Lena, a girl with a troubled past, lands a servant job in a foreign country, hoping to escape her hardships. Her life takes an unexpected twist when she loses her virginity to a wealthy, heartbroken man, Max Kingston, who recently discovered his girlfriend's betrayal. Max falls deeply for Lena, but his world shatters when she narrowly escapes a murder attempt, and he vows to track down the one responsible for hurting the woman he loves. Lena's life spirals further when she finds out she's pregnant with Max's child, but a dangerous shootout leaves Max with partial memory loss, and he forgets everything about her. As Lena faces wrongful accusations and a potential jail sentence for a crime framed by the Baxter brothers back home, she feels crushed. Will Max remember the woman he loves in time to save her from this nightmare? Or will Lena be deported and imprisoned for a crime she never committed?
Lena's POV
Lena had always felt like the world was a place where she didn't belong. The days of her childhood, spent in a dimly lit apartment with a single mother who barely scraped by, felt like distant memories she preferred not to revisit. She had learned early on to fend for herself, to never expect too much from anyone, and to trust no one but herself. Life, in her experience, was about surviving, not thriving.
When the opportunity to work in another country arose, Lena didn't hesitate. The promise of a better life-away from the prying eyes of judgment and the shackles of her past-was a beacon she couldn't resist. The job was as a housekeeper in a luxurious estate for a wealthy family. It wasn't glamorous, but it was better than the grim prospects at home.
The mansion was a place of contrasts. Grand, yet cold. Impressive, yet lonely. And the people-well, they had their own lives, their own worlds. Lena remained mostly in the background, blending into the shadows. She didn't expect friendship, and she certainly didn't expect anything more.
One particular evening, while finishing up in the kitchen, she noticed him. Max Kingston. The man who owned the estate. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark, brooding eyes that seemed to see right through her. Max was different from the others. While the family and guests treated her like a shadow, he treated her as if she mattered. At first, Lena dismissed it. She wasn't here to make friends. But the way he looked at her made her feel... seen. And that was the last thing she ever wanted.
It started with small exchanges-a brief smile, a word here and there. He was polite, but there was something more in his gaze. It unsettled her. Lena knew the risks of becoming entangled with someone like him. Men like Max were dangerous, with their power and wealth, capable of turning her life upside down without even trying.
One night, she found herself standing in the corner of the grand living room, wiping down glasses and silently observing the opulent gathering. Max stood across the room, a glass of whiskey in hand, talking to a group of well-dressed guests. He looked so out of place in the crowd, his posture stiff and guarded, his eyes distant. Lena couldn't help but wonder about the weight that seemed to burden him.
As the evening wore on, she found herself alone in the hallway near the exit, preparing to leave for the night. The house was quiet, the guests had started to trickle out, and the air felt thick with something she couldn't put her finger on.
Then, out of nowhere, Max appeared at the end of the hall, his tall frame casting a shadow against the walls. His gaze locked with hers, and for a moment, everything else seemed to disappear.
"You're still here?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.
Lena nodded, unsure of what to say. "Just finishing up."
He stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. "You work hard. I've noticed."
She didn't respond. What could she say? Thank you for noticing? Or perhaps, I'm just trying to survive?
"I've never asked your name," Max continued, his voice almost too soft for the space between them.
"Lena."
He smiled, a small, rare smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Lena. It's nice to meet you properly." He hesitated, his hand brushing against the back of his neck. "Would you like to join me for a drink?"
Lena knew better than to accept. She wasn't here for a fling, for distractions. But there was something about the way he looked at her-like she wasn't just another servant in his house, like she mattered. It made her heart ache with a longing she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.
Before she could turn away, the words slipped out. "Alright. Just one drink."
Max smiled, his gaze lighting up with something that almost looked like relief.
---
**Max's POV**
Max Kingston had never been a man who found solace in the company of others. Even in the crowded rooms filled with people who adored him, he often felt like an outsider. A man with everything-wealth, power, status-and yet, nothing that truly mattered.
The recent breakup with his girlfriend had only heightened his sense of isolation. Finding out she had been stealing from him, cheating on him with someone else-it had shattered something deep inside him. Max had always prided himself on his ability to read people, to see beyond their masks. But she had fooled him completely. That betrayal had left him angry, disillusioned, and, for the first time in a long while, utterly alone.
Tonight, he found himself at a crossroads. The party had been a distraction, a way to keep his mind occupied. But no amount of alcohol or forced laughter could drown out the emptiness that lingered beneath the surface.
That was when he saw her. Lena.
She was different from the others. The other servants at the estate had learned to fade into the background, silent and unseen, moving with the precision of well-oiled machines. But Lena-she wasn't like that. She had a presence. A quiet strength that intrigued him. Max couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about her that stood out. Something real.
He watched her from across the room, her delicate features illuminated by the soft glow of the chandelier. Her dark hair fell in waves around her face, and her eyes-those deep brown eyes-seemed to hold secrets. Secrets he was dying to know.
Max excused himself from his conversation and made his way across the room toward her. She was standing near the exit, preparing to leave for the night. He hadn't expected to find her alone, but here she was, her back to him, her head bowed in concentration as she finished up her tasks.
"Still here?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity.
She looked up, startled, but quickly composed herself. "Just finishing up."
He studied her for a moment, noting the way her shoulders seemed tense, as if she were always bracing herself for something. Lena wasn't just another face in the crowd. There was something in her that piqued his interest, something he couldn't ignore.
"You work hard. I've noticed," he said, his tone softer than usual.
She didn't respond, but the faint flicker of acknowledgment in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. It was strange how he felt drawn to her. After everything that had happened with his ex, he should have been wary of getting close to anyone. But Lena... there was something different about her. She wasn't like the others. She didn't treat him like a rich man, a figure of authority. She treated him like a person, like she didn't need anything from him.
Max stepped closer, unsure of why he was doing it. "I've never asked your name."
"Lena."
A simple response, but it felt like an opening. He smiled, his curiosity growing. "Lena. It's nice to meet you properly."
He couldn't explain it, but he felt an instant connection. The way she looked at him, the way she stood, so calm and composed. It made him want to know more. He wanted to know everything about her.
"Would you like to join me for a drink?" he asked before he could second-guess himself.
She hesitated. He could see it in her eyes. She was thinking about it, weighing her options. But then, surprisingly, she agreed.
"Alright. Just one drink."
On the night of the Blood Moon, Nikky Lumpo thought she'd finally find her place-bound by fate to the Alpha she had always loved. But when Alpha Tobias Mattheus rejects her in front of the entire pack, branding her as weak and unworthy, her world shatters. Left broken and cast out, Nikky flees into the forbidden woods, where an ancient, cursed power stirs. There, she encounters Julio Irving, a monstrous, exiled Lycan who has spent centuries in the shadows. But instead of killing her, he does the unthinkable-he claims her as his mate. Bound by a force stronger than fate itself, Nikky finds herself torn between the mate who cast her aside and the beast who sees her true worth. As war looms between packs and long-buried secrets come to light, Nikky must make a choice-embrace the darkness and claim her power, or risk losing herself to a love that was never meant to be.
For years, Adele Kenneth has been a ghost in her own pack-an omega orphan with no place, no power, and no future. But everything changes the night she shifts for the first time... and her wolf calls to the most feared Alpha in the realm. Drake Anders is known as the Shadow Alpha, a ruthless leader with a past stained in blood. He doesn't believe in fated mates-until the moment he lays eyes on Adele. But claiming her would ignite a war, for she belongs to the very pack that slaughtered his family. Torn between vengeance and an undeniable bond, Drake must decide: will he defy fate and let Adele go, or will he risk everything to keep her by his side? With enemies lurking in the shadows and secrets threatening to destroy them both, their love may be the only thing powerful enough to rewrite destiny-or doom them forever.
Raine Carter has spent her life on the run, hiding a deadly secret-she is the last descendant of a bloodline powerful enough to challenge the rule of the ruthless Alpha King, Kade Voss. When fate forces her back into the heart of the Shadowfang Pack, she comes face-to-face with the one wolf she never expected-her fated mate. Kade has ruled with an iron fist, never expecting the Moon Goddess to grant him a mate. Yet, when he scents Raine, everything changes. She is his, and nothing will stop him from claiming her. But Raine refuses to bow, carrying secrets that could shatter his world. As passion ignites and dark forces rise, Raine must decide-surrender to the mate bond or fight for her freedom. But when an ancient enemy emerges, threatening to destroy them both, Kade and Raine must unite or risk losing everything, including their hearts.
Self-made businesswoman Aria Lawson unexpectedly lands a high-profile job as the personal assistant to the reclusive billionaire Nicolas Vaughn, she quickly learns that nothing about him is as it seems. Behind his cold demeanor and untouchable reputation lies a man struggling with his past and a deep, dark secret. As Aria and Nicolas's professional relationship turns personal, their undeniable chemistry leads them down a dangerous path of forbidden desire. But with the shadows of his secrets threatening to tear them apart, will Aria be able to forgive Nicolas's past in exchange for a future together, or will his lies destroy everything they've built?
When Cynthia Brown, a struggling artist, finds herself stranded in a small coastal town after a car breakdown, the last thing she expects is to cross paths with the town's most elusive resident- Arnaut Peterson, a reclusive billionaire with a past he refuses to face. Arnaut, once a celebrated architect, has buried himself in solitude after a devastating betrayal. But Cynthia's fiery spirit and stubborn optimism chip away at the walls he's built around his heart. As she paints murals on the town's forgotten buildings, she unknowingly brings color back into Arnaut's world. With each passing day, their connection deepens, but ghosts of their pasts threaten to pull them apart. Cynthia is running from a love that nearly destroyed her, and Arnaut fears letting someone in again. When the past finally catches up, they must decide- are they willing to risk everything for a love they never saw coming?
Ivy's world shatters when she uncovers her mate's betrayal. But when he is accused of a horrific crime and abandons her to face the consequences, Ivy takes the ultimate step to protect her pack-she turns herself in to the infamous Lycan King. King Cassian is a ruler known for his unforgiving nature and ruthless rule. Yet when their paths cross, Ivy feels an undeniable pull toward him, only to discover that he is her fated mate. Can she find compassion in the heart of the merciless king, or will she be condemned by his unrelenting judgment?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."