Fading facades: love beyond the deal

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

Narinig ni Amanda Moretti ang balitang ipapakasal siya ng kanyang ama sa isang lalaking hindi niya kilala—kaya tumakas siya mula sa tahanan ng kanyang mga magulang. Determinado siyang pumili ng sariling landas, nagsimula siyang mamuhay mag-isa at unti-unting binuo ang tahimik na kalayaang natagpuan niya sa kanyang maliit na apartment. Sa tulong ng isang bagay na siya mismo ang lumikha—isang app na ginawa niya upang matulungan siyang malampasan ang bawat araw—hindi lamang siya nakaraos kundi umangat pa. Lumago ang app, naging matagumpay, at kalaunan ay nakilala sa maraming lugar. Dahil sa tagumpay na iyon, nakilala niya ang isa sa kanyang mga kliyente—si Knoxx Xavier Vitale—isang lalaking hindi niya inakalang lubos na magbabago ng takbo ng kanyang buhay. Arogante at antipatiko. Sukdulan ang ugali nitong hindi tugma sa kanya. He kept on pestering her. Kaya nang inalok siya nitong magpanggap bilang nobya sa harapan ng mga magulang nito, sa una'y nagdadalawang-isip pa siya. Mentioning a hundred thousand dollars made her eyes sparkling of wealth. Napapayag siya nito. Ngunit mas may nakakagulat pang rebelasyon ang mangyayari kasunod.

In just one day, Gemma Braun finds out her entire life has been built on lies and deception. From finding her younger sister in bed with her husband to being killed by her own brother. On her death bed, Gemma begs the universe for a chance to deal with everyone who exploited her. When a second chance is granted to her, Gemma vows to deal with all that has hurt her, with Atlanta's wealthiest billionaire by her side, she will bring everyone to their knees before her. ****** “Why are you doing this?” She asked. “Well, let's say we’ll be doing a trade by barter. You give me what I want, I'll give you what you want…” “And what do you have that I want?” the lady before him asked. “Money, power, connection… I've been watching you for a while, Miss Braun. I thought you were docile and gullible and only does what that messed up family of yours asks you to. But after witnessing what you pulled today, my view about you changed…” “What does all these have to do with what I want?” “You want revenge, you want to deal with your sister and that prick for messing with you, you want to deal with that thing you call a brother for everything he has done to you, and your parents, they deserve a share of your rage too, for neglecting you…” “Get married to me, and I'll give you the money and power to get back at them." “What do you gain from this, Mr. Ferguson?” Gemma asked. “A wife…..What do you say to a two year marriage contract. Once the contract ends, you can do what you want with your life, no strings attached,” Derek proposed.

On our wedding, my boyfriend of five years, Lucas Hunter, is in the middle of sliding the wedding ring onto my finger when a little boy rushes up to him and hugs his leg. "Daddy, please don't ditch me and Mommy!" At that moment, his first love, Isabella Welch, walks over and shows the paternity test report in front of all the guests. "On the night Lucas and I broke up six years ago, I was already pregnant with his child." Lucas' expression changes drastically. He subconsciously glances at me afterward. "I didn't know about this, Vivian!" "Well, you do now," Isabella cuts him off. "By the way, not only am I your son's biological mother, but I'm also the sole daughter of the richest woman in Andaysia." She then shows Lucas something on her phone. The next moment, his gaze becomes passionate immediately. "I've given up on my marriage alliance just to seek you out, Lucas. I am the woman you should be marrying instead of that…" Isabella eyes me up and down. "Instead of that regular corporate slave." Lucas stays silent only for a moment before retracting the ring that has touched my fingertip. Then, he slides it onto Isabella's finger. I can't believe it. Is this really the man I've loved for the past five years?" "Have you thought this through, Lucas?" Lucas leans in to murmur into my ear, "Vivian, once I've secured the major project in the company with Isabella's help and get custody over my son, I'll give you an even grander wedding." I just chuckle icily in return before leaving the altar without even sparing him a glance. After that, I call Alexander Shaw, an admirer who has loved me for ten years, on the phone. "Are you busy? If not, come here and marry me." Then, I turn back to look at the new couple, who are in the middle of making their vows. Isabelle calls herself the daughter of the richest woman in Andaysia, she says. But how is it possible for me to not know that my mom has swapped me out for another daughter?

When her husband Dan Roger gave her the divorce papers and told her he was getting married to her best friend Cheryl , Emily thought the best thing to do was to commit suicide. waking up in a hospital and being mistaken for the dead wife of Casper Hallow a multi billionaire and a mafia Don , she has the identity of Amelia Casper . will he question the pregnancy from her former marriage ? .With the fame and power of the Casper family Emily plans her revenge on Dan and Cheryl.

“Let’s have a deal. Let me be your real wife just for one month, Dashiel.” Isang simpleng hiling iyon. Parang huling pakiusap ng isang babaeng pagod na pagod nang masaktan. Para kay Addison Leigh Castillo, iyon na lang ang natitira sa kanya, ang huling piraso ng dignidad kapalit ng pagmamahal na ibinigay niya kahit kailan ay hindi niya naranasang masuklian. Alam na ni Addison simula pa lang na ang kasal nila ay hindi dahil sa pag-ibig. Pinakasalan siya ni Dashiel Kristian Gutierrez dahil sa obligasyon at sa kagustuhan ng lola nito. Walang lambing, walang yakap, walang titig na may damdamin. Tahimik lang ang bahay, malamig, at hindi kailanman naging tahanan. Pero kahit ganoon, kumapit pa rin si Addison. Sinubukan niyang maging mabuting asawa. Tahimik siyang umasa na baka balang araw, matutunan siyang mahalin ni Dashiel. Hanggang sa unti-unti siyang naubos. Gusto nang pakasalan ni Dashiel ang babaeng mahal nito talaga. At ang mas masakit, buong pamilya nito ang pumayag. Doon tuluyang gumuho si Addison. Kaya gumawa siya ng isang huling kahilingan. Isang buwan lang. Isang buwan na tratuhin siya bilang tunay na asawa. Isang buwan na maramdaman kung ano ang pakiramdam na mahal ka. Pagkatapos noon, aalis na siya nang tuluyan. Para kay Dashiel, desperado lang si Addison. Isang babaeng ayaw pang bumitaw. Pero mali siya. Sa loob ng isang buwan, unti-unting nagbago ang lahat. Napansin niya ang mga ngiti ni Addison, ang tahimik pero buo nitong pagmamahal, at ang paraan ng pag-alis nito, walang reklamo, pero may iniwang sakit sa puso niya. Doon niya napagtanto ang lahat. Nang makita niya ang pagmamahal na matagal niyang binalewala, saka lang niya ito naramdaman. Pero huli na ba? O lalaban ba si Dashiel; sa pamilya, sa nakaraan, at sa sarili niyang pagkakamali, para sa isa pang pagkakataon? “One more chance,” bulong ng puso ni Dashiel. Pero handa pa bang bumalik si Addison… o tapos na talaga ang kwento nilang dalawa?

Blood pooled beneath Eloise's head just moments after she discovered the truth about her husband. The man she built her world around wanted nothing more than to destroy her. He stole everything, her company, her pride, her future, and left her to die. But as the darkness closed in on her, fate offered a second chance. ** Now she is back, with bloodstained memories and a thirst for revenge. Desperate and broken, she made a deal with the devil, a man powerful enough to hand her the weapons. But his help comes at a price. To be owned by him. For four months. A strict deal with no strings or feelings attached. But nothing about him is simple. He's infuriating, intoxicating, and every second with him chips away at her control. What starts as business quickly spirals into a dangerous game of possession, secrets, and desire. And when hearts get involved, the real cost becomes something more than she bargained for. He’s the last man she should trust… and the only one who makes her lose control.

Steve, the brutal, evil man who happens to be the son of the Mafia, had his eye on a lady who had a distinctive build. Before the appearance of Steve, Ashly had everything figured out. Meet the man who intends to destroy Ashly Novanches' beautiful and innocent existence. Steve Biloner, who will become obsessed by Ashly's unique beauty and compassionate personality. Ang katapangang nananalaytay sa dugo ni Ashly Novanches ang kukuha sa atensyon ni Steve Biloner. Dahil lamang sa pagligtas ng dalaga sa buhay ng binata sa isang insidente, malapit sa kanilang paaralan kung saan doon sila mismo unang nagkita, ay doon na nag-umpisa ang kahindik-hindik na pagkahumaling sa kan'ya ng lalaki. Dahil hindi maalis alis sa sistema ng binata ang dalaga ay nakuha n'yang gawin ang pinakadelikadong plano. Pagkaraan ng limang taon ay kinidnap ni Steve si Ashly at inalok ng marriage contract kapalit ng kaligtasan ng pamilya n'ya. Mahuhulog kaya si Ashly at babaguhin ang binata? O sasabay s’ya sa agos na gusto ng lalaki upang makuha ang tiwala nito, dahilan para mapabagsak n'ya si Steve Biloner?

I, Alpha Lake Rush of the Rush Pack, hereby reject you, JoJo Wyatt, as my mate. However, you will need to keep working to pay off your debt." "Wait, what?" At the tender age of eleven, JoJo Wyatt had been forced to grow up faster than most. Coming from a challenging family background with a distant father and a fragile mother, JoJo realized early on that she had to take responsibility for herself and her younger sister. Her focus was solely on survival—love and romance held no appeal for her, especially after a devastating experience. She swore off relationships with men, but that changed when she began working for him in an unconventional role, trying to pay off roughly 7.8 million dollars for her mother’s hospital treatments. Alpha Lake Rush, 30, was known as the most formidable Alpha in the country. Though burdened by his own struggles, he had learned to be strong and decisive. His past experiences had led him to reject two of his mates. But when fate brings him JoJo, who is working to pay off her debt, everything changes. What happens when his destined mate turns out to be the one person he never expected—his third chance mate?

Welcome to Ransom, Texas, where the family ties bind and love runs hot. One of the juciest pieces of gossip around town is what’s happening at The Love Barn, Ransom’s new boutique wedding venue run by the Lively siblings. Word around the tea shop is that Scarlett Lively is getting awfully close to a jilted groom. Then there’s whatever is going on with Benji! We have it on good authority he’s not just teaching his high school crush to play the guitar. And then there’s Garth, who has been noticeably missing from happy hour at The Watering Hole. Will these three break the family curse? Or are they destined to repeat it?The Love Barn is created by Sidney Bristol, an eGlobal Creative Publishing author.