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Ryder grabbed Regina's chin firmly, his fingers curling around her jaw as he pulled her closer, his eyes burning into hers. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You belong to me, Bunny. Every inch of you. No one else gets to touch you, to claim you like I do. You're mine to control, to possess." ***** In a shocking turn of events, Regina Flynn, a young and talented fashion designer, agrees to a marriage of convenience with Ryder Steele, the ruthless businessman responsible for her family's downfall and her father's tragic death. Regina seeks to expose Ryder's corrupt empire and bring him to justice. But unknown to her, Ryder is more than he presents himself to be. He's a possessive man who likes to be in control. He also has an ulterior motive for the marriage - to acquire a property worth millions, that's secretly in Regina's name. As they engage in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, a passionate night together leads to an unexpected pregnancy, further complicating the situation. Regina is about to find out soon that Ryder's true nature can be more complex, darker, and more intriguing that she has ever imagined.
Regina Flynn
Who gets married for revenge? Me, that's who.
I adjusted the straps of my white ornated wedding dress for what felt like the hundredth time, my hands shaky as I did. I was going to see Ryder Steele, my husband-to-be, at the alter in a few minutes and I couldn't even control my racing heart. How was I supposed to live with him as his wife?
"Reg, this is just crazy," Chelsea grunted, "You can't live with that cold hearted monster! He'll hurt you!"
I frowned, still standing in front of the mirror in the dressing room. I sighed heavily, put on my best fake smile and turned to look at Chelsea Miller. She was sitted a few feets away from me on a comfortable velvet-covered armchair.
She had that condescending smug smile on. It was for me, she would always give me that 'I know your deepest darkest secrets' smile every time she felt I was doing something all wrong.
"Ryder Steele doesn't deserve to be alive. The world needs to see the kind of person he really is and only I can do that," I said under my breath as I turned to look at the mirror again one last time.
There was no going back now. The wedding ceremony was starting in less than twenty minutes and I was ready. As I looked back into the mirror, the woman staring back at me seemed like a stranger. My face was painted with layers of makeup, my strawberry blonde hair was pulled back tightly, and my body was weighed down by heavy silks and diamonds.
I wondered how I had ended up making this decision. The decision to enter a life long commitment with the man who ruined my family. Ryder Steele. A name I had always loathed and somehow feared.
He was the cause of my father's death three years ago. He made my father a criminal, framed him for illegal real estate investing and market manipulation. He made him lose everything which ultimately led to his death. Ryder Steele was a murder, a heartless conman and I was going to be the end of him.
I heard Chelsea sigh, "You look good, by the way," she paused, "And as your best friend, I support you. I just hope you don't end up regretting this,"
I glanced at Chelsea through the mirror, she still had that smug smile on those beautiful lips of hers. I managed a weak smile, but my inside were turning to jelly and, I felt like screaming.
"Say something!" Chelsea huffed dramatically, adjusting her glasses.
Today, she wasn't wearing black plastic ones. They didn't have a prescription-her vision was perfect. But she claimed they made her face look slimmer and sexier.
I personally thought men who didn't approach her because of the glasses- or lack thereof-didn't deserve her. Chelsea was gorgeous, with her dark brown hair curling effortlessly around her shoulders. Her eyes matched the color of her hair perfectly, and the bright fire-engine-red lipstick she loved to wear did magical things to her lips.
She was in a black maxi black dress that stopped mid thigh with a pair of black heels.
I fidgeted when I heard a slight knock on the door, then came a feminine voice, "The ceremony is starting soon. We need the bride,"
Without hesitation, I slowly walked across the room, my dress rustling gently as I moved.
"Hey!" Chelsea's voice rattled me and I stopped by the door, "Even though I can't be the bridesmaid at your wedding, you have to be the bridesmaid at mine,"
"Get a man first," I snapped with a soft smile before stepping out of the room and into the quiet and dimly lit hallway.
As my footsteps echoed, I could also hear my heart thumping in my chest. My mouth suddenly went dry at the thought that Chelsea and I had vowed to be each other's bridesmaids since we were eight. It was like a friendship pact but once again Ryder Steele ruined that too.
He insisted on having his cousin, Ashley Morgan be my bridesmaid. How controlling could a man be to actually choose your own bridesmaids for your own wedding?
I couldn't refuse because I knew I needed to be obedient to him until I was at least into his life fully. I didn't want him to see me as a threat. But I knew that as soon as I got what I wanted, I wouldn't let him control me.
Unknowingly, I had let him control me for the past three years. After what he did to my family three years ago, I started looking into every aspect of his life, anything that could implicate him or at least prove that he was behind what happened to my father.
But Ryder Steele was as discreet as he was cunning. He kept his illegal dealings private, only people who were close to him could be able to get anything on him.
But now, it was as if he was finally willing to go down by inviting me into his home. He was making a terrible mistake. He doesn't know I know about what he did to my family. That alone gave me the upper hand.
As I walked further down the hallway, lost in thought, I didn't notice the person approaching in the dimly lit hallway until we collided. A bag fell to the floor, spilling it's content.
My eyes snapped up to meet an irritated gaze. It was a woman who I immediately recognized as Ashley, Ryder's cousin. She was somewhat short, her long black hair flowing over her shoulders. She had a cute button nose and full lips that were painted in hot red gloss.
She was wearing a long satiny red gown that flowed effortlessly to the ground. Obviously, her plan was to steal the spotlight from the bride. The problem wasn't just her outfit though, she definitely looked different from the last time I saw her at the dress fitting a week ago.
It might be the makeup. She was wearing tons of it, including fake lashes so long they looked like a dead butterfly antennae.
"I'm sorry," I said, jerking my chin as I tried to pick up her belongings that were scattered all over the place.
She shot me a saucy grin, "I'll pick it up myself. You need to get to the aisle. Your mum is waiting. I'll join you in a bit,"
Ashley went on her knees and started picking up the items on the floor and as she did, my eyes caught sight of a shiny earring or was it a ring? I wasn't quite sure so I ignored, mumbled a quick "thank you" and walked further towards the wedding reception.
I took another deep breath and steadied myself as I entered the beautifully decorated reception hall. Hundreds of eyes turned to me as I walked towards my mother who was waiting to walk me down the aisle. Everyone was smiling, but I had never felt more alone in my life.
As I walked down the aisle, I couldn't help but take in the sight of the beautiful wedding venue. The room was adorned with flower decorations in my favorite colors-which I was sure I never mentioned to anyone.
The soft glow of fairy lights casted a warm and magical atmosphere over the entire room. The soft music filled the air, adding to the overall ambiance of the event. It was a perfect setting for a wedding, and yet I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease as I approached Ryder Steele.
There was no doubt that Ryder Steele was gorgeous. Not just hot, but please-God-don't-let-me-lose-my-mind-from-just-staring-at-him hot!
Jaded green eyes, perfectly shaped cheekbones. He had broad, muscled shoulders and a trim waist. His hair was brown with dark-blond highlights. He was in a neat black suit and a pair of nicely polished shoes.
His gaze bore into my hazel eyes even though his eyes were cold and distant. With a smile, my mother let go of my hand and placed it in Ryder's. The touch sent a shiver down my spine and for a moment I questioned if I was really doing the right thing by getting married to this gorgeous monster.
My heart sank to my stomach. This was it, this was really happening.
The officiant began to speak, the words blending together as I struggled to steady my racing thoughts. As the vows were exchanged, I silently prayed that everything would be over soon.
As the officiant gestured for the ring bearer to open the ring box, I watched as the lid slowly lifted... but to my surprise, only one ring was inside.
Mine was missing. My breath immediately caught in my throat as gasps filled the room. And in that moment, my mind raced to my encounter with Ashley earlier. I definitely saw a ring in her bag. Or was it an earring? Maybe it was all a coincidence or could she have....?
"You were just a tool, Imogene." Her heart stopped. "And I was foolish enough to believe you cared." *** Imogene Scott had always known her place-by Damien Shaw's side, even when his love was a distant dream. Marrying her only because of an unexpected pregnancy, Damien's affection never blossomed. Instead, her devotion turned him from a mere sales manager into the billionaire CEO of IMU, one of Europe's most powerful tech empires. But her sacrifices weren't enough. After losing their baby, Damien's coldness deepened, sealing their marriage with an unspoken "no meddling" rule. Imogene's reward? Watching Damien parade countless mistresses, all while she buried her own dreams to fuel his. She believed, naively, that one day he'd see her worth. But when he fell in love with her stepsister and served her with divorce papers, Imogene's world shattered. Realizing she was nothing more than a pawn in Damien's game, she vanished-pregnant and determined to protect her unborn child. Three years later, Imogene returns, not as the broken woman who fled but as a renowned artist and mother to their two-year-old daughter. Now, Damien realizes what he's lost and wants her back. But this time, Imogene is ready to fight, and she's not making the same mistake twice.
Teasingly, his fingers slides out of my entrance and I can feel that pulse between my legs. The pulse that comes with the endless need for him to be inside of me. His eyes on mine, he sucks on his fingers and gives me a masculine smile of satisfaction. I sag against the wall breathlessly. Then he grabs my body, hugging me to him as I try to catch my breath. "You see, Peaches." he whispers to my ear, his breath hot on my neck. "You love the things I do to you." --- All her life, Peach Salinger has always played by the rules. She's 23 and graduating college in a few months. She also just landed an internship with Acker Investments which can secure her a permanent job after graduation. But she's determined to get some sexual experiences before stepping into the professional world. In a bid to loose her virginity before she graduates, she hooks up with a hot stranger from a dating app. But that hot stranger turns out to be her new boss, Rhys Van Acker. An arrogant multi-billionaire who's nine years older than her. They both clash at first but Rhys cannot deny the mutual sexual tension between them. Rhys Van Acker wants Peach Salinger in his bed again, but Peach is determined not to succumb to the temptation. But how long can she be able to control herself when all she can think about is the one night stand she had with the older man?
She's Sia Jenkins He's Alexander Luis-Diaz She's a failed junior reporter. He's a real estate multi-billionaire. She's the accidental one night stand he can't seem to get out of his head. He's the beautiful mistake she made that faithful night. What happens when a scandal breaks out and he's forced to introduce her to the world as his fiancé? How did a failed junior reporter become the contracted finance of a multi-billionaire? Because they found something together; LUST.
When Jenna Brooks's family goes bankrupt, she's forced to move in with the Declan family in Houston for her senior year. Getting to Houston, Jenna quickly realizes that things have changed since she last saw them. The Declan brothers, once innocent little boys, now have now grown up to be hot and attractive guys. What Jenna doesn't know is that, her life is about to be changed. She is soon thrown into the world of heartbreak, boy kisses, make outs and school scandals. But will Jenna make it through senior year without losing herself in the chaos? Jenna's life is about to be forever changed, and the choices she makes will determine her fate. Prepare yourself for a journey filled with unexpected twists, as Jenna discovers just how far she's willing to go to find her place amidst the chaos.
"Did you think you could just leave like that after getting married to me?" Blaine Sinclair's voice cut through the air, freezing the room. Yazmin's heart raced as his gaze locked onto her. "We are married, Yazmin, and you cannot walk out of this marriage unless I let you." … In the glistering world of the affluent, celebrity wedding planner, Yazmin Collymore is used to orchestrating love stories that shimmer like diamonds. When she gets her biggest clients ever, one that could change her life for the better, she is determined to make the wedding a success and find her place in the world. But when an ill-timed advice leads to the bride eloping with someone else hours before the wedding, Yazmin sees all her career goals turning to dust. Determined to salvage her reputation and not ruin the wedding, Yazmin takes on a daring alternative. Posing as the bride, she steps into a marriage of convenience with Blaine Sinclair, a cold, heartless and ridiculously hot billionaire mogul who is only getting married because of a merger. What was meant to be a facade, becomes a trap when Blaine refuses to let Yazmin off the hook. He askes her to remain his wife for a year so he can be able to secure his company merger with his grandfather’s, or jeopardize her career and future by revealing the truth about her. As their tangled lives intersect, the glamour of wealth and the weight of duty collide. In "The Billionaire’s Trapped Wife," bonds form, secrets unfold, and love's unexpected journey reveals that, in the world of the affluent, true connections are the ultimate treasure.
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?"
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."
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!