joyj85748
joyj85748's Books(2)
The swamp princess
Short stories Deep in the murky depths of the ancient Kalu Swamp, where fog clings to twisted trees and the light of the moon plays hide and seek with waterlogged ruins, a secret slumbers-one that could shatter everything known about power, destiny, and blood. The Swamp Princess unfolds in this haunting landscape, introducing us to Elara, a seemingly ordinary girl whose life has been as quiet and unremarkable as the mist that rises over stagnant pools at dawn. Yet beneath her calm exterior lies an inheritance of cursed royalty, a legacy that was buried with her fallen ancestors, and one that threatens to upend the world she thought she knew.
From a young age, Elara's connection to the swamp was inexplicable. Raised by an old herbalist on the edge of the Kalu Swamp, she grew up listening to whispered legends about a drowned kingdom and a long-lost crown that still shimmered beneath murk and decay. In the soft glow of fireflies and the rustle of reeds, Elara sensed the pulse of ancient magic flowing through the water-a magic that marked her as someone special, destined for a future beyond the quiet life she'd been given. Little did she know that fate, with its inexorable pull, was already gathering the fragments of her shattered past and weaving them into a tapestry of peril and hope.
A single, fateful night would forever alter the course of her life. Amid a violent storm that sent lightning cracking across an inky sky, Elara found herself inexplicably drawn to a hidden cove in the heart of the swamp. There, beneath the churning waters and amidst the ruins of what once might have been a great palace, she discovered a glimmering crown. It was not the gaudy trinket of a forgotten fairy tale, but a delicate relic etched with symbols of power, mystery, and ancient curses. In that moment, the swamp whispered her name, its tendrils of mist and memory wrapping around her heart and soul.
With the discovery came a torrent of visions-flashes of a life once lived, battles fought beneath a blood-red moon, and promises made in the language of the old magic. Elara's dreams were filled with images of a royal lineage steeped in both glory and tragedy, a heritage burdened by a curse that had doomed her ancestors to oblivion. But in these visions lay also the hope of resurrection-a chance to reclaim a throne and to resurrect a forgotten realm that once ruled with benevolent magic. Yet as the crown began to call to her spirit, dark forces stirred in the hidden corners of the swamp.
For there are those who covet the ancient power that still pulses beneath the surface of the Kalu Swamp. Shadowy figures, twisted by greed and unbound by morality, move silently amid the ruins, seeking to harness the magic for their own sinister designs. Rival factions, long embroiled in an eternal struggle for dominance, have returned to claim what was lost. And as rumors of a prophesied queen begin to spread, these dangerous entities close in on Elara, intent on either capturing the power within her or silencing it forever. Amid these looming threats, her path becomes one of not just personal discovery, but also of defiance against forces that wish to see the ancient curse continue its reign over the land.
Haunted by monstrous apparitions and pursued by relentless adversaries, Elara embarks on a journey that forces her to confront the twin natures of her destiny-the burden of a cursed past and the promise of a transformative future. Along the way, she encounters allies who are as enigmatic as they are crucial to her quest. A shadowed stranger, whose eyes mirror the depths of the swamp, offers his aid, carrying secrets and scars of his own that hint at a storied past intertwined with the ancient kingdom. A reclusive witch, keeper of whispered lore and forgotten spells, emerges from the swamp's depths to guide her through riddles of magic and the peril of betrayal. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of hidden passages, ruined temples overtaken by nature, and murky waters that conceal both beauty and unspeakable horror.
Throughout her journey, Elara learns that the swamp is more than a setting-it is a living, breathing entity that tests every soul who dares to disturb its secrets. The land itself exudes a mysterious sentience; every droplet of water, every leaf and vine, pulses with the energy of lost centuries, echoing the triumphs and tragedies of the royal bloodline. As she ventures deeper, the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural blur, and Elara must come to terms with the realization that her personal story is inseparable from the swamp's own legacy. The magic that courses through her veins is equal parts a blessing and a curse, endowing her with powers beyond mortal ken, yet threatening to consume her if left unchecked.
At the heart of The Swamp Princess lies a timeless struggle: the battle between fate and free will. Elara stands at a crossroads, torn between the seductive allure of absolute power offered by the ancient relics of A LOVE FORBIDDEN
Young Adult A LOVE FORBIDDEN
Jake Evans was the kind of guy every girl in high school wanted but no one could keep. With his effortlessly tousled dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and a smirk that could make anyone weak in the knees, he was the definition of a heartbreaker. Cocky, confident, and always in control, he never took love seriously-until he met the one woman he could never have.
Helen Carter had been teaching English at Ridgewood High for only a year, but she already had a reputation for being both strict and mesmerizing. At twenty-six, she was young, beautiful, and intelligent, with a mysterious air that made people wonder about the life she had before becoming a teacher. The moment Jake walked into her classroom, something inside her shifted. His playful arrogance, the way he leaned back in his chair with a knowing smirk, and those intense eyes that lingered on her longer than they should-Helen knew she was in trouble.
She fell first.
But she was a teacher. He was a student. And no matter how much her heart longed for him, she couldn't cross that line.
Jake, on the other hand, had never cared about rules, and for the first time in his life, he found himself drawn to someone who wasn't easily swayed by his charm. He flirted shamelessly, testing her resolve, enjoying the way her breath hitched whenever he got too close. Yet, no matter how much he teased, Helen never let her guard down.
As the school year progressed, strange things started happening. Shadows moved when no one was there, dreams felt too real, and whispers echoed in the wind. Helen had always known there was something different about Ridgewood, something magical lurking beneath the surface. What she didn't expect was for Jake to be part of it.
A truth long buried began to resurface-Jake wasn't just an ordinary boy. He was part of something much bigger, something ancient and powerful. And Helen, whether she wanted to be or not, was connected to him in ways neither of them could understand.
The closer they got, the harder it became for Helen to deny her feelings. But just when she thought she could control it, danger arrived. A force from the past, tied to both of them, threatened to destroy everything. A love as forbidden as theirs wasn't just a problem-it was a curse.
Now, with enemies closing in and the truth unraveling, Jake and Helen must decide if love is worth the fight. For Helen, breaking the rules could mean losing everything she worked for. For Jake, proving his love wasn't just another game-it was his destiny.
In a world where magic and fate intertwine, where love is both a blessing and a curse, Jake and Helen will have to defy everything, even time itself, to be together.
But some love stories aren't meant to have happy endings. Or are they? You might like
The Truth About His Mistress
Gavin I was four months pregnant, a photographer excited for our future, attending a sophisticated baby brunch.
Then I saw him, my husband Michael, with another woman, and a newborn introduced as "his son."
My world shattered as a torrent of betrayal washed over me, magnified by Michael's dismissive claim I was "just being emotional."
His mistress, Serena, taunted me, revealing Michael had discussed my pregnancy complications with her, then slapped me, causing a terrifying cramp.
Michael sided with her, publicly shaming me, demanding I leave "their" party, as a society blog already paraded them as a "picture-perfect family."
He fully expected me to return, to accept his double life, telling his friends I was "dramatic" but would "always come back."
The audacity, the calculated cruelty of his deception, and Serena's chilling malice, fueled a cold, hard rage I barely recognized.
How could I have been so blind, so trusting of the man who gaslighted me for months while building a second family?
But on the plush carpet of that lawyer's office, as he turned his back on me, a new, unbreakable resolve solidified.
They thought I was broken, disposable, easily manipulated – a "reasonable" wife who would accept a sham separation.
They had no idea my calm acceptance was not surrender; it was strategy, a quiet promise to dismantle everything he held dear.
I would not be handled; I would not understand; I would end this, and make sure their perfect family charade crumbled into dust. When Love Died, Freedom Began
Gavin The jagged glass bit into Amelia Hayes' s cheek.
"Help me," she choked into the phone, but her husband, Ethan Caldwell, snapped: "Amelia, for God' s sake, I' m in a meeting."
A sharp blow, then darkness.
She awoke not in her blood-slicked car, but in her opulent master bedroom, the calendar marking three months after her wedding. Three months into a marriage that had already begun to kill her.
Ethan stood by the window, his voice softening, "Yes, Jessica, tonight sounds perfect." Jessica Thorne, his true love, the shadow over Amelia' s first life. The familiar ache in Amelia' s chest gave way to a chilling, new fury.
For seven miserable years, she had given Ethan desperate, unyielding devotion.
She endured his coldness, his brazen affairs, his emotional abuse, all for a flicker of his attention.
She had become a shell, a caricature, ridiculed by Ethan' s circle and condescended to by his family.
The profound injustice, the sheer blindness of his indifference, was a bitter pill. Her heart, once broken, now felt nothing but a hollow echo of unrequited love.
Then, at a gala, a cruel act involving Eleanor' s ashes, and Ethan, without hesitation, shoved Amelia, his accusations echoing: "You are a disgrace."
He comforted Jessica while Amelia' s head reeled from the impact. That was the final straw.
No tears, no anger. Just a cold resolve. She delivered a small velvet box to his penthouse. Inside: the wedding ring and a divorce decree.
"I. Want. You. Out. Of. My. Life. Forever," she stated, her voice clear. She was reborn to be free. Worshiped Him, Whipped By Him
Gavin I was just a 20-year-old NYU art history student, interning at my dad’s real estate firm. But my world privately revolved around Marcus Thorne—my father’s handsome, brilliant business partner. My crush on him was pure, all-consuming, utterly naive. He’d always been so kind, a true gentleman.
At a charity gala, I watched Izzy Vance, Marcus’s associate, subtly ply him with drinks. When I tried to help him to his suite, Izzy "found" us, her perfectly timed gasp and a discreet phone flash sealing my fate.
The next morning, headlines screamed: "NYU Intern Olivia Chen Caught in Compromising Position with Marcus Thorne." Blurry, damning photos accompanied them. Marcus’s icy call followed: "Izzy found you taking advantage of me! My reputation is in shreds because of your childish stunt!" He believed her. Completely.
Whispers and hostile stares at my father’s office became unbearable. The kind man I’d adored now looked at me with absolute disgust. My dreams shattered. How could he be so blind? So cruel? This wasn't the Marcus I knew. This felt brutally unfair.
That week, the naive girl who worshipped him died. In her place, a colder awareness dawned: the world was not kind, people not what they seemed. He thought I was playing games, but I was done. This was my turning point. When Love Turns to Ash
Gavin My world revolved around Jax Harding, my older brother's captivating rockstar friend.
From sixteen, I adored him; at eighteen, I clung to his casual promise: "When you're 22, maybe I'll settle down."
That offhand comment became my life's beacon, guiding every choice, meticulously planning my twenty-second birthday as our destiny.
But on that pivotal day in a Lower East Side bar, clutching my gift, my dream exploded.
I overheard Jax' s cold voice: "Can't believe Savvy's showing up. She' s still hung up on that stupid thing I said."
Then the crushing plot: "We' re gonna tell Savvy I' m engaged to Chloe, maybe even hint she' s pregnant. That should scare her off."
My gift, my future, slipped from my numb fingers.
I fled into the cold New York rain, devastated by betrayal.
Later, Jax introduced Chloe as his "fiancée" while his bandmates mocked my "adorable crush"-he did nothing.
As an art installation fell, he saved Chloe, abandoning me to severe injury.
In the hospital, he came for "damage control," then shockingly shoved me into a fountain, leaving me to bleed, calling me a "jealous psycho."
How could the man I loved, who once saved me, become this cruel and publicly humiliate me?
Why was my devotion seen as an annoyance to be brutally extinguished with lies and assault?
Was I just a problem, my loyalty met with hatred?
I would not be his victim.
Injured and betrayed, I made an unshakeable vow: I was done.
I blocked his number and everyone connected to him, severing ties.
This was not an escape; this was my rebirth.
Florence awaited, a new life on my terms, unburdened by broken promises. The Wife He Designed
Gavin My life with Ethan Cole, the charismatic tech CEO, was perfect.
I was his beloved wife, carrying our first child, convinced I was the center of his universe.
But when my father fell ill, Ethan disappeared from my life, only to reappear in a crushing photo: his arm intimately around my successful cousin, Olivia Hayes.
My world shattered.
The betrayal ran deeper than I could have imagined.
I discovered I was merely a meticulously chosen stand-in, a grotesque copy of Olivia, the woman he truly loved.
He even desired our child to have *her* features, a living link to his obsession.
Every tender gesture, every shared dream, was a calculated lie, meaning my marriage, my love, and my pregnancy were all built on his monstrous deceit.
A cold rage blossomed within me; how could I have been so blind?
He believed he owned me, that I would never leave, especially with a baby on the way, confident I was a compliant fool.
He was terribly wrong.
I would not be his vessel, his substitute.
When he least expected it, while he was still flaunting his obsession, I quietly underwent an abortion.
Then, using his arrogance against him, I meticulously orchestrated my escape, securing my divorce and vanishing without a trace.
He thought he was playing me; I showed him exactly who was being played, leaving him a devastating truth about his own making. Weeks Before My Wedding, My Fiancé Forgot Only Me
Gavin My wedding to Ethan Reed was just weeks away.
After seven years, I was certain of our perfect future.
Then, Ethan claimed "selective amnesia" from a head injury, forgetting only me.
I tried to make him remember, until I overheard his video call.
"Total genius move," he boasted to friends.
His amnesia was a fake "hall pass" to pursue influencer Chloe Vance before our wedding.
Heartbroken, I feigned belief.
I endured his open flirting with Chloe and their taunting selfies.
He mocked my distress, prioritizing Chloe's fake emergency.
After an accident he caused, he abandoned me, injured, choosing to send Chloe to the hospital first.
He even tried to cut me off financially.
How could my fiancé be this cruel, calculating monster?
His betrayal poisoned every memory.
I felt like a fool for trusting such boundless cruelty.
His audacity left me reeling.
But I wouldn’t be his victim.
Instead of breaking, a cold plan formed.
I would shed my identity, become Olivia Carter.
I would disappear, leaving him, my past, and his engagement ring behind forever, claiming my freedom. Wedding Bells, Death Knells
Gavin Seven years of my life were stolen, locked away for a crime I didn't commit. Now, out of that concrete cage, the California sun feels alien against my skin, and the only thing I crave is peace. Not salvation, not forgiveness, just a final resting place: my ashes scattered among the ancient Redwoods I once dreamed of with him.
But achieving even that final wish requires money, a sum I, a pariah with a prison record, can barely imagine. So, I swallow my pride and take a job in the opulent heart of Los Angeles. On my first shift, amidst the clinking glasses and hushed power plays, I hear a familiar laugh. Liam. The man I still love, the man who believed I was a murderer, who saw me imprisoned for his sister’s recklessness.
He’s not alone. My former best friend, now his fiancée, Jess, is by his side. Their eyes, once filled with affection, now gleam with cold fury and malicious triumph. They relish in my humiliation, forcing me to clean up their messes, parading their love in front of me, a constant reminder of the life I lost.
Why do I endure this exquisite torture? Why do I allow the man I cherished to break me, piece by agonizing piece? Because I’m dying, and this agonizing job is my only chance to fulfill my last desire.
Then, Liam offers me a new role: his personal attendant. A public spectacle of my subservience, designed to parade my shame at every elite gathering. The pay? Substantial. A devil’s bargain, perhaps, but it's the only key to the Redwoods. I accept, my dignity traded for a final breath of freedom among the trees. The Day He Asked for My Kidney
Gavin My family owed the Vances, a debt etched invisibly deep into our lives. Years ago, I’d even donated bone marrow to Julian, Richard Vance’s son, the boy I once hero-worshipped. It felt like a small repayment, tying me deeper into their world.
Then Julian came to me, his handsome face etched with worry. “Mia,” he urgent, “It’s Cassandra. Her kidneys are failing. You’re a perfect match.” He was asking for another piece of me.
In that suffocating moment, a brutal vision slammed into me: Cassandra dying, Julian’s monstrous rage, my life systematically destroyed, culminating in my suspicious death from his calculated revenge. The horror of this terrifying premonition stripped away every shred of naivety.
How could the man whose life I’d saved, whose family saved mine, be capable of such monstrous malice?
Survival became my only thought. I looked at him, not a hero, but a potential destroyer. “Alright, Julian,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady. “I’ll do it. But I have conditions. This will be the final repayment. A legally binding contract for complete severance of all ties, and a substantial sum for my complete disappearance. My ticket to freedom.” 
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