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Get the APPIn the Shadow of a Secret
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Jilted Girlfriend? I Am The Tycoon's Wife
Cara Lewis sat quietly as her boyfriend of three years pushed a plate of dessert across the table, wearing a rehearsed mask of sorrow. He claimed he had to break up with her for her own good, blaming his lack of connections on Wall Street and insisting he couldn't give her the life she deserved. He acted like a martyr making a tragic sacrifice, waiting for her desperate tears and trembling denial. Instead, Cara calmly pulled out a stack of glossy photos and an elegant engagement invitation. She exposed his secret affair with the wealthy Hailie Lewis, completely dismantling his hypocritical social climb. Leaving the cheating narcissist pale and humiliated, Cara paid the bill and walked out, thinking the trash had finally been taken out. But her newly single evening took a chaotic turn when a teenage gaming partner called in a panic. He begged her to crash his elite prep school and pose as his aunt to save him from expulsion. Cara agreed, flawlessly playing the role of the secret new wife to his uncle, a notoriously ruthless Wall Street titan. She was thoroughly dominating the snobby school board when the office doors suddenly swung open. The real billionaire uncle, Beck Greer, walked into the room. Cara's heart dropped into her stomach as his glacial eyes locked onto her, knowing her social existence in New York was about to end. Caught in a terrifying, inescapable lie, Cara made an insane calculation. She stepped forward, firmly hooked her arm through the billionaire's, and smiled sweetly. "Honey, what took you so long? Julian and I were being bullied." She waited for the executioner's axe to fall, but the untouchable tycoon simply covered her hand with his and played along.Across the white tablecloth of Serafina, Bradyn Hubbard—Cara Lewis's boyfriend of three years—set his wine down and leaned forward. He pulled a thick, cream-colored envelope from his jacket and slid it across the table until it rested in front of her.
Cara looked down. The gold foil lettering was fresh from the press.
Engagement Gala
Groom: Bradyn Hubbard
Bride: Hailie Lewis
Venue: The Lewis Estate, Long Island. Next Saturday.
"Cara, let's be realistic," Bradyn said, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. "Hailie is my ticket to the top. Marrying her is the only shortcut for a guy like me to get a seat on the board. I don't love her—she's just the ladder I have to climb for my career."
Cara stared at the card, then lifted her cold amber eyes to meet his. "So you're proposing what, exactly?"
Bradyn gave a smug, self-satisfied smile.
"We break up publicly. But in private? Nothing has to change. You funded my MBA and paid my rent for three years—I haven't forgotten that. Stay quiet, be my little secret on the side, and once I secure the Lewis assets, I'll make sure you're taken care of in luxury."
Cara stared at his shameless face, her voice dropping into a dangerous, silky calm. "You sold yourself as a kept man to my stepsister, and you expect me to be your dirty little secret?"
"Don't make it sound so ugly, Cara," Bradyn scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "That's how men get ahead in Manhattan. Be realistic, Cara. You're broke and you have no one. Who else is going to take care of you? Don't be stupid. Just take the deal."
Cara looked at him for one quiet second, her lips curving into a razor-sharp smile.
"In your wildest dreams, Bradyn."
Without a second's hesitation, Cara picked up her crystal tumbler and threw the cold bourbon and ice straight into his face.
The freezing liquor drenched his styled hair and soaked the collar of his designer shirt. Bradyn gasped, shooting up from the velvet booth in sheer shock, frantically wiping his stinging eyes.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" he snarled, glaring at her as neighboring tables turned to stare.
Cara set the empty glass down with a quiet, deliberate tap.
Without breaking eye contact, she reached into her Saint Laurent bag, pulled out a thick manila folder, and dropped it heavily onto his soaked lap.
"Open it, parasite," Cara said calmly.
Bradyn's hands shook as he ripped the folder open.
A thick stack of forensic-grade photographs spilled across the table. His breath caught in his throat—the photos showed him and Hailie completely naked, tangled in the satin sheets of a suite at the Baccarat Hotel.
Taped right behind the prints was a notarized invoice.
Columbia MBA Tuition & Fees: $186,000.00
Tribeca Penthouse Lease Subsidies: $94,000.00
Bespoke Wardrobe & Networking Tabs: $62,000.00
TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT DUE: $342,000.00
Bradyn's face turned an ashen, sickly gray. "You... you tracked me?"
"Three hundred and forty-two grand," Cara said, tapping the total with a manicured nail. "Wire it back to my account by Monday morning. If you don't, these photos go directly to Hailie's father and the Lewis board."
The shock on Bradyn's face instantly curdled into ugly fury. He slammed both hands on the table, leaning in with a desperate hiss. "You crazy bitch! You gave me that money willingly—that was trust money! You can't sue me for gifts!"
"I invested in a partner, Bradyn, not a freeloader," Cara said coldly. "You lived off my money for three years just to become my stepsister's leashed lapdog. Pay back every cent by Monday, or wear the collar in public."
"You fucking bitch—" Bradyn lunged forward, grabbing for her wrist.
Cara smoothly stepped back, out of his reach. She stood tall, smoothing the front of her tailored coat, looking down at him with absolute disgust.
Slowly, deliberately, she raised her hand and flipped him a clean, effortless middle finger.
"Congratulations on the engagement, Bradyn," Cara said softly. "You and Hailie deserve each other."
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In the shadow of Love
Madison carter moved to a new city to leave her complicated family background behind, to focus on a new beginning, but when her car breaks down, her life takes a new turn she never expected. Aaron Thompson, a brooding mechanic with a past that intertwines with Mr Denzel Carter's connection with the/1/105445/coverorgin.jpg?v=29d00d663eb612b5f30d0db9ea1f6f24&imageMogr2/format/webp)
A Flame in the Shadow
For a thousand years, the city of Crescent Falls has survived beneath the shadow of an ancient savior. Each century, a man is chosen as an offering to Sariyah-the being said to have once driven demons from the world. When Bastion, the man Ember loves, is taken after daring to refuse her, Ember's gri/0/16862/coverorgin.jpg?v=a70fa22f886749d26ad64ee3cc37c2b0&imageMogr2/format/webp)
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE MAFIA
Hera's life has been a nightmare ever since her stepfather and mother died, leaving her in the hands of her cruel stepbrother, Damian. Treated like a maid in her own home, Hera's only hope lies in her late grandfather's inheritance, which she plans to use to escape her miserable life. Unbeknownst to/0/8492/coverorgin.jpg?v=d5674be0431eaa01d98d807fb3123130&imageMogr2/format/webp)
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WOLVES IN THE SHADOW
Investigative journalist Mira Caldwell is known for unearthing secrets no one dares to touch. When a string of mysterious disappearances ties back to billionaire real estate mogul Dane Voss, she is determined to expose him. But as she digs deeper, she unravels a hidden war brewing in the city's shad/0/59118/coverorgin.jpg?v=4f0896339ed8fa5faff986b59cb7fc17&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Love in the shadow
“Dont you think I have to know your name" I murmured to him as I keep moaning He held my hands tight unto the bed and took off my top “Should we do this?” He asked kissing my neck down to my breast, my nipple became hard and pointed. I kept moaning non stop, I hurriedly took of my panties and took/0/61003/coverorgin.jpg?v=df5a41f29fe0e97727a3f29eac4290af&imageMogr2/format/webp)
In The Mafia's Shadow
Valentina never wanted to be a stripper, but it was a way to make ends meet. When her brother's debts to the Mafia drag her into danger, she finds herself cornered. Then, the ruthless Mafia Don, Druid Steel, makes her an irresistible offer. Her life changes the moment they meet, but whether it's f/1/108882/coverorgin.jpg?v=6af39826e5be60fd63441246807176b0&imageMogr2/format/webp)
LOVE IN THE SHADOW
Summer Mark, a dedicated doctor, saves a mysterious stranger from a brutal attack on a rainy Miami night. As she tends to his wounds, their eyes lock, and she feels an inexplicable connection. Unbeknownst to Summer, the stranger is linked to one of Miami's most feared mafias, and their chance encoun/0/68239/coverorgin.jpg?v=c9710f1a6eeb4b4b6de34e6c9b91ec13&imageMogr2/format/webp)
WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW
Sarah Pierce finds herself in a desperate world of high-stakes decisions and hazardous connections when her once-thriving art gallery is on the verge of closing. Enter Vane Russell, a mysterious, domineering investor whose gift of deliverance carries ties as dark and enigmatic as the man himself. V/0/83646/coverorgin.jpg?v=0bc40758964a27e5eabac146ea74325c&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Love In The Shadow Of Gilded Chains
In the grand halls of the Devereux estate, Claire's life is defined by silence and duty. As the daughter of one of the family maids, she moves unseen among the opulence that feels worlds away. But beneath her quiet exterior lies a heart that dreams of freedom-and of a love that seems impossible. A/0/74294/coverorgin.jpg?v=b004bbd8e40912ef9afd968827fcbb1c&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Shadow In The Hospital
Walker knew his instinct was right. Everything about the hospital was telling him to be more vigilant. They thought he will get tired from their bad treatment and forget Elizabeth, the love of his life. Little did they know that Walker was not just a man, but a man from a different breed who don't k/0/23625/coverorgin.jpg?v=17d767123dda84c7c6ea2494874202bf&imageMogr2/format/webp)
THE FLAMES IN THE SHADOW
In an era when great darkness and corruption reign, an immortal sorcerer is desperate for unprecedented imperial power over an island whose salvation must depend on the affections between an unsung prince and a blameworthy sorceress. Zeranah is not just a powerful sorceress but also a celibate clai/0/69261/coverorgin.jpg?v=de207fc92df0f93444dfebbd93bccabf&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The shadow of vengeance
In a world of magic and deception, Princess Bella must navigate the treacherous landscape of court politics and ancient prophecies to save her kingdom from destruction. With the help of her loyal brother Edward, Prince keiran and the mysterious Captain Orion, Bella must confront the dark forces t/0/72792/coverorgin.jpg?v=4457004a043174808493c0db4516f3d4&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Shadow of the Pact
In a city ruled by shadows, two clans share the power: The Morvans, a family of werewolves dominating the local mafia. The Vassilis, a lineage of vampires controlling the occult trade. A fragile pact prevents war... until a forbidden love threatens to break it. Sasha Morvan, the rebellious daught/0/75747/coverorgin.jpg?v=6b08c2276fe2115c612eca0e38332f99&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The shadow of passion
Léa, an ambitious architect, is in a relationship with Thomas, a stable and caring man, but a bit too predictable. As they prepare to get married, Nathan, Thomas's twin brother, returns to their lives after years spent abroad. Charismatic, unpredictable, and provocative, Nathan immediately fascinate/0/66115/coverorgin.jpg?v=5bbfff1971c337685673f08b6c72357a&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Shadow Of The Blackwood
Ashwood is a small, isolated town with a great history of werewolf legends. Bonnie Blackwood discovers she's the last living heir of an earliest werewolf lineage. As she journeys through her newfound identity, she falls in love with Asher Fell, the Alpha heir of the Lunar Pack. But their love is for/0/54153/coverorgin.jpg?v=4cd3da484192265f3940217ef21f8dbb&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Shadow of the moon
A police officer, an imaginary being. Detective Maria Selena went to a low key hide out called the wolf's den spot to investigate and then she got attacked and then saved by an imaginary being. Maria lost a lot of blood and was rushed to the hospital, to crown it all her stitches were cleared, like/0/46415/coverorgin.jpg?v=e02493c325190675c64fac0ae14ff009&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Shadow of Deception
Marvin Simpson will be 25 next month. He is shy about ladies but not Cassie, the cleaner. Unknown to Marvin, Cassie was an assassin sent to kill him by the Contractor. Cassie has a four-month contract to kill Marvin while Marvin has Six months to get a wife or lose his company./0/27193/coverorgin.jpg?v=0488652175d732b68a17843128780642&imageMogr2/format/webp)
