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.
---
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"