Comtemporary Stories

For two years now, Zaira has lived under their roof. Not as a burden, not out of obligation. But as family. Her parents trust them, they adore her. She comes from another city to Mumbai for her education, welcomed with warmth, care, and affection into a wealthy household that treats her like their own. All except him. Aarvik Singhania barely speaks to her, barely acknowledges her presence. And when his eyes do find her, they are cold with something that looks dangerously close to anger. She is afraid of him, he rarely speak except it's important and that is what scare most people...his silence, the way he watches without looking and the way the room feels heavier when he's near. What Zaira doesn't know is that his detest is a lie.

Some girls are meant to be understood. Camile Pomoria is meant to be discovered.

Two strangers. One old boarding house. Two pasts they're desperate to escape. She ran away from a broken home, searching for somewhere she could finally feel safe. He has been living with a secret from his past, one he refuses to let anyone uncover. When they find themselves under the same roof, an unexpected friendship begins. Slowly, they become each other's safe place-and something more. But healing isn't easy when the past is still waiting at the door. Can two strangers help each other find a home... or will their secrets tear them apart?

Ava and Aria Silver couldn't be more different. Ava is bubbly, fashionable and always ready for an adventure, while Aria is quiet, intelligent and perfectly happy staying out of the spotlight. But when their parents announce that the family is moving from abroad to Nigeria, everything they know changes. New country. New school. New friends. As the twins navigate their new life in Lagos, they'll discover that starting over isn't always easy-and that being a twin doesn't mean experiencing life the same way. Two sisters. One new beginning. A whole lot of trouble. 🩷🩵 ENJOY.....

Gemma Hartley is thirty-five, competent at everything, and running on empty in a way she hasn't yet found the right words for. A month on Lord Howe Island - eleven kilometres of volcanic rock and lagoon, four hundred people, no schedule - is supposed to fix the calibration. The man she meets is not what she expects. He is direct, unhurried, and asks her what she wants rather than assuming. She finds this, without fully admitting it, extraordinary. The month is real. What she doesn't know is also real. The truth arrives in pieces. She is Gemma Hartley. She doesn't pretend.

"Sugar & Shelves" is a sweet, feel-good romance set in the small, coastal town of Rosewood Bay. Sophie Bennett is a fun-loving, slightly clumsy baker who's been burned by love in the past. She's focused on making her bakery a success, but her heart? That's been on pause. Then there's Ethan Clarke, the reserved owner of a local bookstore. He's all about quiet mornings with a good book, and he's not exactly looking for romance-until he finds himself drawn to Sophie's cupcakes and her even sweeter personality. When Sophie and Ethan team up for a book-and-bake event, things get unexpectedly personal. As they bond over frosting and books, they start to realize there's more between them than they bargained for. But with both of them holding on to old hurts, they'll have to learn to trust their hearts again before they miss their chance at something real. "Sugar & Shelves" is a heartwarming story about second chances, finding love in unexpected places, and realizing that sometimes the best things in life are the ones you didn't plan for.

Short stories

Lila Bennett never expected to inherit her grandmother's quaint tea room in the picturesque town of Rosewood Lane. A city girl at heart, she's looking for a fresh start after a failed relationship and a career that never quite clicked. With a dream of revamping the tea room into a cozy haven, Lila is determined to make it a success, despite the challenges that lie ahead. Enter Theo Lawson, the local artist and reluctant handyman who has lived in Rosewood Lane for years. He's quiet, reserved, and content with his peaceful life-until Lila's infectious optimism shakes up his world. Tasked with helping renovate the tea room, Theo doesn't expect the spark between them to be anything more than a passing moment. But as the days pass, they find themselves drawn to one another in ways neither can deny. As the tea room takes shape and the grand reopening approaches, Lila and Theo must confront their pasts, their fears, and the undeniable chemistry that grows between them. Will they find the courage to embrace a future together, or will the walls they've built around their hearts keep them from the love they both secretly crave? The Tea Room at Rosewood Lane is a heartwarming romance about new beginnings, healing from the past, and the quiet magic of small-town life. Filled with cozy moments, heartfelt conversations, and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea, this story will remind you that sometimes, love brews when you least expect it.

Based on my experiences growing up in China and studying abroad in the U.S., this story explores my teenage years, when pressure slowly damaged my mental health, and how I later began to search for meaning in life. Alongside the narrative, there will be short information sections explaining social and cultural backgrounds in China before each chapter. I hope these help offer a clearer and more realistic image of China. I majored in a math-related field in college, and I only took a few literature classes out of interest, so any roughness in my English reflects that background.

PROLOGUE Rachel's POV You know how people like to act like they have self-control? Yeah... I used to think I did too. Turns out, self-control isn't something you truly understand until you're standing right in front of temptation... and choosing whether or not to ruin your own life. There are a lot of spoiler alerts in my life. Here's the first one actually. Spoiler alert #1 I didn't choose wisely. And if I'm being honest, I really wish someone had warned me that fresh starts don't come clean. They come messy, complicated and full of things you never saw coming. Because no matter how chaotic my first few days were, nothing... I mean absolutely nothing... prepared me for what happened after I got to Ekiti. It started with one decision, one stupid, impulsive and completely avoidable decision. And somehow... I still made it. I mean I saw it coming, I just didn't stop it. Moving from Lagos to Ekiti for university was already a shock on its own. I mean, Lagos is loud, fast, unpredictable and all but Ekiti State was pretty quiet... too quiet and the kind of place where people greet you like they've known you your whole life. It didn't feel real initially. Felt like a cultural shock. And yet, there I was, standing in front of my aunt's house in Ado, dragging in my boxes and a backpack. 'This should be a fresh start,' I thought but I didn't know I was walking straight into a test. A test of my self-control, my pride, my boundaries. Everything was about to be tested. And the worst part was that I knew better. I just didn't do better. My name is Rachel Martins, a 100-level student of International Relations at Ekiti State University. And this is the story of how everything went wrong

Sheila thought turning eighteen would be the beginning of her love story. Instead, her first date becomes a day she will never forget. Between arguments, secrets, heartbreak, and a truth that changes everything she thought she knew, Sheila learns that growing up is not about finding the perfect person. It's about discovering who remains when illusions break.

"I need you to remember, Thorne. Every line I cross, you're the one who drew it." Maya Thorne has a five-year plan, and it has no room for error. Secure the prestigious Aether Dynamics summer internship. Land the full-ride scholarship. Escape her small town. The plan was perfect... right up until Liam Vance walked into the lobby. Liam is the chaotic variable Maya can't solve. Her rival since high school, he's effortlessly brilliant, infuriatingly sloppy, and the only person who can match her GPA. When they discover they are both accepted to the internship-and, due to a space shortage, must share the same cramped, windowless office-Maya's structured summer becomes a war zone of post-it notes, spilled coffee, and midnight deadlines. But as the pressure of the tech world mounts, the lines they've drawn between rival and enemy begin to blur. Proximity breeds more than just annoyance; it breeds chemistry neither of them can compute. Maya must decide if clinging to her plan is worth losing the only person who truly understands what she's fighting for. Or if sometimes, the best things are the ones you never see coming.

The lantern story is set in the late 1900's. The scene is a small fictional village in Eze town, Nigeria. The theme is focused around the functioning of a latern and significance of its fire. The protagonist is a 23 year old woman, called Nneoma. Nneoma was pregnant and lived with her husband. Her husband, Mr Okonkwo was not very wealthy and worked all the time. This meant that Nneoma was at home all the time. It can be referred from my story that Nneoma felt lonely. She tried so many things to keep her mind busy but at the end of the day she was drawn to her unique thoughts and possible regrets. The lantern provided warmth and light to her. She starred into its fire as she thought. The lantern fire became her companion. Her thoughts are explained in full details and maybe somewhat critical. However, this story is twisted in a shocking plot as an incident occurred that changed her story. A young lad is presented towards the end. And a touching moment is shared. This is a 2-5min read that will leave you exhilarated, fulfilled, and contemplated at the same time. It may also leave a tear or two on your eyes. Joyful or not, read this for more clarity or not. #mystery Disclaimer: This story is fictional, it is from my imagination and hard work. The picture and Art drawings in this book were done by me. Copy rights reserved. Do not try to copy any part of this book in any possible way. This prologue is just a hint in the book to make you understand and connect with the characters of the story. Read future to enjoy!

What drives a human being to commit unspeakable atrocities? Is it nature or nurture? Madness or calculation? Imagine walking down a deserted street, unaware of the monster lurking in the shadows. Serial killers: cold blooded is a thought-provoking exploration of the serial killer phenomenon, delving into the lives and crimes of infamous killers like David Berkowitz, Dennis Rader, and Gary Ridgway.

Falling in love with the right guy is hard, especially when you're in love with your best friends older brother, Dean. Cliche I know but unfortunately, that's where I'm at. I have loved Dean for years but being best friends with his little sister Sarah made him think of me only as a little sister too. Then comes Noah, I don't want to like him, but there is this chemistry between us that I can't resist. Annie is your typical seventeen-year-old high school girl, she dreams of going to Princeton on scholarship but she never expected what life would hold for her when she met Noah Price, forced to go on a blind date with him by her best friend, Annie slowly starts to fall in love. Noah is wild and unpredictable. Annie is stable and quietly passionate. Dean is a beautiful, broken boy. Who will Annie choose, but more importantly, who is worthy of her?

A story of four students that grew up in a lie, that they were normal like everyone else and had normal common lives. But, the supernatural world has something install for them. Will they be able to accept their fate, be who they really are and save the lives of many?

Alessandro and Tina grew up in a small town by a secret lake, where they formed an unlikely friendship that was tested by family struggles and personal demons. As they reach their teenage years, they drift apart, with Alessandro leaving for the big city to pursue his dreams and Tina staying behind to care for her sick, abusive father. Years later, Alessandro is a successful businessman who owns his own company, while Tina has just landed a job in his company's marketing department. They are both surprised and apprehensive when they discover they will be working together, after years of no contact. As they navigate the challenges of their new roles, old feelings and memories resurface, and they begin to question their past choices and the path that led them to where they are now. As they work together on a major project, they must confront their past, present, and future, and decide whether they are ready to take a chance on each other, or let go of their shared history for good. "Alessandro's Heart" is a heartwarming story of friendship, love, and second chances, set against the backdrop of a small town and a company's corporate world.

Samurai, ninja, and those who possess the magical powers of the Meteor are living in the modern age of Japan and under one mysterious association. Suddenly, they are being targeted and hunted down by a faction of modern warfare. Koki Otomari, a Meteor Samurai with the powers of the Dragon, is called over and had no choice but to join with the mysterious association carrying and preserving its traditions and the magical arts from the Meteor, known as the Meteor Arts. Together, they must fight to survive and fend off against this modern threat it seeks to destroy, but what was the reason behind it all? ______________________________________________ Cover art by Valentina Migliore Story and characters written and created by Koi Nogane

Myron Desantis loves them fast. Meeting them to getting into his bed and them leaving his life. Every step should be fast. Which was why it was surprising to all when he broke his rules because of one girl. The one who was like a sister to him. The one who he also coincidentally needs to act like his girlfriend to removing his family nosy noses from his 'whoring life'. Two weeks of Christmas holiday. That was all the time he asked that the pretense go for. Just two weeks. Then again, 14 days was more than enough for a Christmas miracle to happen in the Desantis prince life.

Love has a way of leaving you scarred in the end and one can only hope that she can escape its clutches unscathed.