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Amelia Whitmore never planned to step into the ruthless world of power and deception, but when she inherits a stake in Whitmore Enterprises, she becomes a target. In a world where alliances are fleeting and betrayals lurk behind every handshake, she must prove she belongs-or be destroyed. Enter Alexander Wolfe-cold, calculating, and dangerously irresistible. As one of the most powerful men in the industry, he offers to guide her through the treacherous game of wealth and influence. But Alexander has secrets of his own, and the more Amelia trusts him, the more she realizes he might be just as dangerous as the enemies circling her. When anonymous warnings, whispered threats, and a dangerous invitation pull her deeper into the dark side of power, Amelia must decide: Is Alexander her protector, or is he the one pulling the strings? And when hearts and empires collide, who will survive the fallout?
Amelia Parker sat at the small, cluttered desk of her father's office, staring at the pile of bills in front of her. The numbers blurred as her eyes welled with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't afford to break down-not now, not when everything was slipping through her fingers.
Her father's company, once thriving, was now on the brink of bankruptcy. Years of hard work and sacrifice seemed about to come to nothing, and the weight of it pressed down on her chest like a heavy stone. Her father, the man who had built this company from the ground up, had passed away suddenly, leaving her with nothing but debts to inherit.
Amelia rubbed her temples, her mind racing for a solution. There was only one option left, but it was a path she never thought she would take.
"Amelia?" a voice called from the door.
She looked up to see her assistant, Sarah, standing in the doorway with a hesitant look on her face. Amelia's heart sank. She knew what Sarah was here to say.
"They're here," Sarah said softly.
Amelia nodded, rising to her feet. She had been expecting this meeting, but the reality of it still made her stomach twist with unease.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and followed Sarah out of the office. The conference room was just down the hall, and as they entered, the atmosphere shifted-cold, calculated, and charged with an air of impatience.
At the head of the table sat Alexander Blackwood, the billionaire who owned the company that had recently acquired her father's. He was tall, his dark suit fitting him perfectly, his sharp features framed by a chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something-amusement, maybe? Or was it disdain? It was impossible to tell, but it made her pulse quicken.
"Miss Parker," he said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over her. "I trust you've had time to consider my offer?"
Amelia's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She had considered nothing but the implications of the proposal. Alexander's offer was simple: a marriage of convenience. He would forgive the company's debts in exchange for her hand in marriage. A cold, pragmatic deal. Nothing more.
"I've thought about it," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I need more time. This is-"
"Time isn't something you have, Miss Parker," Alexander interrupted, his tone firm. "Your father's company is on the verge of collapse, and you're out of options. This is the only way to save it. You'll marry me, and in return, I'll ensure the business survives. No more games."
The words hit her like a slap. She had known this moment was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made her stomach churn. She wasn't naive enough to think she could negotiate with someone like Alexander Blackwood, but she had hoped for a little more compassion-maybe even an ounce of understanding.
Instead, she was faced with a man who saw everything as a transaction. A man who didn't care about her feelings, her grief, or the legacy of her father.
"You don't understand," she said, her voice breaking despite her best efforts. "This is my father's life's work. I can't just-"
"I understand perfectly," Alexander said, his gaze hardening. "And you'll understand soon enough that this is your only way out. Sign the papers, and it's over. You'll be free. I'll take care of the rest."
Amelia swallowed, her mind racing. She had spent the last few days going over her options-none of them were good. This marriage, this contract, was her only choice. But could she really marry a man she barely knew, let alone one who saw her father's legacy as little more than a bargaining chip?
The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. Finally, she nodded, her decision made. There was no other way.
"I'll sign," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander's lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good. We'll get the paperwork sorted."
As the meeting continued, Amelia's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief. She had just agreed to marry a man she didn't trust, for the sake of saving a business that had always been her father's dream.
But as the deal was sealed, a sense of dread settled over her. What had she just signed up for? And more importantly, what was Alexander Blackwood really after?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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.
Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
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?"
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"