To the world, Theo Lancaster is the perfect billionaire-devastatingly handsome, irresistibly charming, and untouchable in his success. But behind the dazzling smile lies a man haunted by a past he can't escape. When his carefully guarded world begins to unravel, he reluctantly hires Nora Bennett, a sharp-tongued therapist with no patience for his walls of pretense. Nora has seen her share of broken souls, but Theo is unlike any client she's ever had. He's infuriating, magnetic, and completely off-limits. Hired under the guise of a "wellness consultant," Nora's job is to help him face his demons. But as their forced proximity sparks a connection neither can deny, the line between professional and personal begins to blur. Just as Theo starts to believe in a future with Nora, his manipulative ex-fiancée, Victoria Langley, returns with a vengeance, determined to shatter everything he's built-including his newfound hope for love. When secrets from Theo's past collide with Victoria's ruthless schemes, Nora must decide whether to stay and fight for him or walk away before she loses herself in the process
The faint hum of the ocean filled the air as Nora Bennett stood at the edge of the Lancaster estate. Her eyes scanned the massive iron gates before her, their sharp edges glinting in the California sun, an unspoken warning to anyone who dared venture too close. The mansion beyond was even more imposing-a sleek, modern fortress perched precariously on the cliffs of Malibu, its glass walls reflecting the endless stretch of blue sky.
This was Theo Lancaster's sanctuary. And his prison.
Nora inhaled sharply, tightening her grip on her leather satchel. She could do this. She had to do this. It wasn't every day that someone like her-an independent therapist running a modest practice in downtown LA-got a call to work with a billionaire. Not just any billionaire, but the Theo Lancaster. The man who'd turned a small tech startup into an empire worth billions. The man who graced magazine covers with a smirk that could melt glaciers. And, according to the barely coherent assistant who'd contacted her, a man teetering on the edge of collapse.
The gates creaked open slowly, startling her. A security guard waved her in without so much as a glance, and she swallowed the lump in her throat as she stepped onto the perfectly paved driveway.
It wasn't the grandeur that unnerved her-she'd dealt with wealthy clients before. It was the eerie stillness, the lack of life in a place that should have been bustling.
She made her way to the front door, an imposing slab of polished wood that stood at least ten feet tall. Before she could knock, the door swung open.
"You're late."
The voice was deep, clipped, and unmistakably annoyed.
Nora's gaze lifted, meeting the stormy blue eyes of Theo Lancaster himself. He stood in the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence as commanding as the mansion behind him. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, as though he'd run a hand through it one too many times, and his jaw was shadowed with stubble. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms, but the slight wrinkles in the fabric suggested he'd been wearing it for hours.
Nora blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He was even more striking in person, but the sharp edge to his expression made it clear he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"Traffic," she replied evenly, recovering quickly. "I assume you've heard of it?"
Theo's brows lifted, clearly unaccustomed to being spoken to like that. "And I assume you've heard of punctuality."
"Touché." Nora adjusted her satchel and stepped past him into the foyer, forcing him to move aside. The air inside was cool, almost cold, and the silence was deafening.
Theo closed the door and turned to face her. "Let's get one thing straight, Miss Bennett-"
"Dr. Bennett," she corrected, meeting his glare with one of her own.
His lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. "Dr. Bennett. I don't need a therapist. I don't need help. And I definitely don't need someone like you telling me how to live my life."
Nora arched a brow. "Then why am I here?"
Theo's jaw tightened. "Because my board thinks I'm 'stressed.'" He said the word like it was a curse. "They're worried it'll affect my work. So, congratulations, you're here to check a box. Do whatever it is you do, and then leave."
"Right." Nora dropped her bag onto a nearby chair and folded her arms. "Because therapy is all about ticking boxes. Maybe I'll start by asking how it feels to be so...hostile."
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might kick her out. Instead, he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms in a way that made his biceps strain against the fabric of his shirt.
"I'm not hostile," he said coolly. "I just don't like wasting time."
"Funny," she said, "because I'm starting to feel the same way."
A tense silence settled between them, broken only by the faint sound of waves crashing against the cliffs outside.
Theo's gaze lingered on her, assessing, as though trying to figure out what kind of person would dare talk to him this way.
Finally, he pushed off the wall and gestured toward the living room. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Nora followed him into the sprawling space, her eyes briefly skimming over the minimalist decor-sleek furniture, muted tones, and an enormous glass wall that offered an uninterrupted view of the ocean.
Theo dropped onto a leather armchair, motioning for her to sit across from him. She remained standing.
"First session," she began, her tone calm but firm. "I like to set expectations."
He smirked. "Oh, this should be good."
"You don't have to like me," she continued, ignoring his remark. "You don't even have to trust me-at least not yet. But if you want this to work, you have to be honest. With me and with yourself."
Theo leaned back, spreading his arms across the chair's armrests. "And if I'm not?"
"Then this is a waste of time," she said bluntly. "For both of us."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a flicker of something else in his expression-curiosity, maybe.
"You're different," he said after a moment.
"Different how?"
"Most people either try to please me or fear me. You don't seem to care about either."
Nora allowed herself a small smile. "I'm not most people."
Theo tilted his head, studying her. "We'll see."
Their eyes locked, the tension between them crackling like static electricity. It wasn't hostile anymore, but it wasn't comfortable either. It was something...unspoken.
"Fine," he said finally, breaking the silence. "I'll give this a shot. But don't expect me to spill my deepest, darkest secrets in one session."
"Don't worry," Nora replied, taking a seat. "I've got time. The question is, do you?"
Theo didn't answer. He didn't need to. The look in his eyes said enough.
In the ruthless underworld of 1980s New York, two men are about to break every rule. Luca Bianchi, heir to one of the city's most feared mafia families, has always known his path was laid out before him: loyalty to his family, power, and a life without the possibility of true love. But when he meets Adrian Russo-mysterious, charming, and working for a rival clan-his world is turned upside down. What starts as a dangerous flirtation spirals into an all-consuming, forbidden romance. Adrian has his own secrets. Caught in the crossfire of mafia politics, he's playing a dangerous game, navigating the delicate line between desire and betrayal. The deeper he falls for Luca, the more impossible it becomes to keep his double life hidden. One slip, and it's not just his heart on the line-it's his life. As family loyalty and passion clash, Luca and Adrian are forced to confront a choice that could destroy everything they've ever known. Their love could end the generations-old war between their families... or ignite it anew. Will they defy the rules of their world and risk everything for a chance at love? Or will their secrets tear them apart before they even get the chance to find out?
Aria Romano never imagined her life would turn into a living nightmare. Trapped in a contract marriage to settle her father's debt, she's now tied to Damien Salvatore-the cold, calculating mafia heir who only sees her as a pawn. But there's a catch: Damien is openly gay, and he makes it clear that their marriage is nothing more than a business deal, devoid of love or intimacy. Damien is everything she despises: arrogant, dominant, and utterly untouchable. He wants nothing to do with his new bride, keeping his distance with a scathing indifference that shatters her hopes of any normalcy. Yet as the days turn into months, Aria starts to see cracks in his icy façade, a flash of protectiveness, a rare moment of vulnerability, and a searing gaze that lingers too long. But just when Aria begins to unravel the layers of her enigmatic husband, Luca Moretti, Damien's ex-lover and the ruthless underboss of a rival family, reappears. Luca's obsession with Damien blurs the line between love and hate, and he's determined to destroy anyone who stands in his way, including Aria. Caught in a dangerous game of power, betrayal, and forbidden desire, Aria must navigate a world where trust is a luxury she can't afford. And as Damien's feelings for her grow, she realizes that the most dangerous secret isn't his sexuality or his hidden past-it's that she might actually be falling in love with her mafia gay husband. Will their love survive the lies and betrayals, or will it crumble under the weight of their dangerous secrets?
Raven Black has always been the pack's weakest link, the frail Omega who is ridiculed and scorned. Her only dream was to find her fated mate, the one person who would love her unconditionally. But that dream shatters when the cruel, powerful Alpha, Smith Lockwood, rejects her in front of the entire pack. Smith, with his piercing silver eyes and unyielding dominance, dismisses her as unworthy. He believes a weak, timid mate would make him vulnerable, but the bond between them refuses to break, pulling them closer in ways they never expected. Trapped in the pack she can't escape and tormented by a mate who both rejects and possesses her, Raven must find the strength she never knew she had. As her hidden powers begin to awaken, Raven realizes she might be the key to saving the pack from a rogue threat lurking in the shadows. But Smith's refusal to accept her as his mate pushes her to the brink. Will he realize her worth before it's too late? Or will his pride cost him the only woman who could be his true equal? In a world where love is dangerous, and power is everything, can a broken girl and her ruthless Alpha find a way to heal each other?
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?"
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.
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Cathryn, an orphan with no family ties to Grayson, regarded him only as family. He, however, valued her as a precious jewel. From their very first encounter, Cathryn's destiny was intertwined with his. Once lonely and desiring affection, she was ensnared by his love, unable to break free. Eventually, she managed to escape his emotional clutches. Shockingly, she had fallen for someone else. Grayson confronted her sharply. "How could you feel for another?" Unable to meet his eyes, she whispered, "You're family. I can't..." Looking down, he pressed further. "You can't, or you wouldn’t dare?"
"It was just one night stand, and now I'm pregnant with triplets? Gosh!" Josephine Jade never thought that she would have to run away from her own family while pregnant. She was alone, without money, without connections, with three fetuses in her stomach. How can she survive? However, Josephine couldn't give up now, until she managed to reclaim her arbitrarily seized property and get back at everyone who tried to get rid of her. A sick child, a past crush that comes back, a mysterious eccentric man, and a family that hates her, will weave together the journey of Josephine Jade's new life. "You have no right to separate me from my children, you bastard! I will survive and you will submit to me. Just watch!"
**This book contains a trigger warning. Mention about rape and torture in this book. Please read with caution** "Our marriage is nothing but a deal," he said looking at the girl, her green eyes met his cold silver eye, and both of them glared at each other. "For any rules you break, I will claim any part of your body," his gaze grew dangerously darker at his word. Ashley Harlow was at the top of the world, living the perfect and luxurious lifestyle as the legitimate daughter of the well-known Daniel Harlow. But sadly, a one-night stand put an end to that and brought her life upside down and that of her family's name to the ground. To restore his family's reputation, she was forced into marrying Damien Albrecht, a young, ruthless, obnoxious, brutal billionaire and the head of a mafia gang in exchange for her father's company.