Defiance of the Fall - Chapter 287: Subterfuge

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

A Journey Across Time, A Battle for FreedomWhat if you could go back in time?What would you do?Stop the world war?Stop slavery?When Joseph Situma, a modern-day man, is thrust back to the year 1542, he is reborn as Khisa Lusweti, the son of a village chief in Eastern Africa. Struggling to bridge the gap between his past life and his new reality, Khisa must navigate the brutal tides of history. But as he uncovers the looming horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, he realizes that fate has given him a chance—an opportunity to change the course of history.Armed with knowledge beyond his years and the trust of a people who see him as both a leader and a boy, Khisa must unite warriors, outthink ruthless enemies, and fight for a future that was never meant to be. But history is not so easily rewritten, and with every victory comes a greater challenge.Will he defy destiny, or will the weight of the past crush him before he can break the chains of oppression?A gripping tale of resilience, strategy, and the unyielding spirit of a people on the brink of war.

“As I said, I'm keeping you here to torture you! Don’t make me repeat myself!”Princess Laurel's eighteenth birthday turns into a nightmare—kidnapping, murder, and the revelation that her mate is the perpetrator, a revenge for her father's annihilation of his pack.Their union is fueled by hate, unwanted longing and mixed emotions. She swears to survive and escape but her mate vows to keep her besides him to torment her.With no choice left, Laurel tries to get stronger to survive the torment her mate dishes to her.The infamous Lycan Hunter hears of her predicament and hatches a plan to save but it's thwarted by her mate's brother, who finds her interesting.But even worse befalls Laurel, when the King of all Lycans goes on a rampage to destroy all of werewolves, her kind.DISCLAIMER!!~ Slow Burn Romance~ The Female Lead Gets Stronger~ Daily Updates!~ No Rape~ Has Gory Scenes

Leon and his father, Artorias, are the last remaining scions of a once powerful and illustrious family of lightning mages. After barely surviving an attack that destroyed their home fifteen years ago, they now live in the dangerous Northern Vales, a desolate wilderness far away from civilization. But those who want them dead are strong, patient, and relentless, and it is only a matter of time before they find the two they seek...