The Collapsing Empire

All her life, Raine had lived in her father’s shadow, ‘the Serpent’s princess,’ trapped in a world built on blood and stern control. Then came Cole: a scarred ex-soldier, way older, dangerous, and a part of her father’s rival club who has made her feel seen for the very first time. Their affair is a crime, and their forbidden love a death sentence. But when secrets come to light and betrayal bleeds through every oath, Raine must decide, will she save her father’s empire? or will she burn it down for the very man she was never meant to love.

When her family faces ruin, Elena Harper signs a contract to marry the nation’s most feared billionaire, Damian Cross—a CEO known for his ruthless decisions and colder-than-ice demeanor. But what begins as a business arrangement quickly spirals into a dangerous dance of power, secrets, and hidden desires. Behind his flawless empire lies a man tormented by betrayal, haunted by a secret past. Behind her fragile smile hides a woman stronger than he could ever imagine. Love was never part of the deal… but in a world of lies, obsession, and betrayal, love might be the only thing that saves them both.

After my stepsister, Jennifer Nichols, died in a tragic accident, Julian Asher hated me for ten whole years. He was the youngest star attorney in Vaxton Bay. He was always calm and composed, yet he never once hid his disgust toward me. I gave up everything for him: my education, my family, my friends, even the inheritance I was meant to receive. I stayed by his side through the grueling bar exam and the brutal early days of his career. But all he ever said was, "Miley, if you really want to please me, go ahead and die." The only woman he ever loved in this lifetime was my stepsister. And I realized that far too late. It wasn't until a fire broke out unexpectedly in the courthouse archives and I was trapped upstairs that something changed. Julian ran in to save me. The blaze devoured everything in its path. In the end, he shoved me out of the rubble. The collapsing steel beams crashed down on him. Blood spilled everywhere. Outside the operating room, I fell to my knees, begging the heavens to let him live. Before he died, he left me one final message with the doctor. "Miley, I hope we never meet again in the next life." At his funeral, his mother slapped me hard across the face—again and again. "You're a cursed wretch. Killing Jennifer wasn't enough for you; now you've killed my son too. I never should've agreed to let Julian marry you." His father dragged me to my knees by my hair, forcing me to kneel. "This is all my fault. I was too soft-hearted. Julian saved you three times, and all you ever brought him was misery!" Everyone believed I was the reason Julian died. And deep down, I believed it too. In the end, I slit my wrists and took my own life—only to awaken back in university, at the very moment we was supposed to get engaged. This time, I made a choice. I would not chase after him again. I would step aside and let him be with the one he loved most—my stepsister, Jennifer.

Once destined to lead his family’s empire, Liam Harrington’s life shattered after a car accident left him in a wheelchair. Abandoned by friends, mocked by society, and betrayed by those closest to him, his bitterness grew as he faced enemies who sought to exploit his weakness. Ava Bennett, the overlooked daughter of her family, dreamed of escaping her oppressive home. But forced into a contract marriage with Liam, she found herself battling not only her family’s cruelty but also those who wished to see her husband fail.

~They say there's a thin line between love and hate, and I’m about to find out just how true that is~ When the Masters family moved to Rixon Hills at the start of my senior year, I caught the attention of Roman Masters, the sole heir to the billionaire family empire, and also a new transfer student at my school. His arrogance, infuriatingly handsome smirk and stupid nickname for me instantly makes me dislike him. But as time goes on, things start to blur, and I’m starting to forget my reasons for hating him in the first place…

She wore his brother’s ring… but carried his child. One reckless night shattered every rule. Now, she’s the CEO’s assistant by day, his forbidden obsession by night — and hiding the secret that could destroy them both. If the truth comes out, he risks his family, his empire, and his name. But the deeper he falls, the harder it is to let her go. A brother’s fiancée. A dangerous affair. A baby that changes everything. Some sins can be forgiven. Others start wars. Which one will this love ignite?

Hunter is a well-known, hot, handsome, ruthless young businessman that loves to play around. His billionaire business empire is just a bonus why girls keep on chasing him. His domineering aura that stands-out wherever he goes is such a blessing that every man could envy for and leave them dumbfounded. But here comes Atalia. A simple fashion designer. She is a talented lady with a fascinating beauty that can mesmerized any man's heart but she never knew it. Will their unpleasant first encounter will lead to a happy ending story? Or just a start of each other's disaster.

Alora was called the Ice Princess in school due to her cold and distant personality. She is the youngest daughter of the Smith's, one of the richest family in the country. She was rumored to be the next heiress of the Hoseki Empire, the largest jewelry manufacturing company in Japan, US and Europe. Luke is the richest and the most popular guy in school. He's cheerful, friendly and enjoys being around with people. At the age of 17, he already have his own company making him the youngest CEO of the year. His goal is to build an empire by himself without his father's help. Luke and Alora were not socially close. But unknown to everyone, they were childhood lovers and was already engaged when they were young. But a tragic incident made Alora completely forgot about Luke. What will happen if they were given a second chance? Can this young couple overcome their differences? What will Luke do if he found out he's engage with a person with multiple personality? What's the secret behind Alora's mental illness? "I will love you no matter what. Even if you forget about me, I will keep on loving you because you're the only one for me." - Luke "Forgetting you was the biggest sin I've committed. My mind doesn't remember you but my heart and soul will always be yours. - Alora If you're into mystery-romance this is definitely for you! **Book cover is not mine. Credit to the rightful owner.**

When 22-year-old Aria, an art student struggling to keep her life afloat, signs a surrogacy contract for the powerful and notoriously private billionaire Luca De Rossi, she expects a simple transaction not a story that will change everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself. But what begins as an arrangement soon blurs into something deeper. Luca isn’t the cold man the headlines describe; behind his control and empire lies a heart scarred by loss and trust built on careful walls. And Aria…gentle, stubborn, disarmingly honest starts breaking those walls without meaning to. When a single photograph exposes their secret to the world, the contract becomes a scandal, and Aria becomes the headline: The Mistress, the Billionaire, and the Baby. With the media frenzy threatening everything Luca built and Aria’s pregnancy advancing under relentless pressure, both must decide whether to hide behind duty or fight for a love neither expected. As betrayals surface in the boardroom and Luca’s empire trembles under corporate fire, Aria finds herself caught between the life she left behind and the dangerous world she’s come to belong to. Every choice she makes echoes louder for her child, for her heart, and for the man who swore to protect both. Set against the breathtaking Italian Riviera, this is a story of forbidden love, fierce loyalty, and the courage to stand tall when the world wants you to fall. A romance that begins with a contract… and ends with a fight for forever.

Ethan Banks never planned to fail. Fresh out of New York University with a degree in Computer Science, he expected to land the kind of career that would prove to his family back in Bay City, Texas, that he could stand on his own two feet. Instead, New York City chewed him up and spit him out, interview after interview leaving him rejected and exhausted. He refused to run home and let his parents—or worse, his older brother—fix everything for him. He needed to make it here. On his own. When he finally secures a position at Warner Industries the largest tech empire in the city Ethan thinks his luck has turned. Until he meets the man behind the empire. Aaron Warner. His brother’s childhood best friend. His secret ex-boyfriend. The boy who once set his heart on fire, then vanished without a word. But the Aaron he knew is gone. In his place is a billionaire CEO with a reputation as ruthless as the empire he built. Cold. Calculating. Untouchable. And when Ethan demands answers about their past, Aaron offers only one shocking ultimatum: marry me—or walk away. Caught between the success he’s dreamed of and the love that once destroyed him, Ethan must decide if he’s willing to risk everything for the one man he swore he’d never forgive.