Bethany, a stunning woman burdened by financial woes, wrestled with her future prospects in the city after fleeing her manipulative former lover. At the same time, a bold and unyielding man began to pursue her with relentless passion. The word on the street was that the aloof Mr. Swanson had taken under his wing a woman of striking beauty, allegedly snatched from his best friend. He showered her with lavish gifts and was captivated by her every word. They said she was not merely a beautiful woman, but a unique treasure that demanded constant dedication and attention.
With a quiet sigh, Bethany Harper stared down at the shimmering city lights from the vast window, lost in thought.
Just then, her phone buzzed, the screen illuminating with her ex-boyfriend Julian Wells's message. "Don't be such a drama queen. Get back here."
Her face remained impassive, reflected in the window, as she quickly typed her response. "Fuck off!"
She had just hit send when she heard the bathroom door swing open.
Turning around, she saw a man emerge.
He was tall and clad only in a towel slung low around his hips.
His buzz cut and muscular chest were on full display, drips of water trailing down from his strong jaw, adding a rugged charm.
With a smirk and a quick glance her way, he remarked, "I don't mess with my friends' women."
Bethany stepped closer, a daring smile on her lips. "And yet, you still let me in," she countered.
Leland Swanson's gaze, calm and intense, slipped downward, catching on the alluring glimpse of her cleavage exposed by the neckline of her dress.
He remained silent, yet Bethany was convinced that at their core, men were fundamentally alike-few could resist the allure of a beautiful woman approaching them of her own volition.
Furthermore, Leland's reputation as a playboy was practically legendary.
With a bold move, Bethany pulled him close, laying her cards on the table. "You can't possibly tell me you were unaware Julian has been engaged for years while I played the fool to him all this while?"
Leland merely laughed softly, his silence an unspoken admission.
Bethany had devoted five years to Julian, only to be blindsided by the revelation that he had been engaged the whole time, thrusting her unexpectedly into the role of the other woman.
Though not Julian's closest confidant, Leland was privy to the inner workings and secrets of their group, and it was probable the others were too.
Yet there she was, Julian's girlfriend, the last to know her partner for who he truly was!
Driven by a surge of resolve, Bethany rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, her novice attempts at passion aimed to awaken his desire.
The effect took hold right away, his breath hitching and growing faster.
With a crackling burst of thunder, Bethany jolted, her fingers clutching Leland's arms in surprise.
As hefty raindrops battered the window, a sudden flash of lightning threw the room into stark relief, casting dramatic shadows over their intertwined silhouettes.
When morning's light crept in, the storm had already died down.
Once their moment of sex ended, Leland slipped away to the shower, showing no signs of wanting to linger.
For Bethany, he was nothing more than a momentary diversion. She knew well that such fleeting connections were typical among adults.
She quickly got dressed and slipped out of the room without a sound.
Just as she was about to step into the elevator, her phone buzzed with a video call.
It was her younger brother, Shawn Harper. She immediately fixed her hair to appear presentable and answered the call cheerfully. "Hey, Shawn!"
The scene on her screen was alarming. Shawn was pinned down by several burly men, his voice muffled by a gag, while one arm was brutally secured to a chair. A man with tattoos menacingly hovered a heavy club over Shawn's arm, barking, "Time's up, Bethany. Settle your debt, or the kid loses his arm."
Bethany's voice shattered with fear. "No, please! I'll get you the money-just don't hurt him!"
"Alright, you've got thirty minutes to deliver," the man countered, unyielding. "Play any games, and you'll be picking up his corpse instead."
The line went dead.
Bethany's complexion drained of color as dread overwhelmed her. A plan sparked in her mind. She dashed back towards the room, calling out, "Leland!"
Just as she reached the doorway, Leland emerged, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his demeanor cool and detached.
His eyes, sharp and frosty, slid over to her, concealing any trace of his thoughts.
Bethany found herself thinking back to the whispers she'd heard about him. He was the lone heir to the vast Swanson empire, notorious for his rebellious streak and egocentric ways.
A man like that could afford to keep the rest of the world out of reach.
She drew a breath and ventured, "Could you possibly spare me some cash?"
"I hardly think we're close enough for such requests, unless you intend to..."
Leland's words were cut off by Bethany's urgent interruption. "Two hundred thousand, and we forget last night ever occurred," she declared, her voice tinged with desperation.
To Bethany, in the shadow of Shawn's ordeal, pride and dignity held no weight.
Leland remained silent, watching as the color drained from her face.
She wanted to laugh it off as a joke, but her tongue was frozen, words failing her.
Then, breaking the silence, Leland's chuckle was low and disbelieving. "I didn't realize you'd be such an expensive prostitute."
His laughter and words steeped her in a depth of humiliation she had never known.
In that instant, her pride and dignity crumbled to pieces.
Yet, the need for money was dire, and the man before her had deep pockets.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
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."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!