Just An Illusion Novels & Stories

Shania thought she had it all—her husband Adrian, her home, her future. But that illusion shattered the day her twin sister, Stephanie, appeared on her doorstep, cradling a baby that looked unmistakably like Adrian. The triumphant glint in Stephanie’s eyes delivered the truth: betrayal. Two facts now defined Shania’s life: 1) Her husband, whom she gave up everything for, had slept with her sister. 2) She became pregnant by a stranger after a drunken night, just 240 days after Adrian struck her. Enter Stefan—an enigmatic billionaire with his own dark past. He needed a woman whose name began with 'S' to carry his child. Unbeknownst to Shania, Stefan had been orchestrating her life from the shadows, drawn to her for reasons she could never have imagined. And now, a baby is involved, divorce papers are moving from one home to the lawyer, and a fresh new contract marriage is being drafted. Will Stefan reveal his secrets before it’s too late? And can Shania find the strength to confront her past and embrace the unexpected bond forming between them?

Natalie Taylor has one goal when she signs up as a companion at Dreams: to make a shit ton of money and get out fast. She's not looking for adventure or hoping for love and romance. But days into her moonlighting job, her quiet determination is shaken when she confronts her biggest problem yet—Levi Van Holt, heir to a mega-billion hotel chain and CEO of a gaming startup. Levi is everything she wants in a man. Gorgeous, wealthy and generous to boot. There's just one problem. He's her new boss... Harbouring a dark secret and nursing wounds from his past, Levi has one rule and one rule only for his companion: no falling in love. But with his desires continually tested, the more time he spends with Natalie, it doesn't take long for both their lives, real and secret, to converge, the lines between illusion and reality begin to blur, and the temptation to break his only rule becomes harder to resist. © 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publishers.

For three grueling years, Luna Serena kept Thornblood Pack on its feet patiently awaiting the return of her mate, Alpha Caden Thornblood, who was fighting valiantly on the front lines, leading his warriors. She knew she was unmarked but believed she was loved. That was until that illusion was shattered upon her mate's arrival with a rogue Lilliana, his fated mate heavy with pup. Cast aside by the very man she had given everything, she she leaves knowing his pack will crumble in her absence and when he comes for her she already stands beside the most powerful man in the continent, the Lycan King.

On the night of her mating ceremony, Freya found out everything she knew about her mate and his family was an illusion! After watching her entire pack slaughtered by the same people she thought were going to be her new family, only to discover she was used as nothing but a tool! Everything was taken away from her and in order to silence her, they tried to kill her! But after narrowly escaping death, years later, she came back, wealthy, powerful and ready to make them pay! Knowing secrets that could bring down the infamous Shadow-moon family… she strikes back!

When Andrea Thorne, a wolfless pack member, catches her boyfriend, Alpha James Holt, in bed with her own stepsister, her world shatters completely. Thrown out of her pack, humiliated and branded a liar, she heads out to drown her sorrows and forget everything.   One reckless night at a masquerade club changes everything. She has a one night stand with a stranger. A stranger who turns out to be Kieran Graves, the Alpha King, and he's marked her as his mate. The next morning she runs but there’s nowhere far enough to hide from a king.  Soon enough, Kieran arrives at her pack to find her but her step-sister is already waiting to claim him with a stolen mark, lies and illusion magic. Before Andrea can speak out, she is banished and left for dead.  Now hiding in the last place anyone would think to look, Kieran's own territory, Andrea tries to disappear. But the mate bond has other plans. And so does the ancient power stirring inside her, a power that hasn't walked the earth in a thousand years to show that she was never just wolfless.  She was always so much more.

***WOLFBANE SERIES BOOK 4*** TERRI Being raised by an alpha meant my life was never truly my own. Now, after being forced into a mate bond I never wanted, even that last illusion of freedom is gone. My only goal? Keep my head down, survive, and escape. Too bad that just got a whole lot harder. Because now, a brooding, untouchable alpha from another pack is living under my roof. He’s cold, closed off, and haunted by a past darker than my own. He’s the last person I should want. But my wolf has other plans, and every time he gets close, I forget why I should stay away. The only problem? He’s made it clear he’s not mine to claim. NIKOLAI I should have died with my pack. Instead, I’m left leading the few survivors, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe in a world that wants us dead. The last thing I need is a distraction—especially not the pack princess. She’s way too cheerful, carefree, and already claimed by another. I should ignore the way my wolf reacts to her, the way every instinct in me demands I get closer. But I can’t. And if I let myself have her, I might just lose what little I have left. *Content Warning: This is a romance with dark themes including explicit adult content, graphic violence, offensive language, and other content some may find offensive. Read at your own risk.*

When Elena Russo's husband, the formidable mafia boss Lorenzo Russo, is brutally murdered, her life is shattered. But as she delved deeper into his past, she began to doubt all she thought she knew about him. Secrets emerge—dangerous ones—and she wonders if she ever truly knew the man she married. With each discovery, the distinctions between love, treachery, and revenge become less clear. Adrian DeLuca, a powerful rival with a personal vendetta, becomes the prime suspect. He not only owned a stake in Lorenzo’s casino but had a heated confrontation with him just a day before his death. But Adrian has his own demons—forever haunted by his mother’s brutal murder at the hands of his father’s enemies. Determined to prove himself to the man who never saw him as enough, Adrian sees Elena as both a key to the truth and the woman he’s secretly desired for years. With the truth emerging and unseen foes waiting in the shadows, Elena must decide if she can trust Adrian to help her solve the mystery of Lorenzo's death. But as the truth emerges, it threatens to shatter the illusion of the man she once loved, forcing her to choose between vengeance, survival, and a passion she never expected.

For ten long years, Ravelle Celeste Branson kept her identity as the sole heiress of Branson Group tightly hidden for the sake of an illusion of genuine love from Kyle Stevens. But on the night of their 10th wedding anniversary, that illusion shattered into pieces. Ravelle caught Kyle passionately making out with his secretary in the CEO's office. That betrayal was merely the tip of the iceberg. The true blow of reality struck when the Civil Registry Office revealed a cruel fact: in the eyes of the law, Ravelle had been secretly removed and divorced eight years earlier through the manipulation of a stack of documents she had blindly signed. Returning home with a heart as cold as ice, a secret safe uncovered an even more disgusting conspiracy. The little girl she had raised with all her heart and soul was not an adopted child, but the biological daughter of Kyle and his mistress. Even worse, Ravelle's body had been poisoned with microdoses of heavy metals for years—a vicious scheme designed to render her infertile and slowly kill her. They thought Ravelle was a weak woman with no one to protect her, someone who could be discarded after being drained of everything she had. They were terribly mistaken. With Erlan El Salvador Jhins, the genius CEO who was ready to level Manhattan to protect her, standing by her side, the crown heiress rose from her emotional death. Ravelle returned to reclaim her throne, crush Stevens Group into the ruins of bankruptcy, and send the traitors to the deepest hell. When Kyle finally fell to his knees at her feet, crying tears of blood and begging for forgiveness, Ravelle merely looked at him with the coldest smile. "I'm sorry, my ex-husband. Your regret came too late."

“You can’t love me. We can’t be together. It will ruin my career. It will ruin my life!” That’s what Kayla Danes told Corvin Marlowe when their relationship started becoming real. As one of the country’s most beloved actresses, Kayla was bound by a strict contract–one that required her to maintain the illusion of romance with her loveteam partner who used to be her real boyfriend, Derek Boyles. Her fame was built on that loveteam, and her fans worshipped the fantasy they created. Loving someone else wasn’t just discouraged. It was forbidden. Corvin, a billionaire hotel tycoon, promises he’ll take care of her, even pay the penalty if she breaks the contract. But Kayla has worked hard for her career. It’s everything to her, and she refuses to lose it because of a love she isn’t supposed to have. But after that one night with Corvin and more unexpected meetings afterward, staying away becomes harder and harder. Things get even worse when Derek finds out about their secret relationship. Out of jealousy or spite, and wanting all the sympathy for himself, he reveals everything and turns it into a scandal that puts Kayla in an even tougher spot. Now, Kayla has to make a choice: Her career or the man she loves. But is she ready to let go of either one?

Three years ago, I rescued the CEO of the Patton Group. That very night, he appeared at my door with his grandson and proposed marriage. I'd secretly loved the young man for seven long years, so I accepted it without hesitation. For three blissful years, Damian Patton showered me with affection so profound it sparked envy in everyone around us. But the illusion shattered when the Patton family's adopted daughter returned from abroad. I stumbled upon him cradling her tenderly and whispering words of devotion. "Grandpa won't hand over the company until Serena gives birth to an heir. But I don't care about inheritance anymore. I want to marry you now." Harriet Patton's lips curved into a sultry smile. "No rush, darling. I want you to marry me as the rightful heir to the Patton empire. Just promise me you won't fall for her." His eyes softened. "Seven years ago, you pulled me out of that fire. I swore then to love you forever." Those words crashed over me like an avalanche, burying my heart under a crushing weight of betrayal. His love for me had been all a lie. I was the one who had braved those flames to save him. It was not her.