Arianna's family was falling apart and facing a tragic demise; however, her heart sank when she clearly saw Travis Cooper's name on the acquisition papers. She had no choice but to negotiate with him. Arianna lowered her head and relaxed her shoulders to ease the tension. She should show him gratefulness to make him happier, she thought, but she just couldn't do it. "How would you be willing to leave my grandfather alone?" He casually poured her a cup of tea and placed it in front of her before replying, "I think the correct person to ask is the judge, no? The offenders are usually punished. This is a matter of justice, isn't it?" Arianna was beginning to grow tired of his mood swings. "He is old, and his body is failing him. He would not last long in prison." Arianna continued to try to sway him. "What can I do? I always admire devoted children." His voice carried some ridicule, "But I'm not a charity. I only do transactions with interests. What would you do in exchange for the freedom of your grandfather?" Travis intertwined the fingers of his one hand with the other and rested his hands on his stomach as he leaned back in his chair once more. His expression was a bit lazy, "Since you entered this door, I've been waiting for the drama of you selling your body and soul to me in order to save your family member." When Arianna didn't reply, Travis explicitly said, "Maybe I'm just bored. I'd like to try something fun." Arianna's stomach felt like it had flipped. She looked at the handsome face that was now showing evil.
Arianna frowned at herself in the mirror. She carefully removed her clip-on earrings and gently kneaded her earlobes afterward. She thought they'd done enough damage to her ears for the day.
This luxurious hall even had decorations in its bathroom. She glanced at the purple orchids by the sinks.
She began to fix her hair with some water and re-applied a layer of lipstick.
A shawl originally accompanied her white dress, however, she gave it to her colleague, Melissa, to cover a stain on her dress. Unfortunately, this left her thin shoulders and back exposed in her deep V-neck dress.
Arianna took out a small perfume bottle from her handbag and sprayed her hair, neck, and wrists. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped out of the bathroom.
The main hall was illuminated with golden lights and was filled with beautiful dresses, melodic music, and noisy chatter. She scanned the crowd, hoping to find Melissa.
But, the committee affairs leader called her, "Arianna, we could use a little help, if you don't mind."
This was the annual banquet organized by Arianna's business association. As staff members of the investment department, she and Melissa were recruited to be the interpreters for the evening.
However, many foreign guests brought their own interpreters, leaving the two women with lots of free time.
Arianna saw the company president speaking to a European guest as she approached them. She joined the conversation, facilitating translation and ensuring everything was properly understood.
She bowed elegantly before stepping away when she felt that she was no longer needed. But before she could do so, the guest suddenly grinned and softly picked up her wrist and slid his hand underneath her fingers.
His rugged beard was rough on her skin as he placed a kiss on her hand.
Arianna blushed in embarrassment as she turned to leave.
She could only take a couple of steps before someone stepped out in front of her and said, "Dear Arian."
Her heartbeat ramped up for a moment. It had been many years since someone called her that. She lost contact with her old friends a long time ago.
Standing in front of her was a young, shining woman in a red dress. A heart-warming smile on her face, "Arianna, it really is you!"
"Hello, Janie." Arianna responded without the same excitement, "Long time no see."
"What are you doing here? I thought your entire family moved away!"
"Nope. I've been here all along." She responded flatly. Arianna was about to say goodbye, but Janie began to beckon to someone. Arianna placed her hands on her hips.
A man turned his head away from the group of people he was talking to and looked at Janie. He politely excused himself and strode over to the two women.
The man was in good shape and had a deep, booming voice. On his fourth finger was the same style of ring as Janie. He said, "Arianna, you haven't changed a bit!"
"Neither have you two. Congratulations on the wedding!" Arianna said with a fake smile and left.
****
During the first few hours of the banquet, Arianna had nothing to do. She sat at a table with Melissa and observed the people. But now, people were recognizing her and giving her things to do. Was it because her gown was more revealing now and drawing more attention to her?
When Arianna finally found Melissa, she was talking to an official. She stepped back and waited for them to finish their conversation.
However, the official caught Arianna's eye and called to her, "Aren't you Arianna Jenkins, the granddaughter of Franco Sanchez? How is he?"
"He is well, thank you." Arianna was a little coy. She knew who he was but did not remember that they had ever officially met.
This was not Arianna's scene. She didn't expect to encounter acquaintances one after another. After the man left, she let out a long sigh.
Melissa raised one eyebrow at Arianna and asked, "What's up with you? He seemed nice."
"He knows my grandpa."
"And that couple you were talking to over there?"
"We were classmates back when we were kids."
"Well, they're making negotiations with the city." She pulled Arianna's arm and continued, "Anyways, stop hiding yourself. You don't need me to tell you that any man here packs a fortune. We'd make a nice score if any of them fell for us."
Melissa winked at her, "Let's go. Don't look down, hold your chest up and smile."
Arianna was surprised by Melissa's behavior. But she did have a point. Melissa helped ensure that neither of them was having a wardrobe malfunction, but her eyes widened, and she said, "Nice!"
Following her eyes, Arianna only saw the side profile of a tall man. His head was slightly lowered to speak to a group of shorter men.
The man had a modest expression on his face, but he still appeared to be above the others out of their league.
He turned his head sideways towards the girls as he could feel them watching him. Both Melissa and Arianna looked away when they saw his head begin to move.
Melissa said under her breath, "This guy is gorgeous. He could be a Greek God if you ask me... I haven't seen a real man like that in a while."
The corner of Arianna's mouth twitched as she fought her smile in response to Melissa's words. She looked back at the man and could see that they were saying goodbye.
His eyes briefly met hers once more before she quickly lowered hers to the floor.
Melissa asked, "Do you know him? Arianna, Hello? Who is that guy?"
At that moment, the music dipped to a quieter rhythm, leaving Melissa's questions echoing through the room. Before she could answer, someone nearby stated, "That is Travis Cooper, the president of Transcendent Jewels."
Melissa's mouth dropped, "Transcendent Jewels? Wow. Word has it that he owns diamond mines in South Africa. I thought he would be super old!"
She continued to babble, "People say he's out of the state most of the time and rarely appears in public. He doesn't like to be interviewed or photographed."
"This guy is a legend." Melissa finished with a hair flip.
Marry a billionaire after a one-night stand: “We have agreed to leave each other to our own business. I hope you have a good reason for coming here.” “Yes, we agreed to that, but not to a sexless marriage. Sex is essential for a lasting marriage.” Selene chuckled. Clint also smiled, then sneered. “Do you like sex without love? Did you marry me because you enjoyed the sex that much?” Selene frowned, aware of the implications of his words. But she did not know why he said it. And the unopened file named “HER” appeared in her mind again. “I believe it’s important for a healthy relationship.” “Only the sex?” “I thought we agreed on it.” “Nonsense!” Clint exploded with anger. After thinking for a while, Selene replied, “Okay, sorry for disturbing you. I’m going to bed.” Before she went back to the bedroom and lay on the bed, Clint suddenly caught up with her and pushed her onto the bed. “What are you doing?!” Selene was frightened. Clint was violently tearing Selene’s home dress and groaned. “Fulfilling my obligation as a husband!”
To obey his grandfather’s order, the playboy tycoon Seth Cohen had to marry the socialite and sole heiress Evonne Largent. They tied the knot and lived together under a loveless matrimony. She was obliged to marry the hottest CEO, Seth Cohen, to save their fallen business empire after her father fell into compulsive gambling, driving them to the verge of bankruptcy. Seth had no plan of getting entangled with his stunning and sexy wife, but every time he glanced at her, his body throbs, and he was drawn away. Evonne will do everything to stay away from him and pretend she’s not affected by the oozing sex appeal of her hot billionaire husband; however, her heart beats faster every time he is around. **** She saw the muscles move in his jaw, and she knew he was pissed. “Care to explain? Make sure it’s believable.” Seth’s voice carried a hot temper. There was a picture of her dancing on the tabletop, and Toby beside her was shirtless while Sally poured beer bottoms up straight to their mouths. “What’s there to explain?” “You’re married now,” He growled at her, throwing sharp glances. “Miss me with that bullshit.” She stood up and barely contained her anger. “There is a certain public image that needs to be maintained. You need to understand that.” He muttered sternly. “Oh please, I’m not going to stand here drinking the dirty water you give me as you indulge yourself in the purest of wines.”
She ran away from her wedding, which ended in her own demise and became her forever nightmare. She eloped with another man over the one who loved her. She was cheated on by that person who lured her into leaving her husband and driving her to death. She came back to life and lay on their matrimonial bed. A firm but gentle hand closed around her wrist and guided her hand back to the front of his pants. She looked at her small, pale hand next to his large, tanned fingers and let him press her palm into him. It would be easy to let him take her, easy to submit to him. She wanted it. She wanted to feel his large hands on every inch of her body. “Wait,” she gasped. “We have to stop. This isn’t talking.” “It’s better than talking,” he said, pressing his lips to her neck. “No, we need to talk,” she said. "Get off me, let me put my clothes on." “You can’t make love with clothes on,” he said, biting her earlobe. “Listen to me,” she said. “I’m trying to be serious, okay? I know I shouldn’t have run away.” “What is this about?” he asked in a cold tone. “I just want to work things out," she sincerely looked into his eyes. Disgust flitted across his face, and his mouth curled down, "I see what’s happening. You think I’ll forget your betrayal if you let me fuck you."
A woman’s beauty is a man’s weakness. She was his great temptation, yet he hated her weak appearance. A dashing military general rushed in front of her, shaking her frail body when he ordered, “KILL HER!” Her frantic reaction is to trade her own body to survive. She must survive to return to her own world. But what she didn’t expect was the tough training to become the youngest space warrior. Her life journey began when she woke up on an unknown planet. Facing danger and trouble. She trades her body and freedom to survive. She felt abused. She learned to hate him. The unknown planet became her prison. Two desperate souls fighting to survive. One is fighting to feel loved. The other is fighting for freedom. Passion Anger Lust Danger Devotion For them, their love is worth suffering! Would she survive days and nights on the battlefield when her frail body dragged her gradually? What secret lies behind his dangerous appearance?
Cercei's eighteen years of existence were marred by excruciating pain and suffering solely because of her uncanny resemblance to Vienna, the Alpha's daughter. Cercei found it unbearably cruel that she possessed the same beauty as Vienna, which made Vienna feel insecure, leading her to subject Cercei to relentless torment. Despite the numerous hardships, Cercei received love and care from her parents, and she remained humble. Although their Alpha never respected them and treated them as mere servants, her family found happiness. However, everything changed dramatically on her eighteenth birthday when their Alpha ruthlessly killed her father without a valid reason and mercilessly crushed his heart underfoot after digging it out. Enraged and seeking revenge, Cercei felt powerless until she encountered the King Alpha of the North, whom she slept with. This chance encounter changed her life abruptly, cracking all the hidden secrets and lies her mother had carefully concealed for eighteen years. The revelation shattered Cercei's belief in her perfect family and parents, leaving her questioning everything she had ever known.
Estelle’s life was once a fairy tale, filled with love and promise. However, tragedy struck on the day of their wedding. Estelle’s father and Cristofer’s parents were involved in a car accident that took their lives instantly. The loss was devastating for Cristofer, causing him to sink into deep sorrow and anger towards Estelle. One tragedy comes after another, and she finds herself battling cancer, heartbreak, and deceit. In a world where all seems lost, Estelle must dig deep to find the strength to fight for what she loves most. **** Cristofer’s magnetic yet cold voice wrenched her mind back to reality, “Sign the divorce paper now!” Estelle laid down her legs, sat up, and asked, “Did you drink?” “It’s none of your business.” “Drinking is bad for your stomach.” “I need to drink so that I won’t feel disgusted when having sex with you.” “You couldn’t wait to divorce me?” Her voice sounded weak. She turned her back on him as the smoke nearly smothered her, and she started coughing again. “You know that, don’t you?” Cristofer deliberately breathed out a stream of smoke in her direction and felt inexplicably pleased to see her coughing and trembling.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Jane Roberts has been married to the love of her life for two years and just when she thinks they're going to start a family, he divorces her and kicks her to the curb. Hurt and broken, Jane discovers that Marcus had actually been cheating on her with her cousin, Abigail and she had only been his means to an end. Enraged, Jane is determined to get her revenge, but without money and connections, Marcus will never be taken down. Just as she is about to give up all hope, Caleb Lockwood reaches out to her and agrees to help her but she has to get married to him first and their marriage needs to be kept a secret. Jane agrees to it, but will she and Caleb be able to dispute the pools of sparks and passion that threatens to consume their printed marriage? And what will happen when Marcus discovers their marriage and will stop at nothing to destroy their union and win his love back?
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.
Ethan always viewed Nyla as a compulsive liar, while she saw him as aloof and insensitive. Nyla had cherished the notion that she was dear to Ethan, yet she felt coldly rejected when she realized her place in his heart was insignificant. No longer trying to break through his coldness, she stepped back, only for him to alter his approach unexpectedly. She challenged him, "If you trust me so little, why keep me around?" Ethan, who had once carried himself with pride, now stood before her with a humble plea. "Nyla, I've made mistakes. Please don't walk away from me."
Lucille was one of the most skilled female assassins, and on the previous night, she embarked on a top-secret mission. However, the mission's details were leaked, leading to her untimely demise at the hands of a traitorous companion. She never discovered the identity of the person who betrayed her before her death. But by some miracle, she was granted a new life, and was reborn as a girl with the same name. Determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge for her family, Lucille seized her second chance at life. She planned to avenge her loved ones. However, her plans were complicated by Joseph, an apparently frail man who was actually skilled in martial arts. And he seemed to fall for her deeply, now this newfound knowledge only added to the complications of Lucille's revenge plan...
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."