**"The Theater's Curse"** When Lila agrees to plan a wedding at the eerie, century-old Aureum Theater, she expects a challenge-but not one that could cost her everything. As the stormy nights grow longer, Lila uncovers a chilling truth: the Duvall family, owners of the theater, have been cursed for generations, their lives marred by treachery, tragedy, and a sinister bond to the building. Drawn deeper into the mystery, Lila finds herself entangled with Elias Duvall, a man whose charm masks a tormented soul. Their connection sparks with undeniable chemistry, but Elias's secrets threaten to pull her into the same darkness that has consumed his family. As Lila discovers the theater's horrifying legacy-rituals demanding sacrifice and love twisted into power-she must decide whether to trust Elias or confront the curse alone. Armed with fragments of ancient rites and her own courage, Lila hatches a desperate plan to break the cycle. But the Aureum Theater isn't ready to release its hold without a fight, and the price of freedom may be higher than she's willing to pay. Love, betrayal, and the supernatural collide in this gripping tale of one woman's battle to rewrite a haunted destiny.
The candlelight ballroom glowed with the promise of love and perfection, which Lila Mercer had spent her career creating for others but had never dared to pursue for herself. Tonight's event was no exception, another fairy tale woven with silk and gold for a couple whose romance she'd forgotten by morning.
Then he walked in.
Elias Duvall was more than just attractive; he was magnetic enough to stop people in their tracks. His fitted suit clung to his form like a second skin, and his piercing eyes searched the room with a commanding intensity. Then they landed on her.
"Ms. Mercer, I presume?" His voice was velvet-tinted with danger, a subtle threat cloaked in allure.
For a brief moment, Lila's meticulously managed world shifted. Men like Elias were not her clientele; they were someone else's unattainable ideal. Yet here he was, handing her a business card with a mischievous smirk that hinted at something more.
"My fiancée and I have high aspirations. "I've heard you're the only one who can make them happen."
The words should have sent her heart racing, but instead a gentle chill ran down her spine. There was something in his tone that suggested this was no ordinary job.
And for the first time in her career, Lila worried if she was about to enter a love tale from which she would be unable to escape.
Lila accepted the card with practiced grace, concealing the discomfort that prickled at the boundaries of her confidence. Her fingertips brushed against his for a brief instant, but it was enough to send an unwelcome and electric shock through her.
"What kind of ambitious plans are we talking about, Mr. Duvall?" she inquired, her voice firm despite the underlying animosity between them.
Elias leaned in slightly, his smile both charming and sinister. "A wedding that will leave an unforgettable impression. "Something unforgettable."
His words lingered, weighted with double meaning, but Lila dismissed the undercurrent as a product of her overworked imagination. High-profile weddings attracted demanding clients, and she was no stranger to high expectations.
"Unforgettable is my specialty," she said, placing his card into her stylish leather planner. "Why don't you and your fiancée visit me in my office tomorrow? We'll discuss your vision."
"She's... out of town," Elias explained calmly, his demeanor enigmatic. "I'll handle the details for now."
Something about the way he said it-the right balance of detachment and control-set off a caution bell in Lila's head. But business was business, and who was she to disagree when Elias Duvall wanted to pay her excessive fees?
"Very well," Lila replied with a professional smile. "I look forward to hearing your ideas."
Elias' gaze remained on her for too long, the corner of his mouth twisting into a whispered dare.
As he turned and walked away, Lila took a breath. She took a glimpse at the card in her hand, which was embossed, simple, and absurdly expensive. It felt heavier than it should have, as if it held a dreadful secret that could not be named.
For reasons she couldn't understand, her heart quickened-not with joy, but with the silent foreboding of an impending storm she couldn't see.
As Lila inserted Elias' card into her planner, the gentle hum of the ballroom faded into the background. Her mind raced, digesting their brief contact. There was something disconcerting about him-a polished charm that almost appeared manufactured, and eyes that seemed to find secrets rather than simply stare.
She dismissed the concept. Clients, particularly those with large sums of money, frequently exuded quirkiness. Still, the way Elias said unforgettable clung to her like smoke, and she couldn't tell whether it was an invitation or a warning.
The evening went on, with speeches, dances, and toasts. Despite her best efforts, Lila's gaze kept straying toward the door where Elias had vanished.
The next day, Lila sat in her sunlit office, methodically organizing her sample portfolio. She had double-checked her calendar to ensure that her meeting with Elias would be uninterrupted. Nonetheless, her nerves seemed sharper than normal.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Before she could react, it cracked open, and Elias entered.
He appeared different in the sunlight-no less striking-but the warmth of his fitted charcoal suit couldn't soften the frigid precision in his motions. He held a thin leather folder, which he carefully put on the edge of her desk, almost as if it were a statement rather than a gesture.
"Ms. Mercer," he replied, his lips twisting into the same intriguing smile. "Thank you for meeting on such short notice."
"Of course." Lila pointed to the chair across from her desk, ignoring the flutter in her chest as he sat down. "Should we get started?" Tell me about your wedding vision.
Elias maintained her stare for too long, as if he was choosing how much to say-or withhold. "I'm looking for an event that feels timeless. Something people will discuss for years."
"Timeless," Lila repeated, scribbling the word onto her notebook. "Are there any specific themes? Colors? What venues are you considering?"
"Black and gold," he explained, reclining back in his chair. "A sense of richness, yet understated. The location should be historic, even infamous. "I trust your judgment."
There it was again: the undercurrent of something unsaid, something worse.
"Infamous?" Lila arched her brow, attempting a light tone. "That's an unusual choice for a wedding."
Elias maintained a constant smile. "The best incidents are those that foreshadow a story. Even if the story is not completely told."
The words hung between them, heavy and mysterious. Lila hesitated, her pen hovering over the page. For a moment, she wondered if she was being sucked into something much bigger than a wedding.
"Well," she finally responded, maintaining a professional tone, "I'll write a proposal based on what you've said. When can I anticipate to meet with your fiancée to finalize the details?"
Elias' eyes deepened and his smile sharpened. "Soon," he answered, lowering his voice slightly. "She is... specific. But I am convinced she will approve of your effort."
The way he said special drove shivers down Lila's spine. She nodded, concealing her discomfort with a rehearsed smile.
As Elias stood to leave, he stopped at the door. "Oh, and Ms. Mercer," he said, glancing back, "take your time. "The best things are always worth the wait."
When the door shut behind him, Lila exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. The room felt colder, and for the first time, she regretted accepting this client.
She realized deep down that this was more than just a business. It was personal. And it was risky.
The next several days were a blur of study, phone calls, and site visits, but Lila couldn't shake her mounting unease. Every decision she made for Elias' wedding felt weird, like if unseen forces were driving her in a direction she couldn't see.
Even the places she scouted appeared to meet his mysterious requirement for "infamy." The first was a massive Gothic palace that previously belonged to a scandal-ridden entrepreneur. The second is an abandoned theater with a tragic history. Both seemed better suited to ghost stories than love stories.
When she explained her findings to Elias at their next meeting, his reaction was both unnerving and predictable.
"The theater," he remarked, his voice quiet and serious as he looked over the photphotographs she had shot. "It has resonance. "This is the place."
Lila tilted her head. "Resonance? Most clients would describe it as eerie.
He smiled, a familiar spark of enjoyment in his eyes. "Eerie is simply a matter of perspective, Ms. Mercer."
She made a note, but did not respond. Something about this man always made her feel unbalanced, as if she were walking a tightrope without knowing how high the stakes were.
One week later, Lila was finalizing the guest list Elias had provided-a small, select group of individuals, some of whom she recognized as high-profile socialites. As she went over the details, a sleek black envelope slipped through the mail hole in her office door.
She frowned and put down her coffee to recover it. The mail included no postage, only her name in gorgeous, embossed lettering. Inside came an invitation on rich cardboard with gold lettering.
You're cordially welcomed to an evening of festivity and discovery.
Date: This Saturday.
Location: The Aureum Theater.
Dress Code: Black and Gold.
Her heartbeat skipped. Elias had not mentioned hosting an event prior to the wedding, and the phrase "revelry and revelation" read like a riddle rather than an invitation.
She dialed his number instantly. He picked up on the second ring.
"Lila," he murmured, his voice warm but inscrutable. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I just received this," she added, holding the card so he could see it through the phone. "What is this event?" "I thought we were still in the planning stage."
Elias chuckled, his voice silky but lacking of genuine humor. "Consider it a preview. "A chance for you to see the venue in action and meet some of the players involved."
"Players?" she said, her discomfort increasing. "Elias, if this is some kind of publicity stunt-"
"Relax, Ms. Mercer," he said, his voice slightly deeper. "You are my guest of honor. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable".
She opened her mouth to respond, when the line went dead.
Amelia Ceston thought her professional life at Bellucci Enterprises couldn't get any more complicated. Managing the demands of Jason Bellucci the impossibly handsome, calculating CEO was already a full-time challenge. But when Jason makes her a shocking proposition, everything changes: pose as his girlfriend to make his billionaire ex jealous and win back a business deal gone sour. Reluctantly stepping into the role of Jason's partner, Amelia enters a world of glittering galas, whispered scandals, and simmering tension. The lines between their professional and personal lives blur as their staged affection begins to feel dangerously real. Each stolen glance and forbidden touch ignites a passion neither can deny, threatening to destroy the careful barriers they've built. But Jason's ex isn't just jealous-she's vengeful. Determined to ruin Jason's life and any chance of happiness he might find, she sets her sights on Amelia. What began as a simple deal spirals into a battle of wills, loyalty, and desire. In a game where hearts and fortunes are on the line, can Amelia and Jason survive the fire or will their growing bond be the one thing they're both forced to sacrifice?
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!"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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!
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"