While she was dreaming of marrying him, he forced her away to another country for the sake of another woman, even promising to marry the other woman. When their paths crossed once more, she aimed to maintain her distance from him, yet he ensnared her within his web of affection. Later on, in an interview involving both, she was prompted to commend her husband. "Besides being pushy and shameless, it appears he lacks any redeeming qualities," she remarked, turning towards the man next to her to query, "What do you think?" The audience was aghast, wishing they could vanish instantly. Unexpectedly, the CEO, known for his stern and icy demeanor, remained serene and offered a gentle smile, responding, "Everything my wife said is right."
Pain.
Every inch of Daniela Pearson's body felt like it had been crushed under a car.
She suddenly opened her eyes, only to be met with a handsome face inches from hers.
This man, Kevin Bradley, had turned into her worst nightmare three years ago.
Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, leaving her stunned. Her eyes, sharp and clear, brimmed with disbelief.
His hand was still on her waist, holding her close in his embrace.
Run.
That was the only thought racing through her mind.
She swiftly tried to remove his arm from her waist.
Maybe it was the sudden movement, but he quickly opened his eyes, grabbed her neck, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him. His expression was hostile, filled with evident scorn and disgust.
"Daniela, so eager to jump into my bed right after your return?" he sneered.
Jump into his bed?
She hadn't even intended to meet him, much less under these circumstances.
Daniela forced a smile and said, "Mr. Bradley, I came to this hotel with my fiance last night. But here I am with you. I got the short end of the stick. I haven't even confronted you about it. Why are you upset?"
Her smile annoyed him.
"Don't play games. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself." He leaned in, his breath warm on her face, but his words were chilling. "Katherine and I are getting married soon. If you dare to breathe a word of our affair in front of her, I'll kill you."
It was ridiculous.
What could she possibly be plotting now? Would she try to force him into a relationship again, give her all, just hoping for a fraction of his affection, like before?
Indeed, her past thoughts were quite dirty.
Despite the bitterness in her heart, she managed a smile and prodded at his ego, pretending to be confused. "Our affair? Are you referring to that time three years ago when Katherine was sick in bed and you and I were being intimate? Or last night, when I just got back to the country and you couldn't resist sleeping with me?"
"Daniela Pearson!"
His grip on her neck tightened, freezing her smile instantly. As her face turned red from the lack of oxygen, she instinctively reached for his hand around her neck.
He enjoyed the fear in her eyes, taunting her with a sneer. "Do you really think it'd be hard for me to kill you? Or maybe you believe if I strangled you and left you in the street, someone would avenge you?"
Who would care whether she lived or died?
The Bradley family was a globally recognized financial dynasty, owning banks in major cities around the world. They wielded immense power and wealth.
Kevin, the current head of the Bradley family, was known for his ruthlessness.
Who would dare confront Kevin if he decided to end her life?
Her dear brother was missing, her mother practically lifeless in bed.
Yes, her mother!
She hadn't returned for these trivial issues with him.
Daniela kept batting at his hand, convinced this man might strangle her for his beloved Katherine. He remained unemotional, but eventually, she gazed at him, a mix of helplessness and fear in her eyes.
"If you value your life, behave yourself."
He smirked with satisfaction and finally released his grip.
"Ahem, ahem..."
Grasping her throat, she coughed violently, gasping desperately for air.
Kevin got up from her side, his lips slightly parted, and said in an icy tone, "Get lost."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
To fund her father's medical bills, Helena stepped in for her half‑sister and wed the city's notorious deaf heir. On their wedding night, as she bared herself, he dismissed her hope with, "This is strictly business." Living beneath the weight of his unpredictable moods, she learned to fear every moment. When everyone bet on her ruin, he became her fiercest protector. But as their contract expired and she gathered her things, tears shimmered in his eyes. "Please… don't leave me."