ANTONIO BOOK 1 THE PARKERS
My Accidental Billionaire husband
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, mine didn't. I came back with a marriage certificate bearing a stranger's name, a ring worth more than my parents' love ever was, and a son whose father I've never seen, never known, never remembered. I went to Vegas for a racing competition. I won. I celebrated. And somewhere between the victory and the sunrise, my life changed forever. For six years, I've lived with the consequences of one reckless night. I built an empire. I raised my son. And I searched for the man who changed my life without even knowing it. Then fate laughed in my face. My sister married my ex-fiancé-the man I was promised to since childhood. The man I was supposed to become Mrs. Windsor for. The man who now wears my family name... and looks far too much like my child. Every time I'm near him, the past presses closer. Every glance feels like a question I'm terrified to ask. I shouldn't notice him. I shouldn't feel anything. He is my sister's husband. But some secrets refuse to stay buried. Because the truth about Vegas isn't just in the ring on my finger or the child in my arms. It's standing right in front of me. And when it finally comes out, it won't just destroy a marriage, it will burn an empire to the ground.
Chapter 1 The Arrangement
Katia
I woke up to the sound of people singing badly.
"Happy birthday to you..." I blinked hard against the sunlight filtering through the curtains, my brain slow to reboot. The voices were getting louder, and for a second, I thought I was dreaming. A really weird, off-key dream.
"Happy birthday, dear Katia..."
My bedroom door flung open. I sat up so fast the blanket tangled around my legs like a trap. My vision adjusted just in time to see a small parade entering my room, Delia leading the way with a cupcake on a tray; Dad trailing behind her, holding a phone like he was filming a hostage video; and then, my mother, smiling. I nearly choked because my mom has never smiled at me.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart," she said; her voice was smooth and artificial, like she'd sprayed it with perfume before letting it out of her mouth.
I stared at her like she'd grown a second head. Because here's the thing: Martha didn't do birthdays. Not mine, anyway. Delia got birthdays. Princess themes, balloons, new dresses, and a chorus of relatives pretending they liked each other. I got awkward silences and last-minute gas station cards. I once got a vacuum cleaner. I was twelve.
So this? This felt like a setup.
"Um... thanks?" I said, my voice rough from sleep and suspicion.
Delia plopped the tray down in my lap like she was presenting a peace offering. "I made the cupcake myself," she said sweetly, which meant the maid probably did it while Delia supervised with a glass of wine.
I looked down at it. Vanilla with white frosting and one lonely candle jammed in the center like a warning flare.
"Blow it out," my dad said cheerfully, but his eyes were doing that thing they always did when he was nervous, darting around like they were looking for an exit.
I narrowed my eyes. "Okay, seriously. What's going on?"
My mom gave a soft laugh, as if I was being silly for having the correct instincts. She sat down on the edge of the bed, smoothing the comforter as if she'd ever touched it before.
"You're twenty now," she said gently. "That's a very important age."
"Cool," I said, unimpressed. "Should I be bracing for a tax seminar or something?"
Delia giggled. Dad coughed.
Mom kept going, undeterred. "You're a woman now, Katia. And your father and I have something very exciting and important to tell you."
There it was. The sting in the frosting. The trap under the ribbon.
I sat up straighter. "Okay..."
She looked at me like she was about to hand me a tiara. "You've been chosen to marry Julian Windsor."
The room didn't go quiet; it went hollow.
For a second, I couldn't even process the words. I stared at her, waiting for a punchline, a camera crew, or something.
"Who?" I asked, even though I'd heard her perfectly.
"Julian Windsor," she repeated, like I was the dumb one. "The Windsor heir. Their family has been interested in an alliance for years. You were betrothed when you were sixteen."
I blinked. "What?!"
Dad gave me a sheepish look. "We didn't want to overwhelm you at the time."
"At the time? You mean when I was sixteen?!"
Mom's smile never wavered. "It was a strategic match. His family is very private. Very powerful. This is a good thing, Katia. You're incredibly lucky."
Lucky?
Like this was some kind of prize.
Like I should've been jumping up and down because I was the golden ticket in a billionaire breeding lottery.
"I've never even met him," I said, still struggling to wrap my head around the casual horror of what she'd just dropped on me like it was a brunch topic.
"Neither has Delia," she replied smoothly. "But if things had gone differently, she would've married him instead. You should be grateful it's you."
"Wow," I muttered. "How generous of you, Mother."
Delia leaned against the bedpost, swirling her hair around her finger. "He's supposed to be really handsome. And rich. Like... rich rich. The Windsors own, like, everything. Casinos. Oil. Maybe a spaceship? I don't know. They're super secretive."
"Oh great," I snapped. "So I'm marrying a ghost with a trust fund, and you know this how?"
My mom's eyes hardened, just for a second. "Don't be dramatic. He's real. And they chose you. That should mean something."
"No," I said. "What means something is that you waited four years to tell me I was promised to a complete stranger like this is a medieval auction."
My dad cleared his throat. "We thought we'd wait until the Windsors reached out. And... they have."
I stared at him. "You mean this is happening now?"
"They've arranged to meet in a few weeks," my mother said. "There will be dinner. Formalities. You'll get to know each other before the engagement becomes public."
Public? Right. Because this wasn't a relationship. It was a press release waiting to happen.
"I can't believe this," I said, my voice flat. "You didn't even ask me."
"You don't ask about opportunities like this," she said firmly. "You accept them."
That was her tone now. The mask was slipping. She wasn't the smiling mother with a cupcake anymore. She was the CEO of this family, and I was a failed acquisition being forced into a merger.
I got out of bed, shoving the tray off my lap. The cupcake toppled sideways, the candle smearing frosting across the blanket like a smear of white lies.
"I need air," I said.
Mom stood up. "Katia, don't be ridiculous-"
"No. I need to think. I'm going to Vegas."
That caught her off guard. "Vegas?"
"Just a weekend," I lied. "To clear my head. You want me to marry a stranger? Fine. But let me have one moment of freedom first."
She looked like she wanted to argue, but Dad touched her arm. "Let her go. She'll come around."
I watched the silent war play out in her expression. In the end, control won. Because she thought she already had it.
"Fine," she said, that awful smile returning. "Go. Take some time. But don't forget what's waiting when you come back."
I didn't answer.
I was already packing the second the door closed.
They thought they were giving me space. What they didn't know was that I wasn't going to Vegas for air. I was going for speed.
The Possessive Alpha: Book 1
Elle Davidson, orphaned at 12 with limited memory, is taken in by the Alpha and Luna of the New Moon pack. There she meets Damon Ledger, the future Alpha and her nemesis. Damon does everything he can to control Elle's life, and his friends do everything they can to make her life hell. All of that ch
Wildwood: The Society Book 1
After several mysterious deaths, what remained of the Chambers family was divided, each sent to a different city. After seventeen years of living on her own, Ivy Chambers is summoned to the Shadow Council. The Shadow Council rules life within The Society. Every one of the hidden clans, whether Vamp
THE MISTAKEN ALPHA [BOOK 1]
The Kingdom of Pelugia and the Republic of Kadar have been at war for decades, but the planet can't survive without peace. To achieve this, Senator Royce Cleghorn is forced to marry an enemy prince, Haydn, in a political arrangement. Royce despises Haydn's alpha scent, his pretty blue eyes, and the
Martyr Wife Book 1
Daisy Sellion, the woman who endured for her family. Got sick, and became submissive to her husband, Anton. Even though he betrays her and deceives her face to face, she still manages to live with him. That was because of her child and their future child who was still in the womb. But how long can
Heiress Book 1: Revenge
Alysia inherited all the properties left by Domenick. Something that angered her Father's second family. But they did nothing because Alysia was the only and true heir in the Zaragosa family. One day Alysia suddenly became seriously ill due to loss of voice. She lost power over the Mansion and gener
Agent 13 (Book 1)
"With all due respect sir, adding a new member to this team will only slow us down." "On the contrary, if anything your team will slow her down." *** She's the ghost story you tell around a camp fire. The monster that hides in your closet. The nightmare that wakes you from your sleep. She's
Autumn Book 1
Autumn is no ordinary fifteen year old girl she has secrets so deep she is afraid to share them with anyone can Mathew Harding a university graduate in physiology over come her fears and talk about hers secrets to come out of the dark. The hard headed red haired goth girl stirs the male popularity
KILLER book 1
*MATURE SCENE ALERT* 18+ His lips claimed every inch of my body, leaving red beauty marks on my skin that was his perfect way to claim me, to make sure that everyone knows I was his, only his own. He traced the scars on my body and then looked at me like he needed some kind of permission. "Hold me
Agent 1 (Book 3)
"What makes you think we can trust this Agent 1 guy?" "I-uh, I knew him before he was an agent...he's trustworthy...to an extent." "And I already told you I corrupted him. It's all good." "We're all going to die." *** Devin's hurt. Jason's missing. Lily's alive. The team fina
Taming The Mafia Boss - Book 1
Marco Falcone is the new boss of the Camorra mafia, raised his entire life to take this position, with his training beginning early. He endured the worst atrocities and committed many monstrosities, earning the reputation as the Demon of the Camorra. When a union agreement with the Cosa Nostra is re
Traps of Fate / Book 1
Emma Collins is a young secretary, who, after being fired from her old job due to the harassment of one of her co-workers, finds herself in search of a new job to be able to maintain herself. Thomas Mitchell, a young CEO, with a rigid posture and frown. He is known for leading one of the largest
Married by Contract - book 1
Margareth Miller, or Meg to those close to her, had a perfect life with her family. But her life was turned upside down by a terrible accident. Since then, her life has been a real hell. Christian Winchester had a difficult childhood, but his life became perfect. It's full of parties, drinks,
The Run [Blue Moon Saga Book 1]
Two young werewolves find themselves at The Run, an event held twice a year where males do whatever it takes to claim a female as their one and only mate. Grace Harvest is there to make it through The Run unmated and win a bet against her Alpha. Caden Wolfrain is there to find a mate and keep his
Our Sanctuary: The Valley book 1
Our sanctuary a book to read but may not be able to because of problems put in complete, nothing happening
The Carrero Effect (Carrero series book 1)
Emma Anderson has everything in her life worked out. She has her perfect job in a Manhattan empire allowing her to live a quiet and organised safe existence. A necessity to her, after a childhood filled with bad memories, abuse, and a mother who was less than useless. But, with it comes a problem, o
THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSESSION (OBSESS BILLIONAIRE BOOK 1)
In the relentless storm of misfortune, Jessa's world crumbled as her businesses fell like a house of cards, leaving her drowning in a sea of debts. The remnants of her once comfortable life vanished one by one, leaving only an overwhelming sense of financial ruin. Among the mounting troubles, the mo
Hated By The Alpha - book 1
Witches and Werewolves lived under a curse, forbidden from using their powers or embracing their true nature. To break the curse, the Alpha had to unite through a child with a Witch descended from the first ones. He refused to touch any virgin, let alone a witch. She had no knowledge of her lineage
A Far Country, Book 1
Not to be confused with the famous British prime minister, Winston Churchill was a 20th century American author known for best-selling historical fiction and adventure novels. One of his novels, The Crisis, is set in the American Civil War and was the most popular book of 1901.
