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This is the story of Grace and Lucas Mcarthy, the perfect family in the eyes of everyone else. Gorgeous, Billionaire status, power, and everything good; they had it all. But the foundation of their marriage was built on selfish interests, one they kept hidden from the public. Imagine having everything you've ever wanted in life, and thinking everything is going according to your plans, only to find out you've been fooled your whole life and you've just been a pawn in someone else's game. What would you do? What would Grace do? What would Lucas do? Go ahead and turn those pages Note: This book contains intimate scenes
Men busied past as Grace played with her straw again, every man but Lucas Mcarthy.
It was shameful enough that she had been reduced to getting into a marriage deal, she didn't need to be stood up to.
Fifteen more minutes passed by before he walked in, checking from side to side for the table number she had texted him.
This was their fifth attempt at having a date and she had always been the one waiting, totally unmanly of him.
"I'm sorry," he had beads of sweat lined at the top of his forehead and a grim smile.
Maybe he hates my dress, she thought, or the color
She blinked to shut the voices in her head
"At least you made it"
He pulled the chair opposite her and took a seat and their eyes met for the first time.
It was a lot to take in; the Rolex on his wrist, the neatly designer tuxedo, the well-arranged hairline, the fragrance that smells like wealth.
As if pulled out of a trance, he shifted in his seat "At least I did. Lucas Mcarthy" he pulled out a hand "It's a pleasure meeting you."
The butterflies in her tummy curled in bliss... that voice.
"Same here"
He brought her hand to his lips and planted a kiss on it "You look good"
So he likes my dress, she thought. She had been so unsure of the earlier look on his face.
A smile was her reply "Shall we?"
She raised the menu to her face, not to scan for something mouthwatering but to be able to release the tensed breath she had been holding ever since he walked in.
It wasn't the first time she had seen what he looked like, for he was all over the news, the billboards, and social media. Lucas Mcarthy was one of the leading forces in marine contracts and she had braced herself to meet him but the moment he walked in through the door, there was something about his presence that caused her stomach to churn, and in a good way.
"I would ask you to tell me about yourself but I'm not sure there's anything special I need to know," he said after the waiter had brought their orders and they were digging in.
Grace almost choked at his statement but before she could reply, he was back to talking "So let's get straight to the point" he sat back into his chair, "I would.."
"I am aware of all the deals," she cut in. His attitude was turning her off. He seemed uninterested in the meeting and seemed like he had something more important to do and couldn't wait to storm out. "I don't need them to be read to me physically."
For the second time, he took a good look at her and for a minute, it seemed like he was going to say something but he held back. "Good. Anything you want to talk about?" He asked
"I want to get to know you," her voice was soft. "If we are going to be getting into this, at least we should be on friendly terms."
He sighed in exasperation "I am a busy man, Grace," his eyes traveled to the low neckline of her dress before traveling back up to her face "and I don't keep friends, I make rivals." he paused to let his message sink in before resuming "this is a contract, not a relationship."
Women, he couldn't deal with them. It was the reason he found it difficult to keep one.
Grace grabbed her fork and resumed munching her salmon "That's alright, so, you wanna go?"
He resisted the urge to squint in surprise at her question "You want me to?"
"Well, I don't see you as one who would come sit for nothing when you have a very busy schedule. You better go catch up on those deals."
Giggling, he smiled "I think I'll like you"
She didn't know why that made her nerves tingle but it did.
"What do you want me to know about you?" He asked.
"That I don't think I'll like you" As much as she was already dripping just by being in his presence, she wasn't one to tolerate disrespect, especially not at this early stage.
He humped "I don't think that will be a problem." When she said nothing, he continued "Listen, we both know why we are into this, you want your family's stability, I need the company, this alliance is as important to me as it is important to you, so why don't we go ahead with the deal and let go of whatever we think we may feel. It's a simple deal and it's either you're in or you're out."
"Got it"
"You'll get everything, the money, the fame..."
"I have experienced all that before, it's not going to be the first time."
"What's your problem?" He asked her
"That you kept me waiting for almost an hour and you're coming in here, barking orders. You don't see me with an apron, do you?"
"We haven't even made love yet and you're already nagging."
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came through so she turned to her food for distractions. She was going to pretend he didn't just say that and that it didn't bring dirty thoughts to her head, and that she was looking forward to it. It wasn't just the line he said, it was the way he said it, the voice he said it with, the way his eyes romanced her while his lips moved.
His phone buzzed the entire time they were together and he kept glancing at it.
"Do you have anything else you want to say to me?"
Her head moved from side to side. "No, for now."
"That being said, I will take my leave now, it was nice meeting you and I'll try to stay in touch. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend much time together but we'll meet again soon and I'll make it up to you."
He was on his feet and after a quick kiss on her cheeks, he was out of the restaurant. He hadn't even touched his food.
Valarie is a she-wolf who is still trying to discover her role in the Hanger pack. She believes in exploring, and has mapped out plans for her entire life. These plans are cut short when she is kidnapped by the Travana Pack, a pack she never knew existed until her capture. She is taken to the breeding grounds where she meets a lot of other breeders captured from many packs. She accepts the fact that she cannot escape and spends her time studying the Travana mode of operation and comes up with a different plan entirely. It is soon discovered that she is unable to bring forth young cubs and would have been thrown out but for the fact that the alpha has eyes for her. Valarie uses this to her advantage, gets all the information she can, and earns the alpha’s trust. She soon discovers that the Travana pack is building an army, hence, the capturing of she-wolves, to help in breeding. The aim was to take over the remaining seven packs, and acquire power. Valarie switches plans, and with the help of trustworthy wolves, she challenges the alpha, just when he has been completely vulnerable with her. Gerald, Travana alpha feels betrayed, and fueled by the desire to protect his pack, he charges at her. The army Valarie builds is ready and willing to fight, and her challenge to Gerald is motivated by that. She retreats and asks his permission to release the breeders, which he grants because of his love for her. She soon realizes his genuine care for her and feels guilty for betraying him. After breaking away with the breeders, they form a new pack, the Ginger pack, and together, they mark their own territory. But there are some she-wolves in the pack unwilling to forgive Gerald for the years of suffering he put them through. They seek justice but Valarie as alpha refuses to give them authority. This creates enmity in the camp, and soon, Valarie is faced with opposition from her own pack. She is perceived to be weak and while she tries to counter that narrative, she realizes she is still in love with Gerald. How does Valarie earn the trust and love of Gerald again, reinstate her position as alpha, and unite the two packs having lost the respect of both? Will the packs bend against her will, or will they break her?
Two young girls, Darren and Chloe make their way into an educational institution with the hopes of chasing their dreams. It soon becomes a race for safety when they discover their admission was an arrangement and they were in danger. They are faced with the choice to give up their lives or fight for their safety. They fight, but betrayal, lust, and pain all stand in the way. They fight, but do they fight well?
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.