820 Results with the "Fiction" genre


    • The Woman Who Tried to Be Good [1913] Cover
      by LovelyMay The Woman Who Tried to Be Good begins with the quiet shock of a town unprepared to witness a woman like Blanche Devine change her life. Her past had been whispered about for years—her name a permanent feature in hushed conversations and sidelong glances. But Blanche, with a will sharpened by solitude and a longing for something gentler, made a bold choice: to become respectable. She sold the house with its closed shutters and secrets, then bought a little white cottage near the edge of town. What…
    • The Gay Old Dog [1917] Cover
      by LovelyMay The Gay Old Dog opens with Jo Hertz, a middle-aged bachelor, navigating the lively streets of Chicago as troops prepare to march off to war. The festive chaos of the city contrasts sharply with Jo's internal stillness—a quiet longing that has been buried beneath years of indulgence and denial. While others look to the future with hope or fear, Jo stands suspended in the past, contemplating the pieces of life he never got to live. It is this emotional disconnect, set against a backdrop of patriotic…
    • That’s Marriage [1917] Cover
      by LovelyMay That's Marriage begins in an ordinary kitchen, with a cold cup of coffee and a remark that surprises them both. Terry’s half-laugh, half-sob response to Orville’s observation isn’t just about the coffee—it’s about something that’s been quietly missing between them. That he noticed at all seems unbelievable to her. After all, marriage has a way of dulling the edges, of turning attentiveness into routine, and love into assumption. But in that moment, something breaks open. A simple gesture…
    • Farmer in the Dell  [1919] Cover
      by LovelyMay Farmer in the Dell opens with Ben Westerveld quietly enduring a life he never wanted. Once a prosperous and hard-working farmer in southern Illinois, Ben has now retired to the city, pushed by his wife Bella's desire for a more modern lifestyle. In Chicago, surrounded by brick and noise, he finds himself restless and increasingly out of place. Though financially secure, his days are empty, stripped of the purpose and pride that came with managing his own land. While Bella thrives on shopping trips and…
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      CHAPTER 1

      CHAPTER 1 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Avery, the protagonist, in the grand library of Hawthorne House, surrounded by reminders of the Hawthorne dynasty. Her lawyer, Alisa Ortega, insists on discussing her upcoming eighteenth birthday and the implications for her massive inheritance. Avery, however, is more focused on a bet with Jameson Hawthorne to uncover hidden passages in the mansion. Her dismissive attitude toward Alisa’s concerns highlights her determination to prioritize the game over her impending wealth and…
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      CHAPTER 2

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist lying in bed, reminiscing about receiving a symbolic bronze key pin from Jameson and the Hawthorne brothers—a token marking her acceptance into their group. As she resists dwelling on a memory involving Grayson, she distracts herself by anonymously donating to charitable causes using her unlimited credit card, a privilege granted ahead of inheriting the Hawthorne fortune. The scene establishes her emotional ties to the family and her restless anticipation for…
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      CHAPTER 3

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist reflecting on the chaotic weeks spent juggling charity events, school exams, and unanswered calls from Grayson. Amidst this turmoil, they find solace in honing their shooting skills at the Hawthorne estate's private range. Though uncomfortable with firearms, the protagonist recognizes the necessity of self-defense after surviving multiple life-threatening situations since inheriting Tobias Hawthorne's fortune. Nash, their mentor, praises their progress, highlighting…
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      CHAPTER 4

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens on the protagonist's eighteenth birthday, where she wakes to find an extravagant midnight green ball gown hanging in her doorway, adorned with black jewels and accompanied by a cryptic note: "WEAR ME IF YOU DARE." Recognizing the handwriting as Jameson Hawthorne's, she confronts him at the edge of the Black Wood, where he awaits in a white tuxedo beside a hot-air balloon. Their reunion is charged with tension and passion, culminating in a fiery kiss, though their moment is observed by her…
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      CHAPTER 5

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist waking up beside Jameson, her ball gown draped over the bed. She reflects on his mysterious scar, which he has never explained truthfully, and resists the urge to touch him before leaving the room. After picking up her Hawthorne pin and dressing, she heads downstairs, where she finds Grayson alone in the dining room. Their conversation is tense, as Grayson reminds her that the estate will soon be hers, signaling an inevitable change in their dynamics. Despite her…
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      CHAPTER 6

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the protagonist, Avery, grappling with the secret of Toby’s daughter, Eve, which she has kept hidden at Toby’s request. When Eve unexpectedly appears at the gates of Hawthorne House, Avery is overwhelmed by emotion but quickly shifts into protective mode, aware of the potential harm Eve’s presence could cause Grayson, who is emotionally fragile. Eve’s striking resemblance to Emily Laughlin—a figure tied to the Hawthorne family’s painful past—heightens Avery’s urgency…
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