Trapped in a fake engagement, Emily Wilson must navigate the treacherous world of billionaire Ryder Blackwood's making. But as his secrets surface, can she escape the possessive grip of a man who refuses to love?"
Trapped in a fake engagement, Emily Wilson must navigate the treacherous world of billionaire Ryder Blackwood's making. But as his secrets surface, can she escape the possessive grip of a man who refuses to love?"
I adjusted my clipboard, surveying the lavish ballroom. My event planning company had transformed the space into a fairy tale, complete with crystal chandeliers and a live string quartet. The evening's charity gala would be the talk of the town.
Just as I confirmed the catering details, a deep voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Emily Wilson?"
I turned to face the speaker, my eyes widening. Ryder Blackwood, billionaire entrepreneur and notorious bachelor, and my boss. Actually, my company's client was hosting the gala, as he was the one who invited us. He stood before me. His chiseled features and piercing blue eyes made my pulse quicken.
"Mr. Blackwood," I replied, extending my hand. He shook it firmly. "Please, call me Ryder. May I have a word?"I followed him to a secluded corner, curiosity piqued. What could Ryder Blackwood want with me?
"I've been impressed with your work, Emily," Ryder began. "Your attention to detail is unmatched."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, trying to sound professional despite the flutter in my chest.
"I have a proposal for you." His gaze locked onto mine, intense. "I need a fake fiancée for the next few months. Are you interested?"
My eyes widened. A fake fiancée? Was he kidding? Ryder's expression remained serious. "I'm finalizing a major business deal, and my investors require... stability. A fiancée would convey that.
I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons. My sister's medical bills loomed, and this opportunity could solve our financial struggles. But what would it cost me?
"What?" I asked, surprised. Mr Blackwood merely acknowledged my astonishment and continued
"You'll accompany me to events, pose for photos, and maintain the illusion," Ryder outlined. "In return, I'll pay off your sister's medical debts and provide a substantial stipend."
My heart skipped a beat. How the hell did he know about my sister? The offer was tempting, but something in Ryder's eyes made me wary.
I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" I asked, stunned. "You want me to pretend to be your fiancée?" Ryder nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Yes. It's a simple arrangement. You'll accompany me to events, pose for photos, and maintain the illusion."
I shook my head, trying to process. "And why would I do that?" Ryder's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'll pay off your sister's medical debts and provide a substantial stipend." My mind raced. The offer was enticing, but the absurdity of the proposal made me hesitant.
"I don't understand," I said, trying to clarify. "Why do you need a fake fiancée? Can't you just find someone... genuine?" Ryder's jaw clenched. "This is business, Emily. I don't have time for genuine relationships." His words sent a shiver down my spine. This was a man who saw people as assets, not individuals. "I'm not sure," I hedged, unsure if I wanted to get entangled in Ryder's world. Ryder's eyes flashed with impatience. "Don't play coy, Emily. You need the money, and I need the image. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."His blunt words stung. Did he think I was that desperate?
"What's the catch?" I asked, searching for hidden strings.
Ryder's expression turned cold. "You'll adhere to my rules. No engaging with other men, no revealing our arrangement, and absolute discretion."
"I need time to think," I said, stalling.
Ryder's gaze intensified. "You have 24 hours. After that, the offer expires." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me reeling.
What had just happened? Was I considering selling myself to a billionaire for the sake of my sister's medical bills? As I watched Ryder disappear into the crowd, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
As the event came to an end, I could still feel the gaze of Ryder on my back, watching my every turn. The question that kept ringing in my ear was, Why me? Mr Blackwood has been a long-time client of her company, as they have handled all his events, and they've crossed paths a few times, but I never thought he knew my name, let alone my personal life!
Feeling vulnerable, I gathered my things, my mind in a whirlwind of questions I was unable to answer. Saying my goodbyes to my colleagues, I got into my car and drove out.
The next morning, I arrived at my office, still lost in thought. My best friend, Rachel, greeted me with a concerned expression. "Emily, how was the gala?" she asked. I filled her in on Ryder's proposal, leaving out no details. Rachel's eyes widened. "Emily, this is huge! But are you sure you're ready for this?"
Biting my lips, I shook my head. "I don't know. I need time to think."
Just then, my phone buzzed. Mr. Blackwood's name flashed on the screen. "Emily," he said, his voice low and commanding. "I expect your answer soon.
"Emily, this is insane!" Rachel exclaimed. "You can't seriously consider pretending to be his fiancée."
"I know, but Sarah's medical bills..." I trailed off. Rachel's expression softened. "I get it. But think about the emotional toll. You'll be tied to this guy for months, pretending to be in love." Her words resonated. I valued my independence and honesty.
"Let's keep this between me and you for now. " I said, Rachel nodding, looking very unpleased.
That evening, I drove to the hospital. Tears streamed down my face, as I struggled to steady my breath. "You've got this," I whispered to myself, watching as the nurses went in and out of the hospital. I picked up my phone and got down of the car, and headed inside.
I got to her room, standing by the door, I watched as she struggled to breathe, even with the oxygen attached to her face. A tear escapes my eye. I whipped it off immediately, and she spotted me and smiled weakly. I walked up to her and sat beside her hospital bed, holding her frail hand.
"Hey, sis," I said, trying to sound cheerful. "I have something to tell you."
Sarah's eyes sparkled with curiosity." What is it, Emily?"
I hesitated, unsure how to share Ryder's proposal. "There's this... opportunity," I began. "A way to pay off your medical bills, but it's complicated." Sarah's grip on my hand tightened. "Tell me," she urged.
"I can't, I'm sorry," I said, begging her with my eyes. "But I promise, you'll get your surgery done and I'll get you out of here."
"What are you going to do, Emily?" she asked, worry etched on her features. I shrugged. "It's nothing for you to worry about." I smiled weakly. Sarah's eyes locked onto mine.
"Emily, I don't want you to sacrifice your happiness for me," she said, her voice trembling. "But... I don't know how much longer I can keep fighting."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. Sarah's words broke my heart. "We'll figure it out together," I promised, hugging her tight. As I held Sarah close, I realized I needed to make a decision.
The sterile white of the operating room blurred, then sharpened, as Skye Sterling felt the cold clawing its way up her body. The heart monitor flatlined, a steady, high-pitched whine announcing her end. Her uterus had been removed, a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, but the blood wouldn't clot. It just kept flowing, warm and sticky, pooling beneath her. Through heavy eyes, she saw a trembling nurse holding a phone on speaker. "Mr. Kensington," the nurse's voice cracked, "your wife... she's critical." A pause, then a sweet, poisonous giggle. Seraphina Miller. "Liam is in the shower," Seraphina's voice purred. "Stop calling, Skye. It's pathetic. Faking a medical emergency on our anniversary? Even for you, that's low." Then, Liam's bored voice: "If she dies, call the funeral home. I have a meeting in the morning." Click. The line went dead. A second later, so did Skye. The darkness that followed was absolute, suffocating, a black ocean crushing her lungs. She screamed into the void, a silent, agonizing wail of regret for loving a man who saw her as a nuisance, for dying without ever truly living. Until she died, she didn't understand. Why was her life so tragically wasted? Why did her husband, the man she loved, abandon her so cruelly? The injustice of it all burned hotter than the fever in her body. Then, the air rushed back in. Skye gasped, her body convulsing violently on the mattress. Her eyes flew open, wide and terrified, staring blindly into the darkness. Her trembling hand reached for her phone. May 12th. Five years ago. She was back.
Her ex-husband declared, "The person I admired most was that legendary racer." She smiled thinly. "Hate to break it to you-that was me." He said, "Jealous I blew a fortune on a world-famous jeweler for Violet?" She let out a cool laugh. "Funny, that designer trained under me." He scoffed, "Buying a dying firm won't put you in my league. Snap out of it." She shrugged. "Weird-I just steered your company off a cliff." Stunned, he blurted out, "Baby, come back. I'll love you forever." She wrinkled her nose. "Hard pass. Keep your cheap love." Then she took a mogul's arm and never looked back.
Omega Lyra, once betrothed to Alpha Kyle, is forced to sew his new Luna's wedding dress. On the wedding eve, an out-of-control Kyle violates her; the chaos that follows kills the bride, and Lyra is falsely branded a murderer. Kyle binds Lyra as his nominal Luna to torment her-for three years, she endures mockery and isolation, finding solace only in late-night piano playing. His coldness and closeness to the late Luna's sister Rhea shatter her hope. Humiliated at Kyle's birthday banquet, Lyra demands to end their bond. Fleeing, she awakens hidden Alpha powers but is attacked by rogues-Beta Darren, who secretly cares for her, saves her. Now, Lyra must evade Kyle's family, find her lost sister, and fight for a place in the wolf world, turning her painful escape into a journey of redemption.
For three years, Natalie gave everything to be the perfect wife and mother, believing her love and effort could finally earn her a place in their hearts. Yet her sacrifices were met with betrayal from her husband and cold rejection from her son. In their eyes, she was nothing but a manipulator, using vulnerability to get her way. Her husband turned his back, her son misunderstood her, and she never truly belonged. Heartbroken yet determined, Natalie left her old life behind. When her family finally begged for a second chance, she looked at them and said, "It's too late."
Kathryn was the true daughter, but Jolene stole her life and set her up for ruin. After a brutal kidnapping scheme, Kathryn's loyalty to her brothers and fiancé was met with cruel betrayal. Narrowly escaping, she chose to cut all ties and never forgive them. Then she shocked the world: the miracle doctor for the elite, a top-tier hacker, a financial mastermind, and now the untouchable star her family could only watch from afar. Her brothers begged, her parents pleaded, her ex wanted her back-Kathryn exposed them all. The world gasped as the richest man confessed his love for her.
I died on a Tuesday. It wasn't a quick death. It was slow, cold, and meticulously planned by the man who called himself my father. I was twenty years old. He needed my kidney to save my sister. The spare part for the golden child. I remember the blinding lights of the operating theater, the sterile smell of betrayal, and the phantom pain of a surgeon's scalpel carving into my flesh while my screams echoed unheard. I remember looking through the observation glass and seeing him-my father, Giovanni Vitiello, the Don of the Chicago Outfit-watching me die with the same detached expression he used when signing a death warrant. He chose her. He always chose her. And then, I woke up. Not in heaven. Not in hell. But in my own bed, a year before my scheduled execution. My body was whole, unscarred. The timeline had reset, a glitch in the cruel matrix of my existence, giving me a second chance I never asked for. This time, when my father handed me a one-way ticket to London-an exile disguised as a severance package-I didn't cry. I didn't beg. My heart, once a bleeding wound, was now a block of ice. He didn't know he was talking to a ghost. He didn't know I had already lived through his ultimate betrayal. He also didn't know that six months ago, during the city's brutal territory wars, I was the one who saved his most valuable asset. In a secret safe house, I stitched up the wounds of a blinded soldier, a man whose life hung by a thread. He never saw my face. He only knew my voice, the scent of vanilla, and the steady touch of my hands. He called me Sette. Seven. For the seven stitches I put in his shoulder. That man was Dante Moretti. The Ruthless Capo. The man my sister, Isabella, is now set to marry. She stole my story. She claimed my actions, my voice, my scent. And Dante, the man who could spot a lie from a mile away, believed the beautiful deception because he wanted it to be true. He wanted the golden girl to be his savior, not the invisible sister who was only ever good for her spare parts. So I took the ticket. In my past life, I fought them, and they silenced me on an operating table. This time, I will let them have their perfect, gilded lie. I will go to London. I will disappear. I will let Seraphina Vitiello die on that plane. But I will not be a victim. This time, I will not be the lamb led to slaughter. This time, from the shadows of my exile, I will be the one holding the match. And I will wait, with the patience of the dead, to watch their entire world burn. Because a ghost has nothing to lose, and a queen of ashes has an empire to gain.
© 2018-now CHANGDU (HK) TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
6/F MANULIFE PLACE 348 KWUN TONG ROAD KL
TOP
GOOGLE PLAY