When struggling artist Aria Lane accidentally ruins a priceless sculpture belonging to cold, ruthless billionaire Dominic Blackwell, she thinks her life is over-until he offers her a strange deal: become his live-in "fake" fiancée for one year to secure a merger, and in return, he'll pay off all her debts and fund her dream gallery. But the more she plays his perfect partner, the more she learns about the shadows behind his empire... and the secrets he keeps even from himself.
Aria Lane didn't belong in places like this.
Blackwell Tower soared above the city like a monument to power, every surface polished to a mirror shine, every step she took echoing against marble floors she was pretty sure cost more than her entire annual income.
She adjusted her rain-slicked coat, clutching a wrapped canvas in her arms like a shield. This was supposed to be a quick drop-off. One of her clients-an assistant to someone high up-had commissioned an abstract piece for an office wall. The building receptionist directed her to the thirty-second floor, and that was supposed to be it.
But now she was lost.
She wandered down a hallway that screamed "restricted," but no one had stopped her yet. Her boots clicked nervously with each step until she found a large room at the end of the corridor. It was sleek, modern, and painfully sterile. One massive piece of artwork stood at the center-an abstract sculpture made of glass, steel, and something polished black like obsidian. Aria paused, drawn to it.
It was breathtaking. Sharp, chaotic, and yet... controlled.
She stepped forward, forgetting where she was. Her artist's eye traced the curves, the lines, the tension within the form. She had no idea what it meant, but it made her feel something-and that was the whole point of art, wasn't it?
Then her bag shifted.
She turned.
And the bag's strap snagged a jagged edge of the sculpture.
CRASH.
The sculpture fell, shattering into pieces so loudly the sound echoed like gunfire.
Aria froze. Her lungs stopped working. Panic clawed at her chest.
"Oh my God," she whispered. "Oh no, no, no-"
Her fingers trembled as she reached out instinctively, as if she could put it back together. Her stomach twisted into knots. That wasn't just modern art-it was money. Real, horrifying amounts of money.
And then she heard him.
"Do you always destroy things you don't understand?"
His voice was deep. Calm. Controlled like a blade against skin.
She turned slowly. And there he was.
Dominic Blackwell.
In the flesh.
She knew the face. Everyone did. Billionaire. CEO of Blackwell International. Infamous for being both brilliant and cold. Headlines called him "The Ice King." Aria had once joked that if you stood too close to his photograph, you'd get frostbite.
Now he was standing a few feet away, dressed in a black suit with subtle silver trim, his dark hair perfectly tousled, and those storm-gray eyes locked on her like she was something under a microscope.
"I-I'm so sorry," Aria stammered. "It was an accident. I didn't mean-"
"You didn't mean to cause seventy-two thousand dollars in damage?" His tone was so smooth it was cruel.
Her jaw dropped. "That's how much it cost?"
"That's how much it's worth. But that's not what bothers me," he said, stepping forward. "What bothers me is your lack of spatial awareness... and how you managed to wander into my private office."
Her face flushed. "I didn't know-I was supposed to deliver a painting and got turned around. I thought-"
"You thought," he repeated, cold amusement in his voice. "That explains everything."
Aria took a deep breath. "I'll pay for it. I promise."
Dominic tilted his head. "With what? Your art degree?"
She flinched, then straightened. "I'll work. I'll do whatever it takes. I'm not some thief."
A long silence passed. His eyes stayed on her. Calculating. And then-surprisingly-he smiled.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
But like a man who'd just found something very interesting.
"I believe you," he said.
"You do?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes. Which is why I'm offering you a way out."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I have a business merger that hinges on my image. Investors like clean reputations. Family men. People with roots. I'm offering you a contract."
"What kind of contract?" Her voice was wary.
"You'll be my fiancée."
Aria blinked again. "Your what?"
"Fake, of course. Public appearances only. Press events. Family dinners. You'll play the role I need, and in return, I'll forget today happened. I'll even pay you."
Aria opened her mouth. Then closed it. What?
"This is insane," she whispered.
"Is it?" Dominic said smoothly. "You're an unknown artist with no formal gallery. You can't afford seventy thousand dollars. You don't have connections. But what if I told you I could give you all of that?"
Her heart raced. "Why me?"
"Because you're no one," he said coldly. "Which means I can make you into anyone."
Aria stared at him, furious, humiliated... and intrigued. Her gut screamed to run.
But her wallet whispered: this is your only shot.
And her pride? That burned most of all.
"What happens if I say no?" she asked quietly.
Dominic took a step closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.
"Then I make sure you're sued, blacklisted from every gallery in the city, and left with a bill you'll never pay off."
In a world where werewolves are bound to their fated mates by the call of the moon, Aria Thorn is a rogue with a secret: she's not bound to just one, but three alphas-each from rival packs. The mating bond isn't supposed to work like this, and her existence threatens to unravel centuries of werewolf law.
"When Emily discovers a mysterious family legacy, she's drawn into a world of ancient secrets and supernatural creatures. As she navigates this treacherous new world, she finds herself falling for Luca, a powerful werewolf sworn to protect her. But with darkness closing in and danger lurking around every corner, can their love survive the secrets of the past?"
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
She thought he was the villain. He was only trying to save his soul. Rena lives in a world of sunshine, sweets, and simple dreams. Until one reckless decision drops her into a dark realm of secrets, curses and werewolves. Kidnapped, heartbroken. She doesn't know who to trust anymore especially not Logan, the arrogant, cruel Alpha who's keeping her as a hostage. Until she discovers his dark secret. He's been hearing her thoughts all along. Now the walls between them are crumbling. And when feelings grow where hatred once lived, a curse demands that blood becomes a love that demands sacrifice. But how can she give her heart to the one who might need it to die?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"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."