kristine mendoza

"Have mercy, sir!" the secretary cried out. Slap! "Shut your f*cking mouth!" he shouted at her. "Ahhhh!" the woman screamed as her boss forced himself on her. He covered her mouth, leaving her helpless. Her muffled cries mixed with sobs as her heartless boss continued his assault. Her eyes widened in terror when she noticed a camera recording them. She broke down, crying even harder. Sarina rushed home and immediately took a shower. Afterward, she sat down to write her resignation letter to Cyborg Inc. "Are you home, child?" her father called out. "Yes, Dad, I'm just getting dressed," she quickly replied, tidying herself up. "I'm heading out now, Dad," she said, leaving the house without waiting for a response. On her way to the office, she sat in the taxi, staring at her resignation letter as tears threatened to fall. The closer she got to her workplace, the more her emotions overwhelmed her. Upon arriving, she took a deep breath before entering the building. People stared and whispered as she walked past, heading for the elevator. Even inside, she could hear murmurs but chose to ignore them. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out, composed herself, and took another deep breath before entering her boss's office. As she walked in, the CEO's swivel chair turned to face her. She approached and handed over her resignation letter. Without a shred of emotion, Atashi Cyborg-the cold-hearted CEO of Cyborg Inc.-accepted it. Sabrina was shocked when Atashi tore the letter into pieces and scattered them across the floor. "Clean it up, Secretary Sabrina Mendez," he ordered coldly. "No, I'm resigning now," Sabrina said in a trembling voice. Atashi responded with a cruel ultimatum: "Choose one: A. I kill your father. B. I tell your father about our scandal or send it to his email. C. Stay as my secretary." Devastated, Sabrina broke down in tears and lowered her head. "I choose letter C," she whispered, defeated. Turning away, she went to her desk near Atashi's. "You're five minutes late today," Atashi remarked coldly, his words making her cry even more. "Heartless monster," Sabrina muttered under her breath.

"Mommy! Dad, please! " I pleaded with my parents, tears streaming down my face. They wanted me to marry the son of their business partner. But sh*t! I didn't want to. I was too young-barely 18! Worse, I already had a boyfriend. Sh*t! What kind of life is this?! "You'll marry him whether you like it or not. It's final!" my mom said coldly, not sparing me a glance. My dad sat silently, reading a magazine, his legs crossed as he lounged on our sofa. "Daddy..." I called out, hoping for some support, but he didn't even look up. "Go to your room and get some rest. Tomorrow is your wedding day," he finally spoke, but that was all. Damn it! This is hell! "M-Mommy huhu..." I sobbed harder. I didn't want to marry because I knew it would only lead to pain and misery " I choked out through my tears. "No. He'll never hurt you. Trust me. Stop crying and get some rest," Mom said dismissively as she stood and left me crying on the sofa. "D-Daddy..." I called again as he, too, stood up. He glanced at me, emotionless, before walking away. All I could do was cry. Tomorrow was my wedding day. There was no escape. My life would turn into hell starting tomorrow. I was about to marry a man without a heart, someone who wouldn't care if he hurt me emotionally or physically. Wedding Day As I walked down the red carpeted aisle, I fixed my gaze on the man waiting for me at the altar. His perfectly sculpted face was devoid of emotion. His piercing blue eyes stared at me, making my knees weak. "How pathetic you are. You couldn't even do anything to stop this nonsense of a marriage," he muttered coldly when I finally stood before him. He gripped my hand tightly, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain. One question remained before I would be bound to this heartless man, who could never love me. "You, woman, do you vow to stay by this man's side in poverty and hardship, with respect and love?" the priest asked. "Say you do, woman, and prepare to suffer. You ruined my life, so I'll ruin yours too," Zyrus whispered maliciously, his cold words sending shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I, Lhianne Aurora Acostora, am willing to stay, respect, and love this man, Zyrus Clark Dillesh, forever. So, yes, I do, Father," I said boldly, shocking my now husband. "Zyrus Clark Dillesh, you may now kiss your bride," the priest announced. "The pathetic woman," Zyrus muttered icily. "Well, this isn't new to you." He lifted my veil and, without hesitation, claimed my lips. I felt like I was floating as his soft lips pressed against mine. Startled, I pushed him away when he bit my lower lip, leaving it stinging. I stared at him in disbelief, but he only smirked back at me. My gaze shifted to the churchgoers clapping enthusiastically. Mom's smile stretched wide, while Dad remained emotionless as always. I sighed deeply, bracing myself for the life of misery that awaited me

Boss, I need to resign. Please sign my resignation," Akari pleaded. She had been working here for five years, and her boss was like a demon who seemed to harbor a grudge against her. Although she applied to be a secretary, her role often felt more like a personal secretary slash maid, given the endless demands he made of her. Her contract was ending, and she wanted to submit her resignation letter. She had no intention of renewing her contract-she was going home, just as her parents had asked. "My answer is still no, Miss Nakamoto," Amir replied, busy signing documents. "But, Boss, I really need to go home. My mother is sick, and there's no one to take care of her. My contract is ending, please!" Akari said, desperation creeping into her voice. She hoped to get away with it – Akari thought to herself. "I'll give you a one-week leave. No more questions. Get out now," Amir responded, causing Akari's jaw to drop in disbelief. "I swear I'll curse you, you insufferable man," Akari thought angrily. ... "But, Boss, it's only been three days, not even a week! Three days! And now you're calling me back! Wait, whose child is that?" Akari yelled, furious that she was being summoned. "Here. She's been freaking annoying, crying all day, and I need sleep," Amir said, thrusting a crying baby into Akari's arms, leaving her stunned. "Boss, I'm not a nanny!" Akari protested, looking back at the now-silent baby. "Thank God, I'm going to sleep now. You take care of that little demon," Amir said as he flopped onto the bed. "Can I kill this man?" Akari thought as she glared at Amir before turning her gaze to the baby, who was now staring back at her. "Whose child are you?" Akari asked the baby, who just smiled. ... "What do you mean I can't resign until you find a babysitter?" Akari asked, glancing at the sleeping baby in her arms. "Exactly. You're fired as my secretary, and now you're hired as the babysitter," Amir said. Akari's jaw dropped again. "No way, Boss! I'd rather you order me around and treat me like a servant in your company than make me a babysitter. Please, Boss, have some mercy, even though you're always acting like a demon," Akari protested, as Amir raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I mean..." Akari stammered. "Don't worry, I've heard that plenty of times when you gossip with my lazy employees in the pantry," Amir said, causing Akari to gulp nervously. "I have a deal," Amir said. "What deal?" Akari asked. "If I can't find a babysitter for that child, you're free. But if I do, you will be her babysitter forever," Amir said. "Sir, come on..." Akari protested. "I'll give you half a billion after the deal," Amir offered. Akari's eyes sparkled. "Deal!" Akari agreed. "I can finally buy the car of my dreams! This will be easy," she thought to herself. Meanwhile, Amir had his own thoughts running through his head. "This is the only way to keep you with me. I'm a selfish man. Half a billion is just the start. After this, I'll make sure you get even more, plus a bonus," Amir thought, smiling to himself. ... "Akari, please, let me explain!" Amir begged. "No! Get out of here! Go be with your woman! You have no shame!" Akari yelled. "Muuahhhh!" Amir cried out. "She's not my woman, I swear!" Amir tried to explain. "You jerk! I wish I never agreed to anything with you!" Akari shouted. "Please, baby, let me explain, okay?" Amir pleaded. "Get out of here, and don't ever come back!" Akari screamed.

Sky Marie Caswell A victim of rape by Kade Russell, the son of a wealthy businessman in their town. She was helpless to defend herself against him because he was rich and innocent in the eyes of others. Sky never got the justice she wanted. Kade Russell Had long been interested in Sky, but she ignored him. Out of anger and jealousy, he raped her the night after a party. Since he came from a wealthy family, he believed he was untouchable. His rage only grew when Sky disappeared without a trace after their graduation _"So, Mr. Russell, is it true what Miss Caswell is accusing you of?"_ _"That's not true, your honor,"_ Kade said, glancing at Sky. _"What happened on December 5, 20**?"_ _"That night, your honor... (Before speaking, Kade looked at Sky) ... she said she wanted to be with me. She came with me willingly. All of my friends were there."_ _"Liar!"_ Sky screamed, bursting into tears. _"Miss Caswell,"_ the judge warned. _"And what happened after that?"_ the judge asked, looking at Kade. _"We went to my condo, just as she said. I didn't force her. She undressed in front of me on her own. I never forced her. Everyone at school knows I'm not interested in women,"_ Kade claimed. _"Do you have solid evidence?"_ asked the judge. _"Yes, your honor."_ _"Call in the witness,"_ the judge ordered. Sky was shocked when her best friend Samantha entered the courtroom. She was confused, wondering why Samantha was on the other side. _"So, Miss Fajardo, what happened on December 5, 20**?"_ the judge asked. _"Sky wasn't drunk that day,"_ Samantha said. _"Sam, what are you talking about?"_ Sky was stunned, unable to look Samantha in the eye. _"Continue,"_ the judge instructed. _"Even before that night, Sky had a thing for Kade,"_ Samantha revealed, causing Sky's knees to weaken at the statement. _"No, that's not true,"_ Sky whispered. _"It was all part of her plan to get pregnant by Kade and become rich,"_ Samantha continued. _"Liar! Samantha, what are you saying? I never said that. Even though I'm poor, I'm not that kind of person!"_ Sky shouted angrily. _"Miss Caswell,"_ the judge intervened. Sky sat down, shaking her head in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't understand why her friend had betrayed her. _"How long have you been friends with Miss Caswell, Miss Fajardo?"_ the judge asked. _"Ten years, your honor,"_ Samantha replied. _"So, is it true that Miss Caswell's accusation against Mr. Russell is false?"_ the judge asked. _"Yes, your honor, it was her plan to get money,"_ Samantha confirmed. _"No, you're a liar!"_ Sky screamed in fury. _"Okay,"_ the judge said. _"The court has found Mr. Russell not guilty."_ Sky collapsed to her knees, crying, shaking her head in disbelief. _"Sky!"_ Samantha called out as Sky stormed out of the courtroom. _"F*ck you! I hope you die, you shameless traitor! I wish you were dead!"_ Sky screamed at Samantha after her case was dismissed. _"Miss Caswell, you should be thankful we didn't file charges against you. Do you know how much trouble you've caused? You almost ruined our family's reputation,"_ Mrs. Russell said as she and Kade walked out together, Kade smiling victoriously. _"Friendship over, Sam. I never thought you'd lie like that. I'm sure they paid you off. Oh, and by the way, you're the one who's after money, not me. You're the one who wanted to marry him, not me. But you twisted everything!"_ Sky said, glaring at Samantha, who began to cry. _"Can you shut up, Miss Caswell? What more do you want, huh? Since you're after money, just name your price,"_ Kade taunted, smiling. _"Shove your money where the sun doesn't shine. Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can cover up your filth. The truth will come out. You're a devil, and even though you twisted everything, people will know what you did,"_ Sky said, glaring at Kade's friend, who quickly looked away. _"Don't worry, Mr. Russell. I don't need your money. You can use it to pay for your son's therapy or donate it to those who believe they can buy souls,"_ Sky remarked, looking at the judge. (Sky knew from the beginning that the judge favored Kade, but she wasn't about to give up. The case had been dismissed at the first hearing, but she wasn't going to lose hope.) "Miss Caswell, let's go," her

First, meet the five leading men**, feared in the Mafia World because their aura perfectly matches their alias in the underworld. These five have been friends since childhood, as their fathers were also close. Unfortunately, they inherited their fathers' "sickness" they call obsession. Once their eyes land on you, they'll claim you without you even realizing it. What they want, they get, no matter the cost. - **DEMON JAY STYLES** – The Demon Mafia Lord - **KIEL LESTER THOMSON** – The Beast Mafia King - **HELLION CLARKSON** – The Monster Mafia King - **ZANDER PETERSON** – The Devil Mafia King - **XAVIER SMITH** – The Evil Mafia King **Second, meet the five leading ladies**, who are more beautiful than anyone, as if they caught all the beauty when it rained down. - **KATHY MORGAN** – A simple woman living a peaceful life. Her parents work at a hacienda, and she was given the opportunity to study at a private school, Styles University (SU). However, her life takes a turn when she meets the grandson of her family's employer, Demon Jay, who becomes obsessed with her. - **YANA GOMEZ** – A wealthy student at SU, Yana is engaged to a man she hasn't met but who knows her well. That man is none other than Kiel Lester Thomson, who has long been obsessed with her. - **LISSANA PARK** – A working student and scholar at SU, she struggles to make ends meet. While working, she meets Hellion Clarkson, and from there, her life begins to change. - **MIKA DELA CRUZ** – A poor woman working as a waitress in a bar. One night, she is ordered by her boss to entertain a customer at his table. That night, she catches the attention of Zander Peterson, marking the beginning of her complicated life. - **SUNNY VARGAZ** – Similar to Mika, Sunny works hard to support herself, and they are close friends. She's forced to entertain a customer, Xavier Smith, to earn money for her father, who is in the hospital. Little does she know that this night will change her life forever.

“What the hell! You idiots! All I asked you to do was keep watch, and you couldn’t even manage that?! Lucas, I’m not paying you to be stupid. Fix this right now!” This echoed throughout Governor Vergara’s entire office as he spoke on the other line. Meanwhile, his board members quietly listened, fear evident on their faces. “Lucas, fix this! Don’t call me until you’ve found her. I don’t care if you need to add more men just to find her today! Lucas, put this in your mind! I don’t want this day to end without you finding her! Clear?!” After ending the call, he immediately sat down in his chair and slammed his expensive phone on the long table, his fist following shortly after, causing his board members to flinch in their seats. “Everyone, get out!” he said calmly, but with a tone of authority. However, when he noticed that his words were ignored, his temper flared even more. This is what he hated the most: having to repeat himself. “I SAID, GET THE HELL OUT!” he shouted. His colleagues quickly stood up, hastily gathering their belongings, and scrambled to exit through the tinted glass door. Once the office was empty, he desperately ran his hands over his face, trying to calm himself, but it was impossible after what his butler—who had been tasked to keep an eye on the woman he was obsessed with—had reported. He picked up his phone and stared intently at the photo of the woman who had driven him crazy for so long. “You can’t escape me, Eullah. You can’t escape me! If I have to pay everyone in this world just to find you, I will,” he whispered to himself. He’s

"Congratulations on a successful surgery," Dr. Reyes said to me after our operation went smoothly. I smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Reyes. I couldn't have done it alone. The help and support of the whole team contributed to the success of the surgery. It's an honor to work with a professional like you," I said, exchanging words of appreciation with Dr. Reyes. But a familiar figure approached us. "Cecilia, I have some news about your dad." Dr. Reyes and I exchanged worried glances before I turned to Andrea. The fatigue I felt was replaced by concern when I saw Andrea's expression. "Cil... your father is in the emergency room." My heart raced upon hearing the news. I hurried to the emergency room, where I saw my mom waiting outside, clearly restless. Her eyes reflected worry and fear, mirroring my own emotions. "Mom, what happened?" I asked. "Your father collapsed suddenly, dear," her voice trembling. "The doctors are doing their best." I frowned. "How critical is the situation? What could be the reason behind Dad's collapse? Is there something you're not telling me?" Mom sighed, clearly hesitating. "Cecilia, we've kept this from you, but our hospital is under threat. The Chrolex Corporation is targeting us, aiming to bring us down." Upon hearing "Chrolex Corporation," I couldn't help but feel a chill. It was a familiar corporation I hadn’t heard about in a long time. What are they planning to do to our hospital? What do they want? "I've arranged a meeting with Mr. Vasquez, the CEO of Chrolex Corporation, and he insisted that you be the one to meet him," Mom added, looking at me as if she wanted to know something. Mr. Vasquez? I swallowed hard. "Which Mr. Vasquez, Mom?" I asked. Mom looked at me, her worry evident. "Cecilia, it's Mr. Nolan Vasquez." I let out a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The name Mom mentioned was one I had tried so hard to forget. "Tell me, Cecilia. Is there something going on between the two of you again? I'm not going to force you to meet him. But Cecilia..." Mom's voice trailed off. I clenched my fists. It had been seven years since he forced me to sign the divorce papers. I thought that was the end of our story, but why is it resurfacing now? What does he want? Has he regained his memories? With that thought, I couldn't help but tremble. Nolan... Have your memories returned?

I was sitting in the Presidential Suite of The Pierre, wearing a Vera Wang gown worth more than most people earn in a decade. It was supposed to be the wedding of the century, the final move to merge two of Manhattan's most powerful empires. Then my phone buzzed. It was an Instagram Story from my fiancé, Jameson. He was at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris with a caption that read: "Fuck the chains. Chasing freedom." He hadn't just gotten cold feet; he had abandoned me at the altar to run across the world. My father didn't come in to comfort me. He burst through the door roaring about a lost acquisition deal, telling me the Holland Group would strip our family for parts if the ceremony didn't happen by noon. My stepmother wailed about us becoming the laughingstock of the Upper East Side. The Holland PR director even suggested I fake a "panic attack" to make myself look weak and sympathetic to save their stock price. Then Jameson’s sleazy cousin, Pierce, walked in with a lopsided grin, offering to "step in" and marry me just to get his hands on my assets. I looked at them and realized I wasn't a daughter or a bride to anyone in that room. I was a failed asset, a bouncing check, a girl whose own father told her to go to Paris and "beg" the man who had just publicly humiliated her. The girl who wanted to be loved died in that mirror. I realized that if I was going to be sold to save a merger, I was going to sell myself to the one who actually controlled the money. I marched past my parents and walked straight into the VIP holding room. I looked the most powerful man in the room—Jameson’s cold, ruthless uncle, Fletcher Holland—dead in the eye and threw the iPad on the table. "Jameson is gone," I said, my voice as hard as stone. "Marry me instead."

Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.

I was at my own engagement party at the Sterling estate when the world started tilting. Victoria Sterling, my future mother-in-law, smiled coldly as she watched me struggle with a cup of tea that had been drugged to ruin me. Before I could find my fiancé, Ryan, a waiter dragged me into the forbidden West Wing and locked me in a room with Julian Sterling, the family’s "fallen titan" who had been confined to a wheelchair for years. The door burst open to a frenzy of camera flashes and theatrical screams. Victoria framed me as a seductress caught in the act, and Ryan didn't even try to listen to my pleas, calling me "cheap leftovers" before walking away with his pregnant mistress. When I turned to my own family for help, my father signed a document severing our relationship for a five-million-dollar payout from Julian. They traded me like a commodity without a second thought. I didn't understand why my own parents were so eager to sell me, or how Ryan could look at me with such disgust after promising me forever. I was a sacrifice, a pawn used to protect the family's offshore accounts, and I couldn't fathom how every person I loved had a price tag for my destruction. With nowhere left to go, I married Julian in a bleak ceremony at City Hall. He slid a heavy diamond onto my finger and whispered, "We have a war to start." That night, inside his secret penthouse, I watched the paralyzed man stand up from his wheelchair and activate a screen filled with the Sterling family's darkest secrets. The execution had officially begun.

She spent ten years chasing after the right brother, only to fall for the wrong one in one weekend. ~~~ Sloane Mercer has been hopelessly in love with her best friend, Finn Hartley, since college. For ten long years, she's stood by him, stitching him back together every time Delilah Crestfield-his toxic on-and-off girlfriend-shattered his heart. But when Delilah gets engaged to another man, Sloane thinks this might finally be her chance to have Finn for herself. She couldn't be more wrong. Heartbroken and desperate, Finn decides to crash Delilah's wedding and fight for her one last time. And he wants Sloane by his side. Reluctantly, Sloane follows him to Asheville, hoping that being close to Finn will somehow make him see her the way she's always seen him. Everything changes when she meets Knox Hartley, Finn's older brother-a man who couldn't be more different from Finn. He's dangerously magnetic. Knox sees right through Sloane and makes it his mission to pull her into his world. What starts as a game-a twisted bet between them-soon turns into something deeper. Sloane is trapped between two brothers: one who's always broken her heart and another who seems hell-bent on claiming it... no matter the cost. CONTENT WARNING: This story is strongly 18+. It delves into dark romance themes such as obsession and lust with morally complex characters. While this is a love story, reader discretion is advised.  

The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?

I just got my billionaire husband to sign our divorce papers. He thinks it's another business document. Our marriage was a business transaction. I was his secretary by day, his invisible wife by night. He got a CEO title and a rebellion against his mother; I got the money to save mine. The only rule? Don't fall in love. I broke it. He didn't. So I'm cashing out. Thirty days from now, I'm gone. But now he's noticing me. Touching me. Claiming me. The same man who flaunts his mistresses is suddenly burning down a nightclub because another man insulted me. He says he'll never let me go. But he has no idea I'm already halfway out the door. How far will a billionaire go to keep a wife he never wanted until she tried to leave?

"You'll be my wife on paper only. You'll have everything-except my heart. You'll never be Marina." For five years, Lily lived as David's secret wife-his poised secretary by day, his invisible stand-in by night. Every cold touch reminded her she was just a replacement. Every whispered "Marina" cut deeper than the last. Their marriage was born from an accidental night-a mistake he turned into a contract. He wanted nothing but an image and a convenience, yet she foolishly gave him her whole heart. So when the real Marina returns, Lily knows her time as the placeholder is up. David's actions make it clear: she was only ever a convenient replacement. Without a fight, she signs the divorce papers and walks away, surrendering the position he always wanted to give to another. But why is it that the man who once swore he'd never love her... now refuses to let her go? David doesn't understand why Lily's absence haunts him. Why her quiet strength burns him in ways Marina never did. All he knows is that he's determined to get her back. By any means necessary. Even if it meant breaking her all over again. She paid the price for loving him once. Now, he'd pay for losing her forever.

Camille Lewis was the forgotten daughter, the unloved wife, the woman discarded like yesterday's news. Betrayed by her husband, cast aside by her own family, and left for dead by the sister who stole everything, she vanished without a trace. But the weak, naive Camille died the night her car was forced off that bridge. A year later, she returns as Camille Kane, richer, colder, and more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Armed with wealth, intelligence, and a hunger for vengeance, she is no longer the woman they once trampled on. She is the storm that will tear their world apart. Her ex-husband begs for forgiveness. Her sister's perfect life crumbles. Her parents regret the daughter they cast aside. But Camille didn't come back for apologies, she came back to watch them burn. But as her enemies fall at her feet, one question remains: when the revenge is over, what's left? A mysterious trillionaire Alexander Pierce steps into her path, offering something she thought she lost forever, a future. But can a woman built on ashes learn to love again? She rose from the fire to destroy those who betrayed her. Now, she must decide if she'll rule alone... or let someone melt the ice in her heart.

I sat on the cold tile floor of our Upper East Side penthouse, staring at the two pink lines until my vision blurred. After ten years of loving Julian Sterling and three years of a hollow marriage, I finally had the one thing that could bridge the distance between us. I was pregnant. But Julian didn't come home with flowers for our anniversary. He tossed a thick manila envelope onto the marble coffee table with a heavy thud. Fiona, the woman he'd truly loved for years, was back in New York, and he told me our "business deal" was officially over. "Sign it," He said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. He looked at me with the cold detachment of a man selling a piece of unwanted furniture. When I hesitated, he told me to add a zero to the alimony if the money wasn't enough. I realized in that moment that if he knew about the baby, he wouldn't love me; he would simply take my child and give it to Fiona to raise. I shoved the pregnancy test into my pocket, signed the papers with a shaking hand, and lied through my teeth. When my morning sickness hit, I slumped to the floor to hide the truth. "It's just cramps," I gasped, watching him recoil as if I were contagious. To make him stay away, I invented a man named Jack-a fake boyfriend who supposedly gave me the kindness Julian never could. Suddenly, the man who wanted me gone became a monster of possessiveness. He threatened to "bury" a man who didn't exist while leaving me humiliated at his family's dinner to rush to Fiona's side. I was so broken that I even ate a cake I was deathly allergic to, then had to refuse life-saving steroids at the hospital because they would harm the fetus. Julian thinks he's stalling the divorce for two months to protect the family's reputation for his father's Jubilee. He thinks he's keeping his "property" on a short leash until the press dies down. He has no idea I'm using those sixty days to build a fortress for my child. By the time he realizes the truth, I'll be gone, and the Sterling heir will be far beyond his reach.

In the glittering world of high society and cutthroat ambition, a single sentence shatters a marriage: "Let's get a divorce." For three years, Claire Thompson has lived in exile, her marriage to the powerful Nelson Cooper a hollow shell existing only on paper. Shipped abroad on her wedding day and utterly forgotten, she returns only to be handed divorce papers. But Claire is no longer the timid, heartbroken girl she once was. Behind her quiet facade lies a woman transformed, secretly rejoicing at her newfound freedom. However, freedom comes with a price. As Claire signs the papers with relief, a chilling phone call reveals a dark truth: the threats she faced overseas were no accident, and the trail leads shockingly close to home-to the family that raised her and the husband who discarded her. Just as she prepares to sever all ties, a twist of fate pulls her back into the gilded cage. Nelson, for reasons unknown, suddenly stalls the divorce. Meanwhile, the family that disowned her and the fragile, manipulative sister who stole her life are determined to ruin her reputation and drive her out for good. But Claire is playing a different game now. With a mysterious new identity, powerful allies, and secrets of her own, she is no one's pawn. As hidden truths unravel and loyalties are tested, a stunning question emerges: In this high-stakes battle of love, betrayal, and revenge, who is truly trapping whom?