Conflicted Hearts Trilogy

Conflicted Hearts Trilogy

ADB_Stories · Ongoing · 111.8k Words

481
Hot
481
Views
0
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

Book 1 - Treasured Yet Discarded
During the day, Nalani Contreras works at the local diner, while at night, she's bussing tables at one of the most exclusive clubs in LA.

Though struggling to pay her bills, Nalani feels blessed and contented with her life, making her in no way prepared for the storm about to tear through her peaceful existence.

A chance encounter sees Nalani gaining the attention of famous actor Julian Easton.

But what begins as a whirlwind romance, quickly becomes a series of events filled with lies, betrayal and an unknown assailant wishing her harm.

When all is said and done, will Nalani find herself Treasured or Discarded?

Book 2 - Coveted But Unseen (coming in 2025)
Book 3 - Forbidden Though Desired (coming in 2026)

Chapter 1

“Order up!”

The dinging of a service bell pulls me from my reverie, and back to reality. I walk over to the order window, grab the two plates on the ledge and carry them over to one of the booths by the window.

“One, Richie’s Cheeseburger and one, Howard’s Hot Dog,” I announce as I place the plates down in front of the customers. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Actually, yeah. Could I get a strawberry milkshake and a cola spider for my son?” the young father requests, causing the young boy’s face to light up with excitement.

“Coming right up,” I say brightly, walking off to work on their drink order.

“Lani, can you help me? I can’t for the life of me read my own friggin handwriting,” groans Áine in frustration, her warm Irish accent making her groaning sound more adorable than it should.

“And you think the non-native English speaker is going to have a better time?” I tease.

“Pleeease,” she begs, “You’re just better at this stuff,” she says, holding up her order pad, a sad exaggerated pout plastered on her freckled face.

I look closely, trying to decipher the scribble that bears a striking resemblance to a child’s doodle more than anything I’ve ever seen in any of the languages I speak.

“I’m pretty sure you wrote down an iced mocha and an iced latte, but I didn’t take the order so I can’t be sure. Why don’t you just go to your table and ask?” I suggest, continuing to work on my drink order.

“Because…” she hesitates, nervously playing with a loose strand of her long, curly, red locks that are otherwise secured in a bun on her head.

“Because…why?”

“Because I might have already gotten their first order mixed up and I really don’t want to embarrass myself again,” she confesses.

I sigh. “Áine, I can’t handle your tables and mine. You need to toughen up and just go and confirm the order. If you don’t, you risk screwing up another order and then chances are it’s going to have to get comped, and Gary is already in a foul mood today.”

She takes in a deep breath and squares her shoulders, “You’re right. I just need to suck it up, confirm the order and then there’s no issue. I can do this.”

“You can do this,” I encourage her.

“I can do this,” she chants like a mantra as she walks towards her table.

I shake my head. Poor thing. Áine is a lovely person, but her elevator just doesn’t go all the way to the top. It’s like the building has ten floors, she stops at five and then she has to take the stairs the rest of the way. She’ll get there eventually, but it’s going to take her some time. I still adore her though.

Áine Hayes and I are both waitresses at the Happy Days Diner in West Hollywood. It’s this amazing 1950s-themed diner that takes more than a few creative ideas from the famous TV show Happy Days. The owner, Gary Belafonte – no relation to the singer – is a huge Happy Days fan and even put a lot of his collected memorabilia into the décor. It’s one of the most popular spots in We-Ho and is always busy. I’ve been working here for five years, ever since I moved to the United States from my home in the Dominican Republic.

I came into this diner by chance one day to rest my feet and get something to eat. Gary saw I was struggling and was very kind to me. I explained I was trying to find work and was still adapting to a new country, so he offered me a job and I’ve been here ever since. I know it’s not common for people to say this about their place of employment, but I love it here! The customers are usually really nice and it’s a super fun atmosphere. I even love the uniform. A true 50s-style baby pink waitress uniform with a white collar, white trim around puffy sleeves, and white tennis shoes. I suppose we could wear any shoes we like, but these just make the outfit look so cute and vintage.

When I started working here, I tried watching that show 2 Broke Girls, for tips on how to be a waitress. Bad idea. I don’t know any woman, rich or poor, who is working eight to twelve-hour shifts at a diner in high heels. I know it’s a sitcom but come on. What woman hates themself enough to put their feet through that kind of torture?

I finish making the drinks and take them over to the table with a pleasant smile. As I walk back to the counter, I see a mother trying to tend to her toddler when the toddler tosses its teething rattle on the floor. I quickly walk over and pick it up.

“Thank you,” says the mother appreciatively.

“If you like I can go and wash this out back for you; try and get the floor germs off,” I kindly offer.

“Would you? That would be so wonderful, thank you” she says, looking touched and surprised.

“It’s not a problem; will only take me a moment. I’ll be right back,” I smile at her.

I quickly go into the kitchen, wash the teething rattle under the hot water with some soap, make sure it’s perfectly clean and dry, and then return it. The toddler looks happy to have their rattle back and the mother looks relieved and grateful, and I feel good for doing a good deed. Everyone wins.

I see a few empty tables, so I go to pick up their bill. I try not to look as disheartened as I feel when I open the receipt book and find my table generously graced me with a one-dollar tip. I take in a deep breath and walk over to the till to settle the bill and my “tip”. One of the downsides of this job is that it relies so heavily on tips and customers just aren’t interested in tipping. I can’t really blame them, especially in this economy. Everyone is struggling and can’t afford to part with a dime, but such a small tip still stings.

I go back to the table, load the plates and glasses in my arms and make my way out to the kitchen, using my butt to push open the swinging door. I carry the dishes over to the sink and stack them, ready to be cleaned. I scrub my hands down my apron as I turn to leave the kitchen, but I almost jump out of my skin when I find myself face-to-face with the diner’s line cook.

You know how I said I love it here? I take that back. There is at least one thing I absolutely loathe about this place and it’s currently staring me in the face.

“Lani, I love when you find excuses to come back here and see me,” he teases, resting his hand on the sink behind me, leaning far too close for comfort as I do my best to ignore his lecherous gaze.

“Dylan, I’ve told you before I really don’t like it when you call me ‘Lani’,” I say calmly but forcefully.

I attempt to side-step out of his proximity, but he quickly places his other arm on the sink, caging me in. He leans in closer, and I instinctively hold my breath to avoid breathing in his vape breath. I don’t care what flavours they make for that artificial smoke; his breath still smells like something crawled in his mouth and died.

“You let everyone else call you ‘Lani’,” he argues with clear irritation in his voice.

“I let my friends call me ‘Lani’, you’re not my friend, so I’d prefer it if you stuck to calling me Nalani.” There’s a little more bite to my tone than I intend but this guy is working my last nerve.

Dylan McNamara has been working here for the past year and I swear, the times we’re forced to work the same shift I strongly consider moving back to the DR. He’s not a bad-looking guy. He’s 6’5”, lean, clean-shaven, shaggy blonde hair but in that intentional shaggy way. Minus the hair colour, he looks like a young Milo Ventimiglia. But while aesthetically he might be good-looking by society’s standards, I think he’s the ugliest, most grotesque man I have ever met, and I use the term ‘man’ loosely.

“Come on, Lani. I want to be your friend, but you won’t let me.” He leans in closer, his nose moving close to my neck as I hear him inhale, making my stomach drop in revulsion. “Fuck, you smell good.”

I push my way out of his hold and put some much-needed space between us, the urge to scrub myself clean with a steel wool brush taking over me. I have made several complaints about Dylan’s behaviour and as nice as the owner is, he never takes them seriously. I’ve told him about how Dylan is constantly trying to ask me out and won’t take no for an answer. The way he does shit like this, trying to touch me, smell me, it makes me sick. He’s always looking at me, or down my dress. I try to keep as much of my chest covered as I can when I’m at work just so he has nothing to look at. I shouldn’t have to do any of this shit!

“For fuck sake Dylan, how many times do I have to tell you to leave the woman alone? Now walk away and get back to fucking work or you’ll be meeting with an unfortunate cooking accident,” warns Esteban, the head cook.

“We’re just having a little fun, man. Don’t get your sombrero in a twist,” says Dylan, rolling his eyes as he gets back to work, but not before giving me one final once over with his piercing icy-blue eyes, much to my chagrin. They feel like shards of ice piercing my skin whenever he looks at me and I hate it.

“Don’t worry, Lani. I’ve got your back. This one ever messes with you and I’m happy to toss his ass in the deep fryer,” says Estaban comfortingly, switching to Spanish so Dylan can’t understand us.

I chuckle, feeling my rattled nerves easing just a little. “Thank you, Estaban. It’s nice knowing someone around here isn’t willing to let this shit slide.”

“Nepotism at its best.” I look at him quizzically, not understanding what he means by that. “Oh, did you not know?” he asks in surprise.

“Know what?”

“The gringo is Gary’s nephew, his sister’s son. Apparently, he was getting fired from all his other jobs – can’t imagine why – and she begged Gary to let him work here. So, he hired el degenerado, to work here.”

I stare at him flabbergasted. A whole year and I never knew Dylan was Gary’s nephew! It never clicked because they look nothing alike and they don’t share a last name, but knowing Dylan is Gary’s sister’s son clears that up. Now it makes sense why Gary won’t fire him, but that doesn’t make this okay. I’ve been working here since I was twenty-three and I’m a good employee. I have customers who come in just because they like my company. I’m good for business, unlike Dylan, who makes women never want to come back and on more than one occasion has pissed off someone’s boyfriend or father for leering at the wrong girl. Blood is not a good enough reason to let this slide.

“This explains so much.”

“You two better not be talking about me,” Dylan grumbles, glaring at us with suspicion.

“You mind your own business and get back to manning the grill,” Estaban snaps back in perfect English.

Estaban De León reminds me so much of my dad. I miss my family so much, and it’s hard being so far away from them, but Estaban makes it a little bit easier. He’s fifty-five and stands at 5’5” but what he lacks in height he makes up for in attitude. He has tight curly salt and pepper hair that he tends to keep slicked back with gel while he works. He has warm espresso eyes, a gorgeous olive complexion and a thick, warm brown goatee. He’s rather toned, looks physically fit and still very much a looker. His wife is a lucky woman. Because Estaban originates from Guatemala and I come from the DR our Spanish isn’t exactly the same, but it’s still similar enough that we can carry on a conversation just fine. The differences just give us things to talk about or laugh over.

We’re kind of a rag-tag team of immigrants here – not counting Dylan. Áine’s parents are from Ireland, and she inherited every Irish stereotype: red hair, fair skin, freckles, and green eyes. She’s 5’1”, voluptuous as hell, and absolutely gorgeous. She’s only twenty-one, but she has an old soul. There’s also Bernadette whose parents are German, and then there’s Tariq who is from Syria. The rest are all American, but those of us from other countries, or with parents who immigrated from other countries, tend to stick together. Overall everyone at the diner gets along. Just not with Dylan.

“Lani, you’ve got some new customers,” Áine announces through the server window.

“Coming!” I give Estaban a warm smile and walk out, smoothing out my apron and putting on my best customer service face.

Áine walks over and leans in lowering her voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Dylan.”

“Say no more,” she sneers, only to jump to attention when a patron orders a refill on his coffee.

I grab four menus from the stack, walk over to one of my booths now housing four new customers and grace them with my best smile as I distribute their menus, “Welcome to the Happy Days Diner, what can I get you today?”

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn

The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn

114.3k Views · Completed · Emma Blackwood
When my son was hospitalized with a high fever, Henry Harding was with his ex-lover—a final betrayal that shattered what little remained of our marriage.
The pain of my unwed pregnancy is a wound I can never speak of, as the child's father vanished without a trace. Just as I was about to take my own life, Henry swooped in, offering me a home and vowing to treat my fatherless child as his own.
I've always been grateful to him for saving me that day, which is why I've endured the humiliation of this lopsided marriage for so long.
But everything changed when his former flame, Isabella Scott, returned.
Now, I'm ready to sign the divorce papers, but Henry demands ten million dollars as the price of my freedom—a sum I could never hope to scrape together.
I looked him in the eye and said coldly, "Ten million dollars to buy your heart."
Henry, the most powerful heir on Wall Street, is a former heart patient. He'll never suspect that his so-called shameful ex-wife orchestrated the heart beating in his chest.
Fall in Love with the Dominant Billionaire

Fall in Love with the Dominant Billionaire

247.8k Views · Completed · Nora Hoover
Whispers abound that the prestigious Flynn scion is confined by paralysis and urgently requires a wife. Reese Brooks, an adopted ward of the rural Brooks family, finds herself unexpectedly betrothed to Malcolm Flynn as a stand-in for her sister. Initially scorned by the Flynns as an unsophisticated provincial with no semblance of refinement, Reese's reputation is further tarnished by malignant gossip painting her as an illiterate, inelegant murderess. Against all odds, she emerges as a paragon of excellence: the crème de la crème of fashion designers, an elite hacker, a titan of finance, and a virtuoso of medical science. Her expertise becomes the gold standard, coveted by investment titans and medical demigods alike, all while commanding the attention of Atlanta's economic puppeteer.
(Daily updates with three chapters)
Game of Destiny

Game of Destiny

176.1k Views · Ongoing · Dripping Creativity
Amie's wolf hasn't shown herself. But who cares? She has a good pack, best friends and a family who loves her. Everyone, including the Alpha, is telling her she is perfect just the way she is. That is until she finds her mate and he rejects her. Heartbroken Amie flees from everything and start over. No more werewolves, no more packs.

When Finlay finds her, she is living among humans. He is smitten by the stubborn wolf that refuse to acknowledge his existence. She may not be his mate, but he wants her to be a part of his pack, latent wolf or not.

Amie cant resist the Alpha that comes into her life and drags her back into pack life. Not only does she find herself happier than she has been in a long time, her wolf finally comes to her. Finlay isn't her mate, but he becomes her best friend. Together with the other top wolves in the pack, they work to create the best and strongest pack.

When it's time for the pack games, the event that decides the packs rank for the coming ten year, Amie needs to face her old pack. When she sees the man that rejected her for the first time in ten years, everything she thought she knew is turned around. Amie and Finlay need to adapt to the new reality and find a way forward for their pack. But will the curve ball split them apart?
The Alpha King's Human Mate

The Alpha King's Human Mate

326k Views · Ongoing · HC Dolores
“You must understand something, little mate,” Griffin said, and his face softened,

“I have waited nine years for you. That’s nearly a decade since I’ve felt this emptiness inside me. Part of me began to wonder if you didn’t exist or you’d already died. And then I found you, right inside my own home.” 

He used one of his hands to stroke my cheek and tingles erupted everywhere. 

“I’ve spent enough time without you and I will not let anything else keep us apart. Not other wolves, not my drunken father who’s barely holding himself together the past twenty years, not your family  – and not even you.”


Clark Bellevue has spent her entire life as the only human in the wolf pack - literally. Eighteen years ago, Clark was the accidental result of a brief affair between one of the most powerful Alphas in the world and a human woman. Despite living with her father and her werewolf half-siblings, Clark has never felt like she really belonged in the werewolf world. But right as Clark plans to leave the werewolf world behind for good, her life gets flipped upside down by her mate: the next Alpha King, Griffin Bardot. Griffin has been waiting years for the chance to meet his mate, and he's not about to let her go anytime soon. It doesn't matter how far Clark tries to run from her destiny or her mate - Griffin intends to keep her, no matter what he has to do or who stands in his way.
Secrets of Us: A Forbidden Love Romance

Secrets of Us: A Forbidden Love Romance

310.6k Views · Ongoing · Miranda Carr
He kisses me for a long time, long enough that it’s me that pulls away and desperately grabs onto his cock. Without words between us, he grabs my legs, lifting me up against the tiled wall and spreads my legs.
He’s angry from the conversation last night. I can feel it, I can see it in his dark eyes. It’s only confirmed when he slams into me without preparing me.
I cry out and he soothes me with kisses on my neck and nibbles on my skin. Still he doesn’t slow down. He starts at a quick pace, at a strength that already has my legs trembling.
I grab onto his shoulders, cries leaving my lips every time he slams into me. It turn wet, not from the water, but from how much he makes my pussy happy.


Alina leaves everything she knows behind after she is in a terrible car accident that tears her family apart. A new home, a new school and a fractured relationship with her mother are only the beginning of the things this change will throw her way. Immediately she catches the attention of three men, and she can’t deny what she feels for them, too. Quickly, and much to her demise, she finds out that their lives are much more intertwined than she would have ever hoped for. She had hoped to discover herself in this new place, but everything only tears her apart. Who will she choose between Zaid, the bad boy, Aiden, her sweet jock, and Jake, and older man who can't seem to keep his hands off of her?
You Rejected A Silver Wolf

You Rejected A Silver Wolf

140.2k Views · Completed · Princess Treasure Chuks
After being hated and rejected her entire life, for a mistake she made in the past, Lady Rihanna, daughter of the Beta decided to leave Black Hills.
Wandering off as a rogue, she heightened her powers and became the fearsome dread called Your Silver.
Accompanied by her silver wolf, she was ready to unleash hell on all who rejected her but then she meets her second chance mate, Alpha of Black Rose, who she couldn’t refuse.
An evil is rising that'd need the blood of the silver wolf to succeed. Would Rihanna forsake her pain and work with her mates, old and new?
Or would she charge head-on to the evil risking her own life? Enjoy this enthralling read!!
Forever His: The Alpha’s Possession

Forever His: The Alpha’s Possession

114.5k Views · Ongoing · lehamyfull
Zvonimir Ashcott, the strongest Alpha werewolf in the empire, fell in love with Rishima Watson, an Omega female, at first sight because of her breathtaking beauty. At their wedding, Zvonimir swore to God that he would love Rishima forever. However, only three years later, he heartlessly abandoned her to marry another female.

Zvonimir said, “Rishima, you cannot bear my offspring, so you are unworthy to be my wife.”

Zvonimir said, “Rishima, I still desire your body; be my lover.”

Zvonimir said, “Rishima, I don’t want to leave you. Can we remarry?”

Zvonimir said, “Rishima, I love you, I cannot live without you.”

Rishima coldly replied, “Get lost!”


When Zvonimir announced his desire to marry Rishima, people throughout the entire Wolven Empire objected. They believed that an Omega female like Rishima was unworthy to be the wife of a powerful Alpha like Zvonimir. Yet, Zvonimir was determined to marry Rishima, making her believe she was the happiest female in the world. However, after her womb was injured while saving Zvonimir, her illusions about their class-divided marriage shattered.

Zvonimir heartlessly cast Rishima aside to marry a female with a stronger reproductive ability, unaware that she was already carrying his children…
The Alpha's Borrowed Luna

The Alpha's Borrowed Luna

128.3k Views · Completed · Abigail Hayes
"I could never make you my Luna, you weakling. But Selene is my mate and would always be; she would be my Luna." His voice hardened. "She'll wear the Luna's crown while you continue living as a slave with your slave mother. She'll give me strong children that survive, not wash away in blood like yours did. So I, Alpha Dorian Caldwell of the Mistwood Pack, reject you, Elowen Thorne, as my fated mate and Luna."
I met his eyes, feeling nothing. "I, Elowen Thorne, accept your rejection."

Elowen Thorne is an omega wolf who has survived years of abuse in a brutal pack. Betrayed by her ex-mate, she's stunned when Kaius Valerian, the most feared Alpha in the territory, offers her a six-month contract to pretend as his mate.
Kaius doesn't just want a mate. He wants total submission. He'll use her body however he pleases, taking her roughly and without mercy, making it clear she's nothing more than a possession.
But Elowen isn't some submissive victim anymore. If Kaius wants her, he'll have to break through her defenses. She'll fight him every step of the way, even as her body betrays her deepest desires.
When a failed assassination attempt reveals shocking connections between her mother's past and Kaius's family, Elowen must figure out whether Kaius is protecting her for his own gain or because he actually cares for her. In a world where silver blades and bloodshed settle arguments, Elowen discovers that being bound to someone by both a written agreement and a mate mark is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Nanny and Her Four Alpha Bullies

Nanny and Her Four Alpha Bullies

249.4k Views · Completed · Eve Above Story
Chloe's underclass mother is married to a billionaire, and she transfers to an elite school to become the first female werewolf warrior.But her origins make her a thorn in the side of the school's four ruling brothers.They have to take a little baby girl, less than a year old, to school.But the baby girl resists everyone ...... except Chloe.So Chloe, a new adult, is forced to become the baby girl's nanny and live in the bullies' dormitory?
Shattered Girl

Shattered Girl

365.4k Views · Completed · Brandi Rae
Jake's fingers danced across my nipples, squeezing gently and making me groan in pleasure. He lifted my shirt and stared at my hardened nipples through my bra. I tensed, and Jake sat up and moved back on the bed, giving me some space.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Was that too much?” I could see the worry in his eyes as I took a deep breath.

“I just didn’t want you to see all my scars,” I whispered, feeling ashamed of my marked body.


Emmy Nichols is used to surviving. She survived her abusive father for years until he beat her so severely, she ended up in the hospital, and her father was finally arrested. Now, Emmy is thrown into a life she never expected. Now she has a mother

who doesn't want her, a politically motivated stepfather with ties to the Irish mob, four older stepbrothers, and their best friend who swear to love and protect her. Then, one night, everything shatters, and Emmy feels her only option is to run.

When her stepbrothers and their best friend finally find her, will they pick up the pieces and convince Emmy that they will keep her safe and their love will hold them together?
Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings

Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings

83.9k Views · Completed · Jessica Hall
Caught in a deadly game, Zirah must outwit three savage Lycan Kings and their lethal pets to survive. But what happens when she finds herself in the heart of the maze, not just alive, but protected by the very beasts sent to kill her? It is supposed to be a game—a game of life and death. But what started with the maze trials ended in a prize that is more than Zirah bargained for. She never thought the prize would be for her to choose between the three Lycan Kings fighting for their father’s throne.

Upon meeting the three Lycan kings, Zirah learns that the Kings are no prince charmings. That this would be no fairy tale love story, but one where her life is constantly balanced on the sharp edge of a knife's blade. A knife that is poised to take her life or leave her horribly broken. The Kings want nothing to do with her or each other and plan to get rid of her.

What they don't expect is for Zirah to fight back, only she plays with something far more dangerous than weapons. She’ll play with their hearts.

Zirah has to pick one King, but secrets will be revealed, and the battle between the Kings will be for more than just the throne. They will battle for the queen that they tried to break. But there's just one issue: Zirah wants revenge, and what better revenge than taking away their precious throne?
Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate

277.2k Views · Completed · Kit Bryan
I'm an ordinary waiter, but I can see people's fate, including Shifters.
Like all children, I was tested for magic when I was only a few days old. Since my specific bloodline is unknown and my magic is unidentifiable, I was marked with a delicate swirling pattern around my upper right arm.

I do have magic, just as the tests showed, but it has never lined up with any known Magic species.

I can't breathe fire like a dragon Shifter, or hex people who piss me off like Witches. I can't make potions like an Alchemist or seduce people like a Succubus. Now I don't mean to be unappreciative of the power I do have, it's interesting and all, but it just really doesn't pack much of a punch and most of the time it is just pretty much useless. My special magical skill is the ability to see threads of fate.

Most of life is annoying enough for me, and what never occurred to me is that my mate is a rude, pompous nuisance. He's an Alpha and my friend's twin brother.

“What are you doing? This is my home, you can't just let yourself in!” I try and keep my voice firm but when he turns and fixes me with his golden eyes I shrink back. The look he gives me is imperious and I automatically drop my eyes to the floor as is my habit. Then I force myself to look back up again. He doesn't notice me looking up because he's already looked away from me. He's being rude, I refuse to show that he's scaring me, even though he most definitely is. He glances around and after realising that the only place to sit is the little table with its two chairs he points to it.

“Sit.” he orders. I glare at him. Who is he to order me around like this? How can someone this obnoxious possibly be my soul mate? Maybe I'm still asleep. I pinch my arm and my eyes water a little from the sting of pain.