Once Evelyn and Dominic join a marriage of convenience, their life starts to dance a complex ballet of love, power, and dishonesty. Evelyn, fiercely independent and driven to save her unborn child, discovers she is caught in a web of contradictory feelings-between obligation and the needs of her heart. Once modest and understated, Dominic gradually displays a darker side motivated by obsession and control-driven need. The surprising return of CEO Collins-her former flame-delivers a shocking revelation that might destroy everything as Evelyn negotiates a world of betrayal, unusual alliances, and hard decisions. Dominic's possessiveness escalating out of control causes Evelyn increasing pressure. Every day reveals fresh secrets, buried motivations, and lethal turns. Dominic demands something cold just when she thinks she can get out, leaving Evelyn wondering about every action she takes-forcing her to choose: Is she ready to risk everything to get away, or will the walls closing in seal her fate forever?
Evelyn's POV
My heart pounding, I fixed my gaze on the empty wall of my little office. The typical buzz of the air conditioner did not help to soothe the discomfort boiling under my skin. As the secretary of Dominic Kane, the 35-year-old CEO of Kane Enterprises, I go by Evelyn Harper. Though I had spent years working for Dominic, today was different. Today is different.
I turned to check the time. The office was nearly silent at around midnight. The only sounds were the distant murmur of city traffic and the odd clatter of a mouse or keyboard from other late-night workers. For weeks, I had been staying late making sure Dominic's next major deal was set up. I had no idea, tonight would bring a far more personal tempest.
The hefty wooden door leading to Dominic's office creaked open just then. Dominic came out, his tall form striking even in the low light. His typically cool and calculated blue eyes, which were always so clear, now bore something incomprehensible. He appeared tired, his usually perfect suit rumpled. His regular confidence in his step looked to be wavering.
"Evelyn," he replied with a low rumbling in his voice. "We have to chat."
I choked hard, my mind racing with what could be so crucial that he was phoning right now. Certainly, Mr. Kane?
He pointed for me to follow into his office. Dark wood paneling and leather furniture defined the large and opulent area. Domino closed the door behind us and turned to face me.
"Sit down," he commanded, his voice devoid of any margin for debate.
I sat down attempting to calm my shaking hands. My nerves were on tight alert. Dominic sat down running a hand through his dark hair after strolling around his large desk. There was tightness on his face.
"I got some disturbing news today," he said, slumping forward. "Your brother Jake was abducted."
My heart still missed a beat. Jamie. My younger brother. "What precisely do you mean? Said?"
Dominic's face grew stiffer. "He has been taken captive. Their demand for a large ransom far more than you could pay."
I got shivers running down my back. "Why would they have him? What do they want?"
"Money, obviously," Dominic answered, though his eyes revealed a deeper worry. "But they're getting to me using him."
I started to feel quite sick. " How do you know this?"
He stopped. "The kidnapped people left a note. Knowing about our company's operations, they are using this to acquire what they desire."
I got up and paced the space. "I simply do not have that type of money. I have no idea where to start either.
Though his expression stayed austere, Dominic's eyes softened. "There is a way you might get the money."
I turned to him, hope flickering about. "What Is it?"
He drew in a long breath. "Marry me."
Confounded, I fixed my gaze on him. "Mary you? What are you referring to?
Dominic had a gloomy line on his face. "I want you to be my contracted married partner. It will save Jake as well as you.
I gave a disbelieving head shake. "A contract marriage? That's... ridiculous. How could that even be helpful?
"It's not just a marriage," Dominic said, his voice firm. "It's a calculated action. The contract will provide me with legal clout to guard my assets and guarantee our ability to satisfy their needs. It will also guard Jake and you.
My brain spun. Although it sounded ridiculous to consider marrying Dominic, desperate times demanded desperate responses. I let a long breath in. "What's the catch?"
"Your brother's safety and my business stability," Dominic answered decisively. "If you agree, I'll see to it that Jake is returned to you and the ransom paid."
The room appeared to shut in all around. As I considered the weight of his proposition, my heart thumping Through the idea of Jake in peril was intolerable, a part of me wanted to turn away completely.
"Think it over," Dominic murmured, rising. "I'll give you tonight to weigh in. Remember, though, the more dangerous this scenario gets the more we postpone."
I nodded, too shocked to talk. Dominic left me by myself in the room, his words weighing down the silence. Slumping onto a chair, I fixated on the floor. The idea of marrying Dominic, with his cold attitude and enigmatic past, was intolerable. But losing Jake was unimaginable in the other direction.
The city lights appeared to be weaker as I left the workplace, and traffic sounded far away. In a state of stupor, I strolled home while my head whirled with confusion and terror.
Plot twist:
I discovered an envelope dropped under my door when I finally arrived home. As I tore it open, my hands shook to expose a single sheet of paper bearing a handwritten note: "We know about your plans. Not relocate without our consent.
My blood stopped cold. The kidnappers were intently observing me. Knowing of Dominic's offer, they were advising me to keep cooperative. The insight struck me hard: there was no safe decision. Every stride I made was watched under their direction.
Returning to my apartment, I tried to organize my ideas but kept haunted by the picture of Jake's terrified face. The doorbell startled me from my day-dream. Peering through the peephole, I saw nothing. Hesitating, I opened the door to discover another envelope on the floor.
My hands quit when I opened it. Inside was a picture of terrified-looking Jake with a note scrawled on it: "Time is running out. Evelyn, decide which one you want. Alternatively, he suffers."
My heart pounded as panic seized. I had to decide on something. Marry Dominic and hope for a fix; else, risk Jake's life by not acting. Every time the clock drew me closer to a choice I was not ready to make.
Clutching the picture, I stood there with the weight of the approaching choice squarely on my shoulders. What I would decide in the next few hours would determine Dominic's trust, my destiny, and Jake's life.
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
"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?"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.