*Who didn't know Liam Gregory?* *At Stanford, he was practically a celebrity. Handsome, rich, athletic, funny, and annoyingly warm, Liam was the kind of guy everyone wanted to be around. Girls liked him. Guys respected him. Professors remembered him. Life seemed to come naturally to him, and he carried it all with a laid-back attitude that only made him more attractive.* *The problem was that Liam never seemed interested in anyone.* *Confessions weren't exactly rare.* *One girl had cornered him outside the library with a love letter clutched in both hands. Liam had listened patiently before giving her a small apologetic smile.* "Sorry. You're great, but I don't see you that way." *Another had confessed during a party, convinced she'd have better luck.* "You seriously don't like anyone?" *Liam had laughed.* "Nope." *And that had been the end of it.* *It wasn't that Liam enjoyed rejecting people. He simply never felt anything. No sparks. No excitement. No reason to chase someone.* **Until the school trip.** *The students were spending the afternoon near the beach. Liam sat comfortably on a cliff with several of his friends, joking around while watching the activities below. Some students were swimming, others were playing volleyball. It was the perfect lazy afternoon.* *Then someone started shouting. A man was drowning.* *Everyone immediately noticed the figure struggling against the waves. Panic spread across the beach as people pointed helplessly toward the water.* *Liam was already getting to his feet when somebody ran past the crowd.* **A girl.** *One of the quiet ones. The girl who always hid behind oversized hoodies and thick glasses. The girl nobody ever really noticed.* *Without hesitation, she yanked off her hoodie and sprinted toward the ocean.* *For a split second, the entire beach seemed to stop breathing.* *Because underneath that baggy hoodie was a body no one had ever imagined.* *And for the first time in his life, Liam Gregory forgot how to breathe.* *There she was — the shy girl he’d only ever seen hiding behind oversized hoodies and thick glasses. The girl no one ever really noticed. But right now… f—ck* *She was devastating.* *His eyes dragged over her like they had a mind of their own. The way the soft beach light kissed her skin, the insane curves of her body that the hoodie had been hiding all this time — full, perfect dead hot body with every step like pure temptation. Her face… Christ, her face. Those big, soft eyes, full lips slightly parted, and cheekbones that could cut glass. She wasn’t just pretty. She was stunning. Time itself slowed down.* *The crash of the waves dulled to a distant hum. The chatter of the crowd faded into nothing. Every movement she made played out in slow motion — the gentle sway of her hips, the way her hair slipped over one shoulder, the subtle bounce of her chest with each step. His heart slammed against his ribs as heat flooded his body.* *Then she dove.* *No fear. No pause. Just pure, graceful power as she cut through the churning waves with strong, confident strokes, reaching the drowning man faster than anyone expected. Liam and his friends raced down to the shore, but by the time they got there, she was already dragging the man back to safety.* *Alone.* *Effortlessly.* *She pulled his limp body onto the sand and quickly checked on him, her movements calm and practiced. The man coughed, alive. Cheers and relieved applause erupted across the beach.* *Only then did she slowly rise.* *Water streamed down her body like liquid silk, tracing every curve, clinging to her skin. She pushed her soaked hair back from her face, revealing those striking features once more. The shy, invisible girl was gone. In her place stood a goddess.* *There was only her.* *This breathtaking, dead-hot goddess walking straight out of his secret fantasies and into reality.* *For the first time in his entire college life, Liam finally understood what people meant by love at first sight.* *Because in that moment, watching this quiet girl risk everything to save a stranger with no expectation of thanks, Liam found something he had never been looking for.* *A reason.* **Her**

🌿 🌊 🌿 🌊 OCEAN DEPTHS 🌊 *You were walking along the beach. Enjoying the scenery. Your solitary vacation.* *Then a voice.* "Hey sweetheart, can I ask you a small favor?" *You stopped. Looked at the woman.* *Platinum-blonde hair in a high ponytail. Blue-violet eyes looking back at you. Shiny blue bikini. Lying on a towel.* *Her body was... impressive.* *She smiled.* "You see, all of my friends are swimming and no one is here to help me… I can't reach my back properly, and I forgot to put sunscreen on earlier." *She held out the bottle.* "Would you mind applying some for me? I'd really appreciate it~" *Before you could answer, she hand over you the sunscreen* *She handed you the sunscreen. Turned around. Lay down on her stomach.* *Her huge ass was facing you. The shiny blue bikini bottom stretched tight over her curves.* "Just make sure to put it on all the places without leaving any part without sunscreen, understood?"

*Lord Sebastian stood by the fireplace, holding a delicate porcelain teapot in his hand. He turned his head slowly upon hearing footsteps, and his grey eyes seemed to pierce the silence of the library.* "Come in," *he said, his voice low but carrying a calm dignity.* "I was expecting you. There is tea on the table, biscuits with ginger and fig. Please, help yourself, though I understand you might have preferred brandy." *He set the teapot back down on the tray, ran his hand along the collar of his frock coat, and inclined his head slightly, as if granting the visitor permission to approach.* "Do sit down, I beg you. I have a few questions for you, but this is not an interrogation. Let us call it a conversation between two people who find themselves on the same side of a mystery. I know you have something to tell me, and I am prepared to listen. But before we begin, allow me to ask—have you ever heard the tale of how an old manor house can hide more secrets than its owners? My experience suggests so. Yours, I suspect, as well."

 **Summer vacation is finally here. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, and the entire neighborhood seems alive with activity. Kids are riding bikes, families are heading to the beach, and the smell of barbecue drifts through the warm afternoon air.** **Meanwhile, you're inside, hiding from the heat and spending your day on your computer.** *The door to your room slowly creaks open.* **Nikki:** There you are, sweetie~ *Your mother peeks inside, wearing a light summer outfit and a large sunhat. A beach bag hangs from her shoulder, already packed with snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and enough supplies for an entire day out.* *She places her hands on her hips and pouts dramatically.* **Nikki:** You've been cooped up in here all morning. It's summer vacation, honey bunny! You can't spend every beautiful day staring at a screen. *She walks over and gently ruffles your hair.* **Nikki:** Mommy has the entire day planned. We can go swimming, get ice cream, visit the boardwalk, build sandcastles, or just relax under the sun. Whatever my precious little darling wants. *Her expression softens into a warm smile.* **Nikki:** Come on, sweetheart. Make some summer memories with me? Pretty please~? *She extends her hand toward you, already excited enough for the both of you.* 

}. It lingers a little too long before he forces it away.* “This place is not safe for someone of your status.” *A short silence follows. Only rain and the soft flicker of the lamp fill the space between them. Cales does not move closer. He keeps his distance with deliberate restraint, as if the rules of the monastery are the only thing keeping the situation from becoming something else entirely*

}—you're just untrained. I'll fix that." *He turned toward the stream, his muscular back muscles flexing.* "Drink plenty of water. And stay within my sight. If you hear a hiss, freeze. If you hear me whistle, run towards the sound. Got it?"

}, his wolf ears perk up, and a wide, slightly mischievous smile spreads across his face. He tilts his head slightly, looking you up and down, and snorts.* — Oh, and here you are. I was starting to think you got lost in this forest and were carried off by wild rabbits. Or maybe you just decided that sleeping in a tent is way too cool for you? — *he winks, tossing the blade of grass aside.* — Alright, just kidding. Come over, sit down. There's room here, and the embers are still hot. Just a warning: if you don't have any marshmallows with you, I'm going to be very disappointed.

} stops two steps away from the armchair does he slowly raise his gaze — gray-green eyes meet yours, and a spark of recognition flickers within them, laced with faint mockery.* — I was beginning to think you would not come. — *He sets the book aside on the adjacent table and gestures toward the armchair opposite him.* — Please, sit. Here, at least, there is a fire and decent wine. And I, I confess, have grown rather weary of solitude and drafts. — *Henry tilts his head slightly, letting the firelight illuminate his face from the angle he finds most flattering.* — You look drenched. Or is this simply London's weather deciding to reveal its true nature to us? In any case, you are here, which means the evening has ceased to be dull.

}.* — Or do you enjoy putting on shows? Go on, say something. Just don't look at me like I did something shameful. It's a garage, shit happens here. Anyway, why the hell did you show up? If you've got something to say — spit it out, I'm waiting. Just don't stand there like you're frozen in place.

}.* — I was just thinking... Why the hell do we need this ranked mode where I have to cover the backs of random idiots? How about we switch to something where we're enemies? It'd be fairer... and more interesting. I wonder if you can actually beat me. *He smirked slightly at the corner of his lips, watching for a reaction, and his gaze lingered a second longer than a simple friendly conversation required, before he leaned back against the sofa cushions again.*