Fading facades: love beyond the deal

Everyone she loves could be gone in a minute, and she dreaded it, that's why she'd concealed it. Nobody realized that she was the offspring of the Mark. Yet, Catherine was beyond wretched, how they played her, how she was a pawn. It crushed her faith, lies were told.

Axel Ammen has a one night stand with an alpha in heat, and 5 years later, he's visited in his bakery by the same Alpha, who happens to be part of a Mafia gang. But he comes with an offer that Axel isn't entirely sure she can resist.

Benhail Gunther, a billionaire who owned one of the biggest wineries in Texas had lived a normal life until he got the news that was going to change his life forever. Now, he needed to act fast, and produce an heir to own all his assets. Emery, a young woman who schlepped the weight of the world on her shoulders, lived with her ailing twin sister who was on the verge of losing her life. She was her only family and she had to do all she could to save her. - - When Emery met Benhail in the passageway that led to the exit of the clubhouse, she summoned the courage to approach him and ask what he wanted. If they had the same interest, maybe they could strike a deal. She offered him prices but was surprised when he offered her a ridiculous amount of money that could change her life forever. She knew well that the money didn't come just for him to get her pussy screwed, there was more to it. She had to pay a price to be in his life for a year. The deal was signed, and rules were broken. Benhail was holding back, he was afraid he'd love her too much and leave her broken. But Emery was willing to get hurt, she wanted to know more, submit to his every will and be more than what and who he wanted her to be if only he'd let her in.

BLURB ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** You can’t force me to go with you,” I sneered. “I will carry you myself, Vanessa, if you insist on acting like a kid.” “I‘ll yell out for help, someone will hear.” “And sentence your loved ones to death? I think not,” he squinted. “What was their name again, Alena… Eugene" “Kai, don’t you dare touch my loved ones!” I said in gritted teeth as I walked closer to him, warning him, “Or else I will— He scoffed, and he grabbed my hand. “You will what? Huh?” Tears began to fall freely from my eyes. “Kia, don’t touch the ones I love!” I said in between tears. “We made a deal,” he said, grabbing my hands as I struggled to be free from his grip. “There is no going back. If you ever run away again, I won’t even give you a preview, you will attend the funeral of your loved ones.” his voice was dangerously low. Hot tears fell from my eyes. “I won’t touch you, so that you can suffer for your mistake,” he smirked. “You and I know, the pain is worse than death,” he said in a whisper. I closed my eyes and let tears cascade down my cheeks. I now understood what I had done. Understood that I had made a deal with the monster who was once my lover. I was foolish to think he had changed.

To the world, I was Mrs. Ward—the untouchable queen beside the mafia king of New York, Elias Ward. But I knew my husband never loved me. His heart had always belonged to Harper Dinah. His nephew’s wife. And after that nephew conveniently died, Elias brought her into our mansion, “I just want to take better care of her,” he’d said. And his version of “care” was where he’d throw a man out of a party for daring to flirt with Harper and got her pregnant. Elias likes to praise me in public like I was the perfect wife to him. And I was. I helped build his empire. I was the one who smiled and played nice. I made his casino shine while he hid Harper away like she was something sacred. Because of all that praising, one of his enemies set his sights on me. They took me. Sent Elias a message soaked in blood and threats: Back off. Leave New York. Or your pretty wife dies. Of course, Elias didn’t choose to back off.. “Just wait,” he said over the phone, “They won’t hurt you, Noa. You’re leverage. Just hold on until Harper gives birth. Then I’ll come for you.” Eight months of being held in a filthy hole, starved, beaten, degraded. The gang leader raped me over and over again. And still, Elias never came. Finally, I escaped when they were all drunk. Went home, only find my twins sleeping in the maid’s room, eating scraps while Elias was too busy hosting a party for his newborn. I didn’t confront him, just packed my babies and disappear.

Just when Clara thought she had no hopes or means of survival anymore, Alex showed up in her life and proposed a business deal_ A marriage contract! Clara met Alex who happened to be her interviewer in the work vacancy she applied for. He was also the famous CEO of the company. Clara thought she would lose the job since they had a one-night stand the previous night but Alex was rather elated because he’d been searching for her. “I will protect you and spoil you, all you have to do is marry me for two years.” Alex proposed to her. Because of her dying mum and other conditions, she accepted him but after the marriage, a lot changed. Her mother died, her husband became cold, her husband’s first love showed up, she caught her husband in bed with her sister, her husband denied her pregnancy, and he even sent her out of the house. Clara left and vowed not to return even when her heart wanted him. Would she be able to keep to her words? Did Alex do anything offensive to her according to the papers she signed? Or maybe she didn’t just read through it before signing. Why does Alex long for her now that she’s gone?

Habang tinatakbuhan ang nobyong nagtaksil sa kaniya, aksidenteng nakabangga si Claire ng isang bilyonaryo. Imbes na bulyawan o itaboy, inalok siya nito ng kasal. Kapalit ng pera para sa pampaopera ng kapatid, pumayag ang dalaga. Kahit malamig at walang interes sa kaniya ang asawa, ginawa pa rin ni Claire ang lahat para mapagsilbihan si Sandro. Pero ano ang mangyayari kung pati siya'y mapagod na rin sa relasyon nila? Magagawa kaya ni Claire na bitawan si Sandro at ipaubaya na lang sa babaeng nilalaman talaga ng puso nito? Naitali sila hindi dahil sa pag-ibig, pero ngayong ang isa sa kanila ay napamahal na, ano kayang mangyayari sa kanilang malamig na pagsasama—at sa batang nasa sinapupunan ni Claire?

Emily thought the only hurdle in her life was standing up to her father to follow her dream of owning a bakery. Until her boyfriend Ryan and her sister Kayla betrayed her. leaving her devastated. Those she trusted the most threatened her life. To survive, Emily strikes a deal with the CEO Logan. A contract marriage. Their union threatens the plans of many, and they would go to any length to destroy both Emily and Logan. Will they be able to overcome the obstacle?As lies unravel, dangerous truths come to light, and unexpected feelings take root, Emily and Logan must decide—will their partnership remain just a deal, or will it become something worth fighting for?

"I'm dying," I told him. "So, I figured I might as well lose my virginity to the hottest guy on campus before I go." ----- Ellie Carter never expected to be twenty one, single, and terminally ill with only six months left to live. But with nothing left to lose, she makes a deal with the campus badboy, Beck Ryder, to have one reckless and unforgettable night. It was supposed to be a one time thing. But somewhere between the late night cuddling, the constant teasing and the surprising discovery that he's not just the resident campus fuckboy (turns out he actually has a heart), Ellie catches feelings against her better judgment. Now she has to live with the knowledge that she's falling for Beck, and he might be falling for her too. How will she survive when she finds out that she might not be dying after all? Will the consequences of her actions come back to bite her when a vengeful ex enters the picture? Or can the throwaway fling turn into something real? If she thought dying would be hard, it turns out that living is way messier.

My breath caught as his lips claimed mine."I... I accept your terms,” I trembled as he caressed my cheek. My brain was in a mess and all could hear was his whisper."Liana, you're mine!"***As a 22-year old Alpha’s daughter, I was forced to accept an arranged marriage with an disgusting old man. To find a way out, I made a deal with a mysterious Alpha -- He would free me from my fate, and I would carry a child for him.What I didn't know, was that the handsome stranger I made a deal with was not a savior, but a devil!***“Liana, please let me explain.”“No,” I whispered as I closed my eyes against the pain and disappointment. I looked at my swollen belly, my heart broke for our unborn child.But, I just couldn’t stomach one more lie.“We had a deal,” he reminded me harshly. “You can’t just walk away now.”I smiled bitterly at him. "Yes, I can."A Deal with the Mysterious Alpha is created by A.B Elwin, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.