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To the world, Theo Lancaster is the perfect billionaire-devastatingly handsome, irresistibly charming, and untouchable in his success. But behind the dazzling smile lies a man haunted by a past he can't escape. When his carefully guarded world begins to unravel, he reluctantly hires Nora Bennett, a sharp-tongued therapist with no patience for his walls of pretense. Nora has seen her share of broken souls, but Theo is unlike any client she's ever had. He's infuriating, magnetic, and completely off-limits. Hired under the guise of a "wellness consultant," Nora's job is to help him face his demons. But as their forced proximity sparks a connection neither can deny, the line between professional and personal begins to blur. Just as Theo starts to believe in a future with Nora, his manipulative ex-fiancée, Victoria Langley, returns with a vengeance, determined to shatter everything he's built-including his newfound hope for love. When secrets from Theo's past collide with Victoria's ruthless schemes, Nora must decide whether to stay and fight for him or walk away before she loses herself in the process
The faint hum of the ocean filled the air as Nora Bennett stood at the edge of the Lancaster estate. Her eyes scanned the massive iron gates before her, their sharp edges glinting in the California sun, an unspoken warning to anyone who dared venture too close. The mansion beyond was even more imposing-a sleek, modern fortress perched precariously on the cliffs of Malibu, its glass walls reflecting the endless stretch of blue sky.
This was Theo Lancaster's sanctuary. And his prison.
Nora inhaled sharply, tightening her grip on her leather satchel. She could do this. She had to do this. It wasn't every day that someone like her-an independent therapist running a modest practice in downtown LA-got a call to work with a billionaire. Not just any billionaire, but the Theo Lancaster. The man who'd turned a small tech startup into an empire worth billions. The man who graced magazine covers with a smirk that could melt glaciers. And, according to the barely coherent assistant who'd contacted her, a man teetering on the edge of collapse.
The gates creaked open slowly, startling her. A security guard waved her in without so much as a glance, and she swallowed the lump in her throat as she stepped onto the perfectly paved driveway.
It wasn't the grandeur that unnerved her-she'd dealt with wealthy clients before. It was the eerie stillness, the lack of life in a place that should have been bustling.
She made her way to the front door, an imposing slab of polished wood that stood at least ten feet tall. Before she could knock, the door swung open.
"You're late."
The voice was deep, clipped, and unmistakably annoyed.
Nora's gaze lifted, meeting the stormy blue eyes of Theo Lancaster himself. He stood in the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence as commanding as the mansion behind him. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, as though he'd run a hand through it one too many times, and his jaw was shadowed with stubble. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms, but the slight wrinkles in the fabric suggested he'd been wearing it for hours.
Nora blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He was even more striking in person, but the sharp edge to his expression made it clear he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"Traffic," she replied evenly, recovering quickly. "I assume you've heard of it?"
Theo's brows lifted, clearly unaccustomed to being spoken to like that. "And I assume you've heard of punctuality."
"Touché." Nora adjusted her satchel and stepped past him into the foyer, forcing him to move aside. The air inside was cool, almost cold, and the silence was deafening.
Theo closed the door and turned to face her. "Let's get one thing straight, Miss Bennett-"
"Dr. Bennett," she corrected, meeting his glare with one of her own.
His lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. "Dr. Bennett. I don't need a therapist. I don't need help. And I definitely don't need someone like you telling me how to live my life."
Nora arched a brow. "Then why am I here?"
Theo's jaw tightened. "Because my board thinks I'm 'stressed.'" He said the word like it was a curse. "They're worried it'll affect my work. So, congratulations, you're here to check a box. Do whatever it is you do, and then leave."
"Right." Nora dropped her bag onto a nearby chair and folded her arms. "Because therapy is all about ticking boxes. Maybe I'll start by asking how it feels to be so...hostile."
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might kick her out. Instead, he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms in a way that made his biceps strain against the fabric of his shirt.
"I'm not hostile," he said coolly. "I just don't like wasting time."
"Funny," she said, "because I'm starting to feel the same way."
A tense silence settled between them, broken only by the faint sound of waves crashing against the cliffs outside.
Theo's gaze lingered on her, assessing, as though trying to figure out what kind of person would dare talk to him this way.
Finally, he pushed off the wall and gestured toward the living room. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Nora followed him into the sprawling space, her eyes briefly skimming over the minimalist decor-sleek furniture, muted tones, and an enormous glass wall that offered an uninterrupted view of the ocean.
Theo dropped onto a leather armchair, motioning for her to sit across from him. She remained standing.
"First session," she began, her tone calm but firm. "I like to set expectations."
He smirked. "Oh, this should be good."
"You don't have to like me," she continued, ignoring his remark. "You don't even have to trust me-at least not yet. But if you want this to work, you have to be honest. With me and with yourself."
Theo leaned back, spreading his arms across the chair's armrests. "And if I'm not?"
"Then this is a waste of time," she said bluntly. "For both of us."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a flicker of something else in his expression-curiosity, maybe.
"You're different," he said after a moment.
"Different how?"
"Most people either try to please me or fear me. You don't seem to care about either."
Nora allowed herself a small smile. "I'm not most people."
Theo tilted his head, studying her. "We'll see."
Their eyes locked, the tension between them crackling like static electricity. It wasn't hostile anymore, but it wasn't comfortable either. It was something...unspoken.
"Fine," he said finally, breaking the silence. "I'll give this a shot. But don't expect me to spill my deepest, darkest secrets in one session."
"Don't worry," Nora replied, taking a seat. "I've got time. The question is, do you?"
Theo didn't answer. He didn't need to. The look in his eyes said enough.
In the ruthless underworld of 1980s New York, two men are about to break every rule. Luca Bianchi, heir to one of the city's most feared mafia families, has always known his path was laid out before him: loyalty to his family, power, and a life without the possibility of true love. But when he meets Adrian Russo-mysterious, charming, and working for a rival clan-his world is turned upside down. What starts as a dangerous flirtation spirals into an all-consuming, forbidden romance. Adrian has his own secrets. Caught in the crossfire of mafia politics, he's playing a dangerous game, navigating the delicate line between desire and betrayal. The deeper he falls for Luca, the more impossible it becomes to keep his double life hidden. One slip, and it's not just his heart on the line-it's his life. As family loyalty and passion clash, Luca and Adrian are forced to confront a choice that could destroy everything they've ever known. Their love could end the generations-old war between their families... or ignite it anew. Will they defy the rules of their world and risk everything for a chance at love? Or will their secrets tear them apart before they even get the chance to find out?
Aria Romano never imagined her life would turn into a living nightmare. Trapped in a contract marriage to settle her father's debt, she's now tied to Damien Salvatore-the cold, calculating mafia heir who only sees her as a pawn. But there's a catch: Damien is openly gay, and he makes it clear that their marriage is nothing more than a business deal, devoid of love or intimacy. Damien is everything she despises: arrogant, dominant, and utterly untouchable. He wants nothing to do with his new bride, keeping his distance with a scathing indifference that shatters her hopes of any normalcy. Yet as the days turn into months, Aria starts to see cracks in his icy façade, a flash of protectiveness, a rare moment of vulnerability, and a searing gaze that lingers too long. But just when Aria begins to unravel the layers of her enigmatic husband, Luca Moretti, Damien's ex-lover and the ruthless underboss of a rival family, reappears. Luca's obsession with Damien blurs the line between love and hate, and he's determined to destroy anyone who stands in his way, including Aria. Caught in a dangerous game of power, betrayal, and forbidden desire, Aria must navigate a world where trust is a luxury she can't afford. And as Damien's feelings for her grow, she realizes that the most dangerous secret isn't his sexuality or his hidden past-it's that she might actually be falling in love with her mafia gay husband. Will their love survive the lies and betrayals, or will it crumble under the weight of their dangerous secrets?
Raven Black has always been the pack's weakest link, the frail Omega who is ridiculed and scorned. Her only dream was to find her fated mate, the one person who would love her unconditionally. But that dream shatters when the cruel, powerful Alpha, Smith Lockwood, rejects her in front of the entire pack. Smith, with his piercing silver eyes and unyielding dominance, dismisses her as unworthy. He believes a weak, timid mate would make him vulnerable, but the bond between them refuses to break, pulling them closer in ways they never expected. Trapped in the pack she can't escape and tormented by a mate who both rejects and possesses her, Raven must find the strength she never knew she had. As her hidden powers begin to awaken, Raven realizes she might be the key to saving the pack from a rogue threat lurking in the shadows. But Smith's refusal to accept her as his mate pushes her to the brink. Will he realize her worth before it's too late? Or will his pride cost him the only woman who could be his true equal? In a world where love is dangerous, and power is everything, can a broken girl and her ruthless Alpha find a way to heal each other?
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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."
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”