/0/62556/coverbig.jpg?v=20250117134350)
Emily, who is a 25-year-old woman with a successful career in a design firm. She is very close to her brother, David, who is married to a woman named Sarah. Emily's parents had an accident and were critically injured. Due to their severe condition, Emily had to step in to handle the family's problems.
Emily paced back and forth in her parents' large, old-fashioned living room, the ticking of the grandfather clock echoing through the silence. The house felt emptier than ever. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together the fragments of the will she had just read. Richard's face flashed in her mind – a constant reminder of the complicated situation she found herself in. The door creaked open, and David, her older brother, walked in, his face a mask of exhaustion.
"Emily, how are you holding up?" David's voice was heavy with concern.
Emily stopped her pacing and turned to face him. "I'm trying, David. I really am. But this is just... it's too much. Why would Mom and Dad do this to us?"
David ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders sagging. "I don't know. I thought we had more time to sort things out. But with their accident... it's like everything has come crashing down on us."
"Exactly," Emily agreed, her voice trembling. "And now, on top of everything, we have to deal with the fact that I'm supposed to marry Richard. Can you believe this? It's as if they wanted to make sure that every part of my life was tangled up in this mess."
David took a deep breath and approached Emily, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard. I'm not thrilled about it either, but we have to think about the family business, the legacy. Richard's involvement was always part of the plan, even if it wasn't part of our immediate plans."
Emily shook her head, frustration evident in her eyes. "It's not just about the business, David. It's about my life. I don't even know how I'm supposed to face Richard after all this. We've never really gotten along."
"I know," David said softly, his eyes filled with empathy. "But maybe this is an opportunity for us to come together as a family. If we handle this well, it could actually work out better than we expect."
The room fell into silence, punctuated only by the sound of the clock. Emily stared out the window, lost in thought. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the garden, but it did little to ease the chill in her heart.
Just then, Richard himself walked in. He had a serious expression on his face, his eyes meeting Emily's with a mix of determination and unease. "Emily, David," he greeted, his voice steady but not without a trace of awkwardness. "I wanted to talk to both of you about the next steps."
Emily turned to him, trying to mask her discomfort. "Richard, I... I'm not sure where to start."
Richard nodded, understanding her hesitation. "I know this isn't easy. None of this was planned, and I can't imagine what you're going through. But we have to look at this rationally. We have responsibilities now, and I want to make this as smooth as possible for everyone."
David cleared his throat. "Richard, we appreciate your willingness to step up. It's just... a lot to process. Emily and I need to figure out how we're going to handle everything, including the wedding and the business."
Richard took a deep breath. "Let's start with the basics. We need to discuss how we're going to manage the transition. I've already started reviewing the business documents and legal matters. We need to make sure everything is in order."
Emily's frustration bubbled to the surface. "This isn't just about the business, Richard. It's about my life and my future. I didn't ask for this, and I don't know how to just switch gears and marry someone I barely know."
Richard's gaze softened slightly. "I understand, Emily. Believe me, I don't take this lightly either. I never expected to be in this position, and I'm not here to force anything on you. But if we're going to make this work, we need to be honest with each other and communicate openly."
David glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Maybe it would help if we talked more about what this means for each of us. We need to establish some boundaries and expectations."
Emily nodded, her voice weary but determined. "Okay, let's try to figure this out together. I need to understand what this marriage will really mean for both of us. And I need to know how we can manage this without losing ourselves in the process."
Richard nodded, his expression resolute. "Agreed. Let's set up a meeting to go over the details and discuss our roles moving forward. We'll take it step by step."
As the conversation continued, Emily couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that hung in the air. The road ahead was fraught with challenges, but for the sake of her family and her own future, she had to find a way to navigate it with grace and determination.
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?
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
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.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
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.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.