She had never expected that she would marry a man she only met a few times. He said he could give her everything except love, and she agreed. However, his gentleness and thoughtfulness got the best of her. She thought she could enjoy such life forever, but the appearance of his first love drew her out of her fantasy. It was time to end this dream, so she left away with his unborn child. When they met again, he finally realized how much he had missed her.
Sarah Swain oozed sophistication in her elegant, custom-tailored, black formal wear as she sat in a chair by the window of a coffee shop, relishing the view of the bustling city. The ambiance of the place in such honeyed hues brought a sweetness to her day, coaxing an inner smile that warmed her from within.
By the age of twenty-seven, Sarah had become one of the most prolific white-collar elites in the city. Unfortunately, even though she enjoyed great success in her career as an architect, her love life hadn't worked out the same way as she would have wanted.
In spite of the fact that most of her colleagues were males, sadly, Sarah's rigid personality managed to drive them far away from her. Sarah was considered to be the ice queen of the company by her peers, but they had no idea that she was a completely different person outside of work. While she waited for the blind date her mother had arranged for her, Sarah plunged a single sugar cube into the cup and stirred before taking a sip.
Her impatience indicated that she wasn't looking forward to this date. Perhaps, she would have felt excited about today's date if her mother hadn't arranged at least one blind date for her every week. This was the ninety-eighth time and also the second one this week.
Unfortunately, this was the only way to shut her mother up who wouldn't stop talking about her younger friends who already had grandsons. Exasperated, Sarah's fingers traced her face. Although her skin was still very smooth and tender, it felt nothing like it did seven years ago. After all, she was no longer in her early twenties. The thought spread a bitter taste in her heart, much like the coffee she was drinking.
Sarah thought back to when she was twenty-five years old, when the prospect of love still excited her. She sincerely hoped to put an end to these weekly blind dates as soon as possible. Besides, she could learn to love someone as long as the person wasn't too hard to live with. After all, she was no longer the naive woman she used to be and she didn't have time to nitpick anymore.
Sarah took a sip and glanced at her watch again. Her date today was already three minutes late. She kept telling herself to wait a little longer, just in case it was the heavy traffic that was keeping her date from showing up on time.
Had this been any other date, Sarah would have already got up and walked out of the coffee shop by now. However, Danna Swain, Sarah's mother, had stressed that Sarah's blind date was the son of her classmate, who had just recently returned from abroad. If she were to mess this up, her mother would keep arranging blind dates for her every day until she got married.
As such, even though her date was late, Sarah had to swallow her own anger. If there was anything she hated more than a blind date, it was an unpunctual one. Unfortunately, biting down her anger was the only way to avoid angering her persistent mother.
After Sarah checked the time on her watch a few more times, her date finally showed up.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Swain? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but the traffic was insane."
The man's gentle and elegant way of speaking drew Sarah's attention. She raised her head and stared at the man standing in front of her. He certainly looked the part of a well-educated gentleman with his hair arranged in a meticulous fashion, but he also looked quite old-fashioned. He too was smartly dressed for the occasion, in black formal wear and a pair of brightly shining leather shoes. "It's okay. I just arrived a few minutes ago." Sarah broke the ice with a comforting smile. However, the smile on her lips was forced. After all, everyone who lived in the city knew what the traffic was like during rush hours. Shouldn't he have at least gone out earlier? Besides, he made a girl wait for him for more than thirty minutes on their first date. What could Sarah look forward to in a man like that?
However, the moment the man saw Sarah, his eyes lit up. Fortunately for him, his mother, Tina, had a classmate whose daughter was just his type. After he came back from abroad, Tina arranged many blind dates for him, but none of those women were able to satisfy his standards for a beautiful woman, who had to be endowed with a pretty face, a perfect figure and long legs.
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."
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”