In the dimly lit lobby of the T.S. Club, the thick, perfumed air clung to the walls like an unseen haze. Nina, dressed in a faded blue dress that clung loosely to her slim frame, hurried inside. Her straight black hair swayed behind her, and her wide, clear eyes darted nervously as she approached the doorman. The contrast of her anxious expression against her youthful, tender features was striking, and her small, pale hands twisted the fabric of her dress as she approached.
The doorman, a tall man with a stoic demeanor, gave a nod as she approached. Behind his silent acknowledgment, his mind churned with judgment. "Ah, yes, just like Ryan, Lucien Gray's driver, said. This is the woman set to meet Mr. Gray tonight," he thought, eyeing her faded attire with mild distaste, yet recognizing her natural beauty. She was the type that would easily attract the attention of a man like Lucien.
"Excuse me! How do I get to Room 1806?" Nina's voice broke through her own unease, her tone urgent.
The doorman's lips curled into a polite smile. "Are you Miss Nina?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of gallantry that betrayed his inner thoughts. "Pure as water," he mused. "Lucien Gray is a lucky man to have her tonight."
"Yes," she replied quickly. "How do I get there?"
"The elevator to the left," the doorman gestured, his voice smooth. "It will take you to the 18th floor. Room 1806 is at the end of the corridor, the largest suite there."
Nina muttered a hurried thank you and rushed toward the elevator, her breath quickening as her questions mounted. Why had a strange man called her about her sister? Why would Grace be at a place like this, a high-class club so far out of their reach?
The elevator doors slid open silently, and Nina stepped inside, her heart pounding harder with each passing floor. As the doors opened on the 18th floor, she stepped out into a hallway lined with expensive wallpaper and priceless paintings from around the world. Normally, such an elegant setting would have left her wide-eyed with wonder, but tonight, her focus was singular-finding Grace.
Her steps on the thick, plush white carpet were noiseless, adding to the growing tension in the silent corridor. The atmosphere felt oppressive, the air thick with something intangible, and her nerves tingled with each step toward the door marked 1806. Her pulse raced as she reached the suite at the end of the hall, her breathing shallow. She raised her trembling hand and knocked gently on the door.
Silence.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing. Her anxiety deepened. With a shaking hand, she pushed the door, startled when it creaked open. It wasn't locked.
The room beyond was shrouded in darkness, a void where sound and light seemed to vanish. Nina hesitated at the threshold, her instincts screaming to turn back, but worry for her sister propelled her forward.
"Sis? Grace, are you there?" Nina's voice echoed faintly in the oppressive silence. No answer, only the vague sound of someone's ragged breathing, as if they were in pain.
Her heart lurched. "Poor Grace, she must be drunk," Nina thought as she crept forward, her fingers outstretched toward the faint sound. She could imagine her sister, slumped on the floor or sprawled across the bed, needing to be taken home. Nina's mind raced, planning to get her back safely, to sober her up.
The breaths grew louder. Closer.
Suddenly, a wave of unease washed over Nina, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Something was wrong. Before she could react, large, hot hands wrapped around her from behind, their grip firm and unrelenting.
"Ah! Who are you?" she shrieked, panic seizing her as she struggled violently. These hands weren't Grace's-they were male, and their touch was rough, suffocating. Nina's breath hitched as the man pressed against her, his body overpowering hers. She thrashed, kicking her legs, but his muscular frame trapped her effortlessly. His hands roamed her body, and she screamed in terror.
"Let go of me!" Her voice broke as her struggles became frantic, but the man remained silent, his actions more aggressive. Desperation clawed at her chest, and she bit down hard on his lips, tasting blood. He let out a low grunt of pain, but instead of releasing her, he tightened his grip.
"No!" Nina's scream was raw, her voice hoarse. She clawed at his face, at his arms, her nails digging into his flesh, but it was futile. He was unyielding. In the dark, his cruel strength overwhelmed her, his assault brutal and merciless.
Time seemed to blur, and the agony that followed shattered her. The pain was blinding, ripping through her body and mind. Her cries faded into the heavy silence of the room, and all that remained was the dull throb of her broken spirit.
A tear slid down Nina's cheek, her soul drowning in the darkness surrounding her. She was lost, her innocence stolen, her world irreparably shattered. The weight of the moment pressed down on her until all she could feel was numbness-the ache of loss etched deep into her very being.
Love Isle: 60 Days With My Ex-Fiancé
"Let's welcome Brandon King!" My mind was racing, my palms were getting sweaty as I fixed my eyes on the doors. I was still in denial. 'No, there are a thousand and one Brandon Kings across the world. It can't be..." It was him. I thought I could hear the ambulance sirens from a distance. I hoped they were coming to take me because at that moment, my heart stopped beating. Belle Cooper is left hertbroken after her fiance Brandon King fails to show up at the altar. Two months later, fate brings them together on a reality dating show, Love Isle. In the midst of deception, lies and old secrets, Belle must steer through an emotional rollercoaster and find out why Brandon betrayed her. Will love win or will the mistakes of the past ruin their second chance at happiness?
Falling For The Ruthless Tycoon
Alexander Reid is a ruthless billionaire, but when Penelope Burton is forced to marry him, she hopes to find the mercy behind his cold green eyes and strong hands. *** Alexander Reid, an imperious billionaire, is someone you don't want to get close to. Regrettably for 23 year old Penelope Burton she doesn't have much of a say, or luxury of a choice. Always at the mercy of her family's legacy and Seemingly perfect family name. Penelope has to do as her Father orders. So when her father forces her into a business arranged marriage with Alexander Reid, she rebels and disapproves of the marriage making it the first time she'll ever oppose of her Father's biddings. But she soon comes to terms with what had to be done, she gets married to Alexander. Regardless of their differences, interests and morals. But what would happen when she learns of her family's secrets and dark truths of this ruthless stranger she is forced to marry... would she be able to handle them when she falls deeply in love with him?
I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.
After Divorce, I Became The Ex-husband's True Love
"You want a divorce?" His voice was ice, sending a chill down her spine. "You'll never get it." For three years, Bellatrix devoted herself to Cillian Laurent-Miami's ruthless tycoon and her indifferent husband-hoping to earn his love. But when she's diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, she realizes the bitter truth: she was never his choice. Just a placeholder for the woman who abandoned him. and has now returned. Determined to reclaim her life, Bellatrix demands a divorce. But the man who once ignored her now refuses to let her go. As buried secrets unravel, she discovers their twisted marriage was never what it seemed. Can she break free from a love that was never hers? Or will his obsession destroy them both?
Finding Light In Darkness
After a devastating scandal shatters her reputation, Ivy Carson flees the ruthless corporate world of New York City for the quiet solitude of a small coastal town. Determined to rebuild her life far from the headlines and betrayal, she finds peace in anonymity-until the past catches up with her in the form of Gabriel Knight. Gabriel, a reclusive tech billionaire haunted by his own ghosts, has no time for distractions-especially not beautiful, guarded women with secrets in their eyes. But when a crisis threatens his company's future, he seeks Ivy's help, drawn not only to her brilliance but to the broken strength she hides beneath her calm facade. As Ivy and Gabriel are pulled together by circumstance, their guarded hearts begin to unravel. But when old enemies resurface and hidden truths come to light, they must face the darkness within themselves-and each other-if they want a chance at love. In a world full of secrets, can two damaged souls find light in each other... or will the past destroy them both?
The CEO's Reborn Love
"Every alligator here is Sebastian's prized possession, but they're all dead because of you." Olivia laughed charmingly. "As compensation, I'll give you to the remaining alligators. That way, your five years of loving him won't be in vain." Hearing rustling from the bushes behind her, Adriana's body immediately trembled. "Olivia, you're insane! I curse you to never live happily with Sebastian and to die a horrible death!" Olivia laughed coldly. "Sebastian himself said that the alligators here haven't been fed fresh meat in a long time. If you want to hate someone, then hate him." The fear of death and Olivia's words crushed Adriana's chest like a heavy stone. It felt like her heart was being gripped by someone, the pain was so intense she could barely breathe. Sebastian's decision... Even at the end, he had no intention of letting her body go. To such an extent he hated her. Adriana smiled bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes. •••• Adriana Hudson had loved Sebastian Kingsley with all her heart, only to face the most painful betrayal. He had cheated on her with her own stepsister, Olivia. As if that wasn't enough, on the day of their wedding, he ordered his mistress to throw her into an alligator pond to kill her. Not only did she die a tragic death, but she also lost the child she was carrying. In that moment, Adriana swore that if she were given a second chance, she would never love him again. Now reborn, Adriana is determined to make those who wronged her feel the pain of betrayal a thousand times over. But why is Sebastian so determined to cling to her this time, even protecting her from those very people? Wasn't Olivia the woman he loved? Sebastian: "Riana, you can learn to trust me." Adriana only looked at him in silence. The pain of being devoured by alligators still haunted her, so could she trust him again? And perhaps... Perhaps what happened in her past life wasn't as she had imagined. Lies, vengeance, and conspiracies swirl around them once more, but this time, will their love survive?