playing dumb

After recovering her eyesight, Sophia Laurent thought coming home to her fiancé, Ethan would be a fresh start. Instead, she walked in on him with another woman still convinced she was still blind. Keeping up the act became her only option but just when she thought she had lost everything, an unexpected ally appeared.Nikolai Volkov, a ruthless billionaire with an agenda of his own, made her a marriage offer. A deal that would grant her power, security, and the ultimate revenge. But there was one condition: she had to keep pretending to be blind.Thrown into a world of secrets and deception, Sophia must decide between playing the role of the helpless fiancée, or becoming something far more powerful.

Bound by debt and haunted by a past she can't speak of, Annamaria is offered as a bride to Ares de Luca Sinclair, the ruthless head of the Sicilian mafia. He needs her secret; she craves revenge. Ares believes Annamaria holds the key to stopping a Russian mob invasion, but he doesn't know she blames him for her family's massacre and has vowed to get her revenge on him. As their lives intertwine, the lines between enemy and lover blur. But their fragile bond is threatened by a vengeful half-brother hungry for Ares's power, a scorned woman determined to reclaim her place by his side, and a forbidden love that refuses to be denied. When the truth is finally revealed, Annamaria finds herself a pawn in a deadly game. Kidnapped and tortured, she's forced to confront the secrets she's desperately trying to protect. Ares, consumed by betrayal, unleashes his fury, unaware he's playing right into the hands of his enemies. Will their love survive the lies, the betrayals, and the ever-present threat of the mafia underworld? Or will their dangerous dance end in heartbreak and ruin?

When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne receives an anonymous invitation to Wintercroft Hall—a decaying mansion on a fog-shrouded island—he is promised the story of a lifetime. But upon his arrival, Elliot finds himself among six strangers, each with their own shadowy past. Their enigmatic host, the frail and reclusive Vivienne Ashworth, claims she has summoned them to reveal a deadly truth about the Ashworth family legacy. Before she can confess, Vivienne collapses, and chaos ensues. A violent storm traps the guests on the island, and the discovery of a gruesome murder sets paranoia ablaze. As Elliot uncovers cryptic messages, hidden rooms, and a chilling photograph that ties him to the Ashworth family, he realizes that nothing about this gathering is random. With the mansion’s dark history unraveling and secrets surfacing at every turn, Elliot must confront the ghosts of his own past to survive. But the deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes—someone inside Wintercroft Hall is playing a deadly game, and not everyone will make it out alive. When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne is invited to the remote and crumbling Wintercroft Hall, he’s promised the story that could save his career. But the mansion’s sinister halls conceal more than just secrets—they harbor a legacy of betrayal, murder, and lies. Elliot is joined by six strangers, all summoned by the enigmatic Vivienne Ashworth. Frail and reclusive, she claims to know the truth about their darkest sins. Before she can reveal anything, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world—and the first body is discovered. As cryptic messages and chilling clues emerge, Elliot realizes that his connection to the Ashworth family runs deeper than he could have imagined. Someone in Wintercroft Hall knows the truth about his past, and they’ll stop at nothing .

I poured out my heart to him, telling him everything and not leaving a single part out of it. "Please, Don Xander, I will be grateful if you could grant me just this one wish" I begged desperately, my voice cracking at the end, even though I tried so hard to stay strong. He tilted his head to one side and smirked. "I can do that for you" he said, and my eyes beam with happiness immediately. "But..." He trailed off, swirling his drink in his hand. "What do I get in return for helping you? After all, it's all about give and take" My jaw dropped instantly. His playboy attitude playing in my head. "I... I can't... I mean, I'm sorry Don Xander but I'm not the type of girl who sleeps around with men. If it's okay with you, I can work for you instead" I suggested. He wave his index finger, shaking his head. "No, Bella" he said in a low, husky voice. Then, he rose from his seat and walked towards to me, his movement graceful and deliberate. I shivered, still seated as he crouched beside me. He leaned closer to my face and I tilted my head to look at him in the eyes. "If I will help you..." he whispered, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. "You must give me something in return" "What do you want?" I asked in a low voice. His eyes gleamed with intensity. "I want you, Isabella" he whispered, his lips grazing my ear. I jerked back, shocked by his request. "Don Xander!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling.

Sienna Calder swore she’d never touch her father’s world—Dorian Ashford, shipping mogul and billionaire king, left her mom to rot while he built his empire. She’s there to curse his grave when he dies, not to claim a dime. But his will traps her, naming her co-heir to his $50 billion legacy alongside Roman Valtieri, the brooding, hard-edged protégé who’s clawed his way into Dorian’s shadow—and now into hers. They’re to run the empire together or lose it all, and Sienna hates him for it: too slick, too close, every look a spark she doesn’t want. Then a letter from Dorian’s cold hand ignites the fire—he was murdered, and Roman’s name’s scratched beside the truth. A silver key and a vial of blood—hers, his—drag her deeper, promising answers locked in Ashford estate.But the walls crash in fast: Ezra Locke, a scarred snake with a grin like a blade, wants that key, and he’ll drown the place to get it. Roman’s her lifeline—gun drawn, hands steady, pulling her from the flood—and she loathes how his touch burns, how his voice steadies her when the water’s at her throat. Caught between rage and a pull she can’t name, Sienna fights the heat growing with every near miss—Roman’s too damn solid, too damn close, and she’s torn between shoving him away and pulling him in. The empire’s crumbling, the cliff’s falling, and Ezra’s not the only shadow circling—something darker watches, waiting. Love’s a gamble when blood’s the stake, and Sienna’s playing with a deck her father rigged. Can she trust Roman’s hands to hold her up, or will the crown they’re fighting for crush them both in its ashes?

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

That’s Mr. Alexander, the popular multi billionaire and also felix’s uncle” a woman said to the crowd in growing excitement. Olivia froze as she glanced at the ceo who took his seat at a corner. Wasn’t that the man she had accidentally slept with a couple days ago. To think she threw dollar bills at him when he was in fact her ex’s uncle. How could he look so young? Alex stared at her then he winked. Shivers went down Olivia spine. He recognized her. *** Olivia Hugo is a Rich heiress got engaged recently to Felix Zachery. She thought her life would go just fine until the day she finds out he’s cheating on her with her step sister Valentina Hugo. Her step sister is pregnant and her fiancée is the father of the child. Feeling betrayed she goes to a night club then comes across a very handsome man, Alex or as she liked to call him, her one night stand man.. Frustrated at the current situation of things she decides to continue to seek pleasure from Alex that is until she finds out who he is.. *** “Leave him Liv” Alex said as he hugged Olivia from behind “the only one who deserves you is me”. “I don’t know what you are talking about Mr. Alexander” Olivia replies anxiously. “Playing ignorant liv, that’s not nice” Alex whispers into her ears “just know you are mine”.

Danilo Ramos has always known how to survive—by staying invisible. At school, he’s the quiet, smart kid with just enough charm to ghost his way through hallways, avoid the spotlight, and bury every truth that might expose him. Carter Hayes, on the other hand, is all danger and detachment, a bad boy, and the last person Danilo should even be looking at. But Danilo couldn't stop himself. He craved him. Always has. And when Carter rescues Danilo one night in an alleyway, everything changes. Lines blur. Glances linger. "You keep looking at me like that, Ramos, and I might start thinking you want something." "And if I do?" "Then you better be ready for it." “I am ready.” But Danilo’s father—wealthy, cold, and homophobic—can never find out the truth about his son. In a world where one wrong move could mean losing everything, Danilo must choose: keep playing the part everyone expects… or step into the spotlight and finally live the truth he’s been hiding.

The Billionaire’s Atonement Synopsis: Justin Santiago has it all: Power, wealth and a reputation for his ruthlessness—but one thing he no longer possesses, is the love of his ex wife Gianna Santiago. Three years ago Justin’s arrogance led him to betraying his ex wife’s trust, thereby also leading her family into financial ruin and leaving her heartbroken. Gianna, the once ray of light and ambitious young woman suddenly disappears from the face of the earth, leaving Justin to believe she was gone forever. However fate has a way of playing beautiful games when Gianna suddenly reappears—no longer the vulnerable and virtuous woman he once knew. Stunning, confident and determined to bring her family back from ruin, whilst making Justin pay for his past crimes. Justin, determined to atone for his past sins, will stop at nothing to win his ex wife back and win back her love. But Gianna is not so easily swayed, leaving her ex husband’s work cut out for him. Will the Billionaire’s atonement be enough to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex wife, or will his past mistakes further drift them apart?

She was running from a man who owned her past. He was the man willing to fight for her future. Cassie Davidson doesn’t do love. At least not anymore. A talented cook with a locked heart, she lives by one rule: never get too close. But when George Sinclair, a soft-spoken billionaire with sharp eyes and a quiet fire, walks into her life, her rulebook starts to crack. George sees through her walls. He doesn’t ask questions but also never misses a detail. And when Cassie begins to let him in, she feels something she thought she lost forever... Safe. Just when she's beginning to breathe again, her nightmare returns. Xavier, the ex she barely escaped, is back. And this time, he's not playing fair. Caught between the ghosts of her past and a man willing to rewrite her future, Cassie must decide: will she keep surviving, or finally choose to live, fight? Hearts Unchained is a slow-burn billionaire romance pulsing with emotional tension, deep healing, and a love worth breaking chains for.