Norton Critical Editions Novels & Stories

Missing the last bus home shouldn’t have mattered. For Daniel Rogers, however, it’s about to matter a lot more. When Daniel is picked up by a stranger, Adrian Williams, while walking home one rainy night, he doesn’t think much of it. Polite, observant, and uncomfortably familiar, Adrian is a man Daniel can’t quite place. It’s supposed to end there, of course. But then Daniel meets Adrian again. And then again. Until Daniel realizes that these meetings aren’t quite so coincidental. Adrian doesn’t just see Daniel, Adrian understands Daniel. Too well, if you ask Daniel. As if Adrian knows Daniel’s deepest, darkest secrets, the ones Daniel keeps locked safely away from prying eyes. Caught up despite himself, Daniel finds himself opening up to Adrian, feeling something he hasn’t felt in years: seen, understood, desired. But Daniel can’t shake off the feeling that something is terribly wrong, that Adrian Williams, while not quite a stranger, is definitely not quite a friend. Is Daniel to walk away from something he doesn’t fully understand, or risk everything for someone who makes him feel like he’s found home? Some people don’t just show up by accident. They show up to stay.

“Marry me and I promise to bring the entire nation to its kneels for you”. “But my father promised me the whole world if I agree to become his heir” she pouted. Logan frowned “Then marry me, for I will help you fight your enemies” Milana thought for a moment “Okay, let’s get married” After she was told that she was a product of one night stand and was cast aside by her mother. Milana had to struggle to survive on her own. Then everything changed when a billionaire became head over heels in love with her and not only that she found out she was the illegitimate child of a billionaire. When she thought her life would be less difficult, she was faced with a lot of enemies who wanted nothing but to see her dead. How will she overcome the enemies from her father’s side who didn’t want her to be his heiress? and how will she overcome the enemies on her husband's side who did not want her to continue being his wife? Read to find out.

Cynthia, a billionaire lawyer renowned for her unyielding advocacy for women's rights, has spent her career fearlessly battling injustice in the courtroom. Her impressive track record of victories has earned her a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and her name is synonymous with courage and determination. But when her own marriage implodes, Cynthia finds herself in the uncharted territory of being a defendant. The very laws she has spent her career defending seem to be working against her, and she is forced to navigate the treacherous waters of her own divorce. As she struggles to protect her rights and her reputation, Cynthia begins to question everything she thought she knew about the justice system. Is it truly impartial, or are there hidden biases and agendas at play? Can she trust her own lawyers, or are they just looking out for their own interests? As the stakes grow higher and the battle for her rights becomes increasingly intense, Cynthia is forced to confront the darkest corners of her own psyche. What secrets has she been keeping from herself, and from those around her? What lies has she been telling, and what truths has she been avoiding? Can Cynthia emerge from this crucible with her rights intact, or will she become the latest casualty of a system that seems designed to destroy her? Will she be able to reclaim her reputation, or will she be forever tarnished by the very laws she once fought to uphold? The outcome is far from certain, as Cynthia embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her path, or will she succumb to the crushing weight of her own doubts and fears? Only time will tell.

After being betrayed and cast aside by her billionaire husband, Lucas, Layla Patel vows to take revenge. But as she orchestrates her plan, she's forced to confront the past and the man who broke her heart. Will she succeed in her quest for revenge, or will the flames of their old passion reignite, tempting her to give him a second chance?

“I searched for you everywhere, Marissa. I hired the best investigators. I realized too late that I needed you in my life. And now that you are here, I cannot let you go.” His voice was weak. His eyes were desperate. And the desperation only made me feel more satisfied than I had in years. I could walk away and let Tristan’s perfect world fall apart. Or I could stay. Crush the empire my sweat was built on, watch Tristan wallow in pain as his world crumbles. I could become the queen of the game he started ten years ago. ********** Marissa, a plus sized lady, was once the talented designer whose creativity turned her husband’s company into a success. Tristan hid her because he was ashamed of her size, stole her work, and even named her designs after his lover. That same night, she lost her pregnancy. Now, ten years later, the empire he built was sinking. But Marissa? She returned stronger, more beautiful, and fearless. When the man who broke her begins to beg, will Marissa forgive him or turn the game to her playground where Tristan will face the worst kind of pain than she ever did?

After completing my studies overseas, it's time for me to marry Cynthia Norton, my childhood sweetheart. But on the day I'm supposed to pick up the wedding tuxedo, I see my tuxedo, which is a custom-ordered suit that's worth a million dollars, being worn by Theodore Hasting, the low-income student Cynthia is currently sponsoring. When I demand that the tuxedo be returned, I get called the homewrecker instead. People even mock me for being a boy toy who wants to take the shortcut by clinging to a rich woman. Cynthia tells me Theodore has never experienced wearing a wedding tuxedo before, so she wants me to graciously give him the chance. I like doing charity work the most. Since I can give a million-dollar wedding tuxedo away, I should just give the marriage contract away too. Then again, not anyone can simply accept the marriage contract meant for me, the heir of the Emerson family.

Rhea Morreti, the female lead and the daughter of a Sicilian gang member; was meant to be a silent spy and was planted in the Vitale family to dismantle them from within, under the guise of an arranged marriage with Adriano Vitale, the son of a rival gang leader. But when her own brother, Dante, exposes her to further his own agenda, she becomes the scapegoat for a war she never planned to fight alone. Marked for execution, she barely escapes with her life—only to return stronger, deadlier, and carrying a secret that could shake the very foundation of their world. Even though Adriano Vitale never wanted the marriage, he didn’t want Rhea dead, especially since they had fallen for each other. Yet, when she disappears in a hail of bullets, presumed gone forever, he buries the past and focuses on the war threatening to consume his empire. That is, until she returns, not just as the woman he once knew, but as a force of vengeance, standing at his side against their common enemies. Dante, on the other hand, had spent years hiding a secret that fueled his ambition and his hatred for his family. As alliances shift and the truth unravels, Rhea and Adriano must navigate a treacherous world of lies, deception, and deadly rivalries. But the question remains. “With enemies lurking in the shadows and betrayal at every turn, will they uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will their unknown enemies destroy them before they get their revenge?”

"A fake marriage. A dangerous game. A love that could destroy them both." When Aurora Lane is forced to save her father from ruin, she finds herself trapped in a deal she never expected—marrying the ruthless billionaire Damian Blackwell, the man who shattered her world years ago. Damian offers her a lifeline: marry him for one year and her father's crushing debt will vanish. But as they step into a world of luxury, power, and lies, the line between hate and desire blurs. Aurora swore she would never fall for him. But his touch sets her on fire, and his dark, possessive gaze sees right through her defenses. Yet behind Damian’s cold façade, dangerous secrets lurk—secrets that could destroy everything if exposed. As passion ignites and emotions grow, both must confront their pasts before their fake marriage turns into something real—and even more dangerous. What happens when the man she should hate becomes the only one she can't resist?

A deal sealed in desperation. A marriage bound by secrets. A heart caught between danger and desire. When Isla Monroe agrees to marry a man whose name strikes fear and fascination in equal measure, she steps into a world where power rules, silence conceals, and love is the most dangerous game of all. He’s cold, unreadable, and devastatingly magnetic. She’s fragile, desperate, and holding onto her last thread of hope. What begins as a contract quickly unravels into something far more complicated…. where tension simmers, pasts collide, and every touch feels like a trap. But in a house full of shadows, the greatest mystery isn’t him… It’s why he chose her. And when secrets start to surface, Isla must ask herself the question no one dares to answer. What’s the real price of wearing his ring?

“How much to get us wedded now?”“We have other families—”“I hate to repeat myself, Father. Name your price before I change my mind.”—Larissa Diaz, born into wealth and power, is left humiliated at the altar by the man her family arranged for her to marry.Miguel Sebastian is a ruthless mafia lord with a bigger cartel. He’s a trillionaire who always gets what he wants. To him, taking the disgraced mafia bride is a business deal and not a rescue.No one wants the daughter of a traitor but to protect his empire and ensure his legacy, Miguel demands one thing from her: she must give him heirs