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An arranged marriage. A forbidden attraction. A dangerous game of power and passion. Emilia Cortez was raised to be ruthless-an heir forged in fire, molded to rule. But when her crumbling empire is forced into a truce with the enemy, she finds herself bound to Damon Ashford, the cold, cunning heir of the man who destroyed everything she loved. Their marriage is a spectacle. A political pawn. But behind closed doors? It's a battlefield of sharp tongues, stolen glances, and undeniable tension. He's the enemy. She should hate him. But the heat between them could burn the entire world down. As the lines between love and loyalty blur, Emilia must decide: can she tame the man she was meant to betray or will loving him cost her everything? Power. Passion. Betrayal. Welcome to a marriage that could end the war... Or start a revolution.
If someone had told Emilia Hart five years ago that she'd marry the son of the man who destroyed her family, she would've laughed, then slapped them for the insult.
Yet here she was, standing at the altar, white silk clinging to her trembling body, staring into the eyes of Damon Blackwell-the heir to the empire that had nearly ruined her life.
The cathedral was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers rained golden light across rows of polished pews. Famous faces from politics and power were scattered among the guests, all dressed in silence and secrets. Reporters were banned, but that didn't stop whispers from buzzing like bees.
Emilia's mother was dead, her father was serving a life sentence.
And the Blackwell name had everything to do with it.
So why was she standing here in white?
Because revenge wears many faces.
And sometimes, it says "I do"
Damon looked unreadable, as always, sharp-jawed, raven-haired, with those calculating eyes that seemed to see straight through to a person's weaknesses. Emilia had studied him from afar for years, trying to hate him. But up close, hate was a confusing thing. Especially when the enemy smelled like expensive cologne and looked like sin carved in marble.
"Do you, Damon Blackwell, take Emilia Hart as your lawfully wedded wife?" the officiant asked
He didn't blink "I do" Emilia's breath caught
Not because of his answer, but because of the way he said it. As if the words meant something deeper. As if this marriage was more than the business merger it had started as.
The officiant turned to her. "And do you, Emilia Hart, take Damon Blackwell...."
"I do" she said quickly, firmly. No hesitation.
Because if she hesitated, she'd remember the blood on her father's hands.
Or the judge's face when he delivered the guilty verdict.
Or the way the Blackwells had stood smugly in court, untouchable behind their wealth.
This wedding was her only path into their world.
Into his world.
They exchanged rings. Damon's fingers brushed hers; cool, controlled, and lingering just a second too long. When they were pronounced husband and wife, he leaned in to kiss her.
She expected a quick, performative press of lips.
But Damon's mouth captured hers with surprising intensity. Warm. Demanding. Like he was claiming something.
The crowd applauded. Cameras flashed.
Her spine stiffened.
This wasn't real. It was a game.
And she was playing to win.
Later that night, the penthouse suite awaited them, rose petals scattered across silk sheets, champagne chilling beside the bed.
Emilia stood by the window, arms crossed, watching the city glitter below.
Damon entered behind her, jacket off, sleeves rolled, his movements deliberate.
"You didn't flinch" he said
She turned "Should I have?"
He smirked "Most brides don't marry someone they loathe"
"Most grooms don't kiss like that if it's just for show" He came closer "Then maybe it wasn't just for show"
Her heart beat faster, but she hid it behind a cool smile "Careful, Damon. You might start to believe your own lies"
"Or maybe you're the one lying to yourself" he said, voice low "About why you really said yes"
She laughed, sharp and hollow "I said yes because I want a seat at the table. The same table your father tried to burn down with my family still sitting at it"
"And what will you do now that you're at it?" he asked "Poison the wine?"
She looked him dead in the eye "I guess you'll have to find out"
A tense silence stretched between them, electric.
Th Damon took a step back, eyes dark. "We made a deal, Emilia. A year. One public marriage. No strings."
She nodded "And no secrets"
He smiled thinly "We're Blackwells, secrets are the only currency we trust"
And with that, he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Emilia exhaled.
She was in the lion's den now. Wearing a white dress, bearing his last name, sleeping under his roof.
But this wasn't the end of her story.
It was just the beginning.
And when the truth finally surfaced, when the past they both tried to bury clawed its way back up
One of them would burn.
She just had to make sure it wasn't her.
In a world where power is everything and trust is a luxury, Isabella Cortez is caught between the ruthless empire of the mafia and the enigmatic billionaire who controls it all. As a trusted strategist for the Syndicate, she's played the game-manipulating, calculating, and making deals with dangerous people. But when she becomes entangled with Dominic Moretti, the empire's cold-hearted leader, she's forced to confront a new, terrifying reality. Dominic is a man who always gets what he wants, and he wants it all: power, control, and Isabella by his side. As their worlds collide, Isabella is faced with an impossible choice-remain loyal to the empire she helped build, or betray everything for the chance at a life outside of the shadows. But when a betrayal from within threatens to tear their empire apart, Isabella and Dominic must decide just how far they're willing to go to protect their empire-and each other. In a game of power, passion, and deceit, who will come out on top? And when the stakes are higher than ever, can love truly survive?
Luca DeLuca was never meant to be a king. Born into one of the most powerful mafia families, he was raised in the shadows of blood and violence-protected, sheltered, and kept far from the world his father ruled with an iron fist. But when Don Salvatore DeLuca is assassinated, everything changes. The empire his father built is now crumbling, threatened by enemies within and outside the family. Forced into a throne he never wanted, Luca must learn to navigate a world of betrayal, power, and brutal survival. He isn't a killer. Not yet. But in the mafia, power is earned in blood-and to lead, he must be willing to lose everything, including the last pieces of his soul. But Luca's battle isn't just against the underworld's deadliest players. It's against himself. As he struggles with the darkness seeping into his veins, a forbidden love threatens to shatter everything. Torn between the woman who makes him feel human and the ruthless empire that demands his loyalty, Luca must decide: Is he willing to sacrifice love for power? Or will love be his greatest weakness? In a world where trust is a death sentence and mercy is a myth, Luca DeLuca must either rise as a legend or die as a footnote.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
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."
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?”
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!
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
In their three years of marriage, Chelsea had been a dutiful wife to Edmund. She used to think that her love and care would someday melt Edmund's cold heart, but she was wrong. Finally, she couldn't take the disappointment any longer and chose to end the marriage. Edmund had always thought that his wife was just boring and dull. So it was shocking when Chelsea suddenly threw divorce papers at his face in front of everyone at the Nelson Group's anniversary party. How humiliating! After that, everyone thought that the formerly-married couple would never see each other again, even Chelsea. Once again, she thought wrong. Sometime later, at an award ceremony, Chelsea went onstage to accept the award for best screenplay. Her ex-husband, Edmund, was the one presenting the award to her. As he handed her the trophy, he suddenly reached for her hand and pleaded humbly in front of the audience, "Chelsea, I'm sorry I didn't cherish you before. Could you please give me another chance?" Chelsea looked at him indifferently. "I'm sorry, Mr. Nelson. My only concern now is my business." Edmund's heart was shattered into a million pieces. "Chelsea, I really can't live without you." But his ex-wife just walked away. Wasn't it better for her to just concentrate on her career? Men would only distract her—especially her ex-husband.