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In the towering glass skyline of New York, one billionaire, driven by power and haunted by secrets, finds himself entangled in the lives of two remarkable women. Each holds a piece of his heart, and yet, each carries a truth that could either shatter or save them all.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling city of New York. From the penthouse of Hartley Industries, Alexander Hartley stood in silence, staring out at the city below. It was his kingdom-an empire he had built on control and precision. But tonight, it felt more like a prison.
At 28, Alexander had more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes, more power than most could imagine. Yet, it wasn't enough. There was an emptiness he couldn't ignore, no matter how many deals he closed or accolades he received.
He let his fingers trail over the glass, the cool surface grounding him. It reminded him of who he was-a man who kept the world at arm's length, who never let anyone close enough to see the cracks in his carefully constructed armor. And yet, in the last few weeks, he had felt that control slipping.
His phone buzzed on the desk behind him, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen: Sophia. His chest tightened, though he wasn't sure why. Sophia Hartley had been part of his life for as long as he could remember. She was his closest friend, his confidante-the only person who truly understood the darkness he carried. She never pushed him to talk about it, but he always knew she saw it.
Still, it wasn't her call that unsettled him tonight. What set his nerves on edge was the message waiting for him from Emily.
Emily had crashed into his life like a hurricane-sharp, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. She was brilliant, self-assured, and stunning, but there was something about her that made him uneasy. Her eyes, dark and piercing, seemed to hold truths he wasn't ready to face.
He sat down at his desk, ignoring Sophia's call, and picked up his phone. The message from Emily was simple:
We need to talk.
His fingers hovered over the screen, indecision gnawing at him. What could she possibly want now? He had been avoiding her, mostly because of how much space she had started taking up in his mind. For a man like him, letting anyone get close-especially someone as unpredictable as Emily-was dangerous.
But Emily wasn't like anyone else. She had a way of slipping through the cracks in his armor, a way of breaking down walls without even trying. And that terrified him.
He exhaled slowly, hit Call, and waited as the line rang.
---
Emily's apartment, one block away.
Emily sat cross-legged on her couch, staring at her phone. She had been pacing all night, rehearsing what she was going to say. Her message had been short, but the conversation ahead wouldn't be. There was no way around it anymore. The truth had to come out, even if it destroyed everything.
She'd seen Alexander a few times since their last meeting, and each time, she noticed the way he pulled back. It was the same way he dealt with everyone-keeping his distance, never letting anyone get too close. But she had seen past that facade. She had glimpsed the man behind the armor, the one he tried so hard to hide.
The truth she carried wasn't just hers. It was his too. And tonight, she couldn't keep it to herself any longer.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She took a deep breath and answered.
"Emily," his voice came through the line-smooth, calm, but with an edge she couldn't place.
"Alexander," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "We need to talk. It's about us."
---
Alexander leaned back in his chair, gripping the phone tightly. There was something unsettling in her tone, something final. Normally, Emily spoke with measured confidence, every word deliberate. But now, there was a rawness in her voice that threw him off.
"You know how I feel about this," he said, keeping his voice even. "You know what happens when things get messy."
"I know," she said quickly. "But this isn't about us. Not in the way you think."
He frowned. "Then what is it about?"
She hesitated, and for a moment, he thought she might hang up. But then she spoke, her voice quieter.
"I can't keep pretending anymore," she said. "There's something you need to know. Something that could change everything."
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Alexander felt a strange pull in his chest-an unfamiliar mix of fear and anticipation.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low but tight.
"I'm not who you think I am," she whispered.
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He sat up straighter, his body tense.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm not just some lawyer," she said, a bitter laugh slipping out. "I wasn't sent here by accident. My family... my father... he's tied to yours in ways you don't understand."
Alexander's mind raced. His father. The man who had built Hartley Industries from nothing. What could Emily possibly mean?
"You're not making sense," he said, though unease was creeping into his voice. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"I'm saying," Emily continued, her voice breaking, "that I was sent to keep an eye on you. To protect your interests. But somewhere along the way, I started to care about you. And now... now I don't know how to fix what I've done."
His breath caught. "You... you were spying on me?"
"It's not like that," she said quickly. "It's more complicated than that. My father's company has been trying to broker a deal with Hartley Industries for years. When I found out about the arrangement, I thought I could control the situation. I thought I could stay professional. But then I met you, and everything changed."
Alexander didn't respond. He couldn't. The revelation hit him like a tidal wave, threatening to drag him under. He had always known Emily was hiding something, but this? This was a betrayal he hadn't anticipated.
And yet, there was something in her voice-a vulnerability that struck him. She wasn't just confessing a secret. She was admitting that, despite everything, she had real feelings for him.
Before he could say anything, a knock on the door broke the silence. He froze.
---
At the same time, across the city, Sophia Hartley stood at the entrance to Alexander's penthouse. Her hand lingered on the doorknob as she debated whether to knock again. She had known Alexander her whole life, and she could sense that something was wrong. There was a heaviness in the air, an unspoken tension she couldn't ignore.
Sophia had always believed there was something special between them-a bond no one else could understand. But lately, her feelings had grown more complicated. Deeper.
Taking a steadying breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
---
The stage was set. The past was catching up with them all, and soon, the secrets that bound them together would either tear them apart-or force them to confront the truths they had been avoiding for far too long.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!