TAMING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE
/1/117347/coverbig.jpg?v=de20990b4c70907f2f9e27e5baa266ac)
THREE-YEARS CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE HOT BILLIONAIRE
"Sign the contract, or lose everything." I stared at the papers that would seal my fate-a three-year marriage to Julian Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire they call the Ice King. My family didn't ask. They demanded. My father's company was drowning, my stepsister's engagement had exploded, and I was the replacement bride they could sacrifice. Just another transaction. Julian made it clear on our wedding day: "Don't expect affection. Don't expect companionship. Certainly don't expect love." He refused to kiss me at the altar. He gave me a bedroom down the hall and told me to stay out of his way. I was Mrs. Blackwood in name only-a contract, a convenience, a means to an end. I accepted it. I had survived twelve years of abuse in my own home. I could survive three years of indifference in his. But then Nate, Julian's best friend, showed me kindness, and suddenly my cold husband became possessive. When my sister attacked me, he became protective. Now the man who promised me nothing is fighting his own father to keep me. The marriage that was supposed to be fake is becoming terrifyingly real and the secrets about my mother's death are threatening to destroy everything. They said Julian Blackwood destroys everything he touches. What they didn't tell me... is that sometimes destruction is exactly what you need to be reborn. With a pregnancy involved, how was I going to end this three-year marriage peacefully?
Chapter 1 The Invisible Daughter
Lena.
I refilled the champagne glasses carefully, weaving through clusters of glittering guests who looked through me rather than at me. The black dress I wore, the same one I'd worn to every family event for the past three years had a small tear at the hem that no one had noticed. No one ever noticed.
"More champagne here," a woman in diamonds called out, snapping her fingers without bothering to look at my face.
I moved to her, my footsteps silent on the marble floor of the Carter mansion's ballroom. Cassie's engagement party was in full swing, two hundred guests celebrating my stepsister's upcoming marriage to Liam Whitley, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune. A string quartet played in the corner. The air smelled of expensive perfume and imported flowers.
I belonged to none of it.
But in exactly seven days, none of this would matter anymore.
Seven days until I had enough money saved. Seven days until my interview at the marketing firm in Boston. Seven days until I could disappear from this house and never look back.
I touched the envelope hidden in my bra-my mother's death certificate, the one document I would need to access the small trust fund she had left me. The lawyer's appointment was scheduled for Monday morning. After three years of hiding money in my mattress, working secret jobs Bridget didn't know about, I finally had enough for a security deposit and first month's rent on a tiny studio apartment five hours away.
Freedom was seven days away.
"The hors d'oeuvres are running low on the west table." Bridget's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. My stepmother appeared at my elbow, her perfectly painted lips pressed into a thin line. "Were you planning to let our guests starve?"
"I'll refill them now," I said quietly.
"You should have done it ten minutes ago." Her manicured nails dug into my arm. "Must I do everything myself? Go. And try not to look so pathetic. You're embarrassing us."
Just seven more days, I reminded myself. Seven more days of this, then I'd never have to hear her voice again.
I hurried toward the kitchen, my cheeks burning. Behind me, I heard Bridget's laugh as she greeted another guest. The transformation was instant, like flipping a switch.
In the kitchen, I loaded canapés onto a silver tray, my hands moving automatically. The catering staff gave me sympathetic looks but said nothing. They knew better than to interfere in family matters.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I checked it quickly, it as a text from Landon, my manager at the coffee shop where I worked early mornings before anyone in this house woke up.
"Your last paycheck is ready. $340. That puts you at your goal, right?"
My heart soared. I didn't need to wait seven more days. I had enough now. I could leave tomorrow if I wanted to.
I typed back quickly: "Yes. Thank you for everything."
"Good luck in Boston. You deserve better than this."
I deleted the conversation and pocketed my phone, my hands shaking with suppressed excitement. Tomorrow. I could leave tomorrow, right after the lawyer's appointment. I had already packed a small bag and hidden it in the garden shed. I had bus tickets purchased under a fake name. I had...
"Lena!" Cassie's voice shattered my planning. "Come here for a second."
I returned to the ballroom, a tray balanced in my hands. Cassie stood at the center of a group of her friends, her engagement ring catching the light with every dramatic gesture. She looked beautiful in her rose-gold gown, her blonde hair swept into an elegant updo, her laugh was musical and confident.
Everything I wasn't. Everything I had stopped trying to be.
"I just wanted to introduce you to everyone," Cassie said sweetly as I approached. "This is my stepsister, Lena. She's been so helpful tonight, playing servant." She leaned closer, as if sharing a secret. "She really commits to the role, doesn't she?"
Her friends tittered. I stood frozen, the familiar burn of humiliation spreading through my chest.
Tomorrow, I reminded myself. Just get through tonight.
"Actually, I think she enjoys it," one of them said. "Some people just know their place."
Cassie reached for a glass of wine from a passing waiter. She turned back to me, smiling. "Oh, how clumsy of me!"
The red wine hit my dress in a splash of burgundy, soaking through the fabric. The wine was cold against my skin, and for a moment, I felt the envelope in my bra getting damp. Panic shot through me, if the death certificate was ruined, I would have to order another one, which would take weeks.
I set down the tray with shaking hands and hurried toward the bathroom, Cassie's laughter following me down the hall. In the bathroom, I carefully extracted the envelope. The certificate was fine, protected by the envelope's thick paper. Relief flooded through me.
I looked at my reflection: wine-stained, exhausted, invisible. Tomorrow, this version of Lena Carter would cease to exist.
I slipped out the side door into the garden, needing air, needing to see the one place in this house that still felt like home. My mother had planted these roses herself, back when she was alive, back when this house held warmth and laughter. I had hidden my escape bag behind the largest rose bush, wrapped in plastic.
I knelt beside it now, checking to make sure it was still there. Everything was intact-clothes, documents, the small amount of jewelry my mother had left me that Bridget didn't know about.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, Mom," I whispered to the roses. "I'm finally getting out."
A crash from inside the house shattered the moment. Then shouting, loud enough to carry through the walls.
My escape would have to wait a few more hours. I stood, brushing dirt from my ruined dress, and returned to find chaos.
A crash from inside the house shattered the quiet. Then shouting, loud enough to carry through the walls. I stood, brushing dirt from my ruined dress.
When I returned to the ballroom, it was chaotic. Cassie stood in the center of the room, her face blotchy with tears, while Liam Whitley faced her with crossed arms.
"I'm done," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I can't marry someone so spoiled, so entitled. My family won't allow it anyway, your father's company is hemorrhaging money. This engagement is over."
He pulled the ring from his pocket...Cassie must have thrown it at him and set it on a nearby table. Then he walked out.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Cassie's scream pierced the air. She grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it at the wall, where it shattered into a thousand pieces. "How dare he! How dare he embarrass me like this!"
Guests began making hurried exits, murmuring apologies and excuses. Within minutes, the ballroom had emptied except for family and staff.
Bridget's hand connected with my cheek before I saw it coming. The slap echoed through the nearly empty room.
"This is your fault," she hissed. "Looking like trash in front of our guests, bringing bad luck to this family. You've embarrassed us for the last time."
I pressed my hand to my stinging cheek but said nothing. My father stood in the corner, avoiding my eyes.
"Get out of my sight," Bridget said. "And clean up this mess before you go to bed."
I spent the next two hours picking up broken glass and discarded napkins while the caterers packed up around me. My father and Bridget had disappeared into his study. I could hear their voices, through the heavy door.
By the time I finished cleaning, it was past midnight. I was heading toward the stairs when my father's voice stopped me cold.
"The company is failing. We'll be bankrupt within six months."
I froze outside his study door, my heart pounding.
"Then we need the Blackwood deal," Bridget said. "It's our only option."
"Julian Blackwood wants a marriage alliance. His father insisted on it."
"Then we give them a bride."
No. No, no, no.
"Cassie's engagement just ended publicly," my father said. "The Blackwoods won't want damaged goods."
"They've never met Cassie in person. They've only seen photos. We'll give them Lena instead."
The trash bag slipped from my hands.
"Lena?" My father sounded uncertain.
"She's useless here anyway. At least this way she'll finally contribute something to this family."
I pressed myself against the wall, my carefully constructed escape plan crumbling around me.
"Lena!" My father's sharp voice cut through my panic. "Get in here. Now."
/1/113362/coverbig.jpg?v=5efb20621f255e262e29bdba5df38f3b)
The Unwanted Wife Is A Zillionaire
For seven years, I played the perfect, hidden wife to billionaire August Chambers while working quietly as an ER nurse. Three days before our marriage contract expired, he stormed into my emergency room carrying a bleeding woman. It was Allena, his cousin's fiancée. She had suffered a ruptured corpus luteum from their violent, aggressive sex. Instead of hiding his affair, August ordered me to clear the floor and threw a massive check at my face to buy my silence. Later, his friends trapped me in a VIP club. When a waiter tripped, August violently shoved me aside just to protect Allena from a spilled cup of coffee. I crashed into a glass table, a sharp edge slicing deep into my arm. "Apologize to her, and I'll have my driver take you to the hospital." As my blood soaked into the white rug, he stood over me, demanding I get on my knees for his mistress. He didn't know I had faked a miscarriage five years ago to secretly raise our daughter far away from his cruelty. He also didn't know the money he flaunted was pocket change compared to my hidden AI tech empire. I calmly tied a tourniquet around my bleeding arm with my teeth and wiped my blood directly over his heart onto his custom suit. "I'm done with you." The submissive nurse was dead, and it was time to let him burn in the ruins of his own lies.
/0/99782/coverbig.jpg?v=bb8b9edcb78dd12c11125cf5ade2298d)
Taming The Ruthless Billionaire
"Taming the Ruthless Billionaire" unfolds as a modern romantic drama set against the high-stakes world of Manhattan's corporate elite. The story traces the journey of Maya Rivers, a young woman whose resolve and vulnerability are tested when she steps into the orbit of Adrian King, a billionaire CEO
/0/25491/coverbig.jpg?v=eabe7ed082c70d2c423bd92dfcd8532a)
TAMING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE
“You are playing with fire," he growled as he pinned her to the wall by the throat, his nose trailing up her neck as he lean close to her. "And you know what happens to those who play with fire," the lust in his eyes was unmistakable. "They get burnt." ********** Salvatore De Rosso, an enigmatic sel
/0/39754/coverbig.jpg?v=eeddd37f18e1a6b035351b7d8e2717c5)
Taming the Ruthless Mafia Billionaire
“People afraid of death are greedy for life.” That was the belief of Alessandro Angelo, the Italian mafia billionaire. The one who fears no one, not even death. He lived his life everyday as if it was his last. Trained only to obey orders and keep no emotions. But what happens when he comes across
/1/108717/coverbig.jpg?v=a881d24ec2dff460e49fb3542846d566)
Taming My Ruthless Billionaire Brother
"Please have sex with me once, I want a baby." Seeing that time was running out, she urgently called out to him again, "Brother..." As Dashiell's sister-in-law, she shamelessly rode on his lap. Oddly enough, Dashiell was reacting at that moment. He even raised his eyebrows a few times imperceptibly.
/0/38874/coverbig.jpg?v=5e1562a7b90a0148544c2dca060a3ce9)
Taming The Ruthless Alpha
"You got it all wrong redhead" Drake said in a deep husky voice, taking slow steps towards Raven until she was pinned between him and the wall. He leaned closer to her and placed his large palms on the wall, on both sides of her head, trapping her in his close proximity. His hazel eyes burned wit
/0/89677/coverbig.jpg?v=5bac8bbd2f9f9ad9c34573d62498da07)
Taming the Ruthless Don
"He kissed me like he owned me, and I hated how much I let him." Ava Garzolo was never meant to be a mafia bride. She's reckless. Mouthy. A scandal wrapped in satin and sin earning a reputation that keeps her far from the marriage market. It's supposed to be business. A contract signed in blood. Bu
/0/61699/coverbig.jpg?v=e07f203525618a6f8d7e40b58e3f2b5b)
Taming the Italian billionaire
Noelle Binchy would do anything to change her life situation and that includes signing a contract with her best friend's cousin. After losing her parents in a mysterious way, she had to travel all the way to Texas, where she met her best friend who took her in and helped her. Since then she had bee
/0/52675/coverbig.jpg?v=e4fdec74deeb4e15c3f91ef9a9e5e88d)
Taming The Beast Billionaire
She's beautiful almost perfect, yet poor. She is Kezella who became an orphan since something terrible happened to her family, she has two twin brothers They were adopted by an elderly couple who were kind and caring, but plain but full of love He is satisfied with the life he has, but what if une
/0/66651/coverbig.jpg?v=c8bb1a8f80776f8dfc40078d955b3eb2)
Taming The Billionaire
He has everything money can buy. She has nothing left to lose. Together, they'll break all the rules. When Maya loses her job and faces eviction, the last thing she expects is to cross paths with Damian Blackwood-the mysterious billionaire, with a reputation as cold as steel, he commands. Their wor
/0/42367/coverbig.jpg?v=b06ef1e32251f1f744e385c4035e56df)
Taming The Arrogant Billionaire
Her laughter cascaded through the air, a seductive melody that intertwined with her mischievous gaze. "You underestimate yourself, Nathan. Behind that haughty mask lies a man consumed by desires he can't control." His eyes smoldered with a mixture of longing and determination, stepping closer, he dr
/0/67054/coverbig.jpg?v=65d19d6cc8fd19ff0990ac7a6a74b941)
Taming The Billionaire Ceo
Sophie Bennett never expected her first job out of college to be working as the personal assistant to Adrian Steele-ruthless billionaire, corporate shark, and the man everyone loves to hate. With his piercing gaze and commanding presence, Adrian has built an empire on deals and an unshakable ego. Bu
/0/65210/coverbig.jpg?v=a28f493b5f81b7bdc324fb4d8ea3e811)
Taming The wild Billionaire
"You're married, Carlos! You need to learn to commit. That's what marriage comes with. Commitment!" Bailey yelled at him, as she stared up at him. She wouldn't be intimidated by him this time. She had been quiet for too long. "Sweetheart, do you know the meaning of my name? It means 'free man'. I'm
/0/68873/coverbig.jpg?v=41c80e7b8cc2034c8bdee2797f749148)
Taming the Billionaire Playboy
Annika Pleton moved to San Diego for a fresh start, but her new beginning takes a chaotic turn when she becomes the personal secretary to Ashton Maverick-a billionaire CEO with a reputation for charm, scandal, and getting what he wants. Ashton's relentless pursuit of her sparks a fiery battle of wit
/0/45061/coverbig.jpg?v=310a9e2454c53f266a8eb6d10cccf1f5)
Taming The Cold Billionaire (bxg)
Rachael. Working for Xander King has been one of my biggest challenges so far. He's always trying to boss me around, but it never worked out in his favor because I wasn't one to back down. But, despite our bickering, I couldn't help but feel like there was something between us. I should be focusing
/0/56822/coverbig.jpg?v=cef5460dc345f3352a25b4e423cc809b)
Taming The Cruel Mafia Billionaire
Excerpt from the story He towered over her as she laid on a hospital bed, head wrapped up in gauze, struggling to keep her eyes open. "You ran me over, didn't you?" She exhaled shakily, her bright eyes pinned on him, tears threatening to fall. The man who was roughly 6'5 inches, had an omin
/1/124753/coverbig.jpg?v=1e29bb85601c26a21caa49a0998c7af5)
The Scarred Luna: Taming The Ruthless Alpha
In a world ruled by the merciless laws of werewolves, Jaselya's life had been defined by nothing but pain, humiliation, and rejection. As the illegitimate daughter of Alpha Balak, born from a forbidden affair and marked by a hideous scar, she grew up as a slave within the Moonlight Pack. Despised
/0/21988/coverbig.jpg?v=8e9169b11fcf0986552f424ab9ab9d5d)
Loving The Ruthless Billionaire
Alex Tristan is known as the leader of a wealthy popular band. He was everything a lady could ask for- cute face and so much money in his pocket. He was the country's biggest idol. But unfortunately, Alex wasn't the happy type as he lived a very secluded life. He resented girls a lot; never wants
/0/77332/coverbig.jpg?v=d5f4765cade4007e581c76305f1dbf9a)
The Ruthless Billionaire Love
A loud bang echoed against the door. My heart pounded as I recognized the voice that followed-it was my husband who despised me more than anything. Is here to torment me again, forcing me to sign a divorce papers willingly which I refuse and becouse of this, he vows to torture me till death. -----
/1/114457/coverbig.jpg?v=74ef6948ea88538179ce919750b3102b)
Reborn Heiress: Taming The Ruthless Tycoon
Gemma expected the tearing agony of the bullet wound that had just ended her life. Instead, her trembling fingers met the cool, smooth friction of heavy silk. She stared into the mirror. Her face was flawless, completely devoid of the jagged scar that had marred her cheek for the last five years.
/1/112196/coverbig.jpg?v=4ffd00153ee32fbd5be407d1966168bb)
Taming The Cold Hearted Billionaire
Natalie Hamilton. She's soft-spoken, kind, and determined to keep her family's small shop alive. For months, Natelie has convinced herself she's falling for her boyfriend-the man she believed would protect her heart. But the deeper she looks, the more she starts to question everything she thought sh
