The Duchess Deal

I am about to be forced to marry the most ruthless old mafia boss in the city. However, one morning, I woke up naked in an unfamiliar bed and realized I had sex with a stranger. The worst thing is, now he is standing in front of me at my engagement dinner. “Mr. Guerrero,” someone says to my fiancé from behind me. “Your son has arrived.” Great. My one night stand is my fiance's son. When I ask him to pretend nothing ever happened. He chuckles. “And what if I don’t want that, future-Mrs.-Guerrero?” My breath catches when he leans in close, his breath hovering over my ear. “Or… should I call you mother?”

Tila sanay na sa mga pagsubok ng buhay Amara Santos. Lumaki siyang kinakayod ang lahat para sa kakambal niyang si Selene, na may malubhang sakit na matagal ng dinadala. Ang tanging liwanag sa kanyang madilim na mundo ay ang kanyang kasintahang si Liam dela Cruz, anak ng alkalde. Simula pagkabata, siya na ang kanyang sandigan—ang lalaking nangakong mamahalin siya kahit anong mangyari. Ngunit, isang masaklap na kapalaran ang dumating sa buhay nya. Sa kritikal na oras ng kanyang kapatid sa ospital, iniwan siya ni Liam at ipinagpalit sa isang babae na makakatulong sa kanyang ambisyon na pumasok sa politika. At sa isang iglap, natagpuan niya ang sarili sa isang hukay na isang paraan lang ang kalalabasan. "Pakakasalan mo ako, at ibibigay ko sa’yo ang lahat ng kailangan mo." Sino ang lalaking ito? Si Ethan? Si Ethan Alcantara. "Simple lang ang kasunduan, Amara," sagot ni Ethan. "Ikaw ang magiging asawa ko, at sa mata ng publiko, magiging perpekto tayong magkapareha. Kapalit niyan, matutulungan ko ang kapatid mo." Tila isang malafairy tale na tagpo ang nangyayari sa buhay ni Amara, at sa palubog niyang kumunoy ay mayroon siyang prince charming na tagapag sagip. Mararanasan nga ba nya ang maging prinsesa? O isa na naman itong pag-papanggap na mapipilitan siyang ituloy dahil sa kasunduang iligtas ang kanyang mahal na kapatid? Hanggang saan aabot ang kanyang pagtitiis na mag-panggap? Magkakaroon nga ba ng pag-ibig sa pagitan nila ni Ethan?

My younger sister, Sofia Moretti, and I grow up on milk. While our peers are showing no signs of growth, both of us are blessed with an early puberty. Our father, a mafia Don, is worried that we might get tricked into giving our bodies away to young men at an early age, so he has been nurturing two confidants for us when we were still kids. After we come of age, Dad makes each of us choose one as a fiancé. Sofia is the first one to pick Dante, the tall, well-built, and cold-looking older brother. The only choice I have left is Luca, the younger brother who has gotten partially disfigured by an enemy and often wakes up in fright due to the nightmares. In my previous life, I knew that once I rejected Luca, who had PTSD from his past, he'd definitely get kicked out of my family. No one would be able to protect him anymore. So, I took the initiative to accept the marriage proposal. Since Luca tended to jolt awake from his nightmares and tremble violently, I moved to the room next door so that I could guard his door at all times. Whenever Luca was insulted or mocked by my uncles and relatives at family meetings, I'd dig out my pistol and slap it onto the table to shut them up. I spent three years accompanying Luca to therapy sessions. That was how I learned to pick up on every symptom he exhibited before he went into his anxiety mode. I thought I'd be able to touch Luca's heart by offering him my own. But when an enemy family set up a trap that resulted in my and Sofia's kidnapping, they plunged poisonous blades through our stomachs and forced Luca to choose to only save one of us with an antidote. That was when Luca gave the antidote to Sofia without hesitation. "Sorry, but Sofia needs the antidote more than you do." It turned out that Luca had been in love with Sofia this whole time. After Luca picked Sofia up and was about to leave, he murmured to me, "If there ever is a next lifetime, I'll use my life to pay this debt." My final memory of that lifetime consisted of the scorching pain that ate through my organs left behind by the poison. When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the day I'm supposed to pick out my fiance.

Nora Jensen hat für alles einen Plan. Abschlussjahr? Durchgeplant. Bewerbungen fürs College? Erledigt. Gefühle für Cole Whitaker, den unerträglich charmanten Hockeystar der Millbrook High? Ganz sicher kein Teil dieses Plans. Doch als Cole an ihrem Spind auftaucht, mit diesem Blick, den er niemals zugeben würde, diesem verzweifelten, und sagt: Du schuldest mir was, hört Nora sich selbst zustimmen. Zu dem lächerlichsten Gefallen ihres Lebens. Ein Familienessen. Eine falsche Freundin. Einfach. Klar. Ohne Gefühle. Nur ist an Cole Whitaker rein gar nichts einfach. Nicht die Art, wie er sich ihre Kaffeebestellung merkt, ohne zu fragen. Nicht die Art, wie er seine Lieblingsfarbe als das Eis vor dem Spiel beschreibt, kurz bevor das große Licht angeht. Und nicht die Art, wie er sie nach dem Abendessen auf der Veranda ansieht, als wäre sie etwas, das es wert ist, behalten zu werden, während sie so tun soll, als würde er sie gar nicht ansehen. Nora hat einen Deal gemacht. Sie hat nur das Kleingedruckte nicht gelesen. Den Teil, in dem aus gespielten Abendessen echte Gespräche werden. In dem sich ausgehandelte Bedingungen plötzlich wie Gefühle anfühlen. In dem der Junge, den man nur vorgeben sollte zu lieben, zu der einen Person wird, bei der man sich nicht mehr verstellen kann. Die Regeln waren einfach. Halte nicht seine Hand. Sieh ihn nicht so an, als würdest du ihn mögen. Verlieb dich nicht. Zwei von drei sind gar nicht schlecht.

On the day my older brother, Morgan Slater, is supposed to register his marriage with Savannah Reed, he doesn't show up at the city hall at all. Instead, he calls me, who's there to hype up the atmosphere as the best man. "Savannah is a fake heiress. She's even poorer than me now. Why would I marry her?" After ending the call, I see two comments floating in front of me all of a sudden. [Morgan really is stupid! The paternity test has it all wrong! Savannah is the real deal!] [He has already reached the marriage stage! I can't believe he actually lets the real heiress slip through his fingers just like that!] I instantly turn around to see Savannah standing in a corner on her own. Despite having gotten kicked out of the Reed family, the cheap dress does little to conceal her charm. After giving it some thought, I approach her, knowing full well that I resemble Morgan a lot when it comes to my looks. "Sorry, but Morgan won't be coming today," I say bluntly. Savannah seems to have expected that outcome. All she does is hum in response. "My family has wronged you this time. If you don't mind, is it okay if I marry you instead?" Savannah narrows her eyes at me. Her gaze flits over my face, which is similar to Morgan's. Morgan spends the day looking for another rich woman to marry. As for me, I've already registered my marriage with Savannah and become the official son-in-law of the Reeds.

He broke her world to build his empire. Now, he’s buying her silence with a wedding ring. Lena Carter was supposed to be a bride, until she walked in on her fiancé, Daniel, in a betrayal that shattered her life and her dignity. Left with nothing but the crushing weight of her father’s mysterious debts and the wolves of the Silvers Syndicate at her door, Lena has one choice: sink or sell her soul. Adrian Wolfe, the 30-year-old "Ice King of Manhattan," is the monster who offers her a lifeline. He is the man who turned her father’s legacy into dust, and now he wants Lena to play a role in his most dangerous game yet. The Contract: One year of marriage. Total submission to his rules. A public performance of a love that doesn't exist. In exchange, every debt is wiped clean, and Lena gets the power to watch Daniel and his new lover crawl in the dirt. But as the "fake" marriage turns into a war of white-hot passion and whispered secrets, Lena discovers the Black Ledger—a document proving Adrian didn't just find her by chance. He’s been waiting for her. She isn't just his wife; she’s the final payment on a debt signed in blood. With a vengeful ex-fiancé, a lethal criminal syndicate, and Adrian’s own mother, Martha Wolfe, circling like sharks, Lena must decide: Will she destroy the man she’s grown to love, or will she become the Queen of the very empire that broke her?

My back hits the cold glass of the penthouse window, the city glittering a thousand feet below us. Sebastian’s hand is at my throat—not tight enough to hurt, but enough to remind me who I belong to. “You were talking to him,” he says, voice low, dangerous. His other hand is braced beside my head, caging me in. “You smiled.” “It was just—” “Don’t lie to me, Ocean.” His thumb brushes the hollow of my throat, and my pulse jumps so hard he feels it. “You’re mine. Every glance. Every breath. Every inch of you.” I should be furious. I should tell him I’m not his property. But then his mouth is on mine—rough, consuming, tasting like the whiskey he hasn’t let go of since the gala. I moan before I can stop myself. That’s all the permission he needs. His hand slides to my waist, fingers digging in as if he’s afraid I’ll vanish. The heat between us ignites like dry kindling. It’s dangerous. It’s too much. It’s everything. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark enough to drown in. “One year,” he murmurs. “That was the deal. But you… you’re making me want forever.” And in that moment, I know the worst truth of all— If Sebastian Velez decides to keep me, I won’t even try to run.

In just one day, Gemma Braun finds out her entire life has been built on lies and deception. From finding her younger sister in bed with her husband to being killed by her own brother. On her death bed, Gemma begs the universe for a chance to deal with everyone who exploited her. When a second chance is granted to her, Gemma vows to deal with all that has hurt her, with Atlanta's wealthiest billionaire by her side, she will bring everyone to their knees before her. ****** “Why are you doing this?” She asked. “Well, let's say we’ll be doing a trade by barter. You give me what I want, I'll give you what you want…” “And what do you have that I want?” the lady before him asked. “Money, power, connection… I've been watching you for a while, Miss Braun. I thought you were docile and gullible and only does what that messed up family of yours asks you to. But after witnessing what you pulled today, my view about you changed…” “What does all these have to do with what I want?” “You want revenge, you want to deal with your sister and that prick for messing with you, you want to deal with that thing you call a brother for everything he has done to you, and your parents, they deserve a share of your rage too, for neglecting you…” “Get married to me, and I'll give you the money and power to get back at them." “What do you gain from this, Mr. Ferguson?” Gemma asked. “A wife…..What do you say to a two year marriage contract. Once the contract ends, you can do what you want with your life, no strings attached,” Derek proposed.

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

Narinig ni Amanda Moretti ang balitang ipapakasal siya ng kanyang ama sa isang lalaking hindi niya kilala—kaya tumakas siya mula sa tahanan ng kanyang mga magulang. Determinado siyang pumili ng sariling landas, nagsimula siyang mamuhay mag-isa at unti-unting binuo ang tahimik na kalayaang natagpuan niya sa kanyang maliit na apartment. Sa tulong ng isang bagay na siya mismo ang lumikha—isang app na ginawa niya upang matulungan siyang malampasan ang bawat araw—hindi lamang siya nakaraos kundi umangat pa. Lumago ang app, naging matagumpay, at kalaunan ay nakilala sa maraming lugar. Dahil sa tagumpay na iyon, nakilala niya ang isa sa kanyang mga kliyente—si Knoxx Xavier Vitale—isang lalaking hindi niya inakalang lubos na magbabago ng takbo ng kanyang buhay. Arogante at antipatiko. Sukdulan ang ugali nitong hindi tugma sa kanya. He kept on pestering her. Kaya nang inalok siya nitong magpanggap bilang nobya sa harapan ng mga magulang nito, sa una'y nagdadalawang-isip pa siya. Mentioning a hundred thousand dollars made her eyes sparkling of wealth. Napapayag siya nito. Ngunit mas may nakakagulat pang rebelasyon ang mangyayari kasunod.