Emma had always thought of herself as untouchable. With her sharp tongue, enviable beauty, and spoiled rotten demeanor, she had managed to stay several steps ahead of anyone who dared to challenge her. But somehow, Will Knight-cocky, impatient, and slightly dimwitted-had managed to kidnap her and her best friend not once, but twice. How? She was still trying to wrap her head around it. The first time had been a chaotic mess. Will had bungled the plan, getting caught halfway through, and yet, somehow, he still managed to pull it off. The second time was almost laughable. Emma had expected a more elaborate scheme, but instead, Will had used his brute force and complete disregard for any semblance of intelligence. It was absurd, really. He had no finesse, no strategy, and yet here they were, locked in his uncomfortably shabby hideout for the second time. "Seriously?" Emma muttered, pacing the room, hands on her hips. "How does someone this clueless get away with kidnapping?" Will shrugged with that stupid grin of his. "Dunno, guess I'm just lucky." Emma shot him a withering look. Maybe luck had something to do with it, but she had a feeling there was more to Will than met the eye. Perhaps he wasn't as dimwitted as she'd thought. That idea made her stomach twist in an unsettling way.
You know how people in movies always seem to know when their lives are about to change? Yeah, that doesn't happen in real life. You don't wake up one morning and think, "Oh, my God, I'm going to get kidnapped today."
The day I got kidnapped, I didn't wake up with some otherworldly premonition about what was about to happen. I woke up barking orders at the air, still stuck in party-planning mode even when I was half-asleep. I had no idea my life was about to change. If I had, I would've run for the hills. I would've even been willing to abandon my party-planning. But I didn't have a premonition, and I didn't run. I just kept obsessively planning my best friend's birthday party.
"No, no, no! I said gardenias. First Love gardenias. What is so impossible to understand about that?" I snapped into the phone, cutting the man off every time he tried to speak. He was obviously just your average worker. He was too flustered to be anyone of power. "No! No! I don't want to hear talk of tulips! Or lilies! I said gardenias. We want First Love gardenias. No. No!"
People these days were so incompetent. Why would this man even think to suggest tulips or lilies when I was so clear about our desire for gardenias? It was ridiculous.
"Ma'am, you must understand-"
"There's nothing to understand," I exclaimed. "My client said she wanted First Love gardenias, and that's what I'm getting her. Not tulips. Not lilies. Gardenias."
My client wasn't just any client; I wouldn't have been doing this for any old person. My client just so happened to be my best friend, Taylor Williamson, and this wasn't just any party. It was her eighteenth birthday party, and it had to be absolutely perfect. Taylor had entrusted me with this job, assuming I would do it to the best of my ability, and that was exactly what I was going to do. No imbecile was going to ruin this for me or for her.
"But we don't-"
"I don't care! I'm not asking for some endangered flower from Africa. My request is so simple. Gardenias. We just want gardenias."
Well, I was definitely never ordering flowers from this business ever again. This was absolutely ridiculous. Horrible service. Just horrible.
"But we don't have-"
"You are living proof that evolution can go in reverse. Haven't I made myself more than clear? We. Want. First. Love. Gardenias."
"Ma'am, I'm sure there are plenty of other very beautiful flowers-"
"No," I snapped, shaking my head even though the man couldn't see me. "I don't want to hear talk of these other flowers! You have two choices: either get the gardenias for this party, or count on losing our funding and patronization."
He sounded much more nervous the next time he spoke. "There's no need to take such drastic measures. Ma'am-"
"You're making me take drastic measures!" I interrupted, grinding my teeth. "If you don't figure this out, we'll be moving to another flower shop. And I promise you, that's going to cost you. My clients are not the type who take kindly to delays. Do you understand that? I don't have the luxury of playing games."
The silence on the other end was thick, but then I heard the unmistakable sound of hurried typing. I had him now. He knew he was losing my business, and I was the kind of customer who didn't forget these things.
"Okay, ma'am," he stammered. "I'll check with our stock and get back to you as soon as I can."
"That's better. You'd better hurry up. If you're not calling me back within the next hour, I'll be taking my business elsewhere." I ended the call with a firm snap of the phone. I needed to focus. The party had a million moving parts, and I wasn't about to let one incompetent flower vendor ruin everything.
With a deep breath, I turned to the party-planning binder I had been obsessively curating for the past six months. It had every detail covered: color schemes, guest lists, catering options, and the ever-important flower arrangements. Taylor had been clear about what she wanted. Gardenias. Not just any gardenias, but First Love gardenias. There was no substitute. If I couldn't get those flowers, the whole event would fall apart. It was as simple as that.
I scrolled through the guest list next. The guest list was critical. We couldn't have too many people crowding the space, but at the same time, we needed to make sure Taylor's friends and family were all accounted for. Taylor wasn't just any girl-she was the type who expected the best, and she trusted me to deliver. We'd been best friends since kindergarten, and when she asked me to plan this monumental event for her, I couldn't have said no. I knew how important it was.
It was then that I noticed the time. I had been up for hours already, planning and making calls, and I still hadn't had breakfast. My stomach growled, but I pushed the thought aside. There was no time for food. Not now. I was in full-on party-planning mode, and nothing could derail me.
The next few hours were a blur of calls, emails, and frantic running around. The caterer confirmed the menu, the decorators assured me that the venue was coming along, and the entertainment had been booked. Everything seemed to be falling into place... except for the damn flowers.
I had already contacted three other florists in the area, and none of them carried First Love gardenias. It was starting to feel like a lost cause. The frustration gnawed at me, but I refused to give up. Not after all this effort. Taylor deserved perfection.
Around midday, I made the mistake of glancing at my phone again. The screen lit up with a message from Taylor: I'm so excited for the party! Thanks for planning everything. You're the best! I smiled at the message. Of course, I was the best. I always delivered.
But as I tapped out a quick reply, my phone buzzed with another call from the flower shop. I groaned and answered it, my patience wearing thin.
"Ma'am, I've managed to secure a shipment of First Love gardenias," the voice on the other end said, the relief evident in his tone. "They'll be arriving at your venue within the hour."
I could feel the tension in my shoulders melt away, and for the first time today, I allowed myself to smile. "Thank you," I said, a little more graciously than I had been all morning. "I appreciate your persistence."
"Of course, ma'am. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to working with you again in the future."
I hung up, feeling a wave of triumph wash over me. The flowers were taken care of. Now, I just needed to focus on the final details. The guest list, the seating chart, the music. I was nearly there.
As I reviewed my checklist, I heard a knock on the door. At first, I ignored it. But when the knocking continued, I rose from my seat, irritation creeping back in. I opened the door to find a delivery driver holding a package.
"Package for Alexander McKinley," he said, handing me the clipboard to sign.
I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't order anything."
"Not sure, ma'am. Just says to deliver it to this address."
I signed without asking too many questions, curious about what could possibly be inside. The box wasn't large, but it felt heavier than expected. I moved to my desk and carefully cut through the tape. Inside was an assortment of odd items: a few bundles of cheap, garish ribbons, a set of miniature candles, and a note.
I unfolded the note, and my heart skipped a beat as I read the single line scrawled across the paper:
You should have been more careful with your plans. We're watching.
I froze. Something in my gut twisted. My pulse quickened. It wasn't just a prank. It couldn't be.
I glanced around, suddenly hyper-aware of every little sound. The silence in my apartment felt suffocating.
I had no idea what was happening, but something told me I had just crossed a line. A line I wouldn't be able to uncross.
After the death of Peter McKinley, the fate of the McKinley Inns was left in the hands of Peter's firstborn son, Alexander. Thrust into leadership, Alexander was determined to protect the legacy his father built from the ground up. But when he uncovered the company's seemingly unending debts and mounting pressure from creditors, he found himself drowning in financial ruin. Desperation clawed at him as he scrambled for a solution to save the family's name and keep the company afloat. Then came an unexpected offer-one that both intrigued and infuriated him. George Garrison, a young billionaire and hotel magnate, approached him with a proposal: he would buy McKinley Inns, settle its debts, and keep Alexander on as the face of the brand. But there was a condition-George wanted to marry Alexander's younger sister. The deal sounded like a lifeline, but to Alexander, it felt like a betrayal. His sister was in love with someone else, and the thought of trading her happiness for a business deal sickened him. Refusing to give up so easily, Alexander sought out other options, determined to find another way. Meanwhile, George Garrison, under pressure from his late grandfather's will, was required to marry in order to claim full control of his inheritance. The catch? He was gay-and had no desire for a wife or a marriage of convenience. He saw Peter McKinley's daughter as a solution, a name to satisfy the will. But when Alexander stormed into his office, angry and desperate, George found himself considering a far more intriguing arrangement-one that just might change everything.
Keagan is the definition of bad boy. College man with a body that could make even God moan and an attitude to put the devil to shame. He walked campus halls like he owned them-tattoos inked across golden skin, smirk cocked like a loaded gun, and eyes that dared anyone to look away first. Between classes and drinking parties, sex and boys, Keagan had it all. He didn't chase love-he devoured it in the dark, left it breathless, and moved on before morning. Until Jamison. Small, skinny, anti-social. With glasses too big for his face and sweaters that hung off his shoulders like afterthoughts, Jamison barely existed in Keagan's world. Quiet, forgettable... or so everyone thought. But there was something in the way Jamison looked at Keagan-like he saw straight through the leather and lust. Like he wasn't afraid. Keagan should've ignored him. Should've kept walking. But something about that awkward little ghost of a boy stopped him cold. Curiosity, maybe. Hunger, definitely. Because suddenly, Keagan wanted more than a body to ruin-he wanted to see if someone like Jamison could handle the heat. The question wasn't if Keagan would break him. The question was... would Jamison beg for it?
Thea Gibson lived a perfectly ordinary life. By day, she served drinks at the local bar, earning just enough to pay the rent and keep her bills from piling up. She wasn't one for extravagant spending, preferring quiet nights at home with her nose buried in the latest paranormal fantasy novel. It was easier to get lost in a world of mythical creatures and epic battles than face the real one, where she tried-and often failed-to suppress the awkwardness that followed her like a shadow. Most nights, she relished her solitude, but that didn't stop her best friend Shae from dragging her to parties. "You need to get out more!" Shae would say with that infectious energy that made it impossible to say no. Thea would end up surrounded by strangers, nursing a drink in a corner, wishing she could escape into the pages of her book instead of pretending to enjoy herself. The only bright spot? Detective Josh Cooper. He was always there, with his captivating smile and those deep eyes that seemed to see right through her. Thea had a secret crush on him. But that was all it was-a harmless fantasy. That all changed one fateful night. The bar was quieter than usual when a figure appeared in the doorway. The air seemed to crackle with electricity as Thea stared at him. He was tall, his presence undeniable, with a calm confidence that seemed at odds with the tension in the room. Before she could even process what was happening, a group of monstrous creatures-Titans, she later learned-charged toward her. Panic surged in her chest. But before they could reach her, the man was there, moving with blinding speed, his hand raised. A bolt of light shot from his fingers, and the Titans disintegrated into smoke. "I'm Hermes," he said, voice smooth as silk. "Messenger of the Gods. And you, Thea, are a reincarnated deity with a destiny you've yet to remember." The words felt surreal. Thea opened her mouth to protest, but the world around her seemed to shift, and suddenly she wasn't sure what was real anymore. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. Hermes smiled, the corner of his lips curling up with a mysterious knowing. "You're about to find out. The Titans are free. And it's up to you to send Cronos back to Tartarus." Thea shook her head in disbelief. "This is insane." "You're not the first to refuse the truth," Hermes said, his tone soft, but unwavering. "But you will be the one to stop him." Everything she'd known, every bit of normalcy she clung to, crumbled in that instant.
Young aspiring writer Norah Jacobs needs to escape. In just two weeks, her life has been turned upside down. Her brother, a brilliant but deeply corrupt lawyer, is incarcerated for murder. His name, once synonymous with success, is now dragged through the mud by the media. And as if that weren't enough, his former partner-a man as dangerous as he is relentless-now lurks around her home, throwing half-threats her way, making it clear that her silence comes at a price... The peace she had been desperately trying to hold onto crumbles. So, Norah makes a radical decision: she packs her car, abandons her apartment, shuts off her phone, and disappears. Her destination is Bellvale, a small coastal town, far removed from the chaos she left behind. But in Bellvale, calm is only an illusion. Soon, Norah realizes that this secluded corner of the world harbors its own darkness. Strange whispers in the woods, too many piercing gazes, and an unsettling feeling of being watched... She finds herself drawn into an ancient power struggle, one between creatures she thought were only found in fairy tales. And she quickly learns an undeniable truth: no matter how hard you try to run from your problems... they always find a way to catch up.
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.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
"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!
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
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!