Clara Hart, a quiet and determined woman struggling to pay off her late father's debts, finds herself reluctantly drawn into an arranged marriage with Marcus Blackwood, a powerful and emotionally guarded billionaire. Their union is orchestrated by Marcus' controlling mother, Victoria, and motivated by Marcus' need to secure his company's legacy. Despite their rocky start, Clara and Marcus develop a connection that threatens to unravel when Isabella, Marcus' former lover and a manipulative socialite, resurfaces with a scheme to destroy their relationship. Through trust, growth, and resilience, Clara emerges as a confident woman who reclaims her happiness and finds love in Marcus, culminating in a triumphant partnership.
Clara stood alone at her father's grave, the wind biting at her cheeks and pulling her hair in all directions. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, as if holding her body together could somehow stave off the emptiness that threatened to swallow her whole. Above her, the sky was a dull gray, thick cloud threatening rain but holding it back, as if the heavens themselves were uncertain how to react to her grief. The finality of it all hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Her father's grave was simple-just a plain headstone, no grand words or flourishes. Jonathan Ellis, beloved father and friend. The words seemed inadequate for the man she had known. He wasn't just her father. He had been everything to her-her rock, her guiding hand, and her best friend. He had always been the one who believed in her dreams, the one who encouraged her when the world told her to be practical, to give up. But now he is gone. And with him, all the stability, all the hope, seemed to have slipped away too.
Clara's chest tightened as she gazed at the grave, her heart threatening to break. The tears she had fought so hard to hold back finally broke free, streaming down her face. She couldn't hold it together anymore. There was no hiding the pain. The grief was too raw, too fresh. She had never imagined the world without him. She had never imagined having to face it alone.
As a child, Clara had always been her father's little girl. They had spent countless hours together-her sitting on his knee, listening to him talk about the future he dreamed for her, a future full of promise and hope. He had always told her to aim high, to never settle for less than what she deserved. But now those words felt like a cruel reminder of how far she had fallen from the life he had imagined for her.
The last few months had been nothing but a blur of hospital rooms, sterile smells, and the constant hum of machines that kept her father alive even when his body was ready to let go. It had been a battle-a battle neither of them had won. And now, Clara found herself standing here, alone. The storm of grief that had been gathering in her chest finally broke, and she let herself cry, feeling the weight of it all. The loss was too much, too deep.
"I miss you, Dad," she whispered through trembling lips, her voice cracking. Her father's last words rang in her ears. "Be strong, Clara. Don't let this world break you."
The words had been so simple, but at the time, they had filled her with a sense of hope. Now, they felt like an impossible task. How could she be strong when everything was falling apart? How could she carry on when the one person who had always been there for her was gone?
The wind picked up, whipping her hair around her face. Clara wiped her tears with the back of her hand, standing in silence as she gazed at the headstone. Her father had left her with so much-a home filled with memories, a love that had never wavered, and dreams of a future that now felt out of reach. But with his death came a burden she had not been prepared for: the weight of his debts.
Her father's death had left behind more than just emotional scars. It had left behind a mountain of unpaid loans and creditors who were more than eager to claim whatever was left. The house she had grown up in, the place that held all of her memories of her father, was at risk. She could lose it all-everything he had worked for, everything he had given her. The idea of walking away from the only home she had ever known was unbearable, yet she could already hear the sound of the bank's cold, indifferent voice telling her she was behind on payments, that she had no choice but to leave.
Clara swallowed hard, pushing those thoughts from her mind. She had to face reality. Her father's death had left her in a financial hole that she couldn't dig her way out of on her own. She had tried everything. She had sold whatever small valuables she had left, taken on odd jobs where she could, but it wasn't enough. There were days when the fear of it all made her chest tighten, and she could barely breathe.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She fumbled for it, expecting it to be another creditor calling. But when she looked at the screen, it was a number she didn't recognize. A strange sense of foreboding washed over her. She didn't feel like answering, but something urged her to pick up.
"Hello?" she answered, her voice tentative.
"Ms. Ellis? This is Victoria Blackwood. I'd like to meet with you. It's regarding a matter that could help you with your current situation. Please, let me know when you're available."
The voice on the other end was smooth, businesslike, but there was something in it that piqued Clara's curiosity. Victoria Blackwood was a name she had heard before, one associated with wealth and power in the city. Clara had no idea what the woman wanted, but she could hear the implication in her words-a solution to her problems, something she hadn't expected.
Clara hung up without responding, her mind racing. Could this be a lifeline? Or was it just another empty promise? She didn't know what to make of it, but part of her-a small part-wondered if this could be her chance to pull herself out of the mess she was in. It seemed almost too good to be true.
The walk back to her apartment felt longer than it ever had before. Every step she took was weighed down by the enormity of her situation. The small apartment she had returned to felt even more stifling now, its walls closing in on her. She barely noticed the piles of unpaid bills, the unpaid rent reminders, or the dusty old furniture that made her feel like a stranger in her own home.
She had never felt more alone.
Sitting at her small kitchen table, Clara stared at the letter that had arrived that morning-a reminder that she was on the verge of losing everything. She buried her head in her hands, overwhelmed by the weight of it all.
Then, for the first time in days, she closed her eyes, letting the quiet of the room envelop her. She needed to find a way forward, a way to move past the grief, past the debt, and reclaim some semblance of control over her life.
Tomorrow, she will face what comes next. But tonight, she allowed herself the briefest of reprieves, holding onto the memory of her father's voice.
"Don't let this world break you."
It was a promise she hadn't yet found the strength to keep, but as she sat in the stillness of the night, she promised herself she would try. Tomorrow, she will figure out what to do. But tonight, Clara let the tears fall-one last time for the father she had lost and the future she feared she might never have.
Clara Evans never expected her life to be upended by an arranged marriage to a billionaire. Or that this marriage to the aloof and cold Marcus Blackwood would challenge everything she thought she knew about herself. But when her father's debts force her into the union, Clara has no choice but to navigate the treacherous waters of wealth, power, and emotional scars. Marcus Blackwood is a man built on control, haunted by betrayal, and determined to keep everyone at arm's length-especially the timid woman he now calls his wife. But as Clara begins to assert her strength, challenging both him and the walls he's built around his heart, Marcus is forced to confront the possibility of love he swore he'd never trust again. In a battle for their hearts and futures, Clara must find the courage to stand up for herself and prove that her love is worth fighting for-before Marcus' past threatens to tear them apart forever.
In a world where strength determines status, Ava, a seemingly weak and timid werewolf, is rejected by her mate, alpha-to-be Lucas, for being unworthy. Marked as an outcast, she is abandoned by her pack and left to survive in a brutal and unforgiving wilderness. As Ava struggles against rejection, betrayal, and her own insecurities, she discovers a hidden strength within her-a power long suppressed by those who feared her potential. Guided by a mysterious rogue, Ethan, who harbors secrets of his own, Ava learns to harness her abilities and uncover the truth behind her lineage. While Lucas begins to regret his decision, Ava is torn between second chances and the promise of a new love with Ethan. However, her rise is not without challenges, as enemies, both old and new, plot to bring her down. Through trials of the heart and battles for survival, Ava must learn to embrace her destiny, prove her worth, and fight for her place in a world that sought to forsake her. In doing so, she will redefine the meaning of strength, love, and forgiveness, eventually becoming a force that no one, not even the strongest alpha, can ignore.
Samantha Denison, a twenty three year old lady, faces a mafia billionaire boss Aiden zhabin, who has no mercy or compassion and believes death is the only punishable way for anyone who offends him. Samantha's parents had collected a loan to save her eleven years elder brother from a brain tumor illness that could kill him,from one of Aiden's organizations. Instead of letting the mafia boss punish her mum because they can't afford the price, in her presence as she will be more subdued to pain, she decides to take everything and pay every dime her parents took, without even knowing the price or how she is going to pay. Samantha challenges the mafia boss; he has weaknesses, something no one, not even his dad ever told him to his face. He accepts Samantha's challenge which lasts for six months under his roof with the condition of never coming after her and her family once the six months are due and she's able to prove. Read to know what happens when she can't prove herself to the mafia boss.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
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!”
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
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."
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."