After being betrayed by her half-sister, Lyra, a young woman with a tumultuous past, left her golden world to go into exile abroad and escape the machinations of her family. Three years later, she returns with a heavy heart but determined to get revenge. However, she finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage intended to protect the interests of her sick grandmother. But who is this man who is really being forced upon her? To her great surprise, the billionaire she is to marry is not Finn, the man who betrayed her and with whom her half-sister had humiliated her. Instead, she finds herself facing a mystery incarnate: a charismatic and enigmatic billionaire she has never met. Why did he agree to this marriage? What is hidden behind his piercing gaze? As Lyra delves deeper into this new reality, she discovers that her half-sister and stepmother orchestrated the marriage to regain control of their family empire after discovering Finn was an imposter with no legitimacy. But why did they choose this man? And what does he really know about the real story? The mysterious billionaire, Alexander, is more than just a businessman; he is the true heir to a forgotten dynasty, returned to reclaim his lost heritage. In this arranged marriage, Lyra finds herself at the center of a thrilling power play, torn between family loyalty and her growing passion for the man she supposedly despises. Can Lyra untangle the threads of this complex plot and choose between revenge and love? What will she do when the truth about Alexander's intentions comes to light? The suspense builds at every turn: will her own secrets be exposed before she can act?
The rain beat violently against the windows of the taxi as it wound its way through the familiar streets of Crescentville . Lyra pressed her forehead against the cold glass, her heart heavy, but determination burning in her eyes. It had been three years since she left this town, three years since she turned her back on everything she knew, taking with her the broken pieces of a past she could not forget. **Why was she coming back now?** It was a question she kept asking herself, but the answer was crystal clear. It was not out of nostalgia, nor out of hope of reconciliation.
It was for revenge.
The car stopped in front of the large family home, an austere stone monument that had always evoked more constraints than comfort. As she descended, she took a deep breath, trying to contain the bitterness that threatened to boil over. The scent of the wisteria in the garden seemed to have not changed, but everything else did. Herself, first of all. The naive and malleable young woman she had been had died the day her half-sister, Vanessa, tore her life into pieces.
The door opened before she even knocked. An older woman, her face scarred by illness but softened by a warm smile, stood there.
- ** Lyra , my darling, you are here.**
His grandmother. The only person in this family chaos who had always been on his side. Lyra gave a smile that she hoped was sincere and threw herself into his arms, breathing in the reassuring scent of lavender that had accompanied so many childhood memories.
- **Grandma, how are you? I missed you so much.**
- **So what about you? It seemed like I would never see you again. Come in quickly, it's cold outside.**
They entered the vast hall, where the dark walls and old carpets seemed even more oppressive than before. Lyra tried to chase away the unpleasant memories that threatened to invade her: the arguments, the manipulations, the betrayal. She was here for a reason, and she wouldn't let the past distract her.
His grandmother observed him with silent curiosity, as if trying to understand what was hidden behind this sudden return.
- **You must be tired after your trip. I prepared your room for you.**
Lyra put down her luggage and sat by the fireplace, letting the heat warm her cold hands. But the respite was short-lived.
- **Grandma...are Vanessa and my mother-in-law still here?**
The grandmother's expression hardened slightly, a shadow crossing her eyes.
- **Yes. They haven't changed, if that's what you want to know. Vanessa has even taken up more space than before in the company. But they weren't expecting you... and I doubt they'll be happy to see you again.**
Lyra gave a cold smile.
- **I didn't come back to please them. This time, I won't let it happen.**
A silence settled between them, heavy with unsaid words. Then her grandmother sighed, smoothing out the folds of her dress with nervous gestures.
- **There's something I need to talk to you about.**
Lyra looked up, wary. She didn't like her grandmother's tone, nor the unusual hesitation in her voice.
- **What is happening?**
- **A wedding, Lyra . An arranged marriage.**
The young woman blinked in disbelief.
- **A wedding? With whom ? For what ?**
The old woman straightened up, her voice taking on a firmness that contrasted with her apparent fragility.
- **This is about protecting the family legacy. The business that your father built, the one that your stepmother and Vanessa are trying to destroy little by little. If nothing is done, they will soon have everything in their hands. This marriage is a solution... temporary, but necessary.**
Lyra felt a cold shiver go down her spine. She had heard this kind of speech before. The "necessary" sacrifices, the "temporary" compromises. It never ended well.
- **And you think it's up to me to sacrifice myself?** she asked, her voice sharp.
- **No, my dear. But you are the only one who can do it. The man in question is ready to help us, provided you agree to become his wife.**
Lyra flinched slightly, as if her grandmother's words had slapped her.
- **And who is this man?**
Her grandmother hesitated, playing with the pendant around her neck.
- **His name is Alexander. An influential but mysterious billionaire. I don't know him personally, but his record is... impressive.**
Alexander. The name echoed in Lyra's mind, foreign and threatening at the same time. Why would such a powerful man want to get mixed up in their dysfunctional family?
- **And what does he gain from it?**
- **I guess he has his own reasons. But I can assure you that he has no connection with Vanessa or your mother-in-law. He insisted that everything be transparent and under contract.**
Lyra stood abruptly, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
- **No. I can't do this, grandmother. Not yet giving in to their schemes. I have already lost everything because of this family.**
Her grandmother placed a trembling hand on her arm, her pleading eyes meeting those of Lyra .
- **I know it's unfair to ask you that, my little one. But I'm old, and I won't be able to protect this heritage for long. If you refuse, everything your father built will disappear.**
These words struck Lyra in the heart. She had sworn not to let herself be manipulated again, but could she really turn her back on what was left of her father?
She looked away, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
- **I want to meet him first. If I'm going to consider this marriage, I need to know who I'm dealing with.**
Her grandmother nodded, relieved.
- **Of course. I will organize a meeting tomorrow.**
Lyra remained silent, staring at the flames in the fireplace. She hadn't come for that. She had come to regain control of her life, not to hand it over to a stranger. But maybe this marriage was his chance to turn things around, take back the family legacy and finally escape Vanessa's shadow.
She took a deep breath, vowing to stay on guard. **Alexander** or not, she would never let herself be crushed again.
Night was falling on Crescentville , but for Lyra , it was only the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter where she intended to be the heroine, and no longer the victim.
For three years, Althea lived in the shadow of an arranged marriage with Damian Crowe, a billionaire as ruthless as they are insistent, known for his dark things and his absolute control over the elite. This marriage, designed by their families to unite two dynasties by the decline, quickly turned into a nightmare. Ignored by Damian, and closely monitored by his allies, Althea has discovered a world of unavowable secrets and questionable transactions. One night, she comes across compromising information that could ruin Damian and her whole family. Realizing that she is only a pawn in their game, she disappears without warning, leaving behind an empire in danger and a man plagued by her own demons. When Althea resurfaces three years later, she was unrecognizable: independent, formidable and armed with a infallible strategy to undermine the power of Damian. In parallel, it becomes the target of the rivals of the latter, who see in it the key to destroy the reign of the Crowe. But Damian did not say his last word. Torn between his desire to reconquer and the fear of the truths that Althea could reveal, he embarks on a battle where love and destruction are intertwined. Does Althea play a vengeance game, or is it about to overthrow a world that she has sworn to never suffer?
Lea, an orphan since she was thirteen, was raised by her charismatic guardian, Gabriel, a man of dazzling success and a reputation as an alpha in the business world. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, Lea surprises a disturbing scene: Gabriel embraces a mysterious-looking assistant in the private office where she has always believed that trust reigned. This unexpected moment awakens in her a storm of feelings: admiration, anger, and a burning fascination for this man who has always been her protector. Determined to turn the situation around, Lea concocts a daring plan to seduce Gabriel. But as she approaches him with newfound confidence, the guardian struggles between his responsibilities and a desire he thought repressed. What is Gabriel really hiding behind his self-confident appearance? Can he resist the growing attraction to this young woman who is no longer the child he raised? Events take a dramatic turn when Lea discovers a shocking secret about Gabriel's past-a secret that could destroy everything between them. Will she be able to handle the consequences of what she's discovered? Is their relationship doomed to be a dangerous game, or could it turn into something even deeper? As tensions rise and passions flare, Lea must face heartbreaking choices: sacrifice her heart to protect the one she loves, or dive headfirst into this forbidden romance, no matter the risk?
Natalie Carter is the daughter of Charles Carter, a powerful real estate tycoon known for his colossal financial empire. She left her family home to live among ordinary people after a humiliating rejection from her fiancé, an influential man she thought was her soul mate. Her escape caused a scandal, bringing shame on her family. Three years later, Natalie leads a discreet life in Manhattan. She lives in a modest apartment in a picturesque neighborhood and works as an executive assistant in a small advertising agency. She is in a relationship with a simple and unremarkable man. All seems peaceful until her neighbor mysteriously disappears. This disappearance is followed by a series of disturbing events, including murders linked to influential figures in high society. Her mother, Elizabeth Carter, contacts her to alert her of an imminent danger linked to their past. Driven by circumstances, Natalie crosses paths with her former fiancé, Alexander Drake, an enigmatic and ruthless billionaire. Faced with plots, betrayals, and shocking revelations, Natalie finds herself forced to return to the world she fled, ending her simple and anonymous life. But can she navigate this whirlwind of lies and power without losing who she has become? And is Alexander an ally or a threat?
In the dark forests of the Dark Moons pack, Elia Ross, a young healer, seeks to heal the wounds of her past. Sent as a protector to the fragile and gentle Liora, she discovers the disturbing secrets of the lupine hierarchy. At the top of this society reigns Kael Drax, the dominant Alpha, as fascinating as he is ruthless. Ten years earlier, Kael was involved in the tragedy that destroyed Elia's family, but he seems not to remember her. When an arranged marriage between Kael and Liora is announced to unite two powerful packs, Elia sees an unexpected opportunity: to protect Liora, but also to confront the Alpha with his sins. However, troubling questions haunt her mind: why does Kael seem strangely attracted to her? What is he hiding behind his brutal decisions? And, most importantly, is she willing to betray her own principles to uncover the truth and break the chains of her past? As tensions rise and pack rivalries intensify, Elia will have to choose between justice, vengeance, and a forbidden desire.
Alessia Ford, an ambitious young woman disillusioned by her family's betrayals, leaves everything to rebuild her life far from her past. She lands a job in the financial empire of Nathan Drake, a billionaire with an icy charm and a fearsome reputation. Alessia, with her sharp mind and natural audacity, intrigues Nathan from their first meeting. But why does this man, used to dominating the business world, seem troubled by a simple employee? While he proposes an arranged marriage for mysterious reasons, Alessia accepts, driven by the need to protect herself from her own family demons. However, as soon as she settles into the luxurious Drake villa, she realizes that Nathan hides much more than a simple financial interest behind this contract. What is he trying to escape or protect? Why do menacing glances fall on her at every gala? Between corporate secrets, all-consuming jealousies and a budding love, Alessia will have to discover the truth before the stakes of this contract become completely beyond her control.
Eloise "Ellie" Carter, a young woman from a tyrannical elite family, is forced to marry a man she despises: a ruthless billionaire Alpha, Adrian Wolfe. Heir to an ancient line of werewolves, Ellie is the shame of her family because her wolf has never shown up. Adrian, leader of the Silversand pack and CEO of a colossal financial empire, agrees to this arranged marriage to solidify a deal vital to his pack. Arrogant, domineering, and elusive, Adrian hides a deep wound: a dark past marked by loss, betrayal, and a curse that eats away at his wolf, threatening his control. In a world where business mixes with pack hierarchy, Ellie is propelled into a world of luxury, power, and rivalry. But she soon discovers that Adrian is not just a domineering Alpha and a business tycoon: he is also a man haunted by a secret that could destroy everything. Why did Adrian really agree to this marriage? What is this strange bond that seems to be forming between them, teetering between hatred and uncontrollable desire? As Ellie tries to prove her worth in a world that sees her as weak, she uncovers conspiracies within Adrian's pack, shady financial alliances, and a threat that could destroy their world. What if her wolf is not lost but simply asleep? What will happen when Ellie discovers she is linked to an ancient prophecy that could either save Adrian or destroy him?
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
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."
"I, Sophia Addison, of the Crescent Moon Pack, deny your rejection, Jacob Carter." I smiled triumphantly at him and he just glared at me. I can hear loud gasps and whispers throughout the place. They cannot believe that their goody-two-shoes of a senior year president is rejecting me in front of everybody. What goody-two-shoes? More like a two faced jerk! That is why, here I am, denying his rejection. Oh well, I refuse to suffer alone. So...let us both suffer together my dear mate.
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"