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A desperate woman, a ruthless billionaire, and a marriage built on lies-but what happens when fake love starts to feel real? Adriana Calloway's world crumbles overnight. Her family's company is gone, her mother's hospital bills are piling up, and she's left with nothing but debt and desperation. Just when she thinks all hope is lost, Marco Romano-a powerful billionaire with a heart of ice-makes her an offer she can't refuse. One year. One contract. One marriage. For Marco, it's simple: his grandfather's will demands he marry within six months, or he loses everything. Adriana is his perfect solution-a woman with nothing to lose and no power to fight back. The rules are clear: No love. No expectations. No escape. But as the lines blur between business and desire, secrets unravel, tensions ignite, and dangerous pasts resurface. When betrayal threatens to expose their marriage for the lie it is, Adriana and Marco must decide: Was this just a deal, or was fate playing a game of its own? She thought she was making a deal with the devil... But what if the devil is the only one who can save her?
The rain poured relentlessly over New York City, turning the skyline into a blur of silver and black. Adriana Calloway sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring blankly at the untouched coffee in front of her. The last 24 hours had shattered her life beyond recognition.
She clenched her fists under the table, willing herself not to cry. Her family's company-everything her late father had worked for-was gone. The debt collectors had come like vultures, stripping away not just the business but their home, their assets, everything. Her mother, fragile and grief-stricken, lay in a hospital bed, unaware of how close they were to complete ruin.
A shadow fell over her table. Adriana glanced up, and her heart stuttered.
Marco Romano.
The man was devastatingly handsome in a way that felt dangerous. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his presence sucked the air out of the room. His dark hair was slicked back, a few strands carelessly falling over his sharp, chiseled features. But it was his eyes that held her captive-icy blue, calculating, unreadable.
She had no idea why he was here.
"I hear you're in trouble, Miss Calloway." His voice was smooth, controlled. The voice of a man who never had to beg for anything.
Adriana's fingers curled around the handle of her cup, seeking something-anything-to ground her. "I'm fine," she lied.
Marco arched a brow, amusement flickering in his gaze. "You're homeless, your mother's hospital bills are unpaid, and your father's legacy has been wiped out overnight. I wouldn't call that fine."
Anger flared in her chest. "Did you come here to mock me?"
"No," he said simply. Then, with the ease of someone who owned the world, he slid into the seat across from her. "I came to make you an offer."
Adriana frowned. "An offer?"
Marco leaned in slightly, the scent of expensive cologne and something darker-something undeniably masculine-filling the space between them. "Marry me."
Adriana's breath caught. For a second, she thought she had misheard him. But the way he watched her, like a predator waiting for its prey to react, told her he was serious.
She forced out a dry laugh. "I think I misheard you."
"You didn't."
Her mind raced. Marco Romano was one of the most powerful businessmen in the country, heir to the Romano fortune-a man who didn't need anyone. Least of all her.
"Why would you want to marry me?" she asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
Marco exhaled, as if debating how much to tell her. Then, with ruthless efficiency, he laid out the truth. "My grandfather's will is very specific. I must be married within six months, or I lose my inheritance."
Adriana blinked. Of course. There had to be a reason. Men like Marco didn't do anything without a purpose.
"So this would be a business deal," she said carefully.
His lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Precisely. You need money. I need a wife. A one-year contract. At the end of it, we go our separate ways."
She swallowed hard. A year. A marriage that wasn't real. A deal with the devil himself.
And yet... what choice did she have?
Her mother's hospital bills alone would crush her. She had nothing left. No way to rebuild. No way to survive.
Marco must have sensed her hesitation because he leaned back, watching her with cool detachment. "Of course, you can refuse," he said. "Walk out of here, struggle for scraps, and hope your mother doesn't get evicted from the hospital."
Her stomach twisted. He was cruel, but he wasn't wrong.
Adriana inhaled sharply. "And what do you expect from me in return?"
Marco's gaze darkened slightly. "You will play the role of my wife. Publicly, we will be a devoted couple. Privately, we live our own lives. I don't expect love or affection, just obedience to the contract."
Obedience.
The word sent a shiver down her spine.
She studied him carefully. He looked bored, as if this was just another business transaction to him.
Maybe it was.
But for her, it was a deal with no escape.
A deal she couldn't afford to refuse.
Finally, she whispered, "I'll do it."
Marco's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his gaze.
He extended his hand. "Then we have a deal."
Adriana hesitated only a moment before placing her hand in his.
The warmth of his skin against hers sent a jolt through her veins.
And just like that, she signed away the next year of her life to the devil.
Five years ago, struggling law student Isla Monroe fell in love with a charming stranger during a whirlwind summer in Tuscany. He was kind, generous, and intensely private. When she discovered she was pregnant, he was already gone-and she had no way of finding him. What she didn't know was that he was Lucien Wolfe, a reclusive tech billionaire hiding from the world after a public betrayal. Now, their worlds collide when Lucien acquires the struggling startup where Isla works. He's no longer the soft-spoken man she once knew-he's ruthless, guarded, and intent on control. But the moment he sees her, something shifts. He doesn't remember her name, but he remembers her-and Isla knows it's only a matter of time before he discovers the truth about the little boy with his eyes.
When her father racks up an impossible debt to the Falcone crime family, Camilla becomes the payment. Sold off like property, she's forced to marry Riccardo Falcone -a cold, calculating mafia boss known as The Devil of New York. But Camilla is no helpless victim. She's fierce, smart, and determined to find a way out... even if that means taking down the man who owns her. But Riccardo didn't expect to fall for the fire in her eyes. And Camilla didn't expect to uncover the truth behind her father's debt-or the secrets buried beneath Riccardo's empire.
Angel never imagined she'd become a billionaire's wife-especially not by force. When Aaron Blackwood, ruthless CEO and heir to a multibillion-dollar empire, is backed into a corner, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. A contract. A marriage. A deal that should have been simple. But nothing about Aaron is simple. He's cold, calculating, and dangerously possessive. Every move she makes feels like a test, every glance a challenge. And the more she fights him, the more he seems to enjoy the game. But when secrets from his world begin to surface-whispers of enemies, betrayals, and a deadly past-Angel realizes she's not just trapped in a marriage. She's trapped in his world. And walking away might not be an option.
Selina, an omega despised by her pack, is shocked to discover that her fated mate is Alpha Zane, one of the most powerful alphas in the region. But instead of accepting her, he publicly rejects her, leaving her heartbroken and humiliated. Devastated, she flees into the wilderness, unaware that her rejection has awakened something powerful within her. Taken in by a rogue pack, Selina trains under Roman, a mysterious and powerful beta, and discovers that she is a Moonborn Wolf-one of the last descendants of an ancient, feared bloodline. As she grows stronger, Selina sheds her past weakness and emerges as a force that could challenge even the strongest alphas. Meanwhile, Zane's world begins to crumble. His wolf aches for Selina, realizing too late that she was never weak. Desperate to make amends, he seeks her out, only to find that she is no longer the fragile omega he once dismissed-she is stronger than him. But there's another twist: Roman is also her fated mate, one who never rejected her. As war looms with the High Council-those who once tried to wipe out her bloodline-Selina must decide: forgive Zane, choose Roman, or stand alone as the queen she was always meant to be. The fate of the werewolf world rests in her hands, and this time, she will not be the one left behind.
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."
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
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."