Linda's world shatters in a single day when her parents and younger brother die in a tragic accident. But grief turns to fury when she catches Damien, her dad's best friend and the man she's secretly obsessed with, wrapped in a kiss with her cousin on the night of the funeral. Determined to escape him, she flees to a new university, cutting all ties. But Damien isn't just a ghost from her past-he's bound to her by her father's will. Now, he's her professor in college, but Linda refuses to be his obligation. She'll ruin him before he ruins her. Only Damien isn't just a man-he's something else. And he was never meant to let her go.
I always knew my sister disliked me, but it wasn't until my eighteenth birthday that I realized just how deep her bitterness truly went.
Dad, our only living parent, lavished me with gifts. Across the room, my sister brooded in the shadows, sulking like a spoiled brat.
But nothing could spoil my happiness. Especially when Dad confirmed his friend and the man of my dreams, Damien, would be attending my birthday.
"Dad, you're spoiling Linda too much,"Erica whined, her face scrunched up like she'd just bitten into a rotten lemon. "You didn't celebrate my eighteenth like this. You weren't even in town!"
I tuned her out immediately, because I've heard this jealous statement countless times. I picked up the short, black gown I'd been saving for tonight-the one that hugged every curve like a second skin and left just enough to the imagination. I glanced at my reflection, admiring the way it revealed the entire length of my back.
My phone buzzed. It was Damien's daughter, my best friend, confirming they were almost here.
Perfect.
My birthday was a cruel reminder of my mother's death as she'd died giving birth to me, and the anniversary always made this day hard. But for the first time, I was happy because Damien would be here.
Damien was many things to me: my dad's closest friend, my best friend's ridiculously attractive father, and my crush of the past two years.
From the day he and his daughter moved to town, he'd been the center of my attention-and pretty much everyone else's too. It was like he walked in with a spotlight attached, turning heads left and right.
Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, with that mysterious vibe. Every girl with a pulse practically drooled over him. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to notice me. No stolen glances, no casual smiles in my direction-nothing.
I was just another face in a crowd, and that stung more than I'd care to admit. The competition was fierce, and I was stuck on the sidelines. A classic case of one-sided love, and let me tell you, it sucked.
I'd picture him looking at me, actually seeing me, not just as his friend's daughter but as a woman who loved him. In my mind, he'd flash that roguish smile, call me by name in that deep voice, maybe even brush my hair behind my ear like they do in the movies. But nope-real life wasn't that generous.
No one knew about my feelings for Damien except my sister Erica, who had stubbornly read my journal. She threatened to report to Dad and I had to tone my obsession for Damien down.
"He's twenty years older than you, stupid. How are you not seeing that?"
Erica had no idea what it was like to be in love with someone you couldn't control your feelings for.
"All I want is for him to notice me as a woman, not a little girl."
"Are you out of your mind?" Erica bristled. "You're going to embarrass yourself, and when it blows up in your face, I'll be right there to tell you 'I told you so.' Mimi is your best friend. Do you honestly think she'll be okay with you dating her dad? If the roles were reversed, would you want her hooking up with our dad?"
I ignored Erica. She'd been riding the "I'm the older, wiser sister" wave for so long. But I was eighteen now, technically a full adult. What was so wrong with telling Damien how I felt? It wasn't like I was breaking some law by having a crush-especially one as serious as this.
And if he didn't like me back and ended up rejecting me, I'd live.
Sure, it might sting, but I could move on.
The party was in full swing, with music blaring and people dancing. My dad, ever the eccentric, was dancing around with my classmates, his long, scraggly hair flopping around his face like an old rock star.
Despite the fun atmosphere, I couldn't relax. I scanned the room, searching for Damien. He hadn't arrived yet, and without him, the whole party felt pointless.
The night dragged on. I kept my eyes glued to the driveway, waiting for that familiar black Range Rover to pull in.
After what felt like forever, Damien arrived. His daughter rushed ahead of him, excitedly holding a bag of gifts. She was saying something, but I barely heard her. All I could see was Damien, stepping out of his car with that same calm, commanding presence that made my heart race.
His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing just enough of his muscular chest to make my head spin. He was like something out of a dream.
He caught my gaze and gave me a brief nod, his face as unreadable as ever.
"Happy birthday, Linda," he said, handing me a neatly wrapped gift. "I'm not great at picking out presents, but I hope this is something you'll like."
Our fingers brushed as I took the gift, and the contact sent a jolt through my body. I quickly opened it to find a beautifully illustrated encyclopedia about forests. I smiled, remembering how he used to humor me when I'd pester him with questions about his environmental research.
"Thank you," I whispered, trying not to let my voice shake. He gave me a small smile but quickly looked away when I adjusted my top.
Before I could say anything else, Mimi dragged me inside, completely oblivious to the moment I'd just shared with her dad.
"So, tonight's the night you finally get laid?" she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I mean, seriously, how are you still single with that hot body? Are the boys blind or what?"
I shrugged, glancing over at her dad as he made his way toward the art studio.
"I don't need a boy. I'm waiting for the right man," I said proudly, letting the words roll off my tongue like a mantra.
Because, seriously, who had time for the immature, clueless boys running around with no ambition beyond their next video game session? Boys were fine for passing time, but I wasn't here to play games.
No, I was holding out for someone like Damien, a man who walked into a room and made every head turn. Someone who knew who he was, who didn't need to prove anything.
Mimi wrinkled her nose. "You sound like you're straight out of one of those weird romance novels you're always reading."
I laughed it off, but my mind was elsewhere. All I could think about was finding Damien alone. My heart pounded with anticipation.
I slipped away when Mimi got distracted, searching the house for Damien. I found him in the studio, but my blood turned cold when I saw him. He wasn't alone.
Erica's hands were on his neck, and she was kissing his neck!
My heart dropped into my stomach.
"Erica!" I blurted out, my voice trembling with shock.
Both of them froze, turning to look at me. Erica's face went blank, but Damien's eyes were filled with guilt.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief.
"Linda," Erica said, stepping toward me. "It's not what you think-"
I didn't wait for her to finish. I bolted upstairs, tears blurring my vision. I slammed my bedroom door shut and collapsed onto the floor, my heart shattering into pieces.
With shaking hands, I logged onto the college admissions website and accepted my spot at Brookstones University, far away from everything and everyone I'd ever known.
I needed to get out of here. Away from Erica. Away from Damien. Away from the broken pieces of my heart.
Marissa always knew something was wrong with her. She suffered endless rejection despite looking like she stepped out of a magazine. But at the annual festival, fate finally plays its hand. She locks eyes with Justin, the ruthless heir to the Lycan throne. Her mate and salvation. Or so she thinks. Rejection would be too easy. Instead, he does something far worse-he ignores the bond entirely, treating her like nothing more than a plaything at his mercy. But Marissa isn't the type to kneel. If her mate wants to act like a heartless bastard, she'll give him a reason to suffer. She'll unravel him, break past his stone-cold defenses, and make him regret ever underestimating her. If he wants a game, then he better be ready to lose.
"You can't deny it. Every time I touch you, I see the desire in your eyes. He stole you from me, and I'm taking you back," Alex's voice rumbled low, fingers grazing my skin like he owned every inch of me.Alexis's life spirals into a dangerous game of love, power, and betrayal when she uncovers that her husband's estranged twin brother is not only her mate but holds even deeper secrets; everything she thought she knew crumbles.With this forbidden temptation threatening to rip apart the Campbell legacy and the son she fought to protect, Alexis must choose love or remain in a loveless marriage.
At twenty-one, Iris is a mateless virgin-a dangerous taboo in her world. Desperate to escape humiliation, she flees and enters a fierce competition for the hand of Adonis, the Lycan King who the loss of his first wife had shattered. But Iris doesn't know that her father is responsible for Adonis' tragedy and that behind the Adonis charm lurks a man consumed by a dark, smoldering fire-one that could either spark a burning passion or burn her to ashes. Will this contest be her salvation or her downfall? "What we share isn't love," his voice purred against my ear, "It's madness-an addiction that will ruin us both. In life or death, you're forever mine."
After a devastating valentine's breakup, Miracle never expected to find herself caught in a web of deceit and desire. A mysterious stranger approached her with an offer she couldn't refuse. Three million dollars to be a fake girlfriend to his wealthy client, with one catch: falling in love with him disqualifies her from the deal. Skeptical at first, Miracle agrees to the arrangement, but she quickly realizes that it's not as simple as she thought. Especially when her client turns out to be the infamous Leonel Hamilton, a billionaire with a reputation for breaking hearts without mercy. As Miracle navigates the complexities of their fake relationship, she finds herself torn between her desire for money and her growing feelings for Leonel. But when some truths are revealed, she must decide if the contract is worth the risk or if the lure of money is too strong to resist. Read on to discover the rollercoaster of romance and deceit.
"You are my curse, my obsession, my addiction. How can I love you when you are so filthy, so wrong?" Kira lives in a world where omegas are despised and shunned by everyone. An Alpha's bond with an omega is instant rejection or worse still, death But fate has a cruel twist for Kira. She discovers that her mate is none other than Alpha D'Angelo, the most feared and ruthless alpha in the land. She knows he will either reject her or kill her without mercy. What she doesn't know is that he has other plans. Plans that would either make her wish she were dead, or maybe, a spark in the alpha's heart that would either save or consume her.
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."
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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.