Betrayed in the most public, heartbreaking way, Raisel Warden never expected her estranged best friend—and now billionaire tycoon—Soren Dalton to swoop in as her rescuer. With cameras flashing and her world in tatters, Soren’s daring proposal to reprise their old “fake-dating” act offers more than just protection—it promises a chance at redemption…and maybe even real love. Can Raisel trust the one man who knows her deepest secrets, or will the ghosts of the past destroy her all over again?
View MoreSoren’s POV“Mission Raisel accomplished.” A smirk tugged at my lips as I read Jace’s text on my phone. Perfect. Everything had fallen into place—because I made sure it did. It took a lot of manipulation to create this so-called “problem” and ensure Raisel would be the one to fix it. There’s no way I’m letting that asshole Joshua get anywhere near her.The temptation to storm into Chicago and drag her back home myself was almost unbearable. But that would only make her hate me more. And Raisel hating me? That’s the one thing I can’t risk.“Sir, the situation is getting worse.” Gwen’s voice cut through my thoughts. She entered the office, her expression tight with worry.I glanced at her calmly, and she frowned, as though confused by my lack of panic. “You don’t seem concerned. Sir, if we don’t fix this, we’re out of car models, out of investors, and ultimately... out of business.”“Take a breath, Gwen,” I said.She nodded, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease. She placed a
Raisel’s POVI took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Yes, I’m in. But I have my conditions,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremble in my hands. This isn’t what I want. Not at all.Joshua’s eyes darkened with intrigue. “And what might those be?” he asked. He didn’t shut me down immediately, which meant there was hope—however slim—that I could claw my way out of this mess.“You will respect boundaries,” I demanded, my tone sharp. “When I say no, it means no. You won’t blackmail me or manipulate me into doing things.”He leaned back, exuding the kind of confidence only a man like him could radiate. “I don’t have to force you into anything, Raisel.You’ll beg me for it,” he said smugly, his arrogance filling the room like a storm cloud.I rolled my eyes so hard I was sure they’d stick. These Dalton men—arrogant, entitled, and infuriatingly aware of their allure. And,God help me, why wouldn’t they be? With their striking looks, obscene wealth, and dangerous power, they practic
Raisel’s POVJoshua’s words won’t stop echoing in my head.“Listen to me carefully,” he said, his voice cold, calculated. “If you want to stay out of trouble, accept my deal. Pretend you’re in love with me.”I blinked, trying to keep my composure. “And what happens if I don’t accept your deal?” I asked, my voice barely steady.His smirk darkened, curling his lips into something both handsome and sinister. “Then you and Soren are in for a rough time,” he warned. He let that threat hang in the air before continuing, his words like venom. “Your project—the one launching the new car?It’ll stay nothing more than a dream. I’ll make sure of it.”My stomach dropped.I gulped. This man is heartless. No empathy at all. He’s… he’s the devil himself.“I… I…” I stammered, unable to string words together.“I’m giving you three hours to think it over,” he said with that insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. To most, he might look charming; to me, he was the worst kind of monster. Untamed.
Soren – POVThe office was a mess, buzzing with tension. People tiptoed around me, subtly dropping hints and questions: When will Raisel be back? We need her to move forward. I knew they needed answers from her, but I wasn’t about to push. She deserved space—time to heal. Losing someone is one thing, but watching a man die in front of you, a man you once cared for? That’s a whole other kind of trauma.Me? I felt the opposite. There was a sense of calm in knowing one of the bastards was finally out of the picture. Dead and gone.Still, the work couldn’t wait. I stepped in, made a decision on her project. It was something Raisel would’ve approved of—or at leastI hoped so. I couldn’t let the deadline slip.It was late when the call came. I was sitting at my desk, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee, when my phone buzzed.“Mr. Soren Dalton,” the voice on the other end said. It was Officer Denvor, the man in charge of the investigation into Nancy’s murder.“Speaking,” I replied, already brac
Raisel - POVHe didn’t answer me. Instead, he grabbed my hand and urged me to walk with him. I froze, unmoving. He glanced back at me, exhaling loudly in exasperation.“Ugh.” He sighed, then smirked. “I’m just kidding, Raisel. You’re way too easy to rile up.” His laughter rang out, light and teasing.I relaxed, muttering a curse under my breath as I finally followed his lead. He had no idea how much he’d just scared me. We ended up at a cozy little spot called the River Crab House, savoring crab cakes and crisp Chardonnay in a surprisingly quiet lunch.“You know, it’s been ages since I’ve had lunch with someone,” he said after a long stretch of silence.I raised an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that?” My tone was sharp with disbelief. “You’re the CEO of Dalton. I’m sure there’s no shortage of people eager to keep you company.”His expression shifted—distant, almost wistful. “I don’t dine with snakes,” he replied flatly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he side-
Raisel - POVI was finally sober, sitting in Hazel's room. Fiora and Hazel still looked groggy, their coffee mugs doing little to chase away the hangover.“Fiora, you’ve got the day off?” I asked. She nodded.“Yes,” she whispered.Hazel, frowning at her phone, suddenly looked troubled.“Guys, I need to leave for New York,” she announced.“Why?” I asked.“My mother called. If I don’t go, I could lose my business deal for good,” Hazel explained.“Do you want me to come with you?” I offered.“No, don’t cancel the trip because of me, Rai,” Hazel said firmly. “I’ll try to finish everything quickly and join you later.”“Hey, I’ve got two days off—I can keep Rai company,” Fiora said with a smile.“Yeah, Hazel, you should go. Don’t worry about me. I hope things work out for you,” I added, trying to reassure her. Fiora helpedHazel pick an outfit for the airport while I booked Hazel’s flight. A short while later, Hazel left in a cab.“So, what’s your plan for the day?” Fiora asked, turning to
Soren's POVThe sound of my fists slamming into the punching bag echoed in the gym, each hit fueled by raw anger. “Calm down,” Jace said, his voice cutting through the air. I ignored him. My knuckles burned as I pounded the bag harder, picturing Joshua’s smug face on it.I wanted to be on the next flight to Chicago, but I couldn’t. I’d been ruthlessly interrogated about my stepmother’s murder after police found my watch at the crime scene. My watch. How the hell did it end up there? I remembered walking into her room that night, but I wasn’t stupid enough to leave evidence behind.The truth? I hated her. Part of me wished I had been the one to kill her. But I didn’t. And now, to make matters worse, Joshua—my own damn half-brother—was making moves on my woman. My love. The thought of him getting close to Raisel made my blood boil. I wanted to kill him.“You know your lawyer did his best to get you out of the suspected list,” Jace said from the side, his tone almost sympathetic.“No, he
Raisel’s POVHazel’s piercing green eyes locked on me like a detective about to crack a case.“What are you hiding on that ancient laptop of yours?” she asked, her voice carrying a teasing edge but with unmistakable curiosity.“Nothing,” I shot back, too quickly. “I told you to destroy it.”She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.“Well, I was going to,” she said, leaning back. “Until my laptop broke, and I had to borrow yours. I didn’t mean to pry, but…” She hesitated, biting her lip. “There was a folder. It was password-protected.” Her tone softened, but her gaze stayed firm. “Raisel, what’s in it? I want to know.”My pulse quickened. “It’s just my diary. That’s all.” My words came out sharper than I intended. “I’m entitled to some privacy, Hazel.”Her face fell slightly, and I hated the way my words seemed to push her away. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her, but this was a boundary I wasn’t willing to cross.“Sorry,” I blurted out, the guilt instantly kicking in.“It’s oka
Raisel’s POVFiora walked into the room, pushing the trolley ahead of her. I quickly shut the door behind her. She set the food tray on the table, and I just stood there, frozen. I didn’t even know how to start a conversation with someone who used to be such a close friend but now felt like a distant stranger standing in my room.“Anything else you need, ma’am?” Fiora’s words startled me, pulling me out of my thoughts.“Fiora, how are you?” I whispered. She turned and looked me straight in the eyes, her expression unreadable.“You can see me. I’m healthy,” she replied simply. I nodded, but the air between us felt thick with awkwardness.“I… I missed you. I—”“Really?” she interrupted, her tone sharp as I stumbled over my words.“I know it sounds stupid,” I began, rushing to explain myself. “After all these years, I hate how I treated our friendship… like it was nothing.”Fiora just stared at me, her gaze softening for a moment before she looked away, her emotions barely contained.“It
Author Note: Hey readers, This book delves into the darker side of romance, featuring explicit language, scenes, and a fast pace romance intertwined with a stalker trope. Please be aware that the content is intense and may not be suitable for everyone. If you enjoy dark romance novels and want to stay updated, follow me to my F******k group, Tracy Readrats, for more insights and discussions. Happy reading! TracyRaisel - POVMy eyes fixate on the phone screen, my fingers trembling above the display, waiting—desperately hoping—for a message from Alaric. But the screen remains hauntingly silent, the absence of his name like a knife twisting deeper with every passing second. Maybe he’s just busy at work, I tell myself, my chest tightening as dread curls around my ribs like a vise. The lie barely holds together.Needing a distraction, I turn to the charity event I’m dressing for, pulling a white, sleeveless dress from the wardrobe. The cream hue feels like a bitter joke—pure, simple, l...
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