Pretending Synonyms

When struggling artist Elira Virel signs a secret marriage contract with billionaire CEO Kael Thorne, it’s supposed to be simple: no love, no expectations, no real commitment. Just six months of pretending to be his wife in exchange for saving her father’s collapsing company. But things stop being simple the moment she steps into his world — a world of power, cold stares, unspoken pain, and rules she’s not allowed to break. Kael is mysterious, guarded, and dangerously unreadable. Elira knows she’s just a pawn in his bigger game… but why does he look at her like she’s the only truth he wants to believe in? As secrets from his past begin to resurface — including the return of a woman who claims to be his former fiancée — Elira finds herself tangled in a web of lies, revenge, and emotions she swore she wouldn’t feel. She was never meant to fall for him. But in a world of lies, love was never part of the plan… Until it was.

Adina Daugherty became pregnant after being framed and gave birth to quadruplets. Her younger sister stole two of those children to tie herself to the Winters family, while Adina faced death to escape with the other two children. Five years later, Adina returned triumphantly. Since her sister loved pretending to be pure despite her rotten heart, she would torment her. As for her other two children? She would snatch them back! Duke Winters pinned her against the bed and said, “Why don’t you steal me as well?”Adina sneered. “Dream on!”But right after saying it, she puked. “So… how many children this time?” Duke asked.

"Is this just a game to you?" Aaron's eyes were blazing with fire. He was attempting to keep his wolf under control. I should've been terrified, but I wasn't. "You tell me..." I smacked my lips together, pretending his anger didn't bother me at all. "You're confusing me." A growl revibrated from his chest, as his hands coiled into fists. He was ready to walk away when I held my palm against his chest. His eyes delved deep into mine and I could see his desire growing.  "You can have any female you want, and yet here you are, chasing after me when you know exactly that I don't like you." My finger trailed down from his nose to his mouth, brushing his soft lips gently. "Am I a challenge you're trying to win? Because you know I am someone you can't have? Off-limits? Your Alpha's sister?" I could feel his body reacting to my touch, and it was all I ever wanted.  I wanted him to fall hard for me. In the same way that I was falling for him. ***** Book 3 of the Black Shadow Pack Series - While the story is stand-alone, I highly recommend that you read the first and second books in the series to gain a better understanding of the characters and the concept of The Claiming. Book 1 - HE'S MY ALPHA (Completed) Book 2 - THE BETA IS MINE (Completed) Book 3 - LOVING THE GAMMA (Completed) Spin-Off Book 1 - IN THE ARMS OF MY ALPHA (Completed) Spin-Off Book 2 - THROUGH THE EYES OF MY ALPHA (Completed) Spin-Off Book 3 - STEALING THE HEART OF MY ALPHA (Completed)

The rules are simple: Do not call or text him except on Tuesdays. Never speak to him in public. And most importantly, never fall in love. This is not a relationship. It's a brief arrangement that should last only three months. The almighty Nickolas Reign, future alpha and heir to the Reign empire, needs the time to secretly overcome his uncontrollable lust for the omega. But how long can Sara abide by these rules with the werewolf who is her fated mate? Why did he renew the contract if all he feels for her is mere lust? Unable to keep pretending, Sara mistakenly blurts out the forbidden three little words, and it brings the contract to an end. However, that's the least of her problems. Someone has leaked their secret contract to the cruel luna. Now, Sara and her father will be kicked out of the pack. To top it all up, she's pregnant, and Nick is offering her a huge sum to get rid of the "mistake!" He wants nothing to do with her and the unborn child... Until four years later when he bumps into her in a small town. This book contains 3 stories: BOOK 1: ALPHA'S SECRET REGRET BOOK 2: BETA'S SECRET OBSESSION (starts from Chapter 170) BOOK 3: EX'S REGRET, GAMMA'S ADDICTION (starts from Chapter 344) BOOK 4: ALPHA JETT IS NOW AVAILABLE. (STANDALONE AND PUBLISHED SEPARATELY)

Evangelina had a tough luck growing up with a family that wanted to trade her for security but one day things changed. She met her mate during a ball and sparks flew. They spent the night taking pleasure from each other. It all felt like a dream to Eva and just like a dream, it shattered when the morning came. When the morning light fell on his beautiful face, she realised with a shock that her destined mate is the vicious Zavion Kessler- the infamous alpha of Midnight pack- their swore enemy. Eva does what she thinks is best. She flees, leaving him sleeping not knowing the alpha had already planted his pup inside her. Two months later she finds out that she is pregnant. Her family decides to kill her baby and mate her off to an old chap. Eva runs away for her baby. Fast forward four years, she is a caring mother to a sweet girl and is scraping through life. Then comes a man who stinks of money and offers her millions for pretending to be his mate in front of his family during his big brother's mating ceremony. She agrees, again not knowing that the big brother of her fake mate is her true mate, Zavion. Tricky, isn't it? .................. "What are you doing?" I asked as his large callous hand wrapped itself around my left breast, clutching the lump in a tender yet firm grip. "Your heart remains calm like ocean when with my brother but flaps like a caged bird when I am around. Suspicious, isn't it?" he rasped while drawing circles over my palpitating heart with his thumbpad. I could sense it. He is close to finding out the truth. That I am his mate and that he has a daughter.

When three years ago, Maggie's wallet was stolen, she thought that it was just a simple robbery, one amongst many others happening every day. But when one day a guy shows up at her door claiming to be her husband, her whole life turns upside down. Jackson Peters, a well-known businessman from Chicago, finds himself in the middle of a scandal when his just wedded bride is found dead in a hotel room in Las Vegas. Influence and strings he had helped him to keep his name out of the press, but when he found that she was not who she said she was, Jack sets off on a journey that will take him right into the arms of destiny.Maggie agreed to help him avoid the scandal by pretending to be the girl that he married, and in return, Jack will pay her mother's hospital bill she's been struggling with.But what will happen when life throws more surprises their way? Will they bring them closer together or drive them even further apart?

What does the underboss of an infamous crime family have in common with a spirited primary school teacher? Absolutely nothing, except a marriage of convenience, of course. When Lionel Tyson defaults on a gambling debt and offers his most prized possession as collateral, Austin Hawthorne is underwhelmed. But in desperate need of a housekeeper and permanent child minder, he knows he’d be an idiot to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, against his better judgement, he accepts an offer he should absolutely refuse. Marybeth Tyson is horrified to learn that not only is her father wanted by loan sharks, but he has also sold her off to a mafia boss. Bound by duty and pushed by guilt, she agrees to give Austin Hawthorne one year of her life, despite common sense screaming at her to run the other way. After all, how hard can pretending to be madly in love with someone be? It’s all fun and games until play pretend becomes all too real, and an earth-shattering secret from Austin’s past comes to light, threatening to destroy his second chance at love with his dogged pursuit for answers. Betrayal, especially at the hands of his older brother Blake and long-time friend, Andrei Ivanov, is a bitter pill to swallow for Austin, and letting them off scot-free is not an option. Driven by his unquenchable thirst for revenge, Austin will stop at nothing to get to the truth, even if it means destroying decade-old friendships and fragile ties to The Corporation. 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.

When Vanessa Garcia married Billionaire Business Man Jeremy Austin,it was her last desperate attempt to save her family from ruin. A year of pretending to be his wife,living in his home and playing a role in the luxury lifestyle that he lives. A marriage based on lies and full of hatred,the pair soon become closer than they had ever imagined. Within a year of marriage Vanessa and Jeremy will come to learn of the ties that bound them together long before the talk of the Arrangement ever began.

My husband, Kenneth Welch, handed me divorce papers as a cruel gift for our 5th anniversary. He didn't need me anymore. For him, I had become quiet and submissive, but that wasn't enough. Lilly Sanders had no money, no name, and no power, so he threw me away like a toy he no longer wanted. He crushed my heart, but he also gave me something important—a new beginning. Once my heart was no longer his, it opened up for someone who offered me kindness—a mysterious billionaire named Darren. But how could I stay by his side when, after so many years of pretending, I no longer knew who I was? Summoning my courage, I opened up the letters my ex-husband had hidden from me, and I faced my true identity… Now Lilly Sanders no longer exists; Lillian Hayes has taken her place. I've returned to New York as the heiress of Hayes Global Group. I am powerful enough to squash those who harmed me, but I didn't come back only for revenge. I came back for love…

My childhood sweetheart who promised to marry me the moment I graduated proposed to Camille Willow, my sister, during my graduation ceremony. At that moment, Dennis Malcolm, the most eligible and admired bachelor in Blington City's elite circle, stepped forward and confessed his love for me immediately after my childhood sweetheart's proposal was accepted. For five years after our marriage, Dennis showered me with devotion, treating me with such tenderness that it felt as though I were the center of his world. But everything shattered the day I overheard a conversation between him and his close friend. "Dennis, now that Camille's on top, are you really going to keep pretending with Tracy?" "It doesn't matter. I'll never have Camille. Besides, as long as I'm here, she'll never disrupt Camille's happiness," he answered. The paper notes he held dear, each one carefully preserved, revealed a harsh truth. Each one carried her name, accompanied by heartfelt wishes: "May Camille be released from her burdens. May she find peace within herself." "May Camille achieve all she dreams of, and may her heart love freely." "Camille, we were never meant to be together in this life. I can only hope that in another, we will walk side by side." … Five years of devotion shattered in a single moment of clarity. I crafted a false identity and planned an elaborate drowning to vanish without a trace. From this day forward, in this life and all others, we shall never cross paths again.