Sophia has sacrificed everything for her younger sister, Lucy. She has removed them from the only home they ever knew, taken on the care of Lucy's illegitimate son, George, and even assumed the role of a widow and mother in order to erase all hint of scandal from the boy's birth. But rumor continues to follow them like the darkest of clouds, and Sophia must adapt to her new existence as a false widow with no prospects beyond the doors of her small cottage. Lord Haughton - "Finn" to those close to him - will stop at nothing to prevent the slightest whiff of disgrace from tainting his family's name. When he learns of his younger brother's latest indiscretion-one that leaves a bastard child in his wake-Haughton rushes across the country to offer the boy's mother a comfortable living in exchange for her silence about the child's true parentage. But he arrives only to have his generous offer thrown back in his face by Sophia Brixton, a sharp-tongued and sharper-witted woman who proceeds to toss him out of her house. But just because he is banished from her home does not mean he is so easily banished from her life.

COMPLETE Let me make this crystal clear, because you don't seem to understand," he said, his voice deceptively calm, but laced with venom. "I paid for you to be my wife. That means you do what I say. You're mine now." He flicked a check toward me, and it fluttered to the ground between us. I couldn't look away from him, though my chest tightened in panic. My hands shook as I fought back tears, refusing to let him see me break. But he wasn't finished. "What did you expect?" he scoffed, eyes narrowing. "This is what gold diggers like you get. Money has a price, and now you're paying yours. Enjoy it, wife." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the massive, empty living room-speechless, breathless, and drowning in disbelief. I never expected this. © MaryRose 2018. All rights reserved. Content Disclaimer: This story contains scenes of physical and verbal abuse. Reader discretion is advised. My intention is not to romanticize or condone abusive behavior but to present a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. If themes of violence, toxic relationships, or power imbalances are triggering, please proceed with caution or choose a different story. This is a work of fiction and should not be taken as a guide to real-life relationships. Offensive or disruptive comments will be removed to maintain a positive reading experience for all.

Just as Hadley Rene didn't think her life could get any worse as a real estate agent, her life takes a turn as she comes face to face with New York City's most renowned CEO and businessman, Vance Pierce. While he demanded a method of payment, she knew love was not the answer. *************************************** "How was the coffee today, Sir?" Rich asked as he glanced from his rear-view mirror. "Fine," I replied. "the company will be seeing a new face in a few days. I need you to call my assistant and have her call Billings Real Estate to let them know a girl of the name Hadley Rene is quitting." "Of course, Sir. And how lovely! How did she received the job, may I ask?' Smirking, I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. "She fucked up my suit, Rich." *************************************** Thank you @Luna_Flamer for this beautiful cover!