Excerpt (if you want the full steamy version, you will have to read the book!): Still reeling from the new magic that coursed under his skin and unsure of how to react to the desire that threatened to take control of him, Rowan froze. Wren's hot breath against his mouth sent a jolt of pleasure through his body, and he choked back a groan. A different kind of panic flared in Rowan's chest, burning him as if he were the one on fire. This was what he wanted, what he'd thought about every night since Wren left. But wanting more was one thing. Acting on it was another. He'd spent so much of his life hiding, he didn't know how to do anything else. One corner of Wren's mouth twitched as Rowan pulled away. When he attempted to free himself from Wren's grasp, Wren just hauled him closer. Rowan liked that he didn't have to think about what to do next. His bare chest thudded against Wren's torso, and the heat from Wren's body merged with Rowan's skin, melting him from the inside out. "What did you just do to me?" Wren's deep voice vibrated against Rowan's chest. "The Disorder of your illusion was holding you captive. I…I absorbed it." "Oh? Where did you learn to do that? Have I been gone that long?" Wren's grip loosened slightly on Rowan's wrists as if he was satisfied now that Rowan was practically sitting on top him. Rowan stared at Wren's lips. He opened his mouth to protest, but immediately closed it again. "I know you aren't going to say that I shouldn't touch you." Wren's free hand splayed over the small of Rowan's back. "Not when you started it." Rowan's breath hitched. "No. I'm not going to say that anymore. Not to you." "I thought you were afraid to be touched." Wren's fingers traced a circle over the curve of Rowan's spine as if testing for a reaction. "I know that I'm not afraid of you." Rowan waited for the panic to set in, but all he felt was desire. "With you, I want…" "You want what?" "I want more." Triumph flared in Wren's gaze before he narrowed his eyes. "Really? Then why are you still trying to get away from me?"

In a tranquil yet haunting garden untouched by time, Tagitsa Origumaru tends to the roots of a world caught between life and death. For centuries, he has lived in solitude, a silent guardian in a realm where only the restless arrive. These are souls burdened by regret, unable to move forward—lost voices seeking solace. Tasked with helping the dead find peace, Tagitsa confronts fragments of humanity’s most painful truths. Through encounters with children, elders, and strangers, he unravels the weight of their unfulfilled lives. Yet, as he delves deeper into their stories, he begins to question the boundaries of his own existence and the mysterious scars that mark his body. As the garden blooms with each passing soul, Tagitsa’s unchanging world edges closer to revelation. In this timeless place of sorrow and hope, what truths will emerge—and at what cost? Author's Note: Hey everyone! This is my first story. I hope you enjoy! Upload Schedule Day 1: Prologue + Chapter 1 Then: Sunday/Wednesday/Friday

All she wanted was to convince Qin Zhan, a well-known patisserie, to join her in her new restaurant. But, everyone who she had sent returned with bad news: Rejected! Rumor has it that Qin Zhan quit life as a reputable chef to stay in the small town and run a small noodle stand. No matter how much anyone offered to hire him, Qin Zhan had rejected every one. No! That man would not even hear a word before he showed everyone to the door. Since everyone she sent returned with no good result, Gu Xin Ye had no other choice but to do everything herself! Just as Gu Xin Ye thought that she will be able to convince Qin Zhan with her persuasion skill and charm, a misunderstanding led her to work for Qin Zhan instead, as his helper! ----- Illustration: kirinlukis ----- Shared universe with: 1. Loving You Too Much 2. A Lifetime with You 3. You're My Only Star 4. The Dragon Beside Me 5. Love So Sweet 6. Commander Qi's Runaway Wife 7. The Wedding Planner's Romance

A team of humans arrives on the Lythari homeworld, eager to collaborate on a project that could change the course of both civilizations. But they quickly discover that trust is a currency, curiosity is dangerous, and gravity is optional. As ancient secrets threaten to unravel the fabric of Lythari society, the team must decide whether to expose the truth or let it remain hidden forever. If you want to read a good science fiction novel, read it.

Jenn Li has a loving mom and a stubborn caring dad, and nice loud younger sister. But, at age 14 she had limb girdle muscular dystrophy. It causes her muscles in her arm and legs to slowly weaken as time pass by. It made her not as convenient to go outside. When she have to go to school, she takes her wheelchair. It gives her some anxiety and is a bit discomfort for her. But, she managed through it. She is only able to walk with a limp on her leg for only a small distance. She is able to walk with a limp all around her home. She find comfort at home while being on the internet. And, wants to making journaling youtube videos. Sometimes, she gets worried over trivial things. And, sometimes thinking things like why is her life is like this, and if she didn't have musclar dystrophy, life would be just a bit better for her. She tends to get over her worries by thinking positive listening to music and watching videos. She is grateful that she is alive and breathing. She also do not have a boyfriend. Is not a big deal, but it would be lovely to have a boyfriend and getting married in the future. One day angels and gods showed up and, decided to bless and gift everyone in the whole world with immortality and magical superpowers. . It became like a utopia. They also give her an alternative universe life to live and her story is: She and her older non identical twin sister, along with her parents are immortal. And, their stories goes like this: Jann Li and Jenn Li, two 22 years old non-identical twin sisters who has 2 childhood best friends, Jonn Li and Junn Li. They also happens to be 22 years old non-identical twin brothers. They all live together in one big house. Jonn and Junn soon becomes their boyfriends and lovers. They are part of The Li family. A family that all is immortal and have magical and super powers, just like everybody is. They are trying to enjoy and live a happy and peaceful life. And hanging out with their immortal and magical friends, sometimes.

Lied cannot remember his past. As the sole bearer of the Adam's Apple, an ancient item capable of granting people's wishes, he's targeted by a mysterious organization while desperately trying to reclaim his memories. Through his perilous quest in search of the lost truth, Lied realizes there's more to everything than meets the eye... including himself. How will Lied survive, and what will he find at his destination? Work originally written in Portuguese. Cover art by Yaya Chan.

"You are Alice!" She doesn't know what her name is, but she's sure that it is not what they claim. Waking up in the middle of an unpleasant place, and then meeting an unpleasant child then finally calls her to a name she's familiar with but has a different feeling over it, she claims, "I'm not Alice!"

Jean thinks he is an ordinary boy, but one day when he turns seventeen, it's not like a birthday party as usual that you have birthday cake, balloons, and a round of your friends to sing the birthday song to you, it's not like that, Jean's birthday party is weird, the weird birthday party and an announcement that it says you are not an ordinary boy changes your life forever. One of Jean's friends came to him and his family to say that he is Jean's Alpha, which makes Jean's world crazier because that person is the captain of the soccer club in his school. At first, Jean doesn't accept it and thinks all of it is crazy, what his grandmother says, the fate and the world that should be, but getting along with those crazy facts makes him realize and feel the truth and genuine love. But when Jean acquiesces to the facts and his fate as male omega, the truth that he thinks is the actual truth is a lie. What's the truth in this world? Anybody can make the truth itself by lying.

Aye Chul and Aye RI were separated when they were younger. Aye Chul was adopted. Years went by and Aye Ri is in her prime. She is living a life full of hardships. Surprisingly she recieves an interview letter from a re- knowned firm. Surprises wait ahead. Life full of lies. Friends in disguise. People who looked family betrayed them. A series of turns and one of the biggest heists ever. Union of long lost sisters and filthy truths. The lies of rich families and much more to be discovered. The classis story of rags to riches with a twist of crime and adventure.The story of 6 long lost sister. All the unspoken rules for a picture perfect family. The hardships to be born with. Mysteries that need to be solved. Answers that are too bitter to bear. Unruly relations. Betrayal in love and some romance in life. Will these girls ever be able to find their true happy ending without their family and anyone to trust?

In the depths of a cursed reflection, truth and deception blur into one. Vivian Sinclair never believed in the supernatural—until the day she moved into Blackthorn Manor, an old estate shrouded in unsettling whispers and forgotten secrets. A long-forgotten mirror hidden within the greenhouse awakens something inside her, something that shouldn’t exist beyond the glass. A shadow of herself stares back, watching, waiting. At first, the visions are subtle—flickers of movement when no one else is there, a whisper of her name in the dead of night. But as the days pass, the haunting presence becomes undeniable. Her reflection begins to move on its own, revealing memories she never lived, secrets she never uncovered, and a version of herself she doesn’t recognize. Sebastian Graves, a scholar obsessed with the manor’s dark past, warns her that some mirrors do more than reflect—they remember. And the one in Blackthorn Manor doesn’t just hold history; it holds something alive. Something that wants out. As the lines between reality and illusion fracture, Vivian realizes she isn't just being haunted—she is being rewritten. The more she resists, the stronger the presence grows, feeding off her fears, her doubts… and her lies. Because the darkest truths aren’t the ones buried in the past. They’re the ones we tell ourselves. And in the end, the mirror never lies. But Vivian might.

The final ingredient to finding true love is one teaspoon of lies. **** On her 18th birthday, Elspeth's world was shattered after a one-night stand left her pregnant. The child's father, Alan, betrayed her by revealing his alliance with her scheming half-sister, Heather, who aimed to steal Elspeth's position as heiress. To protect their family’s reputation, her parents sent her away in disgrace. Years later, Elspeth returns, determined to reclaim her place and exact revenge on those who wronged her. But her family’s pressure to marry complicates things. Desperate to dodge a blind date, she impulsively kisses Castiel Stepanov, her daughter's teacher, using him as a convenient escape. When a key investor insists on meeting her husband, Elspeth sees an opportunity and proposes a fake marriage to Castiel. Castiel, a powerful Russian business mogul and part-time elementary teacher, has his own hidden agenda. Traumatized by witnessing the murder of his family, Castiel’s life has been driven by the desire for revenge. Unbeknownst to Elspeth, her father is responsible for the tragedy that destroyed his family. Eager to destroy Elspeth's life, Castiel agrees to the sham marriage, intent on ruining her and her father. As their fake marriage progresses, hidden truths and deep-seated wounds begin to surface. Can Elspeth balance her desire for vengeance with her need to protect her heart, her daughter, and her empire? And will Castiel follow through with his plan for revenge, or will love and the weight of the past consume them both? _______ TROPES: One night stand. Pregnancy. Contract/Fake Marriage. Win her back. Betrayal x Revenge Family. First person (dual perspectives) ______ IG: @ebynamani TT: @eby.namani

Marriage is nothing but hell to Ashley Scott. From her husband's unbearable indifference to his open affair, she just wants nothing to do with this miserable union. After almost five years with her husband, Nathan Li, Ashley was tired. She wanted to be free and that would only happen if they got divorced. And Ashley was determined to get a divorce, even if it meant getting on her mother's bad side. Nathan, on the other hand, did not want that. Ashley was his other half, his person and separating from her was something he could not stand. Ashley didn't want Nathan, but Nathan wanted her, and he would do anything to keep her. With the revelation of secrets, would the couple be able to get past their trials and sustain their marriage, or would they forever be apart? *Excerpt: He held her shoulders, his dark blue eyes glowing in the dark. "No one else can have you, Ashley. You're only mine." The scene then changed. This time, the blue-eyed man in her memories was kissing her. After, he spoke in an awfully dangerous tone. "You know what I'm capable of, Ashley. You're only mine."

Laiza Danford has lived her entire life at the beck and call of her family, enslaved by the desire of their love attention. Always being compared and living in the shadows of her twin. Detested by all even by the one she hoped will be her escape from her damned fate only for every thing to blow up in her face, pushed to death she promises to come back to destroy.

A noble girl who cares for only books and knowledge, not giving a single thought about marriage or what others think of her. She meets a commoner boy in a garden and their meeting keeps growing and growing, like the many flowers that grow. But lies grow the more they meet. Here, in the garden of lies, their tragic love begins. I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com and Tapas!

Li Chen was an ordinary man living an uneventful life—until an accident thrust him into the mystical Realm of Xuanhai, a world where powerful cultivators reign and spiritual beasts roam. Armed with the **Supreme Beast Taming System**, Li Chen discovers his new destiny: to master the art of taming and bonding with spiritual beasts. From his first companion, Xiao Yue, a rare Lunar Spirit Rabbit with untapped potential, to fierce Thunderfang Wolves and beyond, Li Chen embarks on a journey filled with adventure, danger, and discovery. In a world where strength is everything, Li Chen must rise through the ranks, conquer formidable foes, and unravel the secrets of beast evolution. As he gathers a team of extraordinary beasts, challenges mighty sects, and uncovers ancient mysteries, he begins to forge his path toward ultimate power. But the cultivation world is ruthless. Can Li Chen and his growing menagerie of spiritual beasts survive the trials ahead and carve their names into legend? Join Li Chen in this action-packed journey of beast taming, cultivation, and epic battles.

General Julius Draken hates all humans. After an abusive childhood, gore filled military campaigns, and navigating American Imperial Politics in 3083 he has simply had enough. His future has devolved into a constant state of world war. After finding out the next Top-Secret plan of the elites Julius jumps into action to stop the evil humans with a strategy fit for the one called the Mad Dog.