Firebrand - Chapter 23: Land or Sea

In the glittering, high-stakes world of Aurelia Bay’s beauty empire, Fiona Flare’s life shatters on what was meant to be her engagement night. Dumped by her fiancé for someone “more aligned with his trajectory,” she drowns her heartbreak in vodka and neon at the exclusive Eclipse Lounge.There, in a haze of bass and shadows, she collides with a mysterious stranger—tall, commanding, storm-gray eyes, hands that know exactly how to unravel her. No names. No promises. Just one raw, unforgettable night of passion that leaves her marked, aching, and blissfully unaware of who he really is.Weeks later, two pink lines on a pregnancy test turn her world upside down. Single, jobless, and determined, Fiona vows to raise the baby alone—no handouts, no hunting for the man who vanished at dawn.But fate has other plans.Unknowingly, Fiona lands a dream job at Voss Éclat—the city’s dominant beauty conglomerate—run by none other than Martin Mole, the enigmatic CEO who still dreams of emerald silk and the woman who slipped out of his bed without a trace.As Fiona rises in the company, sparks fly during tense meetings and late-night strategy sessions. Martin recognizes her instantly but keeps his distance, watching, waiting, torn between his guarded heart and the fierce woman carrying his child.What starts as corporate tension ignites into forbidden desire, corporate sabotage, family secrets, and a slow-burn revelation that could destroy everything—or build an empire stronger than either of them imagined.A story of heartbreak turned fire, one reckless night turned legacy, and two people who must decide whether to fight fate… or finally surrender to it.Secret baby. Slow-burn chemistry. Power, passion, and a bump neither saw coming.

Varian only wanted to end the war with the Abyssals and bring peace so that no one would lose their dad like he did.

The meteor pierced the sky and also pierced the peace of the world.

Transcendent power comes to the world, who is watching in the dark, and who is whispering in my ear.

When the roar shatters the sky, when the power steps down the abyss, when all life and death are dominated… They call me – God.

- Description from novelbuddy

She sold her body to save her mother’s life.She never expected the man she gave it to… would be her new boss. Or the father of her child.Isabella Howells had her future mapped out—until everything shattered in one day. Her mother was dying, her fiancé had stolen everything, and with nowhere left to turn, Isabella made a desperate decision that would haunt her forever.Five years later, she’s a single mother craving a fresh start in a quiet town. When she lands a dream job as executive assistant at StoneTech Solutions, it feels like fate is finally on her side—until she walks into her new boss’s office and comes face to face with Jake Stones, the man she thought she’d never see again.The one-night stand. The man who swore he couldn't have children but was somehow the father of her son, Timothy.Would she be able to do her job without thinking about the past? What happens when Jake Stones is bent on making Isabella his, unaware of his secret baby with her? Will she accept him?What happens when Jake's brother's schemes puts Timothy's life in danger and Isabella is forced to reveal the truth about Timothy's paternity?Will Jake accept this truth? Or will it break him and everything he'd ever come to know about Isabella Howells?Let's find out in this story of love, lies, betrayal, and a second chance that could cost everything.