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"Marry me... or watch your family fall." That was the brutal choice Emma Sinclair faced on the worst night of her life. To protect the ones she loves, she becomes the wife of Damien Blackwood - the cold, merciless billionaire who sees love as weakness and marriage as a weapon. To Damien, Emma is nothing but a pawn in his twisted game of revenge. To Emma, he's the man who ruined her life. But what starts as hate quickly spirals into dangerous obsession. He's hiding deadly secrets. She's trapped in his ruthless world. One mistake could destroy them both. As passion collides with betrayal, Emma must decide: Will she run from the man who stole her freedom... Or fall for the devil who just might steal her heart? Enemies to lovers. Forced marriage. Billionaire's obsession. A contract she can't escape... and a love neither of them expected.
Emma Sinclair held tightly to her old purse strap. Her heart raced as she walked into the huge building that screamed wealth. The marble floor sparkled under the soft light of fancy chandeliers. It smelled like expensive cologne, and it made her stomach flip.
She felt out of place.
The receptionist, a sharp-looking woman in a smart suit, barely looked up. "Miss Sinclair?" she asked.
Emma swallowed hard. "Yes?"
"Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you. Take the private elevator to the top floor," the receptionist said.
Emma hesitated for a moment. She thought about running away. But deep down, she knew she couldn't do that. Not when everything was on the line. Her father's voice rang in her ears, filled with worry.
"You have to go, Emma. It's our only shot."
With resolve, Emma pushed her feet forward and entered the slick elevator. The doors closed softly behind her, and she caught her reflection in the mirrored walls. Her green eyes were wide with fear. Her lips were pressed tight, and her fingers twisted the strap of her purse, her only link to comfort.
The numbers lit up one by one. 40th floor. 50th floor. 60th floor. With every second, the weight in her chest grew heavier. Finally, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened into a thick silence.
Before her was an enormous office filled with sleek modern furniture. It looked impressive and a bit overwhelming. The floor-to-ceiling windows showed off the stunning city view, but it wasn't the skyline that took her breath away.
It was him.
Damien Blackwood sat at a large mahogany desk. His presence filled the room with a strong energy. He didn't look up right away. His fingers moved over some papers, and his face gave nothing away. The dark suit he wore fit perfectly, as if it was meant just for him.
Emma had seen his photos, but they didn't show how powerful he looked in real life. He radiated authority and something else that made her uneasy.
Finally, he looked up and locked his intense blue gaze on her.
"Miss Sinclair," he said.
Emma's heartbeat raced. His voice was smooth, but it sent shivers down her spine.
"Mr. Blackwood," she managed to reply, trying hard to keep it steady.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her with a cool gaze. "Do you know why you're here?"
Emma thought for a moment. "I assume it has to do with my father."
A slight smile crossed his lips. "Correct. Your father owes me a lot of money. More than he'll ever be able to pay back."
Emma clenched her fists tight. She knew this all too well. She had watched the worry eat away at her father. She had seen the late nights and the unpaid bills piled up in the kitchen. But she was still confused about why she was here.
"I know," she said cautiously. "But why am I here?"
Damien's smile widened for a brief moment. "Oh, Emma. This has everything to do with you."
A cold sensation ran down her back. The way he said her name, it felt like it was already his.
"I'm willing to wipe the debt clean," he continued, his voice silky smooth. "But I need something important from you in return."
Her heart raced. "What do you want?"
He stood up, his movements slow and careful, moving towards her. Each step made her pulse quicken. He came so close that she could feel the heat radiating from him.
"I need something from you, Emma," he said, stopping just inches away.
Her breath hitched. Every part of her wanted to flee, yet she was frozen in place. "And what do you want from me?"
He reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was light, but it sent a shiver through her.
"All in time," he said softly. "For now, understand when I say jump, you don't ask why. You just do it."
Emma stepped back, feeling a wave of anger. "I'm not some pawn in your game."
His smirk grew. "Aren't you?"
Fury boiled inside her. "I came here looking for answers, not to be played with."
"You are the answer," he replied calmly. "You just haven't seen it yet."
Her mind was spinning. What could he possibly mean? Why her?
"I want to know what you want from me," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Damien watched her for a moment, then let out a deep breath, as if he was thinking about something. Just when she thought he wouldn't respond, he said, "Patience, little one."
The way he said it sent another chill down her spine.
This wasn't just business.
There was something much deeper going on here.
And Emma wasn't sure if she wanted to uncover all the layers.
She needed money. He needed a bride. Neither expected love. Struggling med student Elara Rivers is drowning in debt, desperate to pay for her younger brother's life-saving surgery. When she stumbles into a high-end escort agency, she thinks she's signing a contract to be a paid companion to a rich man for one week-strictly business. But the mysterious, cold-eyed billionaire Cassian Wolfe isn't looking for a plaything. He's being forced into marriage by his dying grandfather's will-or he loses control of the Wolfe empire. Cassian offers Elara a deal: become his legal wife for one year, attend public events, and play the role of perfect bride. In return? Enough money to change her life. But when Elara steps into his world of luxury, lies, and bloodthirsty business rivals, she quickly realizes this marriage comes with dangerous strings-and a husband who's not as heartless as he seems. Cassian has secrets. So does Elara. And the contract? It never said anything about falling in love.
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."
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone-including her own mate-she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed-a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous-he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.