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Lily Tang once believed that love could conquer anything-even a cold, indifferent husband. Bound by a contract marriage to Daniel Zhang, the powerful CEO who barely acknowledged her existence, Lily spent three silent years devoted to a man who never looked her way. But when his first love returned, Daniel didn't hesitate. He brought her into their home and left Lily with nothing but a divorce contract and a shattered heart. Determined to start fresh, Lily walked away, hiding the one secret she carried: she was pregnant with his child. Now, five years later, Lily is back in Shanghai, no longer the timid wife but a successful CEO with a confidence that turns heads and a little boy who looks just like his father. When their paths collide at a high-stakes business event, Daniel is struck by her transformation-and the child by her side. Haunted by the past, Daniel is desperate to win back the woman he lost. But Lily is no longer willing to be his second choice. This time, she's fighting for herself, and she's not letting her heart be broken twice. In a world where power and passion clash, will Daniel prove himself worthy of a second chance, or will he lose her forever to the life she built without him?
Rain drizzled softly against the expansive windows of Lily Tang's penthouse suite, casting a silvery glow across the dark cityscape of Shanghai. She stood there, hands resting lightly on the cool glass, staring out at the blurred neon lights of the city below. But her mind wasn't on the busy streets, nor on the empire she was now helping run. Instead, it drifted back, back to the moment that had changed her life forever.
Three years ago.
The day she married Daniel Zhang.
It had been the wedding of the year-a blend of elegance and opulence befitting two of the wealthiest families in the city. She could still see the grand chandeliers, hear the soft murmur of guests congratulating her, and feel the weight of Daniel's indifferent gaze as they exchanged vows. He had worn a mask of polite charm for the guests, but she had seen the coldness in his eyes, felt the chill of his detachment. For him, their marriage was simply a business deal, nothing more.
Yet for Lily, it had been so much more. She'd harbored a quiet love for him since childhood, a love she thought could withstand anything-even his indifference. She had walked down that aisle with hope in her heart, a hope that had withered with every dismissive look, every silent dinner, every reminder that his heart was somewhere else.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her reverie. Lily turned, smoothing the crease of her blouse, regaining her composure. She didn't have time for memories tonight.
"Come in," she called out.
Her assistant, Mei, slipped into the room, her steps quick and precise. "Miss Tang, Mr. Zhang has arrived."
Lily's heart gave a reluctant lurch. She hadn't seen him in almost a year-not since she had signed the divorce papers, leaving behind the life she had fought so hard to hold onto. Yet, here he was, back in her world, summoned by the unbreakable ties of business. Tonight, their families would meet to discuss a new venture, one that could determine the future of both companies.
"Thank you, Mei," Lily said, keeping her voice steady. "I'll be right there."
Mei hesitated. "Are you all right, Miss Tang?"
Lily offered a small smile. "I'm fine."
But as she walked down the hall to the private dining room, she knew that nothing about this night would be easy.
The room was warm and filled with the aroma of gourmet food, a stark contrast to the chill settling in her bones as she entered. Her family's executives were seated on one side, while Daniel's entourage took the other. At the head of the table, Daniel sat, looking as impeccable as ever in a tailored black suit, his dark eyes scanning the room with a practiced detachment that sent a shiver through her.
He looked up as she entered, and for a brief second, their eyes met. She felt a flicker of something in his gaze, something that might have been surprise or even admiration, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Lily," he said, inclining his head slightly in a formal greeting.
"Daniel." She nodded, matching his impersonal tone.
She took her seat across from him, folding her hands in her lap, willing herself to stay calm. She was here for business, nothing more. The past was a closed chapter, a wound that had healed-mostly.
As the meeting progressed, discussions of stocks and revenue projections floated around her, but her focus was on Daniel. He spoke with his usual confidence, his voice smooth and unyielding as he outlined his plans for the merger. She watched him, noting the way he commanded the room, the way others hung on his every word. This was the Daniel she had fallen for-the powerful, ambitious man who knew what he wanted and how to get it.
But he had never wanted her.
"Lily, what do you think?"
Her father's voice jolted her from her thoughts. She blinked, realizing that everyone was looking at her, waiting for her input.
She cleared her throat, gathering her thoughts. "I think it's a solid plan," she said smoothly. "However, I'd recommend a gradual integration. Rushing could destabilize both companies."
Daniel's gaze flickered with interest. "An interesting perspective," he said, his tone cool but respectful. "And why do you think that?"
She met his eyes, refusing to let him see the unease simmering beneath her calm exterior. "Because merging two giants isn't just about numbers. It's about people. And people need time to adjust."
A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Wise words, as always."
The meeting continued, but now, there was a subtle tension between them, an unspoken awareness of their shared past that seemed to hang in the air. Lily felt the weight of it, a silent reminder of the years they had spent as strangers in each other's lives.
When the meeting finally ended, the executives filed out, leaving her and Daniel alone. She stood, gathering her things, hoping to slip away before he could approach her.
But he was faster.
"Lily," he said, his voice low and unexpectedly gentle. "Can we talk?"
She hesitated, her heart beating a little faster. "There's nothing to talk about, Daniel."
"Please." His tone softened, a hint of vulnerability seeping through. "Just a few minutes."
She clenched her jaw, weighing her options. Part of her wanted to walk away, to leave him standing there with the words unsaid. But another part, the part that still held onto a faint trace of the girl who had loved him, needed closure.
"All right," she said finally.
They walked out onto the terrace, the night air cool and tinged with the scent of rain. He stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the city below.
"You've changed," he murmured, almost to himself.
She glanced at him, surprised. "Have I?"
He nodded. "You're... different. Stronger."
She swallowed, fighting back a wave of emotions she didn't want to feel. "I had to be," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
A silence stretched between them, heavy and charged.
"Lily..." His voice was rough, as though he were struggling to find the right words. "I know I hurt you."
She looked away, her eyes stinging. "That's an understatement."
He reached out, hesitating before placing a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry."
She laughed softly, a hollow sound. "Sorry? After everything, that's all you have to say?"
He flinched, but his gaze remained steady. "I made mistakes. I see that now."
She pulled her arm free, stepping back. "Mistakes? You think bringing another woman into our home was a mistake? You think handing me divorce papers while I was carrying your child was a mistake?"
He froze, his face paling. "You... were pregnant?"
The words hung in the air, a truth she had kept buried for years.
"Yes," she said, her voice trembling. "I was. And I lost him because of the stress, because I was alone, because I meant nothing to you."
He stared at her, shock and regret etched across his face. "Lily, I... I didn't know."
"You didn't care," she snapped, the pain of that memory sharp and fresh. "You were too busy with Vivian, too busy with your perfect life to notice that your wife was breaking."
He reached for her, but she stepped back, shaking her head. "Don't."
"Lily, please," he whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I was blind. I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't realize..."
She laughed bitterly. "Didn't realize what, Daniel? That your wife might actually have feelings? That I might have loved you?"
He fell silent, his gaze dropping. "I was a fool."
"Yes," she agreed, her voice steady. "You were. And now, it's too late."
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.
"Lily, give me a chance to make it right."
She paused, her heart twisting painfully. She wanted to believe him, wanted to think that maybe, just maybe, he had changed. But the scars he had left ran too deep.
"I don't think you can," she whispered, without looking back. And then, with a final glance at the man she had once loved, she walked away, leaving him alone on the terrace, a shadow among the city lights.
Aria Kensington has always been the forgotten one the illegitimate daughter of a powerful family, overshadowed by her perfect sister and despised by her stepmother. When her long-time boyfriend betrays her for her sister, Aria's world shatters. But the real blow comes when she's forced into an arranged marriage with a man she's never met a cold, reclusive billionaire rumored to be disabled. Damon Blackwood is no ordinary billionaire. His disability is a ruse, and beneath his icy exterior lies a man who controls an empire built on secrets and power. When Aria is thrust into his world, she becomes more than just his wife she becomes his obsession. Trapped in a marriage of convenience that feels more like a gilded cage, Aria soon discovers the dark side of Damon's love. As their fiery passion ignites, she must decide whether to embrace the man who claims her body and soul or risk losing herself in his dangerous game. In a world where love is power and trust is a luxury, can Aria break free of the chains that bind her or will she fall deeper into Damon's seductive grip?
When Lila Monroe's ex-boyfriend, Julian Sterling, announces his engagement, she drowns her sorrows at an upscale bar, waking up in a stranger's bed the bed of none other than Ethan Sterling, her ex's ruthless and dangerously alluring brother. Lila's life takes a devastating turn when her father is imprisoned, his fate orchestrated by Julian's cruel schemes. With no one else to turn to, she strikes a risky deal with Ethan. He'll save her father and restore her family's honor, but only if she agrees to a marriage of convenience...and an heir. Caught between her lingering heartbreak and Ethan's intense, possessive nature, Lila must navigate a world of betrayal, passion, and family secrets. Yet the more she resists Ethan, the more undeniable their attraction grows, sparking a dangerous game neither is prepared for. But when she discovers she's carrying his child, Lila must decide if she's willing to risk everything even her heart for a man who may only see her as a pawn in his deadly rivalry.
In the dark heart of Everglen, Lyra Blackwood once ruled as a celebrated heiress until betrayal stole everything. Set up by her best friend, disowned by her family, and forced into exile, she's spent years rebuilding her life in shadows, raising her young twins with fierce independence. But when fate pulls her back to the city she once called home, she's armed with one mission: revenge. Her target? The ruthless, possessive Alpha Damien Silverclaw Evergreen's wealthiest CEO, and the man who unknowingly fathered her children. Yet Damien is no ordinary man; he's her fated mate, and his power both tempts and terrifies her. As she edges into his dangerous world, their passion ignites under the guise of a contract marriage, but secrets soon threaten to unravel everything. Now, tangled in a bond she didn't choose, Lyra must decide: is her revenge worth risking her heart? Or will she surrender to the dark allure of the one man who could break her... or save her?
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."
She was a diamond covered by ashes.... King Dakota was known as the most Powerful Alpha King of all times - more powerful than any other King that had ruled from his lineage. He was cold hearted, introverted and dangerous in anger. Cursed by the Moon goddess, King Dakota had to get married to three wives all in search of a male child that would become his heir, but it was impossible as the curse would only let his wives bear she -wolves. But on a different day, the King meets a lady who offends him and as a punishment, he took her home as his fourth wife. Her name was Shilah. Shilah was a powerless wolf and as a result, was disregarded and intimidated by all. But, when she begins to do things that the King had never felt for years, he began to wonder who she really was. Slowly, she crawled her way into his icy heart and turned out to be something nobody ever expected - a storm.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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!
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
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!”