Heated Rivalry

A desperate young woman, Lucy, enters into a contract marriage with the cold-hearted CEO, Drey Jackson, to save her mother’s life. But as their lives collide, hidden secrets lie around Drey’s family, and a dangerous rivalry emerges to tear them apart. Stuck between love and loyalty, Lucy and Drey must navigate a treacherous path where trust is shattered, and survival becomes their only choice. Will they overcome the darkness, or will the price of love and power destroy them both? ******** “So, a contract marriage,” I said slowly, testing the idea. “What makes you think I would even consider something like that? And with you?” I asked, letting out a little laughter. She leaned in slightly, her lips curving into a small, confident smile. “Because it’s the perfect solution for both of us. You need the public to believe you’re happily married. And I need the money. We both walk away with exactly what we want—no strings attached.” I chuckled, feeling I was on the edge of it. “You’re a bartender. What makes you think you can play the part of a billionaire’s wife?” I chuckled darkly as my breathtaking face twisted into a Mona Lisa. “I can have you fired for this, you know.” She didn’t flinch, but I noticed her sweaty palms. She could lose her only surviving job if I wanted that to happen. It was obvious how desperate she needed money but I couldn’t just agree with her even if it was a good idea. “I think you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not some desperate woman trying to snag a rich man,” She suddenly snapped. She was only an inch away from me now, trying to avoid any direct touch. “We don't have to be in love.”

“Rule #1: Don’t fall for the roommate. Rule #2: Seriously, don’t fall for the roommate.” *** After an incident that shattered her confidence, Phoenix wants nothing more than to disappear. So, when her twin brother makes her a crazy, bizarre but deliciously sinful offer, she slips on a uniform and takes her place as his twin ‘brother’ at Harrison Park Academy — a chance to restart and feel in control, just until she feels okay again. But HPA has its own rules—and none of them account for bathroom phobias, shared dorms, or accidentally locking eyes with your ridiculously attractive new roommate. Justice is intense, loyal, and way too perceptive for her comfort. Worst of all? He’s the one person she can’t seem to avoid… or stop thinking about. He’s just irritating enough to make her blood boil. But he’s also kind in the quietest ways, and she’s falling, fast. Now Phoenix is navigating locker room close calls, midnight showers, secret crushes, late-night parties with their sister all-girls’ school across the lake and an escalating rivalry between the athletes and the academic elite. Her lies are stacking higher than her jump shots, and with each game, the stakes get heavier. Everyone thinks she’s just another boy chasing a spot on the team. But she’s playing for more than victory. She’s playing to feel like herself again. She’s playing to forget what happened last year. And if anyone finds out who she really is, it won’t just be her cover that’s blown— it’ll be her entire world. Phoenix is one step away from getting exposed. And when you’re living a lie? One wrong move is all it takes to lose the game. How long can she keep playing it straight?

His breath hit my mouth first. Warm. Shaky. Too close. Then Alex whispered, “Let go of me…” But his hands stayed on my chest. His fingers curled into the fabric like he needed something to hold onto. The thunder outside cracked, but it was nothing compared to the storm in his eyes. I tried to step back. I really did. But he moved first. Alex’s forehead touched mine, just lightly, like he didn’t realize he was doing it. His breath trembled against my lips. I felt every inch of him, every line of heat, every fight he was losing with himself. “You should hate me,” he whispered. “I do,” I said. My voice didn’t sound like hate at all. His lips brushed mine. Barely. A ghost of a touch. It burned. Alex swallowed hard. “Then why are you trembling?” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Because you’re too close.” He gave a slow, dangerous smile. “Then stop me.” I didn’t. ◇♧♡♧◇ Blake Silver enters Midnight Academy to prove himself and bring down the Thorne bloodline for good. Alex Thorne is everything he hates, everything he fears becoming, and everything he cannot stop looking at. Forced to train together, live together, and survive each other, their rivalry grows hot enough to burn. But when a stormy night ends in an accidental kiss, one truth rises like lightning. Their parents are hiding something about their past, something that ties Blake and Alex closer than enemies should ever be. If your sworn rival might become your stepbrother… would you still want the next kiss?

On the day I'm set to go into labor, I plead to my husband, Timothy Langford, to take me to the hospital when I'm two centimeters dilated. However, a pissed-looking Timothy orders his men to lock me up in a sauna room that's heated to 356 degrees Fahrenheit. This is all because my estimated labor date is one day earlier than my widowed sister-in-law, Natalie Thornton. Since Timothy is bent on making Natalie's baby the oldest grandson of the Langford family, he instructs his men to inject me with 100 labor-suppressant injections. No matter how much I beg Timothy to spare our baby, he remains unmoved. Having received 99 injections, I feel a world of pain crashing down on me, seeing as I'm already suffering from contractions to begin with. But Timothy is the one who injects the final labor-suppressant injection into my huge pregnancy bump. As he gazes at my agonized and writhing form, he says coldly, "It's already difficult for Natalie to survive in this world after losing my older brother. As her brother-in-law, I'm merely fulfilling her wish to become a mother. "Still, you refuse to spare her. It's not enough for you to force her to survive overseas on her own; you even plan on receiving labor-induction injections just to give birth to your baby on an earlier date! "It seems that I've spoiled you far too much for you to have the guts to pull this stunt off! The doctor already told me that once I've given you the labor-suppressant injections and leave you somewhere extremely hot, it can stop you from giving birth. You're only allowed to give birth once Natalie is out of labor." At that moment, I've completely given up on life. The moment Timothy witnesses Natalie's baby being born, his eyes are filled with tears of happiness. He sets off firework after firework to celebrate the grand birth. Later on, as Timothy gazes at Natalie's newborn, he finally remembers me and our unborn baby. When he's about to order his men to take me to the hospital, he receives a phone call from his assistant. "The hospital has called to inform you to take Mrs. Langford's body away."

Ang kuwento ay umiikot sa isang simpleng babae na nagtatrabaho bilang warehouse helper sa isang kumpanya. Tahimik ang kanyang buhay hanggang sa biglang magkasakit ang kanyang ina at mangailangan ng agarang operasyon. Dahil kapos sa pera, napilitan siyang maghanap ng dagdag na pagkakakitaan. Labag man sa kalooban niya ay pumasok siya bilang Escort sa isang bar. Dito niya nakilala ang isang lalaki, handa siyang tulungan nito kapalit na kailangan niya rin itong tulungan dahil kailangan ng lalaki na may babaeng ipapakilala sa magulang niya bilang fiancee. Dahil kailangan daw munang maikasal ng lalake bago nito makuha ang mana mula sa magulang niya. Laking gulat ng pamilya ng lalaki nang malaman nila kung sino ang babaeng napiling pakasalan ng kanilang anak. Nadiskubre nilang ang babae ay biological daughter ng kanilang matagal nang karibal sa negosyo. Nalaman nilang pinaampon ang babae noong bata pa siya upang maitago ang kanyang tunay na identity at mailayo sa magulong mundo ng kapangyarihan at yaman. Nakita ng pamilya ng lalaki ang pagkakataon na gamitin ang babae laban sa kanilang karibal sa negosyo. Pinlano nilang ituloy ang kasal bilang bahagi ng kanilang corporate strategy, para mapabagsak ang pamilya ng babae. Habang tumatagal, ang dating kontrata ay nauwi sa tunay na pagmamahalan. Dalawang araw bago ang kasal, nalaman ng babae ang kanyang tunay na identity. Iniisip niya kung itutuloy pa ba ang kasal sa kabila ng kasinungalingan, o talikuran ang lahat upang protektahan ang sarili niya. Nang malaman ng lalaki ang tunay na plano ng kanyang mga magulang, tumutol siya rito. Handa siyang talikuran ang mana at labanan ang sariling pamilya para sa babaeng minahal niya. Sa gitna ng corporate rivalry, family politics, at personal betrayal, kailangang magdesisyon ang dalawa kung ang kanilang pagmamahalan ay sapat upang lampasan ang mga lihim at interes na bumabalot sa kanilang relasyon.