Evelyn Grey's existence is falling apart. Struggling with crushing debt and her mom's declining health, she's desperate for a way out. When bloodless-hearted billionaire Kelvin Styles gives her a lifeline-a settlement marriage on the way to remedy all her problems-Evelyn is compelled to accept, even though it approaches pretending to be in love with a man she barely knows. Kelvin has his very own reasons for the deal. He needs a wife to steady his inheritance, he's not interested in love or emotion. But there's a darker cause at the back of his mind: revenge As Evelyn and Kelvin's fake relationship turns real, she discovers his hidden agenda and feels betrayed. Heartbroken, she must decide whether to leave him or forgive him and fight for their love.
Evelyn's pov
I stood at the counter of the small diner, my arms trembling barely as I punched in the order for Table 7. My mind wandered, distracted by the noise around me. It had been a tough day, like every other day, as I struggled to make ends meet with my mother's medical bills and overdue rent piling up.
The bell on the door rang as another customer entered the diner. I glanced up to see who it was, and my heart sank as I saw who it was. Kelvin Styles.
He stood out in the diner as this wasn't his normal place to be, his sleek, tailored suit and His intimidating presence clashed with the diner's casual vibe. His confident energy commanded attention and whispers as people couldn't help but stare, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and awe.
But Kelvin wasn't here for them. His darkish, piercing eyes locked onto me, and a shiver ran down my spine. I swallowed tough, feeling as if the air had thinned out.
"Evelyn!" he called, his deep voice sending a tremor through her. It wasn't a greeting. It was a command.
"Sir?," I responded softly, trying to hold her voice regularly, surprised that he knew her name. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"I want to talk with you in private," he said to me, like an order.
"I'm working sir, if you would wait and give me a minute. I will be with you shortly" I said in reply trying to salvage the situation
"You have five minutes" he walked to the booth at the back of the diner. I was still shocked about what was going on. My friend, Grace, saw the conversation and looked at me with surprise.
"You never told me you knew The Kelvin Styles," she said to me wanting me to fill in the details
"I don't know him and I am as surprised as you are. If you don't mind covering for me. I won't be long" I said as I gave her the order for table seven
I walked to the booth where he was and stood before him, as I waited for him to say something and break the ice.
"Sit," he commanded, gesturing to the back booth. His tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal.
I hesitated my heart racing, remembering their last encounter at a charity gala where I had accidentally spilled a drink on him. He had been cold and dismissive, but now he was seeking me out. The question was, why?
Hope it wasn't to pay for his clothes, because I barely even make enough to feed him. I sat down, facing him. I played with my hands nervously hoping he had not come for something else other than to pay him for his damaged clothes.
"I'm working sir, so if you kindly let me know why you wanted to see me I would be glad" There was something about him that made resistance impossible.
He watched me for a while then he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "I even have a proposition for you."
My brows furrowed. "A proposition?"
He leaned forward, placing his arms at the desk, his gaze unwavering. "I need a wife."
My eyes widened, unsure if I had heard him correctly. I searched his face for a hint of humor but found none. His expression was dead serious, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. He wasn't the type to joke around.
"Excuse me?" I asked, my voice slightly above a whisper.
"I want a wife," he repeated, his tone steady, as though he had been discussing an enterprise deal. "A temporary arrangement for one year and you are free"
My heart raced. Kelvin Styles, one of the most powerful people in New York City-perhaps even the United States-came to her place of work to seek a wife and it was no other person than her. No, this had to be a funny story. But the depth in his gaze told me otherwise. Still, it made no sense.
"And why do you need me?"I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief.
"You have what I need," he said, his voice cold and calculating. "You're ordinary enough to fly under the radar, and you're desperate enough to agree to my terms. I know about your debts, Evelyn. Your mother's medical bills. I can take care of all of it. One condition: you marry me, and we pretend to be a happily married couple in public. You follow my rules, and I'll pay off everything."
My breath was caught in my throat. The weight of his words crushing me, feeling like a heavy stone pinning me down. He knew everything. Of course, he did. Powerful men like Kelvin Styles had access to information that ordinary people like me couldn't even imagine having. But hearing my struggles laid out so bluntly still felt like a stinging slap in the face, a harsh reminder of my vulnerability.
"You... you're blackmailing me?" I asked, my voice trembling, a shaky edge betraying my attempts to remain calm.
"Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement," he said, ignoring the accusation. "You want cash. I need a spouse. Simple."
Simple? There was nothing easy about this. I bit my lips, my mind spinning. Marry him? The idea was absurd. A month ago, she didn't know who he was. Now, he was offering her a lifeline-but at what cost?
"What's in it for you?" I requested, wanting to know the full details. "Why go through all this trouble?"
His eyes darkened for a second, but his expression remained emotionless. "My grandmother's will. To inherit, I need to be married by year's end. It's a technicality, but one I can't ignore. You're convenient, and you have no ties that could complicate things," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, as if discussing a business transaction rather than a life-altering commitment.
Convenient. The word stung. I didn't mean anything to him, just a strategy for his problem. The harsh reality of her situation crashed down on her like a crushing wave. She had no other options, no escape from this desperate choice. Her mother's life hung in the balance, and Evelyn's decision would determine her fate. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap as she gazed blankly at the desk, the weight of the decision suffocating her.
Kelvin leaned into his seat, sensing my internal turmoil. "You're in no position to say no, Evelyn," he stated quietly, but with finality. "I'm offering you a way out. One year of your life in exchange for security - for both you and your mother. Think carefully."
The temptation was irresistible. I envisioned my problems disappearing - no more sleepless nights worrying about bills, no more fear of losing my mom due to unaffordable care. Yet, the thought of being tied to Kelvin Styles, a man so cold and calculating, filled me with terror.
What choice do I have?
I raised my eyes to meet him. "One year?" I requested, my voice barely audible.
"One year," he replied. "After that, you'll be free. No strings attached."
My stomach twisted. Could I genuinely do that? Marry a person I didn't love, live a lie for a year just to live on? The answer got here fast. I had no choice. If not for anything, then for her mother, I had to take the deal.
I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I spoke the words that would seal my fate.
"Okay," she whispered. "I'll do it."
Kelvin nodded, gladly. "Good. We'll sign the agreement tomorrow. From now on, you belong to me."
As he stood and walked out of the diner, leaving me alone with the burden of my choice, I couldn't help but marvel at what I had just gotten myself into.
Moon's heart is shattered when her former mate, Aiden rejects her and makes her believe she is unlovable until she comes across Liam, a powerful and mysterious Alpha Werewolf. She becomes drawn to his strength and kindness. To Moon, Liam is unlike every other werewolf she has ever met, his strength and power are matched by his piercing gaze. Liam and Moon slowly bond over their shared experiences and she finds herself falling deeply in love. However, their happiness does not last because Aiden reappears in their little love story and Moon begins to suspect that he might be working with a rogue pack led by a ruthless Alpha who is after Liam and his pack. Moon chooses to stick with Liam and form an alliance but just as they think they have found a way to solve the problem, a shocking truth is revealed Liam is Victor's long-lost son, and his destiny is tied to this rogue pack. Moon is left with only an alternative and that is to choose between her heart or her duty. Will Liam and Moon's love be strong enough to overcome the forces against them or will they have to bow to the darkness surrounding them?
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!
Billionaire Bennett Graham urgently needed a wife to close a business deal but his fiancée wasn't ready to tie the knots yet. So his grandmother picked the most unassuming maid for him. Everything was supposed to go incredibly well, and all he had to do was wait until he divorced her a year later. But after seeing Maliyah's ocean eyes.it wasn't looking simple anymore. *** Before I could get her up, it was as if she felt the light and an uncomfortable sound came out of her mouth. "Uh-huh..." She raised her hand to cover her eyes. But I didn't have time to wait for her to wake up, so I told her to "Get Up." My voice seemed to scare her, and her light-fearing eyes suddenly widened and she kept moving to the corner. The only voice in the quiet art room was her fear-filled voice, "No...please...go away...don't come close to me." She was afraid of me? I hadn't even spoken to her before, what was she afraid of? This was definitely not going to work, I couldn't talk to her if she couldn't calm down. Then I moved closer to her, my hand on her trembling shoulder, and I whispered soothingly "Calm down.I'm not going to hurt you.I'm not going to hurt you."I assured and then she moved her hair away from her face as if to stare at me properly. Our eyes met.It was that moment. It felt as if I was enchanted for a moment. Those ocean eyes were the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Ethan always viewed Nyla as a compulsive liar, while she saw him as aloof and insensitive. Nyla had cherished the notion that she was dear to Ethan, yet she felt coldly rejected when she realized her place in his heart was insignificant. No longer trying to break through his coldness, she stepped back, only for him to alter his approach unexpectedly. She challenged him, "If you trust me so little, why keep me around?" Ethan, who had once carried himself with pride, now stood before her with a humble plea. "Nyla, I've made mistakes. Please don't walk away from me."
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?