Heavy Hearted

Ah Dai, a thief known for his simplicity and innocence, was taken away by the powerful alchemist Goris for some purpose during a theft. From then on, Ah Dai's fate was forever altered. Destiny led him to save the most formidable assassin on the continent. The King of Assassins, driven by revenge, forcibly took Ah Dai to a remote town and generously imparted all he knew. Would Ah Dai transform into a demon from his encounters with the assassin? With the blood-red sun in the sky, anomalies must arise. Blood rain drenches the world, and calamity is imminent. A millennium calamity is about to descend on the continent – who will be the savior? A fusion of kindness and evil, a unification of light and darkness, initiated by the Phoenix's Blood, transcends numerous impediments. Bonded by the Divine Dragon's Blood, love is eternally infused.

Maxwell "Max" Tate is 18, 300 pounds, and stuck in a rut. Life has always felt like an uphill battle—winded by stairs, invisible at school, and mocked for his secret dream of becoming a bodybuilder like The Rock. But when a mysterious system unlocks in his life, everything changes. The system gamifies Max’s fitness journey, turning his weight loss and bodybuilding dreams into quests, challenges, and stats. From struggling to finish a single push-up to lifting barbells like a pro, Max discovers that his greatest rival isn’t the weights or the gym—it’s his own self-doubt. As he pushes through grueling workouts, learns the discipline of meal prep, and starts to see results, Max realizes this journey is about more than building muscle. It’s about reclaiming his confidence, proving to himself that he’s capable of greatness, and inspiring others to transform their lives. But with every success comes a new challenge. Can Max stay true to his dream, even as the system’s mysterious origins hint at a greater purpose? Or will the weight of the world—and the temptations of his past—crush him before he reaches the stage? "Iron Will" is a heartfelt, uplifting story about self-discovery, perseverance, and the power of taking life one rep at a time.

When the Grey Mist covers the earth, the miasma corrupts the creatures, and the threads manipulate the minds of others, those red eyes will rest upon humanity and the very order of the world will go mad. Humans will fade into the background, clinging to life as they always have. In the first era, someone stayed. In the second era, someone woke up. In the third era, someone will rise again and again. Let the steam roar! Let the ancient technology shine! Let the battle between humanity and the anomalies, the oddities, the contamination zones never cease! May my Pneuma allow me to take this mortal body to challenge these beings! May my axe resonate with my heart! In the end, only humanity will remain, by hook or by crook! ------------------------- Cover made using AI. English is my second language and I'm using Grammarly for thoses mistakes I didn't see, so, if you notice one, comment, please! I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com

When a tragic workplace accident lands ambitious engineer Josh in the hospital, his perfectly ordered world begins to unravel. Burdened by the expectations of running his father’s prestigious company, Josh hides his vulnerabilities behind a wall of pride and independence—until he meets Josie, a compassionate nurse with a kind smile and a determined spirit. Josie’s days at Beacon Health Hospital are spent mending wounds and offering hope, but her own past has left scars that refuse to heal. When fate brings Josh into her care, their connection is immediate yet complicated. Beneath their sharp banter and undeniable chemistry lies a chance for something neither of them expected: a second chance at life and love. As they navigate the challenges of recovery, career pressures, and personal demons, Josh and Josie find themselves drawn together in ways they can’t ignore. But with secrets lingering in their hearts and the weight of their separate worlds pulling them apart, they must decide if love is worth the risk. Can two wounded souls find healing in each other, or will the barriers between them prove insurmountable? **Excerpt** Josh winced as Josie gently unwrapped the bandages on his arm, revealing the angry red gash beneath. She worked carefully, her hands steady and sure, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Does it hurt much?" she asked, her voice soft but professional. He looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than he intended. "Not as much as it did yesterday. Your touch helps," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. Josie rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Flattery doesn’t speed up healing, Mr. Josh" "Josh," he corrected. "I told you, call me Josh." She nodded, her focus returning to the wound. "Okay, Josh. But you’re still my patient, so let me do my job." The silence that followed was heavy but not uncomfortable. Josh watched her, noticing how the light caught the strands of hair that had slipped from her bun. She was efficient, focused, yet there was a warmth to her that put him at ease in a way he hadn’t expected. "You're good at this," he said suddenly. "At dressing wounds?" she asked, glancing up briefly. "At making people feel like everything’s going to be okay," he replied, his voice quieter now. Josie paused, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, the world outside the hospital room seemed to fade away. "That’s my job," she said softly, breaking the silence. "To make sure you leave here better than you came."

Mark, a dedicated employee, works under the demanding but attractive boss, Mr. Jay. Mark secretly harbors feelings for Mr. Jay but struggles with his emotions due to their professional relationship and fear of rejection. Meanwhile, Mr. Jay, unaware of Mark's feelings, begins to exhibit possessive behavior, fueled by jealousy, when Mark interacts with others. As tensions rise, Mark remains confused about Mr. Jay's intentions, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

 It all started with losing her mother, getting thrown into a boarding school, and then having the rumored witch-like princess of the kingdom desire her and want her by all means necessary. But it isn't the innocent type of desire she had expected. It's something much darker than she could ever handle.         ****  Sera didn't think her life would ever take a turn for the worst until her worthless father remarried her mother's half sister and, on her orders, sent Sera to a boarding school that was far off in a different kingdom—Elysium High, an all-girls academy for the most prestigious daughters in all of the seven kingdoms.    In Elysium, only the most powerful could survive, as even the prettiest and most innocent-looking faces had skeletons in their closests and would ruin anyone or anything that got in their way. Unfortunately for innocent and naive Sera, she would become the newest prey of Elysium, and everyone wants a piece of the beautiful redhead.     But what happens when the most unexpected person also takes an interest in her?   Electra's name alone was enough to get the entire school shaking in fear. Not only was she the only heir to the most powerful kingdom in the realm, she was also known as the cold-hearted queen of Elysium High. Nothing and no one ever caught Electra's attention, until the arrival of Sera, where everything changed.     And all it took was for clumsy Sera to bump into the most powerful one of them all.  *** THIS BOOK IS RATED 18+! It contains matured content such as: ⁃ Bullying ⁃ Smut (BDSM included) ⁃ Violence. ⁃ Harem So read with caution, and don't say you weren't warned!

In a world driven by technological advancements and societal expectations, Remond, an overly emotional and timid high school student often labeled as a "crybaby," struggles to navigate life. Enduring relentless bullying and self-doubt, he finds solace in the unwavering support of his best friend, Sid, and his kind-hearted uncle, Dr. Edwards, a renowned microbiologist. But Remond’s ordinary life takes a dramatic turn when a tragic incident leaves him exposed to one of his uncle’s experimental serums. Gaining the mysterious ability to absorb and release kinetic energy, he is thrust into a world of danger and responsibility. Now, the boy who was once mocked for his sensitivity must rise to the challenge of protecting his loved ones and uncovering the truth behind a shadowy conspiracy threatening his city. With his emotions becoming his greatest strength and his newfound power as his shield, Remond embarks on a journey of self-discovery, courage, and redemption. The Heart of the Underdog is a story of transformation, proving that even the weakest among us can become heroes when their hearts are in the right place.

Lyra Whitmore is a gifted witch from a powerful but feared kingdom, bound by duty and the expectations of her people. Bold and clever, she’s no stranger to trouble, but her world turns upside down when she is kidnapped by a mysterious warrior. Rowan Blackwood is intense, secretive, and fiercely loyal to his king—everything Lyra should hate. Yet, there’s something about him that she can’t ignore. As time passes, Lyra begins to see cracks in his cold exterior, and her guarded heart starts to soften. But Rowan’s past is full of secrets, and Lyra’s very existence threatens his kingdom. With forbidden feelings growing between them, Lyra must choose: risk everything for a love that could ruin them both, or stay loyal to the kingdom she calls home. "I am leaving," the girl said, seething with anger. But the man held her hand and spun her around, pulling her completely into his arms. "No, you are not. They don’t know you’re the enemy’s daughter, Lyra. When they do, they’re going to come after you…" Lyra was stunned for a moment. What the hell? Not only does this girl look like me, her name is also Lyra! Then she saw the man lift the girl in a bridal style, despite her protests, and still, Lyra couldn’t see the man’s face. She was about to follow them when she heard her name being called.

Niana "Nia" Mirren is a brilliant game developer with a past she’d rather forget. After a scandal nearly destroyed her career, she's poured her heart into PixelWave, her own gaming startup, and is on the brink of launching her biggest project yet. All she needs is the right investor to make her dreams a reality. Enter Zachary "Zack" Morris, a former NSA agent back from a grueling mission overseas, Zack steps in to help his brother’s company, Morrison Group, to help him as interim CEO. The last person he expects to see at the pitch meeting is Nia—the woman he’s never been able to forget. As their worlds collide, sparks fly, and old wounds are reopened. Forced to work together, Nia and Zack must navigate their undeniable attraction and the unresolved past that threatens to keep them apart. Can they find a way to trust each other again, or will the secrets between them destroy their chance at a future together? In "Code of Hearts", love is a game of codes—where cracking it could cost more than just the heart, and the stakes have never been higher. All Rights Reserved!

In the neon-lit streets of futuristic Neo-Tokyo, Rei Kuroda, a haunted bounty hunter, and Aiko Saito, a skilled hacker with ties to a powerful corporation, cross paths in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Once lovers torn apart by a devastating war, they now find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that threatens to unravel the city’s delicate balance of power. As they are forced to confront their past, their rekindled feelings complicate their missions, drawing them into a high-stakes battle against a rogue AI and the dark forces controlling Neo-Tokyo. With every encounter, the line between love and duty blurs, leading them to a final confrontation where they must decide whether to protect the world they once knew or to forge a new future together. Neon Sakura is a gripping tale of romance, action, and redemption, set in a world where technology and humanity collide.

In The Heart of Humanity, the story revolves around the Blue Ocean team led by Shinkage and the Bloodline of the Crimson family, exploring the complex conflict of beliefs and choices. If the ultimate goals are the same, but the beliefs are different, how will the characters choose? There are only two options: either adopt the other’s beliefs or stay true to their own.

Trevor has been alone for a while, and the moment he agrees to go to the wedding of a distant friend, he bumps into the one person who's the cause of his loneliness. It's taking a lot for him not to run to her and ask her to be his again. But he can't do that because he still doesn't know what caused her to leave him. Maybe he'll find out soon, seeing as he's unable to stay away from her, just like before.

"I can't let a woman who looks like my wife sell her soul just to climb up the ladder—that would desecrate my wife's face!" Forced to become his substitute wife and fulfill the obligations of marriage, Jiang Sophia was utterly dominated by Lee Noah

Sophie Matthews’ life has been defined by loss and hardship, all traced back to the powerful Carrington family. When a chance encounter with the enigmatic Damien Carrington draws her into his world, Sophie sees an opportunity to uncover their secrets and seek justice. But as her plan unfolds, unexpected feelings blur the lines between revenge and redemption. In a world of wealth, betrayal, and dangerous rivals, Sophie must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and whether love can heal even the deepest wounds.

Rhea, a stunning and independent woman, captures the attention of Justin, a ruthless Mafia leader. As their worlds collide, Justin must choose between loyalty to his organization and his desire for Rhea. Will their love redeem him or destroy everything?

Two cities. Two families. One dark secret that changed everything. As children, Ethan and Isabella were bound by an innocent promise to always stay together. But one fateful night, a devastating betrayal tore their lives apart. Years later, Ethan has transformed into a cold and powerful man fueled by a burning desire for revenge, while Isabella is a compassionate yet mysterious woman carrying scars of her own. Fate brings them back together, but this time, Ethan has a plan. To destroy the man who shattered his world, he marries Isabella—his enemy’s beloved daughter. As their lives intertwine in a web of deception, hatred, and unspoken emotions, Ethan must face the ultimate question: Will he choose love or revenge? And when Isabella uncovers the truth about her father’s dark deeds, will she side with the man she loves or the father she once adored? In a game of vengeance, betrayal, and forbidden love, the stakes are higher than ever. What will win in the end: the heart or the past?

In a world where magic has been forgotten and wizards live hidden among the people, Bianca, a girl full of imagination and passion for fantastic stories, dreams of a world where magic is real. However, as she grows, she loses hope that such a world will ever exist. Everything changes when she meets Lux, a wizard with supernatural powers who fights for a just cause that could change the world as Bianca knows it. Together, they will fight for their dreams, but will they succeed in their mission or fall into the hands of enemies who will stop at nothing to defeat them?

Ginah, a beautiful and intelligent new student, becomes an instant target for bullying by her jealous classmates. But when things get out of hand, senior Miya intervenes, sparking an unexpected friendship. As she navigates the treacherous halls of high school, Ginah finds an unlikely ally in Miya, a brave and compassionate senior who stands up for her against all odds.

Ellie Parker never expected to cross paths with Liam Carter again. Once the boy who made her high school heart flutter with every crooked smile and guitar strum, Liam is now a dazzling rock star with millions of fans and a reputation as a heartbreaker. Ellie, however, is just a quiet college student trying to keep her grades up while working part-time to stay afloat. Their worlds couldn’t be more different, but fate has other plans. When Ellie hears a hit song on the radio with lyrics eerily reminiscent of their shared past, her heart skips a beat. Could Liam have written it for her? Skeptical yet intrigued, Ellie finds herself thrown into an unexpected reunion when Liam attends their college’s annual gala as a surprise guest performer. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but Ellie isn’t the starstruck fan Liam is used to. She’s the one who got away—and she’s not convinced that revisiting their past won’t leave her heartbroken. As Liam tries to prove his feelings through late-night serenades, stolen moments, and heartfelt confessions, Ellie is forced to confront her insecurities. Could the girl who once hid in the library really be enough for someone whose life is constantly in the spotlight?

..

A story of a writer who finds love in the most unexpected way. A story about breaking free from the walls she had built around herself.

Esmeralda "Esme" Moreau never imagined her life would lead to a secret arrangement with Alexander "Alex" Vale, the enigmatic billionaire. Desperate to save her family from ruin caused by her stepmother’s reckless spending, Esmeralda became Alex’s "kept woman," sacrificing her freedom for her family’s survival. Yet behind the power imbalance, she found herself falling for the man beneath the facade. But whispers of Alex’s first love returning convinced Esmeralda she was only a replacement. Heartbroken and determined to protect herself, she vanished without a trace, hiding the fact that she was carrying his child. Three years later, Esmeralda is a thriving tech entrepreneur, fiercely independent and raising her son, Luca Moreau-Vale, on her own terms. But her carefully rebuilt life comes crashing down when Alex spots her at a gala. Now more ruthless and determined than ever, Alex confronts Esmeralda, his fury ignited by her disappearance and his shock intensified by Luca’s uncanny resemblance to him. As Alex fights to reclaim the family he didn’t know he had, old wounds and new betrayals surface. Esmeralda must navigate the scars of her abusive past, from her manipulative stepmother to her scheming stepsister, while grappling with her unresolved feelings for Alex. Meanwhile, Alex is determined to prove that Esmeralda was never second-best, even as jealous rivals and dangerous secrets threaten to tear them apart again. In this tale of passion, redemption, and second chances, can two hearts bound by secrets find their way back to one another?

Red Anderson has always been a survivor, but when a fatal car accident ends her life, she awakens in the unlikeliest place—the body of Yulianna McGregor, the delicate daughter of a baron from a distant era. Thrust into a world of opulence and treachery, Red is forced to navigate the fragile facade of Yulianna’s life while seeking answers about her own death and this bewildering second chance at life. But Yulianna’s world is far from safe. A controlling stepmother, a manipulative father, and the shadow of a powerful Duke, threaten to unearth secrets that should have stayed buried. As Red delves deeper into Yulianna’s past, she discovers that her presence may not be a coincidence, and her escape may come at a greater cost than she imagined. Caught between unraveling the mystery of Yulianna’s death, confronting the dangers of her new reality, and resisting an undeniable pull toward the Duke, Red faces an impossible choice: fight to return to her modern life or embrace the chaos of the one she’s inherited.

Olivia was in a marriage contract with a heartless billionaire named Aaron but then the day the contract expired, Aaron abandoned her as if that one year they spent together didn't matter. Olivia hated every single moment of the situation. She made a mistake of falling in love with Aaron but he didn't seem to care even when she confessed. She regretted ever getting into a marriage contract with Aaron. Now she wasted a whole year on a person who did not care about her. The contract has expired and she had to start her life a fresh. She felt lost, heartbroken and moreover, she hated Aaron more than anything in the world. How was she supposed to heal from loving someone who didn't reciprocate her feelings. She thought that just maybe, Aaron felt something but seeing how he heartlessly abandoned her after the contract was over, told her that he hated her and he couldn't wait to get rid off her. Since she had no other choice but to move on, she moved to a new city to start new and also move on from the trauma Aaron had impacted on her. But just when she had finally healed and even gotted a new boyfriend, Aaron showed up saying he wants her to remarry him.

Roses, never in my life would I have imagined that I'd be scared of them, no, not scared of the roses, but what they Were covered in, Blood, the blood of someone, someone He killed, He has become my shadow, And have become his, Trapped to never see the light of day, until one of us breaks.

**Title: "Heist of the Heart"** In the bustling city of Verona, where love stories are as abundant as the café aromas wafting through the streets, Mia Carter was known as the queen of the art of seduction. An aspiring romance novelist, she had a knack for understanding the intricacies of love. But despite her expertise, Mia had never experienced true romance herself. That was until she met Ethan Blake, the charming yet elusive owner of a vintage bookstore tucked away in a cobblestone alley. Ethan had a reputation for being a heartbreaker, a man who captivated women with his enchanting smile and mysterious aura, only to leave them longing for more. Intrigued by his complexities, Mia decided that she would attempt the impossible: to steal Ethan's heart. Inspired by her own romantic escapades, she devised a playful plan to win him over. Mia began frequenting Ethan's bookstore, not just to browse the shelves but to engage him in witty banter. She would strategically select books that mirrored their conversations—romantic classics and heartwarming tales. Each visit turned into a delightful exchange, with laughter echoing against the book-laden walls. Unbeknownst to Ethan, Mia was penning their interactions in her journal, crafting a story of their own. As the weeks passed, their connection deepened. Mia discovered that beneath Ethan's rugged exterior lay a heart yearning for genuine love. However, a shadow from his past loomed over him—an ex-girlfriend who seemed determined to win him back. Determined not to let this obstacle stand in her way, Mia concocted a scheme to eliminate the competition. One evening, she invited Ethan to a local art gallery, knowing his ex would be present. As they wandered through the vibrant displays, Mia's playful charm and genuine interest in his passions shone brightly. When his ex approached with a flirty smile, Ethan simply turned to Mia, whose confidence and authenticity captivated him. By the end of the night, as they strolled beneath the starlit sky, Ethan turned to Mia and, with a soft smile, confessed, “I think you might have just stolen my heart.” In that moment, Mia realized that true love wasn’t about elaborate schemes; it was about being oneself. With hearts intertwined, they embarked on a journey of love, proving that sometimes, the best heist is simply being real.