Blurb : Brenda Walker has spent her life trapped-first in a toxic family, then in a loveless marriage to a man who sees her as nothing more than an ornament. Weak, pitiful, and broken, she has resigned herself to a life of silent misery. That is until she meets Tony DeLuca-a cruel billionaire with a sinful touch and a dangerous past. Tony is everything Brenda isn't-powerful, dominant, and willing to take what he wants. When their worlds meet, he awakens a fire inside her that she never knew existed. But desire comes with a price. As Brenda's transformation starts, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of betrayal, blackmail, and revenge. With enemies lurking in the shadows-her vengeful husband, a deceitful sister, and Tony's obsessive ex-Brenda must decide: will she surrender to fear, or rise from the ashes to claim the love and power she deserves?
Chapter 1: A Caged Life & A Dangerous Glimpse of Freedom
Brenda's POV
I hardly recognized the woman who was reflected in the mirror. My hair was perfectly groomed, my makeup covered up the fatigue that had become a habit, and the elegant black gown fit my frame perfectly. All I saw was nothingness, when I should have felt lovely.
"Brendan, are you deaf?" Daniel's icy tone brought me back to the present. His image in the mirror was as menacing as ever as he stood behind me, adjusting his cufflinks. "Tonight, I begged you to keep quiet. Don't make me look foolish.
I nodded like the submissive wife he desired, swallowing hard.
He whispered, "Good girl," and walked out of the room.
The aroma of pricey champagne and power permeated the air when we arrived at the great event a few minutes later. Daniel's hold on my arm tightened as soon as I stepped inside.
He gritted his teeth and commanded, "Smile," as a group of businessmen walked up.
Standing by his side while he talked to the men, laughing at their jokes and talking about transactions I didn't care about, I forced a grin. However, then-
Daniel hardly gave me a look as he presented me to Brenda, his wife. "She is good at appearances, but she doesn't add much to business conversations."
I felt the heat creep up my neck. Even as my chest constricted, I managed to force a courteous grin onto my lips. The men laughed without trying to disguise their laughter.
I ought to have spoken up. I ought to have spoken up for myself. However, I didn't.
"Dear sister, please stop looking so upset." A voice said quietly in my ear, sickeningly pleasant.
Camilla.
My younger sister smiled and held a glass of wine when I turned around.
"You're so silent all the time. Daniel hardly noticed you, which makes sense. She tilted her head and sipped her wine. "Were you aware that he arrived here tonight with another person?"
I felt my gut tighten. "What?"
Her eyes were bright with laughter, yet she gave me a pathetic look. "Brendan, you truly are pathetic."
Camilla was telling the truth.
I caught an appearance of Daniel speaking into a woman's ear from the other side of the ballroom. She was beautiful, tall, graceful, everything I wasn't. She leaned against him and touched his chest when she laughed.
At my sides, my hands clenched into fists.
I wasn't shocked. Daniel's affairs had never been concealed. He knew I wouldn't do anything about it, so he didn't have to.
Leaning into me, Camilla spoke in a mocking tone. "You'll remain feeble forever. As he parades his mistresses in front of you, you will always be the lady in the background.
Something broke inside of me.
I didn't feel depressed for the first time in years. I was angry. Anger, pure and simple.
I turned without thinking and left.
The air felt sharp against my hot skin, and the rooftop balcony was silent. I closed my eyes and rested against the railing.
I detested my existence. This marriage was something I detested. I detested the fact that I had allowed myself to become this submissive, mute shadow of a woman.
"You appear to be organizing an escape."
A smooth, deep voice cut through my mind.
I snapped around, gasping when I saw the man standing a few feet away.
He was tall, powerful, and broad-shouldered. He exuded authority with his piercing look and sharp jawline, and his dark suit was expertly cut.
He moved closer and said, "Are you?"
I paused. "Who are you?"
"DeLuca, Tony." He never looked away. "And you?"
"Brenda."
His mouth twitched a little. "Brenda." He uttered my name as if it had significance.
My heart was beating because of something about him. He was different from Daniel. I had never met anyone like him.
He studied me and stated, "You don't belong here." "You have no place in a cage."
I tensed up. "You know absolutely nothing about me."
"I'm not required to." He spoke in a deep, captivating voice. "Your eyes show it to me. Despite your cries for liberation, you are unable to accept it.
Emotions roiling, my chest lifted and sank. "And what do you recommend?"
His lips formed a slow, knowing smirk. It depends. Are you prepared to let go of your fear?
A familiar, steely grip pulled me back before I could react.
Daniel.
He scowled at me while digging his fingers into my wrist. "What in the world are you doing?"
The poison in his voice made me wince. "I was just-"
"Making me look foolish?" I flinched as his hold tightened. "You're already flinging yourself at another man after I turn my back for a single second?"
My mouth dropped open to object, but Tony's voice broke the silence.
"Release her."
Daniel's face darkened as he turned to face him. This is my spouse. Keep your distance from it.
Although Tony remained still, his presence was oppressive. There was a menacing glitter in his eyes, yet he didn't appear angry.
"I didn't speak to you." His eyes strayed to me. "I was conversing with her."
My breath caught.
"Brendan, will you allow him to speak for you?" Even though Tony's voice seemed serene, it made me shudder. "Will you allow him to continue to dominate you?"
I had something to say. I intended to defend my interests. However, the words refused to escape.
Daniel laughed. "She is aware of her role."
Tony smiled. "We'll see how long you allow him to think that."
I was left speechless, confused, and shaken as he turned and left without saying anything more.
His words reverberated in my head as I saw his form fade into the throng.
Will you allow him to continue to dominate you?
I had nothing to say.
Not quite yet.
Blurb: Aurora "Rory" Thompson is a fearless journalist with a knack for uncovering the truth. In the bustling streets of modern-day New York City, her latest investigation thrusts her into the shadowy world of Julian "The Bull" DeMarco, a charismatic and ruthless Mafioso with a reputation for controlling everything and everyone around him. What begins as a quest for justice soon becomes a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Drawn to Julian's magnetic allure, Rory finds herself trapped between her ambition and the perilous pull of his power. As she digs deeper, Rory uncovers secrets that could shatter the underworld –and her sense of morality. With rival families, law enforcement, and betrayal lurking around every corner, Rory must navigate a web of danger and deceit. When Julian's true intentions come light, she's forced to confront the ultimate question: will she risk everything to expose the truth, or will she succumb to the darkeness that threatens to consumer her?.
"I reject you! I will never accept you as my Luna!" These were the cruel words Melissa heard from Kane, her fated mate and the powerful Alpha of the Ambersy Pack. As the daughter of a shamed Alpha, Melissa has suffered a life of abuse and humiliation, treated worse than a slave. Kane's refusal shatters her, but one night of passion binds them in a way neither can forget. Betrayed by her family and pushed into a loveless marriage, Melissa's life falls into darkness. When tragedy hits, she flees, determined to leave behind the pain and loss. With the help of a rogue friend, Melissa learns she is more than just a helpless omega. She is the last daughter of a wolf goddess with unthinkable strength. Years later, a joint threat takes Melissa back to the Ambersy Pack, where she faces Kane once more. This time, she is no longer the weak girl he once rejected. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, Melissa must decide if she can forget the past and trust Kane with her heart again. In a world of betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness, will Melissa rise to claim her fate and find the love and happiness she deserves?
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."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!