.....I stood in front of the big nursing school. Finally I'll be able to pursue something I really love without anyone giving me conditions or telling me what to do. And as for love...I've left all that behind. Love is not for me. It didn't exist with Liam, it won't exist with anyone else. There's only one person I love with all my heart and that's my son. However, there is one whose kindness was slowly seeping into my shielded heart. ****** Audrey is given out for marriage to her childhood crush but things don't exactly go the way that she expects. The married life only brings tears and pains and her heart-throb and crush only crushes her heart and her dreams. Through it all, Audrey remains strong for her and her son but just how long can she hold it more forces that will test her, will arise. Will Audrey be able to pull through or will she succumb to the cruel hands of fate? The one who has caused her immense pain returns and she finds her heart wavering, just what will Audrey do to save herself, her heart and her son? Find out in this thrilling book of self discovery, love and deception.
AUDREY'S POV
"This is for the good of our family, Audrey. You must never lose sight of your duty as my only daughter." My father said,
"And beside I know that you have a secret crush on Liam. This is finally your opportunity to be with him. Don't blow it." He says and leaves me to my raging thoughts.
I sighed after the door to my room closed.
Yes! I did have a crush on Liam but that was when I was so little. Mother wasn't alive to help me out of this situation. My eyes was stinging at this point and a lump seemed to erupt in my throat.
I felt very sad that my life would experience nothing fun because sadly I would be married off very early. I was just twenty-three for God's sake.
"It can't be so bad." I thought to myself, after I had fought back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes earnestly.
I used this to make myself feel a lot better.
I slept that night thinking about how the next day would be. I could not understand why my father would so easily throw me off into a marriage I have never anticipated.
The next day, Liam came by. He was looking a lot better now. He had broad shoulders compared to the times when I had known him as a child.
He was scrawny and small but now he looked manly and very handsome. Butterflies flew around in my stomach when I saw him. His father came out of the limousine behind him.
My father had made me wait at the door to welcome them into the house. His father smoked when he saw me,
"Dear Audrey, you're now so grown. That's really wonderful. You'll make the most beautiful bride." His father says.
I smile in response.
Liam remained mute not showing any expression. I could not even see his eyes because of the black shades he had on.
"Your father?" He asks.
"Please follow me." I said to them,
We got to the front porch where father was waiting for his friend, Liam's father, Robert.
"I'm glad you chose to honor me with your visit." My father exclaims and engulfs his friend in a very tight manly hug.
A mini feast was held in front of our house on the front porch.
"It will be the best the city has ever seen, I will make sure of it." Robert, Liam's father says.
"I can't wait." My father chip in
"When do you want it to be held?" My father asks Liam.
Liam clears his throat and replies, "In the following week from now."
His voice sounded so sweet in my ears but I wasn't very happy that he had made that decision without me.
I cleared my throat to signal my presence which they all seemed to ignore. I was the one who they were marrying off for goodness' sake.
"I believe that I did not agree to that." I said with a smoke plastered on my face.
"Audrey!" My father called my name.
"No dad, he can't come to this decision without telling me about it. You all are planning a wedding I never agreed to in the first place at least give me this." I said to both of them.
Robert sighed and looked at my father who looked at me, "enough of this Audrey, you're getting married in one week."
My father said with a tone of finality. My heart sank.
"Father!!" I exclaimed but he said nothing.
I scoffed and angrily went inside.
Just breathe Audrey. It really can't be that bad.
My father opened my door and shut the door quietly behind him.
"Look Audrey, don't spoil my hard work alright." He said.
"I wish mom were here, she would never have agreed to this." I yelled
"Don't ever talk about your mother again. I won't talk about this again either. Come back downstairs. " He instructed.
My mouth gaped. How could he just tell me to do that?
I was rooted to that spot without moving because I was so scared and angry. I was feeling a lot at that point. My father then held my hands and pulled me towards where he was hosting his mini feast.
He plastered a smile on his face ,"I'm so sorry, she didn't mean to he disrespectful."
"It's fine. We can't stay for long anymore. We will send her all she needs to start getting ready for the wedding." Robert says.
My father stands up and stretches his hands out to Robert who took it in glee.
"We shall see once again. I can't wait for this perfect union." He says and then looks at me ,
"I know how you must feel but it's normal to feel that way . Please, take good care of yourself ." He said to me and then turned to leave.
Liam also stands but doesn't say a word as he follows suit behind his father.
Few days later, my father came up to meet me. He was holding a box in his hands. Ever since that mini feast, all he ever does is complain and tell me how I'm going to be a terrible wife.
He knocked and then peered his head through the open space.
"You're still awake." He said but I didn't reply.
Our relationship has been strained ever since.
He sat down beside me and placed the box in front of me.
"Look I know that this has been really hard for you but also consider how hard it is for the one who will be getting married to you." He started.
"Since you know then why are you subjecting me to this father?" I asked him frankly
"It's for the good of our family and I wish I didn't have to but I believe that you will be in good hands ." He said.
"And how can you be so sure about that?" I asked him.
He smiled, "Robert promised me."
"I'm not getting married to Robert, father, I'm getting married to his son ." I had to remind him .
He sighed, "there's nothing else we can do. Just prepare for the wedding tomorrow."
He said and dropped the box in front of me.
A wedding or a funeral, I wouldn't know what kind of marriage im getting into until I've had a taste of it.
SYNOPSIS: Struggling to make ends meet, Kate Grey has all but given up on her dream of becoming an actress-until a mysterious billionaire, Jared Cole, offers her a deal too tempting to refuse. If she agrees to pose as his companion at glittering galas and high-society events for three months, he'll bankroll her career. The catch? Jared isn't just looking for a pretty face, he's trying to save his shattered reputation, and Kate is his ticket to redemption. Jared's polished charm conceals a world of secrets, and as Kate steps into his opulent and wealthy life, the lines between business and desire blur. Beneath his polished exterior lies a man grappling with loneliness, guilt and an unfulfilled need for genuine connection. For Kate, it's a chance to finally chase her dreams, but the deeper she's pulled into Jared's world, the more she realizes his offer isn't as simple as it seems. As the events grow increasingly elaborate, Kate finds herself drawn into Jared's opulent yet mysterious world-a place where wealth hides deadly secrets, and power comes with a price. But when she discovers the real reason behind Jared's generous offer, she's faced with a choice, walk away and protect her heart, or risk everything for a man who's learning to love for the first time, and how does she explain her name on a marriage certificate signed four years ago? In a whirlwind of passion, betrayal, and self-discovery, THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION explores the question: Can love bridge the gap between two lives built on secrets?
"...Even after everything I do to you, you still want me?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "More than you can imagine," I replied, breathless. His hand slid up my body, pausing at the back of my neck. He pulled me closer, his voice a low growl. "You do know what that means, right?" I stiffened, my heart racing. I was his pet, after all. And I was ready to take my chances. *. *. *. *. *. *. * Rose Carlton's life is a shattered puzzle. After a devastating accident robbed her of half her memories, she thought nothing could feel more incomplete-until she's sold to Grey Manchester Moretti, the city's most feared mafia boss. What begins as captivity quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. As Rose navigates Grey's dark, violent world, secrets from her forgotten past resurface, threatening to unravel everything she thought she knew. Blood will be spilled, boundaries will be crossed, and passion will ignite in ways she never imagined. But when she learns the truth about her life-and her connection to Grey-Rose will face an impossible choice: surrender to the man who holds her heart or fight for the freedom she's never truly had. Can Rose survive the chaos of her tumultuous life, or will she surrender to the darkness?
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
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."
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?