IN THE SHADOW OF DESIRE
Amara Blake’s life is simple on paper: double shifts at a café, overdue notices tucked under a refrigerator magnet, a mother who needs more than hope can buy. Then she collides with Damian Cole - ruthless, revered, and impossible to ignore - and is pulled into a world of crystal chandeliers, whispered wars, and rules written by men who never hear the word no.
What begins as a temporary job becomes a tightrope walk between pride and survival. With a socialite who smiles like a blade watching for her to fall, and an ex-fiancée returning to reopen old wounds, Amara learns that in Damian’s orbit, truth is currency and secrets are weapons. The closer she gets, the more his polished mask fractures - revealing a man built on control, haunted by betrayal, and drawn to the one thing he can’t command: her honesty.
This is a slow-burn, high-stakes romance about power and vulnerability, the cost of desire, and the dangerous mercy of telling the truth - especially to someone who doesn’t know how to receive it.
What will Amara sacrifice to keep her dignity - and her heart - intact?
Will Damian choose control or the woman who unravels it?
Can two people built on opposite truths survive the shadows they create together?
Read on to find out.
Baca
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - SHADOWS AT THE EDGEThe safe house wasn’t what she expected.It wasn’t steel and glass like everything else Damian owned. It was wood - old, dark, and quiet. The kind of place that swallowed sound. The walls creaked when the wind leaned against them, and somewhere in the distance, water moved - a stream or maybe rain slipping down the roof.Amara sat by the window, the thin curtain brushing her arm, watching the forest pulse with shadow. Night had teeth out here.Behind her, Damian spoke low into his phone. His voice was calm, but his shoulders were too tight, his tone clipped - the kind of control that wasn’t peace, only pressure.“Two days,” he said. “No signals. I don’t want anyone knowing we’re here.”A pause. Then softer, colder: “If they find this location, you’ll know someone inside gave it up.”He ended the call and turned toward her. For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and unspoken.“You shouldn’t sit so close to the window,” he said.“I like knowing what’s outside,” Amara murmured.“
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-27
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - THE RECKONINGAmaraHospitals always smelled the same - disinfectant, metal, and the faint trace of fear that clung to the walls. It should’ve felt familiar by now. But this time, it wasn’t my mother lying behind the glass.It was Caroline.Dead.The word still felt impossible. She’d been too sharp, too alive, too venomous to simply stop. Yet there she was - a body covered by a white sheet, her red coat folded neatly on a chair, as if she’d planned her own ending.A detective’s voice cut through the hum of machines. “Miss Reyes?”I turned. He was tall, mid-forties, with a voice too polite to trust. His badge caught the light. “Detective Monroe. We’ll need your statement again.”I swallowed. “I already told the officers everything.”“I know,” he said. “But the details matter.” His gaze flicked to the door, where Damian stood a few feet away, speaking to another officer. “Especially when one of the witnesses is Damian Cole.”I followed his gaze. Damian looked like a ghost wearing an expensive suit. B
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-27
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - THE TRAPAmaraThe streets bled silver under the rain. I could taste the cold on my tongue as the cab sped through the wet city. Every traffic light flickered red like a warning, but I couldn’t stop now.The address from the message led to the industrial docks - the kind of place where no one asked questions. Piles of shipping containers stood like silent witnesses, their paint chipped, their names fading under rust.I should’ve turned back the moment I saw the water, the abandoned cranes, the shadows moving where no one should be. But my mother’s face haunted me - pale, fragile, fighting to breathe - and the message had been clear: If you want to save her, don’t let him come alone.I owed her everything. Even if it meant walking straight into the fire.I stepped out of the cab, my shoes sinking into puddles. My phone had no signal. The world felt too quiet.“Amara.”The voice came from behind me - smooth, familiar, deadly.Caroline stepped out from the shadows, draped in a raincoat, hair slic
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-25
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - THE TRUTHAmaraThe rain didn’t stop all night. It battered the villa like the sky was trying to wash it clean - but some stains weren’t meant to fade.Damian and I stood over the folder Caroline left behind. Beside it sat a sleek black drive, no label except one word etched into the casing: TRUTH.It felt heavier than metal. Heavier than the silence stretching between us.“Do you want to see what’s inside?” I asked.His jaw flexed. “No.”I frowned. “Then why keep it?”He didn’t answer right away. His fingers hovered over the drive like it might bite. Finally, he said quietly, “Because not knowing doesn’t make it disappear.”There was something in his voice - tired, haunted.“Then let’s find out,” I said.He gave me a look. “Amara, once this starts, you can’t unsee it.”“I’ve already seen the worst of you,” I whispered. “Haven’t I?”For a second, I thought he’d walk away. Instead, he connected the drive to his laptop. The screen flickered, then a folder opened - files upon files, names, dates,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-23
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - THE VILLAAmaraThe night air was heavy with rain and electricity.The villa loomed at the edge of the cliffs, its windows lit like eyes - too bright, too still. I’d imagined this place a hundred ways when Marissa mentioned it months ago - serenity, solitude, maybe even peace. But standing here now, it felt nothing like peace.It felt like a trap.Damian’s hand was steady on the door handle. Mine wasn’t.“Are you sure about this?” I whispered.He didn’t look at me. “No.”Then he pushed the door open.The silence inside was unnatural - no staff, no sound, just the faint hiss of wind slipping through the curtains. And then, a voice.“Welcome home, Damian.”Caroline stood at the center of the room, surrounded by soft candlelight. She wore red again - a color that clung to her like sin - and in her hands was a slim leather folder.“Caroline,” Damian said, his tone a warning.She smiled, slow and deliberate. “You brought her. How considerate.” Her eyes flicked to me. “I was afraid she’d gone into hi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-20
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY - THE RETURN (Dual POV)AmaraThe city looked different this time - colder, sharper. The skyline that once seemed impossibly high now just looked heavy. Like a crown on the head of a man who didn’t know how to stop wearing it.I stepped off the train with nothing but a single bag, my phone, and the note that had changed everything.You can’t hide from contracts.Whoever sent it knew exactly how to twist the knife. But instead of fear, what I felt now was clarity. I wasn’t running anymore.The cab ride to the Cole Tower was silent. When the building came into view - glass, steel, dominance incarnate - something in my chest tightened. I’d walked into this world as an outsider. This time, I was walking in as an equal - or at least pretending to be one.The receptionist blinked when she saw me. “Miss Blake?”“Yes.” My voice didn’t waver. “Tell Mr. Cole I’m here.”Her fingers hesitated on the phone. “He isn’t expecting you.”“He will,” I said simply.Minutes later, security escorted me upstairs. The elevator ride
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-10-17
IN THE LIGHT OF FORTUNE
Claire Blake, 23, works double shifts at a café to cover her mother's medical bills and her brilliant sister Clara's college tuition. Her life is a careful sacrifice - no room for dreams, only survival.
Then she accidentally spills coffee on Damian Cole, billionaire CEO and the city's most eligible bachelor. Instead of anger, he's kind. Days later, his assistant calls with an impossible offer: pretend to be his girlfriend for six months. His family won't stop pressuring him to marry, and his manipulative ex-fiancée Caroline refuses to accept they're over.
In exchange: $10,000 monthly, her mother's medical expenses covered, and a completion bonus that would transform her family's life.
Claire knows it's crazy - she doesn't belong in his world of charity galas and high society. But the money would solve every problem. So she signs the contract and steps into a glittering world where everything feels like pretend.
Except it doesn't stay pretend. Damian isn't the cold CEO she expected. He remembers her coffee order, values her opinions, treats her family with genuine warmth. His careful respect comes from protecting his sister from abuse - he's not controlling, he's considerate. As Claire navigates his world, the performance becomes real. When he kisses her, he confesses: "This stopped being fake for me weeks ago."
But Caroline launches a media campaign suggesting their relationship is paid - uncomfortably close to the truth. With headlines dissecting Claire's background and questioning whether she "belongs," they must choose transparency over hiding.
Can a love that started as a contract become real enough to survive the spotlight?
Baca
Chapter: Chapter 9 THE MORNING AFTERClaire woke to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and, for a confused moment, didn't remember where she was. The silk sheets, the soft mattress, the faint scent of expensive lavender - none of it belonged to her cramped apartment. Then it all came rushing back: the gala, the dancing, Caroline's cold assessment, Vanessa's unexpected kindness.And the way Damian had looked at her when they danced, like she was the only person in the room.Her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. She grabbed it, squinting at the screen through sleep-blurred eyes.Seventeen missed calls. Forty-three text messages. And her social media notifications had exploded into the thousands.With trembling fingers, she opened the first news alert."Mystery Woman Captivates Cole: Who is Claire Blake?"The photo showed her and Damian on the red carpet, his hand protective on her back, both of them smiling. She looked... happy. Natural. Like she belonged there, standing beside one of the most po
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-10
Chapter: Chapter 8 UNDER SCRUTINYEleanor led Claire to a quieter corner of the ballroom, near tall windows overlooking the city. She still had Claire's arm linked through hers, which felt both motherly and territorial at once."So," Eleanor said, settling into a chair and gesturing for Claire to sit, "coffee on my son. I'd pay money to see his face."Claire laughed nervously. "It wasn't my finest moment. I was mortified.""I'm sure you were. And what did he do?""He was... kind, actually. Didn't yell, didn't threaten to sue. Just gave me his business card and left."Eleanor's expression softened. "That sounds like Damian. Beneath all that CEO armor, he's quite decent." She studied Claire's face. "But I'm curious - when he called you later, why did you agree to see him again? Most women would have been too embarrassed."Claire hesitated. The truth was complicated: desperation, money, a fake contract. But she couldn't say that."He... intrigued me," she said finally. "Most people in his position would've made a scene.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2026-01-09
Chapter: Chapter 7 THE GALA BEGINSThe hotel hosting the gala was a palace of glass and gold. Photographers lined the red carpet, cameras flashing like lightning. Sleek cars delivered women in designer gowns and men in tuxedos, one after another.Claire's stomach lurched."I can't do this," she whispered.Damian squeezed her hand. "Yes, you can. Stay close to me, smile when you feel like it, and remember - you belong here just as much as anyone else.""I really don't.""Then fake it. You're good at that, remember? It's literally what I'm paying you for." His tone was light, teasing, and it helped.The car stopped. The driver opened the door. Flash bulbs exploded.Damian stepped out first, then turned and offered his hand. Claire took a breath, channeled every ounce of courage she had, and let him help her out.The noise was overwhelming - photographers shouting Damian's name, asking him to look left, right, who's your date? But his hand was warm and steady, anchoring her."Mr. Cole! Who's your companion?""Damian! Look
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-29
Chapter: Chapter 6 PREPARATIONThe rest of the week passed in a blur.Claire gave notice at the café. Mrs. Chen hugged her tight, whispered "I knew good things were coming," and promised to save her table whenever she visited.She moved into the guest suite in Damian's penthouse - a space larger than her entire apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows, heated bathroom floors, and a bed so soft she almost cried the first night.Damian was surprisingly scarce. She'd see him mornings sometimes, already in a suit, heading out. He'd nod, ask if she needed anything, then disappear into his world of meetings.Jennifer, however, became a constant presence.Tuesday was shopping. They went to boutiques Claire had only walked past, where staff knew Jennifer by name and brought out dresses costing more than a month's rent. Claire protested, but Jennifer was relentless."You're going to a gala with the city's most prominent people. You need to look the part. Besides, Damian's covering this - it's in the contract."The dress the
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-29
Chapter: Chapter 5 THE CONTRACTMonday morning, Claire walked into Cole Enterprises with her head high and her stomach full of butterflies.Jennifer met her in the lobby. "Ready?""Not even a little bit.""Perfect. Confidence is overrated." Jennifer led her to the elevators. "We'll meet in the conference room. Damian's lawyer will walk you through the contract. Don't let Marcus intimidate you - he looks scary but he's a softie."Marcus turned out to be a mountain of a man with silver hair and reading glasses, spreading documents across a huge table. He looked up and broke into a warm smile."You must be Claire. Marc Harrison." He shook her hand gently. "I've drawn up the contract per Damian's specifications, but I want you to understand every word before you sign anything. My job is to protect both parties, which means making sure you're comfortable with every clause."Claire liked him immediately.They settled around the table. Marcus walked her through page by page. It was surprisingly straightforward: six months,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-29
Chapter: Chapter 4 THE DECISIONClaire didn't sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Damian's office, heard his offer, felt the weight of decision pressing down.Sixty thousand dollars. Plus medical coverage.Life-changing money.But at what cost?"You're doing that thing again," Clara said."What thing?""Thinking so loud I can hear it. What happened?"Because Claire couldn't keep secrets from her sister, she told her everything. The fake relationship. The money. The six-month timeline.When she finished, Clara was quiet."Say something," Claire prompted."I'm trying to figure out if this is a fairy tale or a disaster.""That makes two of us."Clara chewed her lip. "What does your gut say?""My gut is too terrified to say anything useful.""Okay, but if you remove the terror - what do you want?"Amara stared at the ceiling crack that looked like Florida. "I want to say yes. Which probably means I should say no, right?""Maybe," Clara said slowly, "good decisions feel reckless because they're actu
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-29
Masuk
