A Second Chance at Sunrise* "When life gives you a do-over, will you seize it? "Alexandra "Lexi" Thompson's life was unraveling. A painful breakup, a stagnant career, and a sense of purpose lost. But then, a mysterious night in Manhattan sends her tumbling back in time-to her 18-year-old self, in small-town Florida. As Lexi navigates her past, she's confronted with unfinished business, old flames, and new possibilities. Will she rekindle her romance with Jake, the high school sweetheart who still holds a piece of her heart? Or will she return to her New York City life, determined to rediscover herself? In this heartwarming, thought-provoking tale of love, loss, and self-discovery, Lexi must choose between two timelines-and two versions of herself . *Will she find her true path in the past or forge a new future?* "A beautifully crafted exploration of identity, love, and the power of second chances." *Genre:* Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance "Sometimes, the best way forward is to go back."
As Lexi walked home on that crisp evening, she made a brief stop for a steaming latte. The city of New York pulsed around her, alive with people rushing to and fro. She found solace in the cacophony; sometimes it drowned out her own thoughts, while other times she yearned for silence.
Just as she savored the warm brew, the cafe door swung open and Adrian stepped inside. He walked towards her, taking a seat in front of her.
" You're late." Lexi said before Adrian could say a word.
" I came as quickly as I could." Adrian replied.
" You asked to meet yet you kept me waiting. I'm also busy Adrian."
" I do not want to fight with you Lexi, not today. We need to talk."
" Well a simple apology would not hurt." Lexi muttered as she raised the mug to her lips, taking a small sip.
"Lexi, we need to break up," Adrian said, his voice firm. "This isn't working, and you know it."
Lexi's gaze pierced through him, almost boring a hole through his head, her eyes burning with a mix of emotions before she shifted her focus away. Had she been expecting this? Yes, she had. The writing was on the wall. They'd been drifting apart, the distance between them growing insurmountable.
Deep down, Lexi knew the relationship had ended long ago. Was it her fault? Partially. Adrian made her feel like she was too independent, that she needed to rely on him more. But Lexi couldn't surrender to that. She couldn't fully commit, always keeping one foot out the door, ready to bolt.
The silence between them was heavy, weighed down by unspoken truths. Lexi's thoughts swirled: Had she been using her independence as a shield? Yes.
Had she ever truly let Adrian in?
Adrian's voice broke the silence. "You've always been holding back, Lexi. I feel like I've been fighting for your heart, but you've never fully given it to me."
Lexi's eyes snapped back to his, a spark of defensiveness igniting within her. But she knew he was right.
Adrian continued. " I've thought about this and I can't keep trying to make this work. I'm seeing someone else, she's pretty and she cares about me. I don't want to keep leading you on."
" Is she younger?" Lexi asked.
" Yes, she's twenty five."
" Okay."
" Okay?"
" Yes. I agree that we should break up. It's long overdue and I'm glad you've found someone perfect for you." Lexi said calmly.
" Two years into this relationship and you look so calm that we're breaking up."
" What I'm I suppose to do? Yell at you? Freak out? Adrian I'm happy for you okay. We've both been very busy so this was expected."
Adrian nodded thoughtfully, his eyes lingering on Lexi's face. "I'm glad we can end this amicably," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Good luck, Lexi."
With that, he stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. Lexi watched, frozen, as he walked out of the café. Through the glass wall, she saw him pause, taking a deep breath before getting into his car. The engine roared to life, and he drove away, leaving Lexi alone.
A small, sharp pang struck her chest, like a tiny needle pricking her heart. She hadn't expected the ache, but it was there, lingering. Lexi's eyes dropped to her latte, the creamy foam now flat and unappealing. She pushed the cup away, her mind reeling.
The café's bustle faded into the background as Lexi sat, lost in thought. She had known this was coming, had even welcomed it. So why the sting? Was it regret, relief, or something else entirely?
As she sat there, Lexi realized she needed to confront the emotions Adrian's departure had unearthed.
Lexi's gaze drifted back to the empty chair across from her, where Adrian had sat just moments before. Their relationship had been unraveling for months, but the finality of their breakup still felt unsettling.
She took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. The café's noise now seemed amplified – clinking cups, muted conversations, and the hiss of steam. Lexi gathered her belongings and stepped outside, into the crisp evening air.
The city lights twinkled around her, a reminder of the world moving forward, regardless of her personal struggles. Lexi walked to her car, let herself into the driver seat and drove off.
As she drove into the traffic, her phone rang, the ID caller showing Rachel, Lexi's best friend.
" Hey girl." Rachel's cheerful voice came from the other side.
Lexi smiled wryly. " How's our soon to be Mrs doing?"
" I'm great, the wedding dress just came in."
" Sorry I wasn't able to help you prepare."
" It's fine all I need is your presence." Rachel said. " Just calling to make sure you don't forget that the bachelorette party is tomorrow."
Lexi chuckled, the sound mingling with the hum of the engine. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Chel. I've got my outfit ready and everything."
"Outfit?" Rachel's tone turned curious. "What's the theme again?"
"Neon and naughty," Lexi replied with a grin.
Rachel's laughter filled the line. " Perfect, I knew I could count on you. Hey, I hope you'll be there with Adrian tomorrow," Rachel said, her voice bubbly.
Lexi's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "We broke up, Chel. He broke up with me."
The line went silent.
"What? Why?" Rachel's shock was palpable.
Lexi took a deep breath. "We've been drifting apart. I expected this."
Rachel's curiosity turned sharp. " What happened?"
Lexi hesitated before revealing the painful truth. "He said he's seeing someone else... someone younger."
Rachel's gasp was audible. "Lexi, are you okay?"
Lexi cringed, she hated the pint of pity in Rachel's tone. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Lex, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
Lexi forced a lightness into her voice. "It's okay, really. We weren't working out."
Rachel's concern lingered. "But someone younger? That must hurt."
Lexi's thoughts strayed to Rachel's fiancé, Damien, who was indeed younger. "You found your perfect match, Chel. Not everyone's as lucky."
Rachel picked up on the subtle hint. "Lex, don't compare. You'll find yours. You know you can talk to me if you want."
Lexi smiled wryly, grateful for Rachel's empathy.
" Not right now Chel. Tomorrow is about celebrating you, let's not talk about my failed relationships. I'll be all for you tomorrow, with bells on. Let's focus on your last night of freedom."
Rachel's laughter filled the line, a welcome relief. "Alright, let's focus on getting me thoroughly embarrassed tomorrow night! See you then." Lexi chuckled, hanging up, feeling a brief respite from her thoughts.
Adele runs away from a life a privilege and entered a new world of mafia, mysteries secret that could be killed for and love. Born a wretched life and adopted into a life of privilege.. Adele Callahan has spent her life under the thumb of a prestigious family that controls her every move. When she escapes an arranged marriage, her only plan is to run as far and as fast as she can-until a fateful encounter changes everything.. Adele seemed to live a nice life but it's all a different story behind the reflection. Forced to marry a rich influential abuser, Adele escapes in a bid to leaves a life that was arranged and all planned out for her when her paths crosses with a man who introduces her to a life she never knew existed. Lucian runs a mafia group but there's more to him than he let out, one of the influential person feared by most. But women are his toys, a new one each day to add to his record of decanhery. Lucian. He's dark, enigmatic, and devastatingly handsome, but beneath his flawless exterior lies a dangerous secret. His piercing eyes see too much, his voice commands obedience, and his presence is like a storm she can't escape. He warns her to leave, but his words come too late-Adele is already entangled in his world. What starts as a chance meeting spirals into a deadly game of survival, as Adele learns the truth about Lucian. Drawn together by fate, their connection defies reason, even as the shadows of Lucian's mafia ties threaten to tear them apart. As passion collides with peril, Adele must decide: will she run from the darkness that surrounds Lucian, or embrace it to uncover the secrets of her own destiny? "In a world of danger, betrayal, and supernatural power, love might be the most dangerous thing of all."
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."