MasukA lie sealed with a kiss.A marriage bound by revenge .the only way out is through fire Two weeks before her fairy-tale society wedding, Ariana Carter, the witty and spirited youngest daughter of the powerful Carter dynasty, catches her fiancé, Simon Vance, in an act of infidelity..Shattered and seeking reckless oblivion, her impulsive escape leads her into a dark city alley and a dangerous confrontation. Only to be saved by Lucas Hill, the enigmatic billionaire CEO who rules the corporate landscape with ruthless efficiency—and who also happens to be her formidable older brother’s closest friend and the man who once coldly rejected her youthful crush. The very next day, the Carter and Hill families, desperate to avert a financial and media catastrophe caused by Simon's calculated actions, orchestrate a shocking solution: an immediate, high-stakes arranged marriage. Ariana is abruptly thrust into wedlock with Lucas, a man who views her not as a wife, but as a critical business asset—a necessary shield against a looming corporate raid orchestrated by her rejected fiancé.The rules are simple public unity an private war. This marriage of convenience is a battleground. Lucas, possessive and ice-cold, demands absolute control, determined to safeguard his own empire and protect Ariana with a dominance that borders on suffocating. Ariana, fiercely independent and newly defiant after betrayal, refuses to be a pawn, challenging his command with sharp wit and unexpected business acumen. As they navigate the world of New York's corporate elite, their forced proximity ignites a slow-burn, fiery passion, forcing Lucas to confront the intense, protective feelings he has long hidden for the bright, chaotic girl. Their union is a ticking clock, set against a backdrop of secrets, media scrutiny, and a vengeful ex-fiancé determined to destroy everything they hold dear.
Lihat lebih banyakThe thought that Lucas had truly changed felt like a dream she was waking up from in the most brutal way possible. Ariana sat in the library, the bouquet of sunflowers still clutched in her trembling hands. Her skin wasn’t just prickling anymore; it was on fire. Red welts bloomed across her neck and arms, creeping toward her face in angry patches. As the oxygen began to fail her, she leaned back, her mind drifting to a memory of them years ago. They were standing at the waterfall, the air misted and cool, and she had told him. She had looked him in the eye and told him exactly what flowers would kill her. The irony was a bitter pill. Now, the worst part was her throat. It felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her windpipe shut, tighter with every second. "Lucas..." she tried to call out, but the name was a pathetic, wet wheeze. She tried to stand, to finally push the toxic yellow blossoms away, but her legs gave out like water. She collapsed against the mahogany side tabl
The golden rays of the morning sun pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master suite, stabbing directly at Ariana’s closed eyelids. She groaned, pulling the duvet over her head to escape the light, but the rhythmic pounding in her skull was already relentless. Bit by bit, the fog of the previous night began to lift. "Oh, no," she whispered into the pillow, her voice raspy. It hit her in waves. The study. The photo. The dive bar. She scratched her head frantically, her face heating up as she remembered screaming at Lucas in front of a room full of bikers. Then came the image of the Aston Martin, her insults, and the sickeningly clear memory of leaning forward and vomiting directly onto his bespoke suit. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting the floor to swallow her. "I called him a bully. I told him I had... oh god, why did I mention that?" But then, a softer memory surfaced. The cool marble of the bathroom floor. His surprisingly gentle touch with the washcloth. A
The golden rays of the morning sun pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master suite, stabbing directly at Ariana’s closed eyelids. She groaned, pulling the duvet over her head to escape the light, but the rhythmic pounding in her skull was already relentless. Bit by bit, the fog of the previous night began to lift. "Oh, no," she whispered into the pillow, her voice raspy. It hit her in waves. The study. The photo. The dive bar. She scratched her head frantically, her face heating up as she remembered screaming at Lucas in front of a room full of bikers. Then came the image of the Aston Martin, her insults, and the sickeningly clear memory of leaning forward and vomiting directly onto his bespoke suit. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting the floor to swallow her. "I called him a bully. I told him I had... oh god, why did I mention that?" But then, a softer memory surfaced. The cool marble of the bathroom floor. His surprisingly gentle touch with the washcloth. An
Lucas was focused entirely on the woman swaying in front of him. He reached out, his hand closing over the neck of the bourbon bottle she was still clutching like a lifeline. "Put the bottle down, Ariana," Lucas commanded, his voice vibrating with a mixture of authority and suppressed panic. "You’ve had more than enough. You’re drunk." Ariana pulled the bottle back, her eyes flashing with a fire he had never seen before. "Oh, am I? Am I a drunken liability now, Lucas? Is that what goes on the report?" She let out a sharp, mocking laugh that cut through the heavy bass of the bar’s music. "You’ve got your precious necklace. You’ve got your thirty million dollars. So what are you still waiting for? Go! Take your diamond and leave me to my 'mess'!" "I am not leaving you in a dive bar in the middle of the night," Lucas hissed, stepping closer until she was pinned between him and the edge of the bar. "It isn't a request. We are leaving. Now." "I don't belong to you!" she screamed, her v
The sun rose on a city that had spent the night gossiping about Ariana’s reputation. By nine o’clock, however, the digital landscape had shifted. Lucas had used his full power to clean up the mess; his PR team worked effortlessly. The viral video was scrubbed from the internet, and the tabloids wer
The armored sedan lurched violently as another heavy SUV slammed into the passenger side. Glass from the reinforced windows spider-webbed, cracking under the pressure, but it held. Lucas didn't waste a single second. He pulled his gun, his eyes turning cold and focused. "Lucas!" Ariana screamed as
The heavy oak doors of the CEO’s office swung open with a bang. Elena didn’t just walk in; she strutted, her hips swinging in a pencil skirt that was definitely two inches shorter than HR policy allowed. She had unbuttoned the top of her blouse and applied a fresh layer of dark red lipstick, certai
The morning after the dinner at the Hill estate, the atmosphere in the penthouse was thick with tension. The "Azure Star" sat on the vanity, sparkling under the lights. Ariana stared at it, her heart heavy. She wanted to give it back; she felt she was not worthy of wearing something so precious, es






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