The Gilded Cage - Raina Shea - Wattpad

The Gilded Cage

Reads 159
Votes 34
Parts 19
Time 4h 13m

Reads 159
Votes 34
Parts 19
Time 4h 13m

In the ravaged Smokestacks, 16-year-old Ava Kael fights for survival. Born into poverty, Ava's determination protects her family, driving impossible choices. Her resourcefulness as a brilliant mechanic from Sector 8: Gearhaven embodies resilience.

Captured by ruthless Blackcoats, Ava's sentenced to labor camps in The Furnace (Sector 1) for stealing bread for her sickly sister, Kaia. Brutal conditions threaten to break her, until Carson Torres, President Thane's son, intervenes.

Carson pays off Ava's debts, freeing her, but at a steep price: leaving home, family, and Jax behind for the lavish Torres Estate in Elyria. Ava's trapped in a gilded cage, surrounded by opulence but suffocating under Elyrian rule.

But Ava soon realizes she's not saved, only acquired. Carson's fascination with her sparks unease. Is she just another beautiful thing to be claimed, a prized possession alongside Elyria's treasures?

Torn between gratitude and hatred, Ava navigates Elyria's treacherous landscape. Her music becomes solace, secretly composing rebellious melodies. But in Elyria, art threatens to expose her true loyalties.

Ava's journey explores resistance, love, loyalty, and self-discovery. Join her as she faces darkness beneath Elyria's glamour, uncovers Carson's secrets, and fights for freedom and heart.All Rights Reserved

Table of contents

19 parts

Sign up to add The Gilded Cage to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

15 Days With The Possessive Billionaire by oneperson100feelings

"You are mine now. Just remember one thing nobody gets the privilege of bringing that smile on your face and touching you" he clenched his fsts and moved forward. My breath hitched. "I want to see you smile every morning and lie beside you each night. I cannot think of somebody more perfect for me then you are. Your my strength and biggest weakness. You complete me. I could do anything to bring a smile on your face and kill any man who brings a tear." I cant believe it, the college bad boy who had every girl on his feet wanted me. Suddenly his hand started moving around my thigh making circles on them. He leaned forward. Our lips were so close still he did not kiss me. What a tease! His finger was going to enter me when he stopped. ******************* When Ayan's friends challenge him to bed the new girl Veronica, the only way he thought would bring her close was a vacation away from all of them. It gets messy when feelings started pouring in. Veronica fell in love. Or I think she did. After all- Who doesn't want a guy who is handsome, caring and loves you like your his only possession in this world. Did he know she was pregnant? Read in to discover them trying to discover their own mysteries. This book is a roller coaster of love, lust, heartbreaks.

THE DEVIL' S WRATH by almondxeye

A profound love between two people betting against all odds, would they be able to stand together? or let the fate decide... Synopsis: Two different souls, bound together by their shared hatred towards each other, or are they? This is a story of two individuals who clashes everytime they meet, or they're just stubborn enough to fight their attraction and refused to acknowledge their feeling because of a painful past. As the saying goes the more you hate, the more you love right? Meet: Alexander Blackhurst; cold hearted arrogant CEO of Blackhurst Corporation who dominated the business world w/iron fist, those who tried to sabotage him will be crushed and burned. With the face that carved like a Greek God, an impressive height of 6"2 , jet black hair, with piercing blue eyes. Many women tried to capture his attention and heart but failed to melt the ice cold personality , until in the presence of a beautiful strong minded blond haired pixie. Cassandra Burke; who is raised by a military family. Her beauty alone can attract anyone's attention, with her height of 5"5 she is tiny compared to the rest of her family. Long wavy blond hair, cute button nose, well defined cheek bones, perfect bow lips and the pair of unusual violet eyes. Anyone could only admire in distance.. Together with her two older brothers Nathaniel and Jacob who followed their father's footsteps.They are very protective of Cassie, she never had a boyfriend although she's very beautiful. Men were afraid to approached her because of the three towering figures who always threatened them.This is the reason why Cassie wanted to get out from their overbearing clutches. She felt suffocated and wanted to live on her own and be independent, she never have that.

Gods Under The Dome by OctaviaLocke

[Editors' Choice 2020] In a near-future, post-apocalyptic world, a lone girl must choose between becoming the next-in-line to head a corrupt government or siding with those who wish to see the world burn. Order, suppression and lies, or chaos, truth and freedom? Whatever is chosen, one thing is clear: both sides bleed. ***** Every year, the Federated United Americas tasks its elite soldiers to participate in a nation-wide Cull. Hundreds of children are taken from homes and put into one of three Facilities. While most of them will be offered comfortable lives in the forms of low-ranking government jobs and militia commandos, a few will be groomed to be the successors for the highest office the FUA has to offer: The Council. Beckett Blake is known in the Facility as Ten, and she alongside six others branded 'Liars', have spent years enduring confinement and rigorous testing in order to secure a future as head of the FUA. When a terrorist group breaks into the Facility and kidnaps Ten and the others, she's forced to re-examine her future plans. Required to become a drug runner in the mega-city known as Neon Brights, Ten must decide if the future she'd been promised since childhood is worth the lies it's built upon. Will Ten choose the future that's been decided for her, or will she carve out one all her own, even if that path leads to her destruction? Cover by @eosophobias

Smoks and Cigarettes by mifta_timu

' Huh, Lija ? What're you doing here ? ' ' Smoking ' Elijah looked at her and nonchalantly said. Isabelle was still smiling a moment ago. But at the mention of smoke, her beautiful smile faded. She took a long breath and exclaimed with grited teeth ' Ah, Lija. ' Elijah didn't even blink. She was still smoking lazily. Isabelle surrendered and didn't try to stop her from smoking. She smiled forcefully and said, pointing at the person beside her ' Here he is. Rhys Brooks, your would be fiance . ' Elijah only muttered ' I see '. ---- ' I can be a good daughter-in-law and also a good life partner. Can be what you want me to be. ' ' Maybe I can be the best of me but can't be the one you wishes me to be. ' ' Can be your wife but not a lover. Can be your life partner, your companion in every phase of life but can't be your mental peace as can't give you the love or the affection you want. Can be your perfect unpaid slave as the way you want me to be. ' ---- ' Have you ever smoked ? ' Elijah asked as she held the cigarette stick between her pale lips. ' I didn't but I can try. ' ' Oh ' Elijah said as she leaned close to the man beside her, connecting the ends of her cigarette to his and lighting the both at the same time. The nicotine spread through both of their cigarettes, hitting their nerves. Rhys took a drag and exhaled. His face flushed from smoking, looking his side to see the girl taking drags of cigarettes, her slender hand hanging on the relling, lips pale. ' It's forever you ' 🔞 Mature content, self harm and trauma

Exile: The Book of Ever by JamesCormier

Centuries after the Fall, the United States has been wiped away. The crumbling remains of the great American empire are home now only to savage, lawless tribes and packs of ravening Damned-the twisted children of the apocalypse. Most of those few who survived humanity's destruction spend their short lives in a violent struggle for survival. But some light still flickers in the darkness: the Blessed of Bountiful live in seclusion, relying on walls both physical and spiritual to protect them from the Desolation that their world has become. Among them are the Saints, those few men and women born with superhuman abilities that the Blessed see as gifts from God. The violent apostate tribes of the Northeast Kingdom have always been a danger, but up until recently its small size and the vigilance of its people have made Bountiful an unappealing target. As attacks on the community grow harsher and more frequent, however, even the steadfast Blessed are forced to start preparing for the worst. With her home's very existence threatened, seventeen year old Ever Oaks, a Saint with the power to heal, is forced to make a difficult choice, one that may come to define her people's future... Exile was a semi-finalist in Mark Lawrence's Great Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (#SPFBO). Fantasy Faction said it was "extremely cool," and Bookish Lifestyle called it "more than just a story, a journey and an experience." When I'm asked about it, I often describe it as "X-Men meets The Walking Dead." In addition to reading it here for free, you can buy Exile in e-book or paperback on Amazon.com.

Worth The Trouble ✓ by CrownMatter

COMPLETED BOOK 2- Sequel to Deal With It (#2 in ambitious #19 in tearjerker #3 in French) Amber Amity just couldn't seem to catch a break. She lost her father to lung cancer, her boyfriend of 3 years moved away without a warning, and now she's been fucked over by something she never saw coming. Amber was an ambitious 23-year-old woman who radiated poise and confidence. She refused to settle for mediocrity, instead, she wanted to be the best; she wanted nothing less than perfection. She was on track to becoming Fashionsitique's, a renowned fashion magazine's, Editor-In-Chief. She wanted to take the world by storm and reinvent fashion, and she could only do that from the position she was dead-set on getting. But will a series of unfortunate events allow her to do that? Will all these hardships be worth perfection? Amber didn't know. She was so close to giving up- all she wanted was for the universe to give her a break. She didn't know how to enjoy life anymore, but maybe she can learn to see the bigger picture. It would take her some time to understand that life and all its hardships will be worth the trouble. Always. ••• Sneak peek: I lifted my head and glanced at him, "This is all your fucking fault, Isaac." Isaac didn't hide his bafflement, "My fault?" He repeated. "How-" I cut him off with a shake of my head, "I should have never let you convince me to go out," I breathed out, feeling my eyes prick with unshed tears. I felt anger slowly bubble through me making me stare up at him, "This is all your fault."

Ashes: Book 1 of the Shadows Series - By Tristan Carver by deouxes

In the ashes of a broken world, two young men must navigate the complexities of loyalty, love, and rebellion in a dystopian society that thrives on conformity. Daylen Voss, born into the elite of Veritara, has always felt the weight of his privileged upbringing. As the nation's brutal class system perpetuates inequality, he secretly yearns for a life beyond the rigid expectations of his society. When he meets Kael Marek, a fiercely determined survivor from the lower classes, their worlds collide, igniting a spark of change. Together, they join a band of rebels fighting against a tyrannical regime led by the manipulative Jax, who is determined to maintain control at any cost. As tensions rise and their mission to dismantle the oppressive system intensifies, Daylen and Kael grapple with their feelings for each other, forced to confront their insecurities and the realities of their forbidden love. But with whispers of betrayal and the looming threat of a mole within their ranks, trust becomes a fragile commodity. As the rebellion faces its darkest hour, Daylen and Kael must rely on each other to find the strength to stand against the shadows of their pasts. In a heart-pounding climax, they'll discover that love can be both a weapon and a refuge, but can it be enough to save them when everything they know is at stake? "Ashes" is a poignant tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of love against a backdrop of societal collapse. Join Daylen and Kael as they fight to reclaim their lives-and their hearts-in a world that seeks to tear them apart.

Gaslight Trials | The Wattys2023 Shortlister ✔️ by EvelynHail

| 𝟳𝘅 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 ·|| HUNGER GAMES x CINDER || ONC 2023 Honorable Mention Amidst the escalating unrest between the windborne utopian city of Lighthaven and its seedy, oppressed underbelly Fumedge, the Grand Duke of Lighthaven, Lucius Sextus, comes up with an ingenious solution. To provide much-wanted respite from the brewing conflict, and achieve the apparent-if-temporary unity, he organizes Gaslight Trials - a highly entertaining panem-et-circenses combat event in the Pits. The combatants may use all steam and thaumaturgy powered augmentations at their disposal, and there is only one rule: defeat, or be defeated. The reward for the last one standing? A chance to start their life anew. A brass key to the city of Lighthaven with a luxurious mansion to call their own within, as well as an aeroship to command. When eighteen-year-old Veda Igglesden steps forward to take her timeworn adoptive father's place in the fight, she might as well be signing her death-sentence. With her eyes fully set on the prize, act-first-think-later Veda must harness the power of technology to try and win for her Papa Otto. Decades of breathing in the toxic air of Fumedge did a number on the old inventor's lungs, and being able to live in the air-filtered Lighthaven would sure come in handy right about now. A high-flying adventure full of gadgetry and intrigue; a pleasing blend of steampunk and postapocalyptic. See Veda unravel the mysterious ploy behind the game's organization, and uncover the truth about her secret origins. Can she cope both with the trials of physical and intellectual prowess, as well as with the trials of life itself: those of love, loss and regret? © 2023 EvelynHail Exclusively on Wattpad Based on prompt 49! Which is (I shan't leave ye hanging :P): "Master the rules of the game until you can play it better than they can." Michael Scott, "The Sorceress" Get ready for steampunkish tinkering,

Sincerely, Marlena by keyaraax

It wasn't fate, nor was it the universe's guidance. It was an unfortunate sequence of events that led to Marlena Alderidge's existence. Events that placed her right in the middle of a world of danger, deceit, and violence. The remnants of a world ravaged by disaster and disease, with little humanity left to fight and survive both the wasteland and each other. After being found alone in Redstone city, Marlena joins a new crew...despite Lucien's annoyance. Youngest of eight, protective older brothers, and a dystopian world of dominating men, Marlena's life hasn't been normal. And it's about to get a whole lot harder...

Loving Flynn (Cali/New York Men Series) by JMLiterature

*NEW BOOK! * BONUS CHAPTERS OUT NOW! They say he's hotter than sin, colder than ice. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Built from the ground up. He needed an assistant, and I needed to get my foot in the door. My student loans weren't paying themselves. So that's how I began working under Flynn Stone. And day in and day out, all I could think about was being under him. Could the big bad CEO fall for a girl like me? I'm Ruthless in Business. I know what I need from myself and my team. I didn't get where I am today by letting people walk all over me. But somehow, I'm finding myself bending for my assistant. I need to put distance between us, but staying away from her is harder than anticipated.

You may also like

Slide 1 of 10

15 Days With The Possessive Billionaire cover

THE DEVIL' S WRATH cover

Gods Under The Dome cover

Smoks and Cigarettes cover

Exile: The Book of Ever cover

Worth The Trouble ✓ cover

Ashes: Book 1 of the Shadows Series - By Tristan Carver cover

Gaslight Trials | The Wattys2023 Shortlister ✔️ cover

Sincerely, Marlena cover

Loving Flynn (Cali/New York Men Series) cover

15 Days With The Possessive Billionaire

"You are mine now. Just remember one thing nobody gets the privilege of bringing that smile on your face and touching you" he clenched his fsts and moved forward. My breath hitched. "I want to see you smile every morning and lie beside you each night. I cannot think of somebody more perfect for me then you are. Your my strength and biggest weakness. You complete me. I could do anything to bring a smile on your face and kill any man who brings a tear." I cant believe it, the college bad boy who had every girl on his feet wanted me. Suddenly his hand started moving around my thigh making circles on them. He leaned forward. Our lips were so close still he did not kiss me. What a tease! His finger was going to enter me when he stopped. ******************* When Ayan's friends challenge him to bed the new girl Veronica, the only way he thought would bring her close was a vacation away from all of them. It gets messy when feelings started pouring in. Veronica fell in love. Or I think she did. After all- Who doesn't want a guy who is handsome, caring and loves you like your his only possession in this world. Did he know she was pregnant? Read in to discover them trying to discover their own mysteries. This book is a roller coaster of love, lust, heartbreaks.