This story chronicles the life of Damien Sky and Adeline James from their teenage years to adulthood. When Adeline James met Damien Sky in her new high school, she instantly hated him. He was arrogant, obnoxious, and a playboy. She wanted to avoid him at all costs. But Damien felt different. He thought Adeline was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on, and he decided he had to have her no matter what. Much to his dismay, Adeline avoided him like the plague. She thought she could escape him forever, but fate had other plans for her. She realized that no matter what, she could never escape Damien, especially since he had been harboring a secret. A secret that will change her life forever and bind them together. Will she continue to hate him? Or will Damien finally win her heart?
Meadowcreek high school, the senior year 2010
Monday morning.
Eighteen year old Damien Sky groaned and shivered violently as the cold water dripped down his body. His ideal temperature was steaming hot water. So hot that the entire bathroom was usually hot and foggy, and the water would almost burn his skin.
But not today.
Today he had to settle with cold water as the hot water would make his wounds sting. The fresh new scars that decorated his back and thigh last night were still raw and painful. When will it end? He thought and sighed as he realized how pointless this question was. He quickly put on some clothes. The fabric rubbed against his scars, but he ignored the pain and hurried to his car. He couldn't be late for class again. Principal Hale would have his head and call his father to his office again. He couldn't have that.
He decided to make a quick stop at Robbie's house. Robbie was his best friend and the only person he trusted with all his secrets. He accepted Damien for who he was and never judged him.
Damien turned the doorknob at Robbie's house, and it opened right away. Robbie's parents were never home, and he didn't believe in locking his door. It was a surprise that they didn't get robbed already.
"Robbie! Get your ass downstairs. We are gonna be late!" Damien yelled from the top of his lungs.
"I'm coming! No need to get your panties in a twist, Jesus Christ," Robbie shouted from upstairs. Damien heard him stomping downstairs after a moment.
"Morning dickhead," Robbie greeted Damien and slapped him on the back.
"Fuck.." Damien winced. "That hurt, asshole."
Robbie frowned. "Shit, dude...my bad. It happened again last night?" his gaze softened. He looked at his friend with sympathy.
"Don't worry about it. Just another day in the life of Damien Sky." Damien laughed. Robbie didn't say anything else and turned away. There was nothing he could do for his friend, no matter how badly he wanted to help him.
They split up and went to class as they had different schedules.
"I'll see you at lunch. Take it easy," Robbie said before storming off.
The first and second period was eventless. Damien lazily got up and walked into his 3rd-period class, which was science.
"Nice of you to show up on time, Mr. Sky," the science teacher Mrs. Anders remarked as soon as he stepped inside. Bitch...
Damien glared at her but quietly took his seat. The last thing he needed was another detention.
"Hey Damien, are we still on for tonight?" Damien looked to his side as Julie Mathews spoke to him.
"What's tonight?" he was confused. Did he forget about a party? Robbie didn't mention anything about that.
"Damien! You were supposed to come over and help me with math, remember?" Julie giggled.
"I don't know shit about math. Are you kidding me?" Damien was starting to get irritated. What the hell was she talking about? He never made such a promise to her.
"By math, I mean..." Julie placed her hand on his thigh and gave it a quick stroke. She looked at him and winked.
Oh.
He finally understood what she meant. She wasn't planning on doing homework. She was suggesting that they fu...
His thought was suddenly interrupted as he heard a new pair of footsteps entering the classroom.
"Oh, you must be Adeline!" Mrs. Anders chirped.
He turned his attention away from Julie and looked at the door to see who it was as he never heard that name before.
A girl in a light green dress stood before him. She had a slender figure that resembled those on the cover of a magazine. She had a head full of thick, brown hair that framed her face perfectly. Her blue eyes were big and bright. She had a cute button nose and plump lips. She was petite. If he stood next to her, he'd tower over her. He tried to imagine what it would feel like to feel her soft skin against his. His jeans tightened at the thought.
"Class, we have a new student. Say hello to Adeline James," Mrs. Anders announced.
"Hello," some of the students murmured while the others stayed quiet.
"Hi," she smiled. Even her voice sounded pretty, Damien thought.
"Take that empty seat in front of Mr. Sky over there," Mrs. Anders suggested.
Great...a chance to get close to her, Damien thought to himself.
She walked over to her desk and sat down in front of him without saying a word. He leaned over and tapped her on the shoulder. She looked back questioningly. "Can I help you?" she asked. Her eyes were hard.
Damien was taken aback by her cold behavior. Most girls in his school had a crush on him, and he was used to them flirting with him. What was her problem?
"I am Damien," he said.
"I know, and I don't care," Adeline replied and turned around.
Huh? She knows? Then what's with the attitude? He tapped her shoulder again.
"What?" she asked, sounding more aggressive.
"Quiet back there!" Mrs. Anders yelled.
"What's your problem, new girl?" Damien whispered so Mrs. Anders can't hear him.
"What do you mean?" Adeline rolled her eyes.
"Why are you acting like you hate me? We just met," Damien asked.
"Why are you so self-centered and obnoxious?" Adeline asked in a hushed tone.
What the fuck? Damien thought, then instantly grinned. It looks like the new girl was full of sass. It'd be fun to tame her like a wild beast. No girl can resist him in the end, and she will be no different.
If anything his father taught him was this, he had to take it if he wanted something. It didn't matter who got hurt in the process, and that was exactly what he intended to do.
["I can't do this. I don't even know this man!" I cry out.] Sarah is forced into an arranged marriage with a powerful and respected billionaire, Vincent Sterling. Her dream is to marry her childhood crush and best friend, Jared, so she is crushed by this arrangement. Her father, fearful of this man, pressures her into the marriage and threatens to disown her if she refuses. Despite her protests, Sarah enters into the marriage and uncovers dark secrets about both her husband and his dark world.
Millie Brown is a high school senior who had many suitors in her school, yet, she never went out on a date with anyone in the hopes of winning one boy's heart. Her best friend's older brother, Zack Myers. There was only one problem, Zack only sees her as a little sister! She almost started to give up hope, until one day, his other brother Hayden offered to help her win her dream guy. Millie is reluctant since she couldn't stand Hayden for being a notorious playboy. Should she take his offer or will Hayden mess things up even more?
Ethan Miller was the hottest guy in Greenville High School. Girls loved him, guys wanted to be him. He just had one problem, Corey Price. Corey Price was the complete opposite of Ethan. Ethan did not like his lingering looks and admiring glances. It made him furious. Corey was the bane of his existence. Ethan's solution was to beat and torment Corey and make his school days unbearable. Corey's wounds never healed. His fondness of Ethan turned into hatred and he vowed to never forgive him. But, he spent years working on himself and has emerged a stronger, better person, ready to take on new challenges. Finally confident, he's about to take on a new job. Until he discovered who his new boss was. It was none other than the monster himself. Ethan Miller
Liam is a 23-year-old college student who accepted a job offer as the live-in assistant of a rich older gentleman, Mr. William Laverne. But on his first day of the job, it was revealed that he won't be taking care of the sweet-natured, mild-mannered old Mr. Laverne after all. Instead, he was tasked to help his spoiled, lazy, and sometimes cruel granddaughter to become a proper young lady so she can one day take over the Laverne industry. Will this be the start of a beautiful friendship or will she lead his life into total chaos?
Aaron Morris had it all. Good looks, a beautiful girlfriend, good grades in college. He only had one problem. He was being stalked by a red-haired nightmare otherwise known as Bella Davis! She was the bane of his existence, a thorn on his side who won't leave him alone no matter what. Will he ever get rid of her or will she continue to annoy him with her unrequited love? *This is the spin-off of The Ugly One but can be read as a stand alone novel. However, I recommended you read that one first :)*
To save her family from being homeless, Faith Williams decided to steal from her company. She thought she got away with it until one day, her cold, stoic and unforgiving boss Anthony DeMarco caught up to her scheme and threatened to send her to prison. In a desperate attempt to save herself, she offers her body to him, which angers him even more. How will she ever get out of this troublesome situation?
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?