Comtemporary Stories

Based on my real 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.

Riza lives a perfect, quiet life with her boyfriend, Liam. But behind closed doors, she feels absolutely nothing. Her body is completely asleep. Then, Liam's hot and confident stepsister, Clara, returns home from Europe. From their very first look, Clara ignites a burning desire inside Riza that she can't control. Soon, the hidden tension under the same roof becomes too heavy to ignore-and Riza realizes she is falling for the wrong person. A simple, high-tension, forbidden lesbian romance about a woman waking up to her true desires.

Ira Verma never imagined her new job would land her inside the cold, echoing walls of the Rathore estate-a mansion guarded by silence, secrets, and the brooding presence of the man she's been hired to care for. Devraj Singh Rathore, heir to one of the most powerful families in India, is feared by many and understood by none. Bound to a wheelchair after a brutal attack, he shows no emotion, no warmth... and certainly no interest in the woman tending to him. At least, that's what Ira believes. What she doesn't know is that behind his still gaze lies a storm-dark, obsessive, and dangerously fixated on her. He watches when she's not looking, collects pieces of her she never gave, and burns with jealousy every time his younger brother dares to flirt with her. But Ira has a life outside this mansion. A fiancé her family chose. A future she thought she wanted. Devraj is done pretending. And when obsession begins to crack through restraint, Ira must face a chilling truth: You can only run so far... when the one who craves you is already inside your world.

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.

I lowered my window. "Get in." I demanded, my eyes staring dead at hers. "No," she uttered. I grip on the door handle before saying, "I won't repeat myself." In a blink of an eye, she vanished from my sight. I quickly opened the door, walking through the cold rain-chasing after her. She seriously think I would let her walk in the rain? I jogged to her and grabbed her by her wrist. I could see the irritation in her eyes when she turned and saw who it was. Who cares? "Leave me alone," she spoke with every anger that's stored in her. I watch her as she hits my chest, struggling to move from my grip. My shirt getting soaked by rain and so as my hair. I loosened my grip around her wrist, I bend my knees and tossed her over at my shoulder and walked back to the car. "Fucking hell? Why would you..."I cut her off, not wanting to hear her complains." Here, put this on. " I grabbed my blazer and handed it to her. ..................❦.................. Elizabeth Katz is a woman who believes in being independent. She works two jobs and is somehow able to manage them both. On a normal day, like any other, she encounters a man and has a one-night stand with him for money. Little does she know that's when their feelings develop. Gabriel Moore is a man with all the riches anyone could think of. Owning a company that earns massive income. Gabriel has everything a man could ask for, except for love. Just when he was about to accept his fate of not being loved, he met Elizabeth at a bar and knew that she was the one for him. In their love quest, will there be any troubles among them?

BORN TO RULE. ‎ ‎The phrase made Vero pause. Could he really be considered born to rule? ‎ ‎Since childhood, he'd been told it was his destiny to become the next Primarch. Did he want that? He wasn't sure. But with no reason to reject his grandfather's wishes, he had simply gone along with them. ‎ ‎But what happens when he learns that becoming Primarch is only the first step? ‎ ‎What lies beyond the Seal? And when the time comes... will he be able to fight them?

"Oh, you're using sir now? How polite of you. Did a fairy bite you overnight?" She didn't even blink. "No, but apparently I needed to remind myself how to behave in the presence of egotistical bosses." I smirked again. Fire. Always fire with this girl. "You call that a reminder? You stormed into my cabin like it's a wrestling ring." Her eyes blazed like I'd challenged her to a duel. "Because that's what this job feels like lately. Wrestling with my sanity." "Then maybe you should quit before you embarrass yourself." "Oh no, sir. Quitting is for the weak. I stay. I slay. And I collect pay." That caught me off guard. I let out a short laugh genuine, rare. "Is that a quote from your diary or from others' dairy?" She rolled her eyes but didn't budge. "You think this is funny? Humiliating me every second day? Whispering threats in an elevator like we're in some psychological thriller?" I stepped closer, voice dropping. "You think I care about you or what you think?" Silence. "You wore the other perfume today." "Oh, you noticed." "You have nothing to notice." The air shifted-tense, dense. Even my breath slowed. "Sorry, I didn't know your nose was on the board of directors." I stepped even closer, locking eyes with her. "Careful, Mannat. You're in my territory now." But she didn't even flinch. Just whispered with deadly precision "And you're in mine, every time you talk like that."

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

How does one impress Grace? This is a question Folabi Dawson asked for several months. He could afford diamonds. He could buy her the latest wherever in the world. He could do just anything, because with money, there was never going to be an issue. Meet Grace Akinsola, but popularly known as Grace Akins. All her life, she made her money, obsessed with her passion and nothing else. But a few years back, she learned the hard way that the few men she had met were only attracted to her body and intimidated by her success. Folabi Dawnson, who had everything at the tip of his fingers, couldn't have Grace. That was the first time his money couldn't solve his problem. Grace Akins, was his problem.

Zahra's world is turned upside down when her love for Amir is torn apart by family expectations. Choosing to marry Khalid, a mysterious gem merchant with a troubled past, Zahra must navigate the complexities of love and duty. As secrets unravel and unexpected encounters reignite old flames, Zahra finds herself torn between the past and the present. With each page, readers will be drawn into Zahra's journey of self-discovery, as she learns to follow her heart amidst the whispers of fate. Will Zahra find the courage to forge her own path to happiness, or will she be forever trapped in the shadows of her past? Dive into "Beyond Love's Veil" for a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and second chances that will keep you scrolling through chapters late into the night In sha Allah.

A Siamese cat and a glowing convenience store form the anchor to a magical, retro-lit reality, offering patrons the chance to rewrite their lives. Stepping into the neon hum, they are pulled from the mundane and given the opportunity to heal and reclaim the past.

Short Novel (~16.5K words) Her mission: dismantle Maxton Ward's empire. Her weapon: a perfect lie. But as Holly embeds herself within Ward Developments, the line between duty and desire blurs. The man she's sworn to expose is far more complex and dangerously alluring than she anticipated. In a world of corporate secrets and personal betrayals, falling for her target wasn't part of the blueprint-but it might be the only way to uncover the truth.

Across the hallway from 30A is 30B. It should have been nothing more than proximity. Two doors. Two separate lives. A polite nod in passing. But some distances are smaller than they look. Adrian Brooks doesn't invite chaos into his life. Not after rebuilding it from the ground up. His world is measured. Careful, controlled, centered around his daughter and the stability she deserves. He doesn't blur lines. He doesn't do almosts. Eva has made a habit of leaving before things become real. She moves through life the way she moves through relationships. Quick, self-protected, never fully anchored. She doesn't stay long enough to be hurt, and she doesn't ask anyone to stay for her. Their first connection is heat. Accidental. Electric. Too close for comfort. It's the way he watches her like she's not temporary. It's the way she looks at him like he might be dangerous to her independence. It's late nights, shared walls, and the slow awareness that attraction isn't the same as intention. What begins as tension becomes something steadier. Slower. Deeper. Because when he touches her, it isn't careless. And when she stays the night, it isn't an accident. Between winter wind off Lake Michigan and warm light spilling from opposite doorways, they begin to understand that this isn't about impulse. It's about choice. And the most intimate thing two people can do isn't falling into each other. It's deciding not to walk away. Along Michigan is a sensual, slow-burn contemporary romance about proximity, desire, and the quiet power of choosing love when leaving would be easier.

When Keira Sander’s parents get divorce, her life is turned upside-down. While she moves to New York with her mother, her brother Tyler stays in Florida with their father. Seven years later, Keira has no choice but to come back to Florida, hiding from a stalker who hasn't yet reveal himself to her and trying to survive her senior year. Enters Grayson Banks, Westview High school’s quarterback, Tyler’s former best friend and now sworn enemy; with his sexy looks and devilish smile, has half the school female population chasing after him. What is Keira to do when coming face to face with Grayson after all these years? How will she survive her stalker? And how will she resist the charms of her brother’s enemy?

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?

After a painful breakup, Ethan moves to New York for a fresh start, steering clear of romance. His best friend, Mark, and his wife set up a blind date, unbeknownst to the other party, Trisha. What was meant to be a sabotage turns into a serendipitous meeting. As Ethan and Trisha discover their shared values and dreams, they find that love sometimes has its own plans. A heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and unexpected connections that prove the best relationships are often the ones you least expect.

Connor McClane returns to the bed of the woman who stole his virginity and his heart three years earlier. Determined to enjoy a summer of carefree sex without strings, he finds himself caught in a web of emotions that lead to a cataclysmic confrontation with the man who has vowed to own Meredith Kincaid. Join Connor and Meredith as they explore their passions with lots of steamy hot sex and learn about the boy who will become the billionaire in this prequel to Scorpio Awakens. No strings. Only possibilities…. My name is Connor McClane. Very few women have ever made an impression on me. Not one of them could live up to the sexual prowess of Meredith Kincaid, the woman who stole my virginity and taught me to be a man. Now, three years later, we meet again. She wants me, but only on her terms. She has a secret. I want to keep it casual and am determined not to fall in love. Yet we are drawn together like the proverbial moth to a flame. So I become entangled in a web of sensual exploration and emotion that lead to a cataclysmic confrontation with the man who has vowed to own Meredith. Can I say yes to the possibilities? Publisher note: This is Book 1 in the Scorpio Saga. Each is a continuation of the previous book, and should be read in the numbered order.

Rewritten. "Get a grip?" Xander said and chuckled maniacally. The simple aura in the office was replaced by a dark and wicked one. "I accepted everything throwed my way, I got a grip on my anger because I had a home, a love, and a family but she dared to snatched everything away and leave me bare. I'm done containing my anger not until she feel everything last bit of pain I did" Xander said and at this moment he looked unrecognizable. Alexander "Xander" Cage, a lowly son in law with no class attached to his name, survived a near death situation after the little family he thought he had was snatched from him by his wife, Hermia. He sworn to pay her back with the same pain she caused him but can he be able to ignore his feelings when she came on her kneel pleading with him to take her back.

"When Zyair and Sophia met through Zyair's best friend and Sophia's brother, they knew their connection was special. But they kept their relationship a secret, knowing that their families' complicated pasts and dangerous lifestyles would only put them in harm's way. But when Justin, Zyair's former friend and Sophia's brother, turned out to be a ruthless enemy, their whole world turned upside down. As they fought to clear their names and protect their loved ones, they were forced to turn to the only ones who could help them - a powerful gang. With their secrets and lies piling up, Zyair and Sophia must navigate the treacherous underworld of violence and betrayal, all while keeping their love strong and their family safe. Will they be able to overcome the danger that surrounds them, or will their deadly legacy tear them apart? Dive into this gripping, action-packed romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end."