SEVEN DAYS TO SAY FOREVER
Her toxic stepsister is marrying her ex-fiancé. To survive the week from hell, she claims her billionaire best friend is her new fiancé. What could possibly go wrong?
Hazel Sterling thought she had finally moved on from Dominic Reed—until her manipulative stepsister, Clara Westbrook, sends out her wedding invitations. Dominic is the exact same man who shattered Hazel's heart and walked away a year ago. Now, he belongs to her sister.
The venue? A lavish, week-long winter celebration at an exclusive mountain estate in Aspen. The house is packed with high-society guests, and Hazel is trapped playing the bitter maid of honor.
To protect her pride, Hazel recruits the perfect shield: Axel Blackwell. He is her drop-dead gorgeous, fiercely loyal childhood best friend who happens to rule the city's finance world. He owes her a massive favor, so acting like her devoted future husband should be a walk in the park.
But when fake touches begin to ignite real heat, the boundaries of their friendship completely melt away.
Now, Hazel is caught in a dangerous game—is she just putting on a show for revenge, or is she about to lose her heart to the one man who was always off-limits?
قراءة
Chapter: Chapter 51: A New FoundationHazel’s POV The old stone gazebo at the edge of the Blackwell estate was still covered in wild ivy, but the early spring sun had finally chased the frost from the dark green leaves, leaving them slick with a fresh, vibrant dew. Six months had passed since the night the lights went out in Greenwich, but the real world had a way of clearing its accounts with remarkable speed once the truth was finally allowed to exist. The legal fallout had been relentless, but swift. Richard Sterling had been formally convicted on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and industrial sabotage, his corporate empire dismantled and absorbed by the state. Elena was currently facing the stark reality of federal sentencing upstate, her vast offshore capital completely liquidated to pay the massive regulatory fines she had incurred for her betrayal. Blackwell Industries had not only survived the vote of no confidence, but it was thriving. Axel had refused to return to the bloodless, clinical parameters his f
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-11
Chapter: Chapter 50: CheckmateAxel’s POVThe downwash of the chopper blades tore through the Greenwich pine trees, sending a blinding, white cyclone of fresh powder across the clearing as the skids slammed into the snow.I didn't wait for it to stop spinning. I threw the cabin door open, my heavy boots hitting the drifts before the security team could form a perimeter. The estate was terrifyingly dark, its pristine stone facade cast in the sweeping, silver strobe lights of the local precinct cruisers that had finally managed to breach the blocked access ridge."The main breakers are still unresponsive, Axel," Nathan said, leaping out right behind me with his tablet shielded beneath his heavy coat. He didn't look at the house; his ice-blue eyes scanned the ridge line with a quiet, lethal intensity. "The jammer is local. It’s coming from the eastern wing.""Where is Christian?" I demanded, my voice a cold, rapid rasp as I sprinted toward the terrace entrance."Security found him in the server room, sir. Disoriented
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-10
Chapter: Chapter 49: The Dark RoomHazel’s POVThe door didn't crash open. It swung inward on its massive, grease-slicked hinges with a slow, agonizing hiss that was worse than a violent breach.Dominic stepped directly in front of my mother and me, his hand slipping into the waistband of his trousers, gripping the cold steel handle of a compact weapon. His weight shifted forward, our boots slamming against the cold concrete floor."Get behind the server rack, Hazel," he ordered under his breath, his eyes locked onto the black vacuum of the stairwell. "Don't look back."The silhouette that stepped into the pulsing crimson light of the basement corridor wasn't towering or monstrous. It was a man in an impeccably tailored, dark cashmere overcoat, his silver hair neatly combed back despite the chaos of his escape. Richard Sterling didn't look like a fugitive on the run from federal marshals. He carried himself with the same smooth, terrifying elegance he used when he was executing a hostile takeover from a Manhattan high-
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-09
Chapter: Chapter 48: The FractureHazel’s POVThe crimson lights pulsing across the ceiling didn't just illuminate the walls; they cast long, bleeding shadows down the corridor, stripping the luxury from the Greenwich estate and turning it into a labyrinth of sheer panic."The vault," Dominic commanded, his voice slashing through the wail of the siren. He didn't hesitate. He grabbed Clara by her forearm, hauling her off the chaise."Hazel, get your mom. Now. We have thirty seconds before whatever bypassed that gate reaches the house.""Christian, track the feed!" I shouted, sprinting down the gallery toward the lower terrace suites where my mother was resting.Christian didn't answer. He was a shadow running ahead of me, his thumbs flying across the glowing screen of his tablet, trying to throw up firewalls that were collapsing in real-time. "The security cameras in the eastern wing are looping," he called over his shoulder, his voice hollowed out by fear.I threw open the guest suite door. My mother was already stand
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-08
Chapter: Chapter 47: Divided FrontsHazel’s POVThe grandfather clock in the long gallery struck seven, its deep, resonant toll sounding uncomfortably like a countdown.Axel didn't let go of my wrist until we reached the grand foyer. The quiet, vulnerable man who had held me by the dark water of the pool pavilion was completely gone, sealed beneath flawless slate-gray tailoring and a crisp white collar. His corporate armor was pristine, but the pulse drumming against my fingers where he held me was fast, hot, and electric."I am leaving three teams inside the building," Axel said. He turned to face me, his hands sliding up to grip my shoulders. "Christian stays here to manage the local police liaison. The gates are on a biometric lockout. If a single sensor trips, you go straight to the basement vault. Do you hear me, Hazel?""I hear you," I said, reaching up to lay my palms flat against his chest. I could feel the hard, unyielding line of his ribs. "Stop looking at me like you're leaving me on a battlefield, Axel. Go t
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 46: The Morning AfterHazel’s POVI woke up to the sound of his breathing.It was slow, deep, and completely steady—a luxury Axel Blackwell rarely afforded himself. The pale winter dawn cut through the sheer drapes of the master suite, painting a cool, amber stripe across the rumpled silk sheets. For the first time since this entire forced-proximity nightmare began, the man beside me carried absolutely zero tension. His long arms were wrapped securely around my waist, anchoring me flush against his bare chest, his fingers loosely hooked in the hem of my oversized sweater.I shifted slightly, propping my chin on his collarbone to look up at him. His dark hair was a charmingly messy web across the pillows, and the unyielding, iron alignment of his jaw looked soft, almost boyish in the early morning light."You're staring, Hazel," he murmured, his eyes still closed. A lazy, genuine smile played at the corner of his lips, his voice thick and scraping low with sleep."I am observing the domestic habitat of a te
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-06
Puck My Sins On Ruthless Ice
⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This book may contain explicit sexual content, violence, and other mature themes intended for readers 18+. Reader discretion is advised. Six months ago, I was America’s figure skating sweetheart—until someone I trusted framed me in a career-ending scandal, leaving me buried beneath legal threats that could destroy the rest of my life.
I changed my hair, took a fake name, and disappeared into one of the country’s most ruthless sports universities, determined to stay hidden until the nightmare was over.
My plan was simple: blend in, stay invisible, survive.
Then I collided with Ryker Barrett.
The university’s untouchable hockey captain. A billionaire heir, future NHL superstar, and the last person I should ever trust.
Everything changes the day Ryker discovers who I really am.
He doesn’t expose me. Instead, he offers me a deal that could save us both.
One year of fake dating in exchange for his family’s legal team destroying the case my ex-coach has used to keep me trapped.
It should have been simple—Pretend to be in love, save our futures, and walk away.
But just when I start believing I’ve finally escaped my past, the man who destroyed my career discovers my new identity.
Now the secret I’ve spent six months protecting could not only destroy more than my future.
It could destroy the only person I’ve ever been brave enough to ever love.
قراءة
Chapter: Chapter 21: Unseen WitnessGianna’s POV The apartment felt too big and too quiet after Ryker left. I tried to study, but the words on my textbook pages didn't seem to make sense. My mind kept drifting back to the way his eyes looked in the dark car. I needed to get out of the penthouse.Around noon, I noticed Ryker’s black knee brace sitting on the small table by the front door. He had forgotten it. I knew from his injury file that his right knee suffered from chronic swelling after long practices. If he skated all day without it, especially with his shoulder already bruised, he would be in no shape to play against Jaxson Reed on Friday.I grabbed the brace, threw on a big black jacket, and pulled a baseball cap low over my eyes.******The campus ice rink was on the south side of the university. The building was a massive concrete structure that smelled like old ice, damp gear, and hot chocolate. I walked through the side doors, avoiding the main lobby where students usually hung out. The hallway leading to t
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-23
Chapter: Chapter 19: Spell BreaksGianna’s POV I couldn't move. My eyes stayed locked on his lips, my heart thumping so hard against my ribs I thought it would burst. The space between us felt electric. Ryker’s thumb stayed warm against my lower lip, his fingers holding my chin steady. He leaned in a fraction of an inch closer, his eyes darkening.Then, a harsh, loud buzz cut through the quiet car.Ryker’s phone buzzed to life beside the cup holder between us, the vibration rattling the plastic. The bright screen lit up his dashboard, flashing a number with a New York area code.I pulled my chin out of his grip and pressed myself back against the passenger seat, smoothing down the green silk of my dress. My breathing was ragged.Ryker cursed loudly, punching his hand against the steering wheel before grabbing the phone. He looked at the screen, his expression turning cold, before swiping the screen."Speak," he barked into the receiver.He listened for a moment, his broad shoulders tensing up again. He didn't look at
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-21
Chapter: Chapter 17: The WarningGianna’s POV The applause for the athletic director died down, but Ryker’s hand immediately found mine again. He held my fingers in a firm grip, anchoring me to his side as the waiters began serving champagne.But before we could take a step toward our table, a shadow fell over us."Barrett," a sharp, gravelly voice barked.Ryker froze. The relaxed, intense look in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, professional look. He turned around smoothly. "Coach Vance. Good evening."Coach Vance was a short, thick-necked man with graying hair and an icy stare. He was the head coach of the university hockey team, and he ran the program like a military camp. He didn't look at me. His eyes were locked completely on Ryker."I saw what happened on the dance floor with Reed," Coach Vance said, his voice low so the nearby donors couldn't hear. "You're the captain of this team, Barrett. You are already on thin ice with the athletic board because of that locker room incident. The scouts a
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-19
Chapter: Chapter 16: Mark His TerritoryGianna’s POV Jaxson looked down at Ryker’s iron grip on his wrist. His face turned a dangerous shade of red, but he saw the dark fury in Ryker’s gray eyes. Ryker looked ready to start a stadium brawl right there on the white carpet. Jaxson slowly pulled his hand back, trying to act cool."Just a joke, Barrett," Jaxson muttered, taking a step away. "See you on the ice next Friday."Jaxson disappeared into the crowded ballroom, but Ryker didn't relax. His chest was still rising and falling fast, his shoulders tense under his black tuxedo.He turned around to face me. His eyes swept over my bare shoulders and down the green silk of my dress."Come with me," Ryker muttered softly.He grabbed my hand and didn't even wait for my answer, before pulling me through the crowd of donors and coaches, straight toward the center of the ballroom where couples were slow dancing under the massive crystal chandeliers."Ryker, what are you doing?" I whispered, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Peop
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-18
Chapter: Chapter 15: Athletic GalaGianna’s POV Friday night arrived too quickly. The university’s annual mid-season athletic gala was held in the grand ballroom downtown. It was the biggest event of the semester, filled with flashing cameras, wealthy donors, and the entire hockey team in formal suits.I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, taking a deep breath. For the first time since running away, I wasn't wearing baggy clothes or a hockey jersey. I wore a fitted, dark emerald-green silk dress with a low back and a high slit up the left leg. My blonde hair was pinned up, leaving my neck bare. I looked like a completely different person.When I stepped out into the living room, Ryker was waiting by the door.He was wearing a tailored black tuxedo that made his broad shoulders and chest look attractive and tempting. His hair was styled perfectly back. When he heard my heels click on the floor, he turned around, but stopped dead on his tracks immediately. His gray eyes darkened instantly, sweeping down the le
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-18
Chapter: Chapter 14: The Car Ride HomeGianna’s POV We stayed at the brunch for another thirty minutes, smiling and nodding until the photographers finally packed up their cameras. The moment we were allowed to leave, Ryker led me quickly back to his black truck.The car doors shut, cutting off the noise of the campus crowd. Ryker immediately started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot."How did you do that?" I asked, turning my whole body in the passenger seat to look at him. My heart was still beating fast from the reporter's questions."Do what?" Ryker kept his eyes on the road, his large hands gripping the steering wheel. His right shoulder winced slightly as he turned the car around a sharp corner."The story about the maiden name and the divorce," I said, my voice dropping low. "You came up with that lie in two seconds. It was so perfect, and the reporter couldn't say a single word back."Ryker let out a short, dark laugh, but his face remained serious. "When you grow up with scouts, coaches, and cameras wa
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-17
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