Ethan Stone is the billionaire heir to a business empire built on power, deception, and ruthless ambition. Determined to step out of his father's shadow, he takes the reins of the Stone legacy, only to discover betrayal lurking in the faces of those he trusts most. When his closest friend turns enemy and his father becomes his fiercest rival, Ethan's world begins to crumble. But amidst the chaos, he finds an unexpected ally in Lily-a bold, enigmatic woman with secrets of her own. As sparks fly between them, Lily becomes more than just his confidante; she becomes his reason to fight. With enemies closing in and dark secrets threatening to destroy everything, Ethan must confront the painful truth: to survive in a world of lies, he'll need more than wealth and power. He'll need courage, trust, and a love strong enough to weather the storm. Will Ethan rise above the betrayal and reclaim his legacy, or will the sins of the past drag him into the shadows forever? In a world where love is a risk and trust is a gamble, can one man find redemption and happiness-or will the price of victory cost him everything?
Lily Bennett was used to being in control, always the center of attention when she walked into a room. Her tall frame, dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, and the sharpness in her eyes made sure of it. She wasn't just another pretty face in the crowd-she was a force to be reckoned with.
Tonight, at the Stone family gala, it was no different. The glimmering chandeliers above her cast a soft glow on the gold-embellished walls, and the scent of expensive perfume mixed with the crisp chill of freshly poured champagne. Lily smiled, accepting a glass from a passing waiter. This was her scene-elite, powerful, and utterly predictable.
Then, she saw him.
Ethan Stone stood at the far end of the grand hall, a glass of scotch in his hand, his back turned toward her. He was different from the other men in the room. Where they were brimming with confidence, his shoulders were slightly hunched, as though carrying a burden invisible to the world.
She couldn't help but watch him.
Something about his presence piqued her curiosity. He didn't look like the usual billionaire heir. His tousled hair gave him a disheveled charm, and the sharpness in his eyes spoke of a man who had lived through more than his fair share of pain.
Lily moved towards him, almost as if pulled by some magnetic force. As she approached, Ethan turned around, his gaze locking with hers. There was a flicker of recognition, but neither of them spoke for a moment.
"Lily Bennett," she said, her voice smooth and confident as she offered him a smile. "I don't think we've met."
Ethan's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Ethan Stone," he replied, his voice low, almost guarded. "I've heard a lot about you."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's all good."
He chuckled softly. "Not sure about that."
A playful spark ignited in her eyes. She took a step closer, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Well, I can assure you, I'm more than just what they say."
Ethan's gaze softened for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure. "I don't doubt that."
They stood in silence for a while, a strange tension hanging between them. Ethan's discomfort was palpable, yet there was something magnetic about his energy that pulled Lily in. She studied him, noticing the faint lines of stress on his face, the way his hand gripped his glass a little too tightly.
"You don't seem like you belong here," Lily remarked, taking a casual sip of her champagne.
He glanced at her, then back to the crowd. "I guess you could say I'm here because I have to be, not because I want to."
Lily tilted her head. "Sounds like you're not a fan of these kinds of events."
"You could say that," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But I've learned to tolerate them."
There was something in his tone that made Lily pause, a flicker of something deeper hiding beneath the surface. She didn't want to press him further-yet something about him drew her in, something that begged to be understood.
Before she could speak again, a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Ethan!" a woman's voice purred. Ava Carter, the woman who had been circling Ethan all evening, appeared at his side. She was dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her smile dazzling and predatory.
Lily felt an odd twist of something in her stomach as she watched Ava slide her arm around Ethan's, her fingers lingering just a bit too long.
Ethan seemed to tense, his posture stiffening, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he looked at Lily with an apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with regret. "I... didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Lily blinked, taken aback by his sudden shift in demeanor. She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine," she said, though there was a faint bitterness in her tone. "I'll leave you two to it."
As she turned to walk away, she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder. Ethan was already lost in conversation with Ava, the chemistry between them almost palpable. But something didn't sit right with Lily.
She had a feeling that this wasn't the last time she'd cross paths with Ethan Stone.
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Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!