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lurb: Originally a naive young woman with great aspirations, Evelyn Harlow rebuilt herself into someone unrecognizable-a woman resolved never to trust once a betrayal destroyed her world. Her life veers off course when she is obliged to work under the formidable and brooding billionaire Damon Hawke. Years of both personal and professional betrayal have hardened Damon, who is merciless in business and cynical in love. Still, Evelyn has a fire that pulls him in against will. Evelyn's secrets go beyond what anyone could possibly dream. She is the lady who once loved the man she feared would ruin her-not only his assistant but also her lover-before he destroyed her heart. Now, the lines separating love from vengeance blur as she has the opportunity for retribution on the guy who destroyed her family. Until he sees her once more, Damon never knew how much he had lost; yet, as he works to recover her heart, he must face the ghosts of his past-dark enemies and an irresistible attraction that might cost everything. Will Evelyn's need for retribution destroy them both, or will the shattered man she once loved find a means to make her see that their love was never really lost?
Evelyn
Like the echoes of my broken heart still embedded deep within me, I recall the night Damon Hawke destroyed me as it seemed yesterday. That was the night I discovered his true nature and learned about his actual capabilities. Still, I have spent the years since persuading myself; it makes no difference. Yet it does.
Once upon a time, though, I loved him more than anything. He was all I could have wanted-a man with ambition, might, and a passionate passion capable of igniting a woman. He was everything I could have possibly needed.
He then betrayed me as well.
At first, it was minor-small lies, petty deceptions-until it all came down. He stole the wealth of my family, wrecked everything I had ever worked for, and left without even a cursory glance in my direction. I was simply yet another victim of his merciless quest for supremacy and riches.
But I'm back now, after years of brokenness and at last rebuilding myself from the ashes.
Returning to the scene from whence it began. The spot I promised him to pay for what he did to me. And I would do everything to cause him the suffering he put me through. Even if it means sliding back into his arms.
Though it means loving him once more.
Before the glass doors stands me, the striking Hawke Enterprises emblem shining in the sunlight. From the girl I once was-innocent, hopeful, trusting-the reflection peering back at me is alien. No, the woman staring at me now is scared, tough, and a survivor. Too much effort has gone toward being anything else.
The doors open automatically, and with every stride, my heels click across the marble floor, resonating across the building's magnificent foyer. Though I rarely notice, the glass walls give a clear view of the vast city. Already, my thoughts are on him-the man who destroyed my life-the one whose every breath reminds me of my downfall.
I am here primarily for one thing-revenge.
That will be more difficult than I had anticipated, though. I sense the weight of the past slamming down as soon as I enter the elevator. The familiar smell of his office-leather, expensive cologne, and power-fills my senses, quickens my pulse, and twists my stomach. I am not breathing.
I close my eyes, straighten myself, and will my hands stop shaking. I know the right thing to do. Not this time; I cannot allow my feelings to dictate to me. I'm in command this time.
The elevator doors slide open, and as I step out, my breath freezes in my throat.
Then I started to see him.
Damian Hawke.
Sitting behind a large desk, he is a flawless silhouette in a custom suit. For a moment, my body betrays me-his broad shoulders and dark, penetrating eyes precisely as I recall them. My pulse beats and my heart pauses as a tsunami of memories floods my brain. I drove them all away, though. I'm not here to once more get lost in him. Here I am to demolish him.
Unspoken anxiety buzzes in the air between us. His vision narrows, and for the first time in years I see the familiar flutter of recognition-the knowledge he recognizes me. And in spite of this, I get a tiny surge of something I despise myself for-desire.
"Evelyn," he says, his voice low and commanding, exactly as I recall. "I expected nothing from you."
I try to hide the bitter edge of my voice and say, "No one ever does." But right now I am here.
His eyes darted over me to evaluate. Though it still burns between us, the years of wrath, treachery, and pain that have molded us both smother the flames. I will keep myself from letting him see the way my heart is betraying me. I will myself hold his stare.
He moves toward the chair in front of his desk, "Have a seat." "What can I do for Evelyn?"
I inhale deeply and settle, not looking back. "I want a job," I say straightforwardly. "Here. at Hawke Enterprises.
Clearly startled, he arches an eyebrow. You really are serious?
"I'm quite serious."
His lips open to a knowing smile, as if he already solved me. And why would you want to work for me with all that transpired between us?
I give him a tight-lipped smile and slant forward slightly, the heat growing between us. "You and I both know others have suffered as well, not just you. But I have progressed. For past wounds, I am not here. Here I am to pick what is mine.
Leaning back in his chair, he studies me with an unreadable look. And just what precisely is that, Evelyn?
"I want you to regret everything you did to me," I say, my voice steely, slicing across the air like a sword.
His confident façade breaks the first time. Behind his eyes, I can glimpse something-probably guilt. He looks at me for a long time; the tension between us is practically intolerable, then he says.
"You believe that working here would damage me?" His voice low, almost a whisper, he asks. "You think you could cause me to experience what you experienced when I destroyed you?"
I hesitate at all." I do not only believe this. I am aware of that.
I found my spot in Hawke Enterprises not long after. I give my work the zeal I have never experienced before. Still, the spreadsheets, the meetings, the deals-none of which keep me awake at night. That's him.
Damon permeates everything-his voice, his touch, his presence. Every time I hear his footsteps or feel his eyes fixed on me, I am reminded of the suffering he brought about. Not enough, though, to break me. I have lived after breaking once. I won't go on a trip this time.
But the more I stay, the more I see that getting even is more complicated than I had assumed. Not the same man I used to know Damon is. He's more dangerous and colder. Every time I look into his eyes, he still shows the same fire burning between us. He observes me with an intensity that causes my pulse to rush.
And even if I detest it, it attracts me toward him.
Still, I cannot let myself overlook what he did to me. I refuse to let myself once more fall for him.
Damon and I have an obvious conflict. Every conference and every conversation is a struggle of wills. Then it happened-one night, just following a demanding day of meetings, he drew me into his office, his face strained with annoyance.
His voice was gravel. "I know what you're doing, Evelyn." "You pretend you don't care or that you don't want me, so you may destroy me. You are wrong, though.
I try to distance myself, but his hand closes around my wrist and stops me. "Let go of me, Damon."
"No," he says, snarling. "You wanted retribution, but you're really asking for something else."
Heat permeates the air between us, and despite all the warnings in my thoughts, I find myself approaching him. As his grasp releases, my pulse thunders in my ears, and his hand travels down to my waist, dragging me in. His lips hang perilously near me.
He breathes and says, "I never stopped wanting you, Evelyn. And you haven't either, either.
Before I could say anything, he closed the distance between us and kissed me. I open my mouth to object, to drive him away.
And the earth pauses.
The door opens, and a loud voice interrupts us as the kiss deepens.
"You consider me to not know?" From the doorway, the voice of a lady sings.
I stopped the cold. She then comes into view.
The ex-wife of Damon.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
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."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .