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BLURB: I was not interested in marrying a billionaire. Last but not least is Adrian Blackwood, the sly, cold man who came into my life with a contract instead of a proposal. For a year, I would pretend to be his perfect wife in exchange for his paying off my debilitating debt. Simple, isn't it? No, it wasn't. Adrian's smoldering gaze, his rare acts of charity, and the way he held me when no one else was looking made it impossible to keep my heart out of the equation. I knew there would be no forever, no love, and no commitment. But there are rules that are designed to be disregarded. Then I found out I was having a baby. I was scared of his reaction, so I left without telling him. For three years, away from the shadow of his wealth and buildings, I made a quiet life for myself and my daughter. But secrets are never really hidden. When Adrian enters my gallery carrying a painting that I could have done alone, my time is finished. His penetrating eyes scream for answers, and his presence shakes the foundation of the life I've created. He says in a voice as menacing as the storm in his eyes, "I think we need to talk." Then, in a flash, everything collapses. Because Adrian Blackwood is not content with answers; he wants everything. How can I protect my heart when the man who could destroy us both is the father of my child?
Chapter 1: The proposal
Elena POV
"Marry me."
My fingers froze in the middle of stirring my tepid coffee as the words lingered in the air like a thunderclap. The guy seated opposite from me in his well made charcoal suit, Adrian Blackwood, caught my attention. He spoke in an unromantic tone, and there was not the slightest trace of emotion in his eyes. They were fixated on me, inscrutable, and piercing, as if they were daring me to flinch.
I eventually managed to put down the spoon before it clattered out of my shaking fingers, saying, "You can't be serious."
His mouth marvelled, not quite a grin, but almost so. "Miss Hart, do I appear to be the type of man who jokes?"
No. He didn't. Adrian Blackwood, a corporate tycoon who was renowned for consuming his rivals with the efficiency of a wolf, was a name that was whispered in terror and awe. Nevertheless, he was proposing to a lady who was drowning in debt and despair at a small, barely lit café on the outskirts of town.
"Why me?" I tried to calm my voice, but it faltered. "You could probably find someone-"
Leaning closer, he interrupted, "More suitable?" His movements were deliberate and precise, like the approach of a predator. "You are just what I need." No hidden agendas, no links to make everything more complicated. An independent variable is you.
independent variable. I almost chuckled at the ridiculousness. I was just a component of his vast equation, not a person in his eyes.
"What can I gain from it?" The answer was brutally clear, yet I asked.
Adrian made no hesitation. The sum is three million dollars. paid throughout the course of the year in installments. Enough to reconstruct your life, pay off your obligations, and pay for your father's medical care. You will take on the role of my wife in return. You'll go to events, pose for pictures, and play the part in public. We'll maintain our distance in private. No more than a commercial agreement.
Three million dollars. The clatter of dishes and the buzz of talk around us were muffled by the number that kept repeating in my mind. The medical expenditures that were mounting like a mountain of shame might finally be paid off. Without me worried about whether we would lose the home, my father could get the attention he need.
But at what price?
"And a year later?" My question was hardly audible above a whisper.
"We part ways," he stated with ease, as if talking about a straightforward business deal. A non-disclosure agreement will be a part of our deal. I'll have done what I was supposed to do, and you'll be free to go on.
"Duties for what?"
Before his mask of indifference returned, his eyes became piercing, a glimpse of something unsaid flickering through them. "You shouldn't worry about that."
It wasn't, of course. No one, least of all me, needed an explanation from Adrian Blackwood.
I looked out the window and saw the storm building inside of me reflected in the dismal sky. This was insane. For a year, I sold my life, my freedom, and my name. However, I realized I didn't have the luxury of pride as the weight of my reality-my father's hollow cheeks, the incessant calls from creditors-pressed down on me.
I forced myself to look him in the eye and replied, "I'll need time to think."
He cocked his head in a barely noticeable nod. There are twenty-four hours in your day. The offer ends after that.
24 hours. My stomach rumbled. At that moment, he may as well have asked me to make the world's destiny.
Adrian took out a neat folder from his briefcase. I recoiled at the little scratch of leather on wood as he slid it across the table.
"Go through it," he said. "Every condition, every clause. The final page is my lawyer's number in case you have any questions.
I kept my hands off the folder. With its smothering connotations, it sat between us like a loaded cannon.
"What are you doing?" I said the question before I could stop myself.
His eyes seemed to darken, but his face remained the same. "Because I require a spouse." You also need an escape route.
He then rose to his feet, his massive body looming over me. His actions were as exact as everything else about him as he fixed his tie. "I'll be anticipating your response by tomorrow night."
He turned and left, his footsteps resonating against the tiled floor, and I was unable to reply.
The folder was still there, a subtle reminder of the choice that might make all the difference-or break me.
That evening, I sat with the folder open in front of me at the kitchen table in our little apartment. The legalese was muddled together, and I was too tired to concentrate. The gentle snores coming from the next room served as a reminder of why I couldn't afford to make a mistake.
I grabbed my phone and called the one person who could help me see things from a different angle.
I said, "Lila," as soon as she answered.
"What's the matter?" Her calm, loving voice helped to ground me.
"I... I believe I've done something insane.
She said, "Define crazy," with a hint of worry.
After hesitating, I revealed everything: the contract, the money, and Adrian's proposal. There was a lengthy pause on the other end after I was done.
At last, she murmured, "Elena, this sounds-"
"I understand," I said. Crazy. Careless. However, what options do I have? Just the medical bills-
"There's always an option," she said. "You only need to confirm that this is the correct one. Don't allow him to coerce you into doing anything you'll later regret.
I'm sorry. Long after we hung up, the term continued to linger. Although I wanted to think I could go, I knew I couldn't every time I saw my father's faint grin and the despair in his eyes.
I closed the folder and gazed at the signature line of the contract as the sun began to peek through the blinds. With my heart thumping in my ears, my pen lingered.
I took a deep breath before signing my name.
Adrian's office, a glass-walled fortress with a city view, is where I met him the next evening. His face was blank as he looked at the signed contract in my hands.
With more of a statement than a question, he replied, "You've made your decision."
"Yes," I said, sounding more composed than I really was.
He accepted the folder, and with well-honed efficiency, flipped through the pages. He closed it, satisfied, and turned to face me.
"All right. Tomorrow, we will make the engagement public.
Tomorrow. My heart thumped. I started to object, but he interrupted me with a raised hand.
"Miss Hart, there is no more time for doubt. I own you.
His tone was so definitive that it made me shudder. However, he moved closer before I could comprehend the gravity of what he had said, his voice becoming almost whispery.
With his gaze fixed on me, he said, "And by the way, you're not the only one who signed a contract." You will be surprised if you believe that this is only a financial matter.
BLURB:I had hate in my heart when I died. The Moon Goddess herself linked me to a guy who was meant to adore me, but he betrayed me. I was alive and complete five years ago when I opened my eyes once again. I vowed that this time would be different. My so-called fated mate, Darius Blackthorn, would never be allowed to come near me close enough to ruin me once again. Before he could attack, I would forge my own route, guard my heart, and discover the truth about his treachery. However, it seems that destiny is difficult to change. Killian Draven comes in. Perilous, enraged, and all too alluring, he makes me an offer: if I act like his mate, he would shield me from Darius. I shouldn't play that game since it would only lead to heartache. But the longer I'm in Killian's embrace, the more I question if my fate isn't bound to him. Darius then comes after me and says I've been duped and that the betrayal I believed I saw wasn't what it seemed to be. He is battling not just for me but also for our pack's future. And I am really shaken by the facts he exposes. Because if Darius wasn't the one who betrayed me, then who was it? And why does it seem like I could lose more than my heart in this second chance?
The guy I vowed to love till the end deceived me, and I died once. The Moon Goddess, however, wasn't finished with me. She brought me back to life, reincarnating me as a rogue with no identity or memories, just the burning pain of a past I can't quite recall and a blood-thirsty need for revenge. Then I got to know him. Marcus John. The vicious Nightfang Pack's Alpha. Chilly. Without mercy. Dangerously addictive. I despise him. Nevertheless, my wolf awakens when he is close as if she has discovered something she has long since lost. His touch has a quality that seems to be both a blessing and a curse. I'm not sure whether I'm falling for him or if the connection that is bringing us together is what will break me. Because my recollections grow clearer the closer I go to him. And I'll have to choose between kissing him and killing him when I eventually realize who he is.
SYNOPSIS:I thought meeting my mate would be the start of my happily ever after. For a moment, it was. Jacob Jude, the powerful heir of the Golden Claw Pack, ignited a fire in me that I'd never known. Then, in one cruel twist, he shattered my world. With my sight newly restored, I opened my eyes to betrayal-false accusations, heartbreak, and the lifeless body of my twin sister. Losing them both on the same day nearly destroyed me. But someone pulled me back from the edge. Four years later, I'm no longer the fragile, blind girl who was cast aside. I've rebuilt myself, stronger and sharper than ever. Returning to the Golden Claw Pack wasn't in my plans, but fate has a cruel sense of humor. Because standing at the altar is the man who broke me... and the sister I buried. Now, I have one question-will love or vengeance claim me first?
BLURB:I never imagined that everything might change in a single night. However, I didn't anticipate that Alexander Stone, the mysterious millionaire with the wicked grin, would be the one to haunt both my life and my dreams. We intended for our night together to be a one-time event, a little getaway. I never would have thought that it would result in a secret that would haunt me for five years. My life now involves striking a cautious balance between parenting my daughter, Mia, by myself and apart from a guy who is unaware that he is a father. But I have to deal with him once again once his business purchases my art gallery. All of the memories from that evening flood back as our eyes contact, along with the unmistakable chemistry. I can feel him getting beyond my barriers as he gets closer, but I can't tell him the truth. Not right now. Not when everything I've fought so hard to achieve is in jeopardy. However, when Alexander gives me that resolute look, I understand that I may not be able to maintain my secret for very long. Then he asks me the one thing I'm afraid to respond to: Lena, what happened to you and me? If I told him the truth, would I lose him forever? Or is this my second-our second-chance at a love that can destroy all I've worked so hard to keep safe?
BLURB: I believed that I had moved on from my past. I resolved to keep my children safe at all means after spending a careless night with a stranger wearing a mask five years ago. I established a peaceful life in a new city, raising my triplets and their younger sister. However, my world starts to fall apart when my sons come back from the bathroom talking about a guy who has a tattoo of a wolf-the same tattoo I will always remember. The next day, destiny puts me face to face with him: the vicious CEO who doesn't know who I am but seems to be strangely attracted to my kids. I lie and deny everything out of a desperate attempt to protect my family. However, secrets tend to sneak through gaps, and his intense stare makes me question if he's already piecing things together. I'm stuck now, working for him, battling my emotions, and avoiding adversaries who seem out to bring me down. But nothing scares me more than the reality: what will he do if he finds out the children I vowed to safeguard are really his?
BLURB:I came to Moonshadow chasing folklore and found a mystery far greater than I bargained for. One night with Ethan Blackwood-a man as dangerous as he is alluring-was supposed to be a fleeting indulgence. But when he turned his back on me, cold and distant, I vowed to forget him. I failed. Now, I'm back in Moonshadow with secrets of my own-two growing lives tied to the man who rejected me. But something sinister stalks the shadows of this town, and my investigation is drawing me into a world I never believed existed. Ethan is hiding something, and no matter how hard he tries to keep me away, fate keeps pulling us closer. His icy facade cracks when the danger circles too near, and I discover his truth-a truth that explains everything. Ethan Blackwood isn't just a man. He's a beast bound by laws older than the moon. And now, those laws threaten to destroy us both. When the rogue wolf finally reveals its true target, I'll have to decide: can I trust Ethan to save me and the children he doesn't even know he's fighting for? Or has he already doomed us all?
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."
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
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.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.