It Begins With Her
/1/130869/coverbig.jpg?v=4576061094b556ba992e744027ce0d59)
His Unwanted Wife Is A Genius Director
For ten years, Kinsley played the perfect, invisible wife to billionaire Christian Decker. She lived on a meager allowance, secretly pouring her heart into earning first place for a prestigious Hollywood directing fellowship. But on the day her gold-stamped acceptance letter arrived, she stood outside his study and heard him give her hard-earned spot to Blair, his live-in mistress. Christian casually dismissed Kinsley's months of grueling work, claiming a mere housewife didn't need industry resources. He threw an unlimited black credit card on the desk, telling her to go buy some jewelry and stop throwing a tantrum. That same night, he paraded Blair at a Wall Street gala wearing the Decker family's heirloom sapphire, letting Manhattan's elite look at Kinsley with pity and mockery. When Blair boldly moved into their master bedroom, Christian fiercely defended the mistress, warning Kinsley not to cause a scene over nothing. Ten years of quiet devotion were trampled for a fake heiress's vanity. Kinsley looked at the man she had loved, her heart turning completely to ash. She finally understood that in this massive estate, there was never any room for her. She took off her platinum wedding ring, left all his luxury gifts behind, and walked out of the mansion empty-handed. Then, she calmly dialed a private number to her production team. "Scrap the fellowship transition. I'm taking the director's chair directly." She was going to make Blair audition for her on a global live stream, and let Christian watch his precious investment burn.
Chapter 1
"Cross out Kinsley's name. Give the Barnett fellowship to Blair."
Christian Decker's deep voice was smooth, flat, and unwavering. It cut through the quiet second-floor hallway of the Manhattan penthouse.
Kinsley Carney stood frozen outside the mahogany double doors. In her right hand, she gripped a carefully wrapped velvet box containing a vintage tie clip she had spent half a year tracking down for his husband's birthday. In her left, her knuckles turned white around the thick parchment envelope from the Eric Barnett Studio, the gold-foil seal biting painfully into her palm.
Inside the study, paper rustled. Armani Sims, her husband's executive assistant, cleared his throat with obvious hesitation.
"But Mr. Decker," Armani said carefully. "Mrs. Decker earned first place in the blind evaluation. She prepared for three months, staying up consecutive nights until she was hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer. If we strip her of her own achievement now..."
"Her achievement?" Christian Decker interrupted. His tone dripped with aristocratic disdain. "She's a married woman. What is she going to do? Run off to Hollywood and make a fool of herself on a film set? She belongs at home. She can't even manage a dinner party without complaining of exhaustion, let alone direct a film. Blair, on the other hand, actually has a future in this industry. She needs this pedigree."
The words felt like physical blows. Kinsley's breath hitched, her chest tearing with a suffocating agony.
She hadn't just "prepared." She had bled herself dry for this evaluation. For three years, she had been the secret ghost-director behind his media empire's most profitable projects, sacrificing her own name and spotlight to quietly build his throne. She had almost killed herself for this open evaluation, desperate to finally step into the light and hoping—just once—to win her husband's respect.
But to Christian, her agonizing labor wasn't just worthless; it was an embarrassment. He didn't just refuse to support her career—he was casually robbing her of her hard-earned fruits, handing her life's work to Blair as if it were a cheap trinket. In his arrogant eyes, she was nothing but an incompetent, useless housewife who couldn't do anything right.
"Christian, please don't be so harsh on Kinsley." Blair Johnson's soft, fragile voice drifted through the door. "She tried so hard. Even if the evaluators only passed her because they knew she was your wife... if she finds out you gave her spot to me, she'll hate me."
Blair was the Decker family's adopted ward. Kinsley had always treated her with genuine warmth, yet Blair's innocent reliance had morphed into something subtly provocative, a secret intimacy that Christian indulged with exclusive favoritism.
"Let her be mad," Christian replied with that terrifyingly gentle patience he reserved only for Blair. "Giving a masterclass slot to a housewife who has zero talent is just throwing resources into the garbage. Our marriage was a three-year business arrangement to save her family's bankrupt company. I pay for her luxurious life; her only job is to stay out of the public eye and not embarrass the Decker name. If she throws a tantrum, I'll just buy her another limited-edition Birkin. She'll quiet down."
Kinsley did not turn away. She did not cry. The burning hope in her chest simply turned to ash.
She placed her palm against the heavy mahogany door and pushed it open.
The door hit the wall with a dull thud.
The three people inside stopped instantly.
Blair was perched on the armrest of Christian's leather chair. Seeing Kinsley, Blair immediately shrank behind Christian's broad shoulders, her hands twisting the hem of her cashmere cardigan. But Kinsley caught it—the fleeting, triumphant smirk dancing in Blair's teary eyes, a silent, mocking declaration of victory.
Christian sat behind the massive walnut desk. His icy blue eyes lifted, scanning Kinsley's pale face. There was not a trace of guilt on his face, only a flick of annoyance.
"You don't knock anymore?" Christian demanded, his voice sharp and condescending.
Kinsley walked across the room, her leather heels clicking against the polished oak floor. She tossed the thick envelope and the velvet birthday box onto the desk. They slid across the surface and stopped right against his platinum cufflinks.
"Since you heard, Armani doesn't need to brief you," Christian said, loosening his silk tie with a slow tug.
Blair peeked out from behind his shoulder, stepping slightly closer to Christian so their arms brushed.
"Kinsley, I'm so sorry!" Blair's voice shook with practiced innocence. "I just mentioned to Christian that I really wanted to study under Eric Barnett, and he... he just insisted. Please don't be mad at him. If you want, I can let you be my assistant when I go to LA?"
The sheer audacity of the provocation hung heavily in the air.
Kinsley looked at her. Her gaze was as flat and cold as a sheet of winter ice.
"Save the performance, Blair. There are no cameras in this room."
Blair flinched and grabbed Christian's sleeve, burying her face in his arm. "Christian, she's glaring at me..."
Christian stood up. At six-foot-two, he towered over the desk, casting a broad shadow that swallowed the warm lamp light. He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out an all-black titanium credit card, and tossed it toward her. It landed on the carpet directly at Kinsley's feet.
"That is enough, Kinsley," Christian snapped. His tone was laced with disgust. "The slot goes to Blair. You have no business playing pretend career-woman anyway. You'd fail in a week and drag my company's reputation down with you. Pick up the card. Go to Fifth Avenue tomorrow and buy whatever shiny things you want. Be a good Mrs. Decker and stop embarrassing yourself."
Kinsley stared at the black card on the floor. It was the ultimate insult—a bone thrown to a beggar whose lifeblood had just been drained.
A bitter, beautiful smile touched the corner of her lips, clean and devoid of warmth. She knew she didn't have the leverage to fight him openly yet. But she didn't need to. It simply wasn't the right time.
She took a step back, putting clear space between them.
"No need," she said, her voice even. "If she wants my spot, I hope she can actually survive it."
Christian froze. A flicker of startled irritation crossed his face as if he was unequipped for her silence.
His thumb moved to his left hand, tracing the platinum band on his ring finger.
"Watch your tone," he warned, his jaw tightening. "Don't mistake my patience for an excuse to throw tantrums."
Kinsley didn't blink. She turned around and walked out of the study, her back straight and her steps measured.
She crossed the corridor and entered the master bedroom, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. Leaning against the dark wood paneling, she let out a long, slow breath. The tiny thread of hope that had tied her to this house snapped cleanly in the dark.
Walking over to the king-sized bed, she picked up her private phone and dialed Julian Foster.
Julian, one of the most powerful producers in independent cinema, answered on the second ring.
"Kinsley? Did Barnett's office send the confirmation?"
"Forget the fellowship, Julian," Kinsley said, her voice dropping into the cold, surgical cadence of a director in pre-production. "Activate the backup plan. I'm taking the director's chair on Crossing River directly."
Julian drew a sharp breath over the line.
"Are you sure? Taking total creative control means putting yourself right in front of the firing line."
"I've stayed in the shadows long enough," she said. "Draft the contracts tonight. It's time to take back what belongs to me."
She hung up, tossed the phone onto the velvet duvet, and turned toward the bathroom vanity to remove her earrings.
Before her fingers touched the diamond studs, the bedroom door flew open.
Christian stepped across the threshold, his eyes burning with controlled fury.
/0/85385/coverbig.jpg?v=20260106210026)
Beyond Betrayal: Her Game Begins
The rain lashed against my office windows, a sudden storm mirroring the chaos that erupted when Dr. Chen' s call came, breathlessly telling me, "It's David." My husband, David, was in an accident, and when I arrived at the hospital, the world shattered-he was holding another woman's hand, looking a
/0/31297/coverbig.jpg?v=20260518233139)
Halloween Begins
After meeting a little boy when I was a child, I never knew how strong some feelings can be to others and those feelings last forever.
/1/106487/coverbig.jpg?v=20260509030840)
Faking it with the billionaire
Blurb When broke event planner Isabella "Izzy" Hart agrees to fake an engagement with cold, commanding tech billionaire Alexander Blackwood, she thinks it'll be simple: smile for the cameras, fake a few kisses, collect the money, and walk away. But nothing about Alex is simple. Not the way he lo
/1/100292/coverbig.jpg?v=20260304102302)
It All Started with a Divorce
It all started with a divorce, then chaos... Elodie Beaumont's life is a mess. Her little beach resort is on the verge of going under, thanks to a new competitor - her ex-husband, Valerian Blackwood. Desperate, Elodie makes a deal with the devil himself: an alliance with Valerian. He agrees, but
/0/65181/coverbig.jpg?v=0d4cae4108c7331d7dafbf44862f2978)
FAKING IT WITH MY MILLIONAIRE FRIEND
Sophia Hayes is thrilled when she wins a ticket for the exclusive boat cruise she's dreamed of all her life. But her excitement is dampened by a rumor from a trusted source: her millionaire ex-boyfriend, Charles, will also be attending. Determined to avoid the humiliation of facing him single, Sophi
/1/118809/coverbig.jpg?v=f9c02412f6cbda88e13649dd233d4bf4)
Faking it with the NHL'S Golden Boy
"Try not to embarrass me out there, Sunshine," Tyler muttered. I rolled my eyes. "I'm not the one with the ego, Sinclair." ********** Flora Morgan lost everything in one day. Her perfect relationship. Her dream job. Her reputation-all because of an embezzlement scandal she knew nothing about. W
/1/112951/coverbig.jpg?v=196bc60ae077522d1af97cd2ef44e297)
Where Love Begins
Where Love Begins One reckless night. One devastating secret. One love neither of them expected. Mira had always lived carefully. Working long hours, keeping her head down, and carrying the crushing weight of a debt she never created. Survival was her only priority. Love was a luxury she could nev
/0/28654/coverbig.jpg?v=b7472d40b958bd15a09a65892ad08831)
The Revenge Begins
When Stella's boyfriend, Mathew cheats on her and not only that he dumps her brutally, she goes away with a broken heart and a broken life, unable to trust anyone anymore. She swears never to return to him and never see his face again. Now after 9 years, when her father makes an arrange marriage wi
/1/103569/coverbig.jpg?v=fd370cab2eeafc7d8274c21b483e263d)
Faked Death, True Revenge Begins
For five years, I was the devoted girlfriend of a corporate heir, Alden Stone. He gave me a single red rose every month, a symbol of his love. But it was all a beautifully crafted lie. On our anniversary, I discovered the truth: the roses were named "Gabriella," for the woman he was obsessed with.
/0/26157/coverbig.jpg?v=20260518185120)
Was it worth it
To the best of my knowledge we haven't gotten to the lodge yet’ ‘Drop me this freaking moment or I would scream bloody murder and tell the whole world you tried to rape me 'Rape! Rape!! Rape!!! What?!!!! Thought to myself. This could not be happening 'just like Suzy
/0/91400/coverbig.jpg?v=ece9e29ca924005490dbcd599a573c33)
When Love Dies, Revenge Begins
The day they buried my four-year-old son, Leo, killed by a hit-and-run, the driver, Karyn Morse, showed up at his grave. She smiled, dropped Leo' s favorite toy into his open casket, and called him a "clumsy little thing." My husband, District Attorney David Blair, the city' s pillar of strength, s
/0/17639/coverbig.jpg?v=0f8231393971352ade5bbe02111c146d)
What Will He Do With It, Complete
Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton PC, was an English novelist, poet, playwright, and politician. He was immensely popular with the reading public and wrote a stream of bestselling novels which earned him a considerable fortune. He coined the phrases "the great unwashed", "pu
/0/99628/coverbig.jpg?v=0f87024ddf611458a35dbb66629cf055)
Faking It With The Hockey Playboy
Lila Richmond has a secret that could destroy her,she's harboring feelings for her stepbrother Ryan Callaway. When her worst nightmare comes true and her old bully Cassandra becomes Ryan's girlfriend, Lila thinks things can't get worse. But she was wrong.Hockey bad boy Derek Stone knows her secret,
/0/59544/coverbig.jpg?v=5f55adb03f9072b2f2452755e79a2dec)
Genius Luna: Her Ex-Alpha Regretted it
Rhea is a hybrid type werewolf: elf-werewolf, a blend of werewolf and elf. Legends say elf-werewolves possess a unique allure over male and are destined to have multiple fated mates. In ancient times, a renowned Alpha once defied the objections of his pack members to be with his fated mate, an elf-w
/0/45836/coverbig.jpg?v=fd7bc1b219f302e3b78a6944d4fde4c2)
He's Obsessed With Her
"What? Could you please be serious? I have no idea who this man is, I can't possibly get married to him". Kayla looked at the two men and realized they really meant business. "We're serious, miss Kayla", Mr Leon said calmly but authoritatively. "You both must be crazy, and I don't even know him
/0/44300/coverbig.jpg?v=82080fe0c319bf68108e7f35476060b7)
Nights With Her Boss
Maryanne had just suffered from a heartbreak caused by her ungrateful boyfriend. She gets an opportunity to leave the country with her boss but, his arrogant attitude gave her a second thought. How would she have known that agreeing to go there, would change her life forever? Everything started to
/0/50623/coverbig.jpg?v=d98b245546fdc70523b731d5a716923f)
It Started With One-Night Stand
"I limit our relationship to one-night passion. I have no need to bring you into my life." --- In an attempt to forget her lost love, Serena makes a passionate one-night stand with a stranger in Monaco. One night, one decision, one agreement, and one haunting memory. But as fate would have it,
/1/118010/coverbig.jpg?v=7dbab30dc2a9b3e938635c9cdc010ac1)
Faking it with the Hockey Badboy
Hazel Pierce has always lived in the shadows, nerdy, invisible, and secretly crushing on the one guy she should never have fallen for– her stepbrother, Trey When her secret is nearly exposed on campus, her enemy and the team's resident bad boy, Jaxon Carter comes to her rescue but not without a pr
/1/124037/coverbig.jpg?v=f0b3f749f27cddab4a49e7b77d56c91d)
Faking It With The Hockey Alpha
On the night of her 18th birthday, Leah Hart walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend. Humiliated and heartbroken, she runs into the woods where a wolf nearly kills her. But alas, Hardin West saves her. Ashwood High's star hockey captain and her ex-boyfriend's older brother.
/0/84800/coverbig.jpg?v=59039bb21f4832892c80aa462c0bd125)
His Second Life Begins
My soul floated above the cold asphalt, watching my own naked body lying lifelessly on the street. I was 30, a successful architect, but all I heard were whispers of judgment-that I' d thrown my life away for Olivia. Everyone knew she never loved me, that she was always with Daniel. To die like this
