The Payback: Book Four by Noah Ashlee at Inkitt

Summary

In the dreaded dark ages known as my high school years, I hadn’t had a reign. I’d had a dynasty. And it came at the cost of everyone around me. A broken teen with more trauma and insecurities than sense, I had terrorized, humiliated, and hurt so many people, all the while maintaining the notion that because I was drowning, the world should, too. But the painful truth about past choices was that once the words had been said, the atrocities committed, you could never take them back. No apologies would make up for the pain. No acts of kindness, hours volunteered, or therapy sessions mollified the guilt. Which was why I supposed I’d spent the last sixteen years living my life in fear of my karma. Expecting it, some days hoping for it. I thought that by not putting down roots, not getting attached to anyone, by keeping my head down, I could mitigate the damage when it hit. But I should have known the universe wouldn’t be so kind. Now at the mercy of a man who I used to know, I was terrified of the consequences ahead. But knowing I deserved them, I didn’t protest my fate. I opened my arms and welcomed it.

Genre: Romance/Erotica

Author: Noah Ashlee

Status: Ongoing

Chapters: 51

Rating: 5.0 1 review

Age Rating: 18+

Trigger Warnings! (Do Not Skip)

⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️

This is probably one of the most emotionally taxing stories I’ve ever written because it deals with bullying, abuse, mean girls, emotional trauma, and mentions suicidal ideation and self harm.

The FMC, Lucy Gyeong is a reformed Mean Girl who, at one point, bullied the MMC, Parker Harrison back in high school. And this story, while a romance novel, helps Lucy recover from the intense emotional strain that the guilt and depression has had on her.

If you have ever been bullied or terrorized, please know that my heart goes out to you. Lucy will never escape the guilt she harbors over her past, nor will she ever be able to undo her choices, but she’s grown from the hurt person she once was, and hopes you’re willing to give her a chance. But if not, she wholeheartedly understands.

Please note that your mental health is more important than any story. While there are no instances of self-harm, suicidal actions/flashbacks or abuse explicitly recounted or graphically portrayed at any point in this novel, they are mentioned. I will post a trigger warning well above the heading for each chapter where those things will be discussed by the MCs.

Please know your limits and please protect yourself first.

With love,

Noah Ashlee 🩷

Full Content Warning List