When seventeen-year-old Maya's mother remarries, she's thrust into a new life with her wealthy stepfather-and his devastatingly attractive son, Adrian, who happens to be the most sought-after guy at her new elite private school.
When seventeen-year-old Maya's mother remarries, she's thrust into a new life with her wealthy stepfather-and his devastatingly attractive son, Adrian, who happens to be the most sought-after guy at her new elite private school.
The moving truck had left three hours ago, and I was still staring at the boxes stacked in what was supposed to be my new bedroom. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the California sun painted everything in shades of gold that felt nothing like home. Nothing like the cramped apartment in Chicago where Mom and I had spent the last ten years scraping by. Now we were living in a mansion in Beverly Hills. Because Mom had married Richard Cross a man so wealthy he probably used hundred-dollar bills as napkins-and apparently, fairy tales do come true. Just not the kind I'd ever imagined.
"Maya, sweetheart, dinner's ready!" Mom's voice floated up the marble staircase, sounding happier than I'd heard her in years. I pushed off from the window seat and caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. Same boring brown hair, same unremarkable hazel eyes, same girl who'd spent four years perfecting the art of being invisible at Lincoln High. The girl who was about to start senior year at some elite private school where everyone probably had trust funds and summer homes. The dining room could have hosted a small wedding. Richard sat at the head of an obscenely long table, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly styled even after a full day at his law firm. Mom beamed beside him, wearing a dress that probably cost more than our old monthly rent. "How's the unpacking going?" Richard asked as I slid into my chair. "Good," I lied, stabbing at my salmon. Everything in this house was intimidating, from the crystal chandelier hanging overhead to the actual Monet on the wall. "Thanks again for... all of this." "You don't need to thank me, Maya. You're family now." Family. The word sat strangely in the air. We'd been family for exactly six weeks-since the small courthouse wedding Mom had insisted on to avoid making a "spectacle." "Where's Adrian tonight?" Mom asked, glancing at the empty chair across from me. "Basketball practice ran late. He'll grab something when he gets home." Richard's expression softened when he mentioned his son. "You'll meet him tomorrow. I think you two will get along well." I nodded and smiled, but my stomach knotted. I'd successfully avoided meeting my new stepbrother for six weeks. Mom had mentioned he was my age, popular, and "very handsome"-which translated to exactly the type of guy who wouldn't give me a second glance at school. The type who made girls like me invisible. Better that way. My plan for senior year was simple: keep my head down, get good grades, and count down the days until college. No drama, no complications, no drawing attention to the fact that I was now living in the most expensive zip code in Los Angeles despite clearly not belonging here. After dinner, I escaped to my room and tried to focus on unpacking, but the silence of the enormous house was deafening. In our old apartment, I could hear Mrs. Peterson's TV through the thin walls and the constant hum of traffic. Here, the only sound was the distant splash of water from the infinity pool outside. Around eleven, I gave up on organizing and headed downstairs for some of those fancy cookies I'd seen in the kitchen. The house was dark except for the soft glow of under-cabinet lighting. I was reaching for the cookie jar when I heard the front door open, followed by footsteps and the soft thud of something dropping. "Shit," a low voice muttered. I froze. Adrian was home. The footsteps moved through the foyer and toward the kitchen. I could slip out through the back door to the pool area, circle around, and sneak back upstairs. Or I could act like a normal human being and just say hello. The footsteps were getting closer. I grabbed a cookie and turned around just as someone walked into the kitchen. And promptly forgot how to breathe. The guy standing in the doorway wasn't just handsome-he was the kind of beautiful that should have been illegal. Dark hair that looked like he'd been running his fingers through it, sharp jawline, and eyes so intensely blue they seemed to glow in the dim lighting. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had the easy confidence that came with knowing you were the best-looking person in any room. This was my stepbrother. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. His gaze traveled from my messy ponytail down to my oversized pajamas and bare feet, then back up to my face. Something unreadable flickered in his expression. "You must be Maya," he said finally, his voice deeper than I'd expected. "And you're Adrian." My voice came out as barely a whisper. He moved closer, and I caught the scent of his cologne mixed with something else-something uniquely him that made my pulse quicken in a way that should have been a warning. "Sorry I missed dinner. Coach kept us late." He opened the fridge and pulled out a water bottle, his movements fluid and confident. "How are you settling in?" "Fine," I managed, clutching my cookie like a lifeline. "It's... different." "Different good or different bad?" "Just different." A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Diplomatic answer." The kitchen suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker. I needed to get out of here, away from those blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. "I should let you eat," I said, edging toward the doorway. "Early day tomorrow." "Maya." The way he said my name made me stop. "Welcome home." Home. Such a simple word, but the way it rolled off his tongue made something flutter in my chest. I mumbled a goodnight and practically ran upstairs, my heart hammering against my ribs. In my room, I leaned against the closed door and tried to process what had just happened. This was bad. This was very, very bad. Because in thirty seconds, Adrian Cross had managed to shatter every wall I'd carefully built around myself. And tomorrow, I'd have to face him at school, where I'd undoubtedly discover that every girl at Westbridge Academy was just as affected by those blue eyes as I was. My plan to stay invisible had just become a whole lot more complicated.
In the heart of New York City, where danger lurks behind every corner, Lucian Volkov rules the night as a ruthless alpha werewolf and billionaire. His empire-a complex web of legitimate businesses and dangerous mafia dealings-is thrown into chaos when he is forced into an arranged marriage with the fierce and fiery Vera Moretti, the disgraced daughter of a rival crime family. Vera carries the weight of her family's legacy and a secret of her own-she is immune to werewolf bites, a rare genetic anomaly that makes her the most coveted prize in the supernatural underworld. As their worlds collide, Lucian's beast recognizes Vera as his fated mate, igniting an attraction that neither can deny, but old grudges run deep, and Vera's hatred for him blinds her to the truth of their bond. When betrayal strikes from within, pushing them further apart, Lucian must battle rival packs and unearth hidden truths, while Vera grapples with the power of her lineage that she never knew existed. The struggle for dominance and desire leads to an explosive climax-one that could either bind them forever or destroy them both. In a world of blood and betrayal, will Vera surrender to the call of the wolf, or will their love remain a forbidden bite?
For three years, Deanna endured scorn in a one-sided marriage. When Connor forced her to choose between her career and a divorce, she didn't hesitate-she walked away. Determined to reclaim her birthright, Deanna returned as the brilliant heiress to a medical conglomerate. Her ex and his family begged for another chance, but it was too late. With a tycoon father, a legendary healer mother, a CEO brother who adored her, and a showbiz powerhouse sibling, Deanna's life overflowed with power. Even her arrogant rival, heir to billions, only ever had a soft spot for her.
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.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town's richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. "Way to go, honey!"
My husband Julian celebrated our five-year anniversary by sleeping with his mistress. He thought I was a clueless trophy wife, too dim to notice the vanilla and tuberose scent on his expensive suits. He was wrong. For years, I played Mrs. Vance, hiding my brilliance while Julian claimed my patents. An anonymous email confirmed his ultimate betrayal: photos of him and Scarlett Kensington in ecstasy. My heart didn't break; it solidified into ice at five years wasted. I activated "The Protocol" for a new identity and escape countdown. Playing the doting wife, I plotted his downfall, catching him with his mistress selling my work, and publicly snapping his credit card. His betrayals and stolen work ignited a cold, calculated fury. He had no idea the monster he'd created. I was dismantling his empire. I shredded his patent papers, stripping him of his ill-gotten gains. With a final tap, I initiated "Identity Erasure." Mrs. Vance was dead. Dr. Evelyn Thorne had just begun her counterattack.
Trigger/Content Warning: This story contains mature themes and explicit content intended for adult audiences(18+). Reader discretion is advised. It includes elements such as BDSM dynamics, explicit sexual content, toxic family relationships, occasional violence and strong language. This is not a fluffy romance. It is intense, raw and messy, and explores the darker side of desire. ***** "Take off your dress, Meadow." "Why?" "Because your ex is watching," he said, leaning back into his seat. "And I want him to see what he lost." ••••*••••*••••* Meadow Russell was supposed to get married to the love of her life in Vegas. Instead, she walked in on her twin sister riding her fiance. One drink at the bar turned to ten. One drunken mistake turned into reality. And one stranger's offer turned into a contract that she signed with shaking hands and a diamond ring. Alaric Ashford is the devil in a tailored Tom Ford suit. Billionaire CEO, brutal, possessive. A man born into an empire of blood and steel. He also suffers from a neurological condition-he can't feel. Not objects, not pain, not even human touch. Until Meadow touches him, and he feels everything. And now he owns her. On paper and in his bed. She wants him to ruin her. Take what no one else could have. He wants control, obedience... revenge. But what starts as a transaction slowly turns into something Meadow never saw coming. Obsession, secrets that were never meant to surface, and a pain from the past that threatens to break everything. Alaric doesn't share what's his. Not his company. Not his wife. And definitely not his vengeance.
For five years, I believed I was living in a perfect marriage, only to discover it was all a sham! I discovered that my husband was coveting my bone marrow for his mistress! Right in front of me, he sent her flirtatious messages. To make matters worse, he even brought her into the company to steal my work! I finally understood, he never loved me. I stopped pretending, collected evidence of his infidelity, and reclaimed the research he had stolen from me. I signed the divorce papers and left without looking back. He thought I was just throwing a tantrum and would eventually return. But when we met again, I was holding the hand of a globally renowned tycoon, draped in a wedding dress and grinning with confidence. My ex-husband's eyes were red with regret. "Come back to me!" But my new groom wrapped his arm around my waist, and chuckled dismissively, "Get the hell out of here! She's mine now."
© 2018-now ManoBook
TOP
GOOGLE PLAY