Maritza is a hardworking woman, dedicated to caring for her elderly mother, who suffers from a terminal illness, and her younger sister, who battles schizophrenia. Her life is a constant cycle of sacrifices and responsibilities, leaving no time for herself. For three years, she has worked as a secretary at Duncan Enterprises, enduring the explosive temper and ruthless nature of her boss, Max Duncan, notoriously known as "the devil." Max, a cold, arrogant, and merciless businessman, shatters Maritza's routine with an unexpected proposal: a marriage contract. He needs to fake a relationship to salvage his public image, and though he doesn't hide his disdain for her, he offers a sum of money that could solve many of her problems. For Maritza, caught between duty and survival, accepting seems inevitable. But this arrangement will be far from simple. Max's insults and domineering attitude constantly test Maritza's patience, even as she begins to uncover a side of him she never expected. However, the contract will force them both to confront their inner demons, hidden secrets, and unanticipated emotions. Will this pact be their salvation or the beginning of an emotional storm neither can control?
I had lived a happy childhood, running through the garden of our home. We weren't rich, but we were fine. We lived in a beautiful house, painted entirely white with earth-toned decorations. My mother had exquisite taste; art was her passion. She always baked me delicious chocolate chip cookies. When my sister was born, I was very happy. I would have a little sister! I shared everything with her until she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She suffered seizures, and her behavior was difficult to control. Our lives changed; we adjusted to Nicole's needs.
My parents loved us deeply and worked hard to support us. I never had to work or ask for anything, at least not as a teenager.
When I turned 16, my father died of a heart attack, leaving us all devastated. Our dreams had vanished, and apparently, so had our luck.
As if life was intent on erasing us from the map, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. We caught it early, but it cost us a lot to save for her surgery. Her mood didn't help, but it was understandable.
Her other half was gone. I had no choice but to start working. I tried to balance university schedules with shifts at the pizzeria. I was a waitress, and they paid me well when I worked double shifts. My sister's condition worsened, so I had to turn to some of my father's friends for help, but they didn't lend a hand. It was to be expected: appearances can be deceiving. I had no choice but to leave university and look for another job. I juggled two jobs and two sick family members at home. Life wasn't easy, but I wouldn't give up.
Six years had passed since my father's death. My sister remained stable as long as she was medicated. My mother was a different story; her cancer had returned, this time to stay. It had metastasized, so we could lose her at any moment. I had to endure humiliation, disdain, excesses, and countless other things, all while dealing with a horrible boss. Well, he wasn't a horrible man, not at all. He was six feet tall, with a sturdy build. His light brown eyes were like honey. His hair was like him-rebellious, a rebellious straight. His skin was pale, like his smile. In my first year here, I fell hopelessly in love with him. He was my platonic love, but he made sure to kill it with his awful behavior. Let's be realistic; he would never notice me.
I'm an ordinary woman, a little chubby. I have long honey-colored hair, which I always keep in a bun. I like to dress formally, wearing loose clothes, and my black-rimmed glasses take away from my face. So, it's logical he wouldn't notice me. He calls me "the crow" because, according to him, I'm a gray woman without any appeal. I overheard him tell his best friend that, so I sent all my feelings packing. That despicable man didn't deserve anything from me.
I had to endure that scoundrel's disdain for all these years. I was responsible for his meals from Monday to Sunday, sent his clothes to the dry cleaner, and had to keep track of his shopping, house arrangements, and the cherry on top: covering his dates. On Tuesdays, he went out with brunettes; Wednesdays, he gave a chance to some model or another; and Thursdays were free-he went drinking with his friends, who, by the way, were as obnoxious as him.
On weekends, he spent time with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were quite good people, or so I assumed. Occasionally, Mr. Duncan helped me with medical expenses. The devil's brothers were completely different from him. Marcelino, the eldest, was married to a prestigious lawyer-I think her name was María, Remata, or Maira, I don't remember well. John was the middle brother, very grounded. He wasn't known to have a girlfriend; everyone said he was gay. I honestly doubted it because, during one of my missions at the dry cleaner, I found him being very affectionate with the manager. I pretended not to know him and went on my way. Max, aka the devil, was the youngest of the three. A businessman, he studied business at Harvard. When his father fell gravely ill, he took over the companies, and to this day, he's done very well.
As every Monday, I arrived at the office earlier. It was twenty to seven; I had the coffee ready and the folders for the new contracts prepared. I needed to take the clothes to the dry cleaner, but that would be later. The devil appeared; he wasn't in a good mood today. Poor me. The phone on my desk rang.
-"Tell me, sir, what do you need?" -I asked in a professional tone.
-"What would I need from you? Please, don't insult me this early. Come to my office, or have you forgotten you need to review the agenda?"
I hated this man. I didn't understand how women could stand him.
-"Yes, sir, I'm on my way," -damn scoundrel.
I got up from my desk, crossed myself, and entered his office.
-"Sir, today you have a meeting at nine with the Mexicans. I've prepared the contracts."
-"Maritza, sit down; we need to talk."
-"Go ahead, sir," -I replied respectfully, though inside I wanted to claw his eyes out.
-"I need you to marry me. We have to fake a relationship. Hard to believe, but everyone knows my tastes. I wouldn't look twice at a crow."
I clenched my hands in fury. I couldn't take it anymore. Had I heard correctly? Had he gone mad?
-"I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth, Mr. Duncan. You're a 'damn scoundrel!' That's why everyone calls you the devil, and they're not wrong."
Each word that came out of my mouth dripped with venom. Years of hatred had accumulated, all thanks to his mistreatment.
-"We wouldn't marry for love, God forbid. It's a simple contract. I'll pay you a good sum, so take it or leave it. If you say no, you're fired anyway..."
I looked into his eyes. His lips moved, but I still couldn't believe what he was saying. I had worked hard all these years. I didn't have this position for nothing.
-"So, you'll fire me because I won't marry you, Mr. Devil."
-"Don't think calling me that will make me cry," -he smiled maliciously-. "You know I've earned that nickname with great effort. And if you don't accept, consider this your dismissal. You should take advantage; I'll cover clothes, beauty salons, and all those things you women use."
-"I don't need it, so I quit. Go to hell!"
-"As you wish. Then I hope you die in your own misery."
The last thing I heard as I left the office was his laughter. After so much time, I felt alive. I was free.
He is a businessman, empowered, and a womanizer, with one of the worst flaws, arrogance. One night, he decides to go to a nightclub to celebrate the closing of an important deal, and it is there that he meets Vanesa, a beautiful girl, the sensation of the moment, all the men wanted to be with her, which worsened his desire. Vanesa, a hardworking woman, educated and with many financial problems, is about to be left without a roof when a roommate offers her a somewhat indecent job, but in her need, she has no choice but to accept the proposal. One night, just like all the others, she receives the most indecorous proposition of her life; she would never forget the events of that night, that man had marked her life. Months passed, she settles in and decides to leave that job at the nightclub. Life offers her the opportunity to find a decent job and one of her dreams, but what will happen to Vanesa when she finds out that her new boss is the man from that night?
Julianny was a prosperous, loving, successful, and dedicated woman to her family. She lived with her parents and was that prototype of a girl who, with her mere presence, illuminated the moment. No one had ever seen her cry, always with the best smile. She was in her last year of university when she met the man of her dreams. Edder was a charismatic, wealthy, and outgoing guy. He was in his last year of business administration. During one of his crazy nights out, he met Julianny and fell madly in love, love at first sight. And even though it sounds cliché, Cupid did his job well with that arrow, because they had connected in the same way. After getting to know each other for some time, they discovered that they were the perfect couple. The years went by and they lived a crazy and unrestrained love, unleashing all kinds of emotions, both for them and for the rest of the world. But as not everything that shines is gold and humans are not perfect, what would happen if you discover that your Prince Charming is painted black? Will Julianny be able to overcome all the tests that destiny will put in her way to be by Edder's side?
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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."
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.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”