/0/57394/coverbig.jpg?v=d15fe640d38185b24d1b7a3bc7cce8c4)
How ruthless can life be? When you've fallen to your lowest point, what choices are left? Would you surrender, or would you fight if someone's very existence hinged on your strength? Amber's existence with her stepmother and stepsister was a relentless nightmare. She endured their demands, taking on illicit jobs to save her nephew Chase. One harrowing night, Amber narrowly escaped an assault by a sadistic patron at the casino; she unexpectedly had a one-night stand with a stranger. When her job at the casino was gone, Amber faced a desperate decision. She was forced into marrying Stefan Morgan. To her shock, Stefan was the very man from her night of forbidden passion. Would Stefan learn she was just a substitute bride? What path would fate bring her when Stefan's identity is revealed? Every glimmer of happiness in Amber's life seems fleeting. Will her marriage to Stefan alter her fate and bring her the joy she desperately seeks, or will it plunge her into a new realm of suffering?
Amber's footsteps faltered as she ascended the staircase, her head swimming with a disorienting dizziness. Each step felt heavier than the last, her limbs weighed down by a sense of impending dread. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
"What is wrong with me?" she muttered.
Passing by her stepsister's room, Amber froze in her tracks, a curious noise catching her attention. It was a sound she couldn't quite place at first-a low, throaty moan, punctuated by ragged breaths and the unmistakable rhythm of human pleasure.
"Ooh," a pleasurable moan escaped out loudly.
As the sounds grew louder and clearer, Amber's breath caught in her throat. There was no mistaking it now-the voice she heard was her stepsister's, moaning in ecstasy.
"Katrina?" She whispered. Amber's stepsister, making love in her room. How strange that her mom, Valentina, allowed her to do such a thing at home.
But the voice accompanying stepsister, the one that sent a shiver down Amber's spine, was all too familiar.
"Kenneth?"
The name echoed in her mind like a cruel taunt, a betrayal etched in every syllable. She couldn't bring herself to believe it. Her boyfriend, the man she loved and trusted, was behind that door, entwined with her stepsister in a web of deceit.
"NO!" She refused to believe it. It could be the effect of her dizziness. She rubbed her temple, trying to get rid of her dizziness.
"No, it's not him," she uttered firmly. But it was more like trying to convince herself not to believe the truth right before her.
"Oh, Kenneth, right there," Katrina yelled in pleasure.
Amber's heart hammered in her chest; anger bubbled within her. Katrina's words confirm her suspicion. How could he? How could they both betray her like this? The thought churned in her stomach like bitterness, twisting and biting at her insides until she thought she might be sick.
With trembling hands, trying to reach for the doorknob, Amber's pulse thundering in her ears. She needed to see it for herself, needed to confront them and demand answers. But before she could take another step. The world spun, a dizzying whirlwind of sensation and sound before everything went black, and she crumpled to the ground.
As soon as she woke up, Amber found herself in a strange room. A luxury hotel room, she guessed. The unfamiliar surroundings disoriented her further. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, a lingering reminder of her sudden collapse. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she struggled to piece together the events that led her here.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit her-the drink her stepmother had given her, the dizziness that followed, and the sudden darkness that swallowed her whole. Memories came back to her now. But it felt like there was more that she needed to remember.
"Did Valentina put sleeping pills on my drink?"
And then she heard it-the soft click of the door opening, the sound slicing through the silence. Amber's heart leaped into her throat as she turned, her eyes widening in shock as her stepmother stepped into the room, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
"It's good that you've finally woken up," Valentina said, her voice dripping with false concern. "We have much to discuss, you and I."
Amber's blood ran cold at the sound of her stepmother's voice, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. "Valentina? Were you the one who brought me here?"
"Yes, I had someone bring you here since I knew you'd be stubborn to start working again," Valetina said sternly, her voice laced with contempt.
The weight of Valentina's words suffocates Amber with a sense of resignation and dread. She couldn't bear the thought of returning to that horrible club, couldn't stomach the idea of subjecting herself to the leering eyes and groping hands of those vile men again.
"No, I don't want to go back to the club," Amber pleaded.
"You do as I say," the evil stepmother said sternly.
As Amber looked into her stepmother's cold, unyielding gaze, she knew she had no choice. Her nephew, Chase's life depends on her. She needed funds to continue giving him treatments for his rare disease. She couldn't risk his health for the sake of her discomfort, no matter how much it tore her apart inside.
"What do you want from me now?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
But Valentina's expression remained impassive, her steely gaze unwavering. "You know what I want," she replied, her voice cold and clipped. "You work in the Casino, or there will be consequences."
Amber's jaw clenched in frustration, her fists balling at her sides. She wanted to scream, to lash out at the woman who had made her life a living hell, but she knew it would only make things worse. With a heavy heart, she nodded in reluctant acquiescence, hoping the work at the casino would be better than the club.
"Fine," Amber said, her voice tinged with defeat. "I'll do it."
Valentina's lips curled into a triumphant smile, her victory assured. "Good," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now get up and change your clothes. You start tonight."
As Amber was dressed in a short skirt, she trailed behind Valentina, her heart pounding in her chest, she couldn't shake the sense of unease. The elevator ride felt endless, each floor they descended plunging her deeper into her fear.
Her fingers fumbled nervously with the hem of her skirt, tugging it down in a futile attempt to preserve what little remained of her dignity. She couldn't believe she was doing this, couldn't believe she had allowed herself to be dragged into yet another one of her stepmother's twisted schemes.
But as the elevator doors slid open to reveal a dimly lit corridor lined with heavy metal doors, Amber's confusion turned to outright disbelief. A casino in the basement of a luxury hotel? It didn't make any sense, not unless... "It is illegal," she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
Her breath caught in her throat as they stepped into the huge space beyond, the noise of ringing slot machines and wild laughter assaulting her senses like a physical blow. It was a scene straight out of her worst nightmares, a den of vice and debauchery hidden beneath the veneer of respectability. The place was worse than the club she used to work in.
This wasn't just any casino-it was an illegal operation, a hellhole of corruption and crime lurking in the shadows of the city.
"Welcome, Mrs. Baldwin," said the old fat man as he proposed a handshake with Valentina.
"Thank you for inviting me here, Mr. Dickson," Valentina shook the old man's hand. "I brought you a gift. She'll start working tonight," she said, eyeing Amber standing by her side.
What? A gift? "I can't work here," Amber said quickly.
Amber's protests died on her lips as Valentina shot her a warning glance, a silent reminder of the stakes at play. She knew she had no choice, knew she couldn't risk Chase's life for the sake of her pride and safety.
"Interesting," Mr. Dickson remarked while lustfully licking his lips, looking at Amber. "My clients would love to have you here," he added with a wicked smirk on his lips.
Being a weak Omega, Reika's only hope was to have a mate until she was rejected by their pack's Alpha heir, Nyx. In her attempt to start fresh away from the Shadow Claw pack, she escaped and ended up in the Thunder Howl pack, where Alpha Apollo offered her to be a surrogate. Left with no choice, Reika accepted the contract. Amid the chaos, Nyx was challenged by his cousin Jacobo for a duel, seeking who was stronger to rule their pack. Alpha Apollo's position is challenged by his rogue cousin, Jupiter, bringing his wife and son, insisting he is fit to lead the Thunder Howl pack. Alpha Nyx and Alpha Apollo desperately need Reika's strength to retain their positions as the Alphas of their packs, as they discover she is the daughter of the missing Lycan King. Will Reika submit to any of the Alpha's or seek independence from any of the packs?
Mallory must hide her daughter, Harriet, from Harris's wealthy and influential family, who wants full custody of her daughter. While juggling her work as a hotel receptionist and her responsibility as a single mom, Mallory is heartbroken by her daughter's desire to have a complete family. While Harris tries to break away from his engagement with Nicole, he works to win Mallory's heart back. He is torn between obligations in their group of companies and following his heart. Excerpt: "Harris, why did you do this to me? Why me?" She muttered in her broken voice. Mallory's heartaches; she trusts and gives everything to Harris, only to be fooled by him. Mallory looked at Harris's sleeping form; she couldn't help but feel used and betrayed. She felt like a toy that Harris used and then threw away. Mallory gathered her things and left the hotel room without waking Harris up. She didn't want to see him or talk to him ever again. As she left the hotel, she saw the sign that said "Royal Vista Hotel" and realized that Harris was not just an ordinary hotel employee but the heir to the hotel empire. The realization made her feel sick to her stomach.
Arthur and Helena, two strangers, met at a fateful moment when each desperately needed comfort. Arthur had left his family to escape his narcissistic parents' emotionally draining environment, while Helena sought refuge from city life and Israel's vengeful parents. She grieved the loss of her billionaire boyfriend, Israel, whom she vowed to love forever. Helena's trust was fragile as she opened up to Arthur and found solace in his comforting arms. She felt herself falling for him until she realized the truth about his identity - a truth that threatened to break her trust in him forever. Now Arthur must prove his pure intentions to Helena to keep her in his life. But can Helena ever trust him again? Does Arthur's love have the power to replace Israel in Helena's heart, or will he lose hope and choose what is safest for himself? This is not your typical Billionaire story – this is a story about battling love and trust amidst chaos and despair.
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.