Eight years ago, Eleanor was a pampered and arrogant young heiress, while Andreas was just a nameless talent from a humble background. Although she had taken him in, she never treated him with any warmth. Their fates flipped, and now Andreas was a business titan feared by all, while Eleanor wallowed in shame and despair after her fall from grace. Upon their reunion, he pinned her with a venomous glare and declared, "It was my hatred for you that drove me into becoming what I am today."
The winter night in Krixsas was ruthless, each gust biting sharper than a blade.
The cold seeped through Eleanor Harvey, sinking deeper than skin, until it felt like her bones themselves shivered.
As she tried to sit up, a dizzy spell blurred her vision, spinning the room into a disorienting haze.
Before she could steady herself, a rough hand twisted in her hair, jerking her backward. A harsh slap cracked through the silence, and pain flared bright and hot across her face, her dizziness deepening into a dark, suffocating whirl.
After hours at the autopsy table, Eleanor had been bone-tired, already on her way home when she got drugged and kidnapped.
When she came to, she recognized the faint, sweet odor lingering in the air-a scent she knew all too well from her time in the operating room.
Ether. They had used it to incapacitate her. A commonplace anesthetic, low in toxicity, primarily employed to induce general anesthesia.
The dull ache on her cheek was nothing compared to the confusion clouding her mind. She staggered to the window, prying it open with trembling fingers, and gulped the cold night air that flooded in, gradually cutting through the haze.
Then, a low chuckle slid through the silence.
Eleanor froze, turning slowly to find the source.
In the room's faint, flickering light, a woman lounged in a velvet chair, draped in garish attire and exuding an air of calculated menace.
Behind her loomed two silent, stone-faced men, their bulks casting dark shadows across the walls.
Eleanor's eyes darted among them, tension coiling tighter with every heartbeat.
"Who... are you? Why have you brought me here?"
The woman leaned back, lighting a cigarette with practiced grace, inhaling deeply. Her gaze, sharp as glass, fixed on Eleanor.
"Yesterday, did you happen to perform an autopsy on a woman who allegedly jumped to her death?"
An uneasy prickle crawled up Eleanor's spine, but she nodded, uncertain where this was leading.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "What did the autopsy reveal?"
Eleanor swallowed, the grim details flashing through her mind like fractured memories. "She...she'd been brutalized before she died. Broken bones, extensive bruising, and..."
The woman arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, almost mocking smile. "And...?"
Gritting her teeth, Eleanor forced herself to continue. "There were unmistakable signs of...assault. Sperms from more than ten people were found in her body."
A low chuckle slipped from the woman's lips, dark and mocking. "I'm Gemma Buckley," she said, her tone lilting with dangerous amusement.
She rose from her seat, moving toward Eleanor with a slow, deliberate grace.
Her smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, predatory coldness.
"Now, I suggest you give me every detail. If you're withholding anything...well, let's just say you'd be wise not to follow in that poor woman's footsteps."
Eleanor's pulse quickened, her breaths shallow.
"Where am I?" she instinctively asked.
"Skyline Casino," came the clipped reply.
Eleanor stiffened.
Skyline Casino? The infamous hub of Krixsas's darkest dealings.
Did the deceased woman work here before she died?
Eleanor's mind raced, recalling the brutal injuries she'd examined.
"Are you...forcing women into...?"
"Careful with your words." Gemma interrupted, her chuckle light as she stubbed out her cigarette. "I simply gave her an opportunity to make some cash, nothing more."
Gemma's gaze sharpened. "She swallowed a memory card. Did you find it?"
Eleanor shook her head.
The cause of death was obvious-a fall from a great height. Hence, there was no reason to perform an internal examination.
Gemma's silence grew heavy as she studied Eleanor, her expression unreadable.
Finally, she asked, "Where is the body?"
"The morgue. At the police station."
Gemma leaned in, her voice a soft but chilling command. "You're going to retrieve that memory card for me."
Eleanor quickly realized what was going on.
The memory card likely held damning evidence of their crimes.
Perhaps the woman hadn't jumped; perhaps she'd been pushed.
After a tense pause, Eleanor gave a slight nod. "Alright."
Gemma's eyebrow arched at Eleanor's swift compliance, but she let it slide.
With a subtle motion from her, the two men behind her stepped forward, their expressions anything but kind.
Eleanor's gaze darted between them. "What are you planning to do?"
Gemma leaned casually against the wall, twirling a camera in her hand with a practiced, almost bored elegance.
"We don't have any reason to trust you, do we? What's to stop you from handing that memory card over to the police?"
Eleanor's eyes narrowed. Turning that evidence over to the police had been her exact plan.
Gemma's smile widened, her voice a silky whisper. "So, we'll need a little...assurance that you'll follow through."
As soon as she finished speaking, Eleanor turned to bolt, shoving past the two men.
She'd barely made it a few steps when an iron grip encircled her waist, lifting her off her feet.
She thrashed wildly, but in seconds, she was thrown back, landing hard on the bed.
Everyone thought Lorenzo truly loved Gracie, until the day of their daughter’s heart surgery. To Gracie’s utter shock, Lorenzo gave the precious organ needed by their child to another woman. Devastated, Gracie opted for a divorce. Fueled by her need for revenge, Gracie joined hands with Lorenzo’s uncle, Waylon, and orchestrated Lorenzo’s downfall. In the end, Lorenzo was left with nothing and consumed by remorse. He pleaded for a reconciliation. Gracie thought she was free to move on with her life, but Waylon held her back in a death grip. “Did you think you can just walk out on me?”
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.
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.
To exact revenge on her treacherous fiancé, Yvonne enticed Clayton into a liaison that promised advantages for both. Yet, when Yvonne spotted a woman resembling her at Clayton’s side, she recognized she was nothing more than a substitute. Discovering Clayton’s upcoming wedding, she departed with a generous severance sum. “Clayton, this is truly the end,” she declared resolutely. On the very day Yvonne was set to marry someone else, Clayton showed up, desperation clear in his eyes as he dropped to his knees. “Yvonne, please, don’t go through with it. Don’t marry him.”
Rena, forced to flee to escape a marriage to a man as old as her father, made a spontaneous decision to marry Kellan, a stranger whose skills in homemaking were only matched by his financial acumen and his gentle demeanor. As their marriage unfolded, it took on a comforting predictability, with Kellan consistently showing himself to be reliable in every emergency. This sense of security crumbled when Rena uncovered Kellan’s true identity and the hidden motives behind their union. Enraged, she initiated a divorce and disappeared. Yet, it was not long before Kellan found her once again...
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."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
"You're the moon wolf, Lola. You're the wolf with the power of the Moon goddess", Serena said and collective gasps were heard in the room. After being rejected by her mate in Moonlit pack, Lola escaped on a full moon only to enter the territory of the next Alpha King who also happened to be her second chance mate. Adrian is the next Alpha King but he hasn't been able to assume his role because he needed a Luna by his side. A rogue that trespassed on his territory, whom he ordered be killed turned out to be his mate leaving him in a dilemma. Will Adrian reject Lola because she came into his territory as a rogue? Will he overcome what happened to him in the past and give Lola a chance or reject her and go ahead with Fay as his chosen Luna? What will happen when everyone finds out just how much power Lola wields and how she's supposed to protect her kind in an oncoming war? Find out in Lola - The Moon Wolf!
Vanessa was about to get engaged when she discovered that her groom-to-be was cheating on her with her own sister. Instead of creating a scene, she went to the club and hired the most desirable gigolo she found. After a wild night of passion, she gave him a generous check. "Thanks. I may require your services in the future." The gigolo was mad at her for being heartless, but Vanessa dismissed his words as an attempt to get her attention. It was only later, when she had to seek out the renowned Mr. Fuller to help with her business, that she realized the man she had slept with was no gigolo at all.
For the sake of their company, Atasha Rae was forced to marry the known heartless billionaire, Lorcan Amadeus. But it only took her a week as his wife because later on, he suddenly wants a divorce immediately. So as he wished, she signed the divorce paper even after admitting to herself that she was somehow starting to fall inlove with him. Heart badly wounded, she ran away from his life. Until she discovers that she's pregnant with his child and as a result, she ends up with no choice but to keep it a secret. Out of Lorcan's awareness, she's keeping a secret that would lead him to an overflowing regret. Because for a week of their fallen marriage beyond repair, she's carrying the billionaire's heir.
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"