Joanne Ogoin's life has never been easy. As the third daughter of a wealthy family, she's always felt like an outcast. Her chronic illness has made her parents all but dismiss her, favoring her healthier, more vibrant sisters instead. But when Joanne's family arranges her marriage to Marcus Thompson, the wealthy and ruthless CEO, she's horrified. Marcus is notorious for his brutal business tactics and acidic tongue, and Joanne knows she's in for a world of pain. What she doesn't expect, however, is the complex, vulnerable person beneath Marcus's harsh exterior. As they navigate their tumultuous relationship, Joanne begins to chip away at Marcus's defenses, revealing a deep well of emotion and longing. But as they struggle to overcome their pasts and the societal expectations that haunt them, Joanne and Marcus must confront the darkest corners of their own hearts. Will their love be enough to heal the wounds of their past, or will it succumb to the crushing weight of their families' ambitions?
Joanne Ogoin sat rigidly in the backseat of the luxury black sedan, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress as if the fabric could ground her. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows, but she barely noticed. Tonight wasn't about the city. It wasn't about the expensive restaurant her parents had insisted on. It was about the man waiting for her inside.
Marcus Thompson.
The ruthless, cutthroat CEO of Thompson Enterprises. A man whose name was synonymous with power and destruction. A man she was being forced to marry.
Joanne's stomach twisted as her mother's voice echoed in her head. "You should be grateful, Joanne. Any woman in her right mind would kill for a chance like this."
Grateful?
She wasn't foolish. She understood what this marriage meant to the Ogoins. Their business had been bleeding money for years, and Marcus Thompson, with his wealth and influence, was the only man powestruck- Joanneo save them. A deal had been struck- Joanne, the sickly, unwanted daughter, was the price.
Her father's voice had been dismissive when he told her. "You should consider yourself lucky, Joanne. It's not like you had any better prospects."
A sharp pain shot through her chest, but she ignored it.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of Echelon, an exclusive restaurant known for hosting billionaires, politicians, and the kind of people who made and destroyed lives with a single word.
The driver opened the door, and Joanne stepped out, smoothing down the silk of her dress. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked into the restaurant.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive wine and truffle-infused dishes. A waiter guided her toward a private section, where only the most elite dined.
And then, she saw him.
Marcus Thompson sat at the corner table, his presence commanding the entire space. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his sharp jawline and piercing gray eyes made him look more like a predator than a man. A sleek, black cane rested against the table beside him.
Joanne's breath caught in her throat.
The world spoke of Marcus Thompson as if he were invincible, a force of nature that crushed anything in his path. But the cane told a different story.
For a split second, their eyes met,, something flickered in his gaze-something sharp, guarded.
Then, his lips curved into a smirk.
"Sit." His voice was smooth but edged with steel. A demand, not a request.
Joanne forced herself to move, settling into the chair across from him. The moment she did, Marcus leaned forward, studying her like she was an unsolved puzzle.
"I expected someone more... fragile," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Joanne straightened her spine. "I expected someone less rude."
Marcus chuckled, swirling his drink. "You don't seem like the type to enjoy arranged marriages."
"I don't."
"Good," he said, leaning back. "Neither do I."
Joanne blinked. "Then why agree to this?"
A flicker of something-annoyance? Amusement?-crossed his face before he answered.
"Because, Joanne, I never turn down a challenge."
Her heart pounded.
A waiter arrived, placing a plate of delicately arranged seafood in front of her. She barely noticed.
Marcus took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. "Here's how this is going to work. You will play the role of the perfect fiancée in public. Smile when necessary, attend the events, and do whatever is needed to keep up appearances. In return, I will ensure your family's company survives."
Joanne's fingers curled into her lap. "And in private?"
"In private," Marcus murmured, his eyes locking onto hers, "you will stay out of my way."
Her throat tightened.
This was nothing more than a business transaction to him.
It shouldn't have surprised her. It shouldn't have hurt.
She lifted her chin. "Fine. But I have my own conditions."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do you?"
"I may be forced into this marriage, but I refuse to be treated like an inconvenience." Her voice didn't waver, even as her pulse raced. "You want me to smile in public? Then I expect you to show me at least the same courtesy."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Marcus's face.
"Interesting." He took another sip of his drink, eyes glinting with something unreadable. "You're not as weak as they say."
Before Joanne could respond, Marcus's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at it, his expression darkening. Without a word, he stood, reaching for his cane as he pushed back his chair.
"Dinner's over," he said.
"What?" She frowned.
Marcus pulled a thick envelope from his suit pocket and tossed it onto the table.
"Your engagement contract."
Joanne's breath hitched.
"I'll see you soon."
And with that, Marcus Thompson walked out, his cane tapping against the polished floor, leaving Joanne alone with nothing but a stack of cold legal documents and the sinking realization that her life would never be the same again.
"They say the rain follows me. That I was born cursed. Marked. Promised to a monster who lives in the shadows." When seventeen-year-old Elira is torn from her village during a storm, she's told she is the "Storm Bride"-a girl bound by blood to the feared Shadow Lord. Whispers say he's not human, that his castle breathes, and that every bride before her vanished without a trace. Now trapped in a dark fortress where the walls seem to whisper, and eyes watch her every move, Elira must uncover the truth about the curse tied to her bloodline and the mysterious man she is bound to marry. But the deeper she digs, the more twisted the truth becomes. Because the Shadow Lord isn't just hiding secrets... He's hiding her destiny. A slow-burn fantasy romance filled with ancient magic, dangerous court intrigue, and a girl who was never meant to be ordinary.
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
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!
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.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?