The thought of his formidable mother playing nursemaid, kneeling once again to the whims of such a man...it was enough to make Eros see red. The world knew AristaTheodorou for two things, her powerful career as legal adviser to the global elite and her disastrous on-again-off-again relationship with Zeus Mytikas.
'Eros, don't you see...he's already acting like he has won. Our last board meeting was dominated by talk of his plans to purge the company of excess.' Arista's voice turned cold. 'He made it clear that my position in the company would fall under that category.' He turned to his mother, fire in his veins and all thoughts of his date firmly forgotten. 'This conversation is futile. You know that I will never marry.' 'Not even to spite Xander?' Her voice raised an octave as she continued. 'I need to retain control at Mytikas and the only way I can achieve that is with my own son at the helm. Please, Eros.' He saw her expression soften and knew this was a part of her act. It was always this way with Arista. For such a powerhouse of a woman, he had often seen her reduce herself to theatrics to achieve her goals. She would promise the stars, only to walk away once she had got what she needed.
He thought of his childhood spent watching her manipulate the one man who had loved her for the one who never would. His stepfather, a proud man who'd craved a simple family life, had died expecting her to change. Once upon a time, Eros had expected her to change too.
He turned to stare out at the starlit sky, his mind struggling to remain on track, as it often did with sudden shifts of information. Decades overcoming an embarrassingly inconvenient childhood stammer made him hyperaware of moments that might trigger a relapse. His jaw tightened and he carefully inhaled and exhaled a breath before speaking, just in case.
'What do you expect me to do? Barge into the church and object? Surely you can do that yourself.'
'I can't risk my position, you know that. Plus...If we want to make sure this marriage doesn't go ahead, it's not just the ceremony that needs to be ruined.'
'Ah...I see.' He forced his tone to remain calm, not belying the flash of anger that seethed in his veins. 'You don't just need my help, Mother. You need my reputation.'
'I need this bride to become suddenly, irrevocably unmarriageable. At the very least, it will give me time to contest the will. If you are determined not to fulfil it yourself.'
'I must admit, the thought of ruining Xander's perfectly laid plans is quite tempting.' Eros mused, running a hand along his jaw.
'Will you do it or not?' Arista snapped, her loss of patience sudden and sharp against the stillness of the night air. 'I just...want your brother to pay for how he betrayed you. I don't want him to win.'
Eros felt his fists tighten at her impatience, knowing that his mother had never once tried to stand up for her only son in the past. She had remained at Zeus's beck and call while Eros had gone out into the world, using nothing but rage and bitterness to forge his way alone.
The memories remained under the surface of his control but he drew upon the emotion they evoked as he stood up and took his mother's hands in his own. He saw her eyes light up with barely restrained hope.
It was rather poetic that her fatal error would so perfectly mirror that of the man she'd loved so much. Arista believed him weak, just as Zeus had, but now she was unwittingly inviting a ravenous wolf into the hencoop.
'Rest easy. I will stop the wedding.'
'You will?' she said hopefully. 'And the bride?'
'Consider her already taken care of.' He kept his features neutral. 'You just focus on contesting the will. I will do the rest.'
'This deal remains confidential between us?' she said sharply. 'If I succeed, the house in the Hamptons and the seat on the board will be mine but everything else is yours for the taking.'
'Of course,' he said silkily. 'Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?'
Her expression softened, her objective met, and she sipped on her own ouzo like a cat who had just got the proverbial cream.
It was only once she had gone and Eros was alone with the stars once more that he allowed the ghost of a smile to touch his lips. Using his phone, he searched for the name of the woman his mother had given him before she'd left. His brother's bride.
He had long imagined what he might do if he ever got the opportunity to seek revenge on those who had wronged him...but he had never considered there might be collateral damage. He would go to New York and he would destroy his brother's plot and ensure that in a matter of weeks there would be no Major Holdings for them to fight over.
He would destroy everything. Divide it up and sell it off piece by piece.
He looked at the photo on his phone once again, running his finger across the image. His big brother had chosen a pretty bride. He wondered if the beauty knew of the world she was entering into. Even if she didn't, he could not allow himself to feel guilt. It wasn't his fault if his brother had drawn an innocent into the crossfire.
In this family...all was fair in love and war.
Let them call her a social climber, let them focus on the scandal...no one could know the truth behind her hasty nuptials.
'Just help me get this on, please?' Priya exhaled a long breath and took the garment bag from her friend's hands, avoiding her questioning gaze as she undid the zip and revealed the extravagant white gown that had been selected by a top stylist in charge of the event. That was how she'd thought of it in her head until this moment, a nameless event to tick off on her weekly agenda. Only now, feeling the silk under her fingertips, she felt the first rumblings of panic under the smooth façade of her infamous ice-queen composure.
In a world where werewolves reigns, Oliver was filled with jealousy and hatred for his brother King Liam, because he thinks the existence of his brother makes him unnoticed in the entire kingdom. As his hatred and jealousy grows day by day, it led him to the point of him killing his brother, which left the whole kingdom devastated and left his wife shattered. But can the whole kingdom, including his wife and children survive the pain, will Liam be crowned the king.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "
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.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"