Rome Was Not Built In A Day

Layla Monroe has always been the overlooked daughter in a family that treasures beauty over loyalty. Betrayed by her boyfriend and overshadowed by her stepsister, Celeste, Layla has learned to survive without the support of those who should love her most. But when her family’s business teeters on the brink of ruin, they demand a sacrifice: a loveless marriage to Damian Blackwood, a man with secrets as deep as his grudges. Reluctantly, Layla agrees, believing Damian to be a penniless partner in her family’s plot. But her husband is hiding an empire—and a vendetta. What begins as a calculated alliance shift into something more as Layla uncovers Damian’s plans for revenge against her family and his unexpected role in her future. When old enemies and past lovers return, threatening to destroy everything she’s fought for, Layla must choose: protect the family that betrayed her or forge her path with the man who could be her undoing—or her redemption. In a world of lies and betrayal, can Layla find the strength to reclaim her worth and take control of her destiny?

Once, as a girl of seventeen, beautiful, headstrong Portia Cabot saved the cursed life of the dashing vampire Julian Kane—who marked her forever, then left to go in search of his soul. He returns five years later to find the enchanting young girl he left behind grown into a bewitching woman with a woman's heart . . . and a woman's desires. Portia quickly discovers that Julian's seductive and forbidden kiss can still make her crave the night . . . and his touch. But the Julian who has returned to London is not the vampire she remembers. His fruitless pursuit of his stolen mortality has reduced him to drunken debauchery. And a recent spate of murders makes Portia fear that the man she has always adored may truly be a monster. Julian knows he must drive Portia away—but his passion and hunger for her grow more irresistible every time they touch. For years he has fought the temptation to embrace his dark gifts, never realizing that Portia's love may give him the most dangerous gift of all . . . a reason to live.

One month before my wedding to my boyfriend, he announced he wanted to have a child with his "first love." I refused, but he brought it up every single day. Two weeks before the ceremony, I received a prenatal checkup report. That’s when I discovered his so-called "first love" was already nearly a month pregnant. It turned out he’d never intended to seek my consent at all. In that moment, years of affection evaporated like smoke. So, I canceled the wedding, destroyed every trace of our memories, and on what should have been our wedding day, I walked into a closed-off research lab. From then on, he meant nothing to me.

Kai Parker has a past with his high school arch enemy, Hunter Steele, and that past made him hate the now billionaire businessman. He wants nothing to do with the man, but fate has other plans. When Kai's mother and Hunter's father announce themselves to be in love and are setting off to get married in 4 months, Kai has to do something he never thought he would do. He makes a pact with his soon-to-be step-brother to make their parents break off the alliance. In the process, he gets more than he bargained for. He isn't ready to feel the sparkle again. He isn't ready to let Hunter enter his life. Again. Kai Parker definitely isn't ready to fall in love with his enemy. Again. Follow Kai as he stumbles into a life filled with hatred, bitterness, love, betrayal, and a deadly stalker. Kai Parker isn't ready for any of these. What about the hot-headed and playboy billionaire?

Forced by life's tragedy to be a stripper Samantha embraced her new life as a club dancer. Until one day while she was performing her beauty caught the attention of a ruthless billionaire who was popular amongst the ladies. He wanted Samantha but she embarrassed him even going as far as slapping him. Alexander swore to her that she would regret her actions and come begging him. But Samantha didn't feel threatened by his words until she lost her job, and even her house. Worse her sister got sick and really needed surgery. What would she do when confronted with things that made her anxious?

To "fix" Leonard Rinehart's oh-so-tragic depression, Naomi Gaffron—yeah, the same girl who once swore she'd only ever marry me—secretly tied the knot with him. So I gave in. Played along with the family's little matchmaking stunt. Married Aurelia Spencer—Brieton City's golden girl who'd been obsessed with me since forever. For seven years, she clung to me like I was oxygen. Every night, curled up like she'd break if I moved. I thought that was happiness. Then one night, I caught her whispering to her best friend: "Leonard's already got international awards. When are you dumping Leone?" "Whatever—I'm stuck with someone I don't love anyway. Doesn't matter who I married. Someone's gotta keep an eye on Leone so he doesn't screw up everything Leonard built." I checked her study. Found a hidden folder—over 100,000 photos of Leonard. A hundred unsent love letters. Even I couldn't fake it anymore. Bought a silicone dummy. Laid out the plan. The fire would be step one. Dead or alive—we're done.

Part 1 - Fated Mistake: Kira and Arkyn As the daughter of Alpha Kai, Kira knew not to doubt what the Goddess had already carved in stone. A Fated mafia marriage of alliance in play to strengthen the packs. It should have been easy, right? Then why was it so damn hard? Alpha Fenriz's son, Arkyn Vega, made her question everything she thought she knew... Everything that should have never been doubtful in the first place. The Goddess chose her mate, so why does she still feel this way about Arkyn? Why does she still crave the touch of a man who is supposed to be her best friend? When her mate takes the Volkov pack hostage, it forces Kira to pick sides. Does she follow fate and remain at her mate's side, or trust the one she has an unbreakable bond with? Did the Goddess make a fatal mistake? ---------- Part 2 - Fated Desire: Kaia and Elijah Elijah Priest and Kaia Volkova thought their lust-filled tryst was a one-time thing, especially after they found out that Kaia was to marry Arkyn Vega. It didn't matter that they were attracted to one another; it didn't matter that it turned out Kaia was actually Arkyn's family.  It also didn't matter that their one-time thing turned into a continuous thing. It was just sex, right? Or so Elijah thought. Seeing Kaia meet her mate at the Convergence Ball leads him to realize that he's actually in love with the woman who lit a fire in his soul. What happens when he finds out Kaia cannot bond with her mate because of a mistaken bite he left in the middle of a sex-filled haze? Even more so, her bite didn't kill him and his blood didn't kill her... Can a vampire and a werewolf truly be mates?

When I went to reissue my mate certificate, the Werewolf Affairs Division told me, "Your mate certificate is a forgery. We have no record of your registration." I stared at the clerk, unable to believe what I was hearing. "But Sam and I registered five years ago. That's impossible. Could you please check again?" The clerk gave me a look before double-checking the files. "We found Alpha Sam's record. But the registered mate… isn't you." My voice trembled. "Then who is Sam's legal mate?" The clerk didn't hesitate. "Lily." I gripped the back of the chair, white-knuckled, just to keep myself upright. Until the clerk had spoken that name, I'd still held on to hope. Maybe it was a clerical error. A mix-up. But of all people, it had to be Lily, Sam's childhood friend. And suddenly, everything started to make sense. In five years of being Sam's mate, he had never marked me. We'd only held a mating ceremony—no certificate, no legal bond. I had given up everything for that ceremony, poured all my hope and love into it, believing I was his, only to find the certificate was fake. The five years I'd thought were mine—our happiness—had all been a lie, crafted and upheld by appearances. If none of it was truly mine, then there's only one thing left for me to do. Leave.

Once a powerful heir, admired for his wealth, charm, and success, he had everything anyone could dream of until a tragic car accident changed everything. Now, confined to a wheelchair, he’s no longer the man people once adored. Instead, he’s a target for mockery, a fallen CEO who is left in the shadows, abandoned by those who once worshipped him. She, the neglected daughter of her family, has spent her life in the shadows, overshadowed by her perfect sister. Her family’s indifference fuels her determination to escape, and a chance contract marriage becomes her way out. Neither family cares about their opinion; this marriage is simply a means to an end. In a dimly lit room, the disabled CEO glares at her, "What do you want from me, woman?" She crouches beside him, her gaze focused on his injured legs. "Do you know your legs can be healed?" Unbeknownst to him, she is not just his wife, she is his redemption. With her help, his body heals, his confidence returns, and his rise to power begins anew. As the world watches in disbelief, the disabled CEO becomes the man they thought they had lost forever. Women once again chase after him, but there’s one thing they don’t know he is already devoted to his wife, the woman who stood by him through it all. "Sweetheart, meeting you was my greatest fortune," he whispers, gazing at her with love and gratitude.

Xander Baston is a notorious playboy with a reputation as the senior bully at the very college where he has become the self-proclaimed king. Aoife Marshall is the new girl in town, instantly capturing the attention of the bad boy and his senior crew. When the bully stakes his target for the new school year, he finds curiosity getting the best of him. As attraction grows for the shy freshman, ego prevents him from admitting his true feelings for the woman who has stolen his heart. It's a story of opposites attracting. Will Aoife be able to soften the heart of the biggest bully on campus? Or will his jealousy, ego, and pride get in the way? Experience the thrill of love and hatred when Xander's dominance clashes with Aoife's innocence. Follow their exciting transition as they journey to discover the strength and power of true love that goes the distance.. * Bully Love *College romance *Slow burn *love pain *Sexual fantasy