Sophia Hayes is thrilled when she wins a ticket for the exclusive boat cruise she's dreamed of all her life. But her excitement is dampened by a rumor from a trusted source: her millionaire ex-boyfriend, Charles, will also be attending. Determined to avoid the humiliation of facing him single, Sophia convinces her high school friend Robert, a wealthy playboy, to pose as her boyfriend. Robert agrees, eager to shed his notorious reputation and fend off gold diggers, while also seeking to placate his meddling family. On the lavish cruise, Sophia and Robert's convincing act as a couple quickly captures the attention of social media and the city's gossip columns. However, things take a turn when Robert detects Sophia's lingering feelings for Charles, and Sophia realizes Robert might never give up his playboy ways. A misunderstanding leads Robert into a one-night stand, while Sophia finds herself dancing with Charles. When Charles publicly declares his love for Sophia, she humiliates him, igniting his desire for revenge. After the cruise, Sophia and Robert must continue their fake relationship to maintain appearances. The situation becomes increasingly toxic as an anonymous threat promises to expose their charade and Robert's one-night stand results in a pregnancy scare. Forced to take a family vacation together, Sophia and Robert must navigate their fake relationship in close quarters. As they act intimately to maintain the facade, they begin to confront their true feelings for one another.
I sat at my cluttered work desk, the bright glare of my computer screen adding to the tension that was causing my eye to twitch. As a marketing executive, my days were packed with back-to-back meetings, campaign planning, and endless emails. Today was no different, and I silently begged the clock to move faster. I couldn't wait for the lunch break to finally check the message from my high school friend, Robert.
My office space was a mixture of organized chaos: colorful post-it notes stuck to the edges of my monitor, a half-empty coffee cup, and stacks of marketing reports awaiting my attention. My boss, Ms. Marlene Thatcher, had been particularly irritable lately, scrutinizing every minor detail with an unforgiving eye. Ms. Thatcher was an older woman with sharp features and a stern expression that seemed permanently etched into her face. Her salt-and-pepper hair was always pulled back into a severe bun, and her eyes, a cold steel gray, missed nothing. She had a reputation for being strict and unkind, a relic from another era who believed in discipline over empathy.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to focus on the email I was drafting but finding it impossible to concentrate. The anticipation of Robert's message gnawed at me. Robert had been my friend since high school, a bond forged in an unlikely alliance.
Back in the day, Robert's parents, despite their wealth, had decided he should attend the local school near their estate. They believed it would keep him grounded and connected to the real world. They wanted him to have a sense of normalcy, far removed from the privileged bubble he was born into. However, young Robert had channeled his energy into becoming a notorious prankster. With his charming looks and popularity, he had everyone at school wrapped around his finger-everyone except me.
I had loathed him for his relentless teasing. He had a habit of placing dead animals in my locker or cracking silly jokes at my expense. One time, he even filled my locker with crickets, and I had spent the rest of the day trying to get them out of my hair and books. Yet, despite his antics, he never crossed the line into real cruelty. His pranks were annoying, but they never felt malicious. Our relationship took a dramatic turn during a particularly difficult period for Robert.
One day, I stumbled upon Robert sulking in a quiet, hidden corner of the school. It was a small alcove behind the gym, a place I had discovered during my own moments of needing solitude. He was slumped against the wall, looking utterly defeated, his usual swagger nowhere to be seen. When he noticed me, his initial reaction was to bristle and threaten me into silence about his vulnerable state. But I saw through his facade.
"Robert, what's going on?" I asked, my voice filled with genuine concern.
In a moment of rare honesty, Robert confessed that he was struggling academically. His parents had issued an ultimatum: pass his exams or face a summer living with his super strict grandmother, without any allowances. Desperation had led him to reveal his predicament to me, hoping to secure my silence.
"I'll stop bullying you if you promise not to tell anyone about this," Robert pleaded, his bravado replaced with anxiety.
I agreed, but on one condition: he had to let me help him. I was good at the subjects he was failing, and in return, he could help me with the ones I found challenging. And so, an unlikely friendship was born. We weren't the best of friends, but we developed a mutual respect and understanding.
I remember those study sessions vividly. We would meet in the school library, our heads bent over textbooks and notes. Robert, for all his bravado, was genuinely smart. He just needed focus and guidance. I would help him with math and science, subjects he struggled with, and in turn, he would help me with history and literature. He had a knack for storytelling that made historical events come alive and dissecting themes in literature feel like solving a puzzle.
There were times when our sessions would devolve into fits of laughter over some joke or prank memory, but we always managed to get back on track. Slowly, the pranks ceased, and our interactions became more about mutual support. Robert even stood up for me a few times when other students tried to give me a hard time, using his popularity to shield me from their teasing.
One afternoon, as we were packing up our books, Robert turned to me with an earnest expression. "You know, Soph, I don't think I would have made it through this semester without your help.
I owe you one."I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just make sure you pass, and we're even."
The ding of a new email snapped me back to the present. I glanced at the clock-only ten more minutes until lunch. I could make it. I quickly scanned my inbox, ensuring everything was in order before Ms. Thatcher could find another reason to scold me.
As the clock struck noon, I almost leaped out of my chair. I grabbed my phone and hurried to the break room, eager to read Robert's message in peace. I found a quiet corner and opened my phone, my heart racing with anticipation.
"Hey Soph, I have got big news, you are going to love this one😜 . Call me as soon as you can."
My mind raced. What could Robert possibly have up his sleeve this time? Whatever it was, it promised to be the distraction I desperately needed from the pressures of my job and the looming presence of Ms. Thatcher.
Our high school days seemed so distant now, yet the bond we had formed during those challenging times remained strong. Despite the years and the distance, Robert had always been someone I could count on. I quickly dialed his number, my fingers trembling with excitement.
Aurelia wakes up in the bed of a mysterious blonde after hanging out with her boyfriend and getting drugged. She later finds out that she had subconsciously escaped being raped by her boyfriend and had lost her virginity to the blonde, who had mistaken her for an escort. All of these discoveries lead her to break up with her boyfriend and search for a job to support herself, as her entire life until now had revolved around him. She luckily secures a job as an office assistant and eventually finds out that she is pregnant by her one-night stand. Determined to locate her baby's father, she discovers that he is none other than her boss. How will her boss handle the revelation that the "escort" who gave him the most enjoyable night of his life is actually his office assistant-and now pregnant with his heir?
Aurora works so hard so she can be the next transfer staff to Astronix Industries, the very company her deceased best friend had worked before she was brutally murdered. Although known to only Aurora, she was going to Astronix not because of the good pay, or countless opportunities you have while working there but because of she wanted to investigate and gather usefulness information to find justice for her late friend Dahila. Aurora was sure Dahila was killed by someone in the company, so when she was transferred to Astronix she was happy. Dahila had complained to her countless time about how she was recently being bullied by the CEOs girlfriend Elodie because she taught she was having an affair with Damon wellington, the CEO of Astronix industries. Aurora had advised dahila to stand up to her, and when dahila did , they had a truce and few days after, Dahila was found dead, a street away from her home. A week after the death of Dahila, Damon travels abroad without telling anyone not even his girlfriend that he loved. Well, while Damon was still abroad,aurora was transferred in to take the place of Dahila. Elodie started harbouring hate for aurora cause she seemed fearless and did not bow or literally worshipped Elodie like the rest of the staffs do in the company. It wasn't long before aurora started getting bullied
Taylor, desperate for a way to support her father's medical bill, finds herself signing a contract marriage with billionaire business man Derrick smith who needs to fulfill his father's dying wish. A marriage which was supposed to last for a year seemed like it would be a lifetime commitment, has they found themselves drawn to each other in ways they never expected. But things takes an unexpected turn when Taylor's childhood crush, Steve, returns to town determined to start something up with her. Meanwhile Derrick's mother prefers Lisa her closest friend daughter who harbors a secret crush on Derrick and is determined to drive a wedge between Taylor and Derrick. Soon,they find their lives complicated, as they confront their feelings for each other leaving them to question their feelings for each other and if contract can define love.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
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.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
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."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."