He drew closer to Rogers, the tip of his gun pressing against the older man's temple. "How dare you think of assassinating my wife?" He asked, in anger. "And it pains me that I didn't succeed in doing so." Rogers gritted his teeth as another punch landed on his face. "This is my wife, we're talking about here. Bastard!" Jaxon yelled at him. ******** Ruby finds herself agreeing to be the contracted wife of a man she knew nothing about just to save the life of her sister. He never wanted anything to do with Ruby, she was just a substitute. Her identity becomes known and Ruby is forced to live with him. What happens when everyone finds out the wife of Jaxon? How will Ruby react when she realizes that she married the hottest bachelor in the city and that her life is now on a threat? Will they ever be able to fall in love and overcome all obstacles and will Jaxon be able to protect her? What happens when she finds out about a very big shocking secret of his, one that no one knows about? Find out in Hidden Wife of the Cold CEO
"Get ready to pick up your sister's corpse the next time you come to the hospital!"
The voice from the other end of the line barked at Ruby, causing a cold shiver to run down her back.
"Wha-what?" Ruby muttered. "What do you mean by corpse?"
""I'm afraid your sister's treatment has been put on hold due to unpaid bills, Miss Ruby." The nurse replied with a much sharper tone now.
Ruby sighed, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please, I'm begging. Don't take her off treatment, you know she needs it, Ma'am"
"If you think I'd keep giving her drugs and injections when you are yet to pay the money you owe the hospital, and risk losing my job, then you need to have a rethink, Miss Ruby!"
"I'll try to pay up, just don't abandon her in that state, please"
"My hands are tied. You need to pay before anything else can be done. Do you want to see her dead?"
"No!" Ruby cried out.
"Then, pay your debt so we can resume treatment on her!"
With that, the call ended..
Tears streamed freely out of Ruby's eyes, messing up the light make-up she had on in preparation for work.
Her mind raced with numbers and deadlines, but thinking about everything only made her feel more helpless. After almost three weeks of not paying the hospital bills for her sister, she was sure that she had incurred a large amount of debt.
How could she possibly come up with the money?
Her sister's life hung in the balance, and Ruby felt like she was watching her life flash by with speed. She went back to the mirror in her small, cramped apartment and redid her makeup again. This time, she paid no much attention to it as thoughts about her sister filled her mind.
With shaky hands, she slipped into her work outfit and hurried to the restaurant where she worked. The cool morning air did little to calm her anxiety. As soon as she arrived at the restaurant, she forced a smile on her face and shuffled to the back of the serving counter.
The words of the rude nurse in charge of her sister, echoed in her head, "Pay up your debt or lose your sister"
For the first time, the reality of losing her sister hit her. The nurse had sounded determined to carry on with her threat. And, if that happened, it meant only one thing: her sister's condition might get worse.
Ruby caught herself before her imagination got worse and she shook her head.
"I'll make sure I save you, Kimberley" She swore under her breath.
The question remained; how did she plan on pulling that off?
She had barely 24 hours left to make sure she raised enough money to offset the debt she was in, so that her sister's treatment could continue.
How was she going to do that? She wondered again, her frustration mounting.
Ruby blinked back tears as she approached a couple that sat at a table. She quietly placed their orders on the table before she turned away on her heels to go over to another table and get their order.
"My sister" She muttered, worry clawing through her, "I have to find a way!"
She went behind the counter to pick up the fresh orders. An hour later, Ruby was sent by the restaurant manager on an errand. She took off her work apron, hung it on the rack and headed for the exit of the restaurant.
She was too caught up with her thoughts to notice that a tall, imposing figure was making his way into the restaurant.
It was in that moment that she misstepped and crashed into him. The bump was so sudden that she tripped and fell with an embarrassing thud to the floor.
The already seated customers in the restaurant craned their necks and watched her in amusement.
Her face flushed she tried to pick up herself.
The man whom she had bumped into, let out a long hiss, glaring at her.
"You have a pair of eyes! Why don't you make use of them?" He barked.
She shuddered, raising up her chin to glance at him. His blue eyes were narrowed down on her.
"I am so-sorry" She stammered. Tears welled up in her eyes again.
"Keep that to yourself!" He snapped, "You are too lucky that you didn't stain my suit with your body" He scrunched up his nose and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe off his blue suit.
Ruby picked up herself from the floor, fully aware of the eyes that were on her.
She adjusted her shirt, "Sorry, Sir. I just didn't see you coming." She said, but she didn't know whether he had heard her because he abruptly turned to walk away from her without any response.
She watched him, stunned.
Today wasn't a great day for her, she reasoned.
She quickly rushed out of the restaurant in a bid to avoid any other. When Ruby returned to the restaurant, she was distracted by a loud masculine voice from one corner of the restaurant.
She stopped in her tracks.
"You have to be kidding me!" The voice boomed, "You have to find her for me!"
Ruby quickly met with the restaurant manager, delivered the message she had for him before edging close to the booth where the loud voice had come from earlier.
"The wedding must go on. I need a bride. Find that damn woman for me!" The angry customer yelled again, this time, louder.
She could only see the customer's blonde hair from where she stood. She shoved her hands into her apron's pockets and walked towards the direction of the yelling voice.
As she got closer, she realized that the customer was on a heated phone conversation, his voice rising in anger. "I don't care what it takes, just get her here... the wedding can't be delayed..."
Ruby couldn't control her curiosity as she wondered what kind of man would yell about a wedding like it was a business deal gone wrong. She rounded the corner and stood by the customer's table just as he was saying, "Damon, If you don't find me that woman before noon, I'll make sure death will feel better than what I shall do to you."
Ruby's eyes almost popped as she recognized the man who was yelling on his phone, distracting other customers. It was the same handsome stranger she had bumped into earlier.
He shot her a cold glare and slammed his phone on the table before him. It startled her, causing her to stagger backwards, and just before she slipped, her hands flayed and grabbed a nearby seat for support.
"I see that you have a love story with the floor. You are always falling for it." He snarled, eying her.
She cleared her throat noisily, as she looker at him squarely.
"Excuse me, Sir," she said with a voice that was almost inaudible, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I have a proposal for you."
The customer raised an eyebrow, "What kind of proposal?"
Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "I'll marry you," she said.The words tumbled out before she could reconsider. "You will have to pay me, Sir. I need the money to pay my sister's hospital bills and I'll do anything to save her."
The customer's expression changed from anger to surprise, and for a moment, Ruby could swear that a small smile formed on his lips, "Marry me?" he repeated, "You're either very brave or very desperate, Miss...?"
"Ruby," she replied, "Ruby Walcott"
Jaxon leaned back in his chair, watching her closely, "Tell me, Ruby, what makes you think I'm the kind of man who would marry a stranger for convenience?"
Her breath hitched.
Damn it! She cursed under her breath. She had only thought about how to milk his desperation for a wife, without thinking whether he would agree.
She obviously wasn't in his league.
She looked away as a flush crept up her cheeks, "It is okay if you find my proposal too offensive. I apologize." She muttered and wanted to leave.
Her legs felt too heavy to carry her as she tried to get away from the rude customer.
"I am down for it, Ruby" A familiar male voice said behind her, "I'll give you what you want. You only need to sign the documents!"
# Book 2 of the Dark Desires Series His eyes wander on my body and his eyes narrow when he notices the cane marks on my body. "Who the fuck did this to you?" He demands, his tone dangerous as my heart begins to this loudly. "I... I..." "Tell me, Milochka. Who's the bastard that dared to lay his hands on you?" I gulp nervously. It's my husband. ..... Viktor Ivanov is guilty of sleeping with his daughter's nanny, and Milana is trapped in a living nightmare as she is forced to spy on Viktor, a powerful member of the Bratva, by her abusive husband. But the more she learns about Viktor, the more she's drawn to his darkness and the way he loves his daughter. As she navigates the treacherous world of the Russian mafia, she must confront the secrets of her past and the lies that bind her to her husband. Can she find a way to escape, or will she become the Bratva's next victim?
The night of the full moon was a night that Naya dreaded a lot, the same night she lost her pack and got rejected by her mate, the same night she lost her voice. Naya and Zara, while trying to escape the hands of death, fall off a cliff. They find themselves in the hands of strange creatures, ones who possess magic, creatures who possess strength, more than one can ever imagine, creatures completely different from them werewolves. Naya and Zara lose their abilities and become no different from humans. Naya falls prey to the vampire lord Rhys and he wants her to be his submissive. What happens when the Vampire Lord Rhys wants the mute slave girl for himself?. Can Naya avoid getting caught up in the storm that follows?
I got pregnant for a man I didn't know. And on the first day I entered the new company, I saw him. My baby's Father. He's my boss!!! Continue reading to find out what happened in the book. PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT WITH THE LYCAN KING. ****** WARNING MATURED CONTENT R16Layla had everything she ever wanted in life not until the day she began to live with her stepmother after her mother passed on.Layla was maltreated by her stepmother, but her stepsister scarlet always stood by her until the day she found out that scarlet had been having sex with her boyfriend.Layla is broken and finds herself in a bar where she has a one night stand with a complete stranger. Layla discovers that she was pregnant for a stranger and to protect her baby she runs away from home to another city.Layla's friend takes her in and helps her find a job.What happens when Layla discovers that her boss is no other than the man who she had a one night stand with and is supposedly pregnant for? How would she be able to cope with the people trying to tear her apart?
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
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."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"