Cruel Optimism

A boy stuck between who he was, who he has become & who he could be. Plinio Murray or as he prefers to be called, Nio, is a bully. He picks fights with anyone for no reason. He is cruel. His face is scarred. He is savage. His hits nearly killed a boy last year. He is ruthless. His pockets are brimming with illegal money. He is the one of whom everybody is scared. His grades are failing. Not that he gives a shit but Mr. Harrison has tied him in a study session the school's sweetheart. Famous by the nickname Angel, Celeste James is everybody's favorite. With her quarterback boyfriend Kevin, they are the golden couple of the high school. Beginnings of the study session are rough and pretty electric. Already caught in between her secrets, Plinio is nothing but a headache. Just when she decides to end the study sessions with him, Celeste learns that perhaps Plinio isn't much hopeless after all. Can a bully always hurt others and not get hurt on the way? After all what goes around comes around. Twisted truths, cheating partners and a gradually blossoming love; maybe there isn't much difference between who is beautiful and who is battered.

Kael Draven died in the most ridiculous way possible, chasing fried chicken across the street. When he wakes up, he finds himself reborn in a world of magic and monsters. A second chance at life. A chance to become powerful. There is only one problem. His stats are completely useless. Strength: F Mana: F Speed: F And yet, one thing stands above everything else. Luck: SSS Spells fail, but enemies fall. Battles turn deadly, but somehow he survives. Treasures appear when he least expects them. To everyone else, Kael looks like a hidden genius. A monster in disguise. A mage far beyond comprehension. But the truth is much simpler. “I swear I didn’t do anything.” As misunderstandings grow and powerful enemies begin to take interest, Kael is dragged into conflicts far beyond his control. Because in a world ruled by power, destiny, and gods… His “luck” might be the most dangerous force of all.

In a world ravaged by global nuclear fallout, I struggled to survive alongside my fragile, sweet-faced best friend, dodging one radiation storm after another. The route to the Central Safety Zone was blocked—we had no choice but to use two detonators to blast open the tunnel. Otherwise, we would be caught in the storm, our bodies rotting away until we either dissolved into blood sludge or turned into zombies. … In my previous life, I had risked everything to secure those detonators, only for my best friend to hand them over to a complete stranger without hesitation. "They have elderly people and children on their side too," she said earnestly. "One detonator can save many lives. Iris, you can't be selfish." I was so furious my blood pressure nearly exploded, but with no other option, I went straight into a horde of zombies to steal backup detonators. I lost an arm in the process, drenched in blood and barely standing. Yet, she complained that I was covered in gore and had frightened the children. After finally regrouping with the main convoy, I rushed to deliver the formula for anti-radiation medicine to the research institute so that more people could be saved. But she accused me of stealing supplies and trying to flee, which led to my expulsion from the base, and death, my body rotting away under the radiation. When I opened my eyes again, there was still one hour left before the radiation storm hit. I looked down at the two detonators in my hand, then at my pitiful, tear-brimmed best friend—and I smiled. Since she loved being a good person so much, this time, I would let her be one to her heart's content.

After the car accident, I was gravely injured. I begged my wife, Susie Rogers, to take me to the hospital. Instead, her face darkened, and she ordered someone to lock me inside a sauna heated to 180 degrees. The reason was simple: her brother-in-law, Chester Tucker, was scheduled for an appendectomy that day. To make sure I would not undergo surgery at the same time as him, she had me injected with a hundred coagulant shots. No matter how desperately I pleaded for her to save me, she remained unmoved. Ninety-nine needles pierced my body, each one intensifying the agony of my already severe injuries. The hundredth injection, she administered herself. Looking down at me in my misery, she said calmly, "Chester has had a hard enough life since losing his wife. As his sister-in-law, I'm only looking out for him. You weren't satisfied with driving him overseas; now you even staged a car accident to get surgery before him? "It seems I've spoiled you too much. That's why you dare to pull something like this. "The doctor said that with the injections and the high heat, your pain and bleeding would be controlled. Once Chester's surgery is done, you can have yours." In that moment, my heart turned to ash. When Chester's operation succeeded, Susie burst into tears of relief and even set off celebratory fireworks to mark his 'new beginning.' Later, as she watched him leave the hospital fully recovered, she finally remembered me and ordered someone to take me there. However, before they could, her assistant called. "The hospital has asked you to come and claim Mr. Lynch's…body."

"Li..am he.. he r..a..p.e.." before I could finish my sentence he cut me off."Pathetic girls like you are meant to be fucked by those men, why are you complaining anyways? I fucked you, he fucked you just the size would be different, I am sure you enjoyed it as much as you enjoyed my dick" he said smirking looking at my broken form." How can you say this? " I shouted at him with tears flowing down my eyes. " Oh shut up you orphan bitch, dont fucking ever raise your voice at me and after this lesson, if you want more, I have many other men like him," he said laughing at meWhat happens when an orphan girl with the purest soul meets a man who from the start had played her, used her, and threw her ?? What happens when she finds the truth about the man whom she loved with all her heart? Most importantly what will happen when destiny throws her into a maze which ends only at one place misery But between all this, the most important question is 'will she ever be loved ?' Join the journey of Natasha and the man who had played her well Liam Knights.

Natalie Grace Ivanov , daughter of Dimitri Ivanov the CEO of crime ,is a strong and sophisticated girl .She is smart and knows her way out of a problem , being a fine contriver . Adrian Victor Smirnov is the son of the second largest mob in Russia and the biggest potent rival of Ivanov mob . Adrian is a brutal manipulator with an intricate personality. Russian criminal culture is something special , the thieves-in-law hold many powers Natalie goes to USA for further studies for 2 years . Adrian sees this as a golden opportunity to know more about the Ivanov gang through her , thinking of her as a gullible girl and goes to the same college. With nothing in his mind but vengeance for the past not knowing that Natalie is not the one to be fooled . -- They hate each other's guts yet understand each other the best . They think they don't want each other yet burn with the thought of someone else with them They want to just get done with each other yet become everything together . Love and hate ... same passion , same impulse ... " Love was never good to me but all I know is that if I wanted a place in this world , it would be next to her ." "We are too bad for others but too good for each other ." -- Both loyal to their families , both take life as it comes and never complain With a decade of enmity between the gangs but what would they choose at the end love or hate ? Read to find out.