I once believed I understood love, passion, and longing, until I met him. He turned my world on its axis, making me the object of his obsession while he became the embodiment of my deepest transgression. I became his devoted lover; he became my salvation. He commanded me with unyielding intensity, and I, in turn, surrendered completely to his will.
I had always liked him, always. I liked him first, long before she entered the picture. Then she came along, and suddenly, she was all he could think about, dream about.
Ugh! I was utterly frustrated.
And yet, here I was, attending their wedding. Yes, you heard me right: Charles was marrying Caroline, my best friend. I know what you're thinking, how could I harbor such feelings for Charles? What kind of friend does that? But Charles and I had been inseparable since childhood. I had always had a crush on him.
We were drawn to each other, constantly in each other's company. We went through high school together, college together, and now, we both worked at the same tech company in New York. But I could never bring myself to tell Charles how I felt.
Why?.
Because he called me his sister. His sister! How was I his sister? Oh, Lord help me. Charles was an only child, spoiled with love by his parents. Meanwhile, I had the best father in the world. Over the years, my feelings for Charles deepened, transforming into something more profound.
I fell deeply in love with him. His dark hair and hazel eyes reminded me of summer, and I foolishly clung to the hope that one day, he'd love me back. But that day never came. I met Caroline in my second year at Atech, the same company Charles and I worked for. She was the sweetest person and worked as a chef in the cafeteria.
Her food was unmatched, and over time, we became as close as sisters. As someone who never had a sister, just a younger brother I adored; it felt special. I introduced Caroline to Charles, and the two of them acted like strangers. Of course, that was because the company's ruthless CEO had implemented a strict no-dating policy for employees.
Who was he to dictate love? It wasn't until I visited Caroline's apartment unannounced that I discovered the truth. I walked in on them in a compromising position. That's when I realized they were in a relationship.
Charles scrambled to explain why he hadn't told me, bombarding me with excuses and apologies. I was devastated. The signs had been there all along-the stolen glances, the lingering eye contact, Caroline's incessant questions about Charles.
But I had refused to see them. Even though it hurt, I loved them both. They were my closest friends, and so I did what any "sane" friend would do: I put on a brave face and pretended to be happy for them. It made me want to scream, but what choice did I have? Caroline, with her delicate Asian features and dyed strawberry-blonde hair, seemed to light up Charles's world.
She said the color brought out her eyes, though I never understood how-her midnight-black eyes were captivating enough. Apparently, Charles thought so too. I thought their relationship was the worst heartbreak I'd face that month. I was wrong. The next month, Caroline announced she was pregnant. Charles was overjoyed, and I was... torn.
I smiled and celebrated with them, but inside, I felt as though my world had crumbled. Their lives were moving at lightning speed, while mine felt stuck in place. Then came the proposal. Charles got down on one knee and asked Caroline, the mother of his unborn child, to marry him.
Right in front of me.
I watched my first love, the man I had cherished for 25 years, choose someone else in the span of two. I cried like a child that night. And now, here I was at their wedding, watching them dance, his hands on her waist, hers on his shoulders.
I couldn't stop thinking, That could have been me. If only I'd had the courage to tell him how I felt. Every kiss he gave her felt like a dagger, and I blamed myself for never speaking up. Unable to endure the pain any longer, I stood and checked the time: 8:45 PM.
I made some excuse about feeling unwell and left, ignoring their protests. Walking through the bustling streets of New York, I took in the cacophony of life-the mingled scents of food, cigarettes, and perfume.
The city's constant motion was the only thing that brought me solace. I stopped to take a deep breath, but my peace was interrupted by a pressing need: I had to use the restroom. I found a nearby bar and hurried inside, only to be stopped by a staff member.
"Ma'am, our policy requires you to purchase a drink before using the restroom," she said, smiling politely.
Frustration bubbled up inside me. I didn't have time for this!.
"How about I use the restroom first and buy a drink after? Same difference, right?" I snapped, trying to sidestep her.
But she blocked my path again, her eyes pleading with me.
"Please, ma'am, I don't want to lose my job." Before I could argue further, a deep, commanding voice interrupted.
"Is there a problem here?"
That voice.
That voice would become my redemption, my undoing, my joy, and my solace. It belonged to the man, who would change everything.
Caroline Alexander had finally escaped her abusive billionaire husband-only to watch him marry her own cousin. Betrayed, broken, and penniless, she vowed revenge. But before she could act, a bullet ended her life. Or so she thought. In the afterlife, the gods offer her a deal: thirty days back in the world of the living. But not as herself. Caroline wakes up in the body of a wealthy heiress-one who has spent the last twenty years in a coma, surrounded by enemies who want her dead. With only a month to settle two scores-her own and the heiress'-Caroline must navigate a web of deception, power, and deadly secrets. But as the clock ticks down, one question remains: Can she get her revenge before her borrowed time runs out?
Seven years ago, Layla ruled. The Queen Bee of university life, she toyed with hearts-until Roman. He was supposed to be just another conquest, the quiet engineering student who didn't care about her games. But when she made him fall, she never expected to fall harder. Then everything shattered. Layla left him broken, and just days later, his little sister died alone. Now, Roman is no longer the bookish boy she knew-he's a ruthless billionaire, powerful, untouchable... and out for revenge. When Layla, drowning in debt and desperation, seeks his help, he offers her a deal: five years as his. His to command. His to break. She refuses. Roman smirks. Then you're not desperate enough yet. But when she has no other choice, Layla signs away her freedom, stepping into a game of obsession, pain, and something far more dangerous-old desires that refuse to die. He swore he'd ruin her. She swore she'd never love him again. But the past has secrets, and when they surface, neither will ever be the same. In a battle of love and vengeance, the heart is the deadliest weapon of all.
Rocco Montenegro is Spain's most feared mafia lord-ruthless, untouchable, and merciless. The boy who once knew warmth and friendship died alongside his mother's screams, leaving only a man built from shadows and vengeance. He trusts no one. He loves no one. Sienna Wilson has spent her life searching for answers. Her mother left home one evening and never returned, leaving her trapped in the child care system, alone and forgotten. The only piece of her past that remains is a hazy memory of Rocco, the boy who once made her laugh-the only person who ever felt like home. When fate brings her into Rocco's world again-as his personal chef-she expects to find her childhood friend. Instead, she meets a man who is cold, cruel, and terrifying. A man who insults her, tests her, and pushes her to the edge. But despite his arrogance, despite his lethal reputation, she refuses to be afraid. She doesn't know the truth. She doesn't know that Rocco's father is the reason her mother never came home. And Rocco? He swore never to let her get close. But the past has a way of creeping in, and the more she fights him, the more he remembers. She was never meant to be in his world. He was never meant to want her. But some destinies cannot be rewritten-no matter how deadly the cost.
Rita Devilroke loved Leandro Riquel with everything she had. He swore to give her the world, but when love wasn't enough, he left. No warning. No goodbye. Just gone. Three years later, he returns as a billionaire, ruthless and untouchable. Rita, still clawing her way through life, refuses to be a chapter in his redemption story. But Leandro didn't come back to apologize, he came back to claim her. This time, she's the one with the power to break him
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
"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."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?