Is The Secret Garden A Gothic

"We all have a dark side, the difference is whether we choose to face it or hide from it." - Unknown The story follows a young girl, Selene, who's running through the woods as if something or someone is chasing her. She feels trapped, and her only solution seems to be taking her own life by jumping into the river. However, just as she is about to succumb to the water's depths, she is unexpectedly rescued by someone with great powers. Her eyes blurry, but she could still see the tall man standing over her. She felt his angry but calm aura as he spoke, "You're not supposed to die. You're the one, as the prophecy goes. The one." Accompanying her on this perilous journey is a mysterious and powerful guardian who has been tasked with keeping her safe as she learns about herself, about life, and that the fate of this world rests on her shoulder. Selene and her guardian grow closer with time. However, he knows that their love is forbidden, as the guardian's duty is to protect her, not fall in love with her.

Aria Maheshwari walked away from everything—her past as a undercover CBI officer, as the daughter of a powerful family, and the chaos of Delhi—seeking peace in a quiet town of Himachal Pradesh. But peace ends the day an envelope arrives from her best friend, Ruhani Roy, who has mysteriously disappeared. Inside the envelope—A letter informing her of Ruhani’s children and the danger looming above them — Ruhani’s photo with a stranger, behind it an address. At that location, Aria discovers a bloodied teenage girl named Vidya clutching two newborn twins. She claims Ruhani has been missing for five days after going to meet the lover she hadn’t seen in nearly a year. Following Ruhani’s last instructions, Vidya begs Aria for her help. Aria takes the twins under her care and begins to investigate. Her trail leads back to the Rajvanshi family—wealthy, powerful, and dangerous. Ruhani’s lover? Ahaan Rajvanshi, the only heir of the empire. Determined to protect the children and avenge her bestfriend, Aria agrees to a strategic marriage arranged by her parents, tying herself to the very man she intends to destroy. But the truth is far more twisted. The twins aren't his, but his hidden elder twin — Rudra's, a hidden weapon shaped by the Rajvanshi family's dark legacy. Ahaan is tormented by his brother’s disappearance, and Aria's arrival with the babies. There’s something familiar in Aria’s fierce protectiveness… something Rudra once described about the girl he loved in secret. As their reluctant partnership deepens, an undeniable attraction simmers—complicated by guilt, suspicion, and buried grief. Their fragile trust shatters when someone tries to kidnap the elder twin, triggering a confrontation that unearths secrets both have fought to keep hidden. As danger closes in and truths unravel, Aria and Ahaan must face their haunted pasts, forbidden emotions, and decide where their loyalties lie. In a world where love is treated as weakness and survival comes at a brutal cost, they’ll need more than truth to protect the innocent—they’ll need each other.

Rossie, a senior at Haul Academy is restless and torn between her crush on Michael and the pressures of exams. Unable to sleep, she wanders the campus at night and discovers a hidden, magical garden glowing with moonflowers and jasmine tended by the enigmatic Midnight Gardener. This mysterious figure, cloaked in a long coat and hat, teases out Rossie’s secret feelings for Michael, offering her a moonflower that pulses with light and thrives on truths. The Gardener’s cryptic advice and the garden’s strange allure pull Rossie into a web of self-discovery. Driven by rumors, Rossie visits the old library to confront a cursed mirror said to reveal one’s destined love or greatest loss. To her shock, the mirror first shows the Gardener’s face, then Michael with her rival, Angela, fueling her fears of rejection and inadequacy tied to her parents’ divorce. Returning to the garden, the Gardener suggests the mirror reflects her fears and not fate, urging her to face her truths without anxiety. Emboldened, Rossie confesses her feelings to Michael in the courtyard, learning he likes her too, though rumors and Angela’s influence complicate things. Their playful banter sparks hope for a deeper connection. However, during a literature class, Rossie is haunted by the Gardener’s spectral presence, visible only to her and a chilling message on the chalkboard: “The garden’s watching.” Her outburst in class draws attention, but the Gardener vanishes, leaving Rossie questioning reality. As she grapples with the Gardener’s cryptic influence and her own insecurities, Rossie realizes she must confront her fears to pursue her feelings for Michael. The story blends magical realism with a coming-of-age narrative, exploring themes of love, self-doubt, and the courage to face one’s truth.

Despite being betrayed by her boyfriend, the neglected heiress Lariette Elsher is still forced to marry him – all because her family wants to appease the fake daughter. The one she was switched at birth with. Screw this! She's done playing nice! Devasted and enraged, Lariette seeks her friend's help – to pick the best man at her butler cafe to be her contracted husband. Enter Ruediger Alvord, infamously known as the poor outcast of the Alvord family, the Elsher's family nemesis. He proposes to be Lariette's partner-in-crime, to wreak havoc in both families. While Lariette is busy getting her revenge, she fails to notice her contracted husband's strange behavior. She also fails to recognize him from a distant past. Before> Ruediger: I have nothing much on my name but, I can be a good househusband. Lariette: It's okay. I can feed you. After> Ruediger: Do you want that house? It's nothing much. Only one billion. Lariette: Aren't you just... a househusband? Since when is her husband a billionaire?! ---------- WSA 2025 Entry Exclusive cover illustration by @khaizusan (Instagram) Font and design by LotusLin We'll have two main couples in this story. Their romance will be shown simultaneously instead of in different volumes :) First: Neglected heiress FL X hidden bigshot ML Second: Returned with a bun FL X groveling husband ML

Manuel is the type of person you’d overlook—a quiet, introverted teenager who rarely talks and prefers to stay out of the spotlight. But what people don’t know is that behind his silence, he’s building something they could never imagine. It all begins when Manuel befriends an advanced AI—a public technology, not his secret—but their bond quickly changes his life forever. With his AI friend by his side, Manuel uncovers hidden systems, cracks digital markets, and starts playing games no one else can see. Step by step, he secretly amasses wealth, influence, and power—while everyone else still thinks he’s just the quiet boy in the corner. But in a world where secrets control everything, how long can you hide the truth? Manuel’s quiet rise to becoming a zillionaire is no fairy tale. Rivals are watching. Friends may turn. And sometimes, the biggest danger comes from those who already know the truth. Can you really trust anyone? Can you really keep a secret?

In the heart of a bustling Nigerian town, Zainab is known as the quiet, modest tailor with golden hands and a perfect smile. Her clients adore her. Her neighbors respect her. Her life seems flawlessly stitched—until a mysterious stranger walks into her shop and unravels everything she’s tried so hard to conceal. Beneath the layers of Ankara and silk lies a haunting past, a forbidden love, and a truth that could destroy her family’s name. As old wounds resurface and new desires bloom, Zainab is torn between duty and desire, silence and survival. How long can she keep sewing perfection when her own life is falling apart at the seams? A tale of secrets, sacrifice, and the kind of love that dares to exist in the shadows. The Tailor’s Secret is a gripping urban drama that pulls you in, thread by thread.

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?"

After living as a famous Korean vlogger-slash-mukbanger, Neoma died a (shameful) death and regressed to her tragic first life--- the life where she has to live as a hidden princess with a tyrannical father and a yandere twin brother. She died at the hands of her psycho brother in her first life. But luckily, she charmed her "big brother" this time. Her father remains a sc*mbag, though. But a blessing in disguise happened when her twin brother got "sick." Because of that, she has to pretend as the "Crown Prince," forcing her father to treat her well. She thought she was finally on the road to becoming a lady of leisure. But, despite her laziness, she still ends up completing royal duties that put her closer to the throne than her sick twin brother. The next thing she knew, they already prophesied her to be the first empress of their very patriarchal empire. Now Neoma finds herself in the middle of the succession war she never wanted to be involved in! *** [EXCERPT 1] “Neoma de Moonasterio, the first princess of Moonasterion Empire. From now on, you’ll live as Prince Nero’s proxy.” [The hell is this psycho saying?] Neoma, despite her confusion, still smiled at her father--- the emperor. “Father, what do you mean by that?” “From now on, assassins sent by my enemies would target Nero,” the emperor explained. “Until he’s strong enough to protect himself, you’ll pose as your twin brother.” Her smile froze, but she still acted innocent. “But Father. If I take my brother’s position, then wouldn’t the assassins mistake me for him and…” She stopped talking when she realized that was exactly what the emperor wanted her to do. [This sc*mbag wants me to be bait?!] “You’re no longer a princess, Neoma de Moonasterio. From now on, you’ll live as Prince Nero de Moonasterio,” Emperor Nikolai said coldly while looking down at her with glowing red eyes. “Try to survive until your twin brother comes back to take his rightful place, understood?” Neoma was too shocked to react. [Are you f*cking kidding me, you sc*mbag?!] *** [ORIGINAL BOOK COVER. Artwork by sola_cola.] *** [EXCERPT 2] “I’m so sick of your tyrannical a*s,” Neoma yelled at her father aka the emperor. “I won’t forgive you for hurting Lewis and Tteokbokki!” “What will you do about it then?” Nikolai asked with a smirk. “Kill me?” “Yes! I’ll f*cking kill you, sc*mbag!” “Language,” he warned her, upset that his five-year-old daughter curses like a sailor. “Using vulgar words is unbecoming of the future Crown Prince.” “I’m a princess!” Upon yelling those words, the royal princess’s eye color changed from ash-gray to red. [This is getting serious.] “Stop it, Nero,” Nikolai told her sternly. “If you keep that up, the royal knights will come and–” “I’m not Nero!” Neoma screeched angrily. Then she jumped in the air with her left fist, ready to punch him. “In the name of the moon, I’ll punish you!” [What…?] And Princess Neoma, pretending as the Crown Prince for her sick twin brother, punched Emperor Nikolai, her father, in the face.

Love is the sacrifice of time joy and and sometimes one's freedom

In a world filled with mystery and wonder, a botanist named Rowan embarks on an epic journey to uncover magical plants hidden within three legendary dungeons Dungeon Top, Dungeon Under, and Dungeon Overworld. Each plant he discovers not only grants him incredible power but also unlocks fragments of his long-lost memory. Alongside NPCs he meets on his quest, Rowan must face ferocious monsters, terrifying dungeon bosses, and a truth far greater than himself. Through his adventure, Rowan learns that tending to plants is not just a matter of life and death but a bridge that connects the past and the future in order to save the world.

it follows a boy and his friends as they encounter different challenges

With the rise of violent souls and dark forces threatening the delicate balance between the living and spiritual worlds, Max, a weary Reaper, is assigned to guide fragile human souls for the first time. Bound by an unexpected promise, Max finds himself entangled with a young girl whose destiny could change everything. As rebellion brews in the shadows and corruption spreads, Max must navigate a journey of duty, loss, and unlikely hope before both realms spiral into chaos.

"Red roses are ordinary—but blue roses? They don’t even exist... or so they say." Ken, a disillusioned university student, has given up on love. To him, red roses are nothing but clichés—shallow symbols of a love he no longer believes in. What he yearns for is something rare, something real—a love as elusive and extraordinary as the mythical blue rose. Then, one fateful morning, he sees he —a girl in a blue dress, standing at the bus stop like a fleeting dream. The moment their eyes meet, something inside him shifts . Is it destiny, or just another cruel trick of fate? But Ken has been hurt before. His best friend warns him that chasing fantasies will only lead to more heartbreak. Yet, as their paths begin to intertwine, Ken is forced to confront the painful truth. What if the blue rose he’s been searching for was never a flower… but a person? A hauntingly beautiful romance about love, longing, and the courage to believe in the impossible.

After a scandalous rumor threatens to destroy Ruan, a member of the wildly popular idol group One4All, he’s exiled to a luxurious island for rehab—far from the flashing cameras and public scrutiny. Bored and bitter, Ruan proposes a reckless idea to his handsome new manager, Jax: a six-month secret fling. No strings. No feelings. Just sex and rock 'n roll. But as the months pass and the line between fake and real begins to blur, Ruan is faced with an impossible choice—his career, built on years of sacrifice… or Jax, the man who unexpectedly captured his heart. Will he risk everything for love? 
Or will their secret remain buried on the island forever? An island. Six months. One secret… “We said no feelings, Ruan.”
“Yeah, well... I lied.” Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book contains mature themes, including Boy’s Love (BL) romance, adult relationships, and explicit content. Reader discretion is advised.

"She is my secret my beautiful little secret"

In the tapestry of secrets, as everyone harbors their own, Julia's story unfolds—a journey on the mountain, a rare fruit, an unexpected connection, and a concealed summer secret.

Annie only wanted a peaceful start. A new school, new classmates—maybe even a real friend. Instead, she found cruelty behind smiles. Betrayed and broken by those she trusted, Annie becomes the target of a powerful group of girls led by Rose—protected by influence, feared by everyone, and untouchable by the school’s authority. Left traumatized and alone, Annie nearly gives up… until a single friendship sparks a fire within her. Together with Kayla, another student sick of the silence, Annie begins a quiet war—training in secret, gathering evidence, and striking back from the shadows. One by one, the roots of the “Rose Garden” begin to unravel as the truth goes viral, and the hunted becomes the hunter. But Rose’s power runs deeper than anyone imagined—and the closer Annie gets to exposing it all, the more dangerous the game becomes. In a world where silence protects the guilty, one girl dares to grow thorns.

Ivonne, a despised werewolf with a rogue lineage, thought marrying her fated mate, Alpha Lincoln, would finally win his love. But after a tragic accident causes her to lose her pregnancy, her life spirals into despair as Lincoln abandons her for his pregnant ex, leaving Ivonne broken and betrayed. Out of desperation, she enters a dangerous contract marriage with the ruthless Alpha Tobias, Lincoln’s powerful uncle, agreeing to bear him a child despite knowing she can’t conceive. But what will she do when she suddenly discovers that this man she is cheating is her second chance mate? And what will she do when she miraculously finds herself pregnant, but doesn't know who the father is. As two powerful men battle over her, Ivonne is forced to survive her tumultuous new life, even as old wounds resurface, new enemies appear and deadly secrets emerge. Will Ivonne find happiness with the man she’s grown to love, or will her past destroy her once and for all?

Politics was the game. Love was the scandal. Senator Nathan York was everything Micah Lennox hated—older, married, conservative, and dangerously good at keeping secrets. They were rivals on the debate stage, enemies in public, and burning for each other behind closed doors. But when Nathan gets shot at a public event and collapses into Micah’s arms, the world stops watching the election... and starts digging into their past. A year ago, they were just opponents. Now? The truth is bleeding out. A conservative Politician can lose it all if the secret of the affair gets out. Lies. Power. Obsession. This isn't just about who wins the vote. It's about who survives the fallout.

"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!"

//chapters every Thursday// Evan Solene’s arrival at the Veiled Academy is supposed to mark the beginning of his prestigious education in the magical arts. But instead, it quickly becomes a descent into a world of secrets, power struggles, and forbidden magic. Beneath the academy's prestigious reputation lies a hidden truth: its true purpose is far more sinister than anyone knows. In the midst of this shadowy realm, Evan finds himself drawn to Selene Arkwright, a mysterious and compelling student with a lineage that connects her to the academy’s darkest history. As their bond grows, Evan discovers Selene’s crucial role in a centuries-old conflict that threatens to tear the academy—and the magical world—apart. The more Evan uncovers about the academy’s true purpose, the more he realizes that his arrival is no accident. The academy isn't just a place of learning; it's a breeding ground for the next generation of dark mages, and the students are nothing more than pawns in a deadly game. With powerful forces aligned against them, Evan and Selene must navigate a web of lies, betrayal, and temptation that threatens not only their love but their very lives. At the heart of this treacherous institution stands Mira Solene, a teacher with a brutal reputation, who harbors her own dark ambitions. As Evan and Selene uncover Mira's role in the academy’s corrupt leadership, they must decide how far they’re willing to go to expose the truth and free themselves from the academy’s deadly grip.

Kirana Diandra, seorang podcaster dengan sejuta kata dan tawa, merasa dunianya dijungkirbalikkan saat mendapat tugas mustahil: mewawancarai Arion Baskara. Arion bukan sekadar pria pendiam. Dia adalah seorang perfumer jenius yang berkomunikasi melalui aroma, bukan kata. Dunianya adalah keheningan, botol-botol kaca, dan kenangan pahit yang terkunci dalam sebuah parfum yang tak pernah selesai ia ciptakan. Bagi Kirana, Arion adalah narasumber tersulit. Bagi Arion, Kirana adalah 'cahaya' yang terlalu terang, mengusik ketenangannya yang temaram. Namun, ketika Kirana tanpa sengaja mengidentifikasi sebuah aroma langka di studio Arion, sebuah pintu tak kasat mata terbuka. Arion memberinya sebuah tantangan: bantu dia menemukan 'nada yang hilang' dari parfum masa lalunya, dan wawancara eksklusif akan menjadi miliknya. Perjalanan mereka bukan lagi sekadar tentang kata dan wangi, melainkan tentang dua jiwa yang mencoba saling menyembuhkan. Mampukah Kirana menjadi cahaya yang menerjemahkan keheningan Arion? Dan sanggupkah Arion merelakan aroma masa lalunya demi meracik masa depan yang baru bersama Kirana? Karena terkadang, perasaan yang paling dalam justru tercium, bukan terucap.

(ON HIATUS FOR NOW) August always felt like life was against him—his parents are divorcing, his only friend betrayed him, and he's stuck in an endless loop of misfortune. But when a late-night conversation with an AI takes a terrifying turn, his reality begins to glitch. His computer malfunctions, his parents start acting strangely, and mysterious men in black suits come knocking at his door. Forced to run with nowhere to hide, August quickly realizes that the world around him isn’t what it seems. The people he once trusted now feel like strangers, and the more he questions reality, the more it seems to unravel. Is he just paranoid? Or has he stumbled upon something he was never meant to see? In a city where nothing is certain, August must find the truth before it finds him first.

At St. Lucia All Girls Academy, rivalry is tradition. Between the elegant Primrose Union and the rebellious Iris House, love is forbidden. But when two first-years from opposite sides start falling for each other, they’ll risk everything to rewrite the rules—one stolen smile at a time. Can love really bloom where war never ends?