He was everything she could never have. She was everything he never thought he needed. Seraphina Bellrose, a simple bookseller with a heart of gold, never expected to cross paths with the enigmatic and irresistibly charming Julian Thorne, CEO of Thorne Industries and the city's most eligible bachelor. But fate, it seems, had other plans. A chance encounter, a night of undeniable connection, and suddenly, Sera finds herself thrust into Julian's world of luxury and privilege as his constant companion. He insists their arrangement is purely transactional – she needs his resources, and he needs a convenient partner. But behind Julian's cool facade and carefully constructed walls, Sera glimpses a tenderness that belies his words. As she navigates the treacherous waters of high society gossip and judgment, guarding her heart against the man she's falling for, a devastating truth emerges: Julian is promised to another. With a broken heart and her pride hanging by a thread, Sera makes the agonizing decision to walk away. Yet, Julian's response is not what she expects. He refuses to let her go. In a world of power and privilege, where love is a dangerous game, can a love born of secrets and sacrifice ever truly bloom?
The little bell above the door jingled happily, letting Sera Bellrose know someone had stepped inside Bellrose Books. She peeked down from her perch atop a ladder, where she was fixing a wobbly shelf of old books. It was only Mrs. Goldstein, walking her sausage-shaped dog, Winston.
"Hey there, Mrs. G! Winston acting up, is he?" Sera called down, her voice bouncing around the tall shelves crammed with books.
"Oh, he's a good boy, mostly," Mrs. Goldstein chuckled, her glasses making her eyes look extra big. "Just popped in for my Agatha Christie. The library's fresh out, and I can't stand waiting."
Sera laughed, already picturing Mrs. Goldstein yelling at the characters in a mystery novel. "Don't you worry, I saved the newest Poirot just for you. A real head-scratcher, this one."
Climbing down, Sera weaved through the maze of bookshelves, her fingers skimming across the spines. Every book held a whole different world inside, a chance to escape, have adventures, or find comfort. For Sera, who spent her days surrounded by books, they were like best friends, always there for her.
Bellrose Books wasn't just a shop; it was Sera's special place. Tucked away on a quiet street in Brooklyn, it felt like a cozy hideaway from the noisy city outside. The air smelled like old paper and worn leather, calming Sera's worries every time she stepped inside.
But lately, those worries had been getting bigger, scarier. The stack of bills on her desk seemed to grow taller every day. And then there was her mom...
"Sera, sweetie, that you?" Her mom's voice, usually strong and cheerful, was now quiet and raspy.
"Just helping Mrs. Goldstein, Mum! Be right with you." Sera rang up the book, chatting about the latest mystery plots with Mrs. Goldstein. When they left, Winston waddling behind, Sera's smile faded. She grabbed a copy of Pride and Prejudice – her mom's favorite – and headed to the back room.
It was a small space, but cozy, with a big, comfy bed taking up most of the room. Sunlight spilled through the window, shining on her mom, who looked tiny and frail propped up on the pillows. Even sick, Eleanor Bellrose was beautiful, her silver hair framing a delicate face, her blue eyes, so much like Sera's, still shining with life.
"My dear girl," her mom said, her smile a bit too wide, trying to hide how tired she was. "Was that Millie Goldstein? You know, she reminds me of a little bird – tiny, but with a loud chirp."
Sera sat on the edge of the bed, taking her mother's hand. "She's upset with the state of mysteries these days. Says the detectives aren't clever anymore."
Her mom chuckled, a quiet, shaky sound that made Sera's chest ache. "Those made-up detectives are nothing like the real deal. Speaking of which, dear, heard anything about that fancy party at the museum?"
The gala. Sera knew it was coming.
"Mum, you know I don't follow those fancy things," she said gently, trying to steer the conversation away from a world that felt as far away as the moon.
"But sweetie, that Julian Thorne is going to be there! Owns half of New York City, that one. And they say he's just as charming as his grandfather, God rest his soul. Now there was a man who knew how to handle money..."
Sera blocked out her mom's chatter, her eyes landing on a magazine on the bedside table. Thorne Industries CEO, Julian Thorne, Donates Millions to City Arts. The picture showed a man who looked like he was made of stone – all sharp edges, serious eyes, and a jawline you could cut yourself on. He looked totally uncomfortable surrounded by all the smiling rich people, like he'd rather be anywhere else.
But Sera couldn't deny it - the man practically oozed power and confidence. He was everything she wasn't – rich, powerful, untouchable. He probably didn't even know what it felt like to worry about paying rent, let alone imagine losing the person he loved most in the world.
"Mum," Sera interrupted gently, "Mr. Thorne and his fancy friends are a million miles away from us. We've got more important things to worry about."
Her mom's smile slipped, replaced with the same worried look Sera felt inside. "Sweetheart, I know you're doing everything you can. But those medical bills..."
Sera squeezed her mom's hand, a wave of sadness washing over her. "Don't you worry about any of that, Mum. We'll figure it out. We always do."
But even as she said it, a tiny seed of doubt bloomed in her heart. The truth was, they were running out of options. And Sera was starting to fear that even escaping into her beloved books wouldn't be enough to save them this time.
A heavy silence fell, punctuated by the rhythmic tick-tock of the vintage clock on the wall, a constant reminder of time's relentless march. Sera knew what her mother was thinking, even if it remained unspoken. The experimental treatments, the ones offering a glimmer of hope where conventional medicine had failed, were expensive, far beyond their means.
Eleanor, as if reading her daughter's thoughts, reached out and brushed a stray curl away from Sera's cheek. "I know, love," she murmured, her voice soft but firm. "No more talk of impossible bills and even more impossible men. Come now, read to me. Let's lose ourselves in a world where Mr. Darcy always saves the day."
Sera smiled, a familiar warmth spreading through her as she picked up the worn copy of Pride and Prejudice. The book fell open to a dog-eared page, a testament to their shared history, to countless evenings spent escaping into Jane Austen's world of witty banter and yearning hearts. As Sera began to read, her voice finding its rhythm amidst the familiar words, she felt a sense of calm settle over her.
But fate, it seemed, had a flair for dramatic interruptions.
A sudden, insistent buzzing emanated from Sera's bag, effectively shattering the tranquility of their literary bubble. With a sigh, Sera set the book aside, digging through a jumble of receipts, dog-eared bookmarks, and stray tea bags until she unearthed her phone. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.
"Sorry, Mum, probably just another telemarketer trying to sell me life insurance or double glazing," Sera said, her finger hovering over the decline button.
"Maybe it's Mr. Darcy, finally come to sweep you off your feet," her mother quipped, a playful glint in her eye.
Sera chuckled, shaking her head at her mother's incurable romanticism. "If Mr. Darcy were real, Mum, he'd be too busy managing his estate and brooding over his social standing to even notice a simple bookseller like me."
The phone buzzed again, more insistent this time. With a sigh, Sera pressed the answer button, raising her voice in a tone that was a touch too bright. "Hello, Bellrose Books, how can I help you?"
Silence.
Just as Sera was about to hang up, a deep, resonant voice, tinged with an air of authority that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine, filled the line.
"Miss Bellrose? I apologize for the intrusion, but I believe we have something that belongs to you."
"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number," Sera began, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"I assure you, Miss Bellrose, I have the correct number," the voice interrupted, a hint of amusement creeping into its edges. "It's about your mother's medical bills."
Sera's head shot up, her pulse quickening. "Who is this? How do you know about that?"
The voice, however, offered no further explanation. "Meet me. Tonight. Eight o'clock. The Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel. Come alone, Miss Bellrose. And bring the book."
The line went dead.
Sera stared at the phone in her hand, her mind a jumble of questions and apprehension. The Oak Room at The Plaza? It was a world away from her quiet life in Brooklyn, a world of power and privilege she'd only ever glimpsed through the pages of her beloved novels. And who was this mysterious caller, and how did they know about her mother's medical bills?
As if in a daze, she met her mother's worried gaze. "Mum... I think I might just have a date with destiny."
He was everything she could never have. She was everything he never thought he needed. Seraphina Bellrose, a simple bookseller with a heart of gold, never expected to cross paths with the enigmatic and irresistibly charming Julian Thorne, CEO of Thorne Industries and the city’s most eligible bachelor. But fate, it seems, had other plans. A chance encounter, a night of undeniable connection, and suddenly, Sera finds herself thrust into Julian's world of luxury and privilege as his constant companion. He insists their arrangement is purely transactional – she needs his resources, and he needs a convenient partner. But behind Julian's cool facade and carefully constructed walls, Sera glimpses a tenderness that belies his words. As she navigates the treacherous waters of high society gossip and judgment, guarding her heart against the man she’s falling for, a devastating truth emerges: Julian is promised to another. With a broken heart and her pride hanging by a thread, Sera makes the agonizing decision to walk away. Yet, Julian's response is not what she expects. He refuses to let her go. In a world of power and privilege, where love is a dangerous game, can a love born of secrets and sacrifice ever truly bloom?
A forbidden love story that will break your heart and then mend it with hope. Elena, a woman with a heart as pure as gold, finds herself caught in a web of deceit and desire when she meets Ethan, a man who embodies both her dreams and her fears. Their passionate affair is a forbidden fruit, tempting yet dangerous, but can they ever truly be together? Dive into a world of opulence and heartbreak, where love is the only treasure worth fighting for.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
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After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Joanna was sabotaged by her sister and ended up in a stranger’s bed. Despised by her boyfriend and pressured by her family, she was forced to marry a wealthy scoundrel, Rhys. Rhys’ young adoptive father was the richest man in town, but was also said to be violent. Everyone thought Joanna was doomed, but Owen favored her and condemned her bullies. Joanna secretly loved Owen, but after a night of passion, he began to withdraw from her. Heartbroken, she entertained other men. She was on a date when Owen suddenly barged in. "You said you loved me!" Joanna smirked. "Too late. You’ll have to get in line."
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.