Beneath City Lights
- Reads 36
- Votes 8
- Parts 9
In the heart of New York City, where the glamour of high society collides with the gritty underbelly of ambition, Avenoir Castrillon is a rising star in the fashion world. At 25, her life appears picture-perfect, yet behind the scenes lies a tapestry of past relationships and unresolved emotions that haunt her every step. When she crosses paths with Valerian Sinclair, the enigmatic heir of a powerful family, sparks ignite amid their contrasting worlds.
Valerian, burdened by expectations and the shadow of his family's legacy, is drawn to Avenoir's fierce independence and undeniable charm. As their connection deepens, they navigate the illusions crafted by their pasts and the demands of a society that thrives on appearances.
Together, they must confront their fears, challenge their perceptions of love and success, and discover whether they can forge a future together-or if the ghosts of their pasts will tear them apart. In the City of Illusions is a captivating tale of love, ambition, and the search for authenticity in a world filled with façades.
All Rights Reserved
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
ᴄʀᴜᴇʟ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
"ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɴᴇᴀʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɪʟʟ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ᴍɪꜱᴇʀʏ." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lucian Black, a self-made billionaire, was cast out by his powerful family at sixteen. Cold, scarred, and ruthless, he built an empire from nothing-now owning half the city, including the company his family once controlled. To him, love is weakness... until her. Isadora Vale, polished and perfect on the outside, grew up in a world of wealth but never love. Behind her bright smile lies years of neglect and impossible expectations. Determined to prove herself, she built her own career, desperate to escape the hollow life her family designed. Two broken souls, raised in loveless homes, collide. He hides behind power. She hides behind light. But what happens when their walls start to crack?
A Sense of Propriety
"After all the trouble I caused. After what I did to you . . . Did you really expect me to be able to look you in the eye?" Cordelia Sutton, young and gentle, has seen her fair share of tribulations in life. From the untimely death of her parents to the forced removal of one of her closest friends, she desired nothing more than a quiet life in the country. But with the insistent urges from a family friend to return to London, the pressure placed upon young ladies by society is difficult enough, even more so for Cordelia who finds herself coming face-to-face with a man she thought she would never see again. Now not only must she find a way to navigate the complex world of the pure bloods but also battle her own emotions pertaining to a certain Marquis. It is a difficult task for one so ignorant of the world to undertake, and one where a sense of propriety could very well mean the difference between life and death for a love once lost. ***All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any character or event relating to persons living or dead, places or events is completely coincidental. Under no circumstances is this book or any of its characters allowed to be reproduced in any form or by any means without the expressed permission of the author.*** I do not own any pictures used. All credits are due to their owners.Complete
Bound by Vengeance
"I always have my eyes on my target, Ms. Burgess." He spoke as he leaned closer to me, resting both hands on the table trapping me in between. "Do you?" I questioned and intentionally bit my lips. He smirked and said "I understand what you are trying to do. Do not, I repeat do not do it again." "Why? Are you scared?" "Scared of?" It was my time to smirk "Of me being a distraction to your focused self." "I like your confidence but you can't be a distraction to me." Saying he moved away from me. I held his shirt, pulling him towards me. He rested his hand on the desk again to stay still "What are you-" "Shh." I placed my index finger on his lips, his eyes once travelled to my hand then back on me. I whispered "I think I am already being a distraction to you because you are more engaged with me than with RJ." ∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆°∆ Zayn Miller, the enigmatic male lead, is in love with his girlfriend- who is none other than the sister of Kiara Burgess, the fierce and independent female protagonist. But when a devastating lie turns their world upside down, Zayn is forced into an unexpected marriage with Kiara. Bound by a web of deceit, loyalty, and unspoken emotions, their lives collide in ways neither could have imagined. Will this forced union shatter their lives, or could the lie that brought them together reveal truths neither dared to face? Dive into a tale of love, betrayal, and the unexpected twists that destiny has in store.Complete
See you ✓
It's an excerpt from Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables". He says: "The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only." I slowly lifted my head towards Collin and I saw him locking his eyes on mine. It was that same glance I just read. It was so evident in him and I could feel it upon me. I became instantly vulnerable and when he pressed his lips to mine, time froze and an explosive ecstasy overwhelmed our whole beings. *** Jamie grew up in Green Hill, where she devoted herself entirely to painting, turning it into her career. Known for her creativity and the abstraction of her art, she gained a certain success that had made her traveling from city to city. At the peak of her career, temporarily staying in a place called Chaston for a few weeks, she met Collin - a charming young man whose appeal was difficult to overlook. Their first meeting felt like a spontaneous intense chemistry, none of them could fight back. Chaston was the beginning of a new adventure but will this shared and intimate energy last longer or forever, knowing she wouldn't stay there for long? "See you again" is a rich literary translated work filled with life turmoils and psychological transformations that will bring you shivers and emotions. Well, at least I hope so. • Original French title: Elle •Complete
The Revenge Wife
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.Complete
Back For You ✔︎
❝ Maybe I was meant to come back for you. ❞ We're all used to hearing the typical stories of two people falling in love - they get through life together and wind up with a happy ending. There are endless books, movies, and even real life stories about those love stories. But what about the ones that don't last? What about the stories about two people finding each other and falling head over heels, but they weren't meant to be? Because not everyone who falls in love end up together. Reality isn't always so good, and fair, to everyone. Not every ending is a clichè fairytale ending. Not everyone is that lucky. Ariel Winter and Aiden Maddon are one of the unlucky ones. • • • 「 A UNIVERSITY ROMANCE 」 「 COMPLETE 」 DISCLAIMER: This is the first book I wrote after five years of not writing, so it's not my best work. I've grown and learned since then so this story has lots of flaws. If you are looking for better writing, check out my newer books!Complete
Love Comes Unexpected ✔
I quickly turned away from him, to get the hell out of the room. But he caught my arm and pulled me back into his chest. Shit. Fuck. He buried his face in my hair, arms enclosing around me and whispered into my ear, ❝I thought things between us were getting better, is this how your gonna lie and ruin it?❞ I could feel him smiling against my ears, his fingers gently raking through my hair. I didn't reply. This is exactly the situation I didn't wanna get into, cause I know I melt when he says shit like that. ❝You gonna give up resisting me now?❞ His lips barely touching my ears. My heart skipped a beat as he tightened his hold on me. ♡♥♡♥♡♥♡ SAMANTHA ROSS Beautiful. Smart. Successful. Kind. Stubborn. That's who she was. But life challenges everyone at some point, right? When her parents decided to get her married to her childhood friend who she last met decades ago, she agrees. But things quickly goes down hill when she discovers that her new husband actually turned out to be his gorgeous and arrogant twin. What will she do when she has to stay married to the man she once crushed on as a kid but hated just as much? Will she accept the challenge? Fire and ice do not make a good combination, do they? NATHAN WALKER Hot. Arrogant. Successful. Intelligent. Stubborn. That's who he was. And challenges? Damn, if he didn't love them. But everyone breaks when the person they love decides to marry your brother, right? But that just doesn't happen exactly. Yes, he did it because deep down he was still that young boy who yearned for his mother's love, but he was also the man who couldn't let his love go because that's how selfish he was when it came to her. And this time, he'd do anything to keep her. Forever. ♡♥♡♥♡♥♡ #1 in Billionaire #1 in CEO #1 in Arranged Marriage #1 in Mature #1 in Pasts #1 in Childhood love #1 in Hurt #1 in Introvert #1 in Drama #8 in Fate #9 in Lovehate #13 in PossessiveComplete
Chapters of Us
Antonia "Toni" Simmons, an ambitious 18-year-old fresh out of high school, has her sights set on a bright future at college in Atlanta, Georgia. As she navigates the whirlwind of new beginnings, Toni unexpectedly crosses paths with Jamal Jones, a familiar face from her junior high days. For Jamal, seeing Toni again is a spark of love at first sight. In a city brimming with opportunity, Toni and Jamal's reunion sets the stage for a complex journey of rediscovery, emotions, and unanticipated twists. But as their connection deepens, buried secrets and unresolved tensions threaten to unravel the fragile thread of their bond. Will their love survive the trials ahead, or will their past and present collide in ways they never imagined? Discover the tangled web of passion, fate, and self-discovery in CHAPTERS OF US.Complete
"ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɴᴇᴀʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɪʟʟ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ᴍɪꜱᴇʀʏ." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lucian Black, a self-made billionaire, was cast out by his powerful family at sixteen. Cold, scarred, and ruthless, he built an empire from nothing-now owning half the city, including the company his family once controlled. To him, love is weakness... until her. Isadora Vale, polished and perfect on the outside, grew up in a world of wealth but never love. Behind her bright smile lies years of neglect and impossible expectations. Determined to prove herself, she built her own career, desperate to escape the hollow life her family designed. Two broken souls, raised in loveless homes, collide. He hides behind power. She hides behind light. But what happens when their walls start to crack?
More detailsContent Guidelines