Substitute Bride

Let's get this over with." Those were the longest words I'd heard him say ever since his entrance to the room. His hoarse voice which held no sign of emotion rumbled like a distant thunder in the large sitting room that was now occupied by his mother, Jane Jordan - the heiress of Jordan Jewelleries, the dark haired judge who sat by an oak table that had been placed in the center of the room for this purpose, Mother, and I , the I-know-nothing-about-this bride dressed in a knee-length lavender gown and silver stiletto heels, nothing befitting for a bride on her big day.  ... "And do you, Ashley, take Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband?" I sucked in a sharp breath as I closed my eyes. "I do." My fate has been sealed. Just like that, I'm married to a man I know nothing about.

They said she vanished. They claimed she betrayed them. But when she reappears at a secret auction, claimed by the man who once swore to destroy her, the past ignites like gasoline. In a world where loyalty is currency and truth is buried beneath designer suits and silken lies, love isn’t the question. it’s the weapon.

Detective Jane Michaels arrives in Ridgeview to start fresh after a catastrophic case nearly ended her career. On her first day, she’s assigned a gruesome case involving a serial killer who dresses his victims as brides and leaves a single rose. As Jane dives deeper, she uncovers unsettling details about the victims and their lives. Amidst the investigation, she crosses paths with Nathaniel Carter, a kind and mysterious local writer who slowly chips away at her walls. But Ridgeview is a town of secrets, and the truth is never as it seems. When a victim escapes the killer’s clutches and gives a description, the case takes an unexpected turn. The town is rocked as the killer is unmasked—someone who was hiding in plain sight. In the final confrontation, Jane must use her wit and emotional resilience to bring the killer to justice. But even as the case is solved, a sinister shadow lingers, and Jane faces her own demons, left with an unsettling gift that raises more questions than answers.

Caroline Montreal is an ordinary 23-year-old woman who enjoys her simple life with her sister and loving boyfriend. She couldnʼt ask for more until her sisterʼs illness got worse, and the only person she could rely on left her for another woman. Caroline was about to lose hope until she bumped into her boss. Calvin Vander is a 29-year-old business tycoon. Heʼs strict, arrogant, hot-tempered, and the CEO of the renowned company—Platinum Bank Incorporated. The thing is that he would never get his inheritance from his grandfather until he gets married. Thatʼs why after discovering his secretaryʼs situation, he made an offer that would benefit the two of them. “I need a contract wife, and you need money.” On the verge of desperation, Caroline agreed, and they both signed a contract just like a normal business deal. It was just supposed to be an act, but why do those sweet kisses and gestures feel so real? And why doesnʼt Calvin like the idea of her leaving him after the deal?

Blurb: Nicolas Pov: I’ve built my life on control, power, and ruthless decisions. I never wanted to rely on anyone—especially not her. Isabella is young, full of hope, and entirely too naive for this world. I didn’t expect her to become someone I couldn’t ignore. But here she is, stepping into my life, challenging everything I’ve worked for. She doesn’t belong in my world, yet she makes it harder to push her away. I’ve lived in shadows long enough to know better, but something about her light makes me question everything. Still, the world I live in is too dangerous, and trust is a luxury I can’t afford. Isabella Pov: I never imagined this life. Married to a man who is more scarred than I could have ever known, his world of darkness and danger closing in every day. I didn’t sign up for this, yet here I am, holding my ground. Nicolas might think I’m naive, but I see the man behind the mask. He doesn’t know how to love, but I refuse to let that stop me. I won’t run, even if I’m constantly surrounded by threats and lies. This world doesn’t scare me, but what Nicolas won’t let me see—his pain, his demons—that’s what I’m fighting to understand. I didn’t come into this to save him, but maybe it’s time he lets me in.

When I stumbled into a Mafia run club seeking a job, I was looking for protection. Little did I know I’d need protection from him. Damian was exactly the kind of danger I was trying to avoid. He was gorgeous as sin with an accent hotter than Ronan, but that’s where the charm ended. He was also cynical, cold, and downright cranky. So, you could imagine my surprise when he gave me a proposition to marry him or lose my life. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’ve learned to do what’s necessary to survive in this world, and that includes marrying a mobster. Regardless of what he might say, it’s only temporary. It’s not like I’m going to fall for him, because that would be stupid, right?

Elena found out the harshest of ways that love could not be forced. For Twelve years she loved Damien ,but he repaid her love by sending her to the deepest part of hell. In her darkest moments, she was forced to watch Damien shower love to some other woman. Years later, she comes back from her pieces and vows to serve everyone a piece of their own medicine. But for how long?

‘‘Why did you kill him?’’ Andrei enunciated slowly, his face red with anger. He was finding it hard to control his mate. *** Andrei had already chased Euthalia from the palace under the accusation that she had killed his father. All evidence was pointed towards her. So why was he having men abduct her and bring her back to the palace? Was it just another part of his revenge? Or was he willing to forgive her? Euthalia on her part had custody of the one thing that Andrei had ever wanted- his child. Could she trust him? And would she be able to prove her innocence before it was too late?

Jessie Stewart spent twelve years as an orphan before she was finally brought home to the Stewart family. For the first time in her life, she had parents and brothers. But the very people who promised to love and protect her turned against her. Bruce Stewart, her father, who once vowed she'd be his cherished daughter, told her that if she had any conscience at all, she wouldn't fight Mia Stewart, her adoptive sister, for a man. Her brothers, who swore they'd spoil her rotten, dragged her onto an operating table just to draw blood for Mia. As for her fiancé, Henry Lawson, every time things got dangerous, he chose to protect Mia instead of her. Three years later, Jessie's parents were on their knees in tears. Her once arrogant brothers slapped themselves in shame. Even her arrogant ex-fiancé knelt at her feet. They all begged her to come back. Little did they know, Jessie's heart had long since been closed off during those countless nights of pain and betrayal. She had already met the love of her life. In the years to come, she would never again be alone. He tended to her every need. To him, Jessie was everything and more.

An act that turned into a reality between Leah and Michael. Filled with fun and laughter, this story narrates sweet love.