The Lying Game Ruth Ware Novels & Stories

To save her dying mother and crush the stepfamily that ruined her reputation, brilliant corporate strategist Elena Vance signs a deal with the devil. Alexander Blackwood: the ruthless, devastatingly handsome billionaire known to the world as the "Ice King." The rules of their one-year fake marriage contract are simple: no feelings, no attachments, total obedience in public. But before the ink on the contract can even dry, an explosive secret shatters their arrangement. Elena is revealed to be the anonymous mother who secretly carried the hidden heir of Alexander’s late brother. Just as Alexander traps Elena in his golden cage to claim his nephew, a deadlier truth emerges: the child has a secret twin brother, stolen at birth and held by Alexander’s ultimate corporate rival. Bound by a contract but torn apart by secrets, Elena and Alexander must play a deadly game of deception. Can the Ice King protect his new family, or will the fiery passion exploding between them melt his empire to the ground?

I put three hundred million dollars into building a business for my brother's first love. They were finally getting married. But two hours before the wedding, the maid of honor suddenly went AWOL. To keep the wedding on track, I dropped a major international deal, booked the next flight out, and flew back immediately. When I arrived, my brother hugged me gratefully and handed me the wedding ring along with a gift box — inside was a necklace, a token he'd promised Celeste. "Sis, I'm counting on you to take care of Celeste's side. I know it's a lot to ask, but could you step in as maid of honor today?" But the moment I walked into the bridal suite, my brother's bride slapped me across the face. "You've got some nerve showing up here, you homewrecking bitch." "You think you can steal my husband at my own wedding? Are you out of your mind?" "Celeste, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I’m Alexander’s sister…" I tried to explain. "Who the hell are you kidding?! My sister-in-law runs a billion-dollar empire. A tramp like you could never." "You want to steal my husband? Fine. Let's see how tough you really are." And just like that, I was tied up and thrown into a pen with a vicious dog. Celeste Davenport — if that's how you want to play it, then enjoy your one-way ticket to the hell.

What would happen if the most powerful battlestar create escapades the cyclone extermination and instead ended up in a new universe?

Tanya Reed Tanya Reed’s life went up in smoke the night her parents were murdered. Now she’s a survivor, broke, haunted, and desperate for a fresh start. The last thing she expects is to find herself cleaning offices at Lockewood Heights… or standing face-to-face with the man who will upend her fragile world. Hers isn’t a Cinderella story; it’s survival meets power. Damien Lockewood. Billionaire. CEO. Sin wrapped in a tailored suit. He’s cold, ruthless, and untouchable, everything she should hate. And yet, he’s also the man who makes her pulse race, her walls crumble and her panties wet. She’s supposed to be invisible. But one accidental discovery, a discrepancy buried deep in the company’s financial records, puts her squarely on Damien’s radar. He doesn’t do love. She doesn’t do trust. But when desire turns to danger and the lies start to unravel, Tanya learns that the Lockewoods’ secrets are darker than Damien’s reputation, and the same shadow that took her parents might destroy them both. Because somewhere between passion and power lies the truth. And the truth might cost them everything.

Whenever they played Truth or Dare, my boyfriend's childhood sweetheart, Clara would deliberately dare him to pull the same prank on me, and Ronan would always willingly play along: he would pretend to propose to me. The last time, I fell for it. I joyfully held out my hand, but a mechanism inside the ring snapped shut, and I cried out in pain. Ronan and Clara doubled over with laughter, ignoring my finger, which had been pinched purple. Afterward, Ronan pinned me against the wall and swore that this year, he would give me a real proposal. So when his bodyguards brought me to the private club where we first met, I changed into an expensive white silk gown, styled my hair, and applied my most exquisite makeup. I even played the touching scene out in my head, imagining myself nodding and saying yes. But as I pushed open the door to the VIP room, my heart pounding, someone threw a full glass of deep red wine in my face. It streamed down my chin and onto my gown. A woman's laughter erupted from the crowd. "I told you Aurora would show up, didn't I? Ronan, you lose!" Ronan walked over, looking resigned. He gently dabbed at my face with a napkin, his tone as soft as ever. "Dressed up just for me? A shame to ruin a good dress." "Clara dared me to bet on whether you would have the guts to come to our turf tonight. I bet that you would. The wager was this: if you didn't, I'd propose tomorrow. If you came, we'd have to wait another year." "Sorry, baby. Since you showed up, I guess we can't get married this year." The wine trickled down my collarbone, cold and sticky. I shivered. Suddenly, the whole thing felt utterly pointless. Our anniversary meant nothing compared to one of their pranks. Just like me. I could never win against Clara, his childhood sweetheart. I unclasped the simple silver bracelet, the one I'd worn for six years, from my wrist. "This is over. We're breaking up."

“I want you to ruin me. To fuck me like nothing else matters.” Zoriana’s breath hitched, the air in her lungs turning to ice as she stared into the darkened eyes of the man pinning her against the warehouse door. Outside, the pack’s founding day celebration was a blur of music and laughter, but in the shadows, there was only the scent of rain and the dangerous heat radiating off Alpha Tristan. “You’re mated to my brother, Zoriana,” he growled, his voice a dark, jagged rasp against her ear. His mouth brushed her pulse point, sending a shiver of pure, traitorous electricity through her blood. “Do you have any idea what I’ll do to you if I stop being a gentleman?” Zoriana didn't care about the crown, didn't care about the Royal bond or the destiny written in the stars. She arched her back, her nails grazing the hard muscle of his shoulders as she pulled him closer. “Then stop being a gentleman, Tristan. Show me the monster everyone says you are.” *** Zoriana’s world shattered overnight when her mate’s betrayal turned her from a beloved Luna into a rogue. She did not break. Rising from the ashes, Zoriana founded her pack and built an empire that shook the very foundations of the shifter kingdoms. The higher she rises, the deeper she is trapped in a web of deadly intrigues and twisted truths. Zoriana is caught between the Royal Alpha she is sworn to support and his ruthless brother—a devilish enemy who ignites a forbidden, soul-searing desire she cannot control. In a world of poisoned blood and lethal lies, Zoriana must choose: the crown she fought for, or the man who could be her undoing? Content Warning: Explicit Language, Graphic Violence, and Mature Sexual Themes.

How painful is it to grow in the oppressive bitter cold? Is it because the desire for revenge is so intense? For the sake of love, Christabel's life became turbulent in an abysmal way. She never knew falling in love was a great crime until she found herself in a situation that made her doubt her love, not giving her a chance, her life was destroyed within the range of five months. She dreaded the emotion 'love' and its accomplice. All hell was let loose when her cunning enemy sent her to a place a sane human will not dare spent a second in. Her stepsister will not stop until she collects something she believed she snatched from her. As if that was not enough, she was accused of murder and was cast out by the person she so much respected. No dulling! Life is hotness for hotness and coldness for coldness. It is a time to be brave and sharp; like the biblical-edged swords. She decided to show the other side of the by taking revenge! Prove her innocence and regain her lost pride. The question here is, is she innocent? Who is the real murderer? Will she be courageous In the face of all these adversities? Will all these come to a full cessation? What is her fate amid this chaos? Will her lovely mum and mentally handicapped sister be able to save her despite them being poor? Will her life be ever meaningful?

When the zombie apocalypse hit, pets leveled up into guardians. Three per person. That was the cap. My buddy dropped serious cash on three Caucasian Shepherds. My landlord dumped his fish and started raising crocodiles. My girlfriend bolted to the zoo and came back with a lion. Me? I had three strays. Bubba—blind. Missy—lame. Snowy—barely a month old. The second the system locked pet slots, I knew I was screwed. I barricaded myself inside with my three "broken" cats and kept my head down. Day one—fear. Day two—helpless. Day three—the cats strolled back in, tails up, dragging something I didn't recognize. Bubba looked at me. "Dad, I bit off every zombie head on the block. I'm solid, right?" I just stared.

You want to know what's worse than being in love with your best friend for thirteen years? Realizing you're not as straight as you thought while seducing her ex-boyfriend for revenge. I'm Diego Vaughn and I've been lying to myself since high school. The bullies who called me gay? They saw something I couldn't admit. But I had Avani - my best friend, my proof of normalcy, the girl I convinced myself I loved. Loving her meant I was straight. Except I've never been safe. Five years ago, my brother Matteo disappeared. I've been searching for him ever since. Then Avani starts dating Felton D'Angelo. A billionaire playboy who owned half the luxury hotels in LA. He told her from day one he doesn't do commitment. She thought she could change him. She was wrong. So she came to me crying and proposed her brilliant revenge plan: I should seduce Felton, make him fall in love, then destroy him. I said yes because I would do anything for her and because maybe if I do this, she'll finally see me as more than her safe best friend. I said yes because I didn't know Felton D'Angelo was the worst kind of dangerous. I'm supposed to be pretending but when he touches me, when he leans close and whispers what he wants to do to me, when his hand slides up my thigh under the table and I don't pull away - that's not acting. That's the truth I've been running from for thirteen years catching up to me. This was supposed to be simple. Seduce the playboy, break his heart, make Avani love me. Instead I'm falling for a man who might have killed my brother. And the worst part? I think I want to let him.

The year my boyfriend lost his sight in a car accident, I silently disappeared. Later, when he regained his sight, he used every means to find me and forced me to stay by his side. Everyone said I was his true love, unwilling to let go even though I abandoned him. Until one day, he appeared in front of me with his fiancée, and he asked, "Mia Frank, does the taste of betrayal feel good?" I shook my head with a faint smile, it didn't matter, even if it hurt, it wouldn't hurt for long, because I was about to forget him.