Ruby Innes

Sienna Valeria Storm never thought survival would be her greatest crime. As the last Ruby Wolf, she’s been hunted, falsely accused of an Alpha’s murder, and forced into hiding. But when she crosses paths with Kieran Draven Wolfe—the ruthless Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack—her fate is sealed. He gives her a choice: stand trial and face execution or become his mate to break his lethal curse. Yet Kieran isn’t the only one drawn to her. Ronan Voss, an assassin from her forgotten past, is ordered to end her life, but his heart wavers. Caius Blackthorne, a vampire prince, tempts her with power in exchange for her loyalty. As the Celestial Trials force her to choose a mate, ancient shadows stir, and buried secrets come to light. Because the Midnight Syndicate doesn’t just want her dead—they want her power. And the truth is chilling: if she binds herself to the wrong mate, she could doom them all. She was born a legend. She will rise as a queen—or fall as a monster.

Ji Tianqi, who fantasized about crossing into an otherworldly realm, was diagnosed as a fantasy syndrome patient. However, his extraordinary encounter in the otherworldly realm came true!!! In his first extraordinary encounter, he obtained a martial arts secret book that no one but he could master. Therefore, the team responsible for researching/treating him provided him with a prop—a chessboard! His second extraordinary encounter involved solving the Zhenlong Chess and gaining the empowerment transmission from a master, which granted him a century-old skill in minutes. From then on, the team responsible for researching/treating him became a team dedicated to assisting him. His team created an inn setting for him, where he experienced his fourth extraordinary encounter—the Orchid Acupoint Skill. With this martial art, he immobilized a criminal possessing the superpower of Instantaneous Movement. His team submitted a request report to their superiors—our hero needs to rent a temple, a temple with a Scripture Pavilion. After the superiors rejected it, they issued an important directive. "Think bigger, construct a real ancient city for him! An ancient city that includes all the headquarters of the various sects from his otherworldly fantasies!"

"In the midst of royal intrigue and deception, a forbidden love blossoms between Aashutosh and Surya, two souls bound by fate and passion. But their love story is not just a chance encounter - it is deeply rooted in their past, a past that Ava and Ruby are about to uncover. As Ava and Ruby dig deeper into the secrets of Aashutosh and Surya's past, they discover a tangled web of love, loss, and betrayal that threatens to destroy the very foundation of their love. But Ava and Ruby's determination to uncover the truth also sets them on a journey of self-discovery, as they confront their own demons and learn to let go of the past. With every revelation, every secret uncovered, and every truth revealed, the love story of Aashutosh and Surya unfolds like a puzzle, revealing a complex tapestry of emotions, desires, and passions. Will their love prevail, or will the secrets of their past tear them apart? Dive into this epic tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal, set against the opulent backdrop of royal India, and discover the true power of love to overcome even the darkest of challenges." Genre:* Romance, Drama, Thriller/Mystery *Target Audience:* Young Adults, Adults interested in Romance and Mystery

After dying once, Alex wakes up and finds himself in the demon realm. With his fast growing harem of beauties, Alex must climb the brutal ranks of the demon world, facing vicious rivals, ancient secrets, and the looming threat of a war that could destroy everything. But as his power grows so does the danger and his enemies— those that not only seek his death but the death of everyone that matters to him. In this world, allies can turn to enemies but to counter them, he must grow stronger or die trying....

He was summoned by 3 milfs and 2 gilfs, only to realize he wasn't a typical hero with powerful skills. He was a hero with "gifted semen" which can boost battle power or grant random skills. Since then, there has been a long queue of women outside his inn to receive his "blessing". Mature woman from east, powerful women from west, nuns from south and naughty milfs from south, they all chant his name from their slutty mouth. In bed, of course, Lol.

Alex was an ordinary teenager—until the day he discovered his ability to drain energy from the dead. With powers rooted in death itself, Alex hides his necromancy behind a normal life, secretly entering deadly portals to fight monsters and earn money. But beneath the surface, a darker truth lingers—his parents's death and his powers are linked As he harnesses his necromantic abilities, draining the fallen to grow stronger, the weight of his power begins to take its toll—and the line between the living and the dead starts to blur. With enemies closing in and betrayal around every corner, Alex must master his growing abilities before they consume him—or worse, before the forces hunting him claim everything he has left. When death becomes your greatest weapon, how long can you survive before it turns against you? ---

When 25-year-old Ruby trades her old life for a job aboard a luxury cruise ship, she expects adventure, not a battle of wills with her infuriatingly cold, impossibly handsome captain. Evander, 38, runs his ship with iron discipline, and he has no patience for Ruby’s fiery defiance. But as they sail across breathtaking destinations, their clashes spark something neither of them can ignore. Trapped at sea, with tension rising like the tides, will they resist or surrender to the storm brewing between them?

Nora ist einen Monat vor ihrer Hochzeit am Boden zerstört, als sie die betrügerische Affäre ihres Verlobten aufdeckt. Während sie mit diesem Verrat fertig wird, entdeckt sie eine tiefgreifende Intrige, die sie daran hindern soll, ihr rechtmäßiges Erbe anzutreten. Am Boden zerstört, aber entschlossen, unternimmt Nora einen gewagten Schritt, um die Kontrolle über ihr Leben zurückzugewinnen. Sie trifft auf Demetri, den "Dämon", einen furchterregenden Mann, den sie kaum kennt und der ihr Schutz und Unterstützung anbietet, wenn sie ihn im Gegenzug mit einem Vertrag heiratet, der ihn zufrieden stellt. Durch eine Laune des Schicksals heiratet Nora Demetri, um ihr Erbe einzufordern und diejenigen zu bekämpfen, die sich gegen sie verschworen haben. Doch während sie gegen ihre eigene Familie und Demetris zahlreiche Rivalen kämpft, wird sie es schaffen, sich nicht in den Mann zu verlieben, der dafür bekannt ist, Menschen unter seinem gestiefelten Absatz zu zerquetschen. Auszug: Sie hatte vergessen, dass der Mann einschüchternd war, und ihn direkt herausgefordert. Anstatt zu sprechen, erhob sich Demetri von seinem Platz und ging zielstrebig auf sie zu. Obwohl es nur ein paar Schritte waren, schien sich die Zeit für Nora zu dehnen. Als er fast zum Greifen nahe war, landete seine Hand sanft auf ihrem Knie und bewegte es zur Seite. Seine Berührung bewegte sich mit einem Hauch von Liebkosung, und er trat zwischen ihre geöffneten Beine. Nora saß da wie erstarrt, ihre Augen weit aufgerissen wie ein Reh im Scheinwerferlicht. Er nahm ihr Kinn zwischen seine Finger, neigte ihr Gesicht nach oben und sprach in aller Ruhe: "Du bist meine Frau." Sie nickte langsam mit dem Kopf zur Bestätigung, während sein Daumen langsam über ihre Lippen strich. "Ich habe dir Zeit gegeben, deine Gefühle zu sammeln." Ein weiteres Nicken. Noras Nervosität ließ sie sich über die Lippen lecken, während sie sich seines intensiven Blickes auf sie bewusst war. "Dein Grund für die Heirat war es, dein Erbe zu sichern und nicht mehr unter der Fuchtel deiner Mutter zu stehen." "Ja ..." flüsterte Nora verwirrt. Ihre Verwirrung bezog sich nicht auf seine Aussage, sondern auf die verwirrenden Empfindungen, die sie durchströmten. Was geschah mit ihr? "Es ist an der Zeit, dass du deinen Teil des Vertrages erfüllst, ja?" fuhr er fort. "Ja", flüsterte Nora atemlos. Warum war sie atemlos? War der Sauerstoffgehalt im Haus gesunken? Wurde die Luft plötzlich dünner? Abrupt verließ seine Hand ihr Gesicht, und sie beobachtete, wie er näher herankam. Erst jetzt begriff Nora, was vor sich ging. All die verlockenden, herzzerreißenden Küsse, von denen sie in Romanen gelesen hatte, sollten nun möglicherweise ihre Realität werden. Aber der erwartete Kuss fand nicht statt. Stattdessen hielt er in ihrer Nähe inne und befahl: "Küss mich."

Evelyn Mercer never planned to return to Black Hollow, the eerie town she left behind after her mother’s tragic death. But when whispers start calling her name—soft, insistent voices that invade her dreams and waking hours—she has no choice but to go back. From the moment she arrives, the town feels wrong. The streets are too empty, the people too watchful, and the past lingers like a shadow that refuses to fade. As she checks into the decrepit Black Hollow Inn, the whispers grow stronger. They murmur in the dark, calling her by name, warning her to leave. But something roots her in place—something she can’t explain. When she discovers that her mother is listed among the town’s many missing persons—despite the official story of her death—Evelyn realizes that Black Hollow is hiding secrets far darker than she ever imagined. People have been vanishing for decades, taken by something unseen, something that whispers in the night. As Evelyn digs deeper, she finds herself entangled in a mystery that defies reason. The whispers are not just voices—they are entities, bound to the town, watching, waiting. And they have chosen her. With time running out and the boundary between the living and the lost growing thin, Evelyn must uncover the truth before she, too, becomes nothing more than another name whispered in the dark.

Excerpt: "So you're my little mate." Chase smirked. And my heart fell. No. This was what I had been feeling. I didn’t want to accept it, but Chase… Chase turned out to be my mate. My second-chance mate. I didn't want him. But even if he rejected me, I’d be the one who suffered. The choice was cruel—I didn't want to be hurt again. "I don't want my brother's used product." His words nearly made me choke in shock. "I, Chase of Darkhill Pack, reject you as my mate." I was rejected. By my biggest bully. By my second-chance mate. His words hit deep—a wound I couldn’t heal from. My wolf screamed. I screamed. And then—my wolf took her final breath.Tears streamed down my face. My body wanted to collapse, but Chase still had me pinned to the wall. I didn’t fall. "You're such a cutie. You're not even a wolf anymore." I spit on his face. He grimaced for a moment—then grinned. How nice. "My brother rejected you, Innes. Be mine.What? "I can make you a wolf again," he whispered, his breath brushing against my skin.It was pure temptation. A deal with the devil himself. .... Innes thought she had finally escaped her dark past in the rogue domain. But fate had other plans. First, she was rejected by her mate, Max, the man she had loved for years. He believed she had deceived him, replacing the woman who had once saved his life. Then, when she thought she had lost everything, her worst nightmare returned—Chase, her childhood tormentor. But Chase isn't just anyone. He’s Max’s brother. And worse? He’s her second-chance mate. Except Chase rejects her too. Stripped of her wolf, her heart shattered, and with nowhere to turn, Innes is left with a cruel choice. Chase offers her a deal: become his contract lover, and he will give her back her wolf and a place for her child. But can she really trust the man who once took pleasure in her suffering? Or is she walking into another trap?

Van Thomas has just inherited a house from his late grandparents in the countryside and has moved into it--only to realize the house is a rather popular resort that serves all kinds of customers all year round. As the owner and manager of the building, he realizes that the inn caters to an unusual clientele, and has an even more unique staff. His secretary is named Daji. A pirate named Waverly Leviathan with resemblance to Poseidon often stays. Daji's nephew often stays and calls himself Sun Wukong. A novelist and screenwriter, Athena, is working on a masterpiece. Then there's the CEO named Odin and his twin sons named Loki. Could these mythological connections be more than coincidence?

In the depths of a newborn universe, a cultivator takes advantage of the abundant energy to refine himself a treasure. But after 14 billion years of refining and quite a few more to go, he decides to entertain himself by releasing countless systems and watching how the creatures of this fledgling universe handle them. On Earth, a young man, lost and confused about what to do with his life, sits in a park and looks up at the night sky. A shooting star, a wish and a bang. When the boy finally wakes up he hears a sound, "assimilation complete. Launching System. Welcome to the Midnight Inn. Host Designation: The Innkeeper." Discord: https://discord.gg/yqCkHedcUP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551387105778 Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinnkeepernovel?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Ayra Miller thought she had it all—Wealth, a loving husband, a loyal best friend, and a promising future. But when betrayal strikes from the two people she trusted the most, her world shatters before her eyes. Poisoned and cast into the sea, Ayra’s life ends in cold despair. Yet, a mysterious ruby ring grants her an extraordinary second chance, sending her six years into the past. Armed with the knowledge of her tragic future, Ayra must fight against the enemies she once believed to be allies and tread cautiously on a path filled with deceit and danger. However, she soon discovers that her actions begin to create a new future—one she cannot control and realizes that the gift of a second life comes with its own dark consequences. Can Ayra fight to overcome her tragic fate, or is history doomed to repeat itself once again?

Enel, a pale and sickly-looking young boy with no knowledge of his true origins, escapes from his village into the vast and unforgiving desert. Desperation drives him to survive the relentless heat and treacherous terrain until he stumbles upon a hidden region veiled by an otherworldly illusion. As Enel explores the hidden region, he uncovers clues and the profound secrets of Aether. Along the way, he encounters strange creatures and long-forgotten civilizations . A map found in an abandoned inn becomes his guide, leading him through the enigmatic horizons of this new world. After escaping from the hidden region almost at the cost of his life he meets someone who is bound to bring change to his and that someone also knows the truth about his past which he wants to know at all costs, learning about his past he decided to become a disciple of the eccentric stranger who promises to give him the power to shape his future. He meets allies and adverseries, he also undergo unpleasant experiences and learn hard truths which shape his life and view of the world

Mira Ravara Nightbane is the last of the legendary Ruby Wolves, the key to a forgotten prophecy that could either save or destroy the supernatural world. Hunted by the ruthless Eclipse Order and betrayed by those she once trusted, she has spent her life running. But when fate leads her straight into the arms of Draven Kael Vyktor, the infamous Alpha of the Duskfang Pack, escape is no longer an option. Draven is feared for his strength, cursed by the moon, and desperate for a cure that only Mira might possess. He offers her protection, but in his world, safety comes with a price. Torn between his dominance and the secrets that bind them, Mira must decide if she can trust the one man whose touch ignites something dangerous inside her. But she isn't just hunted by werewolves. The vampire prince Valen Duskthorne wants her as his eternal bride, a rogue assassin named Rael knows secrets about her past that even she can't remember, and lurking in the shadows is a brother she thought was dead—trained to kill her. With betrayal waiting at every turn and a prophecy whispering of war, Mira must uncover the truth before the darkness swallows her whole. Because choosing the wrong mate won’t just cost her life—it will doom them all.

"What if your destiny and your fate don't fall in line?" *** *** Katrin was a normal human girl, adopted into a family of witches at a young age. She had no recollection of her original family or where she's from and grew up trying to fit into her new home. But when she's sold off by her sisters for money; she finds out something about herself, something much more greater than being a simple witch. *** *** "Why? why does fate have to have our stars aligned?" Art appreciations>>>>> Cover from https://www.pinterest.com/luna_dreams_/ Katrin's art form https://www.pinterest.com/thena65041/ Ethan's art from https://www.pinterest.com/gaby_books/ Felix art from https://www.prompthunt.com/user/wiggly-goat662 Aeliana's art from https://www.pinterest.com/sethraknor/ Eldor's art from https://www.pinterest.com/alenaleo07/ Ruby's art from https://www.pinterest.com/ddolunay854/ Anna's art from https://www.pinterest.com/cragezy/

Melisa was a lonely girl destined to be unloved, but fate had other plans when she began having strange dreams—visions of a life where she was forgotten, abandoned, and trapped in a loveless marriage. Forced by her parents to stand at the wedding altar in her sister’s place, she was meant to marry Tristan Soveir, the notorious playboy. But fate twisted once more, and the groom was also swapped—to none other than Leonard Soveir, Tristan’s eldest brother and the powerful heir of the Soveir family. Thrown into an unexpected marriage, Melisa is no longer the timid girl who once faded into the background. This time, she refuses to be a mere substitute for Olivia. With memories of her dream guiding her, she steps forward to change her fate. Follow her journey as she unravels the mystery behind these dreams and fights to carve a new path for herself. Will she still remain in her sister’s shadow, or will she claim a life of her own? "I will never become the pathetic me from my dreams."

On the day of her wedding, Ivy Quinn vanishes, leaving behind only a note: "I’m sorry, I can't marry a blind man." To protect her son from heartbreak, Elizabeth Winters strikes a desperate deal—Ruby, Ivy’s identical twin, must take her sister’s place at the altar. Trapped by duty and family pressure, Ruby agrees, believing it will only last until Stefan’s eyesight is restored. But from the moment they marry, Stefan senses something is different about his "wife." The woman beside him is nothing like the shallow fiancée he once knew. She’s sharp, resilient, and understands his business in a way Ivy never did. Against all odds, he falls harder than ever for this new version of her. And Ruby? She never expected to fall in love with a man who was never meant to be hers. But just when she finds the courage to tell him the truth, Ivy returns, ready to reclaim the life she abandoned. When Stefan finally opens his eyes, will he see the woman who truly stood by him—or will he be too blind to recognize real love? ****Excerpt**** “By the way, did Ruby come to the wedding?” he asked, catching her off guard since she hadn't expected him to ask her that all of a sudden. Was he already suspecting that it was her and not Ivy? Ruby’s fingers froze on the door handle for just a fraction of a second. It was enough to set off alarms in Stefan's head. “I—uh…” She hesitated, but only briefly. “No. She had work. She couldn’t make it.” Was he suspecting a switch already? What must have set off the alarm in his head? Stefan hummed, tilting his head slightly. “Oh, I see. How is she, then? I hope she's coming to visit one of these days?” Her fingers tightened on the handle, though her voice remained steady. “Yeah. She would, the moment she is chanced and can come.” A slow smirk tugged at the corner of Stefan’s lips, though he kept his expression neutral. Interesting. Very interesting. His wife had just lied to him and he didn't know why. Even though he was blind, he'd find out why soon enough.

I know this will catch your eyes. "I will have my revenge, they will feel exactly what i felt." Ruby has always believed in kindness, yet life has repaid her with betrayal. Framed by her sister and her rival, she’s cast aside by her fiancé her career destroyed, and her own family disowns her. Broken and desperate, Ruby attempts to drown her sorrows, only to face even more danger—until a mysterious stranger intervenes. He offers her a way out, a contract marriage with no strings attached. For him, a wife with no family connections; for her, a chance to reclaim her life and seek revenge. With a new name, identity, and face, Ruby reenters the world, determined to rise again and make those who wronged her pay. But questions linger. Why did he choose her? What hidden motives lie beneath his calm exterior? As Ruby’s life takes unexpected turns, she finds herself caught between her past wounds and the dangerous allure of a future with him. Falling in love was never part of the deal, both they both did. But their live forbids them to be together. Will she reclaim her life—and her heart—without losing herself in the process? Read this book and you won't regret it..who wants to see Isabelle slowly turning into a badass that Logan will be chasing her back?

A journey about a boy ,Joey who just turned adult with his mysterious system to healing the tragic characters who got nothing except bad things, being used as a stepping stone for heaven's darlings.Let's see whether Joey will heal those broken characters or wether he will uncover what the system is hiding from him.Will it indenger him?

just living is a girl and her struggles with life and hee friends and family mental illness physically illness this about the main character ruby this based of my friends, family , shows . i really want to be a therapist or physiologist so i hope you like this tw ahead please don’t read if you not comfortable with physical and mental topic’s please click of if you feel any discomfort. i can’t spell so please don’t mind the grammar/ punctuation and spelling mistakes

Bakers, highschool girls, cleaners, mothers.... in the day... but assassins at night. Don't mess with them because they are the real definition of Eve. ---- After her parents were brutally murdered by some group of people, Kate swears to find them and kill them. But to do that, she needed to be strong, wicked, rich.... and crafty. But what happens when she sees herself getting attached to some certain people? What happens when she sees herself falling in love... something she vowed never to do. Will it cost her her life mission?!

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Forbidden Skill: Yellow Sand Dune ___ A carefree boy, chilling on his stone bed while enjoying his fruit juice mixed with crushed candy ruby, suddenly experienced the horror of his life as he watched the invasion of their clan, got enslaved, transformed into Metallic Hound and forced to serve for 21 years in perpetual agony. He suddenly woke up and found that it was a nightmare dream he had just lived. However, before he rejoiced, he came to understand that not everything was as it seemed.

"A mine full of diamonds and rubies. I dug, found it and placed it upon you and now your wealth is assured. Guard it with your life. Robbers and thieves will appear from all sides. Those you trust shall rise against you. Never take your wealth for granted constantly renew it - protect your reputation. Never let your guards down." "I'm battling demons everyday not sure I'll see the next day. Waking everyday thinking I'd die tomorrow. One day I'll be right ,by then I had already left.... And everyone will go solo." "What you'll be, you'll be..." Riev, a young promising boy who has lived all his life as the son of the church’s exorcist grows up to discover he has been living a lie all these while. Son of a great Demon and a once upon a time deadly witch, birthed in fire and baptised in the blood of Demons.This history, he has no knowledge about. His mother gives him off in order to protect him from his past and future. The destroyer of realms. He’s been protected by his mother’s curse all his years. Can a curse be cursed? Destiny twirls and unwind in this thrilling story.

‼️MATURE CONTENT ‼️ Who has never dreamt to live a life of castle, even if it is just for an hour, That’s what happened to Amber-ruby. Amber-ruby discovered that her friend and colleague Duncan has lied on his identity. He’s the prince of a far away country. Duncan revealed to her that he did it for his sister whom is sick and who want to live a normal life for the 72h left for her to live. Duncan remarks the great ressemblance between his sister and amber-ruby, and asked her if they can change their lifestyle for 72h. Amber-ruby did not hesitate “it’s just for 72h , what bad can happen to me in a castle” she said. But to her great surprise the reason that Duncan gave to her was totally false, he lied. Amber-ruby is now into something that she couldn’t get off.. ‼️The cover is not mine‼️ Credit to the person that owns the drawing‼️

Ai Hoshino, born as an intelligent idol... was murdered. I opened my eyes... "[What is this? W-wait don't tell me...]" Yes, I got reborn to a new life! My mom is just like me, she got pregnant at a young age and gave birth to me when she was 16. She is very cool, a great singer, but full of secrets too. Her name is Akari, which means light. And yes, this story isn't really all about me, but how my mom is able to live her life with her secret child. But though I am curious how my twins are living right now, I can't believe that me and my mom's life, would join into their life too. I just hope they don't caught on to me and my mom's secret! I am no longer Ai Hoshino, but now Ai Hayaki! And this is the life of me and my super duper awesome mom! This is a fanfiction of the anime Oshi no ko! Wednesday or Saturday! (There's a chance I will post 2 chapters a week, but if I don't post on Wednesday, it means ill post on Saturday!) Want to thank you in advance for those who will read! I recommend you guys watch Oshi no ko to understand, but if not, here is a short summary!(but its okay if not since ill add a bit of backstory of each that's connected to the original) Spoiler Alert! Ai Hoshino is an idol who gave birth to twins, Aqua and Ruby, but she needs to keep it a secret so that her fame won't drop and that she can continue being an idol. She loves her children so much but sadly got stabbed in front of her son aqua(Btw the twins were her fans in their past life but when they died, they reincarnated into her babies). So Ai then died, and aqua has a goal to find his father(which is the killer) by joining acting(Aqua is really good at acting), while Ruby is doing idol stuff to become like her mom, Ai. A lot of things happened and I do recommend to watch the anime or read the manga! But I decided to let my story take place during the time when Aqua is making the movie for revenge, but added a little storyline where he is trying to catch his father which I made it up hehe. (I will add that storyline somewhere in the future chapters hehe) Hope you enjoy my story, Peace. Edit: I just realized that I accidentally included this for the spirity awards HAHAHHAHA! That's why I couldn't find anime tags and it isn't part of the fanfic. Hope people find this novel and that this is a fanfic... :D (I might upload an original novel of my own for the awards, hope you guys will like it. Might post it next month tho :D) I made a Twitter account you can follow named- @abe_writes - you can follow if you want :D '_'

Lucilla Crimson never wanted to become the villain. She was nothing more than a simple girl named Ruby Baker before things went wrong. With the world against her, she did whatever she needed to do to keep those close to her safe. Watch as Lucilla climbs her way through the world and becomes one of the world's most ruthless tyrants. New Chapter every Wednesday 5pm EST ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my first Novel. Thank you to anyone who decides to read this, and I hope you enjoy it. And thanks to my sister for doing the Cover Art. Her Insta: notagood_hunter922

Hai. Aku Leonard Mahesa. Dulu, aku seorang polisi. Kini, aku hanya pria yang menghabiskan terlalu banyak malam dengan rokok separuh terbakar dan segelas kopi dingin. Seorang detektif swasta yang mencari jawaban di antara bayang-bayang kota yang tak pernah tidur. Kasus ini seharusnya sederhana—menyelidiki korupsi seorang pria yang terlalu berkuasa untuk disentuh hukum. Tapi semakin dalam aku menyelidiki, semakin aku sadar ini bukan sekadar permainan uang dan politik. Ada sesuatu yang lebih tua, lebih dalam, sesuatu yang seharusnya tetap terkubur. Sebuah sketsa kuno. Sebuah kalung ruby. Simbol-simbol yang seharusnya tak kasat mata. Dan wajah itu—samar, nyaris tak terlihat, tapi cukup untuk membuat bulu kudukku berdiri. Aku mengenalnya. Atau mungkin dulu aku mengenalnya. Tapi ingatanku dikaburkan oleh sesuatu yang lebih kuat dari waktu. Sekarang, aku dihantui oleh pertanyaan yang tak bisa kuabaikan. Ini bukan hanya tentang mereka yang ingin kuungkap. Ini juga tentang diriku sendiri. Tentang masa lalu yang berusaha kulupakan—atau yang berusaha melupakanku. Dan satu hal yang kupelajari setelah bertahun-tahun berkubang dalam kegelapan: Ketika kau mulai menggali kebenaran, bersiaplah untuk ikut terkubur bersamanya.