Emma Parker, a hard-working cleaner in a Dallas hotel, never imagined her life would change dramatically after one fateful, drunken encounter with ruthless billionaire Alex Cardwell. That single night of passion leads to an unexpected pregnancy, thrusting her into a world of luxury, deception and betrayal. As Alex struggles with a failing marriage with a manipulative Victoria, his life begins to unravel as Emma's pregnancy threatens to expose the cracks in his carefully controlled life. Torn between the simple life she's always known and the dangerous seductive pull of Alex's world, Emma must decide who to trust. With enemies closing in and dark secrets coming to life, the stakes couldn't be higher. Can Emma protect herself and her child from the forces trying to destroy them? Can she navigate these treacherous waters? Will love triumph, or will their buried past tear them apart forever?
"Why are you breathing so heavily, Emma?" Mrs. Aria's sharp voice cuts through the bustling noise of the hotel. She's the head of housekeeping, her eyes narrowing as she scans my flushed face.
"I rushed down from the Douglas suite," I replied, my breath still catching in my throat. "I need to finish early so I can check on my mother and give her her medication."
Mrs. Aria shakes her head, her expression firm. "That's not going to happen. You still have plenty of rooms to clean, Emma."
A pang of guilt twists inside me, but I know there's nothing I can do. My mother will be waiting, but work comes first. "Yes, ma'am," I responded softly, resigned. I glance at the clock- time is slipping away, and there's no time for me to spare.
It's always hectic at the Dallas Hotel, but tonight's event - the grand party hosting the city's elite - has brought the pressure to a whole new level. Every detail must be perfect. The chandeliers are ablaze with light, casting a golden shade across the marble floors, while distant laughter and clinking glasses echo down the hallways.
The hotel feels alive, radiating with energy, as the wealthy guests begin to arrive in their luxury cars, draped in expensive designer attire. I try to block out the sounds of extravagance as I continue cleaning.
Life as a hotel cleaner isn't easy, but it pays the bills. It keeps a roof over my mother's head and provides the medication she desperately needs. That's what I remind myself as exhaustion creeps in.
"Emma," Mrs. Aria's voice cuts through my thoughts once more, sharper this time. "Make sure you double-check the suite in the west wing. The Cardwells are among the guests tonight, and I don't want to see a single speck of dust."
My heart skips at the mention of the Cardwells. Alex Cardwell - ruthless billionaire, feared by many in this city. His name alone sends a chill down my spine.
"Yes, ma'am," I reply, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, my eyes flicking back to the clock.
I return to scrubbing the floors, pushing through the pain in my hands and knees. Every corner has to sparkle tonight - no room for errors. The wealthy guests will soon be here, their polished shoes clicking across the very floors I'm cleaning.
My mother used to tell me stories about what it would be like to be rich, back when I was a little girl, before her health started failing.
"One day, Emma," she would say with hope in her voice, "you'll find your way out of here. You'll have a life where you don't have to work so hard."
I used to believe her. But that dream faded a long time ago. Now, my life is nothing but work, bills, and the constant worry of how to keep going. The same routine, day after day - scrubbing, dusting, polishing, with no end in sight.
I finish the last section of the floor and lean back on my heels to inspect my work. The room is spotless, every surface gleaming under the golden light. Just a few more tasks, and I can move on to the next room.
Suddenly, the door bursts open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud. I jumped, startled, my heart beating so fast in my chest.
A man stumbles in, his steps unsteady. His expensive suit is rough, his tie hanging loosely, and his hair is rough, as if he's been running his hands through it in frustration.
Alex Cardwell.
I recognize him instantly - his face is everywhere: on magazine covers, on television, in business articles. The powerful billionaire who exudes charm and control. But the man in front of me now is far from that image. He's messy, unsteady, and very, very drunk.
"What... What is he doing here?" I mutter under my breath, panic rising in my chest. He shouldn't be here. Not in this part of the hotel.
"Wh...what are you doing here?" he slurs, his words thick with alcohol. His eyes, unfocused and glassy, struggle to meet mine as he sways on his feet.
"I... I'm just the cleaner, sir," I stammer, moving toward the door. Just walk away, Emma, don't make eye contact. The air feels heavy, suffocating, and I can't seem to catch my breath. Why is he here, alone?
He stumbles closer, his eyes darkening with something I can't understand. There's a hunger in his look that sends a shock down my spine.
Fear grips me as he grabs my arm. His grip is strong, painful even, and I try to pull away, but his fingers dig into my skin, holding me in place.
"You're beautiful," he murmurs, his breath hot and smells strongly of alcohol.
"Please, you need to leave," I say, my voice trembling. Why isn't he living?
I try to pull away again, more forcefully, but he's too strong.
"No, stay," he demands, his voice taking on a hard, commanding edge.
He pushes me closer, his eyes blazing with a drunken desire that terrifies me. This is wrong. This is all wrong.
I push against him, desperate to free myself, but it's like trying to move a wall. He's too strong, and I'm too tired.
Before I can react, his lips crash against mine. I gasp in shock - the kiss is rough, desperate, nothing like the tender touches I've once imagined. It's all wrong. So horribly wrong.
Tears well up my eyes as the reality of what's happening sinks in. This can't be real. This can't be happening. Not to me. Not here.
"Stop, please!" I cry, my voice breaking as I pull away, stumbling backward. I trip over the cleaning bucket, my heart racing, fear choking me.
But he doesn't stop. He closes the distance between us, his eyes wild and unfocused. There's no escape.
His hands are everywhere - rough, insistent. The room spins around me as he pushes me onto the bed, tearing my clothes.
I try to scream, to fight back, but my voice is lost in the chaos, swallowed by the fear that's closing in on me.
The last thing I remember is his weight crushing me, suffocating me, before everything goes black.
Aria Williams never imagined that a single night would change her life forever. Trapped in a loveless, contract marriage with billionaire Dick Porch, she endures his cold indifference and public affairs, all to save her sick mother. Though their marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement, Aria ensures protection during their forced encounters-until one fateful night when something goes terribly wrong. She wakes up naked and sore in her husband's bed-but Dick never came home that night. Then who was with her? When Aria discovers she's pregnant, Dick's fury is unstoppable. He demands answers, and when a DNA test reveals the baby isn't his, he throws her out, disgraced and alone. But what no one knows is that she was already pregnant before that night. As secrets unravel and betrayals mount, Aria must fight to protect herself and her child from the web of deception woven around her. But who can she trust-the husband who abandoned her or the man she never meant to betray?
Captured and taken as a slave by the notorious Alpha King, Aria's life seems destined for misery. But as she becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, forbidden desire, and brutal politics, she discovers her connection to the ruthless ruler may be more than just fate. As tensions between humans and Lycans escalate, Aria must choose between loyalty, love, and survival. Will she remain the Alpha King's slave, or will she break free from his dark world to forge her own destiny?
Blurb: Margaret, the ambitious new CEO of her family's failing company was faced with a choice to marry a ruthless billionaire or lose everything . Instead, she forced Emily, her mistreated maid, who looks just like her, to take her place. As Emily pretends to be Margaret, Jonathan marries her, unaware of the switch. Over time, Emily discovers shocking secrets, including that she is Margaret's long-lost twin, switched at birth. As the truth comes closer to being revealed, Emily must face betrayal, manipulation, and danger, all while finding her own path to love and redemption with Jonathan.
BLURB: Nicole Stanton, the world's richest young woman, ended her three-year marriage to the powerful CEO, Eric Ferguson, for one reason: her family's billion-dollar fortune. When their divorce hits the headlines, rumors swirl about her dating life. To the public, she's the ultimate catch, but behind closed doors, Nicole still harbors feelings for her ex-husband-a man she left behind to chase her dreams. Eric, now a successful entrepreneur, wants to move on, but he can't shake the love of his life. When fate forces them together again in a high-stakes business merger, the tension between them is impossible to ignore. Both have secrets they've been keeping from each other, and the emotional baggage from their past threatens to tear them apart. Can they rebuild their relationship, or will old wounds keep them from reigniting the flame of the love they once shared?
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
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.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
"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.]