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Lucas Sterling has everything money, power, and a reputation as the city's most eligible bachelor. But behind the charm and billion-dollar smile lies a man scarred by betrayal and convinced love is nothing more than a liability. Emily Harper is his complete opposite a spirited schoolteacher with a passion for helping others and no patience for arrogant playboys like Lucas. When fate throws them together, sparks fly, and Lucas finds himself captivated by the one woman who refuses to fall for his charm. As Emily challenges Lucas to confront his demons, a shadow from his past resurfaces. Isabella Royce, his cunning ex-lover, is determined to reclaim him at any cost even if it means destroying everything Lucas holds dear. Can Emily's love tame the heart of a man who's built walls around it? Or will Isabella's schemes shatter their fragile bond before it has a chance to bloom?
The low hum of chatter filled the grand ballroom of the Sterling Hotel, a glittering expanse of crystal chandeliers and opulent decor that whispered money and power in every corner. Lucas Sterling leaned against the marble bar, a glass of bourbon in hand, his posture effortlessly commanding. The sharp lines of his tailored midnight-blue suit molded to his frame, drawing the gaze of women across the room like moths to a flame. He noticed, of course. He always noticed. But tonight, their interest barely registered.
"Mr. Sterling, will you be gracing the dance floor tonight, or are you content to haunt the bar like a ghost of bad decisions?"
Lucas turned his head lazily to see his best friend, Nathan Caldwell, smirking at him. Nathan's gold cufflinks caught the light as he reached for his own drink.
"Haunting sounds about right," Lucas replied dryly. "Dancing's a waste of time."
Nathan arched a brow. "You mean spending five minutes charming some heiress isn't worth your effort? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lucas smirked but didn't answer. His eyes scanned the room, landing on a sea of polished socialites laughing over champagne flutes. He knew every name, every motive. Their smiles gleamed too brightly, their words dripped with calculation. He knew the game, and he played it better than anyone. But tonight, he was bored of it.
"Sterling," Nathan said, drawing his attention back, "you really should get out of your head. Or at least look like you're having fun. It's your family's charity gala, after all."
Lucas's jaw tightened at the mention of his family. "Fun," he echoed flatly. "Right. Let me just fake a smile and pretend this isn't the hundredth event this month where people clap themselves on the back for writing checks."
Nathan sighed but didn't push further. "Suit yourself." He downed his drink and wandered off toward the dance floor, leaving Lucas alone with his thoughts.
And that's when he saw her.
She stood near the far end of the room, partially hidden by a towering arrangement of white orchids. Her dark green dress was simple, modest compared to the other women draped in diamonds and sequins, but somehow, it was more striking. The fabric hugged her curves delicately, the color deepening the warm undertones of her fair skin. Her hair was pinned back loosely, with a few curls escaping to frame her face. She wasn't looking around the room for attention. In fact, she seemed to be actively avoiding it.
Something about her stillness, her quiet confidence, pulled at Lucas like gravity.
Emily Harper shifted awkwardly on her heels, holding a glass of sparkling water like it was her lifeline. She didn't belong here, and she knew it. The room was too glossy, the people too polished. She felt like an imposter in her off-the-rack dress, but her friend Melanie had insisted she come.
"Networking, Em," Melanie had said. "You're always talking about getting funding for your community programs. This is where the money is."
Emily sighed. She hated these events. The conversations felt as fake as the designer handbags draped over the arms of some of the women here. But she'd promised Melanie, so here she was, trying not to trip over her own feet.
"Are you lost?"
The deep, velvety voice startled her. Emily turned to see a man standing a few feet away, his head tilted slightly as he studied her. He was taller than she'd expected, his dark hair swept back with just the right amount of messiness. His eyes-piercing and unreadable-were locked on hers.
"I-what?" she stammered, clutching her glass tighter.
His lips curved into a faint smile. "You look like you're trying to blend into the wallpaper. Just wondering if you wandered into the wrong party."
Emily's cheeks flushed. "I'm not lost. And I wasn't blending into anything."
"Of course not," he said smoothly, though the amused glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.
"Do you always approach strangers with unsolicited observations, or am I just lucky?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Lucas chuckled, a deep sound that seemed to vibrate through her chest. "You're lucky," he said. "I don't usually waste my time on strangers."
Her eyes narrowed. "Well, don't let me keep you, then."
For a moment, he was caught off guard. Most people either tried to impress him or melted under his charm. But this woman was glaring at him like he'd interrupted her personal space. He liked it.
"Lucas Sterling," he said, extending a hand.
Emily hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm but not overbearing. "Emily Harper," she replied.
"Emily Harper," he repeated, as if testing how her name felt on his tongue. "So, what brings you to this... glamorous gathering?"
"Networking," she said honestly, though the word tasted bitter. "I work in education, and my programs could use funding. My friend thought this would be a good opportunity to meet... generous people."
"Generous," Lucas said with a hint of sarcasm. "Interesting choice of words."
"It was either that or rich and self-congratulatory," she said, her lips quirking up in a reluctant smile.
Lucas laughed-a genuine, unguarded sound that made her heart skip. "Fair enough. And how's the networking going?"
"Not great," she admitted. "Turns out I'm not very good at pretending to be impressed by people."
His smile widened. "You might be the most interesting person in this room."
Emily rolled her eyes. "You don't even know me."
"I know enough," he said simply.
She studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions. There was something magnetic about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. But she also knew men like him didn't belong in her world.
"And you?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Why are you here if you clearly hate it so much?"
Lucas's expression flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly. "Obligation," he said. "My family's name is on the invitations, after all."
"Ah," Emily said. "The burden of being a Sterling."
"You have no idea," he said, his voice laced with both humor and something deeper.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the noise of the room fading into the background.
"Well," Emily said finally, breaking the silence, "I should get back to pretending I fit in here."
Lucas's gaze lingered on her. "I have a feeling you'd fit in just fine if you stopped trying."
And with that, he walked away, leaving her standing there, her heart inexplicably pounding.
A cold-hearted billionaire. A headstrong florist drowning in debt. A contract that binds them in a marriage of convenience-with no room for love. Xavier Harrington is a man who controls everything-his business, his reputation, his emotions. When a billion-dollar deal requires him to appear as a devoted husband, he does what he does best: he makes an offer no one can refuse. Mia Brooks never imagined she'd sign a contract to be a billionaire's wife, but with her flower shop on the verge of collapse, she has no choice. The rules are simple-no feelings, no attachments, and absolutely no falling in love. But behind Xavier's icy demeanor lies a scarred past and a desire he can't control. And behind Mia's defiance is a heart that refuses to be tamed. As passion blurs the lines of their arrangement, secrets surface, enemies close in, and a betrayal from the past threatens to destroy everything. When the contract ends, will Xavier let Mia go... or will he risk everything to make her stay?
Sebastian Hale is a man who gets what he wants-until his father, Gregory Hale, threatens to destroy everything he's built unless he agrees to a marriage of convenience. Trapped in his father's ruthless game, Sebastian's only option is to marry Ivy Collins, a fiery journalist with secrets of her own. For Ivy, the marriage is a means to an end. Marrying Sebastian gives her access to the Hale family empire-and the chance to expose their darkest secrets. But what begins as a cold business arrangement soon ignites into a fiery passion neither of them can resist. As the lines between love and betrayal blur, Ivy discovers the truth about Sebastian's family, including a devastating secret that could destroy them both. With Gregory pulling the strings, Ivy and Sebastian must decide whether to fight for each other-or lose everything in the process.
Grace Parker has dedicated her life to helping others, but when her nonprofit is on the verge of collapse, she's forced to strike a deal with the last man she ever wanted to rely on: Sebastian Cole. Cold, calculating, and devastatingly handsome, Sebastian offers to save her charity but only if she agrees to play the role of his fiancée in a high-stakes business negotiation. What starts as a business arrangement quickly spirals out of control when a single night of passion leaves Grace with a life altering secret. As their fake relationship begins to feel all too real, Grace and Sebastian are drawn together by more than just their shared goals. But standing in their way are Sebastian's manipulative ex, Natasha Blake, and his ruthless rival, Henry Adler, who will stop at nothing to destroy everything Grace and Sebastian have built. When lies, betrayal, and secrets threaten to tear them apart, Grace and Sebastian must confront their deepest fears and decide if the love they've found is worth fighting for.
Trapped in a marriage she never wanted, Lily Hart is thrust into the cold, calculating world of billionaire CEO Adrian Blackwood. He married her only to claim her father's company, and his resentment is as intense as his possessiveness. Behind his mask of power and wealth, Adrian harbors a dark affection for his mistress, Celeste. a beauty with a vengeful soul and her sights set firmly on destroying Lily. In Adrian's world, love is as elusive as freedom, and for Lily, it's nowhere to be found. She's nothing but a pawn, forced to endure his cruelty and trapped in a twisted game of control and desire. But as the walls close in and secrets unravel, Adrian's indifference begins to shift into something else, something possessive and obsessive that even he can't deny. Lily must find the strength to survive in a world built to shatter her and face the question: will she ever escape Adrian's ruthless grasp, or will she be forever bound to a man who will do anything to keep her?
Emilia Rosemont never expected her life to turn into a gilded cage. Forced into a marriage with billionaire CEO Alessandro DiLaurentis, she becomes a pawn in a twisted game of family legacy and cruel ambition. For Alex, the marriage is nothing more than an obligation one he despises and resents. His heart belongs to another, and he doesn't hide his disdain for the wife he was forced to marry. Trapped in his world of wealth and power, Emilia endures his coldness, his cruelty, and the haunting knowledge that her husband will never love her. But as Alex's possessiveness grows, so does his conflicted desire, leaving Emilia ensnared in a web of hate, obsession, and forbidden attraction. With his seductive mistress, Vanessa, pulling the strings from the shadows, Emilia realizes that escape might be impossible. In this dark billionaire romance of love and betrayal, Emilia must find the strength to survive a man who both despises and craves her, in a world where everyone has a price and love is the ultimate sacrifice. Will she ever be free, or is she destined to remain the Surrogate Wife forever?
Sophia Russo never imagined she'd be standing on the auction block, her future sold to the highest bidder to save her mother's life. But when desperation drove her to a world of danger and dark desires, she came face to face with Dante DeLuca Milan's ruthless Mafia King. Cold, possessive, and unstoppable, Dante didn't just buy her freedom; he claimed her soul. Trapped in his luxurious mansion, Sophia vows to escape and protect her heart from the man who controls her every move. Yet, with every heated glance and forbidden touch, she finds herself drawn deeper into his world of power and seduction. Two years later, just when she's ready to break free, Sophia becomes a pawn in a deadly mafia war. Dante will risk everything to save her, but as the past unravels, shocking secrets surface forcing Sophia to question whether she can ever truly escape him... or if she even wants to. In this high-stakes game of love and danger, is it better to run from the devil or fall for him completely?
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.