Icy Manipulator

"You want me, Davina. You can deny it all you want. I will make you scream the truth." His voice, a guttural purr, slid over my skin, igniting a shameful, undeniable heat. His hot, possessive gaze consumed me, stripping me bare, making my body clench with fear and anticipation. I was trembling, aching, for a man who I should hat. The man that can destroy me. --- The anonymous call pulled Davina Wilson into a nightmare realm of carnal secrets and violence. Summoned to her estranged father's bedside, she found a brutal aftermath reeking of raw power. Malcolm's chilling dismissal and her stepmother's icy glare hinted at a depraved family darkness she'd never imagined. Then came Ezra, a formidable, unapologetically masculine force, unsettlingly aware of a past Davina had erased thirteen years ago—a past he was determined to excavate and brand as his own. Plunged into a dangerous underworld to shield her family, Davina found herself Ezra's captive. He hungered to devour her innocence, seeing a wild, unyielding lust he was determined to dominate and unleash. His possessive interest deepened into an all-consuming claim. He was the alpha predator she should flee, yet the forbidden craving was undeniable. As Davina navigated this treacherous landscape, the lines between captor and savage lover, threat and intoxicating surrender, blurred. An attraction so potent ignited, promising either her ultimate downfall or a dark, exhilarating damnation.

On our third wedding anniversary, I waited for Xander Christian for five hours at his favorite restaurant. Once again, he has disappeared. In the end, I found out where he went on the social media of his childhood sweetheart, Josie Law. He took her to Antartrica. [I just said I was in a bad mood, so he ditched the whole world just to cheer me up. Turns out, he cheers me up much more than the penguins.] In the photos, it was all icy and frosty, but he held her gently in his arms. I had never seen such blazing warmth in his eyes. Not once was it ever directed at me. At that moment, I was just tired. I was too tired to question. I was too tired to fight. I was too tired to cry. I simply liked the post and sent him a short message, [Let's get a divorce.] A long time later, he finally replied with a voice message, his tone was full of careless amusement, "Sure. I'll sign the papers when I'm back. We'll see who ends up begging me not to leave." Those who were loved and favored were often fearless. He didn't believe my words at all. Yet, Xander— No one was truly indispensable. People would only stay because they were in love. From this moment on, I no longer loved you.

Isabella Martinez never expected to trade her dreams for a marriage contract, but when her conniving step-sister flees an arranged marriage, she's forced to take her place. The groom? Alexander Kane, Manhattan's most ruthless CEO, a man known for destroying companies and breaking spirits. The same man who nearly ruined her father's company years ago. At forty, Alexander Kane has everything money can buy, except revenge against the Martinez family. When his intended bride escapes, he finds an even better alternative in her younger sister Isabella – the one person his rival truly loves. It's the perfect opportunity to complete his vendetta. What starts as a cold business arrangement soon turns into a dangerous game of attraction. Behind closed doors, Alexander's icy facade melts away, revealing a man haunted by past betrayals and unexpected tenderness. Isabella discovers that living with her enemy awakens desires she never knew existed, even as she uncovers the dark secrets that drive him. As their fake marriage transforms into something real, Isabella must choose between her family's loyalty and her growing love for Alexander. Meanwhile, Alexander faces his own demons: can he trust in love again, or will his quest for revenge cost him the only woman who's ever touched his heart?

Rhea is just a lovely omega working as a maid in the pack estate, saving every dollar she can to go to college. All her life, she’s dreamed of finding her mate — someone who would love her, respect her, and make her feel complete. She never asked for much. Just a kind man who’d treat her right. That’s what she wants. That’s what her mother wants. And her best friend Kale, the youngest son of the Beta, just so happens to fit that dream perfectly. During the Mate Ceremony, she finally finds her mate… but it’s not Kale like she hoped. It’s Alpha Dorian. The cold, ruthless Alpha known for his icy eyes and iron fists — and worse, everyone knows he’s already engaged to Vivienne, the daughter of a powerful neighboring Alpha. This has to be a joke. Rhea wants nothing to do with him. She plans to reject the bond and stay far away. But when her mother falls dangerously ill, and desperation sets in, she realizes she doesn’t have the luxury of pride. “Be my mistress,” he whispers, pinning her to the wall, his cold breath brushing her neck and sending a shiver down her spine. “And I will help you.” Now, Rhea is trapped in a secret affair with the Alpha she swore she hates — but every time he touches her, her body betrays her.

My boyfriend is trapped in the mountains, and I head there alone to search for him. However, I don't find him despite a night of searching. Instead, I end up falling off a cliff and passing out due to severe blood loss. When I open my eyes again, I hear laughter coming from outside my hospital ward. "Sonya's such a fool! She fell for it again!" "This is our 99th time tricking her, right?" "When you pretended to fall into the water, she jumped into an icy lake to save you in the middle of winter. When you pretended to be poisoned, she went to dig up the herbs that you'd need for the antidote… "This time, you pretended to be trapped in the mountains, and she ran there without a care for her life! She's truly head over heels for you!" I struggle to sit up. That's when I see my boyfriend, Austin Miller, standing at the ward's door. He stands out among the crowd and has a bright smile on his face. He doesn't look like he's lost his way at all. His friends continue talking. "It's her fault for abandoning Austin when he was down on his luck!" "She deserves to get played like this! When this is all over, we can throw the invitation to Austin and Dion's engagement party in her face!" It turns out Austin is already engaged. Yet, to this day, he has no idea why I broke up with him in the first place.

I had just returned from the world's largest tech summit when my mentor called. She has always been like a mother to me. She told me she had arranged a marriage for me, with the daughter of a close friend of hers, Tania Jones. She was a rising talent in the capital's business scene, and a number of my patents were licensed to her company, forming the core technology behind their latest products. After working late in the lab, I changed into a carefully chosen suit and went to the engagement ceremony. However, I was stopped at the entrance by Elias Yates, Tania's personal assistant. He was wearing a perfectly tailored designer suit, every detail immaculate. He looked more like the groom than I did. "If you know what's good for you, walk away," he said with an icy smirk. "An orphan with no background should know his place. You are not worthy of Ms. Jones." I frowned and replied, "Does Tania know you are speaking on her behalf like this?" Elias let out a mocking laugh. "A kept man living off his mentor's reputation could never understand how important I am to Ms. Jones." There was obsession and pride shining in his eyes. I looked at him for a moment, then dialed Tania. "If this is your idea of welcoming your fiancé," I said evenly, "then perhaps my patents should only be shown to you on paper, right before I sell them to your rival instead."

My marriage certificate with Shane Galingston was lost again. By the time we went to replace it for the ninth time, his childhood sweetheart deliberately raised her voice as she said, "Lily has been divorced eight times and has had nine abortions. She also has AIDS and syphilis… practically every vice in the book. Did you know all that?" With a loud crash, a newlywed couple sitting nearby was so startled that they fell to the floor, groaning in pain. In an instant, contemptuous and disgusted gazes poured in from all directions, pinning me in place. The icy slime of rotting refuse dripped down my face, chilling not just my skin but my heart as well. This time, I didn't hold back. I turned and walked straight toward the complaint counter. But Shane, who had stayed silent all along, suddenly grabbed my arm. He wiped the filth from my face and coaxed me in a low, gentle voice. "Don't be angry. She's just childish—she likes to fool around. She didn't mean to smear your name. "Besides, she's not targeting you. She's just throwing a tantrum at me. How could I not know what kind of person you are?" As he spoke, he shot his childhood sweetheart a helpless yet indulgent glance. "Go ahead and help us reissue—" I pushed his hand away without expression and cut him off. "No need. Let's get a divorce."

Gianna had tirelessly searched for employment, driven by the need to earn a living, and finally secured a position at one of the largest beverage companies in the Philippines. However, in an unforeseen twist of fate, she discovered that her new boss was none other than the man she vehemently despised: Francis Locan, the CEO and President of The Golden Scenery, one of the most renowned wine companies in the Philippines. He was known for his cold demeanor and his aversion to those who sought him out solely for his wealth. But beneath his icy gaze lay a secret he had guarded for a long time. He suffered from a rare condition called monochromacy disorder, which rendered him unable to perceive color and also significantly impaired his vision compared to that of a normal person. Yet, upon meeting Gianna, he couldn't explain why he could perceive the colors surrounding her, a phenomenon that defied all medical understanding. Driven by a desperate hope for a cure, he devised a plan to use Gianna, believing that somehow she held the key to his healing. However, as time passed, his feelings for the young woman became increasingly genuine, despite his repeated attempts to dismiss them. Though he resisted acknowledging it, he found himself ensnared in his own carefully constructed trap. What would Gianna do when she discovered that all the affection and attention she had received from the man she had grown to love had been meticulously planned and orchestrated? Would she be able to forgive him for his deception, or would she choose to walk away, her heart shattered by his betrayal?

He ruined her family to make her his. But what happens when love starts to ruin him instead? In a world where love is a luxury and trust is a lie, one woman learns that even a heart built on revenge can still break for love. Amelia Rayna James has always believed that love is a luxury she can’t afford. Her life takes a dark turn when her family’s fortune collapses overnight, leaving them buried in debt. To save them, especially her reckless younger brother, Oliver. Rayna agrees to an unthinkable deal: a contract marriage with the cold and ruthless billionaire, Denzel Connor Adams. Behind Denzel’s sharp suits and icy demeanor hides a man scarred by a violent past, a secret he’s spent his life burying. What Rayna doesn’t know is that Denzel planned her family’s downfall just to make her his. Thrown into a world of power, deceit, and forbidden desire, Rayna must navigate jealous rivals, a manipulative ex-lover who claims to be Denzel’s child’s mother, and a best friend whose loyalty will end in tragedy. As her fake marriage turns dangerously real, buried truths threaten to destroy them both. When betrayal, blackmail, and death tear through their fragile love, Rayna faces a final choice to walk away from the man who shattered her family, or risk everything for the only love she’s ever known. In a world where everything has a price, can love survive beneath the layers of luxury?

Daisy’s heart raced with excitement as she entered the elegant wedding venue, the sweet scent of flowers filling the air. She held onto her boyfriend Noah’s arm, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. But as she laid eyes on her best friend’s soon-to-be husband, her world shattered. The man standing before her was the one she had been searching for all these years. The room seemed to spin as she struggled to comprehend the cruel twist of fate. Her heart sank as she realised he didn’t remember her, treating her like a stranger. The disappointment was crushing, but she accepted the harsh truth with a heavy heart. She steeled herself, determined to witness her best friend Julian’s wedding with the man she had longed to meet. But she didn’t knew that fate had a unique plan in store for her. Unbeknownst to Daisy, she was about to find herself standing on that very aisle, adorned in a wedding dress, instead of her beloved Julian. However, the man she has married - Dylan Astor, despises her with an intensity that is palpable. He has transformed into a completely unrecognisable figure from the man Daisy had encountered years ago. His once radiant, charming smile has transformed into a dark, icy countenance, causing Daisy to hold her breath whenever she sees him. The tension in the air is suffocating, as if a storm is brewing. Dylan knows very well that Daisy doesn't have feelings for him, which only makes him even more angry at her.