When was the last time she tried to defend me? I’d never want her to get between my father and me, because that would only make matters worse, but shouldn’t she at least be a little concerned? Lex smiles and swipes the screen, pulling up a new slide. “If you want your inheritance, you’ll need her to remain faithful to you while you’re married, or you’ll breach Grandma’s terms. You know what that means, right? You need to steal her away from her boyfriend. Just because she broke up with him doesn’t mean she’ll stay away from him.” His brows rise, and he throws me a mischievous look. “The restaurant or the room?” he asks, grinning. A chill runs down my spine, and my heart begins to pound wildly as dread washes over me. I swallow hard and rise to my feet, my steps measured. I know better than to disobey. My mind is whirling with panic as I pause in front of him, my shoulders hunched in fear. Helplessness tugs at me, but I refuse to give in to it.

This book contains sensitive themes, including but not limited to domestic violence in the female main character’s home (none between Dion and Faye) and parental loss. Professor Astor” by Catharina Maura is a story that combines several tropes that will have her readers shedding happy tears and also crying as it is beautifully written.Grayson and Aria navigate their undeniable attraction and newfound proximity even though their relationship is off-limits. Ares glances at me, the edges of his lips tipping up into a smile. Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything. Meanwhile, Lex stares at me blankly for a moment. “Maybe, but we can’t really risk her simply keeping her word. You need to take action.” He taps against his screen and grins. “Based on conversations I’ve had with Ares and Luca, I’ve come to the conclusion that the easiest way to win her over is to seduce her.” He entwines our fingers, and I look into his eyes, committing the affection in them to memory. I suppress the wave of helplessness I feel and force a smile. Thoughts of her are always accompanied by remorse, and today is no different. Remorse for everything I’ve taken from her, and everything I’m yet to destroy. She should’ve had her entire life ahead of her, but instead, I’ll ruin what’s left of her.

As the story progresses, Emily’s determination to break free from the unwanted marriage intensifies. The author expertly builds tension and suspense, keeping readers engaged and invested in Emily’s fate. The novel culminates in a series of pivotal events that challenge Emily’s strength and resilience, ultimately leading her towards a path of self-discovery and empowerment. Together with his sister, they had been forced to live a life of struggle. Noah becomes a doctor to honor his father’s legacy as he starts working at Astor College in what has always been his dream job. Good,” she breathes. I stare at her for a second and take in her flawless makeup and that beautiful blonde hair that sets the girls and her apart from me. I wonder if there are bruises hidden underneath all the foundation she wears.She is now known for her penchant for penning some angsty stories that can be very intriguing. She currently lives in Hong Kong but given her wanderlust, she has at some point made her home in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Didn’t he tell you he was going to London for work? He’s neither in London, nor is he working,” Chloe says, her eyes blazing with excitement, as though she’s unraveled some kind of wild plot. “I thought it was so weird that he’d tell you he was leaving in person when he’s clearly never cared about you before, but it looks like it was just to throw you off his scent or something. He probably didn’t want you to suspect the truth.” Romance Billionaire Romance Erotic Young Adult Crime Fantasy Vampires Science Fiction Thriller Horror Classics Suspense Eric turns her toward me, confusion flitting through his eyes at her reluctance, and I take my time to study her. My gaze roams over her body, taking in the way her short skirt and that silky blouse highlight her curves — all for Eric, no doubt. Her long dark hair falls to her waist in big waves that only seem to accentuate her gorgeous face, and all of a sudden, I’m hit with a desperate need to find out what those strands would feel like between my fingers. This is why I’ve grown increasingly fearful throughout the last few years — she’s becoming harder to ignore, to resist.

My grandmother continues to speak, but I can’t take another moment of this. Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m out the door and halfway through our estate, my thoughts whirling. I keep walking, needing the fresh air, the chill in the wind — anything to keep my mind off Faye. With each passing second, more of her blues are drowned out by the force of her panic, but despite that, she doesn’t look away. Even as a tear spills from her stunning eyes, she faces me head-on, defiance warring with her obvious fear. She’s mesmerizing. I’ve seen her countless times throughout the years, but she’s never looked at me with even a fraction of the emotions she’s showing me right now. Her smiles have always been cold and distant, our conversations polite, nothing between us ever straying beyond what’s appropriate. The woman standing in front of me right now is not the girl she’s had me convinced she was. There goes my credibility! How can I give advice when my relationship just failed spectacularly in a viral video? I swore never to take that job offer from my brother’s best friend. That arrogant, grumpy, know-it-all! But when he’s the only one willing to give me a second chance, I’m out of options. Turns out, working for the grump I loathe may be the best decision I ever made. Only one problem. There’s an undeniable attraction growing between us. After living in the Netherlands for many years, Mr. Maura her husband was transferred to Singapore and then Hong Kong, where she currently makes her home. I stare at myself in the large mirrors inside Raven Windsor’s bridal boutique, my heart hollow. There’s no denying that the wedding dress my stylist chose for me is beautiful, but it isn’t me. The intricate beading and heavy lace look priceless, and it’s exactly the kind of thing a Windsor bride would wear.

For years, he made his unwillingness known, but his attempts to keep Faye at a distance fade to dust at the sight of her with another man—mere months before their wedding. Father pushes his chair away from the table, and the scraping sound draws a whimper from Chloe’s lips. I glance at her briefly, praying she’ll keep her eyes on her plate and her mouth shut. The last thing I want is for his anger to transfer from me to her. I clench my jaw and nod curtly. Faye and I have been engaged since we were children, but I wasn’t informed of it until I was sixteen. The second I could, I escaped to boarding school, followed by college overseas. The idea of marrying someone ten years younger horrified me, but even then, there was more to it. It was the fact that it was her. My gaze lowers to Eric’s hand on her waist, and my own hands slowly curl into fists. For a moment, I wonder what it’ll sound like if I break every single finger he’s laid on what’s mine, but then Faye raises those deep blue eyes of hers, and every drop of anger drains away. I smile as I decide to take a risk and veer off-course, playing something other than what I’m supposed to. I know my father won’t like that, because it isn’t what the crowd expects, but it’s what I need tonight. For once, I’d like to play for myself on stage. I know I’ll pay for having the audacity to make a choice of my own, for acting on impulse, but I think it’s worth it. Desperation claws at me so fiercely tonight that there’s nothing I won’t do just to feel alive for a few minutes.

Despondency turns into desolation as I take another bite of my food, pretending to be unaffected. I’m glad neither of my sisters are standing in my shoes, but I’d give the world to have one single day of true freedom — of not feeling like a sacrifice, a broodmare. I flinch involuntarily, unable to deny her words. She’s right. A few weeks ago, I switched my UK number to a US number, and I never told her. It just… hadn’t occurred to me. She and I never talk, after all. I can count the times she’s called me on one hand.The Unwanted Marriage” is a thought-provoking tale that delves into timeless themes of love, freedom, and the complexities of societal norms. Maura’s writing style is engaging, with a balance of vivid descriptions and introspective musings. Through her skillful storytelling, she invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the choices they make within the confines of societal expectations. Dion was photographed smiling up at his secretary, Maria, on a beach in Spain. They look happy and relaxed, and based on their swimwear, I assume they were very much not working. They weren’t caught in a compromising position, but it was enough for the media to spin tales about how he’ll follow in his brother’s footsteps by marrying his secretary, and how they can all hear wedding bells. Nice,” Luca says, following Ares in. “Love the setup,” he adds, tipping his head toward the desk in the living room.