In the sprawling, poverty-stricken slums of Adella City, four lives are intertwined by ambition, love, and deceit. Amara, a fiery and beautiful seamstress, dreams of escaping her bleak existence. Her heart is torn between two men: Kane, a street-smart hustler with dreams of grandeur, and Elric, a mysterious and wealthy businessman with secrets of his own. Kane's charm hides his ruthless ambition, and his love for Amara is overshadowed by his desperate need to climb the social ladder. Elric, while appearing to offer salvation, harbors a dark past that threatens to engulf them all. Amara's best friend, Selena, a seemingly loyal confidante, secretly plots to take what she believes Amara doesn't deserve: both the life and the man she yearns for. As their relationships deepen, betrayals begin to unravel, exposing lies, hidden motives, and devastating truths. Driven by their hunger for wealth and freedom, the characters form alliances, only to destroy each other when their desires collide. In the end, love becomes a weapon, trust a liability, and the price of ambition more than any of them can bear.
The morning sun barely pierced through the haze that blanketed Adella City's sprawling slums. The narrow alleyways, lined with sagging rooftops and walls stained by years of rain and grime, were alive with noise-vendors shouting, children crying, and the occasional bark of stray dogs. Amid this chaos, Amara sat by the open window of her one-room shack, her fingers working rhythmically on a piece of fabric. The old sewing machine clattered noisily, its sound a defiant protest against the weight of her dreams.
Amara had been sewing since she was ten, learning from her mother before sickness claimed her life. Now, at twenty-four, she was one of the best seamstresses in the slums, known for her ability to transform scraps of cloth into gowns that whispered of forgotten elegance. But no amount of talent could lift her out of this place. The slums had a way of chaining you, no matter how far you tried to run.
The door creaked open, and Selena burst in, her curly hair spilling out of her headscarf. "Amara, you won't believe this," she said breathlessly, dropping a basket of vegetables on the table. "The mayor's daughter is hosting a ball next month. A ball! Can you imagine what kind of gowns the rich women will need?"
Amara didn't look up from her work. "And what does that have to do with us?"
Selena grinned, leaning closer. "Us? Nothing. But you? Everything. I overheard one of the maids saying they're looking for seamstresses. You could make a fortune."
Amara stopped sewing. A fortune? Enough to escape this place? The thought lingered in her mind, tempting and dangerous.
"That's a dangerous game, Selena," Amara said quietly, threading her needle. "The rich don't care about people like us."
"But they care about looking good," Selena countered. "And you can make them look better than anyone else."
Before Amara could respond, the door swung open again, this time with less subtlety. Kane strode in, his signature smirk in place. He was lean, with sharp cheekbones and a swagger that screamed confidence. He was also trouble.
"You always have to make an entrance, don't you?" Amara said, raising an eyebrow.
"Can't help it," Kane replied, dropping into the chair across from her. "You hear the news?"
"About the ball?" Selena chimed in.
Kane nodded. "It's not just a ball. It's a chance."
"For what?" Amara asked, though she already knew the answer.
"To get out of here," Kane said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The mayor's mansion will be full of rich fools with their pockets wide open. A little distraction, a little finesse, and we can make enough to leave this place for good."
Amara shook her head. "You're insane. That's stealing."
"It's survival," Kane shot back. "And it's better than sitting here, waiting for life to change."
Selena looked between them, her expression unreadable. "And what's your grand plan, Kane?"
He leaned back, his smirk widening. "That's where you come in, Amara. You get into the ball as a seamstress. Find out the layout, where they keep their valuables. Then we-"
"No," Amara said firmly. "I'm not helping you rob anyone."
Kane's expression darkened, but he didn't push further. Instead, he stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the labyrinth of shacks and filth. "You think anyone cares about us, Amara? You think the people in that mansion would lose a wink of sleep if we starved tomorrow? This isn't about right or wrong. It's about surviving."
Amara opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. Kane wasn't entirely wrong. Life here was a constant fight, and the people in the mayor's mansion lived in a different world, one that didn't include her or anyone she cared about.
Selena broke the silence. "What if he's right, Amara? What if this is our only chance?"
Amara turned back to her sewing, her fingers trembling. She hated how tempting Kane's words sounded, hated how much she wanted to believe there was a way out.
"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice barely audible.
Kane grinned, his confidence restored. "That's all I ask."
As the day wore on, Amara tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting to Kane's proposal. That night, as she lay in her narrow bed, the sound of rain tapping against the tin roof, she stared at the ceiling and thought about her mother. She had always told Amara to dream big, to reach for something better.
But at what cost?
---
The following week passed in a blur. Word of the ball spread through the slums like wildfire, sparking equal parts envy and desperation. Amara found herself inundated with orders, each one more elaborate than the last.
It was on one of these busy afternoons that Elric entered her shop. He was tall, with dark hair slicked back and eyes that seemed to pierce through her. His suit was immaculate, a stark contrast to the poverty surrounding them.
"You're Amara, I presume," he said, his voice smooth and measured.
"I am," she replied cautiously, setting down her needle.
"I've heard you're the best seamstress in Adella," he said, glancing around the small, cluttered room. "I need a dress made. Something... exquisite."
Amara hesitated. There was something about him that unsettled her, though she couldn't pinpoint what. Still, she couldn't afford to turn away business.
"Who's it for?" she asked.
"A woman I care about," he said, though the way his lips curled suggested otherwise.
Amara nodded. "I'll need her measurements."
Elric smiled. "Of course. But I'll need a guarantee that the dress will be perfect. Money isn't an issue."
The mention of money made her stomach twist. This was the kind of client she needed-someone who could pay enough to change her life.
"I'll do my best," she said.
Elric's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he handed her a card with his address. "Deliver it personally," he said before turning and walking out.
As the door closed behind him, Amara felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't trust him, but she couldn't ignore the opportunity he presented.
That night, she met Kane and Selena in the dimly lit corner of a rundown bar. Kane listened intently as she recounted her meeting with Elric, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"This is perfect," he said. "We use him."
"Use him how?" Amara asked.
"To get closer to the mayor's circle," Kane explained. "Rich men like him always have connections. If we play this right, we can get more than just a few stolen trinkets. We can get power."
Amara looked at him skeptically. "And what happens when he finds out we're using him?"
Kane grinned. "He won't. Not if we're careful."
Selena, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "And what's my role in all this?"
Kane's smile widened. "You'll see."
As the three of them plotted, Amara couldn't shake the feeling that they were treading dangerous ground. But the lure of a better life was too strong to resist.
And so, the game began.
In the ancient kingdom of Yanxi, a once-prosperous empire crumbles under the weight of betrayal and dark magic. When the revered Empress is poisoned by her closest advisor, a deadly curse is unleashed, binding the throne to an eternal cycle of vengeance. Every ruler who dares to claim the throne is plagued by visions of the betrayed Empress and doomed to a tragic fate. Amid this chaos, a young knight with a tarnished past, a cunning witch seeking redemption, and a banished royal heir return to the palace, each driven by their own motives. Together, they uncover hidden truths about the curse, the betrayal that began it all, and a powerful artifact capable of rewriting destiny. As myth and reality blur, alliances form and shatter. In a world where trust is a rare commodity, who will rise above the web of lies and break the curse-or succumb to its wrath?
When a young inventor discovers a mysterious artifact capable of manipulating time, they inadvertently unravel the delicate balance of the past and future. With a shadowy guardian hunting them across eras, they must navigate treacherous medieval battles, futuristic utopias, and ancient secrets to restore the timeline before reality itself unravels. The story weaves a thrilling journey through time, exploring the consequences of tampering with destiny and the courage needed to rewrite the future.
The Queen's mysterious illness reveals an ancient curse tied to a forgotten oath. A loyal knight and an ambitious wizard uncover that the curse stems from a mythical betrayal buried in the annals of history. Their adventure spans magical landscapes, from towering castles to mystical labyrinths, as they battle forces of darkness and their own doubts to save the queen and restore the kingdom's honor.
In the sprawling megalopolis of Erythra Prime, a city where advanced technology merges with ancient mysticism, a detective named Kael Ardent is thrust into a labyrinthine conspiracy that blurs the boundaries of reality. The sudden murder of a high-ranking diplomat sparks a chain of events that leads Kael to uncover a secret society, a mythical artifact known as the Crimson Nexus, and a shadowy figure who holds the power to rewrite existence itself. As Kael teams up with Nyssa Vahn, a rogue technomancer with her own hidden agenda, they navigate the neon-lit streets, delve into forbidden ruins, and fight against cybernetic assassins and interdimensional entities. With time running out, Kael and Nyssa must unravel the secrets of the Nexus before it falls into the wrong hands and annihilates everything they know.
In the whimsical and magical land of Eldoria, a mischievous fairy named Lila accidentally activates an ancient hourglass with the power to manipulate time. What starts as a humorous mishap turns into a dangerous adventure when she teams up with a grumpy wizard, Cedric, and a secretive witch, Astrid, to fix the chaos. As the trio navigates collapsing timelines, alternate realities, and betrayal, they uncover a deeper mystery: the hourglass is not just a relic but a prison for Chronas, a forgotten deity who can rewrite all of existence. In a race against time, they must decide whom to trust and how far they'll go to save their world-while finding humor and friendship in the chaos.
In a world where the threads of reality are woven by celestial Weavers, a young outcast discovers a forbidden shard of an ancient tapestry-one that tells of a mythical vale said to grant dominion over fate itself. Pursued by vengeful spirits, a rogue Weaver, and a dying god seeking redemption, the protagonist must unravel the secrets of the Eternal Vale before the fabric of existence frays into chaos. A tale of forbidden magic, divine rebellion, and the power of choices unfolds in this epic journey through forgotten realms and cosmic myths.
Married for four years, Emily remained childless. A hospital diagnosis plunged her life into hell. Unable to conceive? But her husband was rarely home during these four years, so how could she get pregnant? Emily and her billionaire husband were in a contractual marriage; she had hoped to win his love through effort. However, when her husband appeared with a pregnant woman, she despaired. After being kicked out, homeless Emily was taken in by a mysterious billionaire. Who was he? How did he know Emily? More importantly, Emily was pregnant.
“Do I want a taste?” his voice deeper than he had ever spoken. His eyes pinned on me like I was the only thing that fascinated him. “What do I do?” I thought to myself as he moved closer to me, I wanted to run away, to resist him but I was pinned to the wall by him. “Gosh I hate this man so much” his scent, his body, his beautiful green eyes, he was driving me crazy. I know this is wrong, he has a fiancee and all but that makes me want him even more. “Get on the bed and spread your legs” his cold voice woke me up and then I remembered I was just a maid to him. “Yes master”.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
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."
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."