A hot billionaire with a bad reputation makes you an offer you can't resist. The deal? Pretend to be his fiancée to save his empire. The only rule? Don't fall in love. But when secrets unravel and pasts collide, Anabelle Michael, a mysterious actress with a hidden life, realizes she might be playing the most dangerous role yet-one that could cost her everything, including her heart.
The private jet touched down on the slick runway, the city skyline standing tall in the distance. As the jet's door opened, Lucas Davis emerged, exuding an air of authority and cold indifference. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his piercing gray eyes scanned the area as though he was already calculating his next move. The gust of wind ruffled his dark hair, but he paid no attention to it.
His personal assistant, Henry, was already waiting at the foot of the stairs.
"Welcome back, sir," Henry greeted him, swiftly opening the door to the sleek black car that had been waiting for him.
Lucas nodded wordlessly and slipped into the back seat, adjusting his cufflinks as the car pulled away from the private airstrip. It had been years since he last set foot in the city, yet nothing felt different to him except for the uneasy weight settling in his chest.
Breaking News
"We are sorry to interrupt your program for some breaking news!"
A polished news anchor appeared on the car's screen, her expression brimming with curiosity.
"Lucas Davis, the elusive heir of Davis Enterprises, has made a mysterious return to the States. The billionaire, known for his icy demeanor and scandalous reputation, remains unmarried despite his overwhelming popularity among the female population. His sudden return has left many wondering what could be the reason behind it?"
Lucas exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the tumbler of whiskey he had just poured himself from the car's minibar.
Same old nonsense.
The media loved to speculate about his life his whereabouts, his relationships, his business decisions. It was exhausting, yet predictable. He took a slow sip of his drink, letting the burn ground him.
Henry cleared his throat, a knowing glance passing through the rearview mirror.
"Shall I prepare a statement, sir?"
Lucas scoffed. "No need. Let them talk."
He had bigger concerns than whatever gossip they spewed on national television.
Meanwhile...
"And the award for Best Actress goes to... Anabelle Michael!"
The auditorium erupted into thunderous applause as the spotlight fell on a woman sitting in the audience, her breath caught in her throat. Anabelle couldn't believe it. After years of grueling auditions, setbacks, and heartbreak, she was finally being recognized.
Her hands trembled as she stood up and made her way to the stage, her long evening gown flowing elegantly behind her. As she accepted the golden statuette, she blinked back tears.
"I can't believe my dream finally came true," she said, her voice slightly shaking. "After all this time, after so many sacrifices..."
The sound of a bell ringing cut through the moment.
"Erm, hello?".
The bright lights vanished, the stage disappeared, and instead, she was staring at an impatient customer across the counter of the small café where she worked. The golden statuette in her hands was now a cheap plastic coffee stirrer.
"I'm sorry, sir, can you repeat that?"
"A black coffee, please," the man said with an annoyed sigh.
She quickly punched in the order. "That will be $4.50."
The customer paid and moved along, leaving Anabelle standing there, still caught between her daydream and reality. She had been working late shifts at the café to make ends meet, all while chasing her dream of becoming an actress. But lately, it felt as if life was playing a cruel joke on her.
After finishing her shift, Anabelle trudged home, exhaustion settling into her bones. The moment she pushed open the door to her tiny apartment, the familiar scent of popcorn and scented candles filled the air.
On the couch, her best friend Hazel was sprawled out, engrossed in a movie. Hazel was everything Anabelle wasn't outgoing, spontaneous, and always ready for an adventure. With her messy bun and oversized hoodie, she looked completely at ease with life.
"Oh, you're back!" Hazel called out without looking away from the screen.
Anabelle kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch beside her. Her white fluffy cat, Mira, purred and climbed onto her lap.
"How did the audition go?" Hazel asked, her tone careful.
Anabelle let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples. "Something came up at work, and I had to stay overtime..."
Hazel shot her a sharp look. "Don't tell me you canceled the audition again."
Anabelle swallowed hard. "Well... I'll get another chance."
Hazel groaned and dramatically threw her hands in the air. "You never have time with all those part-time jobs, Belle. You're constantly working yourself to exhaustion. Maybe you should slow down a bit and focus on your dream."
Anabelle knew Hazel was right. Damn her for always being right.
"I know," Anabelle muttered. "But you know I can't. I need the money."
Hazel sighed, her expression softening. "It just hurts me to see you wasting your talent."
Anabelle gave a small, tired smile. "Sometimes, life just gets in the way."
Hazel leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Anyway, guess what? Lucas Davis just came back to the city, and it's all everyone's been talking about!"
Anabelle raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that rich guy?"
Hazel gasped, clutching her chest in mock horror. "The audacity! He is not just some rich guy. He's the hottest bachelor in the whole country! He's powerful, mysterious, and worth billions."
Anabelle rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I still don't get the obsession."
Hazel smirked. "Rumors say he's thinking of getting married."
"Good for him," Anabelle said flatly, standing up and stretching. "I couldn't care less."
Hazel watched her with narrowed eyes. "Oh, Belle. You have no idea just how much you should care."
Across the city, Lucas Davis leaned against the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, a glass of whiskey in hand. The city lights twinkled below, but his mind was elsewhere. He had come back for one reason and one reason only.
A contract sat on the table in front of him. An agreement that would change his life forever. He had until the end of the month to find a woman to play the role of his fiancée. And it had to be someone who didn't fall in love easily.
A slow smirk formed on his lips as he exhaled.
He would find her. And when he did, she would be perfect for the job.
After years of heartbreak, Sophia Hayes has sworn off love. Her first love, Ethan, repeatedly shattered her heart, leaving her with deep scars. Now, focused on her career and determined never to trust a man again, she's built emotional walls too high to climb. But when Adrian Parker, a successful billionaire with a past of his own, enters her life, everything changes. Adrian falls for Sophia at first sight, and he's willing to fight for her heart, no matter the cost. As their connection deepens, a web of family pressure, jealousy, and old wounds threatens to tear them apart. Sophia must confront her fears and decide if she can find the courage to love again-or if her past will keep her from the future she deserves.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
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!
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
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.”