Shadow's Decree

The pain in her head was miserable. Safia had difficulty even in opening her eyes. But when finally she did, a chord struck in her throat. A very handsome man was sleeping beside her in his half naked glory with his head ducked to the pillow. Alarm leaped like a hurricane in her head. How did she end up with an unknown man in her bed? Oh wait! This was not her home. The place looked eerily quiet and was way too costly than hers. It screamed power and money. Safia panicked. She was not drunk nor on drugs. How come she has no memory of her past? She carefully slipped away from under the covers. But it was too late. The man beside her had already woken up. "Who are you? Why are you in my bed?" Safia squealed in worry. Much against her expectation the guy was very much composed. He signaled to the ring on her finger and opened the drawer beside him before throwing the marriage testament on her face. "We are married. You are my wife now. Be ready to welcome the life of thorns." "What?"

Chapters

Chapter 1

He slipped away the covers covering his muscled body with a simple flex and walked to the washroom attached to the room, completely nude with not even a trace of reticence.

Safia did not know till then she was holding her breath. Her shivering hands reached the mobile beside the bed on the side table before she dialed her father.

Soren Jose Blacksmith was spontaneous attending to his daughter on the second ring. Before she could speak he started, “I'm sorry princess. Whatever happened, please consider it as a part of destiny. It was unavoidable. We needed to save our company. Sion Canes was the most prosperous investor who had applied for our company shares. And I had to accept his offer to save our business.”

Safia was shocked by the act of her father. “What do you mean? Dad! Did you just sell me to an alien without my knowledge by drugging me to save our company?”

Soren was about to speak but before he could do so, Safia cut the call. Sion walked out of the washroom with his towel hanging low and water droplets passing through his sturdy sternum. He was surely a man to impress. “Get ready within half an hour. You don't have the time to gawk at me like a bloody hawk. We need to sign the contract. The lawyer is waiting downstairs.”

“What contract?” Safia was perturbed, which was an understatement. But before she could finish her sentence the door closed with a bang.

The bath took more than the time planned for it because the tears in the eyes of Safia wouldn't dry up! She felt her entire life shattered just within a fortnight. Who is this man?

Ten minutes later Safia walked down the stairs in a sky blue floral gown which was placed on the bed after she came out of the shower. Her eyes were red but she did little to cover the sorrow leaping out of them.

“Good Morning ma'am, I'm Brad Pearson, the lawyer of Wellcrow Vineyards. Here is your marriage contract with Sion Canes. Please read it and sign the contract.” He shook hands with Safia and handed the document to her.

Sion was comfortably seated in the executive couch before her. He was sipping his morning coffee, guarding her emotions carefully. “You have no excuse but to sign it. Otherwise I withdraw my shares in your family company and your firm will be sealed. I think you are smart enough to save that humiliation. Your creditors are already waiting on when that happens so that they could get their share from the bank for the firm’s insolvency.”

Thankfully her brain was still functioning. “Why would you want to buy a company which is on the verge of insolvency? Wellcrow Vineyards is a big name.”

Sion extended his hands on the couch’s backrest and with one leg above the other in all his ascendency like a king. He looked at Safia with contempt as if she was some old piece of rag. “Because taking over seemingly white elephants, studying the mysterious gains hidden in them from the world is my profession and is what is called smart business.”

“I will never allow you to take over my company.” Safia yelled angrily but Sion was not the person to get his hackles rise over petty issues.

He shrugged and pointed to the document in her hands. “Sign it. I don't have all day to argue with you.”

“The contract says that Safia Jose Blacksmith will be the lawfully wedded wife of Sion Canes for the next two years. After the expiry of the term both the individuals have the choice to continue on the marriage or opt out. But as long as the wedding is alive, Safia can't be in a relationship with anybody or have sex.” The lawyer stated the contents in the document to Safia.

“Why is the condition only for me and not him?” She asked the lawyer?

“Why do you want to marry me? You could have simply bought the shares of my company.” Safia wanted clarity about her wedding.

Sion allowed his head back and left a loud conceited laugh. “Because killing is single time suffering for the person you hate. But if you marry, every day is a living hell!”

“What?” Safia's face turned pale with uncensored fright in her eyes. “Why do you hate me so much? We did not even meet each other before.”

Before she could realize she felt a sharp sting on her cheek and the composed man before her till moments ago was like a ferocious monster with vile in his cool blue eyes.

No words were found in her brain and neither were they required. She was clueless about his unlimited hatred for her and the man before her wouldn’t give away any reason. Safia’s hands shook with shiver while she signed the contract and ran back through the stairs to her room crying.

He just married her out of vengeance. But why?

Continue to next part

The elevator's golden numbers climbed steadily—thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine—each floor bringing me closer to what I thought would be the perfect surprise. Chase's penthouse key felt warm in my palm, a symbol of the trust we'd built over two years together. Today marked our anniversary, and I'd planned everything down to the last detail: his favorite wine chilling in my bag, reservations at the restaurant where we'd shared our first kiss, and a small velvet box containing cufflinks engraved with our initials. The hallway stretched before me, silent except for the soft hum of expensive air conditioning. Chase's door stood at the end, mahogany gleaming under crystal chandeliers. I'd surprised him like this before—showing up unannounced with takeout or just because I missed him. He always said it was one of the things he loved about me, how spontaneous I could be. I slipped the key into the lock, turning it slowly to avoid the metallic click that might spoil the surprise. The door swung open on well-oiled hinges, revealing the familiar luxury of Chase's living space. Afternoon sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting everything in golden hues.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.7

Her Body, His Signature ( A CEO's X DEAL )

8.7

My back hits the cold glass of the penthouse window, the city glittering a thousand feet below us. Sebastian’s hand is at my throat—not tight enough to hurt, but enough to remind me who I belong to. “You were talking to him,” he says, voice low, dangerous. His other hand is braced beside my head, caging me in. “You smiled.” “It was just—” “Don’t lie to me, Ocean.” His thumb brushes the hollow of my throat, and my pulse jumps so hard he feels it. “You’re mine. Every glance. Every breath. Every inch of you.” I should be furious. I should tell him I’m not his property. But then his mouth is on mine—rough, consuming, tasting like the whiskey he hasn’t let go of since the gala. I moan before I can stop myself. That’s all the permission he needs. His hand slides to my waist, fingers digging in as if he’s afraid I’ll vanish. The heat between us ignites like dry kindling. It’s dangerous. It’s too much. It’s everything. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark enough to drown in. “One year,” he murmurs. “That was the deal. But you… you’re making me want forever.” And in that moment, I know the worst truth of all— If Sebastian Velez decides to keep me, I won’t even try to run.

Billionaire Modern Romance

7.6

His Assistant, His Secret

7.6

His Assistant, His Secret Mira Hale is a disciplined, quiet executive assistant who believes professionalism is the only way to stay safe in a demanding workplace. For two years, she has kept her head down, managing the life and schedule of her boss, Julian Cross, a powerful businessman admired for his control, confidence, and success. Julian is married. He has a family, a reputation to protect, and a life that looks perfect from the outside. But behind closed doors, his marriage is strained, and the weight of unspoken dissatisfaction follows him everywhere. Mira notices the change in him long before she understands it. What begins as a strictly professional relationship slowly shifts into something more fragile and dangerous. Late nights, shared vulnerability, and emotional dependence blur the lines they both promised not to cross. As Mira struggles with guilt and restraint, Julian finds himself leaning on her in ways he never intended. When boundaries are finally crossed, consequences follow quickly. An unexpected pregnancy forces hidden truths into the open, shattering the careful balance Mira tried to maintain. Faced with judgment, heartbreak, and uncertainty, she must decide whether love is worth sacrificing her dignity, independence, and future. With the unwavering support of her best friend, Lena Brooks, Mira chooses a harder path one that demands strength, self-respect, and growth. His Assistant, His Secret is a story about forbidden love, power, consequence, and the quiet courage it takes to choose yourself when love is no longer enough.

Modern Mystery Romance

8.7

I Designed His Dream House, He Built a Secret Family

8.7

I was in a high-end mall, browsing a toy store for my friend's daughter's birthday, when my world tilted on its axis. Through the polished glass storefront, I saw him. My husband, Julian. He was in the café opposite, seated beside the sprawling indoor children's play area. He wasn't alone. A woman, Seraphina Vance—a social media influencer whose perfectly curated life I’d occasionally scrolled past—was laughing, her head tilted just so. And between them, a little boy of about four, gleefully mashing a piece of cake into his own dark hair. Julian’s hair. They looked like a family. A perfect, happy family. An icy dread washed over me. I remembered Julian refusing to have a baby with me, citing the immense pressure of his work. All his business trips, the late nights… were they spent with them? I recalled a night six months ago when Noah had supposedly been sick. Julian had stayed out all night, his voice strained over the phone, telling me a "critical client had a medical emergency." The lie was so easy for him. I must have stared too long. The little boy, Noah, noticed me. He picked up a toy water pistol from their table, aimed it directly at me through the café’s open front, and squeezed the trigger. A jet of cold water hit my silk skirt, leaving a dark, spreading stain. Seraphina Vance turned, her eyes meeting mine. There was no surprise, only a flicker of amusement. She offered a saccharine smile. "Oh, dear. He's just playing with you," she cooed, her voice dripping with condescension. My heart hammered against my ribs. I turned and walked away, my legs unsteady. I needed to leave, to breathe, to think. In the underground parking garage, I fumbled for my keys, my hands shaking. As I passed Julian’s sleek sedan, something on the passenger seat caught my eye. A heavy, cream-colored card with embossed lettering. "You are joyfully invited to the Christening of Noah Thorne." It was real. More real than a fleeting email. A physical invitation to a life I never knew existed. How could I have been so blind? My phone felt heavy in my hand. I didn’t call my best friend. I didn’t call a lawyer. I called the director of the Zurich Architectural Fellowship, a prestigious program I had deferred for him, for us. "I'd like to accept the fellowship," I said, my voice eerily calm. "I can leave immediately."

Modern Mystery Romance

9.6

My Fiancé Chose His Dead Brother’s Wife

9.6

My former fiancé's sister-in-law fell ill, and he insisted on ending our engagement. "Blair Meyer and her daughter Thalia have no one else now that she's ill. I can't just ignore them." I didn't stop him; I agreed right away. In a previous lifetime, I had coerced him into marrying me by threatening his family's business and leveraging my pregnancy. It ended in tragedy—Blair couldn't bear the pain and abandonment and chose to end her life on our wedding day. From then on, Skyler Castillo hated me with all his might. He conspired with my enemies and, within six months, destroyed my parents' company, driving them to desperation where they took their own lives. He locked me away in a cellar, tormenting me daily until he eventually caused my death, costing two lives. This time, I chose to let go. The day he announced our breakup, I went to the clinic, terminated the pregnancy, and applied for a study opportunity in the United States.

Modern Mystery Romance

8.7

My Husband Used My Money to Keep His Mistress

8.7

The apartment felt too quiet on New Year's Eve. The clock on the mantle read 11:47 PM as I sat curled on our cream leather sofa, phone pressed to my ear, listening to Eleanor's voice drift through the speaker. My mother-in-law's tone was as crisp as ever, each word precisely measured like she was dictating a medical diagnosis. 'We're just finalizing some details for Kade's promotion celebration,' she was saying. 'Of course, Kate, you'll want to be involved in the planning. After all, it's not every day a Robertson receives such recognition. The hospital board expects—' The line went dead. I stared at my phone, the sudden silence jarring. Eleanor never ended calls abruptly. Never.

Modern Mystery Romance

Shadow's Decree

Chapter 1

You may also like