Velia Angelica Howell's perfect life shattered in a single night when a tragic accident took her parents and left her fiancé in a coma. Just as her world crumbled further with job loss and loan sharks threatening her, Lucas Hernandez, a powerful and enigmatic CEO, made her an offer she couldn't refuse: pretend to be his fiancée to secure a vital business deal. In exchange, Velia would regain financial stability and the means to support her fiancé's recovery. But as their worlds collided, dark secrets emerged, and Velia found herself torn between a love that could heal her and the haunting truths of her past.
Velia Angelica Howell clutched her handbag tightly and looked anxiously over her shoulder as the cool evening breeze sliced through her flimsy coat. With flickering streetlights casting eerie shadows on the cracked pavement, the deserted street felt oppressive. She walked quickly, the sound of her footsteps echoing from the walls of the silent buildings around her.
Her heart pounded, not only from the fear of being alone at night but also from the weight of the events of the day. She had previously experienced an unexpected loss of her administrative employment, which the firm attributed to "downsizing." The fact that her fiancé, Andrew, had been comatose for months after the car accident that had claimed her parents didn't worry her, nor did the mounting bills. The world was indifferent to her challenges.
"Miss Howell, wait!"
Velia stiffened, her blood chilling at the sound of the rough voice behind her. She didn't need to look back to know who it was. The loan sharks.
"Come on," she murmured to herself, urging her legs to budge. Yet her feet seemed anchored in place. Gradually, she rotated, her large eyes locking onto the threatening stare of the man who had been pursuing her for weeks. Two additional men stood by him, their expressions set with the threat of aggression.
"Your payment is overdue," the man remarked, his tone misleadingly tranquil. He took out a cigarette, igniting it nonchalantly as though they were talking about the weather. "We granted you an extension out of goodwill, but now... goodwill has ended."
"I-I simply require additional time," Velia faltered, gripping her handbag as if it contained the solutions to her pleas. "I will pay." "I promise."
The man laughed ominously, nodding his head. "Time? Promises? Do you believe we're operating a nonprofit organisation? Allow me to clarify this, Miss Howell. You have time until the week's end. "No excuses."
One of the thugs stepped closer, extending his hand to grab her arm. "Maybe we should grab something for collateral," he mocked, his grip becoming excruciatingly tight.
"Please release me!" Velia sobbed and pulled at her arm, but the man's grip held firm. She felt a wave of panic and looked around desperately for help. The street was empty and barren, like a stage set up for her humiliation.
A deep, commanding voice cut like a razor through the tension, "Enough."
All heads moved in the direction of the voice. A towering figure emerged from the darkness of a nearby alley, his pristine dark suit sharp, his demeanour commanding. His defined jawline and striking grey eyes appeared to take in the faint light surrounding him, giving him an air of nobility and peril.
The loan sharks stiffened, their confidence faltering beneath the outsider's chilling stare. The leader advanced, inflating his chest. "This doesn't concern you, friend." "Step back."
The man showed no reaction. Rather, he turned his head a bit, his facial expression inscrutable. "I recommend that you free the woman," he stated, his tone composed yet infused with a subtle command that gave Velia chills.
"And what if we don't?" the leader questioned, although his tone had diminished in confidence.
The stranger grinned, the slightest arch of his mouth. "Afterward, you will regret not having done so."
For a brief moment, the street became quiet. The atmosphere was charged with tension as the loan sharks shared wary looks. At last, with a grunt, the leader signalled to his men. "Let's leave."
With a push, the thug released Velia's arm while silently cursing to himself. The trio retreated, disappearing into the shadows.
Velia staggered back, breathing shallowly and quickly. Her eyes widened in a mixture of gratitude and horror as she turned to face the stranger. "Thank you," she managed to whisper.
The man observed her for a brief instant, his expression inscrutable. After that, he nodded. "You need to exercise more caution," he remarked plainly. "Tonight, not everyone has your good fortune."
Before Velia could answer, he pivoted and started to walk off, his lengthy steps taking him back into the darkness.
"Wait!" she yelled, stepping forward hesitantly. He hesitated but did not look back. With a quivering voice, she questioned, "Who are you?"
He remained silent for a minute. Then he said, "Lucas Hernandez," without turning around. The name was like a shock of electricity to her.
Everyone knew Lucas Hernandez, the affluent CEO of Hernandez Holdings. In the world of business, he was a titan who was both feared and revered.
However, why would someone like him be in such a place? He disappeared into the night before she could ask him any more questions, leaving her alone on the empty street.
Velia's legs buckled, and she fell to a nearby bench, her mind racing. The meeting seemed dreamlike, reminiscent of a moment from the love stories she once enjoyed. However, this wasn't a made-up story. This was her existence-chaotic, uncertain, and balancing on the brink of breakdown.
As the excitement diminished, reality struck her like a speeding locomotive. The loan sharks were not going to yield for long. She required cash quickly, or they would pursue her once more. Her mind drifted to Lucas Hernandez, the person who had rescued her this evening.
What was he seeking? What prompted him to step in? And why did she sense that this was merely the start of something far greater than she could grasp?
Unbeknownst to Velia, the occurrences of this evening would lead her down a path that would change her life forever.
Zoe Harper, an average girl from the kingdom's outskirts finds herself in the centre of attention when she is selected to wed Crown Prince Alaric in an attempt to bring the divided country together. Alaric's exiled twin brother Rowan, however, interrupts her wedding by claiming she was betrothed to him first. Being thrust into the middle of a perilous power battle, Zoe learns that both princes have personal objectives and that her choice will determine the future of the country. Zoe has to decide between the two princes as loyalty, love, and treachery converge-before the country falls into anarchy.
Heartbreak is nothing new to Luna Skyheart. She has determined never to trust fate again after five failed mate bonds. Her resolve is put to the test, though, as her sixth bond ties her to the mysterious and formidable Lycan King, King Rex Reign. Luna must choose between rejecting the mate bond once more or risking all for a love that could rescue them all as adversaries emerge, envious rivals plot her ruin, and a prophecy speaks of disaster.
Sophia has always been an outcast in her village, mocked for her strange silver eyes and inability to shift. But when her village is attacked by rogues, a dormant power awakens within her, unleashing her werewolf form for the first time. She learns the truth-she is the last living heir of the Alpha Queen, whose throne was usurped by a treacherous council. Hunted by the new Alpha King and betrayed by those she once trusted, Sophia embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her legacy. Along the way, she discovers allies, love, and truths that could save or destroy the entire werewolf race.
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
Carrying a child left Adeline trapped in marriage to the ruthless and unhinged Waylon, and everyone doubted she'd survive to see the baby's first breath. Filled with dread but determined, she carefully won him over and soon became his lethal obsession. Yet on the day she planned to escape, Waylon drove their car to a cliff's edge, foot hovering over the gas. "I'm sorry, love—did you just say divorce?" His fingers skimmed her cheek, his tone a deadly whisper. "Defy me, and you pay." Later, drenched in blood and rain, he knelt before her, trembling, and pleaded, "Tell me how to keep you here."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.