[A BILLIONAIRE DARK ROMANCE BOOK] "Without obsession, life is nothing" -John Waters. Lyra eagerly seized an opportunity for quick cash when her best friend, Jane, presented a bold idea. She didn't think through the likely fallout. ************************* Jane needed someone to step in as her stand-in bride for Ryker Blackwoods, a reclusive billionaire shrouded in mystery due to her parents' debts and promises. Jane had no intention of entering into a loveless marriage with a man she had never met. Fortunately, Ryker had no clue what Jane-or Lyra-looked like. In exchange for a substantial sum, Lyra agreed to take Jane's place, sign the marriage documents, and occupy Ryker's estate while he was away. The plan was simple: Lyra would create enough chaos to provoke Ryker into seeking a divorce once he returned. However, when Ryker finally arrived home after six long months, everything changed. Rather than the distant figure she expected, Ryker turned out to be a man who pushed past her limits, a contradiction to Jane's descriptions. He was captivating yet infuriating-an undeniable force who seemed to derive pleasure from her discomfort. Lyra found herself regretting her decision. The money no longer mattered; she just wanted to escape this marriage. But Ryker calmly asserted that she belonged to him now, insisting that this was her punishment for her greed. He knew the truth-she was simply an imposter in a life she hadn't chosen.
View MoreTHE PARTY Lyra sat stiffly at the dining table, staring down at the elaborate spread of food. She wasn’t hungry, not with Ryker seated across from her. His calm, organized manners were enraging, especially after last night. She could still feel the phantom touch of his hands on her skin, his words replaying in her head like a taunt she couldn’t escape. Ryker’s voice broke the tense silence. “We’ll leave for the party at eight. I expect you to be ready.” Her head snapped up, her frustration bubbling over. “I’m not going.” He didn’t even look up from his plate as he cut into his omelet. “Yes, you are.” “No, I’m not.” Her voice was firm, her hands clenched into fists on the table. “I don’t care what kind of spectacle you’re trying to make, but I’m not going to be part of it.” Ryker finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable. He set his knife and fork down with deliberate precision, his movements calm—too calm. “This isn’t a discussion, Jane.” Her jaw tightened. “I don
THE CHALLENGERyker leaned against the doorway of the kitchen, arms crossed as he watched Lyra stretch on her tiptoes to reach for a glass in the upper cupboard. She was muttering to herself, frustration clear in every sharp movement. He couldn’t help the faint smirk tugging at his lips—there was something disarming about the sight. But disarming wasn’t the right word for Lyra. She was dangerous, an irritation he hadn’t anticipated. And that unpredictability was as maddening as it was enchanting. When she didn’t notice him after a few seconds, he stepped inside, his movements deliberate. “Need help?” Lyra jumped at the sound of his voice, spinning to face him with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?” He ignored the question, closing the distance between them with measured steps. Her gaze flicked to the cupboard, and she quickly turned back to try again, pretending he wasn’t there. She stretched higher this time, but the glass was still out of reach. Ryker raised an eyebro
THE PRICE OF DESIRELyra hurried down the long hallway. Her thoughts were jumbled. She was thinking about the confusing note that Ryker had left her.—“You have 24 hours to tell me who you are”—burned in her mind like an open flame. Each step echoed against the cold marble floors, but no matter how far she walked, the knot in her stomach wouldn’t relax. She hated the way he had her cornered, how his presence seemed to fill every corner of her world. Worse, she hated the tinge of something else she couldn’t name—a pull toward him that made no sense. Turning a corner sharply, Lyra nearly crashed into something—or someone. Her breath caught as she stumbled back, finding herself face-to-face with Ryker. He was standing in the middle of the hallway, his tall frame casting a shadow over hers. His dark eyes were locked on her, unreadable but intense. “Jane,” he said, his tone low and measured. “In a hurry?” She took an instinctive step back, her heart slamming against her ribs. “
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.Lyra stood outside Ryker’s office, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this was a risk, but she was out of options. If she didn’t find something—anything—she could use against him, she’d never survive in his world. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle and slipped inside. The room was cold, and sterile in its precision. Bookshelves lined the walls, meticulously organized, and the desk in the center was pristine, every item placed with purpose. It screamed control, much like the man who owned it. She moved quickly, her eyes scanning for anything that stood out. A locked drawer caught her attention, the keyhole taunting her. She tested it, but it didn’t budge. “Figures he’d lock away the good stuff.”Turning her focus to the computer, she tapped the screen. It lit up, but a password prompt appeared. Frustration bubbled up as she rummaged through the drawers, finding papers, business contracts, and nothing of immediate use. In the corner of the d
THE GAME DEEPENS.Lyra paced her room, the muffled tick of a clock on the wall the only sound chaperoning her thoughts. The estate was too quiet, its silence pressing in on her like a weight. Her earlier encounter with Ryker replayed over and over, his words cutting deeper each time she remembered them. “Let’s see how long you last.” She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stop walking. She leaned against the edge of the vanity and met her reflection. Her face looked pale, her expression uneasy. “You can’t afford to fall apart now,” she thought, gripping the edge of the table until her knuckles whitened. Her mind raced with possibilities. Ryker wasn’t just testing her; he was hunting her. Every word he spoke felt like a trap, every exchange an intentional move to break her piece by piece. But Lyra refused to crumble. If she had any chance of surviving this, she had to stop being reactive. She needed to find a way to take control—or at least, enough leverage to keep hers
THE HUNTER’S PREY.Ryker leaned back in the leather chair of his office, the glow of the desk lamp casting sharp shadows across his face. The phone pressed to his ear crackled slightly with the distant voice of his investigator, who was rattling off a list of findings. “She withdrew a significant sum of money about a month ago,” the voice reported. “Enough to raise flags. And it doesn’t align with her usual financial habits.” Ryker’s fingers drummed against the armrest, the rhythm deliberate. “What else?” “Nothing substantial yet. But I’ll keep digging,” the investigator replied. Ryker’s voice dropped, carrying a note of threat that made even the faceless voice on the other end pause. “I don’t pay you for ‘nothing substantial.’ I want answers. By the end of the week. And make sure there’s no trail leading back to me.” He ended the call abruptly, the phone clicking against the desk as he set it down. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the polished wood, staring at the f
THE HUNTER’S PERSPECTIVE.Ryker Blackwoods leaned back in his chair, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee swirling around him. From his seat at the head of the table, he had a clear view of her— “Jane,” as she called herself. She was trying to appear organized, her fork moving with precision as she cut into the perfectly cooked eggs. But Ryker wasn’t fooled. He sipped his coffee, his dark eyes narrowing as he studied her. She was nervous, her shoulders too stiff, her responses to the staff a fraction too polite. Her hands trembled slightly when she reached for the water glass, though she quickly steadied them, no doubt hoping he hadn’t noticed. But Ryker noticed everything. “She flinches when I push her, yet she doesn’t crumble. Whoever she is, she’s a far cry from the Jane I was expecting. And that makes this game far more interesting.” He let his gaze linger on her, testing to see if she’d glance up. She didn’t. Instead, she kept her eyes on her plate, as though the scra
THE GAME TIGHTEN The mansion felt quieter than normal, and the silence made Ryker’s voice stand out even more. Lyra paused outside his office, heart pounding. She knew better than to linger, but the tone of his words rooted her in place. Through the door, his voice was low and cold, like the edge of a blade. “You tell them I’m not a man who tolerates delays,” he said, his tone steady but laced with danger. “If this happens again, they’ll answer directly to me.” There was a pause, and then Ryker’s voice dropped even further. “No loose ends. I don’t care what it takes—clean it up.” Lyra’s breath hitched. This wasn’t just a business call; it was something darker. The air felt suffocating as if the weight of his words seeped through the door. She tried to step away quietly, but the sharp creak of the floorboard beneath her feet betrayed her. “Come in,” Ryker called, his voice carrying an amused edge. Lyra froze, debating whether to run or face him. With trembling hands, she p
THE GAME BEGINSLyra barely slept. The pressure from the night before weighed on her heavily, and whenever she closed her eyes, she saw Ryker’s harsh stare.She woke up to sunlight coming through the curtains, but it brought no warmth. Instead, it reminded her that she was stuck in this trap of deceit.Her plan was simple: stay in her room and avoid him for as long as possible. She thought she might at least have the morning to herself, but fate—or Ryker—had other ideas. A sharp knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, followed by a maid’s voice. “Mrs. Blackwoods, Mr. Blackwoods requests your presence at breakfast.” Lyra froze. Her stomach churned at the thought of facing him again so soon. “I… I’ll be down in a moment,” she called out, her voice steadier than she felt. She threw on a simple dress Jane had packed for her, opting for something understated that wouldn’t draw too much attention. After a glance in the mirror, she forced herself to leave the safety of her room
CHAPTER ONE THE DEAL The shrill ring of the phone jolted Lyra out of her thoughts. She stared at the cracked screen, knowing exactly who it was before she even picked it up. “Miss Winson,” her landlord’s voice droned as soon as she answered, no pleasantries, just a cold, clipped tone. “This is the third notice. Your rent is overdue, and if I don’t have the payment by the end of the week, I’ll have no choice but to start the eviction process.” Lyra’s fingers tightened around the phone. “I just need a few more days, Mrs. Grant. I promise I’ll—” “No more promises,” she snapped. “End of the week, Lyra. That’s it.” The line went dead before she could respond. Lyra let the phone drop onto the table in front of her, staring blankly at the pile of overdue bills beside it. Student loans, medical bills, and now rent. The weight of it all pressed down on her chest like an iron cage. She exhaled shakily and pushed her hands through her hair. “Keep going, Lyra,” she to...
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