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An arranged marriage. A forbidden attraction. A dangerous game of power and passion. Emilia Cortez was raised to be ruthless-an heir forged in fire, molded to rule. But when her crumbling empire is forced into a truce with the enemy, she finds herself bound to Damon Ashford, the cold, cunning heir of the man who destroyed everything she loved. Their marriage is a spectacle. A political pawn. But behind closed doors? It's a battlefield of sharp tongues, stolen glances, and undeniable tension. He's the enemy. She should hate him. But the heat between them could burn the entire world down. As the lines between love and loyalty blur, Emilia must decide: can she tame the man she was meant to betray or will loving him cost her everything? Power. Passion. Betrayal. Welcome to a marriage that could end the war... Or start a revolution.
If someone had told Emilia Hart five years ago that she'd marry the son of the man who destroyed her family, she would've laughed, then slapped them for the insult.
Yet here she was, standing at the altar, white silk clinging to her trembling body, staring into the eyes of Damon Blackwell-the heir to the empire that had nearly ruined her life.
The cathedral was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers rained golden light across rows of polished pews. Famous faces from politics and power were scattered among the guests, all dressed in silence and secrets. Reporters were banned, but that didn't stop whispers from buzzing like bees.
Emilia's mother was dead, her father was serving a life sentence.
And the Blackwell name had everything to do with it.
So why was she standing here in white?
Because revenge wears many faces.
And sometimes, it says "I do"
Damon looked unreadable, as always, sharp-jawed, raven-haired, with those calculating eyes that seemed to see straight through to a person's weaknesses. Emilia had studied him from afar for years, trying to hate him. But up close, hate was a confusing thing. Especially when the enemy smelled like expensive cologne and looked like sin carved in marble.
"Do you, Damon Blackwell, take Emilia Hart as your lawfully wedded wife?" the officiant asked
He didn't blink "I do" Emilia's breath caught
Not because of his answer, but because of the way he said it. As if the words meant something deeper. As if this marriage was more than the business merger it had started as.
The officiant turned to her. "And do you, Emilia Hart, take Damon Blackwell...."
"I do" she said quickly, firmly. No hesitation.
Because if she hesitated, she'd remember the blood on her father's hands.
Or the judge's face when he delivered the guilty verdict.
Or the way the Blackwells had stood smugly in court, untouchable behind their wealth.
This wedding was her only path into their world.
Into his world.
They exchanged rings. Damon's fingers brushed hers; cool, controlled, and lingering just a second too long. When they were pronounced husband and wife, he leaned in to kiss her.
She expected a quick, performative press of lips.
But Damon's mouth captured hers with surprising intensity. Warm. Demanding. Like he was claiming something.
The crowd applauded. Cameras flashed.
Her spine stiffened.
This wasn't real. It was a game.
And she was playing to win.
Later that night, the penthouse suite awaited them, rose petals scattered across silk sheets, champagne chilling beside the bed.
Emilia stood by the window, arms crossed, watching the city glitter below.
Damon entered behind her, jacket off, sleeves rolled, his movements deliberate.
"You didn't flinch" he said
She turned "Should I have?"
He smirked "Most brides don't marry someone they loathe"
"Most grooms don't kiss like that if it's just for show" He came closer "Then maybe it wasn't just for show"
Her heart beat faster, but she hid it behind a cool smile "Careful, Damon. You might start to believe your own lies"
"Or maybe you're the one lying to yourself" he said, voice low "About why you really said yes"
She laughed, sharp and hollow "I said yes because I want a seat at the table. The same table your father tried to burn down with my family still sitting at it"
"And what will you do now that you're at it?" he asked "Poison the wine?"
She looked him dead in the eye "I guess you'll have to find out"
A tense silence stretched between them, electric.
Th Damon took a step back, eyes dark. "We made a deal, Emilia. A year. One public marriage. No strings."
She nodded "And no secrets"
He smiled thinly "We're Blackwells, secrets are the only currency we trust"
And with that, he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Emilia exhaled.
She was in the lion's den now. Wearing a white dress, bearing his last name, sleeping under his roof.
But this wasn't the end of her story.
It was just the beginning.
And when the truth finally surfaced, when the past they both tried to bury clawed its way back up
One of them would burn.
She just had to make sure it wasn't her.
In a world where power is everything and trust is a luxury, Isabella Cortez is caught between the ruthless empire of the mafia and the enigmatic billionaire who controls it all. As a trusted strategist for the Syndicate, she's played the game-manipulating, calculating, and making deals with dangerous people. But when she becomes entangled with Dominic Moretti, the empire's cold-hearted leader, she's forced to confront a new, terrifying reality. Dominic is a man who always gets what he wants, and he wants it all: power, control, and Isabella by his side. As their worlds collide, Isabella is faced with an impossible choice-remain loyal to the empire she helped build, or betray everything for the chance at a life outside of the shadows. But when a betrayal from within threatens to tear their empire apart, Isabella and Dominic must decide just how far they're willing to go to protect their empire-and each other. In a game of power, passion, and deceit, who will come out on top? And when the stakes are higher than ever, can love truly survive?
Luca DeLuca was never meant to be a king. Born into one of the most powerful mafia families, he was raised in the shadows of blood and violence-protected, sheltered, and kept far from the world his father ruled with an iron fist. But when Don Salvatore DeLuca is assassinated, everything changes. The empire his father built is now crumbling, threatened by enemies within and outside the family. Forced into a throne he never wanted, Luca must learn to navigate a world of betrayal, power, and brutal survival. He isn't a killer. Not yet. But in the mafia, power is earned in blood-and to lead, he must be willing to lose everything, including the last pieces of his soul. But Luca's battle isn't just against the underworld's deadliest players. It's against himself. As he struggles with the darkness seeping into his veins, a forbidden love threatens to shatter everything. Torn between the woman who makes him feel human and the ruthless empire that demands his loyalty, Luca must decide: Is he willing to sacrifice love for power? Or will love be his greatest weakness? In a world where trust is a death sentence and mercy is a myth, Luca DeLuca must either rise as a legend or die as a footnote.
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
He told her to call him Daddy. Not because he earned it, but because he fucking owned her. The moment she signed that contract, she stopped being a woman with dignity and became his filthy little plaything. His holes to use. His mess to ruin. He didn't just fuck her, he rewired her. Stripped her clean of boundaries and filled her with sin. Every punishment made her scream. Every game dragged her deeper into his twisted world. And the way he praised her... Good girl. She should've run the first time he said it. But Daddy doesn't let his toys leave. He breaks them until they beg to stay. ** Mia's life changed the night she let a stranger ruin her. One night. She never expected to see him again. Until she walked into her new job... and her boss turned around. Ace.Her one-night sin in a thousand-dollar suit. Only this time, he wasn't asking her to be his assistant. She was to be his wife.
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?