Romance Books for Women
Bestsellers Ongoing Completed
/0/36338/coverorgin.jpg?v=d72196bc83f8d7a54901a360135bb6b7&imageMogr2/format/webp)
A Marriage to Cure A Broken Billionaire
"I will never marry and pass this curse on to another human being. Do you understand? It's your fault that I'm broken! I will never give you the satisfaction of having a child from me! I will remain a lonely man! I promise you that!" "They say you should; never say, Never." Dexter Lee is about to find out why that statement is so true. Though he meant every word he said, despite being tall, dark, and handsome, it doesn't hurt that he is the only son of one of the 3% wealthiest Billionaire families in the world. He's the kind of man a girl can only wish to obtain because he checks all the boxes perfectly on the outside. Yes, Dexter Lee would have been perfect if he wasn't a broken man with a haunting secret that only a unique martial bond could cure. But he promises Never to Marry. All that will change when he unimaginably meets the most unlikely and intriguing girl. Is Tameka Tran the cure this broken man needs? Or will she only make his lonely existence more miserable? It's a riveting sweet romance novel. No cheating. No cliffhangers. Happy ending? You'll have to read it to find out./0/29142/coverorgin.jpg?v=750a93ec98bd77085e4e244122ca90e5&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Play Boy's Doll
Moans escape me, and I feel my eyes turn moist with pleasure as I hold his head to my breast with my left hand. He keeps rolling his tongue over my nipple, and sucking it while slamming his long fingers deep into my pussy, and pulling them back out, only to repeat the action. "Oh God, I'm gonna pee… "I cry out as I feel the tissues in my sex clench, and pressure build in my lower stomach. While Asher chuckles. "That's not pee, dear. It's cum… "He replies, and I shut my eyes and arch my back as warm, satisfying fluid flows out of me, and to the ground beneath me. I eventually open my eyes when Asher pulls his fingers out of me, and to my surprise, he takes his fingers that are now wet from my juice, up to his mouth, and licks them clean. Causing my jaw to drop in shock, and I can't hold back my words. "Don't do that… It's dirty… "I say, and he smiles. "No part of you is dirty, Chelsea… "He replies, and I feel a flutter in my chest at his words… ******** Asher Wayne is a billionaire's heir. A privileged son of a mightly rich man. He's in his third year in college, and is a fuck god who gets whatever he wants. He gets whoever he wants in his bed, and has every girl around him falling for his good looks and loaded pockets. Chelsea Perkins is an optimistic young, freshman who wants nothing but to make her mother proud, and make her father regret ever abandoning her. What happens when somehow, a deal makes this little, goody two shoes find herself in the badboys bed? Sparks will be created, but will these sparks burn both or one of them badly, or will it turn into flames that will turn lust into love, and love into refined gold? Would sex be just a part of a beautiful bond that will be created? Or will it commonize the entire relationship and be the sole purpose of their union?/0/91404/coverorgin.jpg?v=3f27a8ea715f4cb92deb81a300567681&imageMogr2/format/webp)
A Body Double For His Obsession
I was an artist hired to be a companion for the reclusive billionaire, Kane Miller. I fell in love with the broken man I thought I was saving. Then I discovered the truth. He was secretly recording our intimate moments, only to use deepfake technology to replace my face with my stepsister Coral' s. I wasn't his lover; I was a body double for his obsession. When Coral framed me for assault, Kane didn't just believe her-he watched as his guards beat me. Later, he sent thugs to shatter my right hand, destroying my career as an artist. To protect Coral's reputation before her wedding, he had me thrown in a detention center, coldly calling me a "plaything" he was done with. He destroyed my body, my career, and my heart, all for a woman who was lying to his face. But in that cold cell, I got an offer from the stepfather who had once cast me out. He wanted me to marry a disabled tech heir, Keegan Marks, in exchange for my mother's massive trust fund. I took the deal. I walked out of that jail, left the city, and flew to marry a stranger, finally choosing to escape the man who broke me./0/59178/coverorgin.jpg?v=209109d051553347f6308919b134d1b5&imageMogr2/format/webp)
His regret: Can't win me back
"It's getting hot in here, don't you think?" I shudder as my clit becomes wet with his smooth voice. I melt away in his arms. He kisses me with a passion I've never felt before, and I moan into his mouth, lost in the moment until I sense him kicking open a door. I realize we're in a room. He continues the kiss as I wrap my leg around him, pulling him closer, his erection pressing into me. I feel my panties dripping wet from arousal. He releases me, resting his back on the headboard, and grabs my thigh, pulling me closer. His hand goes to my hair, releasing it to let my curls fall freely. He guides his fingers from my scalp to the ends of the curls, muttering in a husky voice, "Fucking beautiful. ****** Jasmine found herself trapped in a loveless marriage. Her world shattered when she uncovered her husband's betrayal on his birthday. Heartbroken and betrayed, she made the difficult decision to leave him and start anew in Illinois, with her friend Ava by her side. As Jasmine tried to go through her new life, a one-night stand left her pregnant, uncertain about the father's identity. But complications arose as Maxwell, Jasmine's ex-husband, refused to let go. Jasmine discovered shocking truths about Ava's betrayal. As secrets unraveled and loyalties were tested, Would she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her way? Could she trust her heart, or would the shadows of the past forever haunt her?/0/80297/coverorgin.jpg?v=d45a9a428d68743dd9093b4d01fd90d2&imageMogr2/format/webp)
His Ex, My Hell
For five years, I was Mrs. Davenport, cleaning up after my husband's one-night stands and enduring his casual cruelty. Call it a gilded cage, but this mansion was my prison, bought by my sacrifice: I was the secret medical lifeline keeping him, Ethan Davenport, alive. Our cruel contract was nearing its end, just three months left. Then, Chloe, his perfect ex-girlfriend, waltzed back in. Her arrival wasn't a gentle reunion; it was a wrecking ball designed to finish what Ethan's neglect had started. She smeared my name, orchestrated a public humiliation, and then watched, smiling, as Ethan, fueled by rage and alcohol, dragged me to a damp, cold cellar. He tore apart my most sacred possession-my fiancé's diary-then brutally killed my loyal dog, Buddy, right before my eyes. As I bled, collapsing into unconsciousness, I heard his ex's venomous whisper: she'd had all my precious memories of him incinerated. They had taken everything. My dignity, my love, my last connection to a life I cherished. My heart was a hollowed-out space, suffocating under a mountain of grief and betrayal. How could a human being be so cruel, so blind, to the sacrifices I'd made to keep him alive? But on the day our notorious contract officially expired, I walked out. With nothing but the clothes on my back and a one-way ticket to a remote Pacific Northwest retreat, I finally chose myself. It was time to disappear, to burn away the past, and somehow, exist again./0/81705/coverorgin.jpg?v=af14adb4757f45bdfb751a6942de1c57&imageMogr2/format/webp)
When Love Wore A Mask
Ethan Miller was an architect, but his life was ending. He was entering witness protection to avenge his father, a journalist murdered by corrupt forces. The cost? Everything he knew, especially Ava, the woman he loved. He shattered her heart, feigning greed and ambition to protect her from immense danger. Then, he walked into their apartment to find her intimate with his childhood friend, Julian. He was a ghost in his own home, watching his own replacement. Ava's contempt became his daily torture. She treated him like a paid servant, throwing money at him. He endured public humiliation, serving them at parties, known only as "Ava's pet." After her terrible accident, he anonymously donated a kidney to save her life. Yet Julian took all the credit, building a false narrative of heroism. Ethan silently suffered Ava's accusations and physical abuse, trapped in a role of ultimate humiliation. His silence was his shield, his coldness a desperate act of love. He let her believe he was an unfeeling monster, relentlessly crushing her hope. Every insult was a fresh wound, but revealing the truth would expose her to deadly enemies. Why did he choose her hatred, this agonizing self-sacrifice? Then, an impossible truth emerged: Ethan, believed dead, was seen alive, engaged to another woman. Ava' s world shattered, her grief morphing into furious betrayal. Now, she will confront him, demanding answers, ready to tear apart every secret, dragging them both back into the shadows of his dangerous past, no matter the cost./1/107830/coverorgin.jpg?v=a78c086c7d9b6506dd7ad1dc42780ecc&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Pregnant by Two Secrets: My Ex and His Father
He became crippled because of me,but I ran away from the man I loved...and fell into the arms of his father. One reckless night with a stranger should have ended there, until I learned the stranger was Lucien Sinclair, the self-made billionaire CEO of the Sinclair Empire. My ex-boyfriend's father. Now I'm trapped in a contract marriage with a devil, who forces me to watch my past and present collide under the same roof. And betrayal? It's my daily dose...especially when my best friend steals my husband right before my eyes. Then the nightmare turns fatal. I'm pregnant... with twins. One child belongs to the father. The other belongs to the son. No matter who I choose......someone I love will burn./0/22259/coverorgin.jpg?v=4fa639befd111c874b16233d017b4c3b&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Revenge To The Devil
At a young age, she witnessed how her whole family was murdered by a notorious gang leader whom his Dad worked with. She knows nothing about what her Dad's job was. She never forgets his face and wishes one day she'll get revenge on him, who killed her entire family. She was brought into an orphanage, and later on, the murderer had come to adopt her. She was raised as her adopted daughter, and she swears to take his life if she is given a slim chance. Living with him every day makes her eager to take her revenge against him. As she grew old, his adopted father fell in love with her gradually. Fate had changed when he took her as his wife. She learned to love him after being secretly married to him, but he had hurt her again and left her alone in the hospital after she lost their child, saying, "Don't let me see you again!" Fate played again, and they reencountered. Finally, her husband sent a waiter to hand a check as payment for having a one-night snack with him. She knew they hated each other and wanted to take revenge on each other, but deep down in her heart, she still longed for his love and affection. Would their fate change this time and heal their broken heart? What if she discovered the truth behind the tragic death of her family? Would she forgive him, or would she still take his life to fulfill her ambition of killing him?/0/82018/coverorgin.jpg?v=8a88604bd3feb1cb9830fbe727bf2f56&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Too Late for Regret, Liam
For six years, I believed Liam and I were building a real life together in our Chicago apartment. I always thought our love was solid, unbreakable. One quiet Tuesday night, searching his laptop for a tax document, I stumbled upon a folder simply named "C." Curiosity, that stupid little nudge, made me click. It wasn't finances; it was Chloe. Thousands of photos, her smiling face, and then the "Journal" subfolder. My hands shook as I read devastating entries. The flowers he bought me after my promotion, the romantic trip to Italy, even our engagement-each cherished moment a desperate reaction to a woman he still couldn't let go of. He worried I was pregnant, clearly terrified of being tied to me while Chloe was "still out there." Then Chloe herself started sending me messages, photos of her and Liam, bragging I was just a "placeholder." I heard him tell his best friend he was "stringing me along" to make Chloe jealous. The man I loved saw me only as a prop in his silent play for another woman. How could I have been so blind, so completely fooled? His ring on my finger was never for me. With a cold, hard clarity, I realized my entire relationship was a meticulously crafted lie. I saved every message, every damning photo, and wrote a short note: "We're done." I closed our joint accounts, changed my number, and bought a bus ticket out of Chicago. There was no sadness, just a firm click of a door closing on a life that was never truly mine./0/52295/coverorgin.jpg?v=d62019ea057a39e980024df8cc951937&imageMogr2/format/webp)
In love with a Korean
“In ‘In love with a Korean', immerse yourself in Julia's thrilling journey of self-discovery, where her quest for identity intertwines with overcoming losses and the formation of heartwarming family bonds. The relationship with Young-Chul adds a touch of mystery and sensuality, exploring love amidst irresistible cultural challenges. This is more than just a book; it's a promise of a compelling narrative, full of fascinating personal discoveries, surprising revelations, and heart-touching moments of resilience. Get ready for a rich and complex story—a literary journey through the intricate webs of life, culture, and love.”/0/73414/coverorgin.jpg?v=9b4045eaf6e08129d4e32316a2fd254c&imageMogr2/format/webp)
My hard boss
Sally's new job started in a very unusual way. Now, it's fair to say that Sally really didn't get along with her boss, and he wasn't exactly her biggest fan either. But when he needed someone to pretend to be his girlfriend to help find some secret agents at work, she agreed without much hesitation. The pay was good, so why not? But sometimes, love can blossom in the most surprising situations, and even people who seem like they should be enemies can find themselves drawn to each other. However, life often has its own plans, and even for those who fall in love, there can be unexpected twists ahead. To find out what happens, you'll have to read the rest of the book./0/78420/coverorgin.jpg?v=7bed93d11f531e53b46d9c662d35a528&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Piano of Vengeance
Athena, a gifted pianist, loses everything after a mysterious accident robs her of the use of her hand. As she struggles to rebuild her life, dark secrets about her husband Leon and her best friend Crystal come to light-their betrayal runs deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of Arthur, a mysterious man with a vendetta, Athena devises a plan to expose their deceit. But as they work together, the lines between trust and suspicion blur, leaving Athena wondering: is Arthur truly her ally, or does he have ulterior motives? As their game reaches its peak, will Athena find justice, or will she become ensnared in an even darker web of betrayal?/0/20069/coverorgin.jpg?v=25dce5f8af6308d8d3fcb7de4a2e0279&imageMogr2/format/webp)
THE RED JAGUAR
"Ouch!" Yhera almost bumped her head in her Montero's steering wheel. She automatically stopped her car and glanced at her car's side view mirror. She saw a red jaguar car. She opened her car and walked near the red jaguar, with anger plastered in her face. The door at the driver's side slowly opened and an almost six feet tall man came out, with a smirk on his face. Atty. Yhera with hands on her hips, speaks with sparkle of irritation in her tone, "Mister didn't you see my big Montero in front of your one hell of a kind red jaguar?" Amazed with such question, the man's eyes have been fixed to Yhera's face. Like he was studyingher raised eyebrow, her heart shape face, nose bridge and small supple red lips; all without any traces of make-up except for a thin face powder. "What a sweet angel in her outbursts of anger," the man whispered, eyes now raking at her slender figure, covered with a white sleeveless lacy blouse and tight fitting maong jeans. His eyes travel in her perfectly shape arms, hips and toes in stiletto. Her fair, perfect skin with thin cat hairs, top it most. "Finished doing your physical survey, Mister?" Yhera with irritation asked the man. "Uhuh, yes! I am Seigfred by the way." He extended his right hand to Yhera with a confident smile. Yhera looked at Seigfred's extended hand then slowly fixed her eyes on the man's dark brown, a bit chinky and mysterious eyes, a well sculptured nose and lips, and a ruggedly, handsome face. Yhera's heart skips to beat. "Well, Ma'am did I pass your physical survey?" The tone of Seigfred seemed so amused. Wanted a love story with a little bit of mystery? Have a roller coaster ride then in "The Red Jaguar" until you finally relaxed in the end./0/83426/coverorgin.jpg?v=20260106202438&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Rebuilt: The Woman They Dismissed
Ten years ago, I was just the quiet girl next door, hopelessly in love with Ethan Carter. Prom night was supposed to be my moment, my chance for him to finally see me. But instead, he asked me for my car keys, not for us, but for Jessica Vance, the girl he was setting up fairy lights for. Just as I handed them over, my phone buzzed with the call that would shatter my world: my dad had a heart attack. My heart sank as I watched him kiss Jessica, under those very lights, his flimsy excuse for needing my car keys. When I desperately pleaded for them back, my world crumbling around me, he just fumbled, then admitted they were locked in Jessica's car – and she flatly refused to retrieve them. No one offered me a ride, not even a glance of pity, as I ran miles in my prom dress, missing my father' s final breaths because of their casual indifference. They reduced my raw grief, my trauma, to a mere bid for attention, laughing about the 'dramatic girl' who 'ruined the party.' It was a cold, lonely clarity: they never saw me, and they never would. Ten years later, I returned to New York not as the shy girl they discarded, but as Claire Anderson, a formidable architect. Now, he thinks he can waltz back into my life, seeking redemption for a past he barely remembers, but I' m ready to remind him exactly who he dismissed./0/85929/coverorgin.jpg?v=d54c0f9ce8dcd40f944a366073350567&imageMogr2/format/webp)
CRAVE-IN
Summary of Crave-in In the shadows of Rome's blood-soaked streets, Alessandro Moretti-the ruthless and untouchable 28-year-old mafia don-rules with iron precision. Feared as Il Fantasma for his ghost-like killings and cold mind, he is unbreakable, unloving, and unchallenged. Until he meets her. Elena Caruso, 25, is a beautiful but broken woman fleeing a haunting past. When she's accidentally caught in a mafia skirmish, Alessandro saves her life-or perhaps, claims it. What begins as a dangerous attraction turns into something deeper. Elena, soft and silent at first, begins to adapt, evolve, and eventually master the brutal world that surrounds her. But Elena's transformation threatens more than hearts-it threatens power. Enter Valeria Bianchi, a venomous beauty from a powerful mafia bloodline, once promised to Alessandro and obsessed with reclaiming what she believes is hers. Her hatred for Elena turns into obsession as she aligns herself with Dario Romano, Alessandro's oldest friend turned traitor, who will stop at nothing to take the empire-and Elena-for himself. As enemies close in and betrayals cut deep, Alessandro must choose between absolute control... and the woman who's become his only weakness. What none of them know is that Elena has secrets of her own-ones that will flip the power balance forever. In a world of blood, passion, and loyalty, love isn't the prize. It's the war. And when the dust settles, only one woman will stand beside the king./0/31802/coverorgin.jpg?v=93eff0716de5f28f08eb4914f9c45f01&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Medieval insanity
They met by chance and fell in love with each other at first sight. They were young, rich and after the wedding were supposed to have a happy prosperous life. But because of the enemies, they were separated forever… After centuries they met again. Will they be able to recognise each other and be together?../0/79046/coverorgin.jpg?v=b8961c3deb11081311eddc70852a159d&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Her Billionaire Daddy
Sierra Lane was out for a fresh start. After finding her fiance in bed with a close friend she'd packed up and moved out of the city, promising herself she was going on a break from men. She'd endured one too many heartbreaks and she was finally done. Or so she thought. Her plans blurred in no time. The last person she could possibly be with turned out to be the one she wanted the most. He was way out of her league. Apart from being a billionaire CEO and single dad, he was also her boss. She would have been content hiding in the shadows and denying her attraction to him. If he hadn't made it his mission to have her. *** Jayden Grey could not remember the last time he'd felt the burning desire to be with a woman. Until her. He wasn't sure why he wanted her so much that everything else came second. He figured it could be the fact that his son seemed to have formed a special bond with her. Or maybe it was because she had showed up in his life at a point in his life where he needed her the most. Or maybe it was the fact that just the thought of her made him hard. He wanted her. Badly. And even though she was determined to resist him, he was even more determined to have her. Mind, body and soul. He loved a good chase after all. It was only a matter of time before he had her exactly as he wanted. Permanently his./0/84052/coverorgin.jpg?v=e4e780aec8bf396087ac8957f7f4f0ee&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Too Late For Love, Too Late For Life
For ten years, Andrew Scott – Drew – was my world. He was my protector, my father' s best friend, who' d raised me after my world shattered. My adoration for him, though, morphed into a love he brutally rejected, sending me away like a problem to be solved. To prove I was more than his ward, I volunteered for a deep-cover CIA mission, ultimately dying for my country. But death wasn't the end. I returned, a spirit, granted seven days to find peace. My only attachment was Drew, and I materialized in his Georgetown home. What I witnessed shattered me. Drew, the man I' d died for, was engaged to Molly, dismissing me as a mere "asset" and accusing me of desertion when I flickeringly appeared. Molly, his fiancée, wasn' t just unconcerned; she actively, sadistically tormented me, savoring my pain as I floated, unseen, through my childhood home. He didn' t see me. He never really had. I was a liability, a game, a ghost of memory. How could the man who raised me, who promised to keep me safe, refuse to see the truth even when I stood before him, the very woman he' d sent to her death? On my last day, my funeral arrived. My casket, draped in a flag, confirmed the unspeakable. And then, I watched as the man I loved finally broke, realizing, too late, the terrible truth of who I was, and what he had lost./0/85460/coverorgin.jpg?v=9fe86ece6df8bb24568d0ea239d4eb1b&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Her Stolen Art, His Broken Promises
The gallery was my dream, my soul poured onto vibrant canvases. My fiancé, Mark, stood by my side, whispering promises of our future, of a life built on art and love. Then came the searing pain, a blinding agony that stole my breath and sent me crashing to the cold, hard floor. My hands came away wet and red, and the world blurred around the edges. I woke in a hospital bed, the pain a dull throb. Two voices drifted from the hallway, sharp and urgent: Mark and Chloe, my best friend. "Did you get the portfolio? The final design?" Mark' s cold voice cut through my haze. "Yes, of course," Chloe replied, pride lacing her tone. "My gallery opening will be the talk of the town. No one will even remember Ava's little project." My heart froze. Her gallery, my designs. Then Mark added, "Just make sure no one connects this back to you. It needs to look like a random mugging." This wasn' t a random mugging. This was planned by the man I was supposed to marry, the man who had held me just last night. A new, deeper pain ripped through me, and a nurse rushed in, her face a mask of concern. "We did everything we could, but... you've lost the baby." Our baby. The secret I was going to share with Mark tonight. The doctor' s words finally broke me. The future, my art, my child-all gone, destroyed by their greed. Mark, this isn't just a breakup. This is war. Later, they came to my room, performing their roles with false pity. Mark mused about the "random mugging" story, calculating its narrative. Then the doctor returned, his face grave. "We had to perform an emergency hysterectomy to save your life. You won't be able to carry a child, Ava." They hadn't just stolen my art or my baby. They had stolen my entire future. Mark returned, bringing flowers and feigned remorse. I overheard him raging at Chloe on the phone, blaming her for the "mess," for the "permanent damage" that might "blow back on him." His concern wasn't for me, but for his reputation, his precious plan. He returned, took my hand, and tried to spin a new lie. "We can't tell anyone the full extent of this, Ava. It's for your privacy. We control the story." He saw me as a problem to be managed. I just stared at him, letting him believe I was too broken to see the truth. Let him think he was still in control. It would make his downfall all the more satisfying. Then came the settlement offer: money for my silence, a non-disclosure agreement naming Chloe as a party to the "unfortunate accident." The audacity was breathtaking. I looked at him, at his soft, encouraging smile, and then I looked at the name on the papers-Chloe Devereaux. "Get out," I said, my voice low. His smile vanished, replaced by the cold businessman underneath. He snatched the papers and stormed out, leaving me alone. He expected weakness, tears, and compliance. He had underestimated me. And that was going to be his biggest mistake. Two days later, Mark returned, Chloe by his side, pale and nervous. She dropped to her knees, sobbing theatrically. "I am so, so sorry, Ava," she cried, reaching for my blanket. "I don't know what came over me." I pulled away. She began hitting herself, pathetically. "I'm a monster! I deserve to be punished!" Mark put a hand on her shoulder. "You see, Ava? She's distraught. All we are asking for is your forgiveness. And your signature." I closed my eyes. Then I saw it: around Chloe' s neck, my unique pearl necklace, the one Mark had bought for me. The evidence was blatant. They weren't just business partners; they were together. This was personal. They were flaunting it. "Just sign the papers, Ava," Mark's voice was sharp. "End this now." "No," I whispered. Chloe scrambled up and slammed her head against the wall, a sickening thud. Mark roared, "Look what you've done! Is this what you want? Your stubbornness is cruel, Ava!" He was blaming me. Something inside me snapped. "Fine," I choked out, tears flowing freely. "Fine. You win." My hand shook as I signed. But as my pen touched the paper, a new thought solidified: This wasn't a surrender. It was a strategic retreat. I was free to plan my revenge. The city lights glittered below Mark' s penthouse. Chloe, in a silk robe, raised her champagne glass. "To us. To my new gallery. And… I'm pregnant, Mark." He genuinely beamed. A frantic pounding shattered the moment. Leo, Mark's head of security, stood at the door, pale and soaked. "Mark… it's Ava. There was a fire at the safe house. She didn't make it out." Mark just stared, then collapsed. He unraveled completely, lunging at Chloe, slapping her. "This is your fault! You did this!" he roared. "Ava was my wife!" He didn't care that they were only engaged. Broken, Mark begged Leo to take him to the scene, clinging to a desperate hope it was a mistake. At the burned-out house, a fire captain handed Mark an evidence bag. Inside was a silver bracelet with a jade lotus charm. Her grandmother's bracelet. She never took it off. The final proof. A terrible animal wail tore from Mark's throat. "I did this! I killed her!" he sobbed to the universe, collapsing to his knees. "Ava!" he screamed into the night. "Come back and punish me! Please!" The only answer was the silence of the rain and embers. Days later, Mark was still at the scene, smoking, a hollow shell. Leo, frustrated, spat at him, "You destroyed the best thing that ever happened to you for a cheap, manipulative tramp!" Mark mumbled, "She wasn't who I thought she was. She had a past. Chloe showed me proof. Pictures. Text messages. She said Ava was just using me for my money." "You idiot!" Leo raged. "Those pictures were fake! Chloe set the whole thing up because she wanted you!" The truth, brutal and stark, finally pierced through Mark's grief. He had been played, manipulated. He had thrown away a diamond for broken glass. He crumpled, sobbing quietly. "What have I done?" Leo watched him, then returned to his car and called me. "It's done," he said. "He knows. He completely believes you're gone." I was alive, in a warm, charming flower shop, arranging bouquets. The fire, the body, the bracelet-all a meticulously staged deception. I knew Mark' s money and influence would bury any legal case. My only path to freedom was to die. Leo, the only one I trusted, had arranged everything. My death had to be absolute, brutal enough to shatter Mark's world, forcing his confession. I was no longer Ava the victim. I was Ava the survivor. And my new life had just begun. Six months later, Leo visited my shop. "Mark is… away. Indefinitely," he said, revealing Mark had checked into a psychiatric facility. Then Ethan, my employee, walked in, his smile easy and bright. He was kind, hardworking, with a subtle protectiveness in his eyes. Leo noticed it too. "He looks at you like you're the sun, Ava," Leo smirked. Later, at a noisy bar, Leo revealed Ethan was from old money. "Don't let the ghosts of the past cheat you out of a future," Leo advised. He then shared Mark's final act: discovering Chloe's fake paternity test, her affair, and dismantling her life, piece by piece. She got twenty years. I felt… nothing. My justice wasn't in their ruin. It was here, in this bar, with the possibility of a simple, quiet life. Weeks later, Ethan landed my shop a massive contract, transforming it into a serious enterprise. He was writing his love letter in purchase orders and logistics plans. I knew I had to tell him everything. At the hotel launch party, I saw him. Mark. Gaunt, a shadow. Our eyes met. He stared, then the glass slipped from his fingers. "Ava," he whispered, tears streaming. "You're alive." He stumbled towards me, desperate hope in his eyes. I took a step back. "Do I know you?" I asked, my voice cool. "My name is Claire." Leo appeared, his hand on Mark's shoulder. "You're seeing things, Mark," he said, steering him away. "Her name is Claire. You're confused." Ethan stood beside me. "He seemed to really think he knew you," he said. "He did. He was my fiancé, Mark." "I know," Ethan said. "Leo told me everything. About Mark, Chloe, the attack, and why you can't have children." He knew. All this time. And he had never treated me like I was broken. He took my hand. "None of it matters. Your past doesn't define you. And whether or not we can have kids... that has nothing to do with why I'm falling in love with you." Tears streamed. "There's something else you should know," he added, pulling up his sleeve. A thin scar. "It's a contraceptive implant. I never wanted kids. I just want to find one person to build a life with. Just you, Ava." My armor melted. He embraced all of me, light and dark. "Okay, Ethan," I said, my voice thick with happy tears. "Let's build a life."/0/87963/coverorgin.jpg?v=e9c0a8e38c0339ab258a0fc169a58997&imageMogr2/format/webp)
