Shelley has long harboured a belief that men are inherently untrustworthy due to past experiences of selfishness and betrayal. However, upon meeting Ben at the mall, she faces a dilemma: can he alter her deep-seated views, or will he reinforce them? Despite her instinct to distance herself, an undeniable attraction to Ben complicates her resolve. Shelley's painful history with relationships, particularly her father's treachery, leads her to reject men, yet Ben is determined to pursue her, challenging her perceptions and heart. Ben, who has endured his share of suffering in the past, faces a crucial challenge: will he be able to remain steadfastly by Shelley's side until the very end? 💞 Here is the polished version of "Unexpected Encounter," ready to unfold one captivating chapter at a time. Please remember, this tale unfolds as a slow-burn romance, rich in emotional depth and nuance. It invites you to embrace the journey, requiring patience as the characters' connections gradually deepen and evolve.🤗 FEATURED: @Romance( Diverse Lit) All Rights Reserved 2024 ©️ shytabby

Beauty and Derek met in high school and fell deeply in love, believing nothing could ever come between them. But life had other plans, and circumstances tore them apart before their story could truly begin. Ten years later, they meet again, only to realize that time changes people... and love is never simple. As old feelings return and new problems arise, they must decide if what they once had is worth fighting for. ♡'･ᴗ･'♡ Warning: You might get attached... just saying Romance • Young Adult • Drama Cover made by Yours Truly ✨

After fleeing her abusive ex in the middle of the night, Chloe Dawson arrives in a small coastal town with nothing but a duffel bag, a crying six-month-old baby, and the last of her savings. She rents a tiny apartment where the walls are paper-thin. Next door lives Sergeant Mason Kane, disciplined, exhausted, emotionally closed off, and currently on leave between military assignments. After years in the army, silence is the only thing that helps him sleep. Then the baby starts crying every night. At first, Mason is irritated. Chloe is terrified of him. Every knock on the door reminds her of the man she escaped.

After picking up the wrong phone at a busy supermarket deli, Millicent Andoh unknowingly steps into a life that is not her own-one mysteriously intertwined with hers. The phone she held offers more questions than answers. It holds secrets, half-truths, and unsettling clues that suggest the man behind it was never meant to be a stranger. As Millicent digs deeper, coincidences begin to feel deliberate, and every discovery leads to a single, troubling question: Was this encounter truly an accident? What secrets will Millicent unravel before the truth is buried for good? Enter a world of hidden connections, silent watchers, and fate with a plan in Millicent's Story. All Rights Reserved 2026 ©️ shytabby

Dominic St. Claire never expected to fall in love. Melody Harrington never expected a chance encounter at a bar to change her life. But in a town haunted by fear and secrets, some people are not who they seem - and some shades of red mean more than love.

Professor Edward Keane has spent his life teaching literature at Havenbrook University. When his student, Tiana Henderson, asks him to review her mystery manuscript, he agrees without hesitation. As Edward reads through the draft, certain details begin to feel uncomfortably familiar, blurring the line between imagination and reality. What begins as a simple review soon becomes something Edward cannot ignore. *** THE FINAL DRAFT: STORIES DON'T FORGET THEIR AUTHORS #OpenNovellaContest2026 #ONC2026 Prompt #109

Seventeen-year-old Grace Walker never imagined that four words could haunt a person forever. "See you on Wednesday." It was the last thing her parents said before the tragic accident that took them both away. Forced to leave everything behind, Grace moves to a new town to live with relatives she barely knows. Between a new school, unfamiliar faces, and the crushing weight of grief, she struggles to find her place in a life that no longer feels like hers. At first, everything seems normal. Until strange memories, unsettling dreams, and unanswered questions begin to follow her everywhere. And the more she searches for answers, the less certain everything becomes.

In the summer of 1992, the Anderson clan lost more than a son. They lost their future. Smuggled out of a massacre by the family's loyal maid, baby Kelvin Anderson grows up believing he is an ordinary man, far removed from the bloody empire he was born into. But when the woman who raised him is murdered, her final letter reveals a truth that changes everything. Kelvin isn't who he thought he was. Driven by grief and a desperate need for answers, he returns to Gold Coast and infiltrates the powerful Anderson clan-the very family he never knew. There, he earns the trust of his older brother, Julius, uncovers decades of betrayal, and finds himself caught between revenge, loyalty, and an unexpected chance at love. As long-buried secrets come to light and enemies emerge from within his own bloodline, Kelvin must decide whether to destroy the family that stole everything from him... ...or become the man who saves it. Some families inherit wealth. The Andersons inherited war. All Rights Reserved 2025 ©️ shytabby