Two hearts. One kiss. A thousand lies waiting to unravel. Aarya Whitmore has perfected the art of appearing harmless. With her sunshine smile, flawless grades, and unshakable composure, she's the girl everyone trusts-but no one really knows. Beneath the calm exterior lies a legacy soaked in secrets and a mission she's carried in silence. She didn't come to Oxford just for a degree. She came looking for the truth. Riaan Blake is everything she should stay away from-cocky, captivating, and careless with hearts. The university's notorious heartbreaker, he's the kind of boy who doesn't believe in consequences... or love. But when Aarya challenges him, dares him, and unexpectedly kisses him in front of the entire campus, something shifts. Their rivalry burns hot, and their chemistry burns hotter. But what begins as a flirtation quickly spirals into a twisted game of obsession, betrayal, and unraveling truths neither of them are ready to face. Because behind his charm lies grief. And behind her mask lies the reason for it. In a world built on polished lies and hidden agendas, love isn't just complicated-it's deadly. || A short story || Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forbidden Love Romance Thriller Mystery Hidden Identity

Alex Blanchet never planned to be the groom. But when the church doors opened and Scarlet Ashburn walked toward him in white, the fairytale cracked. Best friends since childhood. Now married under a veil of scandal, silence, and something neither of them dares to name. He blackmailed her. She didn't run. And no one can explain why. Scarlet is grace wrapped in danger-beautiful, composed, and impossible to read. The perfect bride... for someone else. But her gaze never trembles. Her voice never falters. And her secrets? Untouched. Unspoken. Unshakable. Alex knows what he did to get her. What he doesn't know is why she let him. Is it love? Revenge? Or something far more twisted? Now they share vows, a bed, and a past layered in half-truths. Every step forward pulls them deeper into a game with no rules and no exits. He's trying to make peace. She's watching, waiting-calculating. And the only thing more dangerous than her silence... is the moment she finally speaks. A marriage built on lies. A bond neither can break. And a bride who may not want love at all-only victory.