Chrono Cross Speedrun

Sage Whitmore’s world is turned upside down when her beloved Bluebird Café—her late mother’s legacy and the heart of her hometown—falls into financial ruin. Desperate to save it, Sage finds herself making a dangerous deal with billionaire Damian Cross, a man as ruthless as he is enigmatic. The terms: work as his personal assistant for one year, and she’ll earn the chance to reclaim her café. Damian is a master strategist, a man who rules New York’s corporate empire with unrelenting control. To him, Sage is a puzzle—unpolished, stubborn, and brimming with passion. As Sage steps into his high-stakes world, she discovers that behind Damian’s cold, calculating exterior lies a man haunted by secrets and driven by more than just power. Their undeniable attraction sparks a battle of wills as Sage refuses to be a pawn in Damian’s games. But with each passing day, the line between business and desire begins to blur. When betrayal and long-buried truths come to light, Sage is forced to decide: trust the man who could ruin her, or walk away from the one thing she can’t deny—her heart. Beneath the Steel and Silk is a story of ambition, redemption, and a love powerful enough to shatter walls—or build something unbreakable.

“Think about it," Trapping her between his arms and the chair, he continued. "I’m giving a once in a life time deal, Noelle,” Purposely, he leaned closer in a teasing manner and surprisingly, relished in the way Noelle shrank back. “Become my wife…be mine, and I’d give to you, whatsoever your heart desires. Money, fame, protection, you just name it and you’ll have it; Tesoro.” ~•~ Noelle is an ambitious, hardworking woman whose world crumbles when her long-term boyfriend, Jason, humiliates her by breaking up with her during their anniversary dinner. The reason? He’s found a new girlfriend, whose wealthier than she is. Heartbroken and crushed by the reality of her miserable life, Noelle drowns her sorrows at a nightclub, where she ends up sharing a night of passion with a mysterious stranger. She leaves the next morning, leaving behind only a note, assuming they’ll never cross paths again. When Noelle confides her heartbreak to her best friend, Elena, they investigate Ivette’s background and discover that her wealth stems from her uncle. With this knowledge comes about their ultimate revenge plan: seduce the powerful tycoon and teach Jason a lesson. But her plan takes an unexpected turn when she meets the infamous Wallace Castellano, who turns out to be the same man she had a one night stand with—and he’s far more than just a tycoon. As the head of Italy’s top Mafia organization, Wallace’s world is as seductive as it is treacherous. Drawn into his orbit, Noelle finds herself navigating a web of power, danger, and undeniable passion. But revenge has its price, and as secrets unravel and enemies close in, Noelle must decide: is she willing to risk her heart—and her life—for a man who could destroy her?

Aria James thought she had her life figured out—small-town survival, a controlling boyfriend she pretends to love, and a future she stopped dreaming about a long time ago. But when her car breaks down and the only man to answer the call is the boy who broke her heart and hardened his own—Kade fucking Calloway—everything she thought she knew goes up in flames. Childhood enemies, grown too bitter, too bruised, and too damn drawn to each other to stay apart. Every encounter between Aria and Kade is a battleground—sharp words, hot glares, and enough tension to burn the whole damn town down. He’s everything she’s sworn to hate. She’s everything he’s tried to forget. But hate has a fine, fucking line, princess. And once they cross it, there’s no going back. Small towns remember everything. Secrets are currency. And love? Love is the most dangerous game of all.

It doesn't matter if she is an angel; it's more than enough as long as she rules beside me in hell. Born with a silver spoon, Clara Lawson has everything she could ask for love, money, and freedom. After graduating, she plans to marry her boyfriend and live a peaceful life. That was the plan until she encounters the last man she wants to cross paths with, the tyrant mafia. Morris Casper is known for his cruel methods and ruthless reputation force her into an engagement. Clara never thought she would ever fall for the person she hated, on top of that, the man ten years older than her but her childish heart can't seem to resist the older temptation.

“Standing in a wedding dress meant for her sister, Naomi Hayes felt like an imposter.” Shy, soft-spoken, and always overshadowed by her glamorous sister Charlotte, Naomi never imagined her life would take such a dramatic turn. When Charlotte vanishes to chase love and wealth, Naomi is forced into an arranged marriage with the cold and ruthless billionaire, Damian Cross—a man who makes it painfully clear that she is nothing but a poor substitute for the bride he truly wanted. Thrown into Damian’s opulent but icy world, Naomi endures his disdain, her family’s relentless demands, and the whispers of betrayal that haunt their every interaction. Yet, beneath Damian’s ruthless exterior lies a storm of secrets and enemies, none more dangerous than Evan Reid—his greatest rival and the man Charlotte left with. Caught between two powerful men at war, Naomi becomes a pawn in a high-stakes game that threatens to destroy Damian’s empire and her fragile place in his life. But as their lives collide in unexpected ways, Naomi discovers an unyielding strength she never knew she had. When passion and vulnerability crack Damian’s icy facade, Naomi begins to wonder if there’s more to him than meets the eye—or if she’s risking her heart for a man who may never truly love her. What happens when betrayals come to light? When Naomi faces a choice between loyalty to her sister or the man who has both hurt and protected her? To find out what happens next, read this gripping story of love, redemption, and resilience. Let the unexpected twists and unforgettable characters keep you turning the pages.

Luna, a struggling waitress, has a one-night stand with Dante Cross, a mysterious billionaire. Months later, she discovers she’s pregnant and tracks him down to inform him. Dante, who secretly leads a werewolf pack, is initially skeptical but soon becomes fiercely protective when enemies from his dangerous world target Luna and the unborn child. As their relationship grows, they face betrayal, danger, and the weight of their intertwined destinies, ultimately finding love and strength in each other.

She fell in love with him at first sight, but loving Nathaniel Cross was the beginning of her heartbreak. Once, he had crushed her beneath his indifference, stripping her of dignity, love, and hope. He was ruthless, cold, and distant—never giving her a chance to fight back. His cruel words were like blades, cutting deep, and his rejection left wounds that never truly healed. But fate was not done with them. Years later, Nathaniel Cross returned—not as the untouchable man she once feared, but as someone desperate to right his wrongs. She wanted to forget him, but he refused to let go. He had already given up everything for her once, even if she never knew it. And now, he would stop at nothing to bring her back into his life—no matter what it took. Would she be able to forgive the man who once shattered her? Or would she walk away forever, leaving behind the love that refused to die?

Arabella Winters made a desperate choice to save her father’s life: sabotage Sebastian Bancroft’s engagement to the Windsor heiress. Her mission was simple, create a scandal that would destroy his wedding plans. And she succeeded. But Sebastian Bancroft is no ordinary billionaire. As the ruthless head of the Bancroft mafia empire, he’s a man who never forgives betrayal. To make Arabella pay, he traps her in a dangerous game of revenge, a contract marriage designed to humiliate and control her at every turn. What starts as cold, calculated vengeance begins to turn into something darker and far more dangerous. The lines between hatred and desire blur as Arabella finds herself falling deeper into Sebastian’s complicated world. Now, she must decide whether to play and submit to his rules or risk everything to rewrite the game against the mafia billionaire who refuses to let her go. Excerpt: “Did you really think you could cross me, Arabella? That you could disrupt my plans and simply walk away unscathed?” Her voice faltered, though she tried to hold her ground. “I… I didn’t have a choice.” “Oh, you had every choice,” he murmured, stepping closer. His breath brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. “But now, my vixen, you’ll live with the consequences.” He tilted her chin up with a surprisingly gentle touch, though it only amplified the tension in the air. His tone dropped, low and dangerous. “You’re mine now.” Before she could respond, his lips claimed hers, not gently, but a claim. It wasn’t the kiss of a man seeking affection; it was the kiss of a man who wanted submission. And, despite every instinct telling her to resist, Arabella found herself unable to pull away…

When Emily was young, she lost her mother to a werewolf bite, a traumatic event that stayed with her forever. Afterward, her father remarried, and her stepmother gave birth to a child. Emily was seen as weak, unable to assert herself, and decisions were often made for her. No one considered her a bold member of the family, nor did anyone expect her to defend herself, as her father blamed her for the death of his first wife. Despite remembering the event clearly, Emily remained composed and focused. One day, her father broke the news that she was to marry a man she had never met. Though she was initially unhappy, she gradually accepted the idea, hoping he would be kind and treat her well. She soon discovers her husband is a billionaire, the CEO of the wealthiest company in New York City, and an Alpha of a powerful werewolf clan—Alphas in search of their Lunas. When their paths cross, Emily must decide whether to face reality head-on or run away.

Billionaire tech tycoon Damian Cross has spent his life building a legacy of cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technology, aiming to revolutionize transportation and safety. But his obsession with control and precision has left him emotionally detached and skeptical of human unpredictability—especially in high-risk activities like racing. On the other hand, Sierra Vale, a fearless street racer with a mysterious past, thrives on chaos and adrenaline. Known as the "Queen of the Circuit," Sierra races not for fame but for her underground mission: using winnings to fund her brother's secretive legal battle against a corrupt corporation linked to Damian's empire.