badboy

(trigger warning. This book contains mature themes) ****** "I can't..." she gasped between broken moans, her voice trembling somewhere between pain and pleasure. Every thrust seemed to blur the line between surrender and defiance. Then she whispered a name between her sweet cries ...it wasn’t mine. I froze. A slow, humorless smile curved my lips as the sound of his name filled the space between us. “Raph…” she breathed. I leaned in, my mouth brushing her ear. Feeling her tremble from touch until my teeth nibbled her earlobes hard enough to make her whimper and her fold to clench around my fingers. “Wrong name, Lynn.” I hissed, withdrawing from the warmth of her insides. I felt her body tense. She clawed at my shoulders, a desperate plea in every touch. “Don’t…” she whimpered. Those jade-like eyes unravelled me that moment. I could feel the ache in my trousers. A troublesome little viper. A cruel smile traced my lips hiding my emotions. “You called the wrong name,” I murmured, my voice low, dangerous. “And bad girls deserve to be punished.” Her glossy eyes met mine... so full of confusion, want, and power she didn’t yet understand. If she only knew how close I was to breaking. Because the only name she should be calling… was mine. Lucien. I craved it as badly as the air I breathe. ****** For better or for worse, till death do us part. That was their vows at the altar, but her husband broke them first.. He claims an open marriage is the solution to their childless marriage and that it's to protect her own interests. But all Braelyn sees is a prison built from guilt and lies. One heartbroken night, she stumbles into a karaoke bar and into the arms of Lucien. A man shrouded in mystery, rebellion, and danger. His very presence tells her to run but it also gives her the solace she craved. She never expected to see him again after she ran, forgetting his sinful existence, but life wasn't done making a joke out of her. Lucien isn't just any man, but one who can destroy everything she believes in. The man she was never meant to meet. Her husband's uncle The black sheep of the Volkov dynasty. A man whose desire will ruin her. Lucien knows she can't be his, but he was never a man who respected social norms. He doesn't care about anything but her every sin and touch. All he wants… is her, no matter how sinful it gets.

I was a saint in the light, but a sinner in the dark. To the world, I was a good girl marrying a billionaire twice my age. To Arthur Reynolds, I was his "angel", the virtuous bride who would bring life back into his silent mansion. But I wasn’t a saint. I was a secret. For six months, I was the girl on the pole at The Velvet Room. And Ethan Reynolds: Arthur’s cold, predatory, and brutally handsome son was my most frequent customer. He’d paid thousands to watch me and discipline me. He knew every curve of my body, every lie in my soul, and every scream I could produce. Now, I’m wearing his father’s ring. I’m living under his roof. And Ethan isn't just watching me anymore, he’s hunting me. He thinks I’m a gold-digger. He thinks I’ve played his father for a fool. And he’s determined to punish me for it. "You’re his wife in the daytime, Zora," he hissed, his hand tightening around my throat in the dark of the hallway. "But in this house, when the lights go out... you still belong to the man who bought you first." Arthur wants to own me. Ethan wants to break me. And I? I’m just trying to survive the man I’m legally forbidden to love.

[MATURE CONTENT WARNING: 18+ Only. Heavy Smuts, knotting, possessive themes, and dub-con.] “I knotted you thrice today, little liar. Tell me… is the game still worth it?” In the pro leagues, Omegas aren't allowed to play. But Kayden Vale entered the hockey world anyway, pretending to be an Alpha. Living on suppressants, he has one goal: Win the Cup. But he also has one massive problem: Rhys Calder. Rhys Calder is the Alpha Captain of the Nothern Avalanche. He hates Kayden for being "too pretty" for the ice. The world sees them as two Alphas always at each other’s throats, but they don’t see what happens when the lights go out. Behind locked doors, their hate turns into a different kind of heat. It was supposed to be simple: Teammates on ice, fuck buddies in the bedroom. No feelings. No strings attached. Rhys thought he was with a cocky Alpha. Then he found out the truth. Instead of turning Kayden in, he claimed him. What started as a physical release has twisted into dark obsession. Enemies to rivals-with-benefits to something far more dangerous: love. What happens when the world discovers their forbidden secret? #BL #Omegaverse #SportsRomance #RivalsToLovers #SecretIdentity #PossessiveAlpha #Smut #Hockey #ForcedProximity #EnemiesWithBenefits#Mpreg#Erotica

Isabella Cruz was once known as the number one socialite of Averton City—beautiful, elegant, and engaged to her childhood sweetheart, Brandon Hughes of the wealthy Hughes family. She waited ten years for him, guarded her heart for him, and endured every rumor about his affairs… only to be publicly betrayed by him and her sister, Vanessa. Heartbroken and drunk for the first time in her life, Isabella accidentally stumbles into a hotel suite and crashes straight into the arms of Victor Steele, a cold and powerful CEO with no patience for women. She kisses him in a drunken state and unknowingly gets tangled with a man far more dangerous than she realizes. The next morning, she sneaks out, only to be dragged into a storm at home. Her family is collapsing, her engagement is broken, and everyone believes the worst about her. Brandon tries to shame her, and Vanessa plots to steal her place. But Victor Steele doesn’t forget the woman who crashed into his life. As scandals grow and enemies close in, Isabella must protect herself, rebuild her pride, and figure out why Victor Steele suddenly refuses to let her go. Her fall was dramatic... But her comeback will be even more explosive.

The Sketch of Our Scars Jia is a master of being invisible. To the world, she’s just another quiet girl in the back of the class, but her sketchbook holds the secrets she’s too afraid to speak aloud—especially the pain of her father’s broken promises and the scent of alcohol that haunts her home. Her life of shadows changes the day she meets Jinu, a mysterious boy with a bleeding lip and eyes that reflect a darkness deeper than her own. When Jia finds his lost name tag, she realizes they share more than just a bus ride—they share scars that the world cannot see. Can two broken souls find healing in each other’s silence, or will their secrets pull them further into the dark?

WARNING: Some mature content!!! 18+ This is what you call Urbantasy.. Fantasy in an urban setting with a strong female lead -- a story riddled in mystery, magic, and a lot of sass. ======= CHAPTER 1 sneak peek! ======= The air between them tightened like a rope. Cael leaned closer, head tilting slightly, pulling at her waist again, smugness softened into something sharper and quieter. His eyes flicked to her lips then back to her eyes as if asking for permission he didn't need. Hunger of a different kind pumped through Cael. The hunger that Galathea unmistakably recognized as it pressed hard against her lower abs, forcing through the fabric as if it can tear through. At the sensation, Galathea's mouth parted before she could stop it. Her whole body screamed at her to either shove him away or close the last inch between their lips herself. ===== SYSNOPSIS ===== Galathea Brooks spent her life surviving quietly -- counting inventory, enforcing rules, keeping her head down inside one of the most powerful art institutions in the city. It's a simple life because paint doesn't talk; power doesn't notice people like her. and names are just names. -- That is... until a painting remembered her. When ancient works buried beneath Artemis Art Gallery began to respond to Galathea's presence, she becomes the center of the system that's older than the building itself. A system that cataloged her long before she knew it existed. Her name is not a coincidence. It is a KEY. Cael Alexander, on the other hand, has always understood control. As Artemis' immaculate but dangerous CEO, he manages secrets like no other. He knows the gallery and its bowels more than anyone. He knows what's hidden; he knows what's awaken. What he didn't expect, however, was Galathea. As archaic works of art start to stir, boundaries fracture -- between observer and artifact, power and possession, restraint and desire. Every choice Galathea makes draws her deeper into fate that doesn't want permission... only acknowledgement. Mind you, awakenings don't ask when you're ready.

Milas was perfectly content with being an unimportant person. Living in the bottom district had taught him that anonymity was a valuable resource—right up there with clean water, a steady paycheck, and knowing which alleyways the patrol drones preferred. And run when you have to. Unfortunately, running into a noble estate while being chased by officers turned out to be a catastrophic deviation from that philosophy. Now he is engaged. To Duke Finnian Reyes, one of fifteen candidates eligible to compete for the imperial throne. A man famous for his glacial expression, nonexistent social life, and alarming efficiency. A man who apparently needed a fiancé more urgently than he needed background checks. Milas has problems of his own. He is technically illegal, officially unemployed, and one blood test away from being shipped to a war zone. Signing a marriage contract he could not read was therefore… not ideal. On the other hand, it came with private shuttles, tailored clothes, and a temporary immunity from law enforcement, which made it the most luxurious bad decision of his life. Finnian, for his part, is pursuing the throne with stubbornness rather than enthusiasm. Raised far from palace corridors, he knows how fragile ordinary comfort is and how allergic most nobles are to actually fixing things. If winning the imperial contest is the only way to force reforms, then fine. He will play the game. Even if his new fiancé keeps flirting at inappropriate moments. With the capital star looming, political rivals sharpening knives behind polite smiles, the Emperor Contest has acquired its most questionable couple. MxM Milas x Finnian

"My love for you is a crime… but I’d rather burn than give you up." Aria is no ordinary vampire—she's the daughter of a powerful clan, bound by ancient rules. Falling in love with a human? That’s the ultimate betrayal. But when she meets Liam, a mortal who sees past the darkness in her, she can’t stop herself. Their love is dangerous. Forbidden. And when the ruthless Lord Marcus discovers their secret, Aria is faced with an impossible choice—betray Liam or defy her own kind. Just when they think they can escape, everything goes horribly wrong. Liam is turned into a vampire against his will, and his newfound power makes him a threat to both humans and vampires alike. With enemies closing in and trust breaking apart, Aria and Liam must fight for their love in a world that wants to tear them apart. Will they survive the darkness… or become part of it? WE ARE BACK. HAD TO HANDLE SOME THINGS.

Most people get isekai’d by walking in front of a truck. Violet got hit by one while sitting on her own bed. Before she can even process the fact that a semi-truck met her face, she’s dragged into a new world by a frantic System Guide named Angus. Her consolation prize? A "New Player Welcome Bonus." One single, premium gacha pull to help her survive. She didn’t get a holy sword. She didn’t get a healing dragon. She pulled the Demon King. He is the SSS-Rank Calamity. An ancient being of pure destruction. He is arrogant, he is terrifying, and he is regrettably, distractingly gorgeous. He is also wearing a gold necklace that binds him to Violet’s will—and he takes that personally. The super unbreakable necklace ensures he can't kill his master, but the Demon Lord seems to view that more as a suggestion than a requirement. Her survival plan is simple: 1: Don't die to the monsters. 2: Don't die to her own familiar’s malicious compliance. 3: Absolutely, under no circumstances, tell the murder-god that he looks hot when he’s angry.

Title: Cursed: The Surgeon & The Virgin Artist (Tagline: She draws sin, but he is her salvation... or her doom?) The Devil (Jeremy): He taught her every pose, every threshold of desire, and unlocked every sensitive zone of her body. He took a blank canvas and stained it with the colors of forbidden lust. But he never intended to shelter her from the storm he created. The Savior (Liam): He offered her the most exquisite love and a silent, powerful protection. He wanted to wash away the mud clinging to her soul and polish her into the finest silk. Scarlett is a fallen artist with a mountain of debt. To clear her name and survive, she accepts a humiliating bet from her ex-boyfriend: become the city's top erotic manga artist in two years, or lose her dignity forever. There is just one problem: Scarlett is a virgin. She can draw perfect lines, but she knows nothing about the heat of real desire. Desperate, she meets Dr. Liam, a cold, mysterious surgeon with eyes like the deep ocean. He is a man who saves lives by day... but has his own dark hungers by night. He offers her a deal. He will be her "teacher." He will show her everything she needs to know about pleasure, pain, and surrender. But as the lessons turn into reality, Scarlett realizes she is falling into a trap more dangerous than her debt. "I can fix your art, Scarlett. But once I start, I won't stop until you are completely mine."

She saved his life. Now her future belongs to his world. Dr. Emilia Conti is a brilliant trauma surgeon drowning in debt and grief. One violent night, she breaks every rule to save a dying man with a gunshot wound—never expecting to see him again. Until she does. Alessio Lombardi is the ruthless heir to a powerful crime dynasty, a man who survives by control and calculation. Owing Emilia a life debt he refuses to release, he draws her into his dangerous world with an offer she cannot walk away from: protection, freedom from her debts, and safety… in exchange for becoming his wife. What begins as survival becomes a battle of wills. As secrets surface and betrayal closes in, Emilia is forced to choose between blood and loyalty, morality and devotion. In a world ruled by power, love is never gentle—and trust can be fatal.

He’s her one shot at freedom. She’s his only chance to believe in love. But falling for each other might get them both killed. After seven years as Scott's best friend, Stacy drops a bombshell: she’s leaving New York for an arranged marriage to Luca Cattaneo, the heir to one of America’s most feared mafia dynasties. Only then does Scott realize he’s been in love with her all along. A stolen kiss changes everything. painting a target on Scott’s back when it's aired on live TV. To protect him, Stacy activates a dead man’s switch seven years in the making and defies her father, Don Angelo Luciano, the most powerful mob boss in the country. But Don Angelo doesn’t forgive. And he never lets go. Scott, haunted by his past and terrified of love, stands by Stacy anyway. His quiet loyalty and fierce love crack the walls around her heart. For the first time, she dares to imagine a future outside her family’s bloody legacy. But the mafia plays a long game. When her father outsmarts the savant mafia princess, Stacy begs Scott to walk away. Instead, he sacrifices everything to go on the run with her. As starcrossed love battles legacy and their lives hang in the balance, one question remains: can Stacy outrun the empire she was born to rule or will it destroy them both?

•⋅⊰∙∘☽✼☾∘∙⊱⋅• Senior year was supposed to be Noah Valentine's glow-up. New wardrobe. New reputation. This was finally his chance to prove he wasn't the same awkward boy bullies could easily prey on. Then his mom got remarried... And his new stepbrother turned out to be Adrien Fell. Rich. Arrogant. Straight. Gorgeous of course, is determined to ruin his year all over again-except when he's glaring at his dates, interfering with his plans, or (annoyingly) acting like he actually cares. Enemies? Definitely. Step-siblings? Unfortunately. Attraction? ...Yeah, that's the goddamn problem. Between jealous exes, revenge plots, family secrets and obsessed stalkers, Noah's's "best year ever" is spiraling out of control. But maybe-just maybe-the boy he was never supposed to want is the one who's been waiting for him all along. [MATURE CONTENT, EVENTUAL SMUT] (What to expect) •Family murder mystery •Enemies to lovers •Forced proximity •Yandere stalker •Eventual smut (very graphic) •Taboo relationship •GL side couple •Love triangle •Extremely slow burn •⋅⊰READER CHALLENGE⊱⋅• sorry, guys...I had to take this down because I'm running out of stockpile chapters and I'm currently too sick to create more...but I'll put it back up when I get enough chapters... thank you for the support.

Welcome, Master. This is your very own paradise—Otherworld? Happy World! Shall we start crafting your story together now? You came in of your own free will, but who knows how you’ll leave? [ Failure to achieve 100% completion results in death! ] “System, you piece of shit!” I possessed—no, reincarnated into—the only mobile game I actually enjoyed: a pretty-boy collection game. Or was it truck-kun reincarnation? Either way, the gist is that a whole damn truckload of them came crashing in, stripping me of my humanity along with everything else. “I’m your favorite, after all.” “Whatever form you want me to take, whatever situation you desire—just say the word.” Hey. You insane favorite piece of sh—* *This story explores dark psychological dynamics and non-traditional power relationships. Please proceed only if you are comfortable with such themes.

“That child is mine. And so are you,” he commanded, his viper-green eyes pinning her in place. Grace couldn’t believe that he—Carlos Benjamin, her new CEO and eight years her junior—was the father of her unborn baby. “You can go back to that deadbeat you call a husband, or you can come with me and have everything.” ===== For the last five years of her marriage, Grace Preston, 32, believed she was broken. She couldn’t have a child, and her deadbeat husband, Charles, never let her forget it, calling her useless while she worked tirelessly to fund his failed acting career. He didn’t just break her spirit; he shattered her trust by cheating on her with her own sister. Heartbroken, Grace fled to her office late one night, seeking solace at the bottom of a bottle. She wasn’t alone. A beautiful, blond-haired man was there, nursing his own wounds. He never told her his name, but he offered her a night of oblivion. Fueled by whiskey and a desperate need for revenge, she gave in to her darkest desires, pulling the willing stranger into her web. In her drunken haze, she thought, “If my husband can have his fun, then so can I.” She never worried about protection, convinced she was barren. Until a month later, when a positive pregnancy test trembled in her hands. Grace Preston, the ‘barren’ wife, was pregnant. In a single night, the stranger gave her what Charles couldn’t in five years. Now Carlos has made his claim, pulling her into a world of immense power and lethal secrets. Will Grace escape her toxic marriage only to be trapped in this captivating young billionaire’s golden cage? Or is trading one prison for another a mistake that will cost her more than just her heart?

Elena Winter, daughter of Mr Raymond Winter, personal chef to the Ashford family, has always carried herself with quiet elegance. She dreams big, works hard, and believes that love only complicates life. Everything changes when she earns a scholarship to Crestwood Academy, a school built for the elite, where privilege rules and secrets spread fast. At first, Crestwood feels exciting. Then Elena crosses paths with Crown Prince Kaelith Altherion of Valeria, a boy raised on power and pride who expects the world to bend for him. Their worlds collide after she witnesses something she was never meant to see. Soon she is caught between danger, defiance, and a connection she refuses to acknowledge. Will Elena’s determination protect her, or will it pull her into a forbidden bond that could reshape her future? And will her beliefs about love survive the truth she uncovers? It was supposed to be a normal day at Crestwood Academy. Well, as normal as things ever get here, but that is a story for another time. I was on my way to Mr Wiston’s office to submit some papers, still thinking about what I had seen at Westwood University, when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into the storage room. Before I could react, I found myself staring at the personal bodyguard of the crown prince. Yes, that crown prince. Kaelith Altherion of Valeria. The walking definition of arrogance, pride, and everything that goes wrong when someone grows up too rich. The bodyguard shut the door, looked straight at me, and delivered his message with all the attitude I expected. "His Majesty, Crown Prince Kaelith Altherion of Valeria, requests that you take these two thousand Valerian gold coins and forget everything you saw yesterday." I stared at him, lifted my chin, and smiled. My answer probably was not what he expected. "Since His Majesty is feeling generous, and since this is real life, not some romance story where the prince falls for the girl he tries to silence, I will not throw the money in your face. I will kindly help His Majesty spend it. And no, I am not forgetting anything." With that, I walked out.

**She came to steal a plant. She left utterly destroyed and completely his** Aria Chen is a woman who wears many masks: brilliant hacker, underground artist, medical prodigy. But none of those identities can save her dying mother from a rare disease with only one cure a nearly extinct medicinal plant called Vitalis Radix, cultivated exclusively on the private estate of billionaire CEO Damien Blackwood. Desperate and running out of time, Aria does the unthinkable: she infiltrates his fortress-like mansion as a maid under a false identity, planning to steal the plant and vanish before anyone discovers the truth. The plan is simple. "Get in. Get the plant. Get out." Until she meets him. Damien Blackwood is power incarnate ruthlessly intelligent, devastatingly handsome, and dangerously observant. From their first encounter, the attraction between them is explosive, undeniable, and completely forbidden. When he makes her his personal maid, Aria thinks she's been given the perfect access to complete her mission. She has no idea he's been waiting for her. He knows exactly who she is. And he's going to make her pay. But his punishment won't come in the form of police or prosecution. It comes in whispered commands in the darkness. In his hands claiming every inch of her virgin body. In the way he teaches her that pleasure and control are two sides of the same coin. "You're mine now. Every hole. Every moan. Every desperate whimper when you beg me to let you come." Aria is a virgin who's never experienced desire, never understood her own body's capacity for pleasure. Damien becomes her sexual awakening and her complete undoing. He introduces her to a world of dark eroticism she never knew existed remote-controlled vibrators she must wear while serving his dinner guests, sex in his office while he's on business calls, punishments that leave her marked and aching and desperate for more. She becomes addicted. To his touch. To his dominance. To the way he makes her body sing with pleasures she didn't know were possible. Every encounter pushes her boundaries further. Every night in his bed pulls her deeper into obsession. He's possessive to the point of madness, jealous of every man who looks at her, determined to own not just her body but her very soul. "When I'm done with you, you won't remember your own name. You'll only remember mine." As Aria falls deeper into Damien's web of dominance and desire, her mission becomes impossible to separate from her feelings. Her mother is dying. Time is running out. But every night in his arms makes her question what she's willing to sacrifice. When he finally catches her in the greenhouse, hands covered in soil and guilt written across her face, the confrontation is explosive. "Did you really think I didn't know? That I haven't been ten steps ahead this entire time? You played your game, Aria. Now it's time for mine." Betrayal. Rage. Raw, punishing sex that blurs the line between fury and passion. READER WARNING: This is a DARK EROTIC ROMANCE with explicit sexual content including: ** Virgin heroine's complete sexual awakening ** Dominant alpha hero with possessive/obsessive tendencies ** Power dynamics and consensual control (employer/employee) ** Public sexual situations and exhibitionism elements **Use of sex toys for control and pleasure ** Punishment scenarios (spanking, discipline) ** Intense jealousy and possessiveness ** Morally gray characters who make questionable choices ** Explicit language and graphic sexual scenes ** Pushed boundaries (always consensual) ** Emotional intensity and angst This book contains a GUARANTEED HEA but the journey is dark, twisted, and absolutely filthy. If you want safe and sweet, this isn't your book. If you want a billionaire who plays dirty and a heroine who learns to crave it, "Welcome to Blackwood Estate. where every rule is meant to be broken, every boundary is meant to be pushed, and love is the most dangerous game of all."

Warning: 17++++ This story involves Bdsm, a sadistic pervert Alpha boss and his cute pouty step brother omega who loves him just as he comes. *** Ambitious young designer Kang Ye Jun joins Choi Advertising brimming with dreams, only to run headfirst into a tyrannical superior, Choi Si woo. No weekends off, constant availability around the clock, endless overtime that drains every ounce of energy no social life whatsoever, that's already brutal; the absolute worst part is that no matter how hard he tries, in the eyes of this hyper-critical director, everything he creates is flawed and unacceptable! After swallowing endless humiliation, Ye jun finally snaps: "Just because I stay quiet doesn't mean I'm some harmless pushover! I’m done! I quit!" What?! Quitting triggers a massive penalty clause worth millions?! That's insane! Can't we just separate on good terms? Since resignation isn't an option, Kang Ye jun decides to gamble everything and pull off the one move no subordinate would ever dare, seduce and sleep with the devil himself! Choi Si woo, creative director at Seohan Advertising, is a legendary figure in the industry and an untouchable elite bachelor. His professional brilliance is unmatched, but his personality is pure poison, earning him the infamous moniker "The Ice-Cold Devil in a Tailored Suit." Yet beneath that aloof, ruthless exterior lies a deeply buried, unspeakable kink he guards fiercely. When this explosive secret gets uncovered by his sharp-eyed subordinate Kang, what fate awaits the once-impenetrable Choi?

The sun does not rise. My desolation begins here. No moon shines in the blackness. Only a pair of green eyes pierce my dark, incinerating my heart. I did not know love could be so painful before you. Tell me, will the dawn come for us one day? Will it rise inside us? Tell me, what am I? The prey? Or the killer? The sun isn't rising, Soldier. And I fear the dark. But I make you a vow: I will light up this darkness with the burning pyres of those who ruined me. The sun won't rise; the apocalypse will come. Yet, I will still look for you everywhere. For one truth remains: Even if I am condemned to eternal night, I will never forsake you.

One elite school. One dead student. Two boys who can’t stand each other… and can’t stay away. Welcome to Blackwell Academy. The most prestigious high school in the country, where the rich are powerful, the powerful are dangerous, and everyone is playing a role in the chain. At the top of the chain? The Glass Circle……six untouchable students born into legacy, wealth, and corruption. They are feared, worshipped and corrupt to the core. One night, one of them, ends up dead. What happens when Ash Rivera….a quiet, scholarship student from the slums of the city…witnesses the one thing he was never meant to see? He wasn’t supposed to be at that party. He wasn’t meant to see the body fall from the rooftop. He wasn’t meant to survive it. He definitely wasn’t supposed to catch Dominic Vale’s attention. But one wrong night changes everything. Now Ash is the only witness to a murder, and someone knows he saw too much. They want him silent. “Keep your mouth shut, Rivera. Or you’ll be next. You don’t belong here…and you’ll die trying to." But the real danger isn’t the killer. It’s Dominic Vale…..Blackwell’s golden boy and Ash’s sworn enemy. Because Dominic has his own secrets and obsessions. And why does he keep saying: “Ash Rivera is mine. No one touches him… no one… except me.” As Ash digs deeper into the truth behind the Glass Circle, one thing becomes clear: Love is dangerous. And the truth… might get you killed. Content Warning: This novel contains mature themes, including strong language, dark romance, psychological tension, steamy scenes, and emotional triggers. Reader discretion is advised.