Erik Von Detten Brink

He's the beast, she's the prey. But she's bound to own his heart. Betrayed and humiliated, Chloe Hathaway, heiress of the Hathaway Empire, was deceived by the two people she loved most—her best friend and her fiancé. Publicly rejecting her fiancé on their wedding day, Chloe exposed their betrayal, only to have him vow revenge by linking her family’s company to a money laundering scheme. On the brink of losing everything her family had built, Chloe sought a savior and found Ethan Holmes, a potential investor with a chilling proposal. Years ago, she had dismissed him as a mere street rat. Now, he offered salvation with a humiliating twist: she would be his plaything for a year. Torn between her pride and the need to save her family, Chloe agreed, plunging into a world where Ethan sought to dismantle her remaining arrogance. Yet, as he set out to humble her, unexpected feelings began to stir within him. What happens when the beast starts to fall for the prey? Can love blossom amidst revenge and humiliation, or will their past actions forever shadow their future?

Fire and plague. Certainly no strangers to London Town.But when legions of living dead rise from the Thames’ fetid waters to feast upon the living, the city teeters on the brink of antihalation. And while floaters seek blood, another army takes advantage of the chaos. Boiling out of their rookeries of crime, marauders swarm through London’s affluent neighborhoods looting and burning.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Synopsis Olivia Hart, a rising actress on the brink of stardom, finds herself caught in the fast-paced and often ruthless world of Hollywood. At a lavish industry party, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Ethan Cole, a self-made billionaire whose life revolves around business deals and corporate dominance. Despite their vastly different worlds, an undeniable connection sparks between them, leading to a passionate one-night stand. What Olivia assumes will be a fleeting encounter turns into something much more complicated when Ethan expresses a genuine interest in her, leaving her torn between the glamorous but chaotic life of fame and the allure of a man who could change her world. As they begin to navigate the complexities of their relationship, Olivia must face the harsh scrutiny of the media, the expectations of those around her, and her own fears of falling for someone so different from herself. Meanwhile, Ethan, who is used to control in every aspect of his life, finds himself drawn to Olivia in ways he never expected. For the first time, he’s willing to risk it all to explore a relationship beyond his carefully constructed walls. But with both of them carrying the weight of their own ambitions and pasts, their journey is anything but smooth. As their romance deepens, Olivia and Ethan must decide whether love is worth risking their careers and reputations or if the differences in their worlds will pull them apart forever.

Framed by her husband's mistress and abandoned in a prison cell, Bella is left to die—stabbed in the dark, betrayed by everyone she once loved. But a mysterious man saves her, pulling her from the brink of death. Three years later, she returns as a cold, calculative woman, determined to destroy the man who cast her aside. But when he traps her against the wall, his breath hot against her skin, her carefully built walls begin to crack. "I will never let you go again. You’ll forever be mine, Bella."

Stephanie's voice trembled as she took a hesitant step backward, "But you have a fiancée," she stammered, shaken by the unexpected turn of events. "I couldn't resist," Paul Costa replied in a husky tone, his own steps closing the distance between them. "But..." Stephanie tried to protest, but he silenced her with a gentle yet firm answer, "Shhh. No buts. I want you, and I will have you," he whispered, sending thrilling shivers down her spine. A single night of passion with her boss, Paul Costa, takes an unforeseen twist when Stephanie discovers she's carrying his child. Paul, the CEO of a corporate giant, is on the brink of marrying an heiress from another influential conglomerate, destined to become "Mrs. Costa." However, fate has a different plan, as he finds himself falling deeply in love with Stephanie, a love he cannot openly embrace due to societal expectations and traditions. Their budding romance faces the harsh realities of tradition and social norms, and they must face a world filled with lies, deceit, and betrayals. A dangerous secret lurks, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear

Evangeline Rutherford once loved a man with all her heart-and he destroyed her without hesitation. Three years of cold, hurtful marriage ended in cruel humiliation. She was kicked out for nothing, unilaterally divorced, and abandoned as if she'd never mattered. But Eva didn't choose to be destroyed. She buried her past and rose as Pearl Oceanna, a respected fashion icon. The world now knows her as an untouchable woman-perfect on the outside, but building a high wall around her heart. Only one man has ever dared to breach her defenses: Maximilian Von Ziegler. Max was the only one who believed in Eva when the world belittled her. He saw her broken heart, reached out, and rebuilt her confidence. But even though Max loved her with all his heart, Eva never really let him in. The wounds of the past are too deep, and she's afraid that loving means giving herself a chance to be hurt again. However, things go awry when Roderick Langley, the man who once destroyed her, returns to her life. With a face full of regret, Rick tries to win her back. At the same time, Max extends his hand-not to ask, but to remind Eva that she deserves to be loved sincerely. Eva knows she has to choose. But this time, it is not a man who will decide her destiny - but herself.

Five years ago, when my boyfriend's small company was on the brink of bankruptcy I stepped in to save him, quietly supporting him from the shadows. Without revealing my identity, I became the company’s largest shareholder. Five years later, the night before his company was set to go public, he held me in his arms and said, "Emma, after the company goes public tomorrow, don’t leave. I have a surprise for you." At that moment, I was swept away by the idea of his "surprise," my mind racing with the hopeful thought that he might propose. I didn’t notice the cold glint of malice lurking in his eyes. The next day, as his company went public, he slapped me across the face and sneered, "Do you even see what kind of person you are? Did you really think someone like you could marry me?" He grabbed me by the hair and dragged both me and my best friend in front of a crowd of thugs and beggars he’d gathered. “These worthless cast-offs aren’t good enough for me anymore. Consider them my gift to you. Do whatever you like with them!”

Benedykta Rebel, known as Ben to her friends, never imagined that her position as the oldest daughter of a wealthy family in New York would come with such a heavy burden. When her grandfather unexpectedly names her as the CEO of New Way Group, Ben is shocked to learn that there is a catch - she must marry a man of her grandfather's choosing in order to inherit the company. Furious at the idea of being forced into a loveless marriage, Ben confronts her grandfather, only to be met with indifference. With her family's company on the brink of bankruptcy, Ben realizes that she has no choice but to comply with her grandfather's demands. Seeking solace and escape from her troubles, Ben finds herself at a night club, where she crosses paths with a mysterious and handsome stranger. Drawn to him in a way she never thought possible, Ben succumbs to a passionate one-night stand, unaware of the consequences that will follow. But when Ben discovers that the man she shared a fleeting connection with is none other than her future father-in-law, her world is turned upside down. Caught between duty and desire, Ben must navigate the treacherous waters of love and loyalty as she comes face to face with the man who unknowingly stole her heart in a single night. Family obligations and forbidden love collide. Will she choose duty and save her family's legacy, or will she risk it all for a chance at true happiness?

Tired of her marriage with her cheating husband, twenty-three years old Betty Von Rosey, relocates (as advised by her friend, Laura) to Gut’s Island, an island that is believed to be magical enough to relieve the pains of the broken hearted, by sparing them chances of falling in love the second time. On the Island, she falls in love with a billionaire in the disguise of a chauffeur, birthing a new wave of romance between the two. But things begin to chatter when her red room ex-husband, Braun, visits the Island, and she discovers the true image of her recent lover, Stan.

Hera Leandra Bardin, 24 years old, was on the brink of death in the middle of the desert. As she felt her blood trickle, she recalled all of the past memories she had that led to this moment. She remembered her mother who died from an incurable disease. And her father who had betrayed her. She remembered leaving the place she called home at 15 years old and the moment she made the decision to join the army. The anger and hatred she felt towards liars and cheaters sparked her strong sense of justice. As she felt her life fade away, she couldn’t accept that this would be her end. Until–a business mogul, Nathaniel Orion Martel spots her abandoned figure in the desert and extends her life, by giving her his dark blood. Hera wakes up to a new way of living. Her savior, Nathaniel Orion Martel, a 300-year old vampire took her in, much to the dissatisfaction of the elders of the Martel clan. They saw her as an obstacle to their plan of marrying Nathaniel Orion to a Royal Princess to expand their influence. Hera claimed to have no interest in being part of this rivalry and was focused on getting the justice she was owed. She left in search of answers, but came to know her mother’s secrets along the way. When Hera and Nathaniel met again, she had already become a different person. She was no longer without purpose, having found a new responsibility towards her mother's clan. Hera and Nathaniel's separation pushed them to recognize their budding romance. Facing rivalry against the Royal Princess and her clan's alpha, Hera is determined to use her own strength and emerge victorious, and possibly place her trust and have the happily ever after she thought she'd never have.