Substitute Bride

Let's get this over with." Those were the longest words I'd heard him say ever since his entrance to the room. His hoarse voice which held no sign of emotion rumbled like a distant thunder in the large sitting room that was now occupied by his mother, Jane Jordan - the heiress of Jordan Jewelleries, the dark haired judge who sat by an oak table that had been placed in the center of the room for this purpose, Mother, and I , the I-know-nothing-about-this bride dressed in a knee-length lavender gown and silver stiletto heels, nothing befitting for a bride on her big day.  ... "And do you, Ashley, take Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband?" I sucked in a sharp breath as I closed my eyes. "I do." My fate has been sealed. Just like that, I'm married to a man I know nothing about.

They said she vanished. They claimed she betrayed them. But when she reappears at a secret auction, claimed by the man who once swore to destroy her, the past ignites like gasoline. In a world where loyalty is currency and truth is buried beneath designer suits and silken lies, love isn’t the question. it’s the weapon.

Detective Jane Michaels arrives in Ridgeview to start fresh after a catastrophic case nearly ended her career. On her first day, she’s assigned a gruesome case involving a serial killer who dresses his victims as brides and leaves a single rose. As Jane dives deeper, she uncovers unsettling details about the victims and their lives. Amidst the investigation, she crosses paths with Nathaniel Carter, a kind and mysterious local writer who slowly chips away at her walls. But Ridgeview is a town of secrets, and the truth is never as it seems. When a victim escapes the killer’s clutches and gives a description, the case takes an unexpected turn. The town is rocked as the killer is unmasked—someone who was hiding in plain sight. In the final confrontation, Jane must use her wit and emotional resilience to bring the killer to justice. But even as the case is solved, a sinister shadow lingers, and Jane faces her own demons, left with an unsettling gift that raises more questions than answers.

Caroline Montreal is an ordinary 23-year-old woman who enjoys her simple life with her sister and loving boyfriend. She couldnʼt ask for more until her sisterʼs illness got worse, and the only person she could rely on left her for another woman. Caroline was about to lose hope until she bumped into her boss. Calvin Vander is a 29-year-old business tycoon. Heʼs strict, arrogant, hot-tempered, and the CEO of the renowned company—Platinum Bank Incorporated. The thing is that he would never get his inheritance from his grandfather until he gets married. Thatʼs why after discovering his secretaryʼs situation, he made an offer that would benefit the two of them. “I need a contract wife, and you need money.” On the verge of desperation, Caroline agreed, and they both signed a contract just like a normal business deal. It was just supposed to be an act, but why do those sweet kisses and gestures feel so real? And why doesnʼt Calvin like the idea of her leaving him after the deal?

Isabelle Cruz is forced to marry Jacob Garcia in place of her adoptive sister. As far as she knows, Jacob is an illegitimate son who's an idler, reckless, and not worth much. Unknown to her, he is a billionaire CEO who's determined to end their arranged marriage as soon as possible. Jacob Garcia is in a hurry to end his arranged marriage to his new wife, Isabelle. He doesn't think it's going to be hard. After all, why would a woman from a wealthy family stay married to a poor man? But he realises quickly Isabelle's is nothing like he expected, and that things may not go according to plan.

Revenge was all she had left. After years of torment, Raven emerged from the ashes of her past. No longer a helpless girl, but a deadly predator. A single bite turned her into something more, something powerful, and she vowed to make men like her abusers pay. Abused, broken, and left for dead, she clawed her way back by becoming a predator herself, throwing men into her bed, only to end their lives before sunrise. No man could touch her. No man could own her. Until one night, she met him. Alessio Rossi. A man who is powerful, dangerous, and a ruthless Alpha. But when Raven tried to kill him, she failed. Worse, he spared her. Unknowingly, he was her mate. Now, trapped in a bond she never wanted, Raven’s world is thrown into chaos. She hated the idea of men, and yet, she had no choice but to accept the mate bond. Alessio, too, despised the idea of a Luna, yet they are forced to stay together for a certain period of time before they can part ways. In the midst of their hatred, a dark obsession festers. Claire, a manipulative wolf who is dangerously obsessed with Alessio, will stop at nothing to drive a wedge between them. In a world where love is forbidden and hatred runs deep, Raven must face the truth: Some bonds can’t be broken. And some desires are impossible to resist.

Blurb: Nicolas Pov: I’ve built my life on control, power, and ruthless decisions. I never wanted to rely on anyone—especially not her. Isabella is young, full of hope, and entirely too naive for this world. I didn’t expect her to become someone I couldn’t ignore. But here she is, stepping into my life, challenging everything I’ve worked for. She doesn’t belong in my world, yet she makes it harder to push her away. I’ve lived in shadows long enough to know better, but something about her light makes me question everything. Still, the world I live in is too dangerous, and trust is a luxury I can’t afford. Isabella Pov: I never imagined this life. Married to a man who is more scarred than I could have ever known, his world of darkness and danger closing in every day. I didn’t sign up for this, yet here I am, holding my ground. Nicolas might think I’m naive, but I see the man behind the mask. He doesn’t know how to love, but I refuse to let that stop me. I won’t run, even if I’m constantly surrounded by threats and lies. This world doesn’t scare me, but what Nicolas won’t let me see—his pain, his demons—that’s what I’m fighting to understand. I didn’t come into this to save him, but maybe it’s time he lets me in.

When I stumbled into a Mafia run club seeking a job, I was looking for protection. Little did I know I’d need protection from him. Damian was exactly the kind of danger I was trying to avoid. He was gorgeous as sin with an accent hotter than Ronan, but that’s where the charm ended. He was also cynical, cold, and downright cranky. So, you could imagine my surprise when he gave me a proposition to marry him or lose my life. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’ve learned to do what’s necessary to survive in this world, and that includes marrying a mobster. Regardless of what he might say, it’s only temporary. It’s not like I’m going to fall for him, because that would be stupid, right?

Elena found out the harshest of ways that love could not be forced. For Twelve years she loved Damien ,but he repaid her love by sending her to the deepest part of hell. In her darkest moments, she was forced to watch Damien shower love to some other woman. Years later, she comes back from her pieces and vows to serve everyone a piece of their own medicine. But for how long?

Isabella Moretti has spent three years planning the perfect revenge. When ruthless billionaire Damien Blackwell needs a contract wife to secure his inheritance, she sees her chance. His family destroyed hers—his father's corporate takeover drove her father to suicide and left her family in ruins. Now she'll marry Damien, infiltrate his empire, and burn it all to the ground. But Damien Blackwell is more dangerous than she anticipated. Behind his cold exterior lies a man with his own scars, his own secrets, and an unsettling ability to see through her carefully constructed lies. As forced proximity ignites an obsessive attraction neither can control, Isabella discovers the truth about her family's destruction isn't what she thought. The real enemy has been watching them both, and her revenge plot may have made her a pawn in a far deadlier game. Now she must choose: complete her mission and destroy the man she's falling for, or trust him and risk losing everything—including her heart.