Esme Baldwin has spent her life as a pawn in her grandmother's ruthless games, only to be thrown into a cold, loveless marriage with billionaire heir Kaiden Walton. He belongs to another, and she is nothing more than a business arrangement until one mistake on their wedding night ties them together in ways neither expected.
The crystal paperweight shattered against the wall, missing Esme's head by inches. She didn't flinch. After eighteen years under Eleanor Baldwin's roof, she had learned that showing fear only encouraged her grandmother's cruelty.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," Eleanor hissed, her aristocratic features twisted with contempt. At seventy-five, she still stood ramrod straight, silver hair perfectly coiffed, her Chanel suit impeccable despite the violence of her outburst. "Do you think I spent a fortune on your education so you could slouch like some common street urchin?"
Esme lifted her gaze, careful to keep her expression neutral. "I'm sorry, Grandmother."
"Sorry." Eleanor's laugh was brittle. "That's all you've ever been. A sorry excuse for a Baldwin."
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Eleanor's study, illuminating the oil portraits of Baldwin ancestors that lined the walls. Judges, senators, industry titans, generations of power and prestige that, according to Eleanor, Esme was single-handedly destroying with her existence.
Eleanor circled her desk, each tap of her heels against the marble floor a countdown to another explosion. "The Baldwin name meant something before you came along. Now look at us."
She slammed a manila folder on the desk and shoved it toward Esme. "Your parents built this company with their blood and sweat. The least you could do is not destroy their legacy the way you destroyed their lives."
The familiar accusation sliced through Esme with practiced precision. Eighteen years, and the pain still felt fresh each time.
"I was eight years old," Esme whispered, her voice barely audible.
"And they were rushing home from their anniversary dinner for your birthday," Eleanor snapped. "If you hadn't insisted on that ridiculous party, if you hadn't been so demanding, they would still be here."
Esme swallowed the defense that rose to her lips. There was no point. In Eleanor's revisionist history, Charles and Margaret Baldwin had died not because of a drunk driver who crossed the center line, but because their spoiled daughter couldn't wait until the following day to celebrate her birthday.
"Open it," Eleanor commanded, nodding toward the folder.
With trembling fingers, Esme flipped open the cover. Inside was a contract, elaborate legal language filling page after page, with a small Post-it marking where she should sign. Clipped to the front was a photograph of a man with sharp, aristocratic features, cold blue eyes, and a mouth that looked like it rarely smiled.
Her heart stopped. Kaiden Walton.
"You're getting married," Eleanor announced, satisfaction lacing her tone. "To him. In six weeks."
Esme looked up, certain she had misheard. "Married? To Kaiden Walton?"
"Don't act so surprised. It's not as though you have suitors lining up at the door." Eleanor straightened her pearl necklace. "The Waltons need our social connections and the legitimacy of the Baldwin name. We need their money. It's a perfect arrangement."
"But..."
"But nothing," Eleanor cut her off. "Baldwin Industries is on the verge of collapse thanks to your father's poor investments before he died. The Walton Group's merger offer is the only thing standing between us and bankruptcy."
She leaned forward, her perfectly manicured nails digging into the expensive wood of her desk. "Listen carefully, Esme. For once in your pathetic life, don't ruin this. Be charming. Be obedient. Be whatever he wants. If this merger falls through because of you, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your days."
The threat hung in the air between them. Esme knew it wasn't empty. Eleanor controlled every aspect of her life, her trust fund, her residence, and her very identity. She had nowhere else to go, no one to turn to.
"Do you understand me?" Eleanor's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Yes, Grandmother."
"Good." Eleanor straightened, instantly transforming from tyrant to sophisticated socialite as she moved toward the door. "The wedding planner will be here tomorrow. I've already selected your dress. Try not to look so... plain when you meet with her."
When the door clicked shut behind Eleanor, Esme finally allowed herself to breathe. Her hands trembled as she pulled the photograph closer, tracing the strong jawline, the intense eyes that seemed to pierce straight through her.
Kaiden Walton. Thirty-two years old. Billionaire heir to the Walton Group. Notorious workaholic. Rumored to be ruthless in the boardroom and the bedroom.
And the man she'd been secretly in love with for the past three years.
Esme had met him only once, at a charity gala where she'd been volunteering instead of attending as a Baldwin. He'd bumped into her while she was carrying a tray of champagne, steadying her before any could spill. For five brief seconds, his eyes had met hers, and he'd smiled, a real smile, not the practiced one he wore in photographs. Then someone had called his name, and he was gone.
She'd followed his career since then, clipping articles about his business successes, watching interviews where he discussed his philanthropic work. It was silly, childish, a fantasy that helped her survive Eleanor's cruelty.
And now she was marrying him.
"Maybe this is my parents' blessing," she whispered to the photograph, allowing herself a small smile. "Maybe they're finally giving me a chance at happiness."
When twenty-two-year-old Song Min-ah returns to Seoul early to surprise her fiancé, she's the one who gets the devastating surprise. Finding him in bed with another woman shatters her perfect plans. Heartbroken and stranded in the rainy city, she turns to the one person she trusts: her brother's enigmatic best friend, tech billionaire Kang Ji-hoon. Eight years her senior and secretly harboring feelings for her despite his own impending marriage, Ji-hoon becomes both her sanctuary and her confusion. As the lines between comfort and attraction blur, will they find themselves caught in the storm of family expectations and recent heartbreak, or will they defy the odds and risk everything for a chance at something real?
When Olivia Montgomery sacrifices her love for Ethan Chen to save his dying mother's life, she marries into wealth while keeping her true motives hidden. Five years later, Ethan has transformed from a struggling engineer to a ruthless billionaire, systematically destroying everyone who humiliated him. Fate reunites them when Olivia, now divorced, disowned, and desperate, unknowingly applies to be his executive assistant. As buried truths surface and old feelings reignite, they face threats from Olivia's obsessive ex-husband and Ethan's jealous girlfriend. Can love overcome betrayal, or will revenge consume the only thing worth fighting for?
"What does she have that I don't possess?" Arla questioned sarcastically. "As far as I know, I'm better in bed than her. Do you want to find out?" "Don't test my patience," Liam warned, his voice firm and unyielding. Unfazed, Arla continued her seductive advances, pulling off the first layer of her nightwear as she walked towards him. "Don't you want me?" she asked, her voice dripping with temptation. "Say you want me." Liam, unable to resist her allure, pulled her onto the bed and laid on top of her. "Touch me," she purred "I'm all yours." Arla, the notoriously rebellious youngest daughter of the famous billionaire Williams, was born into a complex family dynamic. With four daughters from different mothers, the Williams household was no stranger to drama and tension. After causing yet another scandal, Arla's father had had enough and decided to marry her off to Liam, a ruthless mafia leader. Unbeknownst to Arla, Liam's world was filled with numerous mistresses, each vying for his attention and favor. However, Liam's heart truly belonged to only one woman: Vivian, his childhood love. Amidst the chaos and passion that swirled within the mansion, Arla found herself under the watchful eye of Liam's cunning and ruthless stepmother, who controlled and manipulated the mistresses with an iron fist. Unwilling to be tamed, Arla's arrival in the mansion would shake the foundations of Liam's dynasty. As she navigated the tangled web of secrets, deceit, and desire, Arla refused to bow to the will of those who sought to control her. With her fierce spirit and unyielding determination, she would leave an indelible mark on the hearts and lives of those who dared cross her path.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
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.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."