The Marriage Game: love in a lie.
Amara
I have always known my parents would sell me off for their political careers but I would never allow that
Now, I am engaged to James McKenna, the most eligible bachelor in the country and the feared billionaire just to spite my parents.
But he looks at me like I’m the worst mistake he’s made, he thinks I am reckless and impulsive, I think he is insufferable.
We can’t stand each other but every news outlet in the country believes we are hopelessly in love!
James
I built my empire by staying in control.
Love had no place in my life and marriage was never the plan, until the past I buried threatened to destroy everything I’ve worked hard for. Now, I am blackmailed to marry the Mayor’s impulsive daughter.
Amara Livingston; the well known rebellious daughter.
She was meant to be a temporary solution.
A pawn in my new game.
Instead, she became the only woman capable of bringing me to my knees. But now, I don’t know what to do without her.
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Chapter: 53. Forever and Always.AmaraIt was finally the time for the election results to be announced. The election ended an hour before.Everyone was tense, our little family gathered in the dim lit study that was crowded with campaign materials and posters.We’d done interviews, appeared in shows as a family. This time we weren’t reciting the words that my mother’s publicist had written down for us.Everything that was said, all the laughter that was shared, came from a place of warmth deep in our hearts. One of the show hosts had commented on how lifely we seemed, had called it an election miracle and we’d all laughed over it.My mum said we’d celebrate, whether she won Mayor or not. But I knew deep down that she wanted that seat, and without being biased I knew she was the right person for the job. I listened with all focus, at the edge of my seat as the announcement started. We all waited, a sword could’ve cut through the tension in the room with ease.And that hell broke loose when mum was declared the winner
Last Updated: 2024-08-26
Chapter: 52. Start to Finish.AmaraI was pretty sure anyone within a mile from me could hear how hard my heart was beating against my chest. It’s been forever since I had James near me. The feel of his lips warm against my cold skin sent my senses into a frenzy.Even as I waved him goodbye and watched him pull out of the curb, I could still feel him on me. I stood there longer than I should have, rooted to the spot, because I couldn’t quieten down my own heart or get my feet to move.I heard the door open before Ife’s shrill voice followed. “What are you doing outside in the cold? I didn’t think you were going to come back.”That snapped me out of my reverie and I followed her inside. “Why did you think that?” I hung up my coat and sat down on the couch. I wasn’t quite ready to call it a night.“I thought you’d be too busy making up in his sheets.”The image flashed through my head. I put my palms over my eyes. “Ife!”“I saw the way you were looking at him Amara, like you want to tear his shirt off and mask him
Last Updated: 2024-08-26
Chapter: 51. A New Dawn.JamesWe had our dinner in complete silence, each of us consumed by their own thoughts. I wish Amara would just tell me what was going through her mind so I would know how to fix the problem between us.I drank all of my wine, and so did she. I could tell she was warming up to me from the way her gaze lingered too long on me, or how her eyes drifted to my lips when she thought I wasn’t looking.“Thank you for having dinner with me,” I told her when we were done.“I only agreed because of my mother, I don’t want to ruin the new relationship I have with her.”I wanted to call her bluff. Amara wasn’t the type to do something just because others asked. I’ll let her get away with the excuse because it brought her closer to me.“You can drop me off at Ife’s house, I haven’t cleaned my apartment yet so I’ll be staying there longer than planned.”I helped her with her coat. “The night is still young, and there’s somewhere I’ve been dying to take you to.”Her eyes narrowed at me. “You’re not t
Last Updated: 2024-08-26
Chapter: 50. HopeJames“Alright.”For a complete ten seconds I stood there without registering her response. I’d been so sure she was going to turn down my suggestion that I found it hard to believe that I was hearing right. “You’re going to give me a chance to talk things over?”“I just said yes James, don’t make me change my mind.”It’s a good thing I’d kept the reservation I made in anticipation for tonight. Cayden and Henry had tried to talk me out of it, that she’d clearly rejected me many times and I needed to give up.But I’d held onto the hope that I had. That she would remember the good times we had and give me a chance. Looks like luck was on my side. I wish I could flip my middle finger in their faces.“I made a reservation at a restaurant, just the two of us. If that’s okay with you.” I needed to play my cards right so I don’t upset her and have her banging the door in my face again. “I’m already having dinner with my family, we can just talk in your car. I think—”“Oh, Amara.” My mother
Last Updated: 2024-08-25
Chapter: 49. The Revelation.AmaraIt was finally here; the day of my grand reveal. I was well within my rights to be nervous, everybody else would.I’d been worried that people would not show up for the exhibition, why would they for an artist they didn’t even know what she looked like. But boy, was I wrong? The gallery was fully packed save for the small makeshift stage that was situated at the far corner where my name was put up in a banner.Ife was with me, but the more she tried to calm my nerves, the more nervous I grew.My family was not here yet and it made me worried. What if mum changed her mind about supporting me and saw the exhibition as a waste of her time?It was unfair doubting her like this. But, when you’ve been burned many times in the past, it becomes hard not to grow weary that it could happen all over again.“What if she didn’t get the invite?” I asked Ife.“Who?”“My mum, they’re not here yet. Do you think she bailed?”“You need to have more faith in the people around you, Amara. I’m sure
Last Updated: 2024-08-25
Chapter: 48. Ready!AmaraSpending time with my family helped me get out of the mental dump I’d found myself in. It was nice to sit down in complete laughter, enjoying the laughter and the food the cook had put her magic touch in. I slept over and went back the next morning to Ife’s place, only to find her sitting through a couple letters.“Have a secret admirer?” I teased, hanging up my jacket.“As if. These are for you?”I looked over her shoulder at the pink flowered envelopes she was holding. “I can’t think of a single person on this damn planet that’ll be sending me letters.”“Well, I can. They’re from James, maybe it’s time you give him a listening ear. I’m beginning to feel bad for him.”“You can do whatever you want with the letters.” I walked straight to the door and shut it after me. I sat on the floor, head hung between my knees. Why was he making it so difficult to move on from him? It wasn’t that I couldn’t forgive him, I just wouldn’t be able to trust him again. Going back to him would be
Last Updated: 2024-08-25
Chapter: SEVENKael dragged in a deep breath and hunched over to exhale deeply once he was in the privacy of his room. He dragged in a deep breath and stared at his hand. They had traces of dried foam on them but it was nothing like the scar Elara was nursing inside the bathroom.He turned his hands to the back too. He had never been violent without cause, let alone be violent to an unarmed and weak woman. It wasn’t his type of thing to do, especially since it wasn’t his intention to hurt Elara. Ever.Finally, he ran his fingers through his hair and his hands down his face then he smoothened his hair before leaving the room.Activities were already bubbling in the floor below when Kael got downstairs with maids walking in and out of the dining room with different dishes. Harry was seated at the right hand side of the table next to the head’s chair. Seeing Harry, Kael joined him at the head of the table.“Morning, Alpha.” Harry greeted and ate a spoon of eggs. “Isn’t it a bright and fair day today?”
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: SIXElara had barely sunk her shivering body into the bathtub when the door to the bathroom opened. She quickly hid her body in the foamy water as her eyes searched the door.Kael slowly walked in and Elara, seeing it was him, pursed her lips and looked away, waiting for him to pull the glass door open and walk into the tub section but Kael remained behind the glass.“You endangered your life.”Elara shivered slightly under the water and lowered her eyes. Her body was almost stiff when she woke up with pain running throughout her body, hadn’t it been those maids, Leah and Kathy -as they told her when she asked- she wouldn’t have successfully made it to the bath.“You could have died.” Kael added when Elara said nothing.“I am sure you would have been ecstatic because that is what you want. I don’t know what you are complaining about.” Elara said without looking at him.“No.” Elara turned just in time to catch Kael shaking his head. “I don’t want you dead because then you wouldn’t be servi
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: FIVEElara blinked open her eyes expecting to see her creaky old ceiling fan twirling slowly above her and creating more heat than air but instead, she was met with a chandelier with low lights hanging over her head as the frigid air bit into her skin.She pressed her eyes shut as if trying to dissipate the confusion and her eyes flew open as the events of the past few hours came rushing back to her head, her hands gripping the bedsheets.“I think you should sleep some more.” A deep voice said from the shadows.“Fuck!” Elara cussed as she flew back into the bed. Her brain quickly registered the voice and she squinted her eyes in the direction it came from. “You know, you are a disgusting creep! What are you even doing watching me sleep?”Kael shrugged, even though Elara couldn’t see him. “You are the one in my bed, in my room. I know you are hot for me, I can tell by the way you have looked at me all night, but there was no way I was getting into that bed with you in it. And if you were to
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: FOURThe cars rolled in through thick green gates with wild weed growing all over it and into the large compound with an even larger fountain in the middle of it. Elara kicked against the man on a buzz cut holding her as she was dragged out of the car. “Let her go,” Kael ordered as he got down from his car and walked to Elara. The man let her go and walked to where Harry was standing near Kael’s car. The driver had gone to park the car they came in at the garage.“You are a sick man!” Elara spat at Kael as he reached her.“Welcome home, Elara.” Kael turned slightly and looked around him. “Take your time to look around you, this will become your home for the rest of your life.” Elara shifted her eyes from Kael to the large building that stood before her. It was as she had seen in magazines and the tabloids before. The stone structure stood tall at about 25 feet tall covering about half the kingdom’s land size. High window peeked back at Elara from different angles, she was sure there wa
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: THREEKAEL’s POVHeat prickled his skin the minute he set foot inside the large house. His nose scrunched as it picked up a scent. It was familiar, like something he was accustomed to but he couldn’t seem to recognize it. Shaking his head, he shoved the scent off his mind and followed two of his men farther into the house.He had not planned on making that journey that night but the latest information he learned at the last minute of the Bouchier couple theft, snapped at his last restraint causing him to travel through two kingdoms, through the storm down to the Bouchier resident. And now that he was here, he vowed to make the most of it, make them scapegoats so that nobody would ever think of crossing him again.“Search the whole house and drag out any living thing you see. Man, woman, baby and pets, I want all of them here at my feet.” He said in a low commanding tone. The two men nodded and began searching the house. A few minutes later, the men appeared with Valerie, Anthony and a sobb
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: TWOElara’s feet pumped into the ground, stomping into puddles of water and splashing them up as she ran into the main house. She was soaked from head to toe, her sneakers were probably spoiled but that was the least of her concern.The pain in her chest and the hurt she felt was nothing compared to the ruin of her favorite pair of shoes. Sean has been lying to her all these while. How could he? She thought, why did he string her along this long knowing he was going to marry another lady? And he kept her waiting this long only to break up with her in the middle of the night.Her tears kept streaming down and she swiped them off desperately. She was crying for a man that ruined her.How pathetic! Elara’s feet pleaded for her to stop, but she paid the pain no mind as she continued up the long driveway to the main house, she was almost there. She wouldn’t stop till she got there. Until she retreated into the safety of her old yet comforting bed.Water dripped Elara’s clothes as she stoppe
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
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