thing we do in the dark

For eighteen years, I, Althea Quinn Calder, wanted nothing more than torn shorts, hiking boots, and a detector in my pocket. My family was known across the stars as a glamorous treasure-hunting team, but what most people never knew was that our real fortune came from finding alien artifacts hidden inside ancient ruins. At a charity gala on Sobek Space Station, I was forced into an elegant dress and high heels, only to discover that the night was not just another social event. Our old rival, Alistair Draven, appeared again, watching us like a predator and hinting that he already knew about the secret mission my father had planned. Even worse, my father had hired a new intern without telling me. His name was Kaelan Frost, a brilliant student with green eyes, a Capellan accent, and the most dangerous effect on my concentration. I hated the idea of adding anyone to our team—until he joined our next expedition to New Haven, where a dive into the wreck of the Queen Anne's Revenge led me to a hidden metal box, a ruby ring, and a cipher connected to the lost lover of the infamous space pirate Edward Teach. The clue pointed us from a sunken ship to a protected estate, then to a secret garden where another message revealed something far bigger: Teach had hidden not only pirate treasure, but the missing fortune of a destroyed Spanish treasure fleet. Every clue brings Kaelan and me closer, but it also brings Alistair closer to us. He has followed every expedition we ever took, and this time, if he discovers what I am carrying, the next treasure we uncover may become the one that gets us killed.

Sold out by someone in dark web, Chloe Morgan bumps into mafia lord, Shaun Luther in the riches’ hunting game. Once an aristocracy, Chloe is now dragged into inferno by Shaun, lost in sweetness and tortures. She finally makes up her mind to leave, but Shaun confines her no matter how many times she tries. It’s out of love, or of hatred? Overwhelmed by love and forbidden desire, the two hurt each other but simultaneously save each other.

Scarlett's blissful marriage hid dark secrets. A premeditated accident sent her back to the day she divorced her cad husband. Resolute, she signed the divorce and returned to her wealthy family with her child. The husband, back in the past, married his muse, only to find his success was a mirage without Scarlett's support. Realizing too late, no one awaited him, especially not a woman scorned. Scarlett's value transcended marriage, and she soared anew whenever she chose.

Before my boyfriend, August Cadwell, marked me, we went to register our mate bond at the Pack Affairs Department. Without a word of explanation, he unexpectedly had someone throw me out of the office. Then he walked in with his childhood sweetheart. He didn’t even blink when he saw me sitting there on the ground, shaking with disbelief. "Hailey's pup needs to be part of the Aurelis pack. The best and quickest method is for her to register a mate bond with a werewolf from the Aurelis pack. As soon as we sever the mate bond, I'll form a mate bond with you." Everyone assumed the lovesick version of me would wait just one more month for him. After all, I'd already waited seven long years. But that night, I did something unexpected too. I accepted my parents' arranged mate bond and quietly left for the Lymerian pack, disappearing from his life entirely. Three years later, I returned to my original pack to visit my family. My mate, Ryder Weyland, was now the lycan chairman. Because of an urgent council meeting, he arranged for someone to collect me from the airport. I never imagined that “someone” would be August. The moment he spotted me, his eyes immediately landed on the sparkling bracelet on my wrist. "Isn't this a knockoff of the bracelet Ryder Weyland, the lycan chairman, spent two million dollars on for his mate? Didn't expect you to turn this vain after just a few years. "You've caused enough chaos, haven't you? It's time to return. Hailey's pup is now of school age. You can take on the responsibility of pick-ups and drop-offs." I gently ran my fingers over the bracelet on my wrist. Little did he know that this was the cheapest one Ryder had ever given me.

Upon discovering she had only three months to live, Charlene finally realized she had been used by those around her and resolved to live for herself at last. So, she confronted her colleagues, exposing the dark side of her workplace, completely cut ties with her parents, who favored her younger brother, and ended her relationship with her unfaithful fiancé. In her final days, she agreed to Elbert's pursuit, making him her last boyfriend...

Seven years ago, a night of passion entwined Evelyn with GT CEO Xavier. Now a single mother, Evelyn seeks a father for her son William and to escape a twisted teacher, Richard. When she rescues Xavier's mother from an attack, she enters a contract marriage with him—unaware he is the man from that night and William's biological father. As school bullying, Richard's revenge, and dark family secrets emerge, Xavier's true identity is on the verge of being exposed.

Hanna Jenson falls for Simon Lloyd in university, but their love takes a dark turn when Simon is drugged. To protect him, Hanna sacrifices herself, creating a misunderstanding. Unaware of the truth, Simon dismisses Hanna, thinking she's manipulative. Rejecting his money, Hanna chooses to marry him. Three years later, pregnant and happy, she discovers Simin with Jane Marlow, who's been scheming against her. Their marriage unravels as misunderstandings and secrets threaten their love. Will the truth mend their bond or push them further apart?

In her past life, Xamira was betrayed by her lover and his scheming mistress, enduring eight miscarriages orchestrated by their cruelty before dying in agony. Reborn with vengeance in her heart, she married Jotham Shadforth—the ruthless billionaire who ruled Solthar with an iron fist. To her surprise, he showered her with unwavering devotion, and their passionate union soon blessed them with a child. But as Xamira plotted to make her enemies pay, a dark truth threatened to unravel her new life. Would her second chance end in triumph or tragedy?

Honoring her late mother's wish, Alex Clemens, the Dark Queen of Riverdon, entered a flash marriage with her senior, Sylvan Johnson. Shortly after, Sylvan was injured in a car crash and went missing with no memory of their life together. Years later, Alex returned with their daughter and ran into him at the airport.When she learned the truth behind his disappearance, she fought fiercely to protect him. During a setup against her, Sylvan regained his memory and stepped in just in time. Together, they uncovered the conspiracy and finally reunited as a family.

For ten long years, Cynthia had loved Ethan Luciano in silence. On the night he won the national championship, he finally pulled her into his arms: “I’ll marry you the moment we graduate.” The next morning. What she heard instead was Ethan’s cocky laugh echoing among his teammates: “She was so fucking eager… legs wrapped around me the whole time, telling me she loved me. She’s a good warm-up though. Looks innocent but takes it like a pro. I’m gonna use her a few more times until I get with Sylvia.” In that moment, Cynthia’s world shattered. The boy she had loved for ten years had never loved her back. She was never his future — only his practice.

While the criminal was brutally killing me, my dad, the head of the criminal investigation division, and my mom, the chief forensic pathologist, were attending my sister Lily Lambert’s match. In a bid for revenge, the criminal, who had once been captured by my dad, cut out my tongue and used my phone to call him. My dad only said one thing before hanging up. "No matter what’s going on, Lily’s match is the top priority today!" The criminal sneered, "Seems I’ve kidnapped the wrong person. I thought they would love their biological daughter more!" At the crime scene, my parents were shocked by the brutal state of the body and condemned the cruelty of the killer. However, they did not realize that the horrifically mutilated corpse was their own daughter.

Yale enters a piano competition to raise money for his mother-in-law's surgery. He wins first place, not only securing the medical funds but also receiving an invitation from a renowned orchestra.However,his wife, Quinn, misled by a toxic friend, becomes convinced he's having an affair. Provoked by the friend, she disrupts the competition, ruing Yale's performance without realizing that she's also destroying her mother's last chance for treatment. One mistake leads to another. Under her friend's manipulation, Quinn even breaks Yale's fingers, crushing his dream of becoming a top pianist. Just as she believes she's done the right thing, she receives a call from a detective, proving that the evidence of Yale's infidelity, provided by her toxic friend, was completely false.

While the criminal was brutally killing me, my dad, the head of the criminal investigation division, and my mom, the chief forensic pathologist, were attending my sister Lily Lambert’s match. In a bid for revenge, the criminal, who had once been captured by my dad, cut out my tongue and used my phone to call him. My dad only said one thing before hanging up. "No matter what’s going on, Lily’s match is the top priority today!" The criminal sneered, "Seems I’ve kidnapped the wrong person. I thought they would love their biological daughter more!" At the crime scene, my parents were shocked by the brutal state of the body and condemned the cruelty of the killer. However, they did not realize that the horrifically mutilated corpse was their own daughter.

My mate fell in love with the mute Omega who saved his life and wanted to call off our engagement. I kindly advised him, "The position of Alpha Queen is not an easy one. She may not be able to bear the responsibility." The mute Omega felt insulted and committed suicide by taking Wolfsbane. Eight years later, when Ryan became the Alpha King, the first thing he did was destroy the Snowfang Pack and come for my life. "This is what all of you owe Saya." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my 18th birthday banquet. Ryan's father, the former Alpha King, had once asked me what my wish was. "Since Ryan and Saya are each other's fated ones, let them be together. Let them complete their bond under the moonlight and receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess.

My mate fell in love with the mute Omega who saved his life and wanted to call off our engagement. I kindly advised him, "The position of Alpha Queen is not an easy one. She may not be able to bear the responsibility." The mute Omega felt insulted and committed suicide by taking Wolfsbane. Eight years later, when Ryan became the Alpha King, the first thing he did was destroy the Snowfang Pack and come for my life. "This is what all of you owe Saya." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my 18th birthday banquet. Ryan's father, the former Alpha King, had once asked me what my wish was. "Since Ryan and Saya are each other's fated ones, let them be together. Let them complete their bond under the moonlight and receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess."

One day, Nancy Snyder saw Landon's golden boy, Simon Lowery, throw $100,000 at Jill Wiley, an innocent college girl. He said, "Take off one piece, and I'll give you $100,000." Nancy thought it was a great bargain! If Jill didn't wanna do it, Nancy would do it. So she traded her two shoes, two pairs of socks, two shoelaces, and an apron for $700,000. After that,Nancy stayed by Jill's side to pick up the handbag, jewelry, and apartment that Jill had ditched. Nancy also took the job and the chance to study abroad that Jill didn't want. In this way, Nancy eventually became a rich, successful businesswoman!

I grew up abroad. My mother feared I might marry a foreign man, so she arranged an engagement for me with a talented and handsome man in Flodon. She insisted that I return home to get engaged. I came back and started shopping for an engagement dress at a luxury boutique. I selected an off-white strapless gown and decided to try it on. Suddenly, a woman nearby glanced at the dress in my hand and told the saleswoman, “That’s a unique design. Let me try it.” The saleswoman immediately yanked it out of my hands. I protested indignantly, “Excuse me, I was here first. Don’t you understand the principle of ‘first come, first served’? Or do you just not care about common decency?” The woman scoffed and retorted, “This dress costs $188,000. Do you really think a broke nobody like you can even afford it? “I’m Lucas Goodwin’s sister in all but blood. He’s the chairman of Goodwin’s Group. In Flodon, the Goodwin family sets the rules.” What a coincidence! Lucas Goodwin was my fiance! I immediately called him and said, “Hey, your ‘sister in all but blood’ just stole my engagement dress. Do something about it.”

One day, Nancy Snyder saw Landon's golden boy, Simon Lowery, throw $100,000 at Jill Wiley, an innocent college girl. He said, "Take off one piece, and I'll give you $100,000." Nancy thought it was a great bargain! If Jill didn't wanna do it, Nancy would do it. So she traded her two shoes, two pairs of socks, two shoelaces, and an apron for $700,000. After that,Nancy stayed by Jill's side to pick up the handbag, jewelry, and apartment that Jill had ditched. Nancy also took the job and the chance to study abroad that Jill didn't want. In this way, Nancy eventually became a rich, successful businesswoman!