For Emma Montgomery, life as the pampered daughter of Manhattan's elite carried the weight of impossible expectations. Groomed from birth to lead her family's corporate dynasty, genuine love seemed an elusive dream amid the superficial trappings of wealth. That is, until a shocking proposal opened doors to an unexpected future. When her father arranges for Emma to enter a marriage contract with James Reynolds, the charismatic heir to a powerful political family, she sees it as an escape from her turbulent past. But neither Emma nor James could foresee the firestorm of passion and betrayal that would be sparked by their convenient union. As the one-year countdown on their sham marriage begins, Emma finds herself falling for James's unexpected depths and charm. But James has his own demons - bound by duty to fulfill his father's Machiavellian ambitions while his own heart belongs to another. As cordial pretenses melt into smoldering intimacy, their worlds collide in a maelstrom of corporate greed, political ambition, and star-crossed desire. In this sumptuous tale of love among New York's upper echelons, Emma and James become delicious pawns in a high-stakes game they never imagined playing. With every blistering secret revealed, every heart-wrenching choice posed, they must decide whether to surrender to the inescapable lure of power and privilege, or burn it all to the ground for a love too intoxicating to deny.
The fancy ballroom at the Metropolitan Hotel was super luxurious, with sparkly chandeliers and gold decorations everywhere. It was the place for rich, important people in New York City to see and be seen. Emma Montgomery walked in on her father's arm, smiling fakely even though she didn't want to be there.
Emma hated these stuck-up high society parties. She couldn't stand having small talk with snobby social climbers while also trying to get potential investors interested in her family's real estate company, Montgomery Corporation. At twenty-five years old, Emma's life path was already set - she was the heir who had to take over the multi-billion dollar business from her father one day, whether she liked it or not.
As always, the ballroom was jam-packed with people dressed up in fancy tuxedos. The air smelled strongly of expensive perfumes, cigar smoke, and desperation from people trying to climb the social ladder. Emma's father was immediately whisked away by a group of rich old men smoking cigars. Emma headed straight for the bar, in desperate need of a drink.
She was sipping her first glass of champagne when her eyes landed on a striking man across the room. Even from far away, his chiseled jawline was captivating, and surprisingly, he flashed her a warm, friendly smile. That couldn't be James Reynolds, could it? The rumors painted the notorious heir to the wealthy Reynolds real estate empire as an arrogant, brooding man. But his welcoming demeanor seemed to contradict those stories.
Intrigued, Emma found herself shamelessly checking him out, admiring the muscles in his chest and the confident power in his stride. She mentally scolded herself. Get a grip, Montgomery. Don't let yourself be charmed by a pretty face.
Emboldened by the man's surprisingly affable smile, she sidled up to order a cocktail. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice you from across the room," Emma said with a friendly smile of her own. "I'm Emma Montgomery."
The man's expression instantly morphed into an arrogant sneer, his earlier warmth vanishing in an instant. "Do I look like I care who you are?" he asked in a rude, dismissive tone that left Emma stunned.
So the rumors were true after all. His friendly overture had just been an act. "I...I was just trying to introduce myself," she stammered, thrown by his abrupt shift in demeanor.
"Well, don't bother. Your little Montgomery Corporation is barely a blip on my family's empire," James scoffed derisively. "Now run along back to your little party, little girl."
Emma's mouth dropped open in shock at his outright rudeness. How dare he speak to her that way, after luring her in with that warm smile! The pleasant, welcoming demeanor she'd detected moments ago had been an illusion, a mask he'd dropped to reveal his true arrogant, callous nature.
Before Emma could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind her. "Emma, my dear, there you are."
She turned to find her father, Robert Montgomery, his eyes alight with a mixture of pride and mischief. "I trust you've met James Reynolds?"
Emma nodded, her brow furrowed. "Unfortunately, yes. He's just as rude as the rumors suggest."
Robert let out a hearty chuckle. "Well, you two had best get acquainted. After all, you'll both be getting married very soon."
Emma nearly choked on her cocktail. "Married? To that arrogant jerk?" She whirled on James, eyes blazing. "Over my dead body!"
James looked equally appalled. "There's no way in hell I'd marry some spoiled, daddy's little princess like you," he spat out venomously.
"How dare you!" Emma shrieked, causing partygoers to turn at the commotion. She fought the urge to slap that smug look right off his face.
Her father frowned. "Now, now, children. No need for hostility. I've orchestrated this merger to join our companies. You'll be married!"
Anger bubbled within Emma. To be forced into this against her will was appalling.
Just as she opened her mouth to protest further, a familiar figure caught her eye - Mark, her ex-boyfriend who had cheated on her with her best friend Amanda.
A tidal wave of hurt and humiliation crashed over Emma as she watched them strolling hand-in-hand, acting every bit the happy couple without a care in the world. She had finally started to piece her life back together after their devastating betrayal, but the sight of them together so brazenly reopened those still-fresh wounds.
Hadn't she suffered enough at their hands? The lies, the months of being made a fool of right under her nose? Emma had loved Mark with every fiber of her being, and had pictured growing old together after marriage. Only to have her heart shattered into a million jagged pieces when she discovered his sordid affair with Amanda - her supposed best friend.
The anger, the pain, the gut-wrenching devastation she'd endured...Emma had never truly healthily dealt with those emotions before trying to move on. So to have Mark and Amanda's indiscretion shoved in her face so publicly at this high society event, a place where reputations and public perception meant everything, felt like the ultimate insult.
How dare they flaunt their happiness after destroying her so completely? I haven't done a damn thing to get back at the people who ruined me, and they dare to parade around their affair like this, humiliating me even further in front of everyone?
A white-hot rage unlike anything Emma had ever experienced blazed through her veins. Without a second thought, she whirled around and grabbed James Reynolds, the man she had just declared she'd rather die than marry. She crushed her lips against his in a heated, desperate kiss, pouring every ounce of her hurt, her anger, her overpowering need for vengeance into that scorching lip-lock.
It was a vicious punishment - both for Mark witnessing his ex-girlfriend desecrating her virtue with another man, and for James getting a taste of his own arrogant medicine after the dismissive way he'd treated her moments before.
At first, James went stiff with shock. But then his hands seized her waist, pulling Emma flush against his solid frame as he started devouring her mouth with bruising force. It was a filthy, punishing kiss, all teeth, and desperation, but the illicit thrill jolted through Emma like an electric shock.
When they finally broke apart, Emma turned to see Mark's face contorted with rage before he stormed off, Amanda hurrying behind. A vicious rush of satisfaction swelled in Emma at destroying his smug calm.
She turned her fiery gaze back to James, boldly meeting his smoldering whiskey eyes. "You're welcome," she breathed her voice a mixture of disdain and challenge, before striding away and leaving him stunned.
Ava Taylor was born into an extremely wealthy New York family, but endured a miserable childhood witnessing her parents' toxic, loveless marriage. Eventually going into business herself, she swore off romance after seeing how it destroyed her mother. Liam Parker had a vastly different upbringing, having to hustle on the streets of Brooklyn just to survive until a teacher helped him turn his life around and earn a scholarship to an elite university. When Ava and Liam first meet at a Manhattan bar, she's initially put off by his brash advances. But Liam's charisma and seeming depth intrigue Ava enough to let down her guard. However, unbeknownst to her, Liam is perpetrating an elaborate lie - he accepted a dare from friends to try making a wealthy woman like Ava fall for him, just to win a lavish vacation. Using coaching from a friend, Liam completely constructs a fake persona of a sophisticated, successful businessman to woo Ava with extravagant dates and an air of wealth. She becomes smitten, convincing herself to keep things casual to protect her heart. Just as guilt is threatening to make Liam confess, a bombshell emerges - Ava will only inherit her father's fortune if she marries before age 27 in six months. Desperate, she propositions Liam to enter a marriage of convenience, offering him $10 million from her inheritance. Despite knowing it's wrong, Liam's greed and faint hope of somehow earning Ava's love override his conscience. They hastily marry under false pretenses of his lies. But Ava's unhinged ex soon begins sabotaging their union, revealing Liam's deceptions as part of a larger, murderous scheme to inherit Ava's fortune himself. When the truth finally explodes, Ava is devastated by Liam's betrayal. However, Liam proves his feelings became real when he risks his life to protect Ava from her psychopathic ex's attack. In the traumatic aftermath, they're able to rebuild from honesty, cherishing the profound connection that improbably bloomed from deception.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
RATED 18+ (WARNING) - EXPLICIT SCENES. "Strip for me" the beastly alpha called, his voice echoed from his dark cell, causing a shiver to go down her body. She couldn't fight the way her body reacts to him. Her nipples harden from his touch. "I can smell your wetness omega" he mutters, his hands tracing under her skirt till he feels up her wet jeweled folds, causing a hiss from her lips as his fingers push in. He whispers to he ears, a voice filled the dangerous promise "you are mine" .******. Elise Aldermen is the daughter of the Silvernight Pack's chief alpha. She has waited her whole life for her marriage ceremony, hoping it would be the best day of her life. However, she gets the shock of a lifetime when her betrothed coldly rejects her and makes her a slave after finding out her true origins, even though they were already bound. Not Not only is she claimed to be a bastard on her mating day, but she is also disowned and rejected by her pack and mate. Elise's life turns into a nightmare as she is thrown into the dungeons as the cruel alpha's slave, only to be handed off to his greatest beastly champion, who dwells in the dark cells. Elise soon discovers that the beast she is now forced to be marked and bound to is more than a monster; this beastly alpha could also be her fated mate.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
I pressed my lips against his and stole his sweet, savory taste, not ready to end the sweet moment. I licked my lips seductively and whispered. "Despite your age, I love you." Sarah was obsessed with the man of her dreams, despite knowing that their love was forbidden and would be disapproved by her father and others. She held onto the many beautiful dreams she had of being with him, wishing for them to come true. She found herself in love with her father's best friend, a very handsome man who had been rejected by his wife. Her desire was to show him what true love really meant. When her father received a job transfer,Sarah saw it as a perfect opportunity to be with him. The situation improved even more when she realized they would be living under the same roof.