/0/70610/coverbig.jpg?v=577f3c30b5c194d3127a7068a5bf8a09)
Clara, an ambitious young woman working in a small fashion company, finds herself on the verge of bankruptcy. As she desperately searches for a solution to save her business, she crosses paths with Alexandre, a charismatic and mysterious billionaire. During a chance meeting at a gala evening, Alexandre proposes a marriage contract to her: he needs a wife for reasons of social appearance and she needs funds to relaunch her career. At first, Clara hesitates, but the promises of financial support and the opportunity to live in a luxurious world encourage her to accept. Over time, their relationship evolves. What begins as a purely contractual arrangement turns into a passionate love story. However, secrets from Alexandre's past threaten to tear them apart. Clara must navigate her growing feelings and the complications their agreement brings. The novel deals with themes such as true love versus material interest, trust and the sacrifices one is willing to make to protect those they love.
Clara's world collapsed before her eyes.
Sitting behind her desk cluttered with folders, she stared at her computer screen where cruel red letters appeared, the verdict of her accountant: ** "Critical situation: risk of imminent bankruptcy" **. His heart was hugging. She blinks several times, as if the simple fact of looking away could erase this harsh reality. But the figures did not lie. His business, his dream, the fruit of several years of sacrifices and white nights, was flowing.
She passed a trembling hand in her brown hair and let go of a long sigh. ** How had she got there? ** Did she still remember the day she had launched her clothing brand, full of hope and ambition. His creation workshop, nestled in a small street in Paris, had started modestly, but with real potential. Its unique designs, a subtle mixture of elegance and modernity, had quickly attracted a faithful clientele. But ruthless competition and the economic crisis had been right for its efforts.
She pushed her chair and got up with a nervous movement, traveling the room long and wide. Unpaid bills piled up on his desk as silent witnesses to his failure. She grabbed an envelope and tore it ragingly. A new formal notice. She clenched her fists. ** If she did not find a solution quickly, she should put the key under the door. **
- Mess...
His voice was shaking under emotion. Panic tied her stomach, but she tried to pull herself up. No, it was not over yet. There must have been a way. It was ** that there was a means.
She grabbed her phone and immediately called her accountant, Jean-Marc.
- Jean-Marc, tell me that there is a solution ...
A heavy silence preceded the response of the old man with a tired voice.
- Clara, I'm sorry. Debts accumulate, creditors become impatient, and sales are no longer enough to cover the charges ...
- I know, I know! she exclaimed, frustrated. But there must be something to do! A loan? Any help?
- I've already went around the possibilities, he sighed. You can always try a last appointment with your bank, but I don't want to give you false hopes ...
False hopes or not, she had no choice.
###
The next morning, Clara was sitting in an icy office of the ** Banque de France **, her fingers tense on her handbag. Faced with her, an advisor to the austere face traveled her file by shaking her head.
- Mademoiselle Morel, I'm going to be honest with you ...
Clara felt her breath blocked in her chest. She hated this sentence. Whenever a banker said it, the rest was still a disaster.
- Your business has accumulated too many debts in recent months. We cannot take such a significant risk by granting you an additional loan.
Clara opened her mouth, desperately looking for a distributed.
- I ... Listen, my creations please, I still have loyal customers, and I have innovative in mind projects that could relaunch the activity ... I just need a little more time ...
The banker crossed his fingers on the desk and stared at it with a neutral look.
- I understand your situation, but from a financial point of view, your company no longer offers enough guarantees.
- Can't make an effort? A longer reimbursement period?
- I'm sorry, Mademoiselle Morel.
These words resonated in his head as an irrevocable sentence. She felt a wave of despair overwhelm her.
She got up slowly, her gaze empty.
- Thank you anyway ...
She left the bank with a mechanical step. The cold wind of January whispered her face as she walked unexpectedly in the streets of Paris. She passed an illuminated showcase where a creator dress was exhibited. A deaf rage rose in her. ** Why did some succeed and not? Why was everything to be so complicated? **
She pushed a long sigh. The answer was obvious. ** Money. ** Those who succeeded had capital, investors, connections ... and she had only her ideas and her hard work. But obviously, that was no longer enough.
She jumped while feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket. Léa.
She hesitated for a second before winning.
- Hello ?
- Clara, where are you? I tried to call you several times!
- Sorry ... I went out to take the air.
Léa marked a silence, then resumed in a worried tone:
- It didn't go well, huh?
Clara let go of a bitter laugh.
- No. They refused me the loan. I'm fucked up, Léa.
- No, you are not fucked up, protested her friend with vigor. Listen to me, there is a ** solution **.
Clara arqua a eyebrow.
- What solution?
- Tonight there is a gala evening organized by the ** Duval & Co ** Foundation. This is where all the most influential investors find themselves. If someone can help you, it's there.
Clara sighed.
- Lea, I have neither the energy nor the desire to pretend to smile in a worldly evening.
- And what do you plan to do then? Wait until your creditors come to express you? You no longer have the luxury of moping, Clara. You have to act.
Clara remained silent. Her friend was right. If she wanted to save her business, she had to try everything for everything **.
- Okay, she finally gave in. But I have nothing to put myself ...
- Don't worry, I have the dress you need. I go get you in two hours.
Léa hung up before Clara could protest more.
She stayed for a few moments standing on the sidewalk, fixing the screen on her phone, hesitant. This gala was perhaps his last chance to find an investor ... or maybe just another disillusionment.
But she no longer had a choice.
Tonight, everything was going to be played.
In a world dominated by money, Clara, an ambitious young woman, falls under the spell of Alexander, a seductive alpha who promises her a life of luxury. But once married, she discovers that he is a possessive manipulator, keeping her prisoner in an opulent palace. Isolated and watched, Clara realizes she has lost her freedom and engages in a daring fight to escape this stifling existence. By forming secret alliances with other oppressed women, she discovers an inner strength she never knew existed. In an explosive confrontation with Alexander, Clara must choose between the illusory love of a powerful man and her unwavering quest to regain her independence.
Maximilian "The Titan" Moretti is the respected billionaire at the head of the Moretti empire, a company known for its power and influence in the business world. At a lavish gala evening celebrating the year's achievements, Maximilian meets Sofia Blackwood, a young woman newly inducted into the exclusive business circle, but whose origins remain a mystery. Maximilian, famous for being a fiercely hardened bachelor, hides a secret that no one dares to guess: he has sworn never to get attached to anyone to protect his heart from a devastating betrayal in the past. Intrigued by Sofia and her quiet determination, he proposes an unexpected pact: a purely physical relationship, without emotions or commitments. In exchange, Maximilian promises to watch over her and offer her the security she has never known in the cutthroat world of business. Sofia, hesitant at first, reluctantly agrees, thinking she can keep her feelings at bay. But can anyone really resist the magnetic pull of a Titan? As their affair blossoms in the luxurious suites of five-star hotels and glamorous parties where money and power reign supreme, dark forces begin to manifest. A former rival of Maximilian's, hungry for revenge and intent on destroying his empire, discovers their secret relationship. Armed with compromising information about Sofia, he threatens to reveal everything to ruin Maximilian's reputation. Meanwhile, Sofia discovers she has a hidden talent for negotiation that could upset the balance of power in the business world. As danger draws near and secrets begin to come to light, Maximilian must confront his own demons while protecting Sofia. Their forbidden relationship could be the key to overthrowing his rival or the cause of his downfall. Who will crack first? In this dance between power and passion, is the heart strong enough to triumph over all-consuming ambitions?
Aria, a young human girl with a broken destiny, is forced to marry Kael, a feared and domineering Alpha, to replace her runaway sister. But this is no simple arranged marriage-it is a pact of domination, an oath imposed by the ancestral law of the wolves. Kael, Supreme Alpha of the Shadowclan, tolerates neither weakness nor disobedience. At first revolted by her condition, Aria tries to rebel, but each challenge she throws at Kael only fuels his desire to bend her to his will. Between merciless punishments and power plays, an electric tension builds between them, transforming each confrontation into a dangerous dance between submission and passion. But in the shadows, a much more menacing force lurks. Kael's old enemies resurface, and Aria discovers that she is more than just an offering: she is the key to a forgotten prophecy, one that could either destroy the Alpha or make him invincible. In a spiral of intrigue, betrayal, and unspoken desires, Aria must choose between total submission... or becoming the Alpha herself.
To save her pack from famine and war, Elyara is sold by her father to the most feared Alpha in the territory: Ravenn, the Lord of Ash. Feared and respected, Ravenn does not take a wife out of love, but out of duty. To him, Elyara is just an offering, one more piece in his kingdom of ice and blood. Torn between her father's betrayal and fear of her future, Elyara swears never to submit. But Ravenn is a ruthless Alpha, a king among beasts, and he has never tolerated disobedience. In an isolated castle, surrounded by wolves who do not all want her well, Elyara discovers a world much darker and crueler than she had imagined. Yet, beneath the tyrant's armor, she glimpses flaws... and a burning desire that consumes her as much as it terrifies her. Over the moons, fear turns into fascination, hatred into passion. But can you love a monster without becoming its own? When an old enemy resurfaces, Elyara will have to choose: flee and regain her freedom... or embrace her destiny alongside the Alpha.
Lena, a 23-year-old woman, finds herself married to a much older man, Henri, in circumstances beyond her control. Despite the luxury and privileges she obtains, Henri, cold and distant, seems incapable of offering the love and attention she seeks. Little by little, Lena loses the affection she had for him, feeling more and more alone in this marriage. The situation becomes complicated when Léna falls in love with Maxime, Henri's son, a charming and ambitious young man. Maxime, although married and engaged in another relationship, also lets himself be drawn into this dangerous game of forbidden passion. They find themselves caught in a whirlwind of desires and lies, fighting against their contradictory feelings. Their impossible love story, filled with sacrifices, leads them towards a fatal outcome where love and betrayal mix forever.
Nyx Draven is the daughter of the Alpha of the Blood Twilight Pack, a feared and untamable clan. But Nyx refuses to be a simple obedient heiress. She defies tradition, despises arranged marriages, and prefers clandestine fights to royal balls. However, when she reaches the age of eighteen, the law requires her to choose a mate. She selects one... but three years later, he betrays and abandons her. Now a single mother, Nyx is summoned to the Royal Ball of Destinies, where she will discover the identity of her true destined mate. Dante Vörhees is the newly crowned king of the werewolf kingdom, a ruthless Alpha marked by an ancient curse. He must find his queen before the next blood moon, or see his throne reduced to ashes. When he discovers that his destined mate is Nyx, an untamable rebel with a tumultuous past, he refuses to believe it. She is everything he doesn't want... and everything he needs. But an unforgivable mistake threatens to shatter their bond before it can blossom. Betrayals, pack wars, and conspiracies stand between them. Can the rebel Alpha and the cursed king love each other without destroying the kingdom?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
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.”
"Lucien, let's get a divorce," I said in a peremptory tone that was long overdue, the most decisive farewell to this absurd marriage. We had been married for exactly three years-three years that, for me, were filled with nothing but endless loneliness and torment. For three years, the husband who should have stood by my side through every storm, Lucien Sullivan, had completely disappeared from my life as if he had never existed. He vanished without a trace, leaving me alone to endure this empty, desolate marriage. Today, I finally received his message: "I'm back. Come pick me up at the airport." When I read his words, my heart leapt with joy, and I raced to the airport, thinking that he finally understood my love and was coming back to me. But his cruelty was far worse than I could have ever imagined-he was accompanied by a pregnant woman, and that woman was Carla, my closest and most trusted friend. In that moment, all of my previous excitement, all my hope, and all of our shared laughter and tears turned into the sharpest of daggers, stabbing into my heart and leaving me gasping for air. Now, all I want is to escape from this place that has left me so broken-to lick my wounds in solitude. Even if these wounds will remain with me for the rest of my life, I refuse to have anything to do with him ever again. He should know that it was his own hand that trampled our love underfoot, that his coldness and betrayal created this irreparable situation. But when he heard those words, he desperately clung to this broken, crumbling marriage, unwilling to let it end-almost as though doing so could rewind time and return everything to how it used to be. "Aurora, come back. I regret everything!" Regret? Those simple words stirred no emotion in me-only endless sadness and fury. My heart let out a frantic, desperate scream: It's too late for any of this!
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
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.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"