Hailey Smoke

Natalie Roberts lived her life as the perfect daughter, obedient sister, and devoted fiancée—until she discovered she was nothing more than a tool. Her blood kept her sickly sister Hailey alive. Her engagement to William Parker? Just part of a plan to secure power. And when Hailey became pregnant with William’s child, the betrayal reached its peak. Left for dead—stabbed, discarded, and buried in cement—Natalie awakens not in the afterlife, but in the cold gaze of Logan Parker, William’s dangerous older brother. Feared across New York City, Logan is ruthless, calculating... and now, inexplicably, her only hope. With her former life shattered, Natalie vows to rise—not as a victim, but as a storm. Love? She gave that once. Now, it’s time for revenge.

A new work from the author of 'Astral Pet Store', welcome to enjoy it! ———— In chaotic times, one seeks survival; in prosperous times, one seeks fame. Despite being weathered by the vicissitudes of life, the Great Yu Dynasty still found itself in an era of prosperity. In the northwest, a youth trekked nine thousand miles on foot, slaying the Great Demon alone to compete for a lifetime of glory. In Long Lake, an unmatched Grandmaster hurried to the mortal realm to establish a sect, leaving his name to be revered for a hundred generations. In the imperial capital, a saintly figure spread his teachings far and wide, with followers throughout Qingzhou, his legacy lasting forever. Yet within Qingzhou City, in the compound of a family with a long military heritage, there was a child who never engaged in serious pursuits, instead spending his days playing chess, painting, fishing, and playing the zither. Years later— …… When the sword rose, dragon smoke stretched for three thousand miles, and a single strike wiped out the cities of nine provinces! Among all the laws of the world, only I, have entered the path. …… 【Light-Hearted Humor】【Martial Path Panel】【Art Master】【Scheming】

This text has no male lead, no romance. The female lead is slightly timid in the first volume, a bit infatuated in the second, and from the third volume onwards... life seems like a Siberian Husky. Below is the sequence of volumes, if there are chapters missing, they're probably blocked. 1 Who's best at murder and dismemberment? Look in the suitcase for jackals and wolves. 2 I can handle tutoring, even rocks can be turned to gold. 3 Freshman military training brings tears, Changan loves to eat smoked sausage. 4 A thousand miles of predestined marriage hangs by a thread, whether it's good or bad all depends on fate. 5 My idol is the absolute best, the idol chose me to be their partner. 6 The boss behind the scenes is here, doing whatever they want without logic. 7 Ghost Festival inspiration comes late, helplessly put here. 8 Official advancement and wealth cost a child's life, a good son leaps like a carp over the dragon gate. 9 A trip to the plastic surgery clinic, all the fat is shaken off. 11 Who in the Human World can resist a beauty? Run out of roman numerals, use numbers instead. 11 Turtles may live long, but still dread the end, the characters fear a 404. 12 The local zombie looks handsome, cries out adorably when opening its mouth. 13 One dance captures the city, the beauty of the past fades away. There's a lot more, too tired to write the summary...

[Official Statement on Missing Chapters] Due to previous technical issues, certain chapters of this book were unfortunately missing. We are pleased to announce that these chapters have now been restored. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and invite readers to continue enjoying the novel. --------------------- The top-tier professional player Lis woke up to find himself having crossed into the "Divine Revelation" game, becoming a Viscount enamored with magic. Knowing that he would soon face a continent engulfed in war smoke, grand otherworld expeditions, the mysterious decay of the World Tree, and the constant threat of Abyss Demon invasions... Lis admitted he was a bit panicked. ...... Fortunately, the game system was still in place, and he still possessed the "All-Purpose" Talent. With the memories of his past life, he switched his class to Arcanist, analyzed the Element Model, reshaped the world's rules, and step by step ascended to that supreme throne. ...... Players complained about him, "This boss is too perverted, he can even grow stronger, we protest!" Elves worshiped him, "Lord Lis is the strongest Divine Favored, he has brought peace to the world." Mages praised him, "He is the pioneer of magic, as well as the Guardian. His revered name is Lis Kane, He is the god of the arcane."

The world believes the Alden bloodline died with the flames. But Riven Alden—prince turned exile—remembers everything. The screams. The betrayal. The night his kingdom was erased by those meant to protect it. Now, he's no prince. No crown. Just a name whispered in the ashes. Armed with nothing but a cursed sword and the rage of a thousand ghosts, Riven sets out to tear down the three monarchs who burned his past. This is not a hero’s tale. This is not redemption. This is the story of a man who lost everything— and what’s left when there's nothing but fire inside. Vengeance isn’t justice. It’s survival.

Guts materialized in the absolute center of a maelstrom of destruction. He was the epitome of carnage and destruction given form, his very being molded by the inferno around him. His silhouette, stark against the flames, was unmistakable: clad in the black, demonic visage of the Berserker Armor, its eyes glowing with predatory malice, and the impossibly vast, jagged iron of the Dragonslayer already gripped in his gauntleted hand. From the shattered earth beneath his boots, from the smoke-choked air around him, countless desperate, wailing souls rose. They were the victims of Ohara, their lives brutally extinguished in the cataclysm. They streamed towards him, not as individual entities, but as a collective river of agony and despair, drawn by some unseen force. They flowed into him, a torrent of desperate consciousness, merging with his very essence. He felt their terror. Their pain. Their final regret. Their futile rage. Their lives, denied their full course, now fueled his denial of mortality, binding him to this new existence.

``` —La madrastra de Shi Qian la engañó y la forzó a casarse con un hombre en estado vegetativo. Había tres cosas buenas de él. ¡Era rico, guapo... e incapaz de despertar! Fu Sinian, quien había estado en coma durante más de tres años, despertó y encontró que de repente tenía una esposa. Su pequeña esposa era justa, bella y tenía piernas largas. "¡Si no me amas, no te necesito!" Fu Sinian dijo y fríamente lanzó los papeles de divorcio. —Poco después, la famosa Shi Qian fue capturada en una fotografía en el lujoso coche del pez gordo, Fu Sinian. Fu Sinian aclaró públicamente y dijo: "La Señorita Shi y yo estamos conocidos". Netizens: "¿Solo están conocidos? ¡Ambos son llevados en el mismo coche! ¡Estamos esperando que nos den una bofetada con sus palabras, Joven Maestro Fu! ¡Nueve millones de fanáticos están mirando y esperando!" —Poco después, Shi Qian, que era popular en el círculo, fue fotografiada nuevamente entrando al hotel al mismo tiempo que Fu Sinian y solo salió después de tres días. Fu Sinian aclaró de nuevo: "La Señorita Shi y yo no tenemos ese tipo de relación. No estamos saliendo". Netizens: "¡El Sr. Fu debe haber fallado en su conquista! Si hubiese una chica que el Joven Maestro Fu no pudiera manejar en este mundo, debe ser su diosa, Shi Qian!" —¡Treinta millones de fanáticos continuaban comiendo palomitas y viendo el drama! Más tarde, Shi Qian, quien tiene doscientos millones de fanáticos, tuvo náuseas matutinas mientras estaba en la Ceremonia de Premiación a la Mejor Actriz! Fu Sinian caminó lentamente hacia el escenario y abrazó la cintura de Shi Qian y dijo: "Gracias por la preocupación de todos. ¡La Señora Fu está embarazada de nuestro segundo hijo!" ¡Los doscientos millones de fanáticos estaban confundidos. ¿La hermosa Shi Qian estaba embarazada de su segundo hijo? —¡Estaban viendo el drama desarrollarse todo el camino! ¿Cuándo dejaron de seguir el ritmo? ```

The seasoned player of "Abyss of Stars," the [Starfall Master] Li Zi, brings a system template and travels to the game's world, arriving in the era of the game's beta version. This is the worst of times. The cosmic forces and conglomerates collude, causing the doors to the universe to be closed, the planet's resources to be exhausted, and even sunlight to be monopolized. This is also the best of times. All the extraordinary systems are just beginning. In this era, he is the only [Starfall Master] with the final version patch. While people are enthralled by the smoke of plasma guns and cannons, Li Zi has already torn apart battleships with gravity. While superhumans are smug about their awakened abilities, moonlight has already become Li Zi's servant. While the interstellar fleet crosses the Milky Way, Li Zi has just ignited the forty-second star, illuminating the entire universe. "People have been trapped on the ground for too long; they've forgotten that this starry sky should belong to all of us." —Facing the unspeakable aboriginal evil gods, Li Zi, holding a black hole, gently said.

In the scorching village of Ẹkààrò, hunger runs deeper than the cracked red earth. Iyiola known simply as Iyi is no ordinary young man. Born with water in his lungs and stars in his palms, he carries a restless hunger that food cannot fill. What he truly craves is gold a symbol of power, wealth, and escape from a life tethered by poverty. By day, Iyi drifts through the dusty streets stained by Lagos grime. By night, he dives into the flickering glow of cyber cafes, hacking and scamming his way toward a dream that slips further away with every stolen dime. When danger closes in, he flees into the rain-soaked shadows, chased not just by men but by something ancient and unseen. An enigmatic herbalist offers Iyi a cryptic choice: to leave the world he knows behind and journey into a hidden realm where true wealth is weighed not by coins or diamonds, but by the soul’s price. With a bar of black soap pulsing like a heartbeat in his hands, Iyi steps into a world both familiar and surreal a silent market where riches vanish like smoke and where he is no longer one of them. The Weight of Gold is a gripping urban fantasy that explores the price of ambition, the pull of heritage, and the perilous quest for a treasure that could cost everything. Will Iyi find the gold he seeks or lose himself chasing it?

There are stories that pass like smoke—soft, forgettable, unanchored. The Tithe is not one of them. This story lingers. It lives beneath the skin, not because it wishes to be remembered, but because it refuses to be forgotten. It comes from the places we do not speak of, from the hush in a room just after something terrible has happened, and just before anyone dares to say its name. The village in these pages does not exist. The people here are not real. And yet… you may recognize them. You may hear the bell, faint and far away. You may find yourself holding your breath. This tale is not about heroes. It is not about salvation. It is about what we are asked to give—and what is taken instead. It is about the cost of seeing, and the burden of remembering. If you’ve come looking for safety, turn back. But if you’ve come because something in the silence called to you, then keep going. Some truths will only let themselves be known in the dark

Der neue Roman "Rebirth Space: Der Charme der 80er Jahre" ist erschienen~ Als älteste Tochter des Hauptzweiges der Yang-Familie war es Yang Ruxins Vergnügen, das Familienvermögen aufzubauen und ihre jüngeren Geschwister zu unterstützen. Aber warum war dieser blinde und lahme Kerl so ein unerbittlicher Geist? Wenn sie kochte, kam er, um das Feuer anzuzünden; Wenn sie ihren Stand aufstellte, kam er, um ihre Waren feilzubieten... "Herr Gu, müssen Sie bei allem, was ich tue, mithelfen?" fragte Yang Ruxin mit einem Anflug von Verärgerung. "Ja", nickte Herr Gu ernsthaft. "Dann möchte ich jetzt..." "Ehefrau." Herr Gu erhob sich eilig aus seinem Rollstuhl, "solange wir uns nicht trennen, gebe ich dir alles, was du willst."

I like text-to-speech so I'm giving a shot at present tense second person writing to lean into a listener's POV. Enjoy! I use Sonia en-GB for the narrator at 1.2 or 1.5 times speed. Might want to read this part, I kind of left it out the story by making it the synopsis by accident lol. Tavern doors never close on the festive dockside. Traders, settlers, wanderers, and outlaws gather, drawn by the excitement of the New World. The air smells of smoke, salt and sweat, sails catch wind beside steam locomotives' whistles and pistons, each vessel either arriving with strange goods and stranger tales or departing with the thunderous farewells. You step aboard one of them, another spirited adventurer in the crowd, and spend months at sea from docks to coasts, continents to isles, to steam across a windless sea under an endless night sky. When sunlight hits your deck once more, it reveals the New World's waters, like pouring paint into the void. You see the distant sails in the harbour of a forested continent and cheer with the exclamations of waking passengers upon seeing the continent, name pending, no sovereigns and no laws. The landing of all those visiting from the Old World, a boiling pot of all kinds of cultures with each person's distinct flavours of friends, enemies, grudges and dreams. Without hesitation you leave it behind and vanish into the forest, wanting simply to dedicate your life to exploring the interior of the continent. How surprising is it when you found that the elves are all sleeping beauties! Capture them all! Hahahahahahahaha!

We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” There are stories the Church forgot. Names erased from scripture. And sins buried so deep, even Hell won’t speak of them. In the heart of a sleepless city, something ancient is waking. Threads are pulling. Voices are returning. And across the world, unnatural things are moving like shadows beneath the skin of reality. A girl marked by silence. A man who walks between damnation and divinity. And a war that no one remembers starting. Some hunt for answers. Others hunt for power. But there are a few who hunt the smoke — because they know where there’s smoke… there’s something trying to stay hidden.

In a world shattered by ancient wars and fractured alliances, Arcadian Legacy follows the journey of Kalamari—an elite warrior of mysterious origins—on a path that could reshape the fate of the kingdoms. Accompanied by the fierce Unomi and loyal Tozi, Kalamari moves through broken lands, toppling monsters and uncovering buried truths. But while heroes rise, shadows grow darker. Far behind them, the King’s Council of Chiefs, led by the cold and fearsome Lord Veth, hunts the trail of Kalamari and the mysterious “Circle”—a path that connects the fate of Arcades to something far greater. When they reach the Kingdom of Whoops, diplomacy collapses into devastation. Veth’s thirst for power leads to bloodshed, the brutal slaying of Empress Soren, and the fall of a kingdom—leaving behind only death, smoke, and a haunting promise. Now, as the Circle leads toward Thruans, the question is no longer if war will come, but whether anyone will survive the storm Veth is becoming. Arcadian Legacy is a saga of rising legends, vengeful kings, broken oaths, and the cost of power in a dying world. Just read the story I am tired of updating synopsis.... ahh!!! . screw this shit.

Jason sank to his knees as smoke swallowed the sky, the color of it an angry crimson, like the world itself was bleeding. The house before him, her house, collapsed in slow motion, boards shrieking and crumbling as if mourning their own destruction. His chest caved with a ragged sob, the kind that seemed to come from somewhere deeper than his lungs, deeper even than his body. Everything around him blurred—faces, sirens, flames—until all that remained was the ash. He should have looked away. Should have closed his eyes. But he didn't. He couldn't. The paramedics moved solemnly through the smoke, their silhouettes stark against the firelit haze. The stretchers were draped in white sheets—too still, too final. He counted them without meaning to. One... two... three. Jason didn't flinch. His heart was hollowed out, like something had been carved from within him with a hot blade. It should've been him. Not Selena. "No," he whispered hoarsely, his voice splintering. "No, it can't be." He stumbled backward, eyes wide, brain refusing to bridge the gap between what he saw and what he believed. Reality came in slow waves, each one more unbearable than the last. And then he was moving, sprinting toward the stretchers with a desperate, raw urgency. A rescuer with no one left to save. "Selena," he choked, reaching trembling hands toward the nearest form. The heat of the fire still lingered in the air, as if the world itself was scorched. He lifted the sheet with shaking fingers. What stared back at him was no longer her face—just blackened skin, unrecognizable. His mind rejected it. It can't be her. It isn't.

In a city where the rain never washes away the blood, two rival kings rule the underworld. Kael Vescari is the ruthless, young Alpha of The Wolf Mark-charming, brutal, and born to conquer. He thrives on chaos, takes what he wants, and never bows to anyone. Rin Asano is the cold, calculating leader of the Crimson Vultures-a ghost in the city's shadows. No one dares question his authority. No one knows he's an Omega. They were never meant to work together. They were born to destroy each other. But when a third enemy rises from the ashes-the sadistic Ash Fang Cartel-they're forced into a reluctant alliance. Turf wars turn into whispered secrets. Knife-edge threats blur into stolen glances. And behind closed doors, heat rises. As danger closes in and bloodlines are tested, Kael begins to unravel the one secret Rin has killed to protect. And Rin? He starts to crave the one Alpha who was supposed to be his ruin.

Dark Fantasy Romance | Betrayal, Dragons, Slow-Burn Tension “He wanted a servant with a sharp tongue. He got a girl who knows how to use it.” When Arin is dragged from her burning village in chains, accused of a legacy she doesn’t understand, she expects to die. Instead, she’s thrown into the deadly glitter of the Kaerethyne court—where dragons decide who rules, every silk-draped noble is a liar, and the Prince who ordered her capture is infamous for leaving lovers broken… or dead. Prince Caldan Kaerythene—scarred, exiled by his own dragon, and haunted by betrayal—wants one thing: to expose the traitor among his blood-soaked kin. For that, he needs a weapon. A girl no one would suspect. What he gets is Arin. A thief with secrets in her blood. A commoner with teeth. And a mind sharp enough to make princes bleed. She was never meant to survive the palace. He was never meant to want her. But in a kingdom ruled by dragons, fire doesn’t kneel. It devours. Enemies-to-lovers. A court of monsters. A chained dragon who judges with smoke instead of flame. And a girl too dangerous to kill, too clever to cage. The crown didn’t steal her. It tried to break her. But she came to win. Perfect for fans of House of the Dragon, Throne of Glass, and dark fantasy with bite. This is a slow-burn romantic epic filled with venomous nobles, ancient secrets, and jaw-dropping betrayals. Read at your own risk. The flames are watching.

> Yun Wao was just trying to vibe. He partied in another city, made a few jokes, flirted with the wrong girl, and thought life was going great. Then he came back home and found his entire dynasty reduced to ashes. No family. No friends. No king. No survivors. Just him... and the smoke. Now? Yun Wao’s walking the path of cultivation — not because he wants glory, but because someone’s gonna pay. This is the story of the Immortal Born from Ashes. It starts with tragedy. It continues with chaos. And somehow, it might even end with him smiling from the heart again. ... This novel will also be added on Royalroad.com https://www.royalroad.com/profile/755228

In the year 1934, Mary Elizabeth Graves, a 'cigar-smoking, whisky-drinking' British archeologist, and her team, carry out meticulous excavations at various sites in East Africa. With a propensity towards sardony, and a trademark temper, Mary Graves assumes the supervision of an excavation in Kenya, after a government project to erect a dam in order to safeguard a rhodolite mining site stumbles upon remnants of archeological value. Meanwhile, Mary's estranged husband, Charles, who aids a local clinic during the length of his stay in Kenya, has been struggling to maintain their marriage after the tragedies of the past years have caused antagonism between them. On the horizon, conflict lingers. Brief but vicious isolated incidents of rebellion have arisen against the established colonial rule.

Disclaimer: This story includes sensitive topics such as childhood trauma and sexual imagery. It is intended for readers aged 16 and above, with some chapters suitable only for those aged 18 and above. ------------------------------------------------ A story about healing, love, and making the right choice in loving someone. Jasmine is exhausted, tired of short-lived relationships. She decides to abstain from relationships until she meets her senior, Kriti, during a drunken smoke break. Kriti is her cousin Siddharth's friend and the student leader of the university. A drunken slip-up sparks feelings that have long been hidden deep within her heart, exposing dark secrets, but at a cost. Jasmine cannot pursue a relationship with Kriti, as she is committed and will soon be leaving for further studies. Can Jasmine successfully navigate her love life amid these challenges?

They call him Ghost. A name whispered in fear across warzones, black markets, and underworld circles. To the world, he's a phantom—a faceless mercenary who leaves no trace but bodies in his wake. To his enemies, he’s a death sentence. To his brothers-in-arms in Graveyard, he’s family. But to himself... he's a haunted man searching for a past stolen in gunfire and smoke. After a flawless mission deep in the Eastern Province, Ghost returns to the hidden forest base he's called home for sixteen years. Yet the victory is short-lived. His foster father, the commander delivers an unexpected order: "That was your last mission." Now, Ghost—real name Miles Sterling—must step out of the shadows of war and into a world he’s never known. Guided only by a scarred letter, a fading memory, and the voice of a woman he hasn’t seen since the day everything was taken from him. But war forged more than his body and name. Behind the mask, behind the scars, Miles has another secret. One he’s kept hidden even from his brothers in arms. He’s not just a weapon. He’s a ghost with a fortune—a hidden empire he built in silence, across borders and black markets, forged in strategy and blood. A man of many names, and many shadows. Beneath the bullets, tattoos, and silence lies a truth buried in ashes. And Ghost is about to dig it up—one letter, one enemy, one memory at a time.

[No Trash Protagonist] [No Harem] [Farming & Clan Management]  The path to immortality is one of solitude, of loneliness, of chilling heights where few can stand.  Song Changsheng arrives with a Daoist scripture in hand. Faced with the earnest guidance of his elders, the high hopes of his clan, and the hardships threatening their survival...  He and countless sons of the Song family push forward against the current—generation after generation passing on the torch, falling and rising—until the Song Immortal Clan stands tall atop the world!  And when he one day looks back from the summit, all the trials and tribulations of the past will be but smoke in the wind. 

Lin Xueying died with fire on her skin and a bullet in her back. Her brother's body lay cold in her arms, and through the smoke, she saw her best friend raise the gun that ended it all. But when death came, something pulled her back. Now, she wakes in her childhood bedroom alive, untouched, and staring at a world that doesn’t yet know it’s ending. It’s May 3rd, 2027. Three months before everything falls apart. Armed with memories of chaos and betrayal, Xueying knows who she can trust. Who she can’t. And who she’ll never forgive. This time, she won’t run. This time, she won’t break. This time, she’ll fight. The world ends in ninety days. She has until then to rewrite it.

“Fire can burn away the truth, but never the chains buried in the heart.” Ten years ago, a fire consumed the House of Ashvale, taking with it a duke, his wife, and any trace of what really happened that night. In the aftermath, their eldest son, Cyrien, rose as the new duke—brilliant, beloved, and deadly loyal to the Second Prince. But behind the gleaming armor and silken words, he hides a truth inked in blood and soot. Now the Second Prince has crowned himself emperor, after slaughtering his brothers and taking Cyrien’s wife by force. The empire burns from within, and Cyrien, exiled to the war-ridden North, must decide whether to fight for the realm—or destroy it. Meanwhile, deep in the capital’s shadowed alleys, his youngest brother, Kael, and a masked stranger named Lucien, are tracing the scent of truth through smoke and silence. In a land where innocence dies quietly and loyalty is paid in fire, some truths refuse to stay buried. And somewhere above the royal tomb, a single white blossom hangs from a beam—silent witness to a world rotting from the inside out. If the truth is destined to burn... will you be the first to light the flame?

Laps of Betrayal In the high-gloss shadows of Chicago’s fashion elite, Tessy Collins owns the runway, legs for days, a smile that seduces sin, and a closet full of secrets she’ll never confess. But behind every strut in stilettos is a storm she can’t quite walk away from. Tessy isn't just beautiful. She’s dangerous. She knows it. She likes it. She beds men like she changes lipstick quick, messy, and without apology. But when she crosses the line with David, her best friend Kiesha’s long-term man, things spiral from sexy to savage really quick. What started as a power trip turns into a gut-wrenching betrayal. And when the smoke clears, friendships shatter, hearts bleed, and loyalty get buried under lust. Kiesha isn’t just the girl next door. She’s the girl who held Tessy’s hair at 3 a.m., who knew her pain and loved her anyway. But even she has a breaking point. And when Kiesha finds comfort in Tessy’s first and only real love, Ronnie the one Tessy never got over karma hits like a slap in silk gloves. From fashion shows to hospital beds, bedroom whispers to graveside confessions, Laps of Betrayal is a fierce, soul-burning story of desire, damage, and the women who dare to live out loud. It’s about loving the wrong people, crossing sacred lines, and discovering who you are when there’s nothing left to hide behind. Tessy was never looking for redemption. But fate has a wicked way of undressing you in front of your truth.

He's been expelled from every school he's touched-trouble follows him like smoke. This time, it's his last shot before military school. Cold parents. No second chances. But then he meets the class golden boy-perfect grades, perfect smile, and zero patience for bad boys. They hate each other instantly. Or maybe... it's something else burning under the surface. In a world that's cold, maybe the last place he expected to find warmth... was in

She witnessed a murder, he offered a deal. Now they’re both in too deep. Adopted into a wealthy family, Hailey Monroe spent her life trying to earn love in a home that treated her like a burden. Overshadowed by her perfect adoptive sister, Kaira, Hailey agreed to an arranged marriage just to please her family—only to be betrayed in the cruelest way. When Kaira sleeps with Hailey’s husband, Blake, and he throws both Hailey and their son out of the house, her world shatters. Desperate and broke, Hailey becomes a stripper to afford her son’s sudden medical treatments. But everything spirals when she witnesses a murder during one night she was meant to entertain a client—turning her into a target that needed to be eliminated. Rejected again by her family, Hailey stumbles into the path of a stranger after almost being hit by his car, Killian Valtieri, a cold-hearted billionaire desperate for a partner so as to inherit his family’s empire. “Marry me and I’ll protect you,” he offers. Left with no choice, she agrees. But the deal was only the beginning. As enemies close in and buried secrets rise to the surface, Hailey uncovers the shocking truth about her birth—and just how far her enemies are willing to go. However when something more tragic happens, she makes sure everyone pays. And Killian? He may just lose everything to the woman he once thought was disposable. Excerpt; “Give me one more chance, and I promise to treat you right this time,” Blake pleaded while Hailey stared at him in shock. “Come back to me, Hailey. I love you—“ “You don’t!” Hailey snapped. “You just hate the thought of me being happy with Killian. After what you did, how you treated me, you never thought that I would be able to stand back on my feet, did you?” Blake gritted his teeth, unable to deny Hailey was right. “I’m happy with Killian, and I believe you deserve to be with Kaira.” Hailey gave him one last regarding look before she turned to leave but Blake stopped her. “If you can’t be mine…” Hailey halted. “…I won’t let you return to him.” Hailey turned to look at him, and her eyes widened at the gun pointed at her. Before she could say nothing, a bang echoed.

After a cold-blooded mission that left the Brooks household soaked in silence and smoke, Graygun stood amidst the ruin, his pistol still warm from the kill. The contract had been simple-eliminate every last member of the Brooks family. And yet, as he stared into the tear-streaked eyes of the youngest, a boy no older than eighteen, something faltered inside him. Perhaps it was pity. Perhaps it was the ghost of a soul he thought long buried. Whatever it was, Graygun let the boy live. He walked away, unaware that in sparing Aaron Brooks, he had planted the seed of his own destruction.

My name is Clarise, I was in high school when I had a special friend, her name was Karol… Missis Karol a young math teacher from my school, who almost every day was smoking a cigarette at the smoking area, sometimes with another teacher Missis Stephany. I know that smoking in bad for health, but, for a strange (or weird) reason, I liked to see her smoking. Sometimes I had seen her smoking in the school smoking area and I loved it. One day she caught me watching her smoking… and my story started here.