In the dark heart of Everglen, Lyra Blackwood once ruled as a celebrated heiress until betrayal stole everything. Set up by her best friend, disowned by her family, and forced into exile, she's spent years rebuilding her life in shadows, raising her young twins with fierce independence. But when fate pulls her back to the city she once called home, she's armed with one mission: revenge. Her target? The ruthless, possessive Alpha Damien Silverclaw Evergreen's wealthiest CEO, and the man who unknowingly fathered her children. Yet Damien is no ordinary man; he's her fated mate, and his power both tempts and terrifies her. As she edges into his dangerous world, their passion ignites under the guise of a contract marriage, but secrets soon threaten to unravel everything. Now, tangled in a bond she didn't choose, Lyra must decide: is her revenge worth risking her heart? Or will she surrender to the dark allure of the one man who could break her... or save her?
The air inside the ballroom was thick, almost suffocating, as if the weight of old secrets had slipped into the space between laughter and clinking champagne flutes. Lyra Blackwood's fingers trembled around her glass, though she held it firmly, refusing to betray the fury simmering beneath her calm exterior. She smiled tightly, her eyes scanning the crowd, picking out familiar faces, whispers in their gazes. Tonight, they were celebrating her engagement, a promising union of power and wealth. The life she'd been promised, carefully crafted by generations of Blackwoods before her.
Yet something felt wrong. There was a coiled tension in the room that refused to release, like an animal waiting to pounce. She tightened her grip on her glass as her gaze landed on Finn. His easy smile and familiar laugh reached her, the man she'd trusted, loved. But tonight, his face seemed like a mask, one she could no longer read.
"Congratulations, Lyra," purred a voice beside her. She turned, meeting the eyes of her best friend, Sienna. Her silken red dress clung to her frame like sin, a smile curving on her lips with a softness that felt too rehearsed.
"Thank you, Sienna." Lyra's voice was low, her words clipped as she met her friend's gaze. "It means a lot to have you here tonight."
Sienna's fingers brushed over Lyra's shoulder, a touch that once might have felt reassuring. Now, it felt like the brush of a dagger. "We'll toast to you and Finn, then. A perfect match." Her smile tightened, eyes gleaming with something that Lyra couldn't quite place.
Lyra let her gaze drift back to Finn, her fiancé. The man she thought she knew. But the way Sienna's eyes lingered on him, as though he were hers to claim, made Lyra's heart thud with something uncomfortably close to suspicion. She'd heard rumors, whispers of something that didn't add up. Yet she'd brushed them aside, desperate to believe in a future without shadows, without doubts.
Finn looked up, catching her gaze across the room, his smile widening in that way that used to ease her. But tonight, it did nothing. She felt like an outsider in her own life, a puppet dancing on strings someone else controlled. And then he turned, leaning in to whisper something in Sienna's ear, and her friend's laugh floated across the room, brittle and mocking.
Lyra's chest tightened. She felt the first crack. Her world, this future they'd all crafted around her, felt like glass about to shatter.
"Excuse me," she murmured, slipping away from Sienna's touch. Her steps carried her out of the ballroom, the din of music and laughter fading into a distant hum as she found herself alone in a shadowed hallway.
She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she drew in a shaky breath. She was letting her mind play tricks on her, she told herself. There was no way-no way-she could be seeing what she thought she was seeing. Finn loved her. He had proposed. They had a future, one that promised security, strength, and everything her family expected.
But then there it was again, that feeling of wrongness slithering through her.
A soft voice broke her thoughts. "Trouble in paradise?"
Her eyes flew open, and there stood a man, lounging against the wall opposite her. Dark-haired, his suit sharp, tailored, but there was an edge to him that felt completely out of place amidst the polished glamor of the ballroom.
"Do I know you?" Lyra's voice was cold, guarded, but he merely smirked, an unsettling glint in his eyes.
"No, but I know you," he replied, his voice smooth as silk yet with a dark undertone. He took a step closer, and she felt an odd rush of... recognition? The air around him seemed to shift, electric, magnetic, drawing her in despite herself.
"You're Lyra Blackwood," he continued, as if testing her name on his tongue. "The heiress everyone whispers about. The one they say is finally getting her happily ever after."
His gaze met hers, unyielding, piercing through the mask she'd carefully crafted. She felt bare, exposed. "And you are?" she asked, fighting to keep her tone steady.
"Just a friend," he replied, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise. "Or maybe more of an unexpected guest."
She crossed her arms, unwilling to be toyed with by some arrogant stranger. "Do you have a name, friend?"
"Damien." His voice was a soft murmur, yet it resonated, curling around her like smoke. "Damien Silverclaw."
The name made her pause. Everyone knew of the Silverclaw family-a name steeped in mystery, whispered in the kind of stories no one wanted to believe. And here he was, standing before her, a living legend cloaked in shadows.
"What are you doing here, Damien?" Her words were bold, but her pulse betrayed her, beating wild and fast.
He shrugged, his gaze never leaving hers. "Maybe I was just curious. About you, about tonight... the way you're standing here, away from your own engagement party." His voice lowered, a dark edge creeping into it. "It makes one wonder, doesn't it? If there's something you're running from."
Lyra felt her breath hitch, her defenses wavering. He was close now, too close, his scent filling her senses-woodsy, earthy, wild. She took a step back, but his gaze held her, unrelenting.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Her words were barely a whisper.
"Don't you?" He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "I think you do, Lyra. I think you're beginning to see that not everyone around you is who they seem."
She flinched, his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. Before she could respond, he pulled back, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
"Enjoy your night," he murmured, stepping away, his eyes lingering on hers for a heartbeat longer than necessary. And then he was gone, leaving her alone in the shadows, the weight of his words pressing on her like a curse.
As she re-entered the ballroom, she caught sight of Finn and Sienna again, standing too close, their heads tilted together, whispering. Her stomach twisted painfully, the echoes of Damien's words gnawing at her mind.
Steeling herself, she walked toward them, her heart pounding. "Finn, can I speak with you?"
Finn looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he nodded. "Of course. Sienna, excuse us?"
Sienna's gaze lingered on Lyra, her smile almost pitying, before she melted back into the crowd.
"What's wrong, Lyra?" Finn asked as they stepped into a quieter corner. His tone was soft, the kind of voice he used when he was humoring her, and it made her skin crawl.
"What's going on between you and Sienna?" she asked bluntly, her voice low.
Finn's eyes widened. "What? Lyra, that's-"
"Don't lie to me." Her voice was firmer than she felt, her body trembling with barely-contained rage. "I've seen the way you look at each other, the way she-"
"You're being paranoid," he interrupted, his voice laced with irritation. "Sienna's been my friend as long as she's been yours. Don't start inventing things."
"Inventing things?" She laughed bitterly. "I'm not blind, Finn. I know when something isn't right."
His jaw tightened, a flash of anger in his eyes. "This is why I didn't want to do this tonight," he muttered under his breath.
Lyra's blood went cold. "What do you mean, you didn't want to do this?"
Finn's gaze met hers, hard, unyielding. "Maybe it's you, Lyra. Maybe you're the problem. Always suspicious, always assuming the worst."
Her heart felt as though it was being torn in two. The man standing before her wasn't the man she thought she knew. She'd seen glimpses of this before, hints of a cruelty that had seemed so out of character. But now, with Damien's words echoing in her mind, it all came crashing down.
"You don't love me," she whispered, the realization hitting her with brutal clarity.
Finn said nothing, his silence louder than any confession. And then, as if in slow motion, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in a room full of strangers, her world fracturing around her.
Aria Kensington has always been the forgotten one the illegitimate daughter of a powerful family, overshadowed by her perfect sister and despised by her stepmother. When her long-time boyfriend betrays her for her sister, Aria's world shatters. But the real blow comes when she's forced into an arranged marriage with a man she's never met a cold, reclusive billionaire rumored to be disabled. Damon Blackwood is no ordinary billionaire. His disability is a ruse, and beneath his icy exterior lies a man who controls an empire built on secrets and power. When Aria is thrust into his world, she becomes more than just his wife she becomes his obsession. Trapped in a marriage of convenience that feels more like a gilded cage, Aria soon discovers the dark side of Damon's love. As their fiery passion ignites, she must decide whether to embrace the man who claims her body and soul or risk losing herself in his dangerous game. In a world where love is power and trust is a luxury, can Aria break free of the chains that bind her or will she fall deeper into Damon's seductive grip?
Lily Tang once believed that love could conquer anything-even a cold, indifferent husband. Bound by a contract marriage to Daniel Zhang, the powerful CEO who barely acknowledged her existence, Lily spent three silent years devoted to a man who never looked her way. But when his first love returned, Daniel didn't hesitate. He brought her into their home and left Lily with nothing but a divorce contract and a shattered heart. Determined to start fresh, Lily walked away, hiding the one secret she carried: she was pregnant with his child. Now, five years later, Lily is back in Shanghai, no longer the timid wife but a successful CEO with a confidence that turns heads and a little boy who looks just like his father. When their paths collide at a high-stakes business event, Daniel is struck by her transformation-and the child by her side. Haunted by the past, Daniel is desperate to win back the woman he lost. But Lily is no longer willing to be his second choice. This time, she's fighting for herself, and she's not letting her heart be broken twice. In a world where power and passion clash, will Daniel prove himself worthy of a second chance, or will he lose her forever to the life she built without him?
When Lila Monroe's ex-boyfriend, Julian Sterling, announces his engagement, she drowns her sorrows at an upscale bar, waking up in a stranger's bed the bed of none other than Ethan Sterling, her ex's ruthless and dangerously alluring brother. Lila's life takes a devastating turn when her father is imprisoned, his fate orchestrated by Julian's cruel schemes. With no one else to turn to, she strikes a risky deal with Ethan. He'll save her father and restore her family's honor, but only if she agrees to a marriage of convenience...and an heir. Caught between her lingering heartbreak and Ethan's intense, possessive nature, Lila must navigate a world of betrayal, passion, and family secrets. Yet the more she resists Ethan, the more undeniable their attraction grows, sparking a dangerous game neither is prepared for. But when she discovers she's carrying his child, Lila must decide if she's willing to risk everything even her heart for a man who may only see her as a pawn in his deadly rivalry.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.