On the night of her wedding, Claire Donovan was framed, betrayed, and thrown into prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Her fiancé, Liam Carter, the man she loved, stood by and did nothing while her stepsister, Ava, took everything from her. Three years later, Claire is back. But she’s no longer the naive woman who once believed in love and loyalty. When ruthless billionaire Adrian Blackwood offers her a contract marriage—promising to help her destroy the people who ruined her—she accepts. With Adrian’s power and influence, Claire re-enters the high society that cast her aside. Now, she’s the woman they fear, the bride they betrayed, and the one holding the strings. But as she plays the dangerous game of revenge, she realizes Adrian has secrets of his own—secrets that could shatter them both. Lies, betrayal, passion, and power collide as Claire and Adrian fight their enemies—and their growing attraction. But when the past refuses to stay buried and an unseen threat emerges from the shadows, Claire is forced to ask herself: Is revenge worth losing herself… or the man who might just break down her walls?
View MoreThe Betrayers UnmaskedThe Fallout of the GalaThe ride back to Blackwood Tower was silent, but it wasn’t the comfortable kind. It was heavy, tense, electric—charged with the weight of what they had just uncovered.Damon Calloway and Ava Donovan.Working together.Claire gripped the phone in her hands, staring at the surveillance image that had turned her world sharper, deadlier.Ava was supposed to be living her perfect life with Liam, basking in the luxury she had stolen.So what the hell was she doing in Damon’s office?Adrian, sitting beside her in the backseat of the car, was as still as a predator waiting to strike. His fingers tapped idly against his thigh, the only indication that he was calculating his next move.“We need more,” Adrian said, voice even.Claire turned to him, narrowing her gaze. “We have enough. Damon and Ava are connected. That means they’re planning something.”Adrian exhaled slowly, turning his head toward her. “You’re thinking emotionally.”Her pulse spike
The Blackwood GalaThe Stage Is SetThe ballroom of Blackwood Tower was a masterpiece of opulence—gold chandeliers, crystal champagne glasses, and a string quartet playing a hauntingly beautiful melody. It was the kind of event that only the city’s elite could attend, a place where deals were made with a single glance and enemies hid behind charming smiles.Claire knew this world too well.And tonight, she wasn’t just here to play along.She was here to win.Standing beside Adrian at the top of the grand staircase, she exhaled slowly.From the outside, she was the perfect picture of a billionaire’s fiancée.But on the inside?She was a woman on the edge of vengeance.Adrian leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. “Ready to burn them all?”Claire smirked, keeping her gaze locked on the crowd. “Let’s start with one.”And just like that, they descended into the lion’s den.Damon’s EntranceThey had been at the gala for no more than thirty minutes before Damon Calloway made his entrance.He
Unraveling the PastThe Aftermath of Damon’s ReturnClaire sat in the dimly lit penthouse, her fingers curled around the edge of a whiskey glass she hadn’t even taken a sip from. Her thoughts spiraled, tangled between the past and the present.Damon Calloway.The name alone sent a shiver down her spine.Three years ago, he was one of the first people to betray her, though she hadn’t realized it until it was too late. Back then, he had been a charming manipulator, someone she had considered a friend—someone she had trusted.And now?Now, he was back. Watching her. Smirking. Acting as if he hadn’t helped destroy her life.Across the room, Adrian stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back rigid, his posture one of pure, barely restrained fury. The only sound in the room was the soft clink of ice in his glass as he downed his drink in one go.Claire knew that look.It was the look of a man planning destruction.She exhaled slowly. “You’re going after him.”Adrian didn’t turn around
The Ghost from the PastClaire’s world tilted as she stared at the man standing before her.Damon Calloway.A name she hadn’t heard in years.A name she had hoped never to hear again.He looked the same, yet different—older, sharper, more dangerous. His smirk was calculated, his eyes holding a glint of amusement like he had been waiting for this moment.Adrian shifted beside her, his body taut with restrained violence.“Who the hell is this?” he demanded.Damon’s smirk widened. “Ah, Blackwood. I was wondering when we’d officially meet.”Claire’s pulse hammered.This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.But it was.And Damon?Damon looked entertained.Memories of a NightmareClaire’s throat tightened, the past slamming into her like a tidal wave.Damon Calloway had been untouchable once.The golden boy of high society. He came from money, power, and legacy.But beneath the charm, beneath the tailored suits and easy smiles, he was something else entirely.A liar. A manipulator.
Into the Lion’s DenClaire sat on the edge of the bed, her breathing uneven, her fingers trembling against the cold metal of her phone.Someone had called her.Someone who knew her.Someone who had been watching.And Adrian—Adrian looked like he was ready to burn the city down.He stood near the window, his body tense, coiled, the gun still in his grip.“Say it again,” he ordered, his voice a deadly whisper.Claire inhaled sharply. “They said, ‘Did you think we forgot about you, Claire?’ And then…”She hesitated.Adrian’s gaze snapped to her. “And then what?”She met his eyes. “They laughed. Like it was a joke.”A muscle in Adrian’s jaw ticked. His patience was gone.“They’re escalating,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Whoever this is, they’re not just watching. They want you to know they’re watching.”Claire swallowed hard. “Which means they’re close.”Adrian’s gaze darkened.Too close.A Plan of AttackMinutes later, Claire sat at the sleek glass conference table in
The Hunter in the ShadowsClaire sat stiffly in the black town car, her fingers gripping the seat as the city lights blurred past the windows. The conversation at The Sterling Club kept replaying in her head.Someone was asking about her.Someone powerful.She turned her head slightly, stealing a glance at Adrian. He sat next to her, his face cast in shadows, his expression stone-cold.“You’re quiet,” she murmured.Adrian’s fingers tapped against the armrest, his eyes fixed ahead. “I’m thinking.”“About Cassandra?”His lips curled slightly, but there was no humour in it. “Cassandra is an opportunist. She never plays a game she can’t win.”Claire exhaled, leaning back. “Then that means she’s afraid of whoever sent that message.”Adrian’s jaw ticked. “Exactly.”A chill ran down her spine. If Cassandra Sterling—one of the most powerful women in high society—was worried, then whoever was behind this wasn’t just a casual enemy.They were ghosts in the dark.And Claire had no idea what they
A Shadow in the DarkClaire stared at the text message, her grip tightening around her phone.You’re playing a dangerous game, Claire.The words pulsed in her mind like a ticking bomb.It wasn’t just Liam.Someone else was watching.Adrian exhaled through his nose, his gaze dark as he scrolled through the message. His fingers curled around the phone, his control razor-thin.“Who has your number?” he asked, his voice sharp, lethal.Claire shook her head. “Just a few people. I changed it after I got out of prison.”Adrian’s jaw tightened. “That means someone went looking for it.”Claire exhaled, forcing herself to think. “It could be Liam trying to scare me. Or Ava.”Adrian didn’t look convinced.“Carter doesn’t send warnings,” he said, voice like steel. “He acts. This is someone else.”A chill ran through her.Claire wasn’t stupid.She had spent years surrounded by criminals in prison, learning how to read between the lines of threats.This message wasn’t just a scare tactic.It was a
Liam’s CounterattackClaire stood frozen, her fingers tightening around the coffee mug in her hands.“Liam made a move?” she repeated, her voice carefully neutral, though a storm brewed inside her.Adrian, leaning casually against the kitchen counter, tapped his tablet once before turning it toward her. His sharp gaze never left her, assessing her reaction like a predator studying prey.“Yes. And he’s coming after you first.”She scoffed, setting the mug down with a quiet clink. “He already ruined my life. What else could he possibly take?”Adrian’s expression darkened, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. “Your credibility.”With a flick of his wrist, he handed her the tablet.A headline from the city’s largest media outlet stared back at her:Claire Donovan: From Convicted Thief to Gold-Digging Fiancée?Her heart stopped.Her fingers clenched around the tablet as she scrolled through the article. It was brutal—a complete character assassination.Anonymous sources claimed she had “sed
A Dangerous AttractionThe moment Adrian and Claire stepped back into Blackwood Tower, the facade of the perfect, lovestruck couple crumbled.Claire yanked her hand from Adrian’s grasp, kicking off her heels as the penthouse door clicked shut behind them. The moment her bare feet met the cool marble, she let out an irritated sigh.“You could have warned me that Liam and Ava would be at that restaurant.”Adrian, unbothered, shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it lazily onto the sleek leather couch. He moved with deliberate ease, like nothing in the world could ever truly touch him.“And ruin the surprise?” His voice held a thread of amusement.Claire turned to glare at him. “That wasn’t a surprise.” She folded her arms. “That was war.”Adrian’s smirk deepened as he poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bar. “Exactly.”Claire exhaled sharply, pacing across the room. The city lights cast fragmented reflections on the polished floor, but she barely noticed.“Liam looked ready to ki
The Night She Lost EverythingThe wedding gown felt heavier with each step Claire Donovan took. Layers of delicate tulle and intricate lace, once a symbol of purity and love, now clung to her like shackles. Every pearl and embroidery thread seemed to weave a cage around her, tightening with each breath. The grand ballroom of the Donovan estate gleamed in opulence—golden chandeliers dripped with crystals, their warm glow casting an ethereal light over the gathered elite. Everything about the night was perfect. Too perfect.Yet, beneath the facade of laughter and raised champagne flutes, Claire felt the first prickle of unease. It slithered along her spine, an unnamed dread curling in the pit of her stomach.Something was wrong.Her fingers trembled slightly around the bouquet of white roses as she stood poised at the centre of attention. Her father, Richard Donovan, a man known for his iron-clad control and ruthless business acumen, lifted his crystal glass. The room fell into a revere...
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