Synopsis He was the most powerful man in the city, feared by everyone and known for his devilishly handsome face. Raymond Ray had everything anyone could desire-wealth, influence, and respect. Yet, he harbored no interest in women. It all began as a scheme to extort money from him. Ariana found herself trapped in a marriage she never wanted. It wasn't that she was opposed to marriage, but certainly not to the most dangerous man in the city. Her aunt lied to the world, claiming that Raymond had gotten Ariana pregnant and refused to take responsibility, all in a bid to swindle him. But the truth was far from that-Ariana wasn't pregnant, nor had she ever been close to Raymond. To everyone's shock, instead of denying the accusations, Raymond announced his intention to marry her. He knew it was all a lie, but he had a plan-a dangerous one. He would make Ariana pay for daring to play with fire. And whoever plays with fire always gets burned.
Chapter 1
Raymond's POV
They call me ruthless. Calculating. The devil in a custom suit.
It's all true. I've earned those titles and wear them like armor. Every deal, every victory, every enemy crushed beneath my polished shoes-each one has built this reputation. But as I sit at the head of the boardroom table, staring at the morning's entertainment on the projector screen-a recording of Ariana's aunt spinning her absurd story-I feel something unusual.
Amusement.
No one has ever dared something this desperate with me. Forcing a pregnancy scandal? Laughable. I have no interest in women-none. They're deceitful, dangerous, and endlessly calculating in their games of manipulation. I've spent my life ensuring I never fall into their traps. Or so I thought.
"She's bold," I mutter, leaning back in my chair as the video replays. Ariana's aunt, crocodile tears streaming, accuses me of ruining her precious niece's life. The headlines plastered beneath the footage scream: City's Most Feared Bachelor Caught in Scandalous Affair.
"Shall we address this in court, Mr. Ray?" Simon, my head of legal, asks, his tone careful, as though he's walking on glass. He adjusts his tie, avoiding my gaze. He knows better than to look me in the eye when I'm in this kind of mood.
"No." I steeple my fingers, my eyes fixed on the freeze-frame of the aunt's overly dramatic face. "We won't waste time with lawyers."
"Should I arrange for... a visit?" Simon ventures, his voice low and deliberate.
A faint smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. "Not yet."
The room falls into tense silence. No one dares to speak out of turn, knowing how thin the ice is under them. But my mind isn't on the aunt or her ridiculous lies-it's on the girl at the center of this mess. Ariana.
I don't recall ever meeting her, but the tabloids have plastered her face everywhere. Wide, frightened eyes. A quiet, undeniable beauty. She looks like someone who doesn't belong in my world, someone who couldn't survive even a day in it.
And yet, here she is.
"Sir?" Simon prods, clearly unnerved by my silence.
"She lied," I say softly, my tone sharp enough to cut glass. "But not convincingly enough to bother me." I pause, letting the tension hang in the air before adding, "That doesn't mean I'll let it slide."
Simon clears his throat, his brow furrowed. "What's the plan, then?"
I stand, straightening my cuffs with deliberate precision. "Marriage."
Simon chokes on his coffee. "Excuse me?"
"Marriage," I repeat, savoring the weight of the word. "Announce it publicly. Tell the media I've claimed responsibility and that the wedding is imminent."
"But... why?" Simon blurts, his professional mask slipping for the first time. "You don't even know this girl."
"Exactly," I say, my smirk widening. "I don't know her, but I will. And when I do, I'll make sure she regrets letting her aunt drag me into this charade."
Simon frowns, crossing his arms in a rare display of defiance. "And if she's just another pawn?"
"She's not just a pawn," I say, my tone hardening. "She's going to be useful.
Simon raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to elaborate.
"Do you think I don't hear the whispers in the boardroom?" I ask, my voice cold. "The questions about my personal life? They've been circling like vultures for months, pressuring me to settle down. Marrying this girl kills two birds with one stone."
Simon exhales sharply, realization dawning. "You're using her to shut them up."
"Precisely," I say, my smirk returning. "This scandal plays right into my hands. By marrying Ariana, I silence the board and take control of the narrative."
"And if she doesn't cooperate?"
"She will," I reply firmly. "She doesn't have a choice."
Simon still looks skeptical but nods. "Understood."
"I want the wedding tomorrow," I add, my tone leaving no room for debate.
Simon freezes mid-step, turning to look at me as though I've gone mad. "Tomorrow? That's..." He falters.
"I hate delays," I say, already heading for the door.
As I make my way to the parking lot, I can feel the whispers of my staff trailing behind me like shadows. Let them talk. Let them speculate. None of it matters.
I drive through the city, the familiar streets passing in a blur. My mind races with the details of what needs to happen next. By the time I arrive home, the plan is crystal clear.
Dinner is waiting when I step inside, but I barely taste it. The maids hover in the background, whispering amongst themselves. It's always the same: fear and curiosity. They've learned to keep their distance, but I can feel their eyes on me.
After dinner, I head to my room, loosening my tie as I go. Stripping down to my undershirt, I collapse onto the bed.
Tomorrow will be a long day.
Tomorrow, I get married.
I pick up my phone and send a text to the handful of people who need to be there. No big wedding. Keep it simple. Attendance mandatory.
The message is cold, clinical, and leaves no room for excuses.
As I set the phone down, my thoughts wander back to Ariana. Her image has been burned into my mind since the moment I saw it. Those wide eyes, that hint of fear-she's different. And I don't know why that bothers me.
But it doesn't matter.
This isn't about her. It's about me. My power. My reputation. She has to pay the price of making fake reports about me.
What did she think? Just ruined my reputation and walk away.
No! Things aren't done like that, especially in my world.
Tomorrow, I'll take what I want. And she'll have no choice but to fall in line.
Standing by the hallway, lost in thoughts as she admired the grand look of the mansion. She heard a cry from the hallway and then a little figure hugging her so tight! "Mommy, why did you leave me and Dad?!"
"Wa..wh-wha-what do you mean?". Lizzy stuttered as everything happening here sounded like joke m "I'm what...?" She yelled. "You're pregnant Lizzy". The doctor answered. Lizzy fell silent at this sudden need. Love is sacrificial! For love, there are things you have to risk at times.. be it... Personality, wealth, career, just name it! All Lizzy could remember was getting drunk, seeing her aggressive boyfriend about to abuse her and then a savior whom she felt safe in his arms. That was the only memory that played in her head .. the next thing was getting pregnant for her saviour whom she doesn't know from Adams. His name, identity, personality just made her curious and nervous! The only thing that occured to her was she had a one night stand with a stranger! What happens when she has to give up her career? Would that saviour save her from bringing up the child alone? Would that saviour just love and care for the child in her even if he doesn't consider her? Find out fams as your ride on in this intriguing life surrounding Lizzy! 😍
He's arrogant. Kim Tae Hyun, aged forty five. A fashion designer best known in Korea. He is known for his fame and riches. He order with just the snap of his fingers but it changed when he met Eun Ae, a crazy girl, a lowlife breed. Just their first encounter, the dogs could cry... In the verge for a job, she founds his secret. "You... You... are...a v-a-m-p-i-r-e" She said stammering spelling the word out.. HE'S A VAMPIRE.. HE SUCKS, KILLS AND DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN... Now that a human knows, what would become of her?? Will she go scot-free? Find out..
This book is about a couple, who never loved each other. They got married by contract and gave birth to a girl child by mistake and lust. This contract soon had to be terminated, but there is no way out... Bryan, the husband, never had time for his family, he was more concerned about his business. But you know what? He was a criminal with pretence in him. Why don't you read this book filled with contents like love, hypocrisy, crisis,criminal act,mystery and high school love. When Bryan faces a lot of challenges with his wife who cant cope with him anymore. She decides to move on. There is also another set of lovers in high school who starts their relationship with curses and fight. One has to revenge the mother's death and the other, find his real father. Love therefore penetrates into them but many obstacles comes their way.... Enjoy reading😀😀🤩
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!