Betrayed by her fiancé and abandoned by her family, Mandy Gates was ready to disappear-until Damian Black, her ex's powerful billionaire uncle, makes a bold offer to help her seek her revenge. Though it started as a calculated alliance but it quickly ignites into something neither of them expected. However, in a world of secrets and betrayal surrounding them, can they trust the fire between them, or will it consume them both? Find out in this thrilling story.
Mandy's POV
The hospital room smelled faintly of antiseptic, a sharp, sterile scent that clung to everything. I hated it. And the IV drip attached to my arm made a soft clicking sound every few seconds, which was a constant reminder that I was stuck here. My head felt heavy, my body weaker than I cared to admit, but my fingers still swiped across my phone screen.
Though, I wasn't even sure why I opened social media-habit, maybe. Or just something to distract me from the endless hours stretching out in front of me. As I scrolled through photos of smiling couples, vacation snapshots, and perfect lives, I saw it.
Nathan.
My fiancé.
He was in a picture with a woman I'd never met, but she looked familiar. Her arm was looped through his, their faces were close, and they were smiling like they shared some private joke with the caption which stated. "My love is true, couldn't be happier."
My stomach twisted viewing the caption and to think it was my adoptive parents who posted it and even tagged her as Mia, their biological daughter.
I stared at the photo, my chest tightening as I began wondering he never mentioned her to me. Not once.
He had even told me he was too busy to visit me in the hospital. "Work is insane," he'd said. "I'll come as soon as I can, babe. Just rest, okay?" But here he was, smiling with her like he didn't have a care in the world.
Instantly, I clicked on his contact and pressed the call button before I could overthink it. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Then it went into voicemail.
But that didn't stop me as I tried again.
And again.
Still nothing.
The silence on the other end of the line felt louder than the drip of the IV or the hum of the hospital machines.
My mind raced as flashes of the last seven years began hitting me like punches. The way he used to hold me after a long day, whispering promises about our future. The way he'd laugh at my jokes, even the bad ones. How he'd sworn he'd always be there for me. But lately, he'd been pulling away-brushing me off, working late, forgetting things he never used to forget.
I told myself, perhaps I was overthinking it. I had to be.
But when I got home that night, something felt... off, too off to be precise as the apartment was quiet than usual. It was the kind of quiet that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. So, I dropped my bag on the couch and froze as something sparkled on the floor near the edge of the rug.
Only to discover a pair of earrings and they weren't mine.
My heart started pounding as each beat echoed in my ears. I picked them up, turning them over in my hand to have a proper look. They were elegant, expensive and definitely not the kind of thing I'd ever wear.
With that, I stood there for a moment, staring at them, as my thoughts turned a tangled mess. Then I marched to the bedroom. Only to find Nathan's suit jacket hanging on the back of the chair, just where he always left it. My fingers trembled as I reached into the pocket and found a condom box opened.
At that point, I couldn't breathe as my hands shook the minute I threw the jacket back onto the chair. Though the earrings were still clutched in my hand, digging into my palm.
I couldn't wait for him to be back as I had so many questions brooding on my mind, I was so furious and felt like I was played but I had no option but to wait for him.
After some hours later, I saw Nathan walking through the door, and the minute he saw me sitting on the couch with my arms crossed with the earrings on the coffee table in front of me like evidence in a trial.
He froze.
"What's this?" I asked, my voice low.
As he glanced at the earrings, then at me. H
Though, his face didn't change. Not guilt. Not surprise. Just... indifference.
"They're earrings," he said, like I was stupid for even asking.
"They're not mine."
He shrugged, walking past me toward the kitchen. "So? Maybe they're yours and you forgot."
I stood, my voice rising. "Don't do that. Don't act like I'm imagining things. Who do they belong to, Nathan?"
He didn't answer.
"And what about this?" I grabbed the condom box from the table, holding it up.
Nathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can we not do this right now? I've had a long day."
"No," I snapped. "We're doing this right now. Who is she?"
He turned to face me, his expression cold. "Mia," he said finally. "Your parents' daughter. I've been seeing her."
Hearing this, my chest tightened. "Seeing her? What does that even mean?"
"It means I'm done pretending, okay?" His voice rose, sharp and defensive. "You're boring, alright? You've changed. You're always tired, always complaining. I need someone who actually excites me."
His words hit me like a slap.
"Excites you?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "After everything we've been through? Seven years, Nathan. Seven years."
He shrugged again, his face blank. "Things change, okay."
"Things change," I murmured silently as I felt something break inside me. The love I had for him, the trust, the hope-it all shattered in that moment.
Then, my voice turned steadier than I felt as I said to him. "Fine, we're done."
Nathan smirked, like he didn't believe me. "You'll regret this," he said, his tone almost mocking. "You think you can do better?"
But I didn't answer as I grabbed my bag,
with my heart pounding as I walked past him.
Reaching outside of his house, the night air hit me like a shock which was cold and sharp against my skin.
And as I stood there for a moment, staring up at the dark sky. I felt empty. Numb. But beneath it all of that, there was a flicker of something else.
Determination.
As I wasn't going to let Nathan-or anyone else-make me feel small no matter what.
Not now.
Not ever.
*"I had a one-night stand with a stranger who turned out to be my boss, oh my goodness what have I done,"* Valerie Skye is a young and hardworking woman, who finds herself entangled in a web of love, lies, and unexpected twists, after getting dumped by her ex-lover. She ends up having a one-night stand with a total stranger, Dante Blaze, who turns out to be her boss. This becomes complicated for Valerie, as she tries every possible way to avoid Dante. But as a charming playboy and her boss, Dante takes this as a challenge to clip Valerie's wings and make her his. Will she be able to stand his charm? Will he succeed in making her submit? Will love end up overruling Dante's Playboy's nature? Or will Valerie continuously live in shame of her night with him?
"My mom was always right, you're a cheap whore who sells her body for money!" Richard yelled in anger Gabriella's easygoing life takes a turn for the worse when her boyfriend catches her in bed with another man who turns out to be his arch nemesis and the most powerful CEO, Simeon Grey. No one including her boyfriend believes her innocence and Simon takes advantage of this and forces her to be his wife against her wishes with no way of escape. What happens when Gabriella finds out that she is just a pawn in Simon's game to destroy Richard? Will she be able to escape Simon's clutches or does fate have other plans in store for her?
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
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."
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
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...
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”