Cleo Benson's world is shattered in an instant when she loses her entire family in a tragic accident. But as the grief takes hold, a darker reality emerges. Cleo is thrust into a deadly underworld as collateral for a debt she never knew existed. Enzo Russo, a cold and calculating mafia kingpin, offers her a twisted deal: 12 months as his bride, and then her freedom. Determined to survive and seek revenge against those who betrayed her, Cleo plays along with Russo's dangerous game. But as she navigates this ruthless world, she finds herself drawn into a deeper conflict; one that pits her need for vengeance against the unexpected pull of her own heart. Will Cleo reclaim her life, or will she be swept away by the dangerous allure of the man who holds her fate in his hands?
Cleo's POV
"And now, shall we all rise to our feet as we present the valedictorian award to none other person than..," the Mc instructed, and we all rose to our feet.
"Who do you think it'll be?" Amelia asked.
"I don't..." I started only to be cut off by the MC.
"Cleo Benson," he announced, his voice cutting through the tensed air of the hall.
The crowd erupted in applause and gasps, filling the room with a vibrant energy. I looked around in shock as the sound of my name seemed to echo in the hall.
My heart stopped as I stared into nothing, I staggered and sank into my chair, my hand gripping the edge of my seat.
Were they cheering for me? Or was there another Cleo Benson I wasn't aware of?
"Go, Cleo!" Amelia shouted, her voice rising above the others. "You've got this!"
It took a while for me to accept reality, but the cheers didn't stop. I was urged to come up stage, so I confidently rose to my feet and raised my gown slightly to avoid tripping, my hands trembling as I carefully walked up to the podium. I had already received four departmental awards, and to think I would receive the Valedictorian award was a dream I dared not dream.
As I stared into the sea of over two hundred graduates standing in the hall, their smiles and cheers filled me with overwhelming emotion. Tears welled up in my eyes.
"I...I didn't know if I truly deserved this award," I began, my voice thick with emotion, silencing their cheers. "But if I was chosen among all of you incredible students, then...I guess I must have."
A tear rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. "This," I continued, holding up the award, "this is for all the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the challenges we've all faced. I want to thank the board, the authorities, our lecturers...and I dedicate this award to every single one of my fellow students."
As I spoke, I noticed a ripple of surprise pass through the crowd. Confused, I wondered if my vision was blurred by the tears. People were pulling out their phones, recording videos, and taking pictures. Suddenly, the thought of being the center of attention, especially on social media, made me feel anxious. I instinctively turned to hide my face.
And that's when I saw him.
Miley, my boyfriend, was kneeling on one knee with a white bouquet in one hand and a small box in the other.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Cleo," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor of nerves I could see in his eyes. "Will you please marry me?"
I stared at him in shock and disbelief. Miley had been oddly quiet today; his usual easy smile was replaced with a tension I couldn't quite place. I'd caught him glancing at me several times during the ceremony, his fingers drumming nervously on the armrest. I dismissed it as pre-graduation jitters, but now, standing here, it all became clear to me.
A chorus from the crowd jilted me back from my thoughts. "Say yes! Say yes!"
Our relationship wasn't exactly a secret, everyone knew we had been together since our first year. But I hadn't expected this, not today, not in front of everyone.
Tears of joy filled my eyes again as I whispered, "Yes, Miley, I will."
He slid the ring onto my finger, and I threw my arms around him, the room erupting in cheers once more.
As the ceremony concluded and students began to file out of the hall, I lingered for a moment still rooted to the spot, admiring the glittering stone on the ring. Suddenly, I felt Amelia's on my shoulder grinding me.
"I can't believe this is real," I murmured, half to myself.
"You deserve all of this, Cleo," Amelia said softly, pulling me into a hug. "I'm so proud of you. I'm sure your parents would be too. Speaking of which, are they here yet?"
"That's true. Hold this for me," I said shoving the awards in her hand. "Let me put a call through to them."
I moved to a quiet corner, away from the noise and excitement. Dialing my mom's number, I felt a slight twinge of anxiety. The phone rang twice before she picked up.
"Mom, where are you guys? The ceremony's over and the party is starting in ten minutes"
"We're on our way, sweetie," she assured me. "Just a bit of traffic. We'll be there soon."
Relieved, I hung up and joined the party outside the hall. My friends swarmed me, all eager to see the ring. "Look at that rock!" Emily exclaimed, grabbing my hand.
"You're the newest bride-to-be!" Lucy teased, nudging me playfully. "Can I be the chief bride's maid instead of Amelia?"
I laughed, holding up my hand so they could get a better look. Across the lawn, I saw Miley surrounded by his friends, who were no doubt teasing him as well. Our eyes met, and we smiled at each other, the shared moment grounding me amid all the excitement.
Just then, my phone rang. I excused myself, expecting to hear my mother's voice again.
But it wasn't my mother. A man's voice came through the line, calm but with an edge that made my heart sink. "Hello, is this Cleo Benson?"
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
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?
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Becky endured three years of marriage to the cold-hearted Rory. In all that time, she naively reasoned that one day, he'd gradually come to like her. But the second he forced her to kneel down and humiliate herself, she knew she had been wrong about him. This man had no feelings for her at all. So why should she still love him? When Rory gave her the choice between kneeling down and divorcing, she didn't miss a beat and chose the latter. After all, why should she waste her youth on this scumbag? Wouldn't it be nicer for her to just have fun every day with her billion-dollar family fortune?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Chandler Su who had cheated by her boyfriend then got drunk at a bar. To take revenge, she grabbed a man randomly and took him to the room. After a crazy night, Chandler found the strange man was a super handsome guy the next morning. Shy and shocked Chandler run away after leaving 150 RMB and scorning the man of his poor bed skills. However, she never thought the story would become so dramatic as the next day, she found out that the new coming president of her company was exactly the man she slept the last night! Worse than that, this new boss seemed very narrow-minded as he asked Chandler to come to his office on the first day.