To save her crumbling family legacy, Selena Hart signs a deal with the devil-cold, ruthless billionaire Damien Blackthorn. One year of marriage. No love. No intimacy. Just a contract. But behind Damien's icy façade lies a man driven by secrets and vengeance, and behind Selena's fire hides a heart that refuses to break. As the lines between hatred and attraction blur, Selena is pulled into a world of luxury, lies, and slow-burning obsession. She thought she could play his game without losing herself. She never expected to crave the very man she vowed to hate. A contract brought them together. But what happens when real feelings break the rules?
Selena Hart's heels echoed like gunshots on the gleaming marble of Blackthorn Tower's top floor, each step fueled by the fire burning in her chest. The receptionist had tried to stop her. Two suited guards had stepped in her path. But no one truly knew how far a desperate woman could go until they had everything to lose.
Her grip tightened on the folder in her hand-legal documents, contracts, and a crumbling legacy. The Hart family name used to command respect. Now, it was currency slowly losing value.
And Damien Blackthorn-her father's rival, the man who bled their empire dry-was about to become her husband.
She didn't wait to be announced. The polished double doors to the CEO's office swung open beneath her push, revealing a world of luxury wrapped in ice.
The man behind the glass desk didn't so much as blink.
Damien Blackthorn stood as if carved from the very steel that shaped this skyscraper. Impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, his jacket was buttoned, his cuffs crisp, his power undeniable. The skyline stretched out behind him, but his storm-grey eyes were fixed on her like a sniper's scope.
"You're late," he said smoothly, his voice low and deadly calm.
"I wasn't aware I needed your permission to barge into hell," Selena said coldly.
His lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. "Still dramatic, I see."
"And you're still a vulture in a suit." She dropped the folder on his desk with a snap. "That's everything you wanted. Shares. Assets. Silence. My family's name on the dotted line."
Damien didn't touch it. "You came all this way to surrender?"
"I came to propose a deal."
He leaned back in his chair, temple resting against his fingers, interest flickering in his eyes. "I'm listening."
Selena took a breath, feeling her pulse hammering against her skin. Her voice was steady, though her world was collapsing.
"I know what you want. Public trust. The illusion of partnership. You've already taken the company. But if you want the Hart name without a PR nightmare-without a lawsuit or a scandal-you need me."
"You think I care about public perception?"
"I think you care about control. And right now, a hostile takeover would spark too many questions. But a merger? A marriage? That's cleaner. Safer. Smarter."
Damien's gaze was unreadable, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"You're offering yourself?" he asked, voice quieter now. "Like a pawn?"
"No," Selena said, lifting her chin. "I'm offering you a contract. One year. Marriage. No emotions. No expectations. You get the Hart name-and I get what's left of my family's reputation."
His silence was sharp enough to cut.
Selena forced herself to hold his stare. Her father's debts had buried them. Her mother had retreated into grief. Her sister was barely holding on. This was the only way out.
"I'll sign the agreement tonight," she said. "On one condition."
"And what's that?"
"No touching."
The air shifted.
Damien stood slowly, rounding the desk. His presence was suffocating-too tall, too close, too composed. When he stopped in front of her, Selena's breath caught. Not out of fear-but something darker, more dangerous.
"Marriage without touching?" he repeated. "You insult me."
"I'm protecting myself."
His eyes flicked over her like a brand. "You want my name. My money. My power. And yet, you put up a wall the second I get close?"
She held her ground. "This isn't about desire."
"You sure about that?"
The question hung in the air like a storm cloud.
Selena's mouth parted-to argue, to curse him-but her words faltered. Because no matter how much she hated him, her body remembered the last time they were this close. His hand on her waist at that gala three years ago. His whisper in her ear. The kiss that never happened, but still haunted her.
Damien stepped back before she could gather herself.
"I accept," he said.
She blinked. "You do?"
His lips curved. "We'll sign the contract tonight. You move into my penthouse tomorrow."
Her stomach tightened. "What about... people?"
"They'll believe the fairytale," he said, voice cool. "A powerful merger born of passion. That's what they want to see."
She hated how easy it was for him to lie.
"And when the year is over?"
"You'll walk away with your name intact," he said. "And I'll own every piece of what you tried to protect."
A chill licked her spine.
Selena turned toward the door. "Then we have a deal."
But just as her fingers brushed the handle, Damien's voice stopped her.
"Wear something white," he said.
She looked over her shoulder.
"For the photos," he added, smirking. "Let the world believe you came willingly."
She left without a word, but the weight of what she'd done settled like ice in her veins.
Tomorrow, she'd become his bride.
And there'd be no turning back.
He was the mafia's crown prince-cold, cruel, and broken beyond repair. She was the pawn in a deal she never agreed to. But when fate shackles them in marriage, sparks fly, secrets unravel, and enemies rise. Can love bloom in the ashes of war, or will their dark pasts destroy everything?
In "The Maze of Deception," Aria Flynn navigates a treacherous world of crime and magic in 18th-century Ashwood. With her quick wit and sharp instincts, she must outsmart city guards, rival thieves, and mysterious figures who seek to control her fate. As she uncovers hidden secrets and ancient artifacts, Aria's past and present collide, forcing her to confront the darkness that has haunted her family for generations. Will she find a way to escape the maze of deception, or will its twists and turns consume her?
Here's a blurb for the story: When Aurora's mom is murdered, she's determined to uncover the truth. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that lead her to the killer. But will she be able to bring them to justice before they silence her too? A thrilling mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.