proven

"Speaking of knowing things…" Kyle said slowly, "You still haven't given me a chance to tell my story." "I know," said Andrea. "I was having too much fun speculating. Finding you like this is a gift, and I don't want to tear the wrapping off all at once. ‘Building up the anticipation makes it better.’" Kyle blinked again, then gave a quiet snort of recognition at his own words being thrown back at him. "So what is your speculation?" Kyle asked. "Oh I don't know, probably something utterly disappointing. Did they pick you up for speeding on the way to the farmers market? I guess that wouldn't explain the uh…" she gestured at his injury again. "It wouldn't explain that now, would it. Oh, I know! You got into a fight over the last piece of bluefin!" Kyle just shook his head slightly. "No? I guess it's too much to hope you did something really exciting like rob a bank—You're not secretly a cat burglar are you, Kyle? Lose your balance breaking into an art gallery? No…?" Kyle looked unamused. "Very funny, Chuckles, would you mind taking this a little more seriously?" "Of course," said Andrea. "Very serious for a lawyer to have been arrested. You could be disciplined. Disbarred! Why, we might not see each other in court anymore. Wouldn't that be a shame." "Wouldn't it though," replied Kyle. "So that's the kind of guy you think I am? Stealing fine art and fighting in fish markets?” Andrea pondered some more. "I know!" she exclaimed. "Did you get into a fight with someone's boyfriend? Did it turn out that you were your young lady's bit on the side, and you ended up having a domestic dispute?" Kyle winced. "Is that it?!" Andrea had been teasing, but it seems like she had touched a nerve. To whatever degree Kyle had seemed like he'd been playing along, even as worn down as he was, that last remark had left him deflated. Kyle hung his head. "It wasn't like that…" "Oh sure, like you haven't been collecting notches on your bedposts." "I'M not like that." "You're not? That's not what your reputation says, out there collecting numbers and breaking hearts. I heard that you were a real ladykil–" "Andrea! I'm not–" Kyle shouted, grabbing her hands. His hands were strong, and his grip so tight it almost hurt. His expression so intense, frustrated and hurt and… scared? Andrea knew she had been twisting the knife a little into something that bothered him, but what had caused this reaction? It was only for a moment, then Kyle seemed to catch himself and let go. He slumped back in his chair and slid his shackled hands back below the table. Andrea leaned back as well, adding to the distance, and folded her arms, no longer smiling. She glanced at the duress button out of the corner of her eye. If Kyle had kept holding her as tightly as he had been, she wouldn't have even been able to reach it. "I think we're ready for storytime now," she said seriously. “I think you had better start at the punchline. What have you been charged with, Mr Wynn?" Kyle took a deep breath before he raised his head once more. "Murder, Ms Mason. First Degree Murder." *** Andrea Mason, a defense attorney who cares more about justice and protecting her clients than just winning cases. But the one man she hates to lose to is her rival, the arrogant prosecutor, Kyle Wynn. Kyle represents everything Andi hates about unscrupulous win-at-all-costs lawyers, and for years they have traded arguments in the courtroom and barbs in the hallways. Their paths cross again when they find themselves on a high-profile murder trial. As much as Andrea might despise Kyle, she can’t believe it when HE is charged with the horrific murder. But she is even more shocked when he asks for her to represent him at trial… *** #SLOWBURN #STRONGFL #CRIME #MURDER #FLIRTY #ROMANCE If you want to know what to expect, check the reviews! ฅ^-ﻌ•^ฅ Burrito says to join here: https://discord.gg/qr7eUnxT2F

I started as a simple village boy with nothing but determination. Life slowly changed when I left home and worked hard to build my future. Step by step, I found success, built a small business, and eventually created a peaceful life. I married a beautiful woman, we had a child, and for a while everything felt normal and happy. But everything changed when social media entered our lives. My wife’s beauty and charm began attracting thousands of followers… then hundreds of thousands. In a short time, she became famous, almost like a celebrity online. While she stood in the spotlight, I remained behind the scenes, like a silent director of our life. Fame brought attention, money, and a life we never imagined. But fame also brought something else. Pressure, jealousy, rumors, and eventually the presence of a third person slowly began destroying the life we once built together. What used to be a peaceful family turned into conflict and heartbreak.

A young women is a Captive, along with other women and has to find a why out or die trying

Here, wherever I am, intangible, undefined, conscious thought does not follow a set path with which to follow. Ripples of reflections spread outward, tapering off into nothingness. Beginning and ending has no meaning here, it either is, or it isn't.

This is a story about a OLD man getting reincarnated in a (slightly less) futuristic world with the knowledge of his old life. Most of this novel will take place in a game called "Realm's End". Realm's End is a vrmmo with 100's of classes and a nearly infinite number of builds. Read as our 'wise' protagonist plays through this anomaly of a game. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT(ish) I do not own the cover art. Also i got a lot of inspiration for the mechanics in the game from overlord's 'Yddrisl' (i think that how you spell it) from the anime/light novel 'Overlord'. There will be little to no romance.

A world where nothing dies, nothing is born; nothing starts, nothing ends. It's a world abandoned by the rest of the universe, along with two living beings — a young boy and a young girl. Not remembering how the world was destroyed or how they ended up being here, the two struggle to live their life on this lifeless planet, where every day is the same — until one day a change takes place in the world and their memories slowly start to return. Inspired by the popular Japanese visual novel and anime "Clannad," the story proceeds as the two starts to discover the mystery behind this "lost world" and their existence as a whole. Will they be able to unravel the truth behind everything by surviving the cruelty and harshness of the universe? Find it out by reading it!

The Earth faces great danger as several visitors from a mirror dimension begin their invasion of Earth. All of the militaries around the world unite to fight against the Earth's threats at the hands of monsters that the Japanese dubbed "Kaiju" to prevent this from happening. As time passes by, the danger the world faces grows more robust. The people of Earth know that their final days are nigh until one day, a mysterious creature as massive as the "Kaiju" appears and begins to fight against the titular monsters invading the Earth. Who is this creature, and what is its goal in protecting Earth from these monstrosities? The people call him Proto. Is he here on Earth as an ally or as an enemy?

Space. An infinite expanse filled to the brim with both endearing beauties and unthinkable terrors. In a day and age far beyond into the future, psionically gifted and/or cybernetically enhanced individuals walk the streets as daily citizens. Humanity has succeeded in colonising entire solar systems and yet the inlying faults of humanity still remain. Bandits and marauders roam backwater worlds, where the reach of the human interstellar nations are waning, giving them free reign to do as they please. On top of this, the notions of jealousy and rivalries still continued to persist within humanity as they brought the rivalries and feuds from Earth and into the stars. However, dangerous bandits and warring human nations aren't the only thing to fear in this 'new world.' Humanity isn't the only species to reach the stars. Alien species with queer or odd physicalities and strange cultures threaten humanity at every turn. And far beyond them, there are the Cosmic Horrors whose very existence was enough to threaten entire solar systems. And yet, there was a threat greater still than the Cosmic Horrors comparable to that of Gods. And that was a mere human. A mere human with an idea.

[Ding! The 'Randomly Spend' Tycoon System is at your service.] On her way to work, Yun Zijin was bound by a system named 'Randomly Spend'. [Spending Task Completed. A 2x rebate has been triggered. Ownership of Villa No. 1 at Xingyu Mansion. The related documents have been placed in the system backpack.] [Spending Task Completed. A 3x rebate has been triggered. Ownership of Dingsi Building. The related documents have been placed in the system backpack.] ... Yun Zijin was dazzled by the system's rewards, only to be told that her wealthy parents had found her? That she's the true daughter of the Xia Family of Dijing? Being bound to the Tycoon System was exciting for Yun Zijin, but she refused to be part of any cliché wealthy family drama. The Xia Family of Dijing? Yun Zijin: Get lost! Don't even think about associating with me!

One day, a strange hand suddenly appeared inside Chi Wan’s interdimensional space. Its owner claimed to be living in the apocalypse—starving, desperate—and begged to trade anything he had for food. Chi Wan stared at the pile of Imperial Green jade, oversized diamonds, and dozens of kilograms of gold bars he offered… and fell into deep thought. …Wasn’t this a little too profitable? From then on, her connection to the apocalypse only grew stronger. The mysterious man—who turned out to be a powerful figure—used his Wood Ability to help her revive rare orchids, cultivate endangered plants, and even harvest zombie crystal cores for the country. As for Chi Wan? She only had three responsibilities: feed him, feed him, and keep feeding him. Somehow, without realizing it, a group of extraordinary men began to gather around her: A genius research scientist. An aloof, abstinent CEO. A cold and ruthless Soldier King… In front of Chi Wan, they were gentle, attentive, and impeccably polite—each trying to outshine the others. Behind her back? They were one step away from tearing each other apart. Meanwhile, on the other side of the spatial link… The so-called King of the Apocalypse clenched his teeth in silence as he listened to these men compete for her attention. As for Chi Wan? “I’m busy getting rich and supporting my family,” she said calmly. “A battle royale of suitors? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Until one day— An absurdly handsome man appeared at the gates of her villa… carrying a sack filled with gold and jewels. “I’m here to marry into your family,” he declared. Chi Wan glanced at him, then at the newly connected wasteland world inside her space… …and once again fell into deep thought.