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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.
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
Despite being an illegitimate daughter, Lena bore a striking resemblance to the young lady of the Evans family. Faced with their threats, she was forced to take her half-sister’s place and marry Dylan. As an act of defiance, Lena seduced Dylan night after night, until she had him completely wrapped around her finger. Using his affections to her advantage, she set out to undermine the Evans family. Over time, Dylan began to notice something odd about his beloved wife...
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."