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Elena Carter has spent her life fighting to stay afloat. But when her late father's crushing debt threatens to ruin her completely, she faces an impossible choice accept help from the one man who could destroy her carefully built independence. Enter Damien Blackwood, a billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is dazzling. His solution? A marriage of convenience that will erase her debt and secure his business interests. Elena swears she'll never be just another possession in Damien's world, but resisting his charm proves more dangerous than she expected. Damien thought he could keep things strictly business, but the fierce, independent Elena stirs something he buried long ago. As their forced proximity ignites passion and unravels secrets, the walls he's built around his heart begin to crumble. But in the shadows, Veronica Steele Damien's scheming ex-fiancée has her own plans to ensure this union ends in disaster. When betrayal and deceit threaten to tear them apart, Damien and Elena must decide: can they trust each other enough to turn their fake marriage into something real?
The sound of rain against the glass windows of the auction house was oddly soothing, a rhythmic backdrop to the rising tension in the room. Elena Carter sat in the back row, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the crowd of polished men and women in designer suits. The air was thick with the scent of money, power, and desperation-an intoxicating combination she despised.
She adjusted the strap of her worn leather bag and looked down at her trembling hands. There was no point trying to calm herself; the letter crumpled in her lap was proof that her life had spiraled completely out of control.
$500,000. That was the amount her father owed. The debt collectors had been kind enough to provide the figure in bold red ink at the top of the page, as though she needed the emphasis.
"Elena," her friend Mia whispered, nudging her. "He's here."
Her head snapped up. Across the room, near the front, stood Damien Blackwood.
He looked exactly like he did in the newspapers-impeccably dressed in a charcoal-gray suit that probably cost more than her yearly rent, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his sharp, angular jaw clenched in concentration. He stood out not just because of his striking looks but because he exuded an aura of authority that made everyone else in the room seem smaller.
"Why is he here?" Elena whispered back, her voice barely audible.
Mia shrugged, her eyes wide. "Rumor is he's buying up distressed businesses. Maybe he's here for a bargain."
Elena's stomach twisted. Of course, he was. Men like Damien Blackwood didn't step into places like this unless there was something to gain.
The auctioneer cleared his throat, the microphone amplifying the sound. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Today's proceedings are unique, as we're not only auctioning off assets but opportunities. Let's begin with Lot 1."
Elena's throat tightened as the auction started. One by one, the remnants of her father's business empire were paraded in front of the room-equipment, contracts, even the building itself. Each item was stripped of its value, reduced to cold, hard numbers as the bidders competed.
But it wasn't until the final lot that the room truly came alive.
"And now, Lot 15," the auctioneer announced. "The remaining shares of Carter & Co., including exclusive intellectual property rights and assets. Starting bid, $200,000."
Elena froze. This was it. Everything her father had spent his life building, everything she'd tried to save-it was all on the line now.
"Two hundred thousand," someone called out.
"Two-fifty," another bidder countered.
The numbers climbed quickly, the voices blending into a blur of chaos.
"Five hundred," a deep, commanding voice cut through the noise.
Elena's head snapped toward the front of the room. Damien.
All eyes turned to him as he leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered by the attention.
"Five hundred thousand from Mr. Blackwood," the auctioneer said, his voice almost reverent. "Do I hear five-fifty?"
Silence.
Elena's nails dug into her palms. She should have felt relief that someone was willing to pay off the debt, but all she felt was dread. What did Damien Blackwood want with her father's failing business?
"Sold!" The auctioneer's gavel struck the podium.
Damien stood, buttoning his jacket with a slow, deliberate motion. His gaze swept the room before settling on her.
"Elena Carter," he said, his voice low but firm. "A word."
The room went silent.
Mia gripped Elena's arm. "You don't have to-"
"It's fine," Elena said, forcing herself to stand. Her legs felt like jelly, but she squared her shoulders and followed Damien out of the room.
He led her into an empty corridor, his movements smooth and confident. When they were alone, he turned to face her, his dark eyes scanning her face.
"You look just like him," he said finally.
"Like who?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended.
"Your father."
The words hit her like a slap. She clenched her fists. "If you're here to gloat-"
"I'm here to make you an offer."
Elena laughed bitterly. "An offer? You've already taken everything."
Damien didn't flinch. "Not everything. You're still here, and I need you."
She blinked, stunned into silence. "Excuse me?"
"I bought the company to settle your father's debt," he said. "But I need you to stay involved. You know the business better than anyone else, and frankly, I don't have the time to babysit it."
"Stay involved?" she echoed. "What does that even mean?"
"I want you to work for me," Damien said simply.
Elena crossed her arms. "And if I refuse?"
His jaw tightened. "You won't. Because if you do, I'll liquidate everything-including the parts of the business that employ the people your father cared about. Your refusal would leave them all jobless."
Her stomach churned. "That's blackmail."
"It's business," Damien corrected, his tone icy. "Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement."
She glared at him, anger and helplessness warring within her. "You really think I'd agree to this?"
"I think you care too much not to," he said, stepping closer. His voice softened, but his gaze remained intense. "You have one week to decide. After that, I move forward without you."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Elena standing alone in the empty corridor, her world once again on the brink of collapse.
When Sophia Reyes' younger brother crosses the most dangerous mafia family in Naples, she has no choice but to face Enzo Carbone, the ruthless heir to the Carbone empire. In exchange for her brother's life, Sophia strikes a dangerous deal: she'll pose as Enzo's fiancée to help him protect his family's fragile grip on power. Enzo is used to getting what he wants through charm or force but Sophia is unlike anyone he's ever met. Her fiery defiance and unshakable determination threaten to unravel his carefully constructed world. She's a pawn in his game, but the more he draws her into his darkness, the harder it becomes to let her go. As their arrangement spirals into something deeper, an old enemy resurfaces. Marcella Vargas, the cunning leader of a rival cartel, will stop at nothing to see Enzo and his empire burn and she knows exactly how to use Sophia to bring him to his knees. Caught between loyalty and love, deception and truth, Enzo and Sophia must decide how far they're willing to go to protect the people they care about. But in a world ruled by violence and betrayal, can love truly survive or will their bargain cost them everything? Some deals are made in blood. Others are sealed with a kiss.
Sienna Blake has built her career on exposing corruption, but when her latest investigation uncovers dark secrets about Viktor Ivanov, the ruthless Russian mafia kingpin, her life is irrevocably changed. Kidnapped and held captive, she finds herself in the heart of a dangerous world where trust is a luxury and betrayal is a guarantee. Viktor Ivanov didn't rise to power by letting his guard down. Yet, the fiery journalist tests his resolve at every turn, challenging his control and stirring feelings he buried long ago. Torn between protecting his empire and the unexpected pull of Sienna's defiance, Viktor faces a choice: silence her forever or risk everything to keep her alive. But as old enemies resurface and devastating truths come to light, Sienna and Viktor are thrust into a deadly game of power, revenge, and desire. In a world where loyalty can kill and love is a dangerous gamble, can they survive long enough to rewrite their own story?
Caroline Forbes never imagined her life would lead her here sold by her own father to a man the kingdom whispers about in fear. Damon Morningstar, the ruthless and enigmatic werewolf king, has buried three wives already, each one dying under mysterious circumstances. Now, Caroline is forced to become his fourth bride, trapped in a castle where secrets linger in every shadow. Rumors say he's cursed; that any woman he claims as his queen is doomed. Caroline knows that escape is her only chance at survival, yet she can't deny the magnetic pull she feels whenever Damon is near. To her horror, she discovers the truth Damon is her fated mate, her one bond that could either destroy her or break the curse haunting him. But Damon is possessive, and he's willing to risk everything to keep her in his grasp. As desire and danger intertwine, Caroline must decide whether to flee for her life or surrender to the call of a man who might just be her undoing. Will she escape his dark hold, or will she become the queen who saves him and herself?
When Elena Cross is snatched from her life and forced into the dark world of the Blackstone Pack, she learns the ruthless truth about Alpha Kael Thorn a man as dangerous as he is powerful, and as captivating as he is cruel. Bound to him by a primal mate bond she never asked for, Elena finds herself trapped in a twisted battle of wills, where her humanity is both her shield and her curse. Kael despises everything about her. To him, she's a weakness, a threat to his pack, and a constant reminder of a past betrayal. Yet no matter how he tries to deny it, the bond keeps pulling him back to her, fueling an obsession he cannot escape. She's his mate, his property yet she defies him at every turn. In a world where freedom seems impossible, Elena is determined to resist him and break free. But as the tension between them blurs the line between hate and desire, she realizes that Kael's hold on her is far more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can Elena find the strength to escape, or will she be bound forever to a man who might be her worst nightmare... and her only salvation?
Isabella Cruz never asked for a fairy tale romance especially not with Rafael DeLuca, Manila's most ruthless CEO and heir to a powerful mafia empire. Thrown into an engagement she didn't choose, Bella tries to keep her heart safe from the cold, arrogant man who believes she's nothing but a gold-digger. But when she finds herself falling for him, her world shatters as Rafael's true intentions are revealed: he never wanted her, and he certainly never loved her. After signing their divorce papers with a broken heart and a secret child on the way Bella disappears from Rafael's life, determined to start anew. But when she reappears months later as the dazzling heiress of a wealthy business tycoon, Rafael's world is turned upside down. She's no longer the timid woman he underestimated she's now the queen of the city's elite, and everyone wants her. As Rafael grapples with the loss of the only woman who truly saw him, he realizes he might have thrown away the only love that ever mattered. But will he be able to win her back in a world that won't easily forgive his mistakes, or has Bella finally slipped beyond his reach?
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
"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!
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
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."