Signing her life away for her goals seemed easy at first for Sophia Crux, but she soon gets entangled in a web of complications, and as unwanted feelings start arising for a man meant to be nothing but a step closer to her goals, she has to find a way out. But things take a turn when Alexander Black refuses to let her go.
Xander Black's POV
"Mum" I called as I strode into the house, my eyes searching for the 4'7 woman, who acts like she's 6'5
"In the kitchen," she said in a singsong voice and my lips tugged up into a smile. I changed the direction of my steps and walked into the kitchen.
I shook my head when I saw the mess the kitchen had turned into from the numerous dishes she already prepared, and the others that were still cooking. I shook my head again, rolling up my sleeves, I walked into the kitchen and began to clean up.
"You prepared a whole feast when it's just the two of us having dinner?" She let out a laugh and from my peripheral vision, I saw her shrug.
"What can I say? I still enjoy cooking and gladly eating the meal after." The memory of her forcing Dad to eat the random dishes she'd make flashed through my mind, and I smiled. "And you know, it wouldn't just be the both of us if you just..."
"Mum" I cut her off in a warning tone
"Get married" she finished and I let out a sigh. "You're getting old, Xander, and so am I. I want to see my daughter-in-law, and carry my grandchildren before I die"
"You're not dying anytime soon" I sharply cut in and she dropped the spatula on the desk, the clanging sound of it echoed in the kitchen and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"You don't know that for sure, Xander. I can die any mi..."
"Mum!"
A deafening silence settled in for a few minutes before she broke it with a loud sigh. "All I want is to carry my grandchildren, Xander. That shouldn't be a big deal"
"Let's have this conversation later, Mum," I said and resumed my work silently. Once I was done washing the dishes and cleaning up the counters, I crept out of the kitchen to my old room.
I always spend the night here whenever I visit for dinner, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I wouldn't be spending the night here today. I massaged my temples and collapsed on my bed.
Marriage has been the cause of bickering between my mum and I ever since my dad died, but her tone today felt different. She spoke as if she was daring me to say no.
"You are most likely imagining things, Xander." The words had barely left my lips when I heard her beckoning me to come down for dinner.
I deliberated on just staying in and giving her an excuse as to why I can't come down, and just bury myself in work but this is the only time I get to see her. Heaving a deep breath, I stood up from the bed, mentally preparing myself for the bickering I was sure would happen as I walked downstairs, however...
We had a silent dinner.
My mum didn't say a word to me except when she would ask me to pass something or ask me if I wanted more, and the silence was scarier and more uncomfortable than the back and forth I expected.
"Mum, are you okay? You haven't said a proper sentence to me." I started once we were done cleaning up.
She stared at me blankly but the corners of her lips tugged up in what I guess was a smile as she placed a brown envelope on the table.
I raised a brow while my eyes darted from the envelope to her face, and when I made no effort to open it after a while, she pushed it closer to me.
My brows scrunched together, forming crease lines on my forehead as I reached out for the envelope and opened it. My eyes took in its contents, and when I was done, I dropped it back on the table.
"Why?" I asked and her smile widened, this time with a hint of genuineness in them.
"Those are my company shares, 25%, making me the 3rd highest shareholder of the company"
"I'm aware, Mum"
"Good. I'm sure you are also aware that they are meant to go to you after my...." The sentence trailed off and I bobbed my head. "Well, I've changed my mind"
For a solid minute, all that rang in my ears and my head was the sound of an annoying bell. "What!?"
"You heard me right, Alexander Pope Black." My eyes widened and an involuntary scoff escaped my lips. "I am only to give you my shares if I deem you worthy of them. You don't automatically get it just because you are my son"
"Mum!" She raised a brow, and I ran my hands down my face. "What do you mean mum? I have single-handedly handled the company since Dad's death, I reinvented myself and the company. The company's profit has increased by 95% since Dad's death and is currently one of the top companies in the country. Have I..."
"As the CEO and the highest shareholder, you are simply doing your duty. As for my requirement, you are yet to fulfil that"
"Mum, you can't be serious," I said, leaning towards her but she stared back at me blankly. "You can't possibly be blackmailing me right now to get married!"
"You will keep your voice down when you speak to me, and I am in no way blackmailing you. I am simply stating my demand, which I expect to be fulfilled within 3 months, and if you are thinking of an excuse along the lines of 'Where will I find a decent girl within this time frame' you can stop that now, there is a perfect candidate for you."
"Mum!" She stared at me unblinking and I threw my head back, breathing out through my lips. "And if I fail to meet your demands?"
"I will sell the shares to your cousin, I'm sure you wouldn't mind losing your title to him"
"You can't possibly be serious mum, Draco and his father have had their eyes on the company for ages. You can't give it up to them..."
The creaking sound as she stood up from the chair cut me short, and I instantly stood to my feet. "I am quite tired, Xander, and I will be retiring for the night."
"Mum!" I called after her as she turned her back on me.
"You are dismissed. Come back when you have my daughter-in-law, good night" I couldn't get another word in before she walked out on me.
Kiara Sorde, is betrayed by her mate and Gamma's son, Kristen, when he strips her of her position and makes her a rogue, subjecting her to a cruel fate without a pack's protection. But the moon goddess offers her a second chance through Alpha Devon, a feared alpha and the leader of Akira Pack, the leading pack in the werewolf community. Kiara is however scarred and will only agree to the union on one condition, and Alpha Devon isn't one to be given conditions.
After being betrayed and exploited by her ex-husband, Jenna is left helpless and thirsty for revenge. She however stumbles upon Xavier, the richest man in the state, and In a bold move, she offers to buy him and his services for a year. Intrigued by the strange woman's boldness, Xavier agrees to her deal, but in exchange, he wants her to be his bride instead. Blinded by the need for revenge, she agrees, but little did she know she had walked into a trap laid by the devil.
After her sister ran away, Lily Morgan is set up as a replacement and is married off to Asher Allard to be a token of a successful contract. Blinded by her love for him, she goes through 5 years of an unrequited love marriage, where she is as good as invisible to her husband. However, her sister returns 5 years later, hooked to the arms of the man she has loved by the side for years, this breaks her heart and forces to accept the truth she has long denied. She serves him divorce papers, and only then does Asher realize he wants her to remain by his side forever. He blackmails her with the marriage contract she signed, and demands she stays for one more year as stated in the contract. Lily's heart runs cold at the selfishness of his actions, and she gives in with the intentions of making him pay, but he is determined to find a way to keep her beside him forever. Will Asher Allard, a billionaire known to be capable of anything be successful in warming up the icy heart of the woman who once loved him?
When a marriage is the only option left for Alexandro Rodrigo to gain custody of his son, he presents a deal to Aurora Dobre; a broke writer trying to keep a roof over her head in the large city of New York, with one important rule, she disappears after 2 years. But things take a unique turn when the years draw closer, and too much has already gone on for either of them to leave. However a threat to her life and that of the people that she holds close to her heart, forces Aurora to make a choice.
In a world of werewolves, where Alphas marry into Alpha families to form alliances and grow their strength, Annha Selene has to shove her feelings aside and get married to a Beta, Drystan, after being rejected by his Alpha,just for the sake of her pack. But she soon begins to question her choice when realizes she got married to an unusual Werewolf. A breed that even the werewolves call a beast. In her quest of accepting her new fate and falling in love, she discovers tales and secrets she never thought existed.
Zale Harris, the inscrutable and powerful CEO of the Harris empire is put in a state of crisis when he was told he had only one year left to live. Determined to have an heir to his empire and fulfil his parents' wish of having a grandchild, he sets out in the search of a bride. But his motives take a different turn when his Ex, Aria Smith, shows up to the interview with a child in her arms. Stuck between fulfilling his dying wishes and getting the answers to the question he's held inside him for years, he eembarks on a marriage of many possibilities with his EX..
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
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!
I'm a Luna. After three years of marriage to Alpha Nathaniel Blackwood, I'm finally pregnant with his pup. But he's unclaimed me for his first love. I'm leaving the pack with this secret, praying he never finds out. Nathaniel Blackwood is a handsome, powerful Alpha. In a world where humans and werewolves coexist, he has it all: a billion-dollar empire, untold power, a massive pack, and, most importantly, the perfect Luna. But the return of his first love shattered our marriage. When he finds out the secret I've been hiding, will he regret rejecting me? Will I ever be able to forgive him? Dive into this gripping serialized novel to find out more-Enjoy the ride!
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
In their three years of marriage, Chelsea had been a dutiful wife to Edmund. She used to think that her love and care would someday melt Edmund's cold heart, but she was wrong. Finally, she couldn't take the disappointment any longer and chose to end the marriage. Edmund had always thought that his wife was just boring and dull. So it was shocking when Chelsea suddenly threw divorce papers at his face in front of everyone at the Nelson Group's anniversary party. How humiliating! After that, everyone thought that the formerly-married couple would never see each other again, even Chelsea. Once again, she thought wrong. Sometime later, at an award ceremony, Chelsea went onstage to accept the award for best screenplay. Her ex-husband, Edmund, was the one presenting the award to her. As he handed her the trophy, he suddenly reached for her hand and pleaded humbly in front of the audience, "Chelsea, I'm sorry I didn't cherish you before. Could you please give me another chance?" Chelsea looked at him indifferently. "I'm sorry, Mr. Nelson. My only concern now is my business." Edmund's heart was shattered into a million pieces. "Chelsea, I really can't live without you." But his ex-wife just walked away. Wasn't it better for her to just concentrate on her career? Men would only distract her—especially her ex-husband.