Maritza is a hardworking woman, dedicated to caring for her elderly mother, who suffers from a terminal illness, and her younger sister, who battles schizophrenia. Her life is a constant cycle of sacrifices and responsibilities, leaving no time for herself. For three years, she has worked as a secretary at Duncan Enterprises, enduring the explosive temper and ruthless nature of her boss, Max Duncan, notoriously known as "the devil." Max, a cold, arrogant, and merciless businessman, shatters Maritza's routine with an unexpected proposal: a marriage contract. He needs to fake a relationship to salvage his public image, and though he doesn't hide his disdain for her, he offers a sum of money that could solve many of her problems. For Maritza, caught between duty and survival, accepting seems inevitable. But this arrangement will be far from simple. Max's insults and domineering attitude constantly test Maritza's patience, even as she begins to uncover a side of him she never expected. However, the contract will force them both to confront their inner demons, hidden secrets, and unanticipated emotions. Will this pact be their salvation or the beginning of an emotional storm neither can control?
I had lived a happy childhood, running through the garden of our home. We weren't rich, but we were fine. We lived in a beautiful house, painted entirely white with earth-toned decorations. My mother had exquisite taste; art was her passion. She always baked me delicious chocolate chip cookies. When my sister was born, I was very happy. I would have a little sister! I shared everything with her until she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She suffered seizures, and her behavior was difficult to control. Our lives changed; we adjusted to Nicole's needs.
My parents loved us deeply and worked hard to support us. I never had to work or ask for anything, at least not as a teenager.
When I turned 16, my father died of a heart attack, leaving us all devastated. Our dreams had vanished, and apparently, so had our luck.
As if life was intent on erasing us from the map, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. We caught it early, but it cost us a lot to save for her surgery. Her mood didn't help, but it was understandable.
Her other half was gone. I had no choice but to start working. I tried to balance university schedules with shifts at the pizzeria. I was a waitress, and they paid me well when I worked double shifts. My sister's condition worsened, so I had to turn to some of my father's friends for help, but they didn't lend a hand. It was to be expected: appearances can be deceiving. I had no choice but to leave university and look for another job. I juggled two jobs and two sick family members at home. Life wasn't easy, but I wouldn't give up.
Six years had passed since my father's death. My sister remained stable as long as she was medicated. My mother was a different story; her cancer had returned, this time to stay. It had metastasized, so we could lose her at any moment. I had to endure humiliation, disdain, excesses, and countless other things, all while dealing with a horrible boss. Well, he wasn't a horrible man, not at all. He was six feet tall, with a sturdy build. His light brown eyes were like honey. His hair was like him-rebellious, a rebellious straight. His skin was pale, like his smile. In my first year here, I fell hopelessly in love with him. He was my platonic love, but he made sure to kill it with his awful behavior. Let's be realistic; he would never notice me.
I'm an ordinary woman, a little chubby. I have long honey-colored hair, which I always keep in a bun. I like to dress formally, wearing loose clothes, and my black-rimmed glasses take away from my face. So, it's logical he wouldn't notice me. He calls me "the crow" because, according to him, I'm a gray woman without any appeal. I overheard him tell his best friend that, so I sent all my feelings packing. That despicable man didn't deserve anything from me.
I had to endure that scoundrel's disdain for all these years. I was responsible for his meals from Monday to Sunday, sent his clothes to the dry cleaner, and had to keep track of his shopping, house arrangements, and the cherry on top: covering his dates. On Tuesdays, he went out with brunettes; Wednesdays, he gave a chance to some model or another; and Thursdays were free-he went drinking with his friends, who, by the way, were as obnoxious as him.
On weekends, he spent time with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were quite good people, or so I assumed. Occasionally, Mr. Duncan helped me with medical expenses. The devil's brothers were completely different from him. Marcelino, the eldest, was married to a prestigious lawyer-I think her name was María, Remata, or Maira, I don't remember well. John was the middle brother, very grounded. He wasn't known to have a girlfriend; everyone said he was gay. I honestly doubted it because, during one of my missions at the dry cleaner, I found him being very affectionate with the manager. I pretended not to know him and went on my way. Max, aka the devil, was the youngest of the three. A businessman, he studied business at Harvard. When his father fell gravely ill, he took over the companies, and to this day, he's done very well.
As every Monday, I arrived at the office earlier. It was twenty to seven; I had the coffee ready and the folders for the new contracts prepared. I needed to take the clothes to the dry cleaner, but that would be later. The devil appeared; he wasn't in a good mood today. Poor me. The phone on my desk rang.
-"Tell me, sir, what do you need?" -I asked in a professional tone.
-"What would I need from you? Please, don't insult me this early. Come to my office, or have you forgotten you need to review the agenda?"
I hated this man. I didn't understand how women could stand him.
-"Yes, sir, I'm on my way," -damn scoundrel.
I got up from my desk, crossed myself, and entered his office.
-"Sir, today you have a meeting at nine with the Mexicans. I've prepared the contracts."
-"Maritza, sit down; we need to talk."
-"Go ahead, sir," -I replied respectfully, though inside I wanted to claw his eyes out.
-"I need you to marry me. We have to fake a relationship. Hard to believe, but everyone knows my tastes. I wouldn't look twice at a crow."
I clenched my hands in fury. I couldn't take it anymore. Had I heard correctly? Had he gone mad?
-"I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth, Mr. Duncan. You're a 'damn scoundrel!' That's why everyone calls you the devil, and they're not wrong."
Each word that came out of my mouth dripped with venom. Years of hatred had accumulated, all thanks to his mistreatment.
-"We wouldn't marry for love, God forbid. It's a simple contract. I'll pay you a good sum, so take it or leave it. If you say no, you're fired anyway..."
I looked into his eyes. His lips moved, but I still couldn't believe what he was saying. I had worked hard all these years. I didn't have this position for nothing.
-"So, you'll fire me because I won't marry you, Mr. Devil."
-"Don't think calling me that will make me cry," -he smiled maliciously-. "You know I've earned that nickname with great effort. And if you don't accept, consider this your dismissal. You should take advantage; I'll cover clothes, beauty salons, and all those things you women use."
-"I don't need it, so I quit. Go to hell!"
-"As you wish. Then I hope you die in your own misery."
The last thing I heard as I left the office was his laughter. After so much time, I felt alive. I was free.
He is a businessman, empowered, and a womanizer, with one of the worst flaws, arrogance. One night, he decides to go to a nightclub to celebrate the closing of an important deal, and it is there that he meets Vanesa, a beautiful girl, the sensation of the moment, all the men wanted to be with her, which worsened his desire. Vanesa, a hardworking woman, educated and with many financial problems, is about to be left without a roof when a roommate offers her a somewhat indecent job, but in her need, she has no choice but to accept the proposal. One night, just like all the others, she receives the most indecorous proposition of her life; she would never forget the events of that night, that man had marked her life. Months passed, she settles in and decides to leave that job at the nightclub. Life offers her the opportunity to find a decent job and one of her dreams, but what will happen to Vanesa when she finds out that her new boss is the man from that night?
Julianny was a prosperous, loving, successful, and dedicated woman to her family. She lived with her parents and was that prototype of a girl who, with her mere presence, illuminated the moment. No one had ever seen her cry, always with the best smile. She was in her last year of university when she met the man of her dreams. Edder was a charismatic, wealthy, and outgoing guy. He was in his last year of business administration. During one of his crazy nights out, he met Julianny and fell madly in love, love at first sight. And even though it sounds cliché, Cupid did his job well with that arrow, because they had connected in the same way. After getting to know each other for some time, they discovered that they were the perfect couple. The years went by and they lived a crazy and unrestrained love, unleashing all kinds of emotions, both for them and for the rest of the world. But as not everything that shines is gold and humans are not perfect, what would happen if you discover that your Prince Charming is painted black? Will Julianny be able to overcome all the tests that destiny will put in her way to be by Edder's side?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."