Love, Rewritten – Prologue The ink had barely dried on our divorce papers when I left town, vowing never to look back. Lucas Montgomery had been my first love, my greatest mistake, and the one man I swore I'd never fall for again. We had built a life together, one that should have lasted forever. But forever had an expiration date, and ours came with broken promises, late-night fights, and the painful realization that love wasn't always enough. I spent years convincing myself I was over him. That I had moved on. That what we had was a closed chapter in a book I had no desire to reread. And I believed it-until the phone call came. "You might want to sit down for this," my sister, Emma, had said, amusement laced in her voice. "I'm getting married." I was happy for her. Truly. But then she dropped the second bombshell. "To Andrew." Andrew. Lucas's best friend. The same best friend who had been the best man at our wedding. Now, I had no choice but to return to the town I left behind. To stand in the same room as the man who once promised me forever-only to break every vow. I told myself I could handle it. That I could face him without falling apart. That time had erased what we once were. But when I saw Lucas again, standing across the room with those familiar stormy blue eyes and the same smirk that once made my heart race, I knew the truth. Some love stories never truly end. They just wait to be rewritten.
The invitation sat on my kitchen counter like a ticking time bomb.
I had been staring at it for the past fifteen minutes, coffee in one hand, dread curling in my stomach. My sister, Emma, had sent it weeks ago, but I had ignored it, hoping that if I pretended it didn't exist, I wouldn't have to face the inevitable.
Now, time was up.
"You better not be thinking about skipping out on my wedding," Emma's voice rang in my head from our last phone call. "I don't care how awkward it is. You're my sister, and I need you there."
Awkward was an understatement.
Because while I was genuinely happy for Emma, her fiancé wasn't just anyone. He was Andrew Sinclair. The best friend of my ex-husband.
Which meant there was no avoiding Lucas Montgomery.
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. It had been three years since I last saw him, three years since I signed the divorce papers and walked away from the life we had built together. I had spent every minute of those years convincing myself that I was over him. That I had moved on. That I didn't care.
So why did the thought of seeing him again make my hands tremble?
Shaking my head, I picked up the invitation, running my fingers over the elegant gold lettering. Emma Sinclair & Andrew Montgomery request the honor of your presence... The date was two weeks away, and the location was the last place I wanted to go-our hometown.
I had left that town for a reason.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I set my coffee down and walked over, expecting my neighbor or maybe a package delivery. But when I opened it, my stomach dropped.
Standing on my doorstep, looking just as devastatingly handsome as he had all those years ago, was Lucas Montgomery.
"Hello, Claire." His voice was smooth, deep, too familiar. His gaze flickered over me, something unreadable in his stormy blue eyes.
I gripped the doorframe to keep myself steady. "Lucas," I breathed. "What are you doing here?"
A smirk played on his lips, but there was something else beneath it. Something cautious. "Emma sent me."
Of course, she did.
"She was worried you might need a little... encouragement," he continued. "So she asked me to make sure you don't back out of the wedding."
A sharp laugh escaped me. "And you agreed?"
"I owed her a favor."
I narrowed my eyes at him, but before I could respond, he leaned against the doorframe, his expression shifting.
"But between you and me," he added, his voice lower, "I wanted to see you."
My breath caught.
Three years. Three years of silence, of pretending we were strangers.
And now, just like that, Lucas Montgomery was back in my life.
And I had no idea if I was ready for it.
I wasn't ready for this.
Not for the way Lucas looked at me, like I was still someone who mattered. Not for the way his presence stirred something deep inside me-something I had spent years trying to bury.
I tightened my grip on the door, keeping my expression neutral. "You wanted to see me?" I echoed, my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me.
Lucas studied me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he said, "Yeah. It's been a while."
Three years. A thousand days. A lifetime.
"I figured we could catch up," he added, shifting his weight. "Talk."
Talk. The last time we had spoken, our words had been like knives, cutting too deep to ever fully heal. I had told myself there was nothing left to say, no unfinished business. But now, standing here with him, I wasn't so sure.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I finally said, stepping back. "Thanks for stopping by, but I have a lot to do."
Lucas didn't move. His gaze flickered over me like he was memorizing every detail. "Are you really planning to skip Emma's wedding?"
I exhaled sharply. "I haven't decided yet."
"You mean you've already decided, and you're looking for an excuse to back out."
I clenched my jaw. He still knew exactly how to push my buttons.
Lucas tilted his head, his voice quieter when he spoke again. "Emma wants you there, Claire. Don't let whatever's between us stop you from showing up for your sister."
I swallowed hard. "This has nothing to do with you."
He raised an eyebrow, as if he didn't believe me.
Frustration flared in my chest. "I left that town for a reason, Lucas."
"And now you have a reason to go back," he countered.
I hated that he was right. Hated that a part of me was already considering it.
A breeze drifted through the open door, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of the past settled between us, thick and suffocating.
Finally, Lucas sighed. "I won't push. But think about it, okay?"
Before I could answer, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding, my carefully built walls cracking.
I watched him go, knowing deep down that this wasn't the end of the conversation.
It was only the beginning.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to pretend Lucas hadn't just shown up at my door.
It didn't work.
No matter how hard I tried to distract myself-cleaning, answering work emails, even attempting to lose myself in a book-I couldn't shake the memory of his voice, the way his eyes lingered on me like he was searching for something he'd lost.
I hated that a part of me still reacted to him.
I had spent the last three years rebuilding myself, learning how to exist in a world where Lucas Montgomery was just a name from my past. And now, with a single visit, he had undone everything.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. Maybe Emma was right-I needed to stop running. But going back to that town meant facing not just Lucas, but all the ghosts I had left behind.
And I wasn't sure I was ready.
A sharp knock at my door made me jolt. My heart leaped before my mind could catch up, and I cursed myself for even thinking it might be Lucas again.
I pulled the door open, only to find my best friend, Sophie, standing there with two cups of coffee and an all-too-knowing expression.
"I come bearing caffeine and emotional support," she said, holding out one of the cups. "Now let me in before your neighbors start thinking I've been abandoned."
I stepped aside, letting her waltz into my apartment like she owned the place. Sophie had been my rock through everything-the divorce, the move, the nights when I swore I'd never feel whole again.
She flopped onto my couch, kicking off her shoes. "Okay, spill. You sounded weird on the phone earlier."
I sighed and sat beside her, taking a sip of the coffee she handed me. "Lucas showed up."
Her eyes widened. "Here? In your apartment? In the flesh?"
I nodded.
Sophie let out a low whistle. "Damn. And here I was thinking the universe was going to give you a break."
I huffed a laugh, but there was no real humor in it. "He said Emma sent him to make sure I don't skip the wedding."
Sophie narrowed her eyes. "And you believe that?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
She took a slow sip of her coffee, watching me. "I mean, maybe Emma asked him to check on you. But Lucas Montgomery doesn't do favors just because someone asks. If he showed up, it's because he wanted to."
The thought unsettled me more than I cared to admit.
Sophie studied my face, then sighed. "So, what are you going to do?"
I hesitated, staring down at my cup. "I don't know."
She nudged me with her elbow. "Yes, you do. You're just too scared to admit it."
I swallowed hard. Because deep down, I did know.
I was going back home.
And whether I was ready or not, I was going to see Lucas again.
---
Prologue Isla knew this was a mistake. She had spent years resisting Damian Sinclair, keeping her distance, pretending the attraction between them wasn't suffocating. But now, standing in his penthouse with the city lights glowing behind them, she knew there was no turning back. His gaze burned into her, dark and unreadable. He leaned against the bar, his tailored suit still pristine despite the chaos she felt inside. "You shouldn't be here," he murmured, his voice a slow, deliberate temptation. "I know," she whispered. Yet she didn't move. Neither did he. Instead, he pushed off the bar and stalked toward her, each step unraveling what little control she had left. He stopped just inches away, his heat wrapping around her, his scent-dark spice and something purely him-making her dizzy. "Tell me to stop." His fingers brushed against her wrist, tracing a path of fire. "Tell me this is wrong." Isla opened her mouth, but no words came. Because they both knew the truth. It was wrong. It was reckless. And it was inevitable. Damian tilted her chin up, his breath ghosting over her lips, waiting for her to push him away. But she didn't. Because tonight, she wasn't going to fight it.
Premise: Emma Hayes is a hardworking waitress struggling to make ends meet in the bustling city of New York. Juggling two jobs to support her younger sister, she has no time for romance-until a mysterious, brooding stranger becomes a regular at the upscale restaurant where she works. He watches her with an intensity that makes her pulse race, tipping generously but never speaking more than a few words. What she doesn't know is that the stranger is none other than Damian Wolfe, a reclusive billionaire known for his ruthlessness in business and his ability to stay out of the public eye. Haunted by a past betrayal, he's learned to trust no one-until Emma. There's something about her that draws him in, an obsession he can't shake. But she's innocent, untouched by the corruption of his world, and he knows he should stay away. When an anonymous benefactor suddenly pays off Emma's debts and secures her sister's tuition at an elite school, she's stunned-and suspicious. Then, an irresistible job offer lands in her lap: a personal assistant role at Wolfe Industries, one that pays far more than she's ever dreamed. Against her better judgment, she accepts... only to find herself working directly under Damian. As their undeniable chemistry ignites, Emma struggles to understand why someone like Damian would be so interested in her. But just as she starts to trust him, she discovers the shocking truth-she was never meant to work for him by accident. She was chosen. And when she uncovers the real reason behind Damian's obsession, she realizes she may not be able to escape him... or her own heart. Plot Twists & Cliffhangers: Emma discovers that Damian knew about her long before she ever met him-he's been keeping tabs on her for years. A hidden connection ties their pasts together, one that could either destroy their growing love or bind them forever. Someone from Damian's past is determined to keep them apart-and they'll do anything to ensure Emma walks away. Just when Emma starts to trust Damian, a betrayal shakes her world, leaving her questioning whether she ever truly knew him at all.retract
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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...
Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone-including her own mate-she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed-a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous-he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.