MasukIn the glittering world of high society, where deals are made and alliances are forged, a young woman finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, desire, and unexpected love. When Emily Walker enters into a contract marriage with a billionaire’s son Ethan Hatton, to help him secure his inheritance. She never expects to be caught between his captivating charm and the mysterious allure of his brother, Jackson Hatton. As they battle for her affection, Emily is torn between duty and her own desires, navigating a treacherous path of intrigue, jealousy and hidden agendas. Will she follow her heart, risking everything for a love she can’t deny or will she succumb to the pressures of society and demands of a contract marriage?
Lihat lebih banyakShadowhaven City never truly slept. Street lights glowed soft yellow all night long, rain made the roads shine, and every dark alley held its own secrets. Beneath the busy streets, old families with special powers fought quiet battles—some could turn into wolves, some could do magic, and some ran dangerous gangs that controlled the night.
Kael Vaelor was only ten years old when his whole life fell apart. It was a stormy night. Thunder boomed and rain hammered the windows of the big family house on the hill. His dad, Thorne Vaelor, was the leader of the Silverfang clan. They were wolf shifters with silver eyes and strength that made people respect and fear them. But that night, fear came knocking. Kael was supposed to be asleep, but he crept to the top of the stairs to listen. His mom, Elara, was talking worriedly with his dad in the large living room below. “They wouldn’t dare attack us here,” his dad said, his voice deep and sure. “Not in our own home.” His mom sounded scared. “Thorne, the Crimson Shadows don’t follow rules. Vortigern wants everything we have. He wants us gone.” Kael didn’t understand all of it, but his stomach felt tight with worry. Then the front doors burst open with a loud crash. Men and women dressed in black rushed in, their eyes glowing red from dark magic. Knives flashed. Spells lit up the room like red lightning. Kael’s uncles turned into huge silver wolves, growling and tearing into the attackers. His aunts put up glowing shields to protect everyone. But there were too many enemies. They carried chains coated in silver poison and threw curses that made the wolves weak and slow. Kael stayed hidden in the shadows, his little heart beating so fast he could hear it in his ears. His mom looked up and saw him. Even with danger all around, her eyes found his. She moved her lips without sound: Hide. Run. He wanted to scream, to run down and help her. But he couldn’t move. A knife flew straight at her. It hit her chest. She dropped to her knees, silver blood spreading across her dress. Her gentle eyes stayed on Kael until the light in them faded away. His dad let out a roar that shook the walls. He changed into the biggest silver wolf Kael had ever seen, fur shining like moonlight. He fought like a storm, biting and throwing enemies across the room. But then the leader stepped forward. Vortigern. Tall, cold, with a deep scar on his face and a black sword that seemed to drink the light. One swing of that sword made Kael’s dad stumble. The second swing brought the great wolf down. He changed back to human as he fell, eyes open but empty. One by one, everyone Kael loved was gone. Cousins crying. Aunts and uncles fighting until they couldn’t anymore. The beautiful house filled with smoke and fire. Kael finally ran. He slipped out the back door into the pouring rain, tears streaming down his face. He ran through the streets until his legs gave out. He hid in dark corners, cold, hungry, and completely alone. He was the last Silverfang left alive. Twelve years went by. Kael grew up tough on the streets. Now twenty-two, he was tall and strong, with messy black hair and gray eyes that carried too much hurt. He took any job he could—bouncer at bars, fighter in secret rings—always listening, always watching. He never forgot the name Vortigern. The hate burned inside him every single day. And then, when he least expected it, he met her. Liora. She worked as a waitress at a bar called Midnight Howl, right in the middle of the dangerous part of the city—the area the Crimson Shadows controlled. Kael started working there as a bouncer so he could get closer to them, learn their plans. The first time he saw Liora, she was carrying drinks through the crowded room, smiling kindly even when customers were rude. She had long black hair that fell like silk, bright green eyes, and the softest smile he’d ever seen. She didn’t seem like she belonged in such a rough place. One busy night, a drunk guy grabbed her arm too hard and wouldn’t let go. Kael didn’t even think—he just moved. He grabbed the man by the shirt, lifted him clean off the floor, and tossed him out into the street. Liora looked up at him, eyes wide. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to do that.” “Yeah,” Kael said, his voice low and rough from not talking much. “I did.” She smiled then—a real, warm smile that made something inside his chest feel light for the first time in years. “I’m Liora.” “Kael.” That was how it started. They began talking after her shifts. Small things at first—favorite foods, funny stories from work. Then longer talks walking home through quiet streets. Liora listened when he let tiny pieces of his past slip out. She never pushed, just held his hand and made him feel like maybe the world wasn’t all bad. One rainy evening, after the bar closed, they stood under the awning outside. Rain poured down around them. Kael looked at her, heart beating fast. “You make this city feel less dark.” Liora’s cheeks turned pink. She stepped closer. “You make me feel safe, Kael.” He couldn’t hold back anymore. He cupped her face gently and kissed her. Soft at first, then deeper when she kissed him back, her hands sliding up his chest. They ended up at his small apartment. The door barely closed before they were kissing again, hungry and desperate, like they’d both been waiting forever. Kael lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, eyes never leaving hers. He kissed her neck, her collarbone, then slowly pulled her shirt over her head. His hands traced her skin, warm and soft. When he cupped her breasts, full and perfect in his palms, she gasped and arched toward him. He brushed his thumbs over her nipples, feeling them harden under his touch, and she moaned his name. “Kael…” That sound undid him. Clothes came off fast after that. Skin against skin. His mouth on her breast, sucking gently while his hand slid between her thighs, finding her already wet for him. She tugged at his hair, pulling him closer, begging without words. When he finally pushed inside her, slow and deep, they both groaned. He moved steadily at first, watching her face—eyes closed, lips parted, completely lost in him. Then faster, harder, her nails digging into his back. She wrapped her legs tighter around him, meeting every thrust. He grabbed her breasts again, squeezing as he drove into her, her cries getting louder until she came apart beneath him, pulling him right over the edge with her. Afterward, they lay tangled in the sheets, breathing hard, her head on his chest. “I think I’m falling in love with you,” she whispered into the dark. Kael’s heart felt too big for his chest. He kissed the top of her head. “I already fell.” For the first time in twelve years, Kael had hope. Liora was his light. His future. Maybe even the one who could help him build a new family one day. But tomorrow night, everything would change. He’d finally gotten word Vortigern was coming to a warehouse deal near the cliffs. After all these years, revenge was close enough to taste. Kael held Liora tighter, not knowing that the biggest betrayal of his life was sleeping right beside him.Immediately, Emily made her way to Hatton Tech and went straight to Jackson’s face, she barely knocked before she pushed the door open and coming face to face with Jackson and her heart stopped, almost forgetting how much impact he had on her. She saw the look of shock on his face, she didn’t think she’d be seeing him for a while, not after he had brutally ended things with her.“Emily” he called and she walked into his office, straight to his table and she slammed the pen recorder before him, ignoring the rapid pounding of her heart.Jackson looked from the recorder to her fatigued face, confusion clouded his eyes and he hoped for more words from her but Emily didn’t say a word instead she clicked play and fast forwarding the recording to the particular part she wanted him to hear.“Did you plan Jackson’s kidnap and also try to kill my baby?”“Jackson knew – ”At that point, she clicked it shut and looked into his eyes now, the pain doubling in her chest from what she perceived to be
Emily stood outside the door to Ethan’s pent house while she rang the doorbell twice. It was impossible to explain how she felt but a seething anger was very much at the top of the list. She was very sure of how bedraggled she looked, her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail while she still had on the clothes from the previous days, her eyes had dark circles and she was very much tired but there was one thing she understood, Ethan was indeed the enemy and Ethan was the only reason why she would never be happy.Her head raged with thoughts that felt strange to her, evil thoughts that came from the anger that festered within and she needed to let it out, whichever way possible.Soon enough, the door sprung open and she came face to face with indeed Ethan’s handsome face. He was dressed casually in sweat pants and a t shirt, his hair ruffled like he had just rolled out of bed and his eyes roaming her as he took her in.“If you’re here to ask for forgiveness, you’re a few months too lat
Emily’s world was shattered, her eyes were swollen shut from crying all night from Jackson stomping on her heart in the least way that she expected. Her hands went up to necklace dangling freely on her chest and she wanted nothing more than to throw it off as far as possible but she held unto it, remembering Jackson’s words to her No matter what happens between us, you’re always going to have my heart – and truly she always wanted to have his heart.Her frail fingers tightened around the pendant as she felt the tears fall freely from her eyes, the pain radiating all over again. Her mind went over the times they spent together, the way he held her stare and captivating her with his charming eyes. His daring kisses in public – at the red carpet and every single place to let every one know that he was in love with her and she relished in the thoughts while she sat in her mother’s hospital room as the woman laid unconscious on the bed. Emily held unto her mother’s hands, cold and clammy
Later that night, Jackson stood in front of the Hatton family home as he watched Ethan drive into the building. He stood still, his face void of any emotion whatsoever as he waited for Ethan to highlight his car and walk up to him. He could smell the cockiness from where he stood, and the dirty smirk that was plastered on Ethan’s face as he made his way over to Jackson.“Hello brother” he greeted with a simple wave “How about we go inside for a drink?”“I don’t think that’ll be necessary” Jackson responded, his expression hard and stoic which was just a front for the deep sadness that festered within him.“Fine” Ethan shrugged in response “I didn’t plan on staying that long anyways, so what’s it going to be brother?”Jackson remained silent as he fought to say the next words but Ethan was impatient “Which is it going to be?”“You can have Emily, I don’t want her. She’s your wife after all but I’m going to keep my inheritance. Father chose me for a reason and I’m going to respect his d
Jackson stood pensive with his eyes on the ground as the casket lowered to the ground, his eyes weren’t clouded like the dark clouds above but his mood felt just as grey. The silent murmurs, the sad faces that looked like they were staring at him, questioning him or worse still judging him. He looke
“How could you do this to me Emily! I trusted you” Ethan thundered and without waiting for a response he stormed out of the studio leaving Emily behind staring shocked at his retreating figure with the cameras blaring directly in her face. Her fingers began to tremble as she realized that she was al
“Come with me ma’am” Amanda had a wide smile on her face as she beckoned Emily but she was unwilling “We have to do your hair and make up also, we have to get started” Amanda didn’t wait for a response, she grabbed Emily by her arm and pulling her with her into the dressing room and when they got in
The dimly lit study cast a somber atmosphere as Ethan and Jackson sat on plush leather chairs with the tension visibly palpable between them. Jackson’s anxiety permeated the room, hitting all corners and manifesting as restless fidgeting and the tightening of his jaw as he tried Emily’s number for w












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