Carmen Wade thought she had it all-a perfect job, a loyal best friend, and a husband she adored. Everything was perfect! But her world shatters the night she discovers her husband's ultimate betrayal with her best friend, Millie. Fearing Carmen will expose their affair, the two decide to kill her, forcing her into an oncoming truck. She bleeds to death. But when Carmen opens her eyes, she's no longer in her own world. She's been reborn as Lady Daphne Vasquez-The infamous villainess from her favorite fantasy novel, destined to meet a brutal end in the hands of her fiancé. Determined to change her fate, Carmen (now Daphne) shocks the kingdom by first calling off her engagement with Lord Michael Ruiz, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her treacherous husband, Cody Wade. Her actions draw the attention of King Rafe Crowe, a powerful ruler from a neighboring land who becomes suspicious of Daphne's sudden transformation. As Carmen navigates a world of greedy nobles and magic, she must use her knowledge of the story's end to outsmart those who would see her fall, including her former fiancé and the heroine of the novel-who eerily mirrors Millie. But her greatest challenge may be resisting the charm of King Rafe, whose keen eyes seem to see right through her facade and changing the narrative of the story she once knew it's end. In a world where allies and enemies blend together, Carmen's second chance at life becomes a high-stakes game of survival, vengeance, unexpected romance and avoiding a dark prophecy.
Carmen sat at her glass-topped desk, fingers flying over her keyboard as she finalized the figures in her quarterly report. Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind her, casting a golden glow on her sleek, modern office. Manhattan's skyline stretched before her, a proof of her success as a finance director at one of the city's top investment firms. She was composed, impeccably dressed in a fitted ivory blouse and tailored skirt, her dark locs pulled into a low, neat bun.
Just as she was about to move to the next task, a sharp sound broke her focus. "Delivery!" A file landed on her desk, sliding a few inches across from her 'Espresso yourself' mug which she never failed to bring to work and take back home everyday. It's been three years and the mug was still too precious to her. Carmen glanced up, startled, to see one of her colleagues, Jenna, smirking down at her, holding a bunch of files.
"Jesus Christ, Jenna!" Carmen jolted a bit, chuckling, before letting out a playful sigh."You scared me!"
"Sorry, didn't mean to! But seriously, Carmen, three years married to The Cody Wade?! What's it like being with such a dreamboat?" Jenna smirked, nudging her with a wink.
"Don't be dramatic now, Jenna. There's still plenty of work left." Carmen replied with a smile.
Jenna's face fell slightly , only to be replaced by a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on, Carmen! You can't keep all the details to yourself now. Tell meeee, pretty please! What's it really like living with Cody?"
Carmen's face softened, her heart warming at the thought of Cody. "Well, Cody's been just...Cody" she shrugged, only for Jenna to shoot her a disappointed look."
"Carmen, you know what I'm asking..." Jenna whined.
Carmen chuckled. She wasn't too keen on sharing too much about her personal life, especially not to Jenna Mcclarke-Roldwells' secretary and unofficial gossip queen. But when it came to talking about her husband, Carmen couldn't help it.
"Alright, fine," Carmen sighed, a dreamy look crossing her face. "I can't say it's been anything less than incredible, Jenna. Cody's...everything," she glanced at the wedding ring on her finger, smiling softly. "Tomorrow's gonna make it three years. Cody has something special planned, apparently."
"Of course he does," Jenna teased, causing Carmen to blush "You're married to Manhattan's golden boy. The guy's a millionaire and still looks like he just stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad. Ugh, you're so lucky! Talk about living the dream.
Carmen laughed, shaking her head. "Don't worry too much Jenna. One of these days, you'll find someone who knocks you off your feet."
"Well I doubt that," Jenna rolled her eyes. "All the guys around here are either taken, broke, or totally clueless. I need a 'Cody' in my life."
"Well, it's not all designer suits and gala events," Carmen replied with a laugh. But as she spoke, her mind took her back to the life they'd built together. How they went from being best friends to a happily married couple.
Jenna shot her a knowing grin, tapping at the files she threw on Carmen's desk. "Hey, lover girl, this is for you. The boss needs it reviewed by the end of the day. Email the edited copy to him."
"Got it, thanks," Carmen nodded, pulling the files closer. Jenna lingered for a moment, giving her a final wink before sauntering off, leaving Carmen alone with her thoughts.
What was it they said about marrying your best friend?
Three years ago, at exactly 8:59 p.m., Cody proposed to Carmen in a way that still played through her mind like a scene from her favorite movie. They'd been best friends since childhood, with Carmen always standing by his side, supporting him through countless late nights as he pursued his dream of making video games.
She'd been there when he was broke, listening to his frustrations and cheering him on, even celebrating with him in her small apartment when he sold his first game to an indie company. Over time, Cody's talent gained recognition, and he eventually made his first million.
She thought back to the sheer joy she'd felt when she saw him going down on one knee under the city lights, and every precious moment since. Tomorrow marked three years of marriage, and Cody had hinted at a surprise. She was curious, but had managed to hold back from prodding him for the finer details of his plan.
Cody was thoughtful, yes. But he had a flair for the extravagant stuff. She remembered one particular occasion where he'd filled her workplace with two thousand peonies, along with a romantic note and an array of different dishes she eventually shared with her colleagues and those in need on the streets. Oh, and there was also the brand new car he gifted her that day. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of surprise Cody had in store for their anniversary this time.
Before she could get too caught up in her memories, her phone buzzed, and she saw Millie's name flash on the screen. Millie was her best friend, a no nonsense model with a big heart and an endless supply of sass and fun.
Carmen answered with a smile. "Millieee,"
"Hey bestie, are you done with work yet?" Millie asked, her voice bright and unusually chirpy.
Carmen glanced at her laptop and the files on her desk. "Not really. Why?"
"Because we're going shopping!"
Carmen sighed "Millie...."
"You're not going to spend your whole day in that office, are you?" Millie's voice teased through the phone.
"I still have a few things left to wrap up for the boss, Mills." Carmen replied, groaning. She knew her best friend. And there was no way she was getting out of this. But she could try. "Besides, I don't really need anything."
"You're not getting out of it, Carmen."
"Well, I could try." Carmen chuckled
"Oh, come on. It's your three year's anniversary tomorrow. Don't you want to pick out something extra special for Cody? If he's surprising you, you should surprise him back, don't you think?" Millie prodded, "And I need...something for me. For work."
"Millie," Carmen laughed, "I've already got him a gift!"
"Yes, but you can never have too many surprises for the man you love, Cam." Millie argued, refusing to take no for an answer. "Gurrrlll, please? I'm dying for an afternoon with you outside the office."
Carmen paused, looking around at the incomplete work on her desk, and then sighed, smiling. "Fine, you win. I could really use a break right now. An hour or two would do."
"Yayyy"
"I'll meet you in ten."
"I'm downstairs already, I'll-"
Carmen raised an invisible brow, "Wait. So you're downstairs? And you're calling?"
Millie chuckled "Okay, see you in ten, Cam, bye."
"I Love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul" There is no greater atrocity than falling in love with your younger sister's husband. When Nayan agrees to move in with her younger sister, Naomi, to assist during the final month of her pregnancy, she devotes herself to caring for her soon-to-be-born niece. However, after the baby is born, Naomi begins to act irresponsibly, frequently going out and returning late at night, leaving her newborn at home for Nayan to care for. Despite initially being unprepared for this role, Nayan steps up to take responsibility for her niece and, in the process, inadvertently falls in love with Naomi's husband.
Madison Hartley never expected to inherit her family's struggling business empire at just twenty-four. With debts piling up and no lifeline in sight, she's willing to do whatever it takes to save Hartley Corporation -even if it means marrying Manhattan's most ruthless billionaire. Alexander Grayson is a man who always gets what he wants. Cold, calculating, and irresistibly handsome, he accepts the contract Madison proposes that promises to solve both their problems. For Madison, it's a lifeline; for Alexander, it's the perfect cover for his own hidden motives. But as their fake marriage blurs into something dangerously real, Madison discovers that love may come at a higher cost than she ever imagined. Will she rush her heart to save her legacy, or will the secrets between them destroy everything? In a city where power and passion collide, nothing is what it seems.
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
"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."