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I thought my life was mine to control; my choices were my own. But everything crumbled when my father's desperate secrets unraveled, leaving me with one shocking truth-I was the price to pay for his mistakes. The name Kensington Creed echoed power and danger. A billionaire with a shattered past and eyes as cold as a winter night, he was as untouchable as he was feared. But behind the marble walls of his mansion, I saw the cracks in his armor-the man beneath the shadow of his tragedy. Now, I'm bound to him by a contract I didn't sign, in a marriage neither of us wants. Every step I take in his world pulls me deeper into his secrets. The life he's built is full of whispers, pain, and something else I can't quite grasp. He doesn't trust me, and I'm not sure I trust myself around him. But as I dig for answers, I realize the cost of understanding him may be higher than I ever imagined. Because in Kensington's world, love isn't a promise-it's a weapon. And I've just handed him the sharpest blade. What happens when the truth we both fear becomes the one thing that could destroy us?
"Sit down, Lyra."
My father's command sends a shiver down my spine, and I freeze at the door. At first, my feet are immobile. His tone causes my stomach to twist and churn. With a gentle click that seems louder than it should be, the door behind me closes as I finally enter the study.
"What's wrong, Dad?" With a smaller-than-intended voice, I ask. Speaking feels weird, almost like I'm trying to wake up from an unending nightmare. His normally tidy clothing is a little rumpled, and his face is dull as if he had been up for hours worried. I already know that this will not be a typical chat.
He says it again, "Sit," in a softer but still tense voice.
My heart hammering against my ribs, I sink into the chair across from him. The only sound in the room is the faint ticking of a clock in the corner. My father's eyes don't look as they usually do when he looks at me. The eyes of the powerful man who always had things under control are hazy and far away. Something has changed.
I take a deep breath. Tell me, Dad, please. What is happening?
With a hand stroking his graying hair, he exhales deeply. His eyes move to the papers in front of him, which are strewn all over his desk like fragments of a broken puzzle. He lifts one, smoothes it out, and then turns it toward me, his hands shaking a little.
I look at the page, attempting to interpret the lines and numbers that I don't comprehend. But it makes no difference. His expression says it all.
"We're done, Lyra." His words pierce me like a hefty stone, and his voice is gruff. "The company is in ruins." Everything is gone. He seems to be seeking strength before continuing, as he leans back in his chair and briefly closes his eyes. We are overwhelmed by all of the bills, investments, and loans. There is no escape.
I look at him, speechless. My thoughts racing, and my throat tightens. I want to scream, but I can't make any noise. This is not logical.
"You're kidding, aren't you?" I attempt, speaking in a barely audible whisper, in the hopes that he will laugh and tell me it's all a horrible joke. However, his expression remains unchanged.
His eyes do not touch me as he whispers, "I wish I were." However, we have no other choices. Lyra, I've tried everything. There is currently only one option available.
Although I'm not sure what he means, I can tell by the icy fear that it's not anything I want to hear.
"What... what option?" I mumble, nearly terrified of the response.
His eyes feel heavy as he looks at me. "You must wed Kensington Creed."
I felt like I was slapped across the face by the words. I blink, finding it difficult to process what he just stated. "What?" I stutter. "Creed in Kensington? Do you wish for me to wed him?
I can't even visualize his face; all I can think of are the rumors and stories that seem too fantastical to be real. The man's name is all over, but it's always in whispers and connected to things I'd rather not consider. Rich. strong. Risky.
My father adds in a flat, resigned voice, "Lyra, this is not a request." "He alone is capable of saving us."
My hands became icy. I struggle to maintain a steady voice. But why him? Kensington Creed: Why?
My father continues in a desperate tone, "Because he can erase our debts with a single signature." He is wealthy, powerful, and well-connected. Everything is wiped clean if you marry him. Our family will live. You will, too.
My chest begins to churn with nausea. Perhaps my father's statements make too much sense, or they don't make sense at all. It's not a fairy tale here. This isn't some idealized notion of a big gesture. This is a last-ditch appeal from a man who has exhausted all other possibilities.
My voice is shaking now as I plead, "But I don't even know him." "Aside from what people say about him, I don't know anything."
His hands are on the desk as he leans forward. "Lyra, you don't have to know him. All you have to do is wed him. It's a commercial agreement. Not much more.
My heart is pounding as I shake my head. "This is not something I can do. I can't get married to a stranger. Dad, it's not just about me. This is my life. You want me to discard everything.
"Are you okay with us losing everything?" He loses it. Would you like to see me and your mother on the streets? Is it your preference?
I wince as though he had smacked me. "Not," I mumble, my eyes burning. That is not what I desire. That was never what I wanted.
My thoughts are racing. I have no idea what to do. I feel like screaming and telling him that this is too much. However, his words weigh heavily on my chest. I can't bear the weight of the implications if I say no.
"Please, Lyra," my father pleads, his voice lower now. "I've given you everything. You have no idea how much is at stake here. This can only be fixed by you. Everything we've achieved and everything we've worked for will come crashing down if you don't do this.
I can see the intense fear that has taken hold of him in his eyes. He is afraid. But I'm also afraid. I was afraid of dying and of what would happen to me and my future if I married Kensington Creed.
The words nearly escape my lips as I mutter, "I... I can't just marry him."
"You have no other option," he says. "Lyra, this is it. There is nothing else we can do.
The room is filled with dense, oppressive quiet. I am aware of the strain my father is putting on me and the weight of his expectations. The duty to protect our family. However, how can I? For a man I don't even know, how can I give up everything I am?
My father's voice is raw as he continues, "I know it's hard." However, there is no other option. It's all over if you don't marry him.
With trembling legs, I get to my feet. With my voice breaking, I mumble, "I don't know what to do."
With a gentle creak, the door behind me opens. I look around, thinking I'll see my mom when a man enters the room. Broad-shouldered and tall, with dark, piercing eyes that instantly meet mine. My throat tightens with every breath.
Kensington Street.
His presence fills the room as he stands there. He never takes his eyes off me. My heart beats faster.
"I think we need to talk, Lyra," he adds in a silky, low voice.
I never imagined my father's vineyard would be the one thing standing between me and losing everything. The debts are crushing, and I'm desperate. That's when Cole Montgomery walks in-a billionaire with the power to either save or destroy me. He offers me a deal I can't refuse: pretend to be his fiancée, and he'll clear the debts. I'm furious, but I have no choice. I can't let go of the only thing left of my family. But as the days pass, our fake engagement begins to feel real, and so does the attraction I've been fighting. The man who is supposed to be my enemy becomes someone I don't fully understand... and maybe even someone I could care for. But when I discover the shocking truth behind my father's downfall, everything changes. Cole's company had a hand in ruining us. He's the reason we're here. Betrayed, heartbroken, and trapped, I'm faced with a decision: Can I trust him to make things right-or has everything between us been a lie from the start? Just when I think I know the truth, Cole offers me an impossible choice. Will I walk away, or risk everything to fight for a love built on lies?
When I left the Silverveil Pack, I thought I had buried my past for good. The night I spent in the arms of a mysterious rogue, Cassian, had left me with more than just memories-it left me with my son, Eryx, a secret I vowed to protect at all costs. The human world became my refuge, where pack politics and blood feuds couldn't reach us. But now, duty calls me back to Silverveil. My mother's dream of me becoming the first female council leader hangs heavy over my head, and I owe it to her to try. Stepping back into pack life is like walking into a den of wolves. Alliances are fragile, the tension with the Bloodclaw Pack is simmering, and every gaze feels like it could pierce through my carefully guarded secret. And then I see him. Cassian. The rogue from that night is no longer a shadow in the woods-he's the Alpha of Bloodclaw, commanding, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. His eyes, as sharp and knowing as I remember, hold questions I'm not ready to answer. I came back to heal old wounds and honor my mother's legacy, but with Cassian here, old flames ignite and long-buried truths threaten to rise. Because Cassian isn't just the man I can't forget. He's Eryx's father. And now he's staring at me, a sly smile on his lips, and he says the one thing I never expected: "Why does your son have my eyes?"
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
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!