After We Collided: Bound by a deal
Bella arrived New York City with ambitions, goals and desperate hunger to escape poverty. Raised by her single poor mother along side beloved sister Emily, Bella believed the only way to succeed and save her family from the ruthless hands of poverty was education.
After countless denial and rejection letters, she finally gained admission into one of the most prestigious universities in the country. What she doesn't realize is that stepping foot into that campus would pull her into a dangerous world of obsession, wealth, and power She never knew existed.
Benson Vale is everything Bella despised, Arrogant, untouchable and born into privilege.
As the heir to a billionaire empire, Benson is being forced to get married in order to acquire his inheritance something he dreaded with passion, but Bella crashed into his life and his tightly controlled world starts to unravel.
Lurking in the background is Angella Browns, Benson's childhood friend and the campus self proclaimed queen bee. Obsessed and possessive Angella would do whatever it takes to keep Benson all to herself even if it meant destroying Bella's life to pieces.
When tragedy strikes and secrets begins to unfold, Bella and Bensons relationship are bounded together by a dangerous DEAL - one that could either save or destroy them both.
As danger draws closer Bella must not only fight for justice but also uncover the truth behind her sisters death and choose Whether love was meant to survive in a world filled with Wealth, Power, and betrayal.
It was never meant to be love until fate made them collide.
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Chapter 8
Benson walked into the bar. He needed to strategize how he was going to bring the topic up to Bella, and doing that over a drink was the perfect idea.
"Just say you want to get closer to her and you're using this as an excuse;" his inner voice pricked him.
"Shut the fuck up!" He silenced it.
He looked around the calm bar. It was getting quite late, and couples were already filling up the place.The background music played softly and filled the entire room.
He sat down and signaled the waitress to come. He was about bringing out his phone when he caught sight of Bella.
"Bella? What's she doing here?" He looked really surprised.
For starters, judging from where she was coming from, she couldn't afford one single bottle in this bar.
He looked around to see if she was with anyone, but non-she sat there drinking herself into a stupor.
Benson had to take this opportunity, so he gradually stood up and walked over to Bella.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked, disgusted at seeing him.
She was already drunk and talking off point.
"Let me make you a deal" All seriousness was written on Benson's face.
He looked Bella straight in the eyes. He wasn't here to joke; he was running out of time.
"A deal? To bring my sister back to life" Bella scoffed mockingly.
"I can help you catch your sister's killer on one condition."
"Bella turned and looked at Benson with seriousness written in her eyes, if there was anything she wanted it was justice for Emily she would never be able to sleep knowing fully well that her sister's killers are alive and walking freely.
"How?" Her voice strong and deep.
"You get married to me!" Benson was blunt-no emotions, nothing. He was dead serious.
"What? Excuse you?" Bella laughed. Was he trying to pull her leg or something.
"I am not joking Bella, get into a contract marriage with me so my dad can let go of my neck of getting married and also the company can be transferred to me and not my younger brother, if my dad tries to give even one percent of his company to my younger brother he'd destroy everything my father has built and my dad wants me to get married before the company can be transferred to my name"
Benson was much more serious
"Wait! You're not joking? You're serious" Bella laughed she has never seen the height of Arrogance before
Who was this man who thinks he can take an advantage of her because she was at her down moments was he serious or all these was a joke
"Yes, I am not jok-" Benson was cut off by a hot slap that landed on his cheek.
"What makes you think you can come in here and make stupid demands and I am just going to follow you because you think I am desperate, you rich people have no heart, no empathy you think you can get everything you want well guess what I am not that girl go find someone else"
Bella stood up, picked her jacket, and made an attempt to leave the bar. when she turned back to the waitress.
"He's paying," and just like that she walks out with her head high.
Benson didn't want to give up. He brought out his card, made the transfer and went after Bella in his car. He saw her running towards the road and chased her with his car. On getting there he stopped and walked out.
"See this as a business transaction and nothing more"
He sounded like someone who has been running. Bella didn't say a word and she just kept walking.
"This is your only way of getting justice and if not for anything you owe Emily that. Whoever killed her you'd never find them. If you don't have money to put into this case" he was telling the truth Bella stopped not turning back just tears rolling down he continued
"Listen to me, I don't know you from anywhere and if I have to help you get justice then you have to get married to me"
"Why are you helping me?" Her voice was broken
"Because I also need help in return"
"Fine, for the sake of Emily, I will do it" Bella broke down. She had never gone back on her words ever but this time around she was ready to do anything just to make sure her sister gets justice.
Benson smiled; he knew his plan would work.
"Have you had anything to eat?" Benson asked as he walked close to Bella
"No," she shook her head, as her stomach growled, reminding her that she had nothing but water for the last two days.
"Fine come with me" Benson turned pulled the door open and waited for her to come in Bella obeyed as if she was controlled by some remote
"You buying me dinner still doesn't remove you from my black list, you're still an ass to me" Bella said trying to be serious but the reaction Benson gave broke her and she started laughing.
They arrived at one of the most amazing 5 star restaurants in the city Bella has never been in one of these, but she had to compose herself as she walked hand in hand with Benson.
She looked pale and yet extremely pretty, Benson taught.
"Waiter" Benson called as they sat down
The young man walked up to their table and handed the menu to Bella, Bella smiled at him and he winked back
"I would like ribeye steak, filet mignon, lobster Mack and cheese, creamed spinach, and chocolate lava cake for dessert." She giggled
"What? You're going to have all that, you'd explode"
"I guess my husband doesn't have a problem does he?" Bella smirked as she turned around and gently smiled at the waiter who blushed and walked away to prepare the Order.
"Don't tell me you're flirting with the waiter you crazy bad girl" Benson was amazed he had never seen a woman be so real and herself. All the women he brought to have lunch or breakfast they were no fun and always coded and this is him sitting directly opposite this crazy din lady
"Well if you want him to put enough beef you have to flirt a little" Bella laughed for some reasons she was genuinely happy. The meal landed and she dug in.
Half way through the meal she broke the silence Benson had been watching her eat all along and he was nothing but surprised and amazed
"Why aren't you ordering anything?" She asked as she dragged the lobster
"Well am not hungry" Benson was fast he wanted her to continue eating while he watched.
Benson brought out a plain white document from inside the bag he has been walking around with
Written on it was "DEAL," and underneath it was the "ONE YEAR CONTRACT MARRIAGE".
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7.1
His grin spread and he leaned closer to me, his scent overshadowing my senses. "I own you and this entire place, Scarlett. Whatever I decide to do to them is none of your business, is that clear?"
"I hate you, Asher. I hate you with every cell in my body!" I seethed through my teeth, but his grin only grew wider.
"We both know that you are lying..." His fingers moved to my chest, slowly making their way over my breasts, searching for my nipple. "Your whole body can't survive without me."
***
Scarlett's holy union to Asher, the feared king of the Forgotten Lands, was meant to unite kingdoms but behind closed doors, her marriage becomes a prison. Asher wants an heir, a throne, and revenge against the family that once ruled over him. Scarlett is only the means to an end.
Caught between a husband who breaks her body yet craves her soul, and a trusted friend whose loyalty hides a thirst for power, Scarlett learns that love in the Crystal Peaks is never gentle. It is claimed, twisted, and betrayed.
As war brews, dark magic awakens, and an enemy long thought dead returns, Scarlett must decide who she truly belongs to... and how much of herself she's willing to lose to survive.
Because in a world ruled by monsters, the most dangerous thing a woman can be is loved.
Book 3 of The Lycan King Series.
9.2
Druscilla Hayes thought heartbreak had a limit.
She was wrong.
On the night of her bachelorette party, she survives a shootout - and is rescued by a dangerously irresistible stranger with mismatched eyes and a criminal smile.
Ivanov Rodriguez is everything she shouldn't want.
Everything her perfect fiance is not.
But when Druscilla discovers her fiancé's betrayal, she runs straight into Ivanov's arms - only to learn too late that she was never more than a pawn in his revenge.
Years later, she's rebuilt her life, her heart, and her future.
Until fate drags her back into the orbit of the man who once ruined her.
This time, she has nothing left to lose.
Except the truth that could destroy them both
⚠️ WARNING:
This book contains immorality, forbidden desire, dangerous attraction, and morally questionable characters.
If you believe love should always be pure and choices should always be right...
This story is not for you.
Proceed only if you enjoy chaos, passion, and bad decisions.
8.1
My fiancé, Freddie, signed the papers to have me committed to a mental asylum. He told everyone my "episodes" were becoming a liability to his family's pristine reputation.
The truth was, he and his mistress, Jessie, wanted me out of the way. They painted me as a hysterical, unstable psycho so their affair could continue without a single complication.
I spent my last days in a chemical haze, trapped and forgotten. My final memory wasn't of love or compassion, but of orderlies forcing my head under the stagnant, drugged water of an asylum bathtub. Freddie just watched, his face cold and indifferent as I drowned.
He stole my life, my sanity, and my future. He got away with murder while playing the part of the devoted, heartbroken fiancé to a world that believed his every lie.
Until I opened my eyes again.
The blinding Hampton sun stabbed my retinas, and the smell of chlorine filled my lungs. I wasn't in the asylum. I was back at the Madden family's annual summer party, three years before my death.
Across the pool, I saw Freddie laughing with Jessie. They thought they had won.
They had no idea I was back from the dead to burn their entire world to the ground.
8.4
I stood in front of New York City Hall in my vintage lace wedding dress, my heart pounding with a nervous joy. I was minutes away from marrying Bradford Sterling, a move I thought would finally help me reclaim my mother’s legacy from my family’s crumbling empire.
But as I reached for his arm, he flinched. A black Lincoln Navigator screeched to the curb, and his mother, Victoria, stepped out, slamming a restructuring document against his chest. She didn't even look at me as she delivered the killing blow: my sister, Eden, had just seized every cent of my voting rights and family trust.
"Marrying her is a net negative yield," Victoria said coldly. Bradford didn't fight for me; he didn't even blink. He simply pushed my hand away and adjusted his tie as if I were a junk bond he was ready to offload. Seconds later, my sister Eden arrived in a red Ferrari, wearing her own bridal gown, and stepped into my place by his side.
I was standing on the pavement, humiliated in front of a crowd, while the man I loved for three years treated me like a failed transaction. My sister laughed in my face, calling me a "liability" while she stole my wedding and my life. The grief was instant, but the rage that followed was a white-hot rupture in my chest.
I didn't just walk away; I slapped the life out of Bradford and dove into the first black SUV I saw, desperate to escape. I didn't check the plates, and I didn't see the man in the wheelchair sitting in the shadows of the backseat.
I had just "carjacked" Jefferson Montgomery, the most dangerous billionaire in the city. To save him from a parole violation during a sudden police raid, I agreed to a fake marriage that very night. They wanted to treat me like a negative asset? Fine. They have no idea that they just handed a world-class hacker the keys to the Montgomery fortune, and I’m going to liquidate them all.
8.4
To save her legacy, she'll marry her greatest enemy. To save her life, she'll have to trust his lies.
Aria Hale has only one objective: to destroy the Veridian family. Twenty years ago, they ruined her mother's career and her family's reputation. Now, as Hale Enterprises is about to go out of business, she is forced into a marriage of convenience with the man she dislikes most: Luca Veridian.
Luca is a ruthless, calculating, and cold-hearted man. He doesn't just want the Hale company; he wants proof of their wrongdoings. He makes the deal for the marriage contract for one year for his own purposes: to get close enough to Aria to put her in jail.
The rules are simple: Live together. Act as if you're in love. Don't show your true intentions.
As they play a deadly game of cat and mouse in their shared penthouse apartment, the lines between protection and sabotage get blurred. Luca, the ruthless man, is hiding his own demons, and Aria, the ruthless woman, has a secret that might destroy both their empires.
Yet, when a shadow from their past, the mysterious "Architect," comes back to finish what was started all those years ago, Aria and Luca learn that they are not the players in this game, but the pawns instead.
Betrayed by blood, bound by contract, Aria and Luca must now choose whether to keep their secrets and die, or fall in love and burn the world down together.
7.8
Rosalind Rivers has only ever wanted one thing - revenge.
The Lycan Prince, Aklan Draven, murdered her brother in cold blood. Or so she's believed her whole life. Now, forced to serve under him at the Lycan Academy, she has no choice but to obey the man she swore to hate. But hating him becomes harder with every clash, every stolen glance, every heartbeat that refuses to stay loyal to her rage.
Because fate has a cruel sense of humor.
He's her fated mate.
Aklan doesn't understand why this stubborn, sharp-tongued wolf gets under his skin or why her scent feels like home. He only knows she's trouble. The kind that tests his control, drags buried memories to the surface, and makes him question everything he thought he knew about loyalty and guilt.
But when a hidden truth comes to light - that Rosalind's brother didn't die by Aklan's hand but by choice, their world begins to unravel. Old wounds reopen. Ancient forces stir. And Rosalind learns she is no ordinary wolf, but something far rarer, something worth killing for.
Between vengeance and love, duty and destiny, one wrong move could ignite a war between realms.
And the cruelest part?
She might just lose her heart to the man she was born to destroy.