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When successful entrepreneur Leo Sterling marries the enigmatic Mia Carter in a whirlwind ceremony, he intends to keep their union a secret from the world. But as Mia navigates the luxurious yet dangerous world of high society, secrets from her past begin to surface, threatening not only their marriage but also their lives. Can love survive the shadows of betrayal, or will their hidden truths tear them apart?
The art gala shimmered with opulence, but Mia Carter's focus wasn't on the glittering gowns or the clinking glasses.
Her pulse quickened as she scanned the room, her instincts prickling with the unmistakable sensation of being watched.
She hadn't been followed,she was certain of that,but someone here had found her, and she needed to know who.
Her fingers tightened around the stem of her champagne glass as she turned slightly, her gaze sweeping the crowd. And then she saw him.
He stood near an abstract painting, his presence as sharp and deliberate as a blade. Dark hair swept back from a face carved with precision, but it was his eyes,piercing blue and unrelenting,that pinned her in place.
He wasn't just looking at her; he was studying her, dissecting her with a calm intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
Mia's breath hitched. She forced herself to remain still, to keep her expression neutral even as alarm bells screamed in her mind.
Who was he? A stranger? Or something far worse?
She turned away, pretending to admire a nearby sculpture, but her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. She could feel his gaze following her, burning into her back. This wasn't coincidence,his was. deliberate, Calculated.
Her training kicked in. She placed the champagne glass on a passing waiter's tray and began weaving through the crowd, careful not to move too quickly or draw attention to herself.
The gala was crowded enough to provide cover if she needed it, but every step felt like walking a tightrope over an abyss.
She reached for the small clutch tucked under her arm, fingers brushing against the cold steel of the compact weapon hidden inside,Just in case.
"Mia Carter," a voice said behind her, smooth and deep like velvet dipped in danger.
Her stomach dropped. No one here should know that name,not that name.
She turned slowly, masking the panic that clawed at her throat. It was him,the man with the piercing blue eyes,standing impossibly close now, his presence suffocating yet magnetic.
"Do I know you?"she asked coolly, tilting her head as if he were just another stranger at another party.
A faint smile tugged at his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Not yet," he said softly. "But I think we should change that".
Mia's pulse thundered in her ears, but she kept her expression smooth, her lips curving into a polite, practiced smile.
"I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else," she said lightly, though her voice didn't betray the storm brewing inside her.
His smile widened, just enough to make her uneasy. "I don't think so." He took a step closer, his presence radiating confidence and something darker,something that made Mia's instincts scream at her to run.
"You can change your name, your hair, even your story... but your eyes? Those always give you away."
Her stomach twisted into knots. Who was this man? How did he know about her past? She had been careful,meticulous, even.
The life she had built in New York was seamless, every detail crafted to perfection. There was no way anyone could have traced her here.
Unless they were looking for her.
"What do you want from me?" she asked quietly, cutting through the pretense.
Leo leaned against the railing casually now that they were alone on the balcony overlooking Manhattan's glittering skyline.
For a moment, neither of them spoke,the silence stretching taut between them like a wire ready to snap.
"You've been hard to find," he said finally, his voice softer now but no less intense.
Mia crossed her arms over her chest, masking the unease that coiled tighter with every word he spoke. "Maybe I didn't want to be found."
"Maybe" he agreed easily, his gaze never leaving hers. "But people like us don't get to disappear,not really."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words,at what they implied about him and what he knew about her. People like us.
"You seem awfully sure of yourself," she said lightly but edged with steel. "Do you always approach strangers with cryptic lines like that?"
He chuckled softly,a sound low and dangerous. "Only when the stranger isn't really a stranger." His gaze flicked over her face again, sharp and assessing. "But don't worry,I'm not here to cause trouble. Quite the opposite."
"And what exactly are you here for?" Mia asked warily.
"To talk," he said simply, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place. "That is... if you're willing to listen."
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before glancing around the room behind them through the glass doors of the balcony.
The gala buzzed on without them,oblivious to this quiet battle of wills taking place just outside its glittering walls.
"Fine," she said finally, keeping her tone neutral. "Let's talk."
Leo straightened slightly as if satisfied by her answer but didn't move closer this time,a calculated gesture that made Mia even more uneasy.
"You might not think so now," he said quietly after a long pause, his voice low enough that only she could hear it over the city's hum below them.
"But trust me... whatever you're running from? It's closer than you think."
Her breath caught in her throat as his words settled over her like a storm cloud,heavy and foreboding.
And then he stepped aside without another word and disappeared back into the crowd inside as if nothing had happened at all.
Mia stood frozen on the balcony for several long moments after he left, staring out at Manhattan's glittering skyline without really seeing it. Her mind raced with questions and possibilities,none of them good.
Who was Leo Sterling? How much did he know? And most importantly... how much danger was she really in?
As the city lights flickered below like distant stars, one thing became painfully clear: whatever game Leo had just pulled her into wasn't one she could afford to lose.
When successful entrepreneur Leo Sterling marries the enigmatic Mia Carter in a whirlwind ceremony, he intends to keep their union a secret from the world. But as Mia navigates the luxurious yet dangerous world of high society, secrets from her past begin to surface, threatening not only their marriage but also their lives. Can love survive the shadows of betrayal, or will their hidden truths tear them apart?
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
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?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.