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When Zara Hart agrees to a marriage contract with the notoriously cold billionaire Damian Cole, she thinks she's secured her freedom from a debt-ridden life. Little does she know, Damian has his own agenda-a vengeance plan that requires an ideal "wife" to win his family's approval and take control of his legacy. As their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, Zara and Damian discover their fake marriage is becoming all too real. But with secrets and lies woven into their contract, will their growing love survive, or will it destroy them both?
The coffee shop was too warm, the air thick with the mingled aromas of burnt espresso and cinnamon pastries. Zara Hart brushed a stray curl behind her ear, her fingers trembling as she looked down at the crumpled paper in her hands. The debt total, with its string of zeroes, was seared into her mind, a relentless reminder of her parents' sudden passing and the financial disaster they'd left behind.
With a weary sigh, she slipped the paper back into her bag, grateful that the dim lighting obscured the dark circles beneath her eyes. The reality was that Zara, at twenty-seven, had hit a dead end. Her once-vibrant dreams of opening an art gallery seemed as distant as stardust. The thought made her sick-until the man across from her cleared his throat.
Damian Cole was as intimidating in person as his reputation promised. His sharp jawline, cold eyes, and meticulously tailored suit spoke of money, control, and a life untouched by mundane struggles. At thirty-two, he commanded not only a fortune but an entire empire. This meeting, however, wasn't about his empire-or so he claimed.
"Miss Hart," Damian's voice was calm, almost clinical. "I understand you're in a difficult position financially."
Zara stiffened, her defenses rising. "You could say that. But what exactly does that have to do with you?"
His lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I have a proposition that might benefit both of us."
He reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a sleek folder, sliding it across the table toward her. Zara eyed it warily, her fingers tingling with a mixture of curiosity and dread. She opened it, skimming the legal jargon that her exhausted brain could barely process.
"I want you to marry me," Damian said, his tone as if he'd just asked her to pass the sugar.
The words froze her, and her eyes snapped up to meet his, searching for a sign of humor, a hint that this was some cruel joke. But his gaze remained unwavering.
"Marry you?" she echoed, almost choking on the absurdity. "Are you out of your mind?"
"I assure you, I'm entirely sane." Damian's expression didn't shift. "This isn't a marriage in the traditional sense. It's a contract. Six months, nothing more. You fulfill the role of my wife, and in return, I'll clear your debts and provide a generous payout at the end."
Zara blinked, her mind scrambling to keep up. The words "clear your debts" reverberated through her, mingling with a sense of dread and impossible hope. "Why me? You could hire anyone to play this role. Why go to the trouble of a legal marriage?"
Damian's gaze hardened, a flicker of something-anger, maybe?-crossing his features. "Let's just say my family requires a convincing performance. My brother and the company board are waiting for an excuse to deem me unfit to lead. A stable marriage would put them at ease, and you"-he paused, glancing down at her worn blouse and tired expression-"don't have ties to anyone who could interfere with my plans."
Zara's chest tightened. He was right; she was alone in every sense. With her parents gone and her closest friend Riley as her only confidant, Zara had no one who would stand in Damian's way. The sense of isolation she'd felt since her parents' death flared anew, mixing with the unnerving reality of Damian's proposal.
"And what exactly would I have to do?" Her voice sounded small, but she couldn't stop herself from asking. "As your...wife."
"Attend functions with me. Convince my family we're madly in love. Play the part convincingly." His eyes gleamed with a rare hint of warmth, though she doubted it was genuine. "Nothing more than that."
"No...physical relationship?"
He gave a curt shake of his head. "Not unless you choose. This arrangement is purely professional."
Zara let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The idea of being bound to someone as guarded and intimidating as Damian-without the safety net of real affection-sent chills down her spine. But the truth was staring her in the face, merciless in its simplicity. She was out of options. Her debts were drowning her, and here, before her, was a lifeline-one tangled with strings, yes, but a lifeline nonetheless.
"What's in it for you?" she pressed, needing to understand more of the shadows behind his steely gaze.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. "My brother, Grant, is waiting for me to slip up. He wants the company, and the board believes I'm too volatile to lead. A 'respectable' marriage will change that perception. And when I meet the board's criteria, I'll have the leverage to make decisions without interference."
Zara nodded slowly, feeling her resolve harden. She'd always fought for her independence, but this...this might be her only way forward. "And you'd really pay off all my debts?"
"Every cent," Damian confirmed, leaning back in his chair. "And you'll be compensated handsomely for your time."
It was a proposition that seemed too good to be true, yet his expression held no room for doubt. Still, doubt gnawed at her. "If I agree...what happens after six months?"
Damian's gaze turned steely. "After six months, we part ways. No strings attached. You'll have what you need, and I'll have fulfilled my obligations. We go back to our own lives."
She considered his words, weighing the risks against the salvation he offered. Six months. That was all. Six months of pretending, of playing a role that could secure her future. But the fear of being entangled in Damian's web, of losing herself in a charade with a man who seemed to wield control over everything-she could feel it pricking her skin, whispering warnings.
Finally, she looked him square in the eye, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "Fine. I'll do it."
For the first time, Damian's lips curved into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "Then we'll begin immediately. You'll be moving into my residence within the week. My attorney will finalize the contract by tomorrow."
The finality of his words settled like lead in her stomach. There was no turning back now. Zara had stepped into his world, a world of power and deception where the stakes were dangerously high. But if this was the price of freedom from her past, she was willing to pay it.
"Welcome to the family, Mrs. Cole," Damian murmured, his tone laced with a chilling satisfaction that left her questioning whether she'd just made a deal with the devil himself.
When Aria wakes up in an unfamiliar packhouse, disoriented and without any recollection of how she got there, she finds herself face-to-face with Lucas, the enigmatic and commanding Alpha who claims she is his fated mate. Confused and unable to recall their bond, Aria struggles to reconcile her lack of memory with the intense emotions Lucas stirs within her. As pieces of her past begin to return in fragmented flashes, she uncovers a painful truth: Lucas rejected her years ago, shattering their bond and setting her on a path of loneliness. But Lucas's pack is now cursed, their survival hanging by a thread, and Aria may hold the key to breaking the spell. Torn between the betrayal of the past and the undeniable pull of their fated bond, Aria must decide if she can forgive Lucas and if their love is strong enough to undo the darkness threatening them all. But as secrets unravel and a rogue witch's vendetta is revealed, Aria realizes her lost memories hide more than just heartbreak; they conceal a power that could save them or destroy them all.
Running from her past, Cassia, a runaway omega, has spent years hiding from the ruthless pack she escaped. But when she crosses paths with the feared Alpha Killian-a wolf known for his brutal reign-her world is turned upside down. Killian is her fated mate, a bond she can't deny. As she resists his attempts to claim her, dark secrets about her past begin to unravel, revealing the true reason she fled. With enemies closing in and her heart torn between fear and desire, Cassia must decide if she can trust Killian to protect her or if surrendering to him will lead to her destruction.
When celebrated chef Adrian Knight teams up with enigmatic sommelier Celeste Laurent for an exclusive culinary event, sparks fly faster than pans in a kitchen fire. Their shared passion for exquisite flavors becomes a tantalizing prelude to a deeper, carnal hunger neither can deny. But as secrets simmer beneath the surface, their indulgence threatens to burn everything they've worked for. In a world where precision and control reign supreme, can two fiery souls surrender to their desires without losing themselves-or each other?
Drayen Fael has spent his entire life training to exert revenge on the witch who destroyed his family. As one of the last dragon shifters, his fiery rage fuels his every step, sharpening his claws and stoking the flames that burn inside him. Finally, after decades of hunting, he tracks her to the ruins of a forgotten kingdom. But the witch, Keryth, isn't what he imagined. She isn't the heartless monster of his nightmares. She's broken, haunted by her own dark past, and struggling to control the very powers that caused Drayen's grief. As their fates intertwine, Drayen must confront a truth more terrifying than any firestorm: vengeance isn't the answer, and his destiny is tied to the one he swore to destroy. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that goes far beyond their vendetta, one that threatens to unleash a darkness capable of annihilating their world. Can love bloom in the ashes of betrayal? Or will the flames of their past consume them both?
Amara thought she had everything-a destined mate, a promising future as the Luna of the Silver Ridge Pack, and a love she believed unshakable. But when her mate, Alpha Kael, cruelly rejects her for another, her world crumbles. Stripped of her title and cast out, she ventures into the wilds, broken but determined to survive. Years later, Amara returns as a formidable warrior with secrets that could change the fate of the werewolf world. But fate has one last twist for her-a second chance mate, one she never expected: Adrian, the enigmatic and dangerous leader of the rogue wolves. Torn between a past she can't escape and a future she never anticipated, Amara must navigate treachery, forbidden love, and a deadly prophecy. As the moon rises, choices will be made, blood will be spilled, and destiny will unfold.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
"I, Riccardo Saviano, future Alpha of the Grey Shadow Moon Pack, reject you, Artemisia Guerrieri, Daughter of Alpha Franco of the Blood Moon Pack, as my mate and future Luna." One single sentence. One stupid single sentence was all it took to disintegrate my life. And the day of my birthday, on which this sentence was audaciously uttered to me, I lost the love of my life, my future mate, and my wolf, all at once. As I'm still assembling the pieces of my shattered heart years later, there they come. Like lightning out of a crystal blue sky. My Mates. But wait... If I am mated to triplets, how come I'm about to be mated to 5 gorgeous men? *** TW: explicit and foul language; spicy content; explicit sex scenes ***