584 Book(s) Related to fake bruise

In the church, the mafia godfather Kane cornered me against the wall, his icy lips pressing against my forehead:
"Remember, you can only be my woman."
I was a nun, yet my alcoholic stepfather had promised me to this dangerous man—
The 34-year-old mafia leader, the rumored cold-blooded and ruthless head of the Moretti family.
He said it was to repay the gambling debt my mother owed, using me as payment.
The wedding was set for next Saturday, and I didn't even have the right to resist.
Over the phone, I desperately questioned him: "How many women have you had? Can you make a list?"
His voice was as cold as ice: "Sonya, before the wedding, if you let another man touch even a finger on you, I'll make you disappear from this world completely."
Fear drove me to lose my mind, and I blurted out: "After being drained by so many female celebrities, will you even last three minutes on Saturday?"
The call was hung up.
That night, I shed my nun's habit, slipped into a black strap mini dress, and walked into the bar.
I had no idea that the roar of a helicopter was approaching, and the man I had enraged was coming to make me pay the price—
"Sonya, I'll make you understand the consequences of defying me."

"You're beautiful when you're dangerous," he murmured, ice-blue eyes burning into mine as shadows writhed around my feet.
"I don't need another Alpha who thinks he owns me," I snapped, yet stepped closer, drawn by his raw power.
His hand caught my wrist, thumb tracing the silver chain marks Magnus had left. "Who dared mark what's mine?"
Heat pooled low in my stomach at his possessive words. "I'm not yours."
"Your racing pulse says otherwise." His thumb found my heartbeat, and I couldn't suppress the soft gasp that escaped.
"Let go," I breathed, even as I leaned into his touch.
"Make me." His other hand slid to my waist, pulling me against his hard chest. "Tell me you don't want this."
The lie died on my lips as his scent made my head spin with need.


Nephele survived two years as Magnus's captive Luna, believing she was wolfless trash. While enduring his brutality, her blood was secretly harvested by Ophelia—the woman who raised her. When she finally escapes, she learns the truth: she's the last Shadow Wolf princess, stolen as a baby. Now both want their valuable weapon back.
Half-dead in the forest, she's saved by Kaedan—the boy who once gave her an apple, now the ruthless Frost King. She won't trade one prison for another, but his touch sets her on fire and his protection feels dangerously like home.
Can a broken girl trust the king who could destroy her completely?

All werewolf girls dream of becoming the partner of the most powerful and handsome Alpha, but Skylar is not enthusiastic about it. Until Alpha accidentally chooses the clumsy and naive Skylar, her twin sister Alessia goes crazy because of jealousy, and their parents even threaten Skylar not to become Alpha's partner. They force Skylar to put sleeping pills in Alpha's drink to prevent him from marking her as a partner, but something that scares Skylar even more happens. Alpha seems to have discovered her conspiracy, and he is full of desire to mark her...

Jacob moved so swiftly that I could not even perceive his motion. I kicked and attempted to scream, but his hand was firmly clasped around my throat, stifling any sound. I struggled to remove his grip, but he only tightened it. The room began to fade, and I struggled to breathe. The last thing I recall before losing consciousness was his lips pressed firmly against mine.

I awoke to a disorienting haze, my mind clouded with confusion and my body wracked with pain. Attempting to rise, I discovered that I was alone, my naked form exposed to the frigid air. My vision slowly came into focus, revealing the extent of my suffering.

I knew that I needed to speak with Jake, to seek solace in his embrace.


Katherine was the governors daughter. She is forced to marry the prince when he proposes. She is in love with the prince's personal guard.

Prince charming is not exactly charming. He is abusive and overbearing. He takes a mistress and both his wife and mistress end up pregnant.

Five years ago, on her wedding day, billionaire Damon Hartley abandoned her in front of 500 guests and millions of spectators. Only then did she learn she was pregnant. Heartbroken, she fled New York.

Now, she returns as Alexandra Sterling—a honey-blonde, English-accented financial tycoon with wealth rivaling Damon's. She is no longer the naive girl who once cleaned Damon's father's office, dreaming of love. She is a hunter in designer suits, and Damon Hartley is her prey.

Mel was eager to explain her situation to Ethan, to let him know the truth behind her dismissal from her previous job. But to her dismay, Ethan refused to listen. With a tone of defiance, he accused her of attempting to seduce him because of his wealth. Despite her best efforts, he remained stubborn and unreceptive to her words.
Frustrated and unable to keep her composure any longer, Mel retorted that she only sought the job because she desperately needed it, and had no idea that her savior was the president of the company she had long dreamt of working in. But even then, Ethan seemed unconvinced and unmoved.
Just as Mel was about to leave, Ethan's attention was suddenly drawn to a scar on her left hand. As he stared at it in shock and recognition, he realized that it was a scar he had seen before, long ago.
Caught off guard, Ethan found himself at a crossroads. Should he trust Mel's story and give her a chance? Or should he let his past cloud his judgment and dismiss her once and for all?
As it turns out, the scar was a sign of a connection that Ethan and Mel shared, one that neither of them could have ever expected. Through their struggles and challenges, they would come to rediscover their love for each other and find their way back to each other's arms.
Mel's journey is one of resilience and determination, a story that shows that even in the face of adversity, success is within reach. Will you join her on this incredible journey of love and self-discovery?

“He was supposed to marry my twin sister.
But she disappeared, and I was forced to take her place.”

When Valerie Lawson's sister, Vanessa disappears the day before her wedding, Valerie is forced to replace her, and marry renowned billionaire, Lucas Castillo. She's to forsake her own identity, and pretend to be Vanessa till Vanessa is found and comes to take her place. But things don't go according to plan as Lucas finds out on their wedding night. He's beyond furious but he makes her an offer—she continues to pretend to be Vanessa until Vanessa returns to take her place. Valerie agrees believing it would only be for a short while, and they sign a contract.

A year later, Vanessa's not back, and Valerie and Lucas are still pretending to be couples and living as strangers. When the line between fake and real begins to blur, and sparks begin to fly between them, Vanessa returns; but she doesn't come empty-handed—she comes with lies and chaos that threaten to ruin everything.

Seven years ago, Ethan Sterling was nothing more than a starving nobody abandoned by the world.
One woman saved him.

Aria Senna — the beautiful heiress of a powerful billionaire family — gave him warmth when he had nothing left.

Now she lies trapped in endless sleep.

On the day Ethan walks out of the most dangerous prison in America, he is forced into a marriage with the unconscious heiress everyone has abandoned. To the world, he is only an ex-convict. A disgrace. A man with no future.

But no one knows what he became inside that prison.

No one knows the ancient power flowing through his blood.

When Ethan touches Aria for the first time, miracles begin to happen.

As corrupt elites, jealous heirs, and ruthless enemies close in around them, Ethan must protect the woman who once saved him — even if it means exposing the terrifying angelic power hidden inside him.

Because the moment the sleeping bride opens her eyes…

the world will never be the same again.

Julian Dale’s black card is declined for the first time in his life - the same night his ruthless father cuts him off and forces him into a six-month marriage with icy Parisian heiress, Rosemary Laurent, or he loses everything.
Their private deal is simple: two months of public perfection, then four months apart before announcing their split.
But when hate turns into scorching desire and dangerous secrets surface, walking away might cost them far more than their empires - it might cost them each other.

Xavier Knight, a 25-year-old billionaire playboy, leads a life dedicated to relentless work and extravagant parties. He relishes his freedom and lives by his own rules, shunning commitments.

Contrastingly, Aurora Johnson, a 20-year-old orphan girl, was taken in by her guardian Uncle Thomas. Her existence is governed by the oppressive regulations imposed by her cruel relatives, leaving her feeling helpless and yearning for affection and care. Additionally, Aurora grapples with a stutter, further enhancing her vulnerability.

The paths of these two individuals converge due to William Knight, a 50-year-old man who must fulfill a long-forgotten promise. In a world where alliances are formed through arranged marriages, Xavier Knight finds himself ensnared in a union with a woman he perceives as a calculating manipulator. Compelled to wed Aurora, a seemingly innocent young lady, Xavier nurtures a deep-seated resentment towards her, convinced that she employs her beauty to deceive his family. Determined to make her existence a living nightmare, Xavier embarks on a vengeful journey, vowing to expose Aurora's true character. However, as their lives intertwine and secrets unravel, Xavier begins to realize that things are not as they appear. Amidst a whirlwind of emotions encompassing anger, attraction, and the pursuit of justice, Xavier and Aurora find themselves on an arduous voyage where love, betrayal, and redemption intersect. Will Xavier's thirst for revenge blind him to the truth? Or will he uncover the depths of Aurora's innocence and unravel the enigmatic tapestry that weaves their intertwined destinies together? Prepare yourself for an enthralling tale of passion, deceit, and unforeseen revelations as the boundaries between love and hate are tested."

Her reputation is at stake, Bella Thompson leading her to strike a bargain to serve as an Alpha's Luna for a year. Unfortunately, her marriage to Alpha Draven is far from harmonious, as Bella resents being forced into this union. To make matters worse, Draven introduces his mistress into their household, while Bella finds solace in the company of another man. Despite Draven's womanizing ways and conceited demeanor, Bella discovers herself gradually developing feelings for him. However, when she unearths the truth about Draven's past love, will she still opt to remain in their tumultuous and undesired marriage?

Story Blurb

"I don't need anyone. I built this pack alone."


Ignas is the only female Alpha in New Orleans. She's tough, powerful, but lonely. Her mate died in battle years ago and she never got over it.

When another pack starts a war over land, Ignas fights back. But on the battlefield, she locks eyes with the enemy general and feels something impossible. The mate bond.

Lykon was supposed to kill her. Instead, he saves her life and gets badly hurt. His own pack leaves him to die. Ignas takes him home, but he can't remember who he is.

Living together, they fall for each other. Then her dead mate shows up alive. He wants her back, but he's lying about everything. He actually wants to kill her and take her pack.

When Lykon gets his memory back, his father demands he come home to fight his brothers for control of their pack. Lykon has to choose - his birthright or his mate.

But someone set them up from the start. The war, the betrayal, everything was planned.

Now Ignas has to help the man she loves take back what's his. Even if it means losing him forever.

Two Alphas, one last battle, and a love that could destroy them both.

I love you more than anything on eating my love

I woke up the morning the contract was due, picked up the pen, and crossed out my own name.
Wrote my sister's instead.
Last time, I packed away every leather jacket I owned and let Stefano Mastroianni's stylist dress me in things that needed dry cleaning. I sat straight at his family dinners and smiled until my face hurt. I let him correct my posture in front of his mother like I was something he hadn't finished training.
I did all of it, and I still ended up in the ground.
So this time I gave him Chiara. Took Pier Nine from my father as the price, and got out.
He thought he was getting his perfect bride.
On the wedding day, he reached for her hands—and felt it immediately. Smooth palms. Not a mark on them. Not the hands of a woman who'd been gripping a steering wheel since she was sixteen.
He pulled the veil up.
Chiara looked back at him, flushed with triumph.
Stefano stripped the Mastroianni ring off her finger in front of every powerful family in the city, kicked over the altar, and put one question through the cathedral walls:
"Where is Tessa."

In a quiet and isolated village deep in the mountains, Castian, longs for something beyond the peaceful routine of Liang. Surrounded by natural beauty and the safety of family life, he finds himself torn between his love for the land and a burning desire to explore the unknown world beyond the hills. When a mysterious traveler arrives in the village, bringing stories of adventures and dangers, Castian is faced with the possibility of a destiny far greater than he ever imagined. As the young man confronts his doubts and desires, he discovers that the mountains surrounding him hold not only secrets about his past but also his future. With the support of his family and friends, Castian must decide whether he will be content to live a life of tranquility or have the courage to follow his heart in search of adventures.

I used to think I had the perfect family.
My husband Nico started coming home less and less, always saying he had a meeting. But the truth was, he had another woman, Alessia. And it had been going on for a while.
The affair I could've handled. What really killed me was that my son Leo and my daughter Mia had known all along. They'd even started calling his mistress "Mom."
They thought I was clueless. But I'd known for months, his assistant had told me everything.
I tried so hard to win them back. I did more for them, cared more, tried harder. But they kept choosing Alessia.
That day, I stopped trying.
They could all have each other—Nico, Alessia, Leo, Mia.
I hoped they'd be happy together.

I'm Aurora, a commoner, an inferior bloodline.

My parents taught me a lot of things growing up, but the most important one is never piss off a royal. They run the world, they make the rules, and they are brutal when they don’t get exactly what they want, especially an unmated commoner girl.

Most royals fuck commoner girls for fun, knowing we couldn’t possibly fight back. Some of them do it to get their release and then kill them, leaving behind no chance for an heir that is a half-breed. I’ve never seen a commoner female return from the palace.

There aren’t many of us left in my pack, but my alpha has managed to convince the royal warriors that there aren’t any unmated females in his pack and if there were, he would gladly hand them over I’m unmated, only a year and half away from turning twenty to feel my mate. I pray to Moon Goddess that I need the protection of a mate.

Until that day, a tall, brute man walks into my house like he was invited in. I tremble while he grins.

He is a Royal.

When I woke up, my mom's body was cold. The color was drained from her half-opened eyes, and I could see no signs of life.
My father told me that she purposely drank poison to kill herself.
But that was a lie.
My mother would never kill herself; she would never leave me.
That night imprisoned me.

“It wasn’t a mistake,”
“What are you talking about, Jonathan?” I asked him.
“Arina, you are my mate. You were born to be my luna,” he said. His face showed no signs of humor.
“I wasn’t born to be anybody’s luna,” I shot back.
“Arina, I love you…” he spoke softly, still staring into my eyes. I could feel the wolf in me stirring; something that I had never felt before. She was awakening; the fire that burned so deep inside of me was beginning to flare.
“Love?” I heard myself saying. “There’s no such thing as love…” After everything I knew about “love”, what my mother went through when she married my father, love didn’t exist.
“Give me a chance to prove you wrong. Marry me.”

####WARNING This story will contain: Strong Sexual Content, Strong Language and Domestic Violence Scenes that may be triggering. Adult viewers only. #########

OMG! One slip and I was paralyzed by Dream Herb. I thought my day couldn't get worse, but then a stranger burst in, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me away.
"Victoria, you will pay for your actions!" he growled.
"No…" I whispered weakly, but he had already forced me to sign a marriage certificate.
Little did I know, this domineering man was New York City's wealthiest tycoon. And he had no idea that the small-town girl he mistook for his runaway fiancée was actually the world-renowned healer he had been desperately searching for.

Scarlett Ross, the world's top integrative medicine doctor, master of life-point massage and expert in pharmaceutical techniques, finds herself swept into the whirlwind of high society. She is mistaken for Gabriel Rothschild's missing bride, a woman who looks exactly like her.

Gabriel Rothschild, the ruthless master of New York's business empire, marries Scarlett to appease his dying grandmother, binding them in a marriage contract.

As they spend more time together, their feelings deepen. Gabriel begins to uncover Scarlett's astonishing secrets: she can bring his grandmother back from the brink of death; she can use her exceptional combat skills to take down her slanderous ex-fiancé; she can outwit those who seek to harm her with her cunning strategies.

Who is his contract bride really? A hidden healer, a hacker genius, a mercenary queen—Gabriel is determined to unmask her true identity.

They all blame me for my sister's death. My husband most of all.

He married me only to torment me—to make me pay for a life I can never bring back. His hatred is my daily bread, his touch my slow poison.

I wanted to die. He wouldn't even let me have that.

But tonight, someone slipped me a passport. A flight out. A chance to disappear.

And a whispered warning: He has a shaman waiting. He means to trap your soul so you can never find peace. Never see your sister again.

I have to run.

But if I do—am I saving myself... or walking right into another trap?

I was found by my biological parents only to become a mobile blood bank for their adopted daughter Leila, expected to sacrifice myself to donate blood—even my heart—whenever she fell seriously ill...
My parents despised me, and my own brother drugged me, threatening my life to force me to marry a dying man as Leila's substitute.
Having lost all hope in my family, I signed a severance agreement, cutting all ties with them, and took a large sum of money for marriage investment.
What they didn’t know was that I was the mysterious Nobel Prize-winning doctor in medicine, possessing the world’s most advanced medical research technology...

"Tell me to stop. Tell me now, or I won't be able to hold back." his tone was both a challenge and a plea. Serena swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest at the electric tension between them.
"I don't want you to stop," she breathed, barely recognizing her own voice. His eyes darkened even more. So much so that the ambers in them completely disappeared. He gnashed his teeth so hard as he fought for control. Serena could feel the tension radiating off him in waves like a spring ready to snap.
"You don't know what you're doing to me," he growled roughly. She bit her lip, both thrilled and intimidated by the raw need in his voice. Her fingers trailed along the hard line of his jaw, feeling the slight stubble there.
"Show me," she challenged. His breathing grew even more ragged. Serena could see the struggle on his face - the battle between his overwhelming desire and his need to protect her from his own intensity.
"I could hurt you," he warned again. "I'm not sure I can ever be gentle with you. I'm rough. My kind of sex is brutal."


[WARNING: MATURE CONTENT]
Serena's life hit rock bottom when she caught her husband cheating on her with her best friend. She decided to lose herself in a bar, hoping to wash away her pain. However, life has this funny way of messing up plans - she ended up in a one night stand that only added more trouble to her already chaotic reality.

I never imagined my life could change in a single night. One moment, I was living quietly, keeping my head down, and the next… I was bound by a secret marriage, thrust into a world of power, obsession, and danger. Alexander Drake isn’t just any billionaire—he’s a man who commands attention, respect, and fear, and he has a side of him only I am allowed to see.

When he appears in my life, nothing makes sense. His intensity unnerves me, his obsession overwhelms me, yet there’s an undeniable pull I cannot resist. But loving him comes with a price. Threats lurk in the shadows, enemies plot against us, and betrayal hides in the people I thought I could trust. Every day is a battle between desire and danger, between survival and surrender.

Alexander’s protective, relentless nature draws me in, yet I know I must be careful. One wrong move could destroy us both. Secrets, lies, and hidden motives surround every corner of our lives, and I quickly learn that trust is a luxury I cannot afford.

As danger closes in—from dark rivals, hidden enemies, and those who wish to use me as leverage—I realize that I’m not just fighting for love, I’m fighting for my life. And in the midst of fear, desire, and chaos, I must decide: will I succumb to the passion that binds us, or rise above the darkness threatening to consume us?

In a world where every touch ignites fire and every whisper hides a threat, one thing is certain… Alexander will do anything to protect me, and I will do anything to survive him.

When Emily attended her half sister Chloe's engagement party, she had to listen to Chloe bragging about her fiancé, saying he was the most powerful Alpha in this region. However, when the groom arrived, he walked not to Chloe, but to Emily....
“Hello, my fiancée. The party is about to start, why aren’t you dressed yet?”

Evangeline was blackmailed to marry a ruthless Alpha in replacement of her sister. Anything she hated in her life was the werewolves. She had seen her father leaving her mother for another she-wolf.
Why?
Because her mother was a human and so is she!! Well, this was what everyone thought, including her.
Though her father loved her a lot despite her being a human, she never forgave him for the things which he did to her mother and stayed away from the pack and werewolves community.
Little did she know that she had to marry an Alpha just because her sister ran away from her wedding at the last moment.
Daniel Grint was the ruthless, heartless, and fearless Alpha. He never believed in mate or mate bond because of the circumstances he faced in his life. But he had to marry a stupid alpha daughter to strengthen his pack. He hated that idea from the beginning but he agreed for the sake of his pack.

"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle


I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces.

Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine.

With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself.

But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

THE CAPO'S DEADLY BRIDE : SHH... I TAME REAL MEN.

Delilah Flynn is an orphan living in Ashwood City with her aunt. She has a gorgeous face and that curvy body that no man could resist.

She is true beauty!

At day, Delilah works as a coffee shop owner, but at night, she is the sexy pole dancer who steals the spotlight. She does not just ignite the desires in men, she tame them and bend them to her will.

Suddenly, she is trapped in a web, where she is forced to get married to a dangerous man in the Cosa Nostra's organisation, Marco Donato.

Her in-laws believed that she was the perfect, holy, submissive wife for Marco Donato, but no, she is not.

She is the one who drags him by his tie, licks his ear lobe, and whispers, "Shh... I tame real men."

[Warning: This book contains graphic violence, dark content, explicit scenes, rape (not between ML and FL), explicit language, and mature themes. It may be triggering for some readers due to scenes of violence, coercion, and emotional distress.]

Author: @Royalmary23

I am Ophelia.
Three years ago, my adoptive parents and sister personally sent me to a mental institution.
When Blake came to the psychiatric hospital and took me away, I had nothing. Later, he spoiled me tremendously.
But none of them knew that this very situation gave me the perfect opportunity for revenge...

Sophia never imagined her career as an investigative journalist would lead her straight to the altar.
When her stepsister goes missing under troubling circumstances, a shadow of suspicion looms over her family, thrusting Sophia into a precarious arranged marriage with Ricci Russo—a billionaire known for his relentless ambition and enigmatic presence. Ironically, Ricci is also the very subject of her next explosive exposé, a fact that complicates matters considerably.
Ricci, a shrewd and calculating financier, strikes a high-stakes deal that involves using the daughter of Gerald Williams as collateral. However, with the intended bride vanishing without a trace, he finds himself shackled to Sophia instead.
Unbeknownst to him, Sophia is not just a reluctant bride; she harbors her own agenda. With her sharp instincts and journalistic skills, she is determined to uncover the dark secrets hidden beneath Ricci's polished exterior.
Trapped in a marriage woven with deception and hidden motives, the two are pulled into a treacherous game filled with power struggles, whispered secrets, and forbidden desires that threaten to consume them both.
As the tension escalates and the lines between truth and deception blur, one looming question remains:
Will their forced union ignite a passion that transcends their circumstances, or will the heavy burden of their secrets lead to their ultimate unraveling?

Ethan Watson, CEO—a man whose reputation for icy detachment was only surpassed by his ruthless business acumen—found his meticulously constructed life in ruins. Diana, his supposed soulmate, had betrayed him, a viper in his paradise, absconding with his closest friend. The ensuing heartbreak, generously lubricated with top-shelf whiskey, led to a serendipitous, if somewhat inebriated, encounter. He quite literally stumbled into Alea.

Alea, a vibrant woman whose fiery spirit masked a quiet vulnerability, was nursing her own wounds—a lover who'd prioritized wealth over genuine affection. Their meeting, a chaotic collision of bruised egos and spilled cocktails in a luxury hotel bar, was hardly promising. Yet, amidst the wreckage of their respective love lives, a spark ignited—a fragile connection forged in the crucible of shared pain. Then, as swiftly as it began, it ended, leaving behind only a delicate silver necklace—a cryptic clue in a mystery Ethan, ever the strategist, couldn't ignore.

Fueled by a potent mixture of vengeance and wounded pride, Ethan devised a plan—bold, audacious, even slightly ludicrous: a one-year contract marriage with Alea. It was a scorched-earth strategy against their betrayers, a meticulously crafted scheme for mutual retribution. But, as fate often dictates, meticulously laid plans and unpredictable human emotions rarely harmonize. The unexpected, naturally, ensued.

What began as a coldly calculated arrangement began to evolve. Passion, simmering beneath the surface, threatened to erupt. Secrets, insidious weeds in a carefully cultivated garden, choked their carefully constructed façade. Malicious gossip and underhanded maneuvers threatened to derail their revenge plot. However, Ethan's formidable mother, Martha—a woman whose wisdom and unwavering loyalty were as formidable as her son's ambition—became an invaluable asset.

"Put on the dress, Kim. If Kareen never comes back, you will remain as Mrs. Rodriguez till they wish to get rid of you!"
Kim was compelled to wed her twin sister's husband and found the kind of love she had always desired, but as with all good things, there was also suffering. Would she persevere in the face of overwhelming odds, or would she give up and forfeit everything she had ever loved?
Kim was supposed to be a pawn, but she ended up playing the game, and they became her pawns. Queens were free to move whenever they liked, right?
And then there was Evelyn, a broken woman with a dark past. A past she believed she had left behind until it smacked her in the face, leaving her with no way out—or did it?
Would she give in to her past and let it completely ruin her, or would she learn to overcome it and find happiness with the one man who was prepared to overlook her flaws and accept her for who she was? What transpired in Vegas ought to stay in Vegas, and the past ought to stay in the past, right?

Jessica Franklin is at her wit's ends, literally. With two sisters depending on her and a mountain of debts on her neck, she needs a way out before she breaks down. So when she sees an online post of a Billionaire requesting a bride, she immediately takes it.

Devon Reeves just wants to get rid of his clingy ex who's snuck her way back into his life and is disrupting it. Unwilling to go on dozens of blind dates, he puts up a post requesting a bride and receives numerous responses. Out of the many proposals, Only one sticks out to him. Without thinking too much about it, he accepts it and goes on a date.

One look is all it takes to get Devon to decide that Jessica is his bride. A contract is signed and the two begin to live like husband and wife.

There's just one problem, nobody is accepting of this new arrangement. Plus, the more he gets to know his wife, the more he realizes that she has secrets... Secrets she's running away from and will soon catch up to her.

Book 1 in the Franklin Sisters series.

Lydia Merchant was never meant to be part of Arthur Durrin Romero’s world. She was only a daughter. A girl with simple dreams and a quiet future until one signature from her own father sealed her fate in blood and betrayal. Traded like currency, Lydia became payment for a debt she never owed.
Her life ended the moment she stepped into a black wedding dress.
Arthur Romero is the heir to a brutal empire ruthless, obscenely wealthy, and feared by the underworld. He doesn't believe in love or kindness. Affection is a weakness he refuses to indulge. What Arthur values is control. When he claims Lydia as his bride, it isn’t desire that drives him it’s power. A message to the world that the Romero's never forget a debt and never forgive betrayal.
Lydia is meant to be nothing more than a pawn.
But Arthur doesn’t expect the fire in her eyes or the way she refuses to break even as her world collapses. Trapped inside his estate, surrounded by his enemies Lydia refuses to be the obedient wife he expects. She won’t give him her heart. She won’t surrender.
Yet desire has a mind of its own.
Every glance between them becomes a battle. Their fights are brutal, fueled by shattered trust and accidental touches that leave them both wanting more. The closer Arthur gets, the more his cold restraint slips. He wants Lydia in ways he never wanted anyone.
Lydia hates how much she notices him. The hunger in his gaze. The way he never touches her, yet makes her ache all the same.
This marriage was never built on love, only debt and revenge.
Now, as secrets unravel and enemies rise, Lydia and Arthur must decide: will they destroy each other first… or burn the world together?

"You will marry me! You will be my contract wife!" He declared his voice cold and threatening.
Ophelia looked at him without averting her gaze. He wasn't demanding that she marry him; he was commanding her to.
"Marry you! Is that a request or a command?" She asserted bravely, not minding whatever was coming her way.
She expected Something worse to follow, but she was startled by his reaction instead.
He walked closer to her and slowly raised her chin with the tip of his finger. "Ha..ha..ha, I like smart girls," he enunciates with a devilish smile. "It's a command, and you must abide by it."
He pauses and moves his Lips Closer to her ear. Ophelia quickly closes her eyes, bracing herself for the impact.
"Or else……….." He whispered slowly. Then everything paused.
She couldn't feel his breath on her skin again and she quickly opened her eyes only to find out she was the only person in the room. It's like he disappeared into thin air.


She heaved a sigh of relief as her eyes became blurred with unshed tears.
She just found a wallet on the road hoping it would change her life for the better not knowing it's actually for the worse. ""She is trapped!"" She is Captivated!""
And now she is going to be a Captivated Contract bride she can't deny nor can she accept. One choice. One contract. One dangerous game. Will Ophelia run for her life, or fight for his love? Or will she lose herself in a world of luxury, lies, and power where freedom comes with a price?

For over a hundred years, the human town has provided the next mate for the reigning beasts and this year, a bride is required.

Paisley and Nevaeh are from the family mandated to provide the next bride for the reigning beast. Nevaeh has been selected as the eldest daughter while Paisley is engaged to a man she loves.

What happens when Nevaeh runs away the night before her collection and Paisley is asked to go in place of her sister to be the bride of the beast.

"Why did you interrupt my fun?" "Your..." She scoffed.

"Gabriel, why on earth would you decide to bring hookers into our home?" 　

　

"Why? Are you jealous that they are getting all my attention?" He moved even closer.

"You know what you have to do to get it." 　

　

"Get what? Your attention? Oh please. If there is any getting to be considered, it will be getting out of here." 　　

"How dare you?" He was glowering at her, his breath kept fanning her mercilessly.

"How dare you talk to me that way? In case you are forgetting something, your father is the one who gets to suffer if you try anything funny." 　　His huge, rough hand grabbed her by the hair and tugged so hard, she had to give a loud cry. 　　

"Gabriel..." she reached for his hand which kept tightening his hold. "Please... Stop." 　　

He glared at her, his offensive smell hitting her nose even more.

"I need you to understand that a wrong move from you means that it is all over for your father. You don't want to be the reason your father loses everything do you?"

Six years after she left him waiting at the altar, Charles Anthony Oxford finally met Isabella Shade. And six years proved to be a long time as Isabella was already married and Charles who had grown from millionaire to multi billionaire, well, he was in search for a wife for certain reasons.

On learning that his runaway bride's company was in financial crisis because of her good for nothing husband's gambling problems amongst other reasons, Charles saw an opportunity.

Two, actually.

Not only would he be getting a wife, he would be able to exact revenge on the woman who had left him heartbroken, in his own way.

All he had to do was remind her of the terrible thing she had done, torture her a bit with a sexual toss here and there, remind her of her present status and all she needed to do was agree to his terms and become his wife…

But with a woman like Isabella, it just wasn't going to be so easy…

[Mature scenes and mild triggering scenes inclusive]

Elara Voss is a prodigy in ancient art restoration. When her father is framed for destroying a priceless artifact, she is desperate with no other options but to turn to Kieran Blackwood—who controls the city’s art empire. Kieran initially sees her as nothing more than a tool, offering her a contract: her freedom in exchange for her father’s, confining her to his mansion as his exclusive restorer. But as he watches her focused dedication while restoring art and her unyielding defiance to stand up to him, he gradually begins to soften. He makes exceptions to keep her for dinner and silently brings her warm drinks when she stays up late. The contract that was once meant to bind her gradually becomes his excuse to keep her, and before he knows it, he has already fallen in love with this girl who shines even in his shadow.

To obey his grandfather’s order, the playboy tycoon Seth Cohen had to marry the socialite and sole heiress Evonne Largent.
They tied the knot and lived together under a loveless matrimony.
She was obliged to marry the hottest CEO Seth Cohen to save their fallen business empire after her father fell into compulsive gambling, driving them to the verge of bankruptcy.
Seth had no plan of getting entangled with his stunning and sexy wife, but every time he glanced at her, his body throbs, and he was drawn away.
Evonne will do everything to stay away from him and pretend she’s not affected by the oozing sex appeal of her hot billionaire husband; however, her heart beats faster every time he is around.


She saw the muscles move in his jaw, and she knew he was pissed.
“Care to explain? Make sure it’s believable.”
Seth’s voice carried a hot temper.
There was a picture of her dancing on the tabletop, and Toby beside her was shirtless while Sally poured beer bottoms up straight to their mouths.
“What’s there to explain?”
“You’re married now,” He growled at her, throwing sharp glances.
“Miss me with that bullshit.” She stood up and barely contained her anger.
“There is a certain public image that needs to be maintained. You need to understand that.” He muttered sternly.
“Oh please, I’m not going to stand here drinking the dirty water you give me as you indulge yourself in the purest of wines.”

"I guess I miss you so much now that I am seeing you even in my dreams,” she muttered as she smiled at him.

"I am here, I came back,” he said as he wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks.

"Are you for real?” she asked this time gaining her awareness.

"Let me prove it to you,” he leaned in closer to her and let his lips grazes her in a slow kiss. He watched as she closed her eyes upon contact. They were soft to the point that they drove him crazy. He wanted her so bad and he was going to take her.

"I want to sleep with you,” he told her and she opened her eyes. He could see the shyness in the depth of her eyes, "if you are not ready then you can tell me.”

He didn’t want to force her too; it was her first time for everything and scaring her was something he wouldn’t be proud of.

"I want to do that,” she whispered and he took his hand and kissed her fingertips.

"Are you sure?” he asked her wanting to confirm again that it was what she wanted.

"I just hope I will not disappoint you. I have never done this,” she answered worry in her voice.

"Leave that to me,” he said as he looked at her.

All it took was a promise, a promise to help him and do everything in her power to assist him when he needed it.

A poor soul with not a single asset to her name; for the man she unconditionally fell in love with at first sight, she made a promise, a promise that landed her in a pit.

A pit that he painstakingly dug for her and a pit into which she willingly fell.

All it took was a promise, a promise to help him and do everything in her power to assist him when he needed it.
A poor soul with not a single asset to her name; for the man she unconditionally fell in love with at first sight, she made a promise, a promise that landed her in a pit.

A pit that he painstakingly dug for her and a pit into which she willingly fell.

“You put this on me, Max! You kissed me and called me your bride!” I screamed, holding up the heavy wedding band that was never meant for me.

The air in the ceremonial hall froze. Max, the Alpha of the Moonshadow pack, stared at me with cold panic replacing his drunken lust. He had mistaken me for my wicked stepsister, Gwen, just because I was trying on her silk wedding dress. “It was a mistake,” he yelled, running his hands through his dark hair. “I hate you, Zaria. I would not even touch you when I’m sober!”

But the pack law is absolute. The ring was on my finger. The deed was done. I was now the wife of my high school bully.

Gwen looked ready to peel my skin off. “If he picks you,” she whispered, her eyes burning with hatred, “I will make sure you live a life filled with regrets.” I thought my life in my father’s house was hell, but being dragged to the Alpha’s palace was a different kind of nightmare.

“We are only using this one room,” Max declared coldly as he threw me into his massive bedroom. “It is the rule for the Alpha and his bride. We will be sharing this bed.” I took a nervous step back. One year. In this room. With the man who hates me, but whose eyes traverse my body like he wants to devour me.

“Enjoying your new jail, Luna?” he scoffed, closing the door and locking us in.

I say, “Please... don’t give me any explanations. I truly love you. And I will never leave your side in this lifetime. I understand the value of love... and I promise I will honor this relationship with complete honesty. Just... accept me once.”

My lips brush against his chest. A strange warmth spreads through my body, straight into my soul.

He suddenly pushes me away forcefully. I stumble back, staring at him in disbelief. His face burns with anger.

He says, “Have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten what kind of deal exists between us?”

His words crash straight into my heart.

“Do you remember? You are my bride only for safety and money, the one who needed financial support. You are this billionaire's billion-dollar bride, nothing more. In our terms, you yourself said, no love, no intimacy, no emotions. Then where is all this suddenly coming from?”

He doesn’t stop, as if he wants to tear me apart completely.

“Have you forgotten that I'm engaged? Do you really think that just because you say this, I'll break my engagement?”

His voice turns even harsher, sharper than before.

“What exactly did you see in me that you fell in love in just a few days? My money? My position? Or is it your lust that's forcing you to feel this way?”

The moment these words reach my ears, my entire body freezes. My heart shatters into countless pieces. I never imagined he would stain my love with such filthy accusations. I never wanted anything from him, only him.

Still burning with anger, he adds, “So tell me, what do you want? Money? I'll give it to you. As much as you ask for. But don't put on this drama of love in front of me.”

Meira Ashford has been branded cursed, wolf-less, and unworthy, a hybrid half-breed ridiculed by her entire pack. To them, she’s an omen, a stain, something less than dirt.

She never believed her life would hold anything beyond pain and isolation. Love? That was a fairytale meant for others.

But everything changes when Alpha Dane, the returning Alpha Prince sworn never to love again, crosses her path.

He is power, control, and darkness wrapped in flesh. She is the forbidden spark that could burn his entire world down.

When destiny forces their paths to intertwine, desire turns dangerous, secrets unravel, and one truth becomes clear:
Loving Meira Ashford could mean the ruin of them all.

When innocent and quiet Elena Romano is forced to take her rebellious sister’s place in an arranged marriage to Lorenzo DeLuca, the ruthless heir of the DeLuca crime family, she steps into a world she never imagined.
Her sister, Isabella, was supposed to be the bride, meant to seal a truce between two powerful mafia families. But when Isabella runs away the night before the wedding, their desperate father threatens Elena to take her place or suffer the consequences.
Lorenzo, expecting a fiery and cunning bride, is shocked to find Elena—a soft-spoken but sharp-witted woman who wants nothing to do with the mafia world. He is cold, calculating, and sees her as just another pawn in the power game. But as the days pass, he realizes there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Kate has experienced the bitter side of life during her stay with her father.
She thought luck had finally shined on her when she was brought to marry the billionaire, Nick.

Little did she know that it was the beginning of her experience as she caught her husband in bed with another lady.

A drink won't hurt to clear her head, she meets a man at the club who gives her another experience, a mess even. How will she get out of it?

Rejected by her husband. Betrayed by her own family. Given away to a monster.
Ella Davis devoted her life to her pack and the man she loved, only to be falsely accused, humiliated, and cast aside like she meant nothing. As punishment, she is forced into a marriage with the feared Demon Prince of the BloodMoon Pack — Prince Vernon, a man whispered to be cursed, a ruthless prince surrounded by death and terrifying rumors. They say every bride he takes dies before sunrise. They say he is not fully wolf. They say he is a demon. Ella is certain she has been sent to her death. But after entering BloodMoon Palace, she discovers a shocking truth beneath Vernon’s cold and merciless mask. The terrifying prince who makes even Alphas tremble protects her in ways she never expected. And the more time she spends with him, the more dangerous her feelings become. Because Vernon is hiding dark secrets. Deadly powers. And a darkness inside him that even he cannot fully control. Now Ella is trapped between fear and desire, surrounded by enemies who want her dead. But the greatest danger of all may be falling in love with the very monster destined to destroy her.

Aurelia, princess of the Light Fae Clan, sacrificed everything to save Caleb, a young noble cursed with blood plague. She fed him her golden life‑blood, bound herself with a silence spell to hide imperial secrets, and swore to protect him forever—even if it cost her freedom.
Blinded by false accusations and manipulated by a cruel dark witch, Caleb turned on the woman who gave him life. He chained her with deadly cold iron, tore out her Life Core, imprisoned her in a freezing basement, and watched his beloved’s younger brother die by his own hand.
When Aurelia unleashes the forbidden stardust self‑destruction curse and fades into glowing ashes, Caleb finally uncovers the terrible truth. Drowning in endless regret and self‑loathing, he embarks on a brutal path of atonement—punishing the witch, saving the last surviving Fae, and torturing himself for years.
But some sins can never be washed away.Some saviors never return.And the noble who killed his Fae savior will pay with his life.

Perfect Luna. Devoted wife. Dead woman walking.

Ciara O'Callahan thought she had it all. A divine mate bond with the powerful Alpha Ronan O'Donoghue, a beautiful daughter, and the respect of her pack. Until the night she discovers her husband's dark secret: he shares more than just blood with his twin brother Ewan. Much more.

But uncovering the truth comes at a deadly price. Betrayed and murdered by her own mother-in-law to protect the brothers' twisted bond, Ciara's last desperate wish echoes through the veil between life and death...

And something answers.

Now seventeen again, blessed with a second chance at life, Ciara faces an impossible choice. Submit to the sacred mate bond that would lead her back to Ronan? Or defy the very foundations of wolf society and forge her own destiny?

This time, she refuses to be a pawn in fate’s cruel game. She will not walk blindly into a future paved with deceit. And when she crosses paths with Darragh Byrne, the mysterious and battle-scarred Alpha of the Moonveil Pack, the gods themselves seem to stir.

Darragh is everything Ronan is not. Calculating, unpredictable, and entirely uninterested in a mate bond. Yet when his sharp golden eyes meet hers, something shifts in the air. A force just as powerful as destiny itself.

Some say you can't fight fate, Ciara’s about to prove them wrong.

“A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) FACE OF DEATH is book #1 in a new FBI thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. FBI Special Agent Zoe Prime suffers from a rare condition which also gives her a unique talent—she views the world through a lens of numbers. The numbers torment her, make her unable to relate to people, and give her a failed romantic life—yet they also allow her to see patterns that no other FBI agent can see. Zoe keeps her condition a secret, ashamed, in fear her colleagues may find out.Yet when a serial killer strikes across the Midwest, strangling women in remote places and seemingly at random, Zoe, for the first time, is stumped. Is there a pattern? Can there be no pattern at all? Or is this killer as obsessed with numbers as she is?In a mad race against time, Zoe must enter the diabolical mind of a killer who always seems to be one step ahead of her, and stop him from claiming his next victim before it’s too late. At the same time, she must keep at bay her own demons, which may ultimately prove to be even more threatening.An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, FACE OF DEATH is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #2 and #3 in the series—FACE OF MURDER and FACE OF FEAR—are also available for pre-order.

On our fifth Anniversary party, Harris got admitted to the City's Hospital.

Cancer. Stage IV.

I struggled to find words to whisper some comforting words to Harris .

Instead, he held my hands, and said,"It's alright, Darcy."

"Don't be afraid of anything that may happen. Even if I am about to die, I will always be with you."

Even when he was dying, he made sure to comfort me, which bled my heart.

I spent my days researching treatments, draining my savings for "miracle" consultations.

Then came the afternoon I went to his office early to surprise him with the appointment letter with Dr. Wilson, a world famous surgeon.

Harris had been trying to contact him for weeks now. But, everytime he declined him bluntly, only this time when I tried to contact him personally, his assistant reached out to me.

Finally, he had a chance to be saved. I cried tears of joy. I wanted to share this good news with Harris as soon as possible.

But, My hands, almost pushed open the door, , a Lively and joyous laughter echoed through my ears.
"Is the paperwork ready?"

I slightly opened it ajar and peered inside.
I froze on the spot.

Clara was sitting on Harris's lap, clutching to his shoulder like she owned him.

"Everything," Harris' voice sounded, confident and excited.

"By the time 'cancer' takes me, Harris Hudson will be dead, life insurance will be processed, and you and I will be halfway across the world with a clean slate."

Clara. Harris' first love. The one he told me was a 'closed chapter' years ago.

Something broke into my heart.
I froze at my place.

The cancer, the treatment, it was all a lie orchestrated by Harris to elope with Clara?