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"Tell me to stop," he whispers, his voice hoarse, desperate. She looks up at him, her lips trembling, her pulse wild beneath his fingertips. She should say it. She should push him away. But she never could. "I can't," she breathes. And just like that, the lines between love and disaster blur. Because falling for Josh Carter was something she had no control over. From secretly crushing on him for years, to living with him in an unexpected turn of events, to being his pretend fiancé, just how crazy can things get. Especially when he gets obsessively addicted to her
Leah's POV
The world slowed to a crawl.
One second, I was walking to school, my headphones in, the cool autumn air brushing against my skin. The next, I heard the screech of tires, the sharp blare of a horn, and my body locked in place as fear paralyzed me.
I couldn't move.
The car was too close, moving too fast. My heart slammed against my ribs, my breath caught somewhere in my throat, and in that frozen moment, I thought-This is it. This is how I die.
But then-arms. Strong, firm arms wrapped around me, yanking me back with a force that sent me colliding against a solid chest. A rush of warmth. The scent of something deep, musky, expensive. A heartbeat, steady and calm, right beneath my ear.
I gasped, my body trembling, my hands fisting into fabric-his fabric.
"Are you okay?" A voice, deep and rich, laced with something unreadable.
I lifted my gaze, and-oh.
The world, which had been on the verge of crumbling, suddenly stilled.
He was beautiful. Devastatingly, unfairly beautiful.
Dark brown hair, just tousled enough to look effortless. A sharp jawline, strong cheekbones, piercing eyes-God, those eyes. A shade of hazel so intense it felt like they could see right through me. His lips were slightly parted, brows drawn in concern, and for a ridiculous second, I forgot how to breathe.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I-"
Before I could get a proper word out, he was already moving, already stepping away like I was nothing more than a momentary inconvenience. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "You should be more careful."
Then, just like that, he turned away.
And I stood there, heart still hammering, pulse still erratic, watching as he walked off like he hadn't just saved my life.
Like he hadn't just knocked the air from my lungs with a single glance.
I stayed there for a long moment, my fingers still curled into the ghost of where his shirt had been, my mind replaying the deep timbre of his voice, the way his touch had burned through my uniform.
And then I shook myself. You're being ridiculous, Leah.
With one last look in the direction he had disappeared, I forced my legs to move again, my heart still struggling to settle.
.............................
My heart was still racing when I walked through the front door.
I kicked off my shoes absentmindedly, still replaying the morning's events in my head-the screech of tires, the strong arms that had yanked me back, the deep voice that had sent a strange shiver down my spine. Him.
I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him all day.
Not just because he had saved me, but because there was something about him-something commanding, magnetic, impossible to ignore. He had barely looked at me, barely acknowledged me, yet my mind was trapped in the memory of his hazel eyes, the way his hand had gripped my arm so effortlessly, the way my body had reacted to his presence like it had been wired to do so.
I shook my head. You're being ridiculous, Leah.
I exhaled and stepped into the living room, expecting to see my brother, Ryan, sprawled on the couch watching basketball or playing video games. What I didn't expect was him.
The same him I had spent the last several hours trying to push out of my thoughts.
Sitting on my couch. Laughing with my brother.
I froze mid-step. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack.
What. The. Hell.
He looked different now. More relaxed. His posture was lazy, his long legs stretched out in front of him, an easy grin playing on his lips as he clinked a beer bottle against Ryan's. His hair was still tousled, but in a way that seemed intentional, like he had run his fingers through it a thousand times.
And then, as if sensing my presence, he turned his head.
And those hazel eyes-those same goddamn hazel eyes-landed on me.
For a second, time stopped.
I felt the floor shift beneath me, my breath tangling in my throat as the weight of his gaze pressed against my skin. Did he recognize me? Did he remember pulling me back from the street just hours ago?
His brows pulled together slightly, like he was trying to place me.
And then-nothing.
Just like that, his expression smoothed out, completely indifferent. Detached. Like I was just a stranger, someone not worth a second glance.
Like he didn't even remember me.
My stomach twisted into a hard knot.
"Leah!" Ryan grinned, completely oblivious to the internal meltdown I was having. "Finally home, huh? Come here, I want you to meet someone."
I already know him.
I already know the way his voice sounds
Mira Kingsley has spent years fighting her way to the top-only to be told she can't take over as Co-CEO of her family's company unless she marries Ryan Carter. Ryan. Freaking. Carter. Her childhood nightmare. The cocky, annoyingly brilliant CEO who spent years making her life miserable. Now, she's stuck in a one-year arranged marriage, just trying to survive boardroom battles, corporate gossip, and a husband who is way too good at playing the role. But there's a catch. Ryan has zero intention of letting her go. Especially since he's the one who secretly orchestrated the whole thing. With nosy billionaire friends placing bets, and Ryan being unreasonably attractive while doing husband things and trying to invade her personal space Mira is just trying to make it through the year. Ryan? He's playing the long game. ......... A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage rom-com with sharp banter, workplace power struggles, and a husband who is way too good at being a menace.
Born under an ominous eclipse, two boys-one of light, one of shadow-share a bond deeper than blood. Raised as brothers, they grow up inseparable, bound by friendship, love, and an unshakable loyalty. But destiny is cruel. One is fated to become the world's savior, the other its destruction. As dark prophecies stir and forgotten evils rise, the boys must navigate a world that fears what they may become. Their choices will shape the fate of all, but when the truth of their origins is revealed, will their brotherhood withstand the weight of destiny? Or will they be forced to face each other as mortal enemies in a battle that will decide the fate of the world? In a story of friendship and fate, love and loss, two souls are destined to rise-only for one to fall.
She was a diamond covered by ashes.... King Dakota was known as the most Powerful Alpha King of all times - more powerful than any other King that had ruled from his lineage. He was cold hearted, introverted and dangerous in anger. Cursed by the Moon goddess, King Dakota had to get married to three wives all in search of a male child that would become his heir, but it was impossible as the curse would only let his wives bear she -wolves. But on a different day, the King meets a lady who offends him and as a punishment, he took her home as his fourth wife. Her name was Shilah. Shilah was a powerless wolf and as a result, was disregarded and intimidated by all. But, when she begins to do things that the King had never felt for years, he began to wonder who she really was. Slowly, she crawled her way into his icy heart and turned out to be something nobody ever expected - a storm.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
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!"
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.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"