Sofia Everhart was barely holding her life together.

Crushed beneath a mountain of unpaid bills and the suffocating debt left behind by her late parents. 

She clung to the only thing she still had control over, and it was her vow to save herself for the man she would one day marry. But that fragile hope shattered the night she showed up at her boyfriend's house—only to find him in bed with her officemate, both naked, both shamelessly entangled in betrayal.

In a single moment, Sofia's heart was broken and with it, the last of her faith in love slipped away.

Humiliated, heartbroken, and utterly broke, she needed an escape. That escape came in the form of LUXE CLUB, the city's most exclusive club, an upscale haven for the wealthy and powerful. 

One dare became a bet. Sofia gave herself to a devastatingly handsome man. For one night, she let go of the pain, the pressure, the fear and surrendered her virginity to a stranger.

Adam Ravenstrong, the billionaire CEO of Ravenstrong Holdings, was not the kind of man who made mistakes. He was calculated,, cold, and completely unattached, he kept women at a comfortable, manageable distance.

To finalize the multi-billion-dollar merger, his future business partner imposed one absurd condition: Adam had to be married. He didn't want a wife. But he wanted to close the deal.

As if the pressure weren’t enough, his business partner had taken it upon himself to not only arrange but choose the woman Adam was expected to marry—stripping away even the illusion of choice.

He never expected Sofia Everhart, his soon-to-be wife, to be the same woman he had a one-night stand with. The one who vanished without a trace. The same woman he hadn't been able to forget. And suddenly, his face darkened, his eyes turning cold.

Excerpt:

"You can't be my wife," Adam said sharply, his voice like ice.

Sofia lifted her chin, meeting his gaze even as her knees threatened to give out.

"You just need an accessory wife, right? So what's the problem?"

His expression hardened. "Because you're not a virgin. That was one of the conditions." The words cut like glass.

The courtroom fell into stunned silence. The judge, his business partner, and her best friends frozen in disbelief, while Adam’s best friend shifted uneasily in the corner, unsure where to look.

Sofia slapped him hard, furious at the fact that Adam knew he had been her first. And now, he looked at her with smug disdain, as if she were someone unworthy to become his bride. Then she turned around and walked out, refusing to let him see the tears stinging her eyes.

She needed the money to save her parents' house. In three days, the bank would take it, and with it, the last memory of the family she had lost. She might have lost everything, but she would never beg. Not from the billionaire who took her virginity and looked at her like she was nothing.

Adam stood frozen, yet an amused smile crept across his lips as he realized Sofia wasn't like the women who chased his name, his money, or his empire. She didn't cling. She didn't flatter. She walked away, and now, even though she needed him, she wasn't pretending to want him.

Sofia needed his money. He needed a wife. And if she was bold enough to slap him and walk away, then she was bold enough to stand beside him in a world built on power, image, and illusion. Whether it broke her or not, Adam would make sure she played the role of his perfect wife.

He vowed never to love, hiding his heart beneath the ice. She promised never to surrender, guarding her pride like armor. But when their hearts collided, neither shield could withstand the force of love.
—————————————————
Disclaimer: This novel contains mature themes in later chapters. Reader discretion is advised. All names, places, and settings are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people, locations, or events is purely coincidental.

"Are you sure you can do that, Sof?" Anne asked, swaying a little as she leaned against the counter, her cheeks still flushed from all the wine.


Sofia chuckled softly, rinsing another glass and shaking her head in amusement. "Come on, this is my kitchen. If I wanted to, I could summon one of the maids to finish this in five minutes." She shot Anne a look that was half stern, half fond. "But you and Elise have had more than enough for the night. Go upstairs, please. You both need sleep. Honestly, I can't believe you still treat red wine like water."


Anne groaned dramatically, pressing a hand to her forehead as though she might faint. "Ugh, guilty as charged." Then, with a sly grin tugging at her lips, she added, "But, you know, maybe I'm not the one who needs to rest."


Anne leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "Your hot husband has been staring at you the entire dinner like—like he wanted to devour you right there at the table."


Chapter 166 - Don’t Give Up On Me