"Get married to my son if you ever want your father to be released!" Mr. Carter uttered the very words that would end up turning my life around. I knew he wasn't joking. The look on his face was all the evidence I needed. I knew I had to do it because it was the only choice I have left, but... I'll not go down without a fight! "I, Althea Ruiz, swear on my life that I will never get married to Adam Wilson!" I said out loud, my voice echoing through the room. "We'll see about that!" Adam said through the phone. *With blood on the line and an arranged marriage as ransom, Althea has to make the most difficult choice of her life; abandon her boyfriend of six years and get married to a man that no one has seen for the last ten years. What could go wrong?
There was something about her that drew him in like a magnet. She was all he could think about. As the rain poured down outside, he tried to shake the thoughts from his head, but they kept coming back. Her drenched body, her wet hair, her smile. He felt the heat rising in his body, and he knew he had to get away from her.
He tried to play it cool when she took off her wet shirt. But seeing her like that made him feel things he had never felt before. His mind started racing, and he felt his body temperature rising. He had to get out of there. He knew he had to leave the room before he did something he would regret.
He excused himself from her room, saying he needed to freshen up. As soon as he closed the door, he leaned against it, trying to catch his breath. He didn't know what to do. He had never felt this way before. All he knew was that he had to figure out what was going on, and fast.
What is happening to me? Why am I feeling this way? He said in his thoughts.
"Althea," he whispered to himself, his mind racing. He could still see her face, as if she was right in front of him. He tried to focus on something else but her image was burned into his mind. He felt his body temperature rise and his heart beating faster.
As he walked back to his room, he tried to focus on anything else but her. But it was impossible to get her out of his head. The more he tried to ignore his feelings, the stronger they became. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way.
He turned on the shower, hoping the water would cool him down. But as he stood under the spray, he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind. He felt his heart racing, and he was filled with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. He got out and got dressed, heading for the window for some breeze to help him calm down.
He told himself that they were just friends, and that's all they could ever be. But he couldn't deny the fact that he wanted more. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and it was driving him crazy. He tried to control his thoughts, but they kept coming back to her.
"Just friends," he repeated to himself, hoping that it would help him calm down. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't want to be just friends. He wanted something more.
He turned away from the window, trying to clear his head. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He felt like he was losing control, and he didn't know what to do.The image of her was burned into his brain, and he couldn't shake it. He felt a surge of desire, and he knew he had to do something about it. He had to get out of the room, away from the window, away from the temptation. He couldn't take it anymore. He was aching for her.
But before he could move, he heard a knock at the door. His heart pounded as he tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath and opened the door. There she stood, her eyes filled with concern.
"Adam?" It was Althea. "Are you okay?"
He didn't know what to say. Should he tell her the truth? Or should he try to play it cool? He didn't know what to do.
He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. He stood there, frozen, unable to speak.
She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "Talk to me," she said gently. "What's going on?"
He took another deep breath, and the words began to flow. "I am not okay," he began. "I don't know what's happening to me. I can't control my thoughts. Every time I close my eyes, I see you. I can't get you out of my head. I feel like I'm losing control."
He paused, his heart racing. "I know we're just friends, but I can't help the way I feel. I need to tell you the truth, even if it ruins everything."
He looked into her eyes, afraid of what he would see there. But instead of anger or disgust, he saw compassion and understanding.
"I want to be more than friends," he said, his voice shaking. "I want to be with you, not just as friends, but as something more. I know this is sudden, and I don't expect you to feel the same way. But I had to tell you. I'm sorry if this changes things between us, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I want you so badly, Althea."
She stood there, silent, her eyes searching his.
"Althea, please say something," Adam pleaded. "Your silence is killing me!"
She took a deep breath, not out of nervousness, but because she wanted to savor this moment. She had been waiting for this for so long, for Adam to finally admit that he wanted more than friendship. She had been holding herself back, but now she knew that he felt the same way, and it was a feeling she could hardly describe. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew what she had to say next, and she was nervous, but she was also excited. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell him how she really felt.
She took a step closer to Adam while his body flowed with nervousness and anticipation for what she was about to say.
Finally, she spoke.
"Adam, I feel the same way," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I don't want to be just friends either. I want more than that. I want us to be together."
Adam's eyes lit up with happiness and relief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You really mean that?" he asked, a little breathless.
She nodded, smiling at him. "I really mean it," she said. "I want to be with you, more than anything. I want you so badly too!"
And in that moment, they both knew that everything was about to change.
"To Liam and Aurora... for your story will always live on in my heart." Aurora watched in horror as her father attacked her mother and charged at her to kill her. She never thought that her life would change on the night of the tragedy. She never imagined that one fateful night would change everything. When she begged Liam Anderson, a mysterious and powerful figure, to save her, she never imagined that he would offer her a marriage proposal in return. She was torn between her desperate need for safety and her reluctance to marry a man she hardly knew. Little did she know that accepting Liam's proposal would lead her into a world of romance, danger, and suspense, one where they would both have to fight for their life.
"Is-Is that a ring I see? Stephen, are you…engaged to her?" I stuttered, my voice trembling. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My mind was reeling, trying to process the reality of the situation. Alia's world is turned upside down when she discovers that her boyfriend of three years has been cheating on her. Filled with anger and hurt, she reluctantly attends a high society event, where she runs into Stephen again. They get into a bitter argument, and in a fit of pique, Alia claims that she has a new boyfriend - a man she doesn't even know. But this man, who turns out to be the dashing and enigmatic CEO of Xu Empires, Christopher Tao Xu, is more than happy to play along with Alia's charade. As Christopher and Alia continue their charade, they begin to develop real feelings for each other. But as they grow closer, Alia's ex-boyfriend, Stephen, becomes increasingly jealous and vengeful. He starts to plot against the blossoming relationship, putting Alia's safety in jeopardy. Will Alia and Christopher's love survive? Or will Stephen's scheming tear them apart?
“It all began in Casablanca, do you still remember?” the voice said. Stripped of everything he has and betrayed by his wife and bestfriend, a young, wealthy businessman sets out on a path of vengeance to get back what he's lost. Along the way, he discovers that the betrayal may have been part of a larger conspiracy, and he must decide whether to continue down his dark path or try to rebuild his life….but vengeance is a must!
“Oh, here he comes! You know him, right? Christopher Tao Xu, CEO of Xu Empires, Heir to the Golden Estate! I don't date broke guys!” Alia said to spite Stephen with a satisfying grip on her lips. After watching her relationship of three years go done the drain because her boyfriend cheated on her, Alia Moon Crust, trying to get back at him get Christopher entangled in a lovers' feud. But what happens when entanglement turns into love? Will Alia give in to Christopher? What happens when he finds out that she is the woman he has been chasing for two years? What happens when Stephen decides to strike back.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."