Bound by the strings of desire
/1/132171/coverbig.jpg?v=584949ea5c9e495cc0c21608874afceb)
Your Humble Ex-Wife Is Gone
Three years of marriage, and Jayson Mccormick never once looked at me the way he looks at my sister. I told myself he was just cold. That if I loved him hard enough, he'd eventually love me back. Then I crashed his secret wedding. The bride was Kate-the daughter my parents kept while I was lost. The guests? My entire family. They all knew. They all helped. "She's dying," Jayson said. "Let her have this." So I let her have it all. The husband. The family. The life they built around her. I walked away with nothing-because I knew I could make it all back. After years of silence, the legendary perfumer and the financial genius have returned. They think I have nothing. They don't know that, where they never bothered to look, I've already built an empire of my own. It's time to bury the obedient wife.
Chapter 1 The Secret Wedding
It was exactly seven o'clock in the evening.
The private manor, nestled on the outskirts of the city, was brilliantly illuminated, its grand facade glowing like a beacon against the darkening sky.
Corina Logan stood at the towering wrought-iron gates, her attire glaringly out of place. She wore a simple, unadorned plain dress, the kind one might wear for a quiet evening at home, standing in stark contrast to the opulence unfolding before her.
Just two hours ago, the illusion of her life had still been intact. Her husband, Jayson Mccormick, had called her, his voice carrying its usual clipped, authoritative tone. "There's a critical board meeting tonight that's going to run late," he had said through the receiver. "I won't be coming home. Go to sleep early, Corina."
Yet, here he was. Not in a boardroom surrounded by executives, but in this lavishly decorated estate, preparing to hold a wedding ceremony with another woman.
Through the grand windows of the manor's main hall, Corina could see the head table. Sitting there, adorned in their finest evening wear and beaming with pride, were her biological parents, Arthur and Eliza Logan, alongside her older brother, Oliver.
The guests mingling on the manicured lawns and inside the grand hall were a familiar crowd. They were the mutual friends, business associates, and extended family that made up the social circle she and Jayson shared.
Yet she, the lawful wife, had been kept entirely in the dark.
As Corina took a step closer, the evening breeze carried a scent that made her breath hitch. It was a complex, intoxicating fragrance-a masterful blend of deep, velvety rose intertwined with the rich, smoky notes of agarwood.
This specific perfume was named "Surrender." It was a unique, one-of-a-kind fragrance that Corina had personally formulated and blended as a wedding gift for Jayson three years ago. It was meant to symbolize a love that was absolute, a yielding of the heart.
Now, this very scent, representing possession and ultimate surrender, saturated the air of a wedding where her husband was the groom, and the bride was not her.
Her gaze traveled down the pristine white carpet that served as the aisle. At the end of it stood Jayson, looking breathtakingly impeccable in a custom-tailored, pure white high-fashion suit. His usually cold, calculating eyes were currently filled with a profound, melting affection as he looked at the woman standing opposite him.
The bride was Kate Logan.
Kate was the fake daughter who had occupied the Logan family's nest for over twenty years. Corina, on the other hand, was the true daughter, only found and brought back to the family a mere three years ago. Because their grandfather and the patriarch of the Mccormick family had been comrades in the trenches, they had arranged a marriage pact for their grandchildren.
When Corina returned to the family, she fulfilled that pact, marrying the heir to the Mccormick empire, Jayson. It felt like destiny to her, because Jayson was the man Corina had desperately, silently loved for seven long years. He was the man who had once pulled her out of the darkest abyss of her life.
She had truly believed this was a match made by fate, that she was destined to be the happiest woman in the world. But reality had just delivered a resounding, brutal slap across her face.
At this moment, Kate, draped in a voluminous, sparkling white wedding gown, leaned weakly against Jayson's chest, looking so fragile that a strong gust of wind might blow her away.
As Corina stepped fully into the light of the entrance, the melodious strains of the "Wedding March" suddenly warped. The musician had spotted her, and his fingers slipped, producing a harsh, piercingly discordant note that echoed across the lawn.
Instantly, every pair of eyes in the venue snapped toward Corina.
The joyous smiles on the faces of the Logan family froze, replaced by expressions of sheer panic and guilt.
Whispers erupted among the guests, spreading like wildfire.
"Is that... isn't that Corina? Why is she here?"
"I thought everyone agreed to keep this an absolute secret from her!"
"Who leaked the information? This is going to be a disaster."
The hushed voices were deafening. She was his actual wife, yet in this place, surrounded by her own family and friends, she was treated as an unwanted intruder.
When Jayson's eyes finally landed on her, a flash of genuine shock crossed his deep gaze, but it was almost instantly swallowed by his habitual, chilling composure.
He lowered his head, whispering a few soothing words to Kate, before gently handing the bride's hand over to a bridesmaid. He then stepped off the altar, his long legs eating up the distance as he strode purposefully toward Corina.
As he neared, the familiar, crisp scent of cedarwood that always clung to him enveloped Corina. It was the scent she had once been so hopelessly addicted to.
"What are you doing here?"
Those were his first words. Not an explanation, not an apology, but a cold, hard interrogation.
Corina looked up at the face she had loved for seven years. The sharp, aristocratic line of his brow, the thin, cool lips she had kissed a thousand times. Suddenly, she found the entire situation utterly laughable.
"Shouldn't I be here?" Corina's voice was incredibly soft, as casual as if she were inquiring about the weather. "My husband is getting married here today. Shouldn't I come to offer my congratulations?"
Jayson's brow furrowed deeply, a clear precursor to his impatience.
He took a sudden step forward, his large hand shooting out to clamp down hard on her slender wrist. Without another word, he dragged her away from the prying eyes of the crowd, pulling her into the shadows of a secluded stone corridor.
Once they were enveloped in the dim light of the corridor, he stopped and released her wrist.
"Corina, don't make a scene," he commanded, his voice tight.
"Kate... she doesn't have much time left." Jayson reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, pulling out a silver cigarette case. He extracted a cigarette but didn't light it, instead rolling it restlessly between his long fingers, a sign of his internal agitation. "Late-stage liver cancer. The doctors have confirmed she has, at most, half a month left to live."
Corina stood perfectly still, her eyes locked onto his.
"And so?" she asked, her voice devoid of inflection.
"Her final, greatest wish in this life was to wear a wedding dress and marry me," Jayson said, meeting her gaze with a look that suggested his actions were the most logical, reasonable thing in the world. "This wedding is entirely fake. I am simply putting on a performance for her, allowing her to leave this world without any lingering regrets. Do you understand?"
He paused, taking a breath, and when he spoke again, his tone softened marginally, sounding like a king offering a generous concession to a peasant. "Corina, it is merely a ceremony. Why must you be so petty and hold a grudge against a dying woman?"
Petty? Holding a grudge?
Corina's gaze drifted past his broad shoulders, looking out toward the distant, brightly lit lawn where the guests were still murmuring, their faces painted with a mix of celebration and nervous anticipation.
/0/69233/coverbig.jpg?v=20250223170847)
Bound by the strings of desire
Blurb for "Bound by Desire" Lily Carter is at the end of her rope. With her mother's life hanging in the balance and no money to pay for her treatment, she's desperate. When a mysterious, brooding billionaire named Mason Blackstone offers her an impossible deal in a high-end club, she's left with n
/0/63528/coverbig.jpg?v=a6a607fcb6f2282117cf2bf0cfc4dd73)
Bound by Desire
There is no day that he doesn't watch her, her favorite clothes, her favorite music, each ball she gets invited to, he always make sure to be there.... None of all that could compare to how good she actually looks Her long white hair, blue eyes and red lips, just like blood, he couldn't stop watch
/0/66512/coverbig.jpg?v=396424b1010d6e0955e0584fa19a1491)
Bound By Desire
When billionaire heir Damon Knight is forced into an arranged marriage to secure a business merger, he expects a compliant, gold-digging bride. What he doesn't anticipate is his match, Elena Castellano-a fiercely independent artist who has no interest in his wealth or his world. Bound by duty but di
/0/70017/coverbig.jpg?v=0468953bc724bc671a259f856d2f5f8c)
BOUND BY DESIRE
Lana Daniels is out of time. Her mother's clinic is on the brink of collapse, and the only person who can help is Nicholas Sterling, a billionaire known for his ruthless deals and cold detachment. Determined to pitch a bold project that could save everything, Lana steps into his world, unprepared
/0/50021/coverbig.jpg?v=78521fb75c7f440e6c07795236a4b2ff)
Bound By CEO's Desire
Richard, a domineering businessman, and Elin, his legal advisor, were entangled in a secret affair. They intended to part ways quietly, but Richard found himself unable to release his hold on her. "Elin, do you really think you can leave me?" he questioned. He had a hand in ruining her career
/0/72989/coverbig.jpg?v=d1c7a3a6a5b9fb3c6eb51d0f8349063d)
Bound By Shadows And Desire
She was treated like a piece of property, and he was the one with the winning bid. Now, she is at the mercy of a monster. Isla Laurent has always been the dutiful daughter, gentle, and groomed to fit the mold of a perfect high-society lady. However, when her father's gambling debts spiral out of c
/0/80292/coverbig.jpg?v=bf336d89489a9adb534ccd7f635b499b)
Bound by the Billionaire's Relentless Desire
Sherry Hart never imagined the family business would crumble in her hands. With nowhere else to turn, she strikes a desperate deal with Enzo Blackwood, cold, calculating, and dangerously handsome, the elusive billionaire known for his ruthless business tactics and a heart as cold as his empire's tow
/0/75847/coverbig.jpg?v=e85561d078952620c069c1d021a9fabd)
Bound By Desire From Him
When Vicki Larson receives a speeding ticket from Officer Jamal Washington, she thinks it's just a routine encounter-until the undeniable spark between them sets her world ablaze. What starts as an ordinary traffic stop turns into a thrilling, seductive journey that takes them both down a path of lu
/0/74227/coverbig.jpg?v=ee093ee8f67685547c2a56f2dd6f6b55)
BOUND BY BLOOD AND DESIRE
Valerie Grey never imagined that her freedom would be worth a briefcase of cash. But when her father sells her to the ruthless Mafia kingpin Mason Kingston,her life is no longer her own. Mason is everything she hates-dangerous, cruel, and utterly in control. Yet, beneath the ruthless exterior, there
/0/97967/coverbig.jpg?v=b76ba54393de351abce3d4c5a51df8fc)
Bound By Blood, Torn By Desire
In the ancient kingdom of Eryndor, beauty is power - and love is the deadliest weapon of all. Selene Valaris, the crowned queen, rules with grace and cunning, hiding the forbidden affair that could destroy her reign. Her sister, Lyra, born in her shadow, hungers for both the throne and the man wh
/0/67043/coverbig.jpg?v=d120edfc595220e29f599bab7a546f88)
Bound by business, fueled by desire.
Luciana Alejandro is a twenty five year old, single mother of Rodriguez-Matthew Alejandro, her five year old son. She had Rodriguez when she was twenty with her ex-boyfriend who abandoned her and his responsibilities as a father. She had taken up different jobs to be able to afford her son's needs a
/0/67016/coverbig.jpg?v=3c40802abdb514c43e76190ec54034fa)
Bound By Desire; Torn By Vengeance
Zara Morgan has spent most of her whole life in the shadows. Because that's what happens when you're cursed by death. And haunted by a father who was tortured, then killed, for a crime he didn't commit. As far as Zara is concerned, the whole Morgan family is cursed. Forever bound to suffer from th
/0/57198/coverbig.jpg?v=153203bff710c09611afa145ce51c58d)
Bound by Desire to the Enigmatic Heir
Theana must pretend as Alethea (her twin sister) and get to know her sister’s future husband, Taddeo Locatelli, until Alethea is ready to face her groom. However, things change its course when she finds herself being preyed upon by Taddeo's younger brother, Arcel. It was intrigue that lured Arcel t
/0/65001/coverbig.jpg?v=20260526181300)
Oasis of Love: Bound by Duty, Entangled by Desire
She's come to the desert to fulfill her duty, but destiny has other plans. Tasked with caring for an ailing father, she finds herself drawn into the life-and arms-of the region's most eligible CEO. As her professional boundaries blur with forbidden passion, she faces a choice between loyalty to her
/0/91758/coverbig.jpg?v=f7760b193126c15b01909383c73fff86)
The Hired Fiancée: Bound by Contract, Trapped by Desire
Dr. Julian Knight has spent his 37 years building an empire of success-renowned surgeon, medical genius, and heir to a fortune that most people only dream of. But there's one thing his wealth and brilliance can't fix: his mother's growing desperation to see him married before she dies. Victoria Kni
/0/61200/coverbig.jpg?v=38926d27bc01c2ee6d88e0cdedcfdc0f)
Bound by Daylight with Her Desire
In the bustling streets of modern-day New York City, love, betrayal, and ambition collide in "Bound by Daylight with Her Desire." Alexis Anderson, the charismatic CEO of Daylight Groups, is thrust into a whirlwind of emotions when she meets Mia, a tender-hearted waitress, at a nightclub. As their ro
/1/117897/coverbig.jpg?v=3746f97ea612719bf24caf8c2cbd330a)
Dirty Secret: Bound By My Professor's Desire
Silvana is the first to confess exactly who she wants for a one-night stand and the man in question is none other than her own professor. It all begins the night she accidentally witnesses him in a deeply intimate moment with a woman beneath the open sky. What starts as simple admiration soon spiral
/0/74517/coverbig.jpg?v=ae5ea604cd8eca09cac9c2167f42e344)
BOUND BY DESIRE _THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSESSION
A rejected mate. A ruthless Alpha King. A bond neither can escape. Elara Blackwood believed she had nothing left-the love of her mate, her family, her place within the pack. Branded a traitor, she was driven into exile, to survive in a world in which werewolves are hunted. But when the notorious Alp
/1/107478/coverbig.jpg?v=15c6a42361de6f0e3216bbd52d0d9a47)
RUTHLESS CONTRACT: Bound by power. Pulled by desire.
Richard, a ruthless billionaire CEO by day and the mastermind behind a dangerous criminal empire by night, is forced into hiding when his secret headquarters is exposed. Though he escapes arrest, his empire teeters on the brink. Desperate for a new stronghold, Richard sets his sights on a hidden pie
/0/74338/coverbig.jpg?v=677008675397b927c915855c168e67d9)
Bound By The Midnight
Bound By Midnight In a kingdom ruled by vampires, where power is absolute and the weak are forgotten, two souls from opposite worlds are bound by fate. Elliot King-ruthless, powerful, and the most feared vampire of his kind-rules his vast empire with cold efficiency. Wealth, loyalty, and blood ar
