Meant to be
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THREE-YEARS CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE HOT BILLIONAIRE
"Sign the contract, or lose everything." I stared at the papers that would seal my fate-a three-year marriage to Julian Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire they call the Ice King. My family didn't ask. They demanded. My father's company was drowning, my stepsister's engagement had exploded, and I was the replacement bride they could sacrifice. Just another transaction. Julian made it clear on our wedding day: "Don't expect affection. Don't expect companionship. Certainly don't expect love." He refused to kiss me at the altar. He gave me a bedroom down the hall and told me to stay out of his way. I was Mrs. Blackwood in name only-a contract, a convenience, a means to an end. I accepted it. I had survived twelve years of abuse in my own home. I could survive three years of indifference in his. But then Nate, Julian's best friend, showed me kindness, and suddenly my cold husband became possessive. When my sister attacked me, he became protective. Now the man who promised me nothing is fighting his own father to keep me. The marriage that was supposed to be fake is becoming terrifyingly real and the secrets about my mother's death are threatening to destroy everything. They said Julian Blackwood destroys everything he touches. What they didn't tell me... is that sometimes destruction is exactly what you need to be reborn. With a pregnancy involved, how was I going to end this three-year marriage peacefully?
Chapter 1 The Invisible Daughter
Lena.
I refilled the champagne glasses carefully, weaving through clusters of glittering guests who looked through me rather than at me. The black dress I wore, the same one I'd worn to every family event for the past three years had a small tear at the hem that no one had noticed. No one ever noticed.
"More champagne here," a woman in diamonds called out, snapping her fingers without bothering to look at my face.
I moved to her, my footsteps silent on the marble floor of the Carter mansion's ballroom. Cassie's engagement party was in full swing, two hundred guests celebrating my stepsister's upcoming marriage to Liam Whitley, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune. A string quartet played in the corner. The air smelled of expensive perfume and imported flowers.
I belonged to none of it.
But in exactly seven days, none of this would matter anymore.
Seven days until I had enough money saved. Seven days until my interview at the marketing firm in Boston. Seven days until I could disappear from this house and never look back.
I touched the envelope hidden in my bra-my mother's death certificate, the one document I would need to access the small trust fund she had left me. The lawyer's appointment was scheduled for Monday morning. After three years of hiding money in my mattress, working secret jobs Bridget didn't know about, I finally had enough for a security deposit and first month's rent on a tiny studio apartment five hours away.
Freedom was seven days away.
"The hors d'oeuvres are running low on the west table." Bridget's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. My stepmother appeared at my elbow, her perfectly painted lips pressed into a thin line. "Were you planning to let our guests starve?"
"I'll refill them now," I said quietly.
"You should have done it ten minutes ago." Her manicured nails dug into my arm. "Must I do everything myself? Go. And try not to look so pathetic. You're embarrassing us."
Just seven more days, I reminded myself. Seven more days of this, then I'd never have to hear her voice again.
I hurried toward the kitchen, my cheeks burning. Behind me, I heard Bridget's laugh as she greeted another guest. The transformation was instant, like flipping a switch.
In the kitchen, I loaded canapés onto a silver tray, my hands moving automatically. The catering staff gave me sympathetic looks but said nothing. They knew better than to interfere in family matters.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I checked it quickly, it as a text from Landon, my manager at the coffee shop where I worked early mornings before anyone in this house woke up.
"Your last paycheck is ready. $340. That puts you at your goal, right?"
My heart soared. I didn't need to wait seven more days. I had enough now. I could leave tomorrow if I wanted to.
I typed back quickly: "Yes. Thank you for everything."
"Good luck in Boston. You deserve better than this."
I deleted the conversation and pocketed my phone, my hands shaking with suppressed excitement. Tomorrow. I could leave tomorrow, right after the lawyer's appointment. I had already packed a small bag and hidden it in the garden shed. I had bus tickets purchased under a fake name. I had...
"Lena!" Cassie's voice shattered my planning. "Come here for a second."
I returned to the ballroom, a tray balanced in my hands. Cassie stood at the center of a group of her friends, her engagement ring catching the light with every dramatic gesture. She looked beautiful in her rose-gold gown, her blonde hair swept into an elegant updo, her laugh was musical and confident.
Everything I wasn't. Everything I had stopped trying to be.
"I just wanted to introduce you to everyone," Cassie said sweetly as I approached. "This is my stepsister, Lena. She's been so helpful tonight, playing servant." She leaned closer, as if sharing a secret. "She really commits to the role, doesn't she?"
Her friends tittered. I stood frozen, the familiar burn of humiliation spreading through my chest.
Tomorrow, I reminded myself. Just get through tonight.
"Actually, I think she enjoys it," one of them said. "Some people just know their place."
Cassie reached for a glass of wine from a passing waiter. She turned back to me, smiling. "Oh, how clumsy of me!"
The red wine hit my dress in a splash of burgundy, soaking through the fabric. The wine was cold against my skin, and for a moment, I felt the envelope in my bra getting damp. Panic shot through me, if the death certificate was ruined, I would have to order another one, which would take weeks.
I set down the tray with shaking hands and hurried toward the bathroom, Cassie's laughter following me down the hall. In the bathroom, I carefully extracted the envelope. The certificate was fine, protected by the envelope's thick paper. Relief flooded through me.
I looked at my reflection: wine-stained, exhausted, invisible. Tomorrow, this version of Lena Carter would cease to exist.
I slipped out the side door into the garden, needing air, needing to see the one place in this house that still felt like home. My mother had planted these roses herself, back when she was alive, back when this house held warmth and laughter. I had hidden my escape bag behind the largest rose bush, wrapped in plastic.
I knelt beside it now, checking to make sure it was still there. Everything was intact-clothes, documents, the small amount of jewelry my mother had left me that Bridget didn't know about.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, Mom," I whispered to the roses. "I'm finally getting out."
A crash from inside the house shattered the moment. Then shouting, loud enough to carry through the walls.
My escape would have to wait a few more hours. I stood, brushing dirt from my ruined dress, and returned to find chaos.
A crash from inside the house shattered the quiet. Then shouting, loud enough to carry through the walls. I stood, brushing dirt from my ruined dress.
When I returned to the ballroom, it was chaotic. Cassie stood in the center of the room, her face blotchy with tears, while Liam Whitley faced her with crossed arms.
"I'm done," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I can't marry someone so spoiled, so entitled. My family won't allow it anyway, your father's company is hemorrhaging money. This engagement is over."
He pulled the ring from his pocket...Cassie must have thrown it at him and set it on a nearby table. Then he walked out.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Cassie's scream pierced the air. She grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it at the wall, where it shattered into a thousand pieces. "How dare he! How dare he embarrass me like this!"
Guests began making hurried exits, murmuring apologies and excuses. Within minutes, the ballroom had emptied except for family and staff.
Bridget's hand connected with my cheek before I saw it coming. The slap echoed through the nearly empty room.
"This is your fault," she hissed. "Looking like trash in front of our guests, bringing bad luck to this family. You've embarrassed us for the last time."
I pressed my hand to my stinging cheek but said nothing. My father stood in the corner, avoiding my eyes.
"Get out of my sight," Bridget said. "And clean up this mess before you go to bed."
I spent the next two hours picking up broken glass and discarded napkins while the caterers packed up around me. My father and Bridget had disappeared into his study. I could hear their voices, through the heavy door.
By the time I finished cleaning, it was past midnight. I was heading toward the stairs when my father's voice stopped me cold.
"The company is failing. We'll be bankrupt within six months."
I froze outside his study door, my heart pounding.
"Then we need the Blackwood deal," Bridget said. "It's our only option."
"Julian Blackwood wants a marriage alliance. His father insisted on it."
"Then we give them a bride."
No. No, no, no.
"Cassie's engagement just ended publicly," my father said. "The Blackwoods won't want damaged goods."
"They've never met Cassie in person. They've only seen photos. We'll give them Lena instead."
The trash bag slipped from my hands.
"Lena?" My father sounded uncertain.
"She's useless here anyway. At least this way she'll finally contribute something to this family."
I pressed myself against the wall, my carefully constructed escape plan crumbling around me.
"Lena!" My father's sharp voice cut through my panic. "Get in here. Now."
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The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What's worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn't thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn't seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he's different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
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Sold Myself To A Billionaire
“You are very handsome, I only wish to get married to you.” “Oh….really, do you think that you meet all the qualifications that I want in my woman?” He asked and then looked her all over from her head to her toes. The guy didn’t even blink his cold eyes as he scanned her body and she started panicking that he would reject her. Emily Meets Billionaire Richard Weller in the Bar and they get married the following day. In their journey to discover each other they face several challenges. Emily later realizes that her heart beats only for him despite the circumstances under which they met.
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My Step Daddy Is My Lover
Welcome guys in 2nd part of MY STEP DADDY. if you are new you need to read first part MY STEP DADDY. Mature content 18+ "Daddy…." She moaned clenching my hair, arching her back giving me more of her nipples. I took her areola in my mouth sucking hard like a baby starving for milk. I was starving for her milk making her nipples bloody red I dragged my mouth giving her wet kisses. I make sure her whole body covered with my marks. All red and purple marks of my passionate love for her. She was moaning, Her erotic breath and my groan filled the room.I lash out my beast on her. I was rock and hard to enter inside her. "Daddy Please" She begged her face was flashed, Her cheeks were pinky like her name. "Rose promise me, you won't leave me" I asked entering inside her. "Yes daddy…I won't…" She said digging her nail in my back. "I love you princess…" I said thrusting inside her. It feel like heaven, Her pussy my heaven. "I love you daddy…." She moaned coming on me and I thrusted fastest speed like if I stopped she will vanished beneath me. "Princess where our baby…" I asked coming inside her. Her whole body frozen beneath me. I saw tear rolling down in corner of her eyes getting invisible in her hair. "Baby…" I asked and she broke into loud sob. "What happened" She cried giving me hard glare like I am the person in this world she hated most. The eyes holding so much love for me was replaced with hatred. "Baby.." I asked trying to give her hugged but she vanished beneath me before whispering " I Hate You daddy"
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My Step Daddy
Please Note: Book have mature content 18+ Story of Rose and her Step Daddy Josheph. Steamy love story with taste of betrayal, suspense and thriller. "I was waiting for this moment Princess" He whisper in ear giving goosebumps. "D..daddy" I stuttered. "shhhhhh.. baby, you trust me right?" daddy asked. "Yes daddy" I replied with closed eyes feeling his hand on body roaming everywhere making me more wet for him. This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Mistaken Marriage, Unexpected Love
It was a big day for Camilla. She looked forward to marrying her handsome groom. Unfortunately, he abandoned her at the altar. He never showed up throughout the wedding. She was made a laughingstock in front of all the guests. In a fit of rage, she went and slept with a strange man on her wedding night. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. To her dismay, the man refused to let her be. He pestered her like she had stolen his heart on that night. Camilla didn't know what to do. Should she give him a chance? Or just stay away from men?
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Meant to be
I looked at her amused. I got up from my seat and stood infront of her. Not too close, not yet. ''You imagine too much Ms. Vitale. I can assure you that I'm not plotting anything, although I did plan something different". I whispered the last part. ''W-what?'' She asked looking confused. Cute.
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We were meant to be
Anya, the girl who fell for her best friend. But he already loves someone else and he is getting married in a month. She loves him to an extent that she can do anything to make him happy, even if his happiness lies in someone else...even if she has to let her heart break into tiny little pieces...
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Yomega, meant to be yours
Falcon, a 32-year-old millionaire businessman, acquires a new company at the breaking point without imagining that there is a woman in it who prepared him for him and although at the beginning he denies the idea, he will end up determined to make it his own. But there are two problems. First: he's
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Unexpected, But Meant To Be
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We Are Meant To Be
Claire Bridgewater’s life and career is spiraled into confusion and trouble. The only way out for Claire to save her reputation as well as save her troubled brother was to plan the wedding of the year. A contract marriage between billionaire Zach Harrison and Maria Nicholas, a renowned reporter. But
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Some Things Are Just Meant To Be
The rain hammered against the window, mirroring the frantic beat of my heart as my mother clutched her chest, her breathing shallow. I called 911, but the streets were flooded, and the ambulance was delayed. Desperate, I called my wife, Sarah. Her voice, bright and cheerful over the noisy clatter
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A Marriage Never Meant To Be
My engagement to Ethan Hayes was suffocating, bound by a grim family rule: no breaking up, only widowed. My brother' s dying wish had sealed my fate with a man who no longer loved me. He loved Chloe Davis. The definitive moment arrived when my brother's watch, my most prized possession, was shatter
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Meant To Be(In Love With Him)
Blurb: " Who are you?" She asked with the sharp pain in her body and voice. " Hope you are okay if you are not don't just stress yourself I would explain everything to you" He added with a smile and supporting look. ******* in the middle of her life he came up being there for her as she lost everyth
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Perhaps Meant To Be's Our Specialty.
Love is citrusy. It can be sweet as it is sour... Medical school. Check. Wonderful grades. Check. Famous parents. Check. Great love life. Skip. There's nothing Abigail Espérer wants more than to flee her parents suffocating shadows and save lives, so internship is a cape day for her. Graceland hospi
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MAYBE MEANT TO BE A BRIDE FOR MR ANTONIO
WARNING: ADULT CONTENT HERE* Read at your own risk! "No matter the time or place,you will spread your legs for me when I say so,that's my condition,can you do that?" Angela met his eyes and swallowed convulsively. "Yes". Her voice trembled. Angela, a 24 yrs old and breadwinner of her poor cla
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Unbearable Love: Boss, Please Let Me Go
Their encounter was a mistake. Natalie mistook Carter for the senior she had a crush on, so she saved him from danger and even gave him her first time. To get him out of trouble, she married his young brother, but the one she loved was him. As finding her pregnancy, she got nothing but his suspic
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He's meant to my enemy
At 23, Celine Johnson supports her family after her father vanished fourteen years ago. With her mother fighting ovarian cancer and debts piling up, she manages her job at a convenience store and dreams of working at Herbal Luxe, the city's top hair product company. Celine's life shifts when she h
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The Marriage I Wasn't Meant to Question.
She married him for survival. He married her for a reason he refuses to explain. And the truth is buried deeper than the contract. The more she settles into his world, the more she realizes the marriage wasn't just convenient - it was calculated. Chosen. Timed. And when she uncovers why she was sele
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The Heir I was Meant to Hate
She infiltrated the empire to destroy it. She didn't expect to fall for its king. When Sophia Carter's father is brutally murdered, the world calls it a robbery gone wrong. But Sophia knows better - the Blackwoods, a family cloaked in wealth and corruption, hold the truth behind the blood on their
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Maid To Be
Nia is faced with different choices and terrible decisions as her mom lays sick in the hospital. She is forced to take up a job which brings her drama, trouble and love. Life doesn't get better when she becomes a maid in the Williams mansion, home to a large British family, who aren't very welcomin
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To Be His Bodyguard
It's been years since Naya left the United States with tears, a broken heart and no father. But now, the President wants her back to protect his son, Tan and her first true love. This is her one chance at finding her father's killer and finally finding a home she can call her own. There is only one
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YUANFEN : Destined to be
"Alpha, it's confirmed, we observed her emerging from the airport." Cyrus Carter's body stiffened at the news. It had been three years since he last laid eyes on HER, yet the mention of her name still stirred up the same tumultuous emotions within him. AriaThompson still had the power to make his h
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Destined to be yours
prologue She turned towards him. With a seductive look on her face. She came close to him. Wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her with all his myth. He felt like he got his world in her. " you know what, once in these streets we crossed each other's path, and now in these vary streets it
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Fated To Be Theirs
Betrayed By One Now Wanted by Four Men! His Betrayal! On the dawn of her wedding day, Ember's life is thrown upside down as she is falsely accused of being behind the death of the Alpha, but while in prison, she discovers that her mate, alongside her best friend, had planned all this out to get rid
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Arranged To Be His
Arranged to be his wrath, possession and lastly his bride. Heira's life changed completely when she was forced to marry a cold hearted billionaire, Dante Moretti. Her father, Charles Arven's reputation is being tarnished as a result of a public scandal. His company was losing investors and also goin
