How Does Atoned End?

Serena Judd is a mess when she's taken to the hospital after being harassed by a freak. As she waits in the corridor for her turn to see the doctor, she sees Justin Farrow with his arm around a young woman. He's coaxing her gently. With a raspy voice, Serena looks at Justin, the guy she has been on and off with for years. "Didn’t you get my text?" "It's Candice's birthday, so I can't upset her. Besides, who knows whether you actually ran into a freak?" He frowns, looking disdainful. "Were you violated?" Serena's blood runs cold at his words. She tenders her resignation the following day, but Justin isn't bothered. He says, "She's more obedient than a dog. She'll come back to beg for forgiveness without me even saying anything." This time, however, Serena leaves without hesitation. … Half a year passes. Justin sits in his car and dials a number he's already committed to memory. As soon as the call is connected, he says tensely, "I miss you." All he hears is a snort. "Why are you disturbing me in the middle of the night with a love confession, Mr. Farrow? You should be asleep." Justin snarls, "Where's Rina? Tell her to answer the phone!" Wilson Quade looks at Serena, who's lying beneath him, her eyes gleaming with desire. He smirks devilishly and says, "We're busy, Mr. Farrow."

Luna disappeared five years ago after being blamed for a betrayal she didn’t commit. Broken and pregnant, she had no choice but to walk away from the man she loved. Now she’s back, with a sick child and a secret that could change everything. Atlas Thorne is powerful, cold, and still angry. He doesn’t know the little girl by Luna’s side is his daughter. And he doesn’t want her in his world again. But when the truth begins to unravel, and dangerous people from their past return, Luna and Atlas are forced to face what really tore them apart.

At an investor banquet, my fiancé Tanner Clarkson’s secretary, Willow Thorne, recklessly throws a glass of wine at an investor and hurls insults without thinking. In retaliation, the investor demands that Willow make it up to him with her body, or he'll pull his funding. To ensure the company's successful IPO, Tanner hands me a glass of spiked wine. Then, he pushes me to the investor, expecting me to extinguish his flames of rage. His eyes are filled with feigned hesitation as he says, "Willow isn't like you. She just graduated—she's pure and innocent. Stop fighting it, Kathy. I'll make it up to you once the company goes public." When I regain consciousness, I stare at the man across from me, my voice hoarse. "About that deal you mentioned... I'll sign it."

On the eve of our wedding, I refused Aria Carter's first love's ridiculous request to take my place as her groom for a month. In a fit of anger, he stormed off, drove onto the highway, and was killed in a car accident. That very night, Aria grabbed me by the neck and demanded, "I already agreed to marry you, so why couldn't you fulfill this one tiny wish for him?!" To avenge her first love, she brought in a stand-in to replace him and punished me day and night. Not only did she abort our child, but she also framed my dad for illegal fundraising, forcing him to die in prison. Unable to take the shock, my mom suffered a heart attack and ended up in the ICU. When I went to beg for her signature with the hospital bill yet again, I saw her locked in a passionate embrace with the stand-in. "Aria, you're already pregnant with my child. Do I really have to keep pretending to be dead?" Aria panted breathlessly, her eyes clouded with desire. "There's no rush. Let Conrad suffer a bit more, or he'll never learn to be obedient. "After all, that half-dead mother of his is still waiting on my money for her medical bills." It turned out Aria's first love wasn't dead at all! The atonement I believed in was nothing more than a game to them. My child and my parents were merely pawns to be toyed with in their game. I waited the entire night. It wasn't until dawn that I took the bill and rushed to the hospital in a daze. Only to be informed that my mom had slit her wrists and committed suicide the night before, leaving me with just one final sentence. [Conrad, I won't drag you down anymore.]

Machines of Iron and guns of alchemy rule the battlefields. While a world faces the consequences of a Steam empire. Molag Broner, is a soldier of Remas. A member of the fabled Legion, he and his brothers have long served loyal Legionnaires in battle with the Persian Empire. For 300 years, Remas and Persia have been locked in an Eternal War. But that is about to end. Unbeknown to Molag and his brothers. Dark forces intend to reignite a new war. Throwing Rome and her Legions, into a new conflict

Thirty years ago, a progressive rock band called The Yellow Kings began recording what would become their first and final album. Titled “The Final Reconciliation,” the album was expected to usher in a new renaissance of heavy metal, but it was shelved following a tragic concert that left all but one dead. The sole survivor of that horrific incident was the band’s lead guitarist, Aidan Cross, who’s kept silent about the circumstances leading up to that ill-fated performance—until now. For the first time since the tragedy, Aidan has granted an exclusive interview to finally put rumors to rest and address a question that has haunted the music industry for decades: What happened to The Yellow Kings? The answer will terrify you. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing