Père Célibataire

Silence. Like a nice bucket of shhhhhhhhh. Everyone shut the effing fudge UP! That's all I've ever wanted. *Sigh.* But silence comes in different flavors. There's mint - the peaceful kind that wraps around you like a blanket. The kind I chase at 2 AM. I've cried once. Just once. With a bucket beside me, watching heroes with super suits and impossible strength tear each other apart. Somehow that feels less broken than my reality. Then there's the suffocating silence at school. Not an ice cream flavor. This one tastes like metal and shame. High school is my personal hell. Empty wallet, empty lunch tray, empty seat beside me like I'm radioactive. Empty soul on Wednesdays because middles are always the worst. *The usual.* But Emily made the silence bearable. Mint-flavored again. Until she broke something between us. *Snap.* One moment she's whispering secrets with me, the next she's weaponizing them. She scattered my private thoughts, added her own twisted lies. The betrayal burns hotter than the stares drilling into my back. I went from invisible to spectacle. Being a ghost feels like luxury when you're dodging spit balls and "accidental" lunch trays. But somewhere between my third panic attack and contemplating switching schools... *Something shifted.* Like in those games you play, when your character suddenly glows and the screen flashes: "New Skill Unlocked" And it wasn't just in my head. I tested it. Small things at first – a pencil moving across my desk when I focused hard enough. Then books. Then someone's lunch tray right as they walked past Emily. *tap tap tap* I used to think rock bottom was the end. *Well ladies and gentlemen,* it's just a really messed up spawn point. And now? I don't stumble from cliffs anymore. I swim in gravity, and dive head first.

Matthew stood there, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I did everything I could for you, Rachel. I sacrificed so much—" She cut him off with a bitter laugh. "Sacrificed? Please, you barely managed to keep up with my lifestyle. I had men lined up, rich, powerful men, who would’ve given me the world. And I turned them down for you. What a joke." Matthew’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I loved you, Rachel. I thought we were building a life together." Rachel smirked as she zipped up her designer bag. "Love doesn’t pay the bills, Matthew. Love doesn’t buy the things I want. And frankly, you just couldn’t keep up. So, I’m moving on—to someone who can." As she headed toward the door, she paused to deliver one final blow. "You’ll never be more than what you are right now—a pathetic, broke man with nothing to offer. Enjoy your sad little life, Matthew. I know I will." Matthew Donovan has always been underestimated. Betrayed by those closest to him and left with nothing, he discovers that his family’s exile is over, and he is the heir to a vast business empire. As Matthew steps into a life of luxury and influence, he faces new challenges, including a vengeful ex-girlfriend, her scheming brother, and a world of deceitful elites. But when a bomb explodes at a high-profile party meant to announce his return, Matthew realizes that his journey to reclaim his family's legacy is fraught with danger. With secrets unfolding and enemies lurking in the shadows, Matthew must navigate treacherous waters to protect what is his and uncover the truth behind the attack.

"You think you can stop me, Aiden? You're nothing but a pawn in this game." Malrik's voice echoed through the cold, sterile darkness of the virtual world, laced with malice. "In The Abyss, I am the ruler. And you will fall, just like everyone else." Aiden Cross never wanted to return to The Abyss. But when his sister’s mysterious death resurfaces in the form of a cryptic message, he’s pulled back into the deadly virtual world he tried to escape. Now, he must navigate shifting alliances, face dangerous enemies, and confront a hidden AI that holds the key to everything. But with every step, the line between reality and illusion blurs—each move he makes seems to play into the hands of the malevolent forces that control it all. In the fight to uncover the truth and save humanity, Aiden will have to decide: is he a hero, or is he just another pawn in a game he doesn’t understand? But when the virtual world begins to merge with reality... Will Aiden be able to stop Malrik before it’s too late? Or will the game consume him entirely? The countdown has begun. The question is... who will survive the game?

As he has been kidnapped repeatedly. Jake the young master of the Blake family lived as a bum discarded and forgotten remnant of the society in order to hide his identity. Fortunately he fell in love with Sonya when he was in college and married her, later on, things fell out of proportion when she thought Jake's family was mediocre and could not match with hers so she abandoned Jake without mercy. When the two met again Jake was already living in a luxurious villa and driving expensive cars and shutters making those that wronged him pay him for the suffering they caused him. “You're so shameless being kept as a side piece by another woman.” Sonya rebuked angrily. “So what? Do you remember everyone around you thought I was so shameless to be kept a side piece by you, so why should I keep my face? You're really lifting me up.” Jake said contemptuously and shook the glass of wine in his hand.

Julie’s expression hardened, her desperation transforming into a steely determination. "If you really love me, you would do this for me," she insisted. "You have nothing to lose, Jason. But for me, it means everything. My career, my future... It’s all at stake here." Jason Grey felt the weight of her words pressing down on him, a crushing pressure that made it hard to breathe. He loved Julie deeply, but the idea of sacrificing himself for her crime was unthinkable. "Julie, this is insane," he said, his voice strained. "You’re asking me to throw my life away for something you did. I can’t do that." After taking the fall for a crime his wife committed, Jason was released from prison after five years. Upon returning home, he found his wife in an intimate position with his best friend. Feeling betrayed and heartbroken, Jason confronted his wife, only for her to show no remorse and reveal her intention to divorce him. Just as everything seemed to be going wrong for Jason, he received a phone call from a woman who revealed his true identity: he was actually the son of the owner of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, and his real name was Jason Tempest. Now, with a new identity and a renewed sense of purpose, Jason vowed to take revenge on his wife and best friend for their betrayal. However, he also needed to prove himself worthy and adapt to the cutthroat world of business.

The Cursed Town is a gripping supernatural thriller that takes readers into the heart of a mysterious town shrouded in secrets and whispers. Nestled in a forgotten corner of the world, Cedar Hollow is a place where the veil between the living and the dead is disturbingly thin, and the past seems to haunt every corner of the town. With a history that’s been buried by its inhabitants, Cedar Hollow’s residents are bound by a terrifying curse that has plagued them for generations. The town’s sinister reputation is whispered in hushed tones, and its eerie atmosphere leaves all who visit unsettled. But Sophie Rivers, a young journalist with a personal stake in uncovering the truth, isn’t easily deterred. Sophie arrives in Cedar Hollow to investigate the sudden disappearance of her estranged brother, Nathan, who had been living in the town. Determined to uncover the truth, Sophie soon discovers that her brother’s disappearance is only one of many, and all signs point to a dark, supernatural force that has plagued the town for centuries. As Sophie digs deeper into the history of Cedar Hollow, she uncovers a tragic tale of betrayal, sorrow, and a pact made long ago by the town’s founding families, a pact that cursed the very land and its people. With the help of an enigmatic local historian named Elliot Voss, Sophie begins to unravel the mystery, but every revelation brings her closer to a horrifying truth. The curse is not just a legend—it’s alive, and it’s growing stronger. As strange and supernatural events begin to escalate, Sophie finds herself in a battle for her life, trying to break the curse before it consumes not only her brother but herself as well.

Jamie Aldridge never asked for this. He never asked for the system, for the power, for the missions that drag him deeper into Seattle’s underworld. But when life throws a digital demon into your head, what choice do you have? Play the game or get played. Simple. Except it’s not that simple. Because this game? It’s rigged. And the stakes? Well, they’re higher than Jamie could ever imagine. "Who the hell are you?" Jamie demanded, his voice rough with exhaustion, and his mind a tangled mess of fear and fury. The Broker smiled, a thin, calculated curve of lips that held no warmth. "I'm the man who’s going to change your life, Jamie. Or end it. Depends on how well you play." "Play?" Jamie spat, barely holding back the urge to punch that smug look off his face. "I’m not playing your game. Not anymore." The Broker’s eyes shone with a dark and knowing aura. "Oh, but you are. You just don’t realize it yet." Now Jamie’s on a collision course with forces beyond his control—shadowy figures who pull the strings, secrets buried so deep they might as well be myths, and a system that seems determined to push him to the brink. And just when he thinks he can’t take any more, life throws him another curveball: Emma. His unbearable bully of a wife. Pregnant. Yeah. Ain't gonna end well. In a world where survival is a day-to-day battle and the lines between ally and enemy blur with every step, Jamie has to figure out one thing—how to win when every move feels like a losing one. Because failure? It’s not an option. Not when his life, and the life of his unborn child, hangs in the balance.

“I’m not here to stay her bestie, Aiden. I came back to New York to marry her.” Wesley slips a card from his pocket, holding it out like it’s radioactive. “This is me being generous. There’s a hundred thousand dollars loaded on it. Take it. Go home, pack your things, and disappear. I’ll tell everyone you left because life got too hard.” Aiden stares. Not at the money—he could buy a hundred of those cards without blinking—but at the audacity. Because if Wesley knew who he really was… He’d be the one begging to disappear. **** By day, Aiden is the fool. The humble househusband with a dish towel slung over his shoulder, humming as he mops floors, checks the stew, and gets barked at by his in-laws like he’s less than nothing. Everyone thinks he’s soft. Gullible. Replaceable. But by night? He becomes the man the city's richest fear. In a dark room filled with shadows and smoke, he gives orders—orders that no billionaire, no politician, no enemy dares question. They call him sir. But to his wife’s family? He’s still just the broke son-in-law. They don’t know the game they’re playing. Yet.

"You're a church rat, Deigo. Poor and pathetic. I can't keep living with someone who can't provide for me. I should have listened to my parents when they warned me Deigo. You are a worthless waste of time, I should have never spared you a glance Deigo. I deserve better than you" Deigo felt numb, pained. "How can you say that? I've given you everything. Protected you, loved you... Our child..." Sophia rolled her eyes. "That child is not yours. It's Benjamin’s. And I'm tired of pretending otherwise. It’s time you face reality Deigo. People like you don’t belong in my world, you should be with your poor kind of people and not me, so please, let's save both of us the trouble and move on” Deigo's world shattered. ••• After being forced into a three-year marriage to protect Sophia's family, Deigo discovers she's pregnant with another man's child. Heartbroken, she presents to him a divorce paper, Deigo signs the divorce papers. Thrown into jail, Deigo vows to rise again and make them pay for their betrayal.

BLURB: The new MMORPG game ‘Wisher's Death,’ with the adaptive technology of transporting the players into the game, has become the most played online game. Everybody, both old and young, wanted to play the game; thus, its popularity, as well as cost, went over the charts. These four teenagers, Eiden, Gabbie, Jason, and Derrick, poured their hearts and sweat to save enough money to play the game. But instead of getting transported into the game, they transmigrate to a whole new realm where mutated beasts and mythical creatures threaten the existence of humanity. With no hope of ever returning, Alas! They're awarded leveling-up systems. The Emperor has said “Whoever makes the Upper Ten rank and becomes a protector of Jingwu shall have their greatest wish granted from the goddess's wish orb,” Is this their ticket to returning home? What is the secret behind this wish orb? Can they endure and survive the plagues of this new world?