Once Upon A Time By Nadine Gordimer

Maximilian Loxley is a ruthless billionaire, haunted by his past. Ada Turner is the maid who stepped into his mansion with a secret plan to destroy him. But the closer she gets to his guarded heart, the harder it becomes to untangle revenge from desire. As lies unravel and truths emerge, they’ll have to choose—let their dark secrets consume them or risk everything for the love they never saw coming.

He inherited billions… but not the family name. Noah Quinn was just a broke mechanic—until a dead billionaire claimed him as his son and left him everything. Now thrust into a world of boardroom sharks and backstabbing heirs, he’s got one rule: trust no one. Especially not Lena Vale—the billionaire’s ice-cold stepdaughter who wants him out, humiliated, or dead. But secrets don’t stay buried forever. And in this empire of lies, power isn’t given… It’s taken.

My best friend and I were in relationships with the brothers from the Wilson Family, and we both got pregnant at the same time. She flaunted her relationship publicly, making everyone in Junopia know that Rick had left the monastery for her. On the other hand, I kept silent about my relationship with the heir of the Wilson Family. Thus, everyone mistakenly thought I was single. That was until my best friend saw my pregnancy report. In a fit of rage, she rallied a group of friends, stormed into my dorm, and vandalized my room with food waste. "I thought you were my best friend, and here you are, trying to steal my man," she accused. Not only did she live-stream this accusation, trying to paint me as the other woman, but she also spiked my chicken soup, hoping to get rid of my unborn child. In defiance, I poured the contaminated soup over her head. "Just so you know, Rick isn't the only Wilson brother," I retorted. Later, Rayden, the man who controlled Junopia, wrapped his arm around me and declared icily, "I've heard troubling rumors about my wife being called a mistress. We need to talk."

Elena Thompson’s life has never been easy, but she’s always managed to survive. Working long shifts at a small diner, she’s spent years cleaning up the mess her father made—until the day he makes the ultimate mistake. Drowning in debt to dangerous people, he signs away the only thing he has left to offer: her. Alexander Calloway is ruthless, powerful, and dangerously cold. When he steps in to settle William Thompson’s debts, he doesn’t want money—he wants Elena. To him, marriage is just another contract, another deal to control. But what he doesn’t anticipate is the fire in her eyes and the way she refuses to bend to his will. into a world of wealth and secrets, Elena vows to fight for her freedom. But the more she clashes with her formidable husband, the more she finds herself drawn to the man behind the icy exterior. And as an old flame from Alexander’s past resurfaces, determined to ruin everything, Elena realizes that escaping her new life might not be her biggest challenge… Surviving it—and resisting the growing tension between her and Alexander—might be. In a battle of wills, desire, and betrayal, how long can Elena fight the pull of the man who holds her fate in his hands?

When the hunter falls for the monster, blood isn't the only thing that gets spilled. Damon's life has always been simple—track, kill, repeat. As a ruthless vampire hunter, he's known for his cold precision and his refusal to let emotions cloud his judgment. But everything changes the night he crosses paths with Luciano, a seductive vampire prince with centuries of secrets and a voice that sounds like sin. Luciano should be Damon’s enemy. Instead, he's a temptation wrapped in shadows dangerous, alluring, and far too familiar. Bound by a history neither of them fully understands and a fate that refuses to let them go, the two men are forced into a deadly game of betrayal, loyalty, and longing. But in a world where war brews between light and dark, and the past refuses to stay buried, can a hunter truly love the thing he was born to destroy? Or will Damon and Luciano’s love story end in the same blood-soaked tragedy that birthed it?

Elena Hart is a genius scientist mired in debt and can't even afford her mother's life-saving surgery. Her rescuer can only be one man: Dominic Blackwood, a ruthless billionaire who doesn't believe in love but needs a wife for some mysterious reason that Elena can't fathom. When he offers to marry her for a relaxed, contractual wedding in exchange for paying off her debts, she signs on. What begins as a bargain slowly becomes something more when both of them begin questioning one another's faith, battling foes, and fighting emotions they had not expected. However, love's journey is not one to be taken lightly. With lies revealed, the foes closing in, and open wounds biting back, they must decide if love can conquer any pact.

A gasp escapes me as my back hits the wood, and hands grab mine, pinning them high above my head, forcing me to look straight into the face I’ve tried so hard to forget. Kai. His scent filled my senses, spicy and dangerous and so damn soothing. His gaze burned into my skin and the amount of fury in them almost made me shiver. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I snap. He leans in, voice low and venomous. “You like cuddling up in another man’s arms, Virelle?” “Excuse me?” I hissed. “Ric is my mate. I can do whatever the hell I want.” His jaw clenches as his nostrils flares. “You think he can please you?” I glare at him, ignoring the heat pooling low in my belly. “Yes, I do, because he’s my mate and I can do whatever I want, I don’t owe you anything.” “Bullshit,” he growls and before I could blink, his lips crash against mine…hard. His lips are rough and angry, his teeth grazing mine with his tongue forcing its way in, like he’s trying to claim what he threw away. My mind is screaming at me to shove him off, but my body is traitorous and trembling, and is already responding. I could feel Nyzarelle howling in delight, as I clutched to him for dear life. I'd never felt like this with Ric A moan slips from my mouth but is swallowed by his tongue as his hand grips my thigh, trailing up until I feel them on my folds. He massaged my folds roughly, before stuffing his hands into my panties and pooling a finger into me. My back aches as he finger fucks me angrily, not giving space to catch my breathe.

Five years ago, Fulvia's life changed after a terrible accident. Her face was scarred, she lost her sight, and her once-beautiful figure faded away. Now, people call her ugly. Fat. A monster. Every date runs at the sight of her. No one wants to marry Fulvia. But behind the scars is a story no one knows, she became blind saving a high school boy. And ever since, she’s been forgotten... until her father makes a deal: 30% of his company shares in exchange for Henry Williams marrying his daughter. Fulvia doesn’t know her marriage is just business. Henry never loved her. He hides her from the world. And when his childhood love, Hana, returns from Korea, things only get worse. Hana spent four years in Korea, studying fashion and working for a luxury brand. Now she’s back, elegant, powerful, and ready to reclaim Henry. Henry brings Hana home, introduces her as a “sister” to Fulvia, and begins cheating without shame. But fate has other plans. Fulvia regains her eyesight. And on the very day she tries to share the good news, she overhears Henry say: “She’s nothing. I’m only keeping her for the family deal.” Heartbroken, Fulvia signs the divorce papers and vanishes. Months later, she returns. She’s no longer the woman he rejected. She’s stunning. Fierce. Desired by all. Now known as Ava... she becomes everything he ever wanted. But now..... He longs for her. And she doesn’t even look his way.

"I would do anything to have you back, even if it means fighting the Gods" Armando Russo, a name that struck fear into the hearts of many who crossed his path. He strode into the room with an air of confidence that demanded attention, his sharp Italian-cut suit exuding power and authority. His dark, piercing eyes were windows into a calculating mind, a mind that had made him a force to be reckoned with in the world of business and beyond. Weakness? He had none. Until she came into his life- the daughter of his business rival whom he despises the most. Aurora Vero, a name that conjured a different kind of aura in the world of high-profile events. She entered any room with a grace that was both captivating and commanding. Dressed in elegant couture, she wore her status as a badge of honour, but it was her charisma that truly set her apart. With a smile that could light up the darkest corners of a room, she exuded a warmth that belied the fierce spirit within. What happens when such two different personalities are forced to tie a knot? Will Armando accept Aurora as his wife or keep his resentment towards her forever ?

Summary When duty demanded that prince Rafael of Valderra adopt his late brother's son as his before sitting on the throne ,the last woman he expected to stand beside him was Elena Laurent –,his late brother's wife's sister and the only woman who refused to grant him access to meet his nephew . Bound by royal law,they enter a marriage of convenience to save the boy and the crown. But neither expect the burning chemistry that threatens to destroy their careful boundaries . As palace secrets unfold,Elena must decide if she's willing to risk her heart for a love born of obligation ,or walk away from the man she's forbidden to desire.