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"Marry me, or watch your best friend rot in jail." Lila never imagined her culinary skills would lead her into the arms of a mafia heir. But after winning the prestigious "Gifted Hands" contest, she's thrust into a nightmarish marriage with Axel Blackwood, a man determined to soften his brutal image. Coerced by her father's debt and her best friend's imprisonment, Lila agrees to the union. As public fascination grows with their high-profile wedding, secrets unravel, and Lila's unexpected pregnancy fuels suspicion and betrayal. In a world where trust is a luxury, can Lila and Axel find a way to navigate their dark reality, or will it destroy them both?
"Will they be supportive of me coming in and taking on a leadership role?"
Axel leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The culinary world is competitive, Lila. There will always be those who feel threatened by new talent. But I believe in your abilities, and I think you have what it takes to earn their respect."
Lila nodded slowly. "I understand. I just want to make sure I'm walking into a supportive environment."
Axel's smile returned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You'll have my full support, Lila. And I'm confident you'll win over the team."
As Lila left the Roberts Group headquarters, she felt a mixture of excitement and unease. Axel's offer was tempting, but there were too many unanswered questions. She decided to take Danielle's advice and trust her instincts. She needed more time to think.
That evening, Lila met with Danielle at their favorite café. Over cups of coffee, she recounted her meeting with Axel and her lingering doubts.
"It sounds like a fantastic opportunity, Lila," Danielle said thoughtfully. "But I get why you're hesitant. Maybe you should talk to someone who has worked there before."
"That's a great idea," Lila agreed. "Do you know anyone?"
"I might," Danielle said, pulling out her phone. "Let me make a few calls."
While Danielle made her calls, Lila sipped her coffee and tried to calm her racing thoughts. The idea of working at the Roberts Group was exhilarating, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
After a few minutes, Danielle hung up the phone and smiled. "I got you a meeting with a former chef from the Roberts Group. Her name is Emily, and she said she'd be happy to talk to you."
"Thank you, Dani," Lila said, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend's support. "You're the best."
The next day, Lila met Emily at a small bistro downtown. Emily was warm and approachable, and Lila immediately felt at ease with her.
"I worked at the Roberts Group for three years," Emily said as they sat down. "It was a great experience in many ways, but it wasn't without its challenges."
"What kind of challenges?" Lila asked, leaning forward.
"The competition is fierce," Emily explained. "There's a lot of pressure to perform, and not everyone is welcoming to new talent. But if you can handle the pressure, it's a great place to grow and learn."
Lila nodded, taking in Emily's words. "Did you ever feel like there was something... off about the place?"
Emily hesitated, then nodded slowly. "There were times when things felt a bit... secretive. Axel is a brilliant chef, but he's also very controlling. He likes things done his way, and he doesn't always share his plans with the team."
Lila's unease grew. "Do you think it's worth it?"
Emily smiled softly. "Only you can decide that, Lila. If you think you can handle the pressure and the competition, it could be a great opportunity. But trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, don't ignore it."
After their meeting, Lila felt more conflicted than ever. She appreciated Emily's honesty, but it didn't make her decision any easier. She decided to take a few days to think it over and weigh her options.
That night, as she lay in bed, Lila thought about her mom and the dream they'd shared. She wanted to make her proud and achieve something great. But she also wanted to stay true to herself and her values.
The next morning, Lila woke up with a sense of clarity. She knew what she had to do. She called Axel and arranged another meeting, this time to give him her final decision.
When she arrived at his office, Axel greeted her with a smile. "Have you made a decision, Lila?"
"I have," she said, taking a deep breath. "I appreciate the offer, Axel, but I need to decline."
Axel's smile faltered. "May I ask why?"
"I have some concerns about the environment at the Roberts Group," Lila said carefully. "I need to be in a place where I feel supported and valued, and I'm not sure that's the case here."
Axel's expression hardened, but he nodded. "I understand. I'm disappointed, but I respect your decision."
As Lila left the Roberts Group headquarters, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She knew she'd made the right choice. She might not have the prestigious position, but she had her integrity, and that was worth more to her.
Over the next few weeks, Lila focused on her own projects. She worked on new recipes, collaborated with local chefs, and even started planning a pop-up restaurant. Her success in the Gifted Hands contest had opened many doors, and she was determined to make the most of them.
Throughout it all, Danielle was by her side, offering support and encouragement. Their friendship grew stronger, and Lila knew she could always count on Danielle.
One evening, as they were working on a new menu together, Lila received a call from an unknown number. She answered hesitantly, but the voice on the other end was friendly and familiar.
"Hello, Lila. This is Chef Green from the Gifted Hands contest. How are you?"
"Chef Green, it's great to hear from you," Lila said, smiling. "I'm doing well, thank you."
"I have a proposition for you, Lila," Chef Green said. "How would you like to join our team as a guest chef for our next season?"
Lila's heart skipped a beat. "That sounds amazing, Chef Green. I'd love to."
"Excellent," Chef Green said warmly. "I'll send you the details, and we can discuss everything further."
As Lila hung up the phone, she turned to Danielle with a beaming smile. "I'm going to be a guest chef on the Gifted Hands contest!"
Danielle squealed with excitement and hugged Lila tightly. "That's incredible, Lila! You deserve this."
Lila felt a surge of happiness and excitement. She had found a way to pursue her dreams without compromising her values. And with her best friend by her side, she knew she could achieve anything.
As she looked ahead to the future, Lila felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was ready to take on whatever challenges came her way, knowing that she had the support and strength to overcome them. And with each new opportunity, she would continue to honor her mom's memory and the dream they had shared.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
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."
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."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?