Samantha Smith's life is shattered when she discovers she's the last hope against the Watchers, a sinister group bent on awakening an ancient force that could end the world. Armed with powers she barely understands, Samantha and her friends must navigate a dangerous web of betrayal, ancient magic, and high-tech warfare.
Samantha Smith's alarm buzzed sharply at 6:00 AM, pulling her from a dream that dissipated as quickly as the sound of her alarm. She groaned, reaching out to silence the insistent beeping, her hand brushing against the soft fur of her cat, Whiskers, who lay curled up on the pillow next to her.
"Good morning to you too," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. The room was bathed in the soft, gray light of early dawn, the city outside just beginning to stir. Samantha yawned and stretched, shaking off the last remnants of sleep.
Her apartment was small but cozy, filled with warm, earth-toned furniture and scattered with personal touches-a bookshelf overflowing with well-loved novels, a few houseplants that were miraculously still alive, and the faint scent of lavender from a diffuser on her bedside table. She loved the quiet mornings when the world was still and she had a moment to herself before the chaos of the day began.
Slipping out of bed, Samantha padded over to the kitchen, her footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor. She filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. As she reached for the tea, she noticed a strange sensation in her hand-a slight tingle, as if static electricity was dancing just beneath her skin. It was a feeling she had been getting more often lately, and she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
The kettle began to whistle, pulling her out of her thoughts. She poured the steaming water into her mug, watching the tea steep as she leaned against the counter, lost in thought. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, a sense that something was off, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. Maybe it was just the stress of work, or maybe she was just overthinking things.
Whiskers meowed from the doorway, breaking the silence. Samantha smiled and crouched down to scratch him behind the ears. "Alright, alright. Breakfast time."
She prepared a small bowl of food for him and placed it on the floor. As she did, she glanced at the clock-6:20 AM. Still plenty of time before she had to get ready for work. Her routine was down to a science: shower, breakfast, a quick check of emails, and then out the door by 7:30.
Samantha headed to the bathroom, her mind still preoccupied with the strange tingling in her hand. As she brushed her teeth, she noticed something odd in the mirror. For just a second, it looked like her reflection had moved differently than she had-a fraction of a second too late, like a poorly synced video. She blinked, and everything was normal again. She shook her head and laughed at herself. "Get a grip, Sam. You're just tired."
The warm water of the shower was soothing, and by the time she stepped out, the odd feeling from earlier had faded. Wrapping herself in a towel, she quickly dried off and got dressed in her usual work attire-simple, professional, with just a hint of personal flair in the form of a colorful scarf.
She moved back to the kitchen, her tea now perfectly steeped and ready to drink. She took a sip, savoring the warmth, and pulled out her phone to check for any urgent messages. A few work emails, a couple of texts from Sally-her best friend and partner in all things adventurous-mostly about plans to hang out after work.
With time to spare, Samantha sat down at her small dining table, her laptop open in front of her. She scrolled through the news, not really reading, just letting the headlines wash over her. Another day, another set of problems in the world.
As she was about to close her laptop, an email popped up from an unfamiliar address. The subject line read: "You're Not Alone."
Samantha frowned, her finger hovering over the delete button. It was probably just spam, but something about it gave her pause. Curiosity getting the better of her, she clicked it open. The email was short and cryptic:
"We've been watching you. The time is coming. Be ready."
No signature, no context. Just those few unsettling words.
Samantha's heart skipped a beat. She quickly closed the email and shut her laptop, the unsettling feeling from earlier returning with a vengeance. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "It's probably just some prank," she told herself, though she didn't quite believe it.
The clock showed 7:20 AM. Time to leave for work. She grabbed her bag, gave Whiskers a quick pat on the head, and headed out the door, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
The morning air was crisp as she stepped out onto the street. The city was fully awake now, with people bustling about, cars honking, and the hum of everyday life all around. It was familiar and comforting, and it helped to ground her as she walked the few blocks to the subway station.
As she descended the stairs into the station, the noise of the city above was replaced by the rhythmic clatter of trains and the murmur of commuters. Samantha stood on the platform, waiting for her train, her thoughts still circling around that strange email and the even stranger morning she'd had.
The train arrived with a rush of wind, and she stepped inside, finding a seat near the window. The city blurred past as the train picked up speed, and Samantha let her thoughts drift, hoping that work would provide enough distraction to forget about the weirdness of the morning.
But as she stared out the window, the cityscape giving way to the tunnels, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming-something that would turn her life upside down.
Samantha Reed's life is shattered when she discovers she's the last hope against the Watchers, a sinister group bent on awakening an ancient force that could end the world. Armed with powers she barely understands, Samantha and her friends must navigate a dangerous web of betrayal, ancient magic, and high-tech warfare. As the Watchers close in, Samantha faces impossible choices that will test her courage, loyalty, and the very limits of her power. But with her friends in the crossfire and her own life on the line, Samantha realizes that the greatest danger may not be the Watchers, but the darkness within herself. In a race against time, Samantha must embrace her destiny-or risk losing everything to the shadows.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.