Married To The Thorn In My Flesh

Alexander Thorne is vice-danger wrapped in billions, immorality, and a smile that feels like sin. And unfortunately for Sophia Rose, he's the man she's been arranged to marry. Sophia may be young, spoiled, and rich, but she's done having her life dictated for her. With her father's crumbling empire and society waiting to feast on their downfall, she has only one escape left: RUN. But no one warned her that Alexander would become her weakness. She shouldn't want a man like him. She definitely shouldn't marry him. However, Alexander is so deliciously irresistible. He makes it his mission to claw his way into her heart, her thoughts, her fears. Every private moment with him leaves her breathless, wanting more, and tangled deeper in his hands. By the time Sophia realizes that he's the thorn that will ruin her life, she's far too trapped to run. ~ Content Warning: This book contains mature and sensitive themes, including sexual sins, exploitation, and manipulation, addiction, trauma, violence, and emotional struggles. These topics are portrayed with honesty and care. Characters wrestle with serious issues on their journey to healing and light. Intimate scenes are sensual but not explicit. Please, read with discernment.

Chapters

Chapter 1

Sophia Rose's POV

I only have two choices: kill myself or run away.

White pills litter the floor of my closet-a choice I couldn't make. So, I'm running. I step over the pills, suitcase in hand.

My parents have arranged for me to be married off to a rich man. This is the fifth arrangement. But this time, there's no longer a way out.

In an hour, I'll be officially introduced to him. And my fate will be sealed forever.

My hands tremble as I stuff my suitcase.

I blink back tears, rushing to leave this privileged yet caged life for good.

They won't see it coming; I've been the perfect daughter, always saying yes to all their demands. The exemplary scholar with fine grades, the daddy's girl who comes home from London whenever she's needed.

I finally returned home with a resolve to figure out what I want to do with myself. That hasn't happened at all. It's been: 'Sophia, do this, not that.'

Endless rules, constant scripts to follow.

The latest script is: "Sophia, you're getting married."

I was nineteen the first time I heard these words. Now twenty-three, and I'm still trapped.

My eyes flick to my jewelry box. Quickly, I grab it and empty it onto my clothes.

Next, I grab some purses, shove them into my suitcase, and force it shut.

I step into my shoes and pull up my suitcase. The weight halts me for a second, but I drag it out of my closet.

My chest thumps rapidly. I've only disobeyed my parents a few times, but nothing comes close to what I'm about to do.

I rush to my vanity, where my purse full of cash waits. With shaky hands, I scoop all I can from the table and dump them into the purse before wearing it across my shoulder.

My phone buzzes on the bedside desk.

I grab it fast.

It's my best friend, who lives in London.

Layla: {Sure about this, Soph?}

I type my response without hesitation: {My second option is death, Lay. DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND MY FUNERAL??}

Me: {Tell me he's almost here.}

I twist my mouth, tapping my shoe against the ground as I await her reply.

Most of my close friends are in London or far away from New York. Layla has a friend here who's supposed to pick me up and help with my escape.

Layla: {You're not dying. He'll be at your house in 10}

Me: {Thanks}

I throw my phone into my purse, grab the handle of my suitcase, and pull with purpose.

There's a sudden knock on my door.

My breath stops. I freeze, eyes locked on the door.

The knock comes again.

"My love?" My dad's voice echoes.

I swallow hard, chest tightening immediately.

My eyes fall to the doorknob, and I can only hope I locked my door after he and my mom left hours ago-when they broke the bad news of my sell-off to me.

He knocks again, softly. "Sophia? Are you there, my love?"

Tears sting my eyes. I bite my bottom lip when it starts to quiver, fist tightening around the suitcase handle.

"I'll come down in thirty minutes." I lie, putting my hand over my eyes.

"I know you're mad at me, but would you let your dad in for a minute? So, we can talk..."

I stare at my suitcase, knowing I'm trapped for life the minute he walks in.

"Dad?"

"My love?"

My breath trembles.

"I'll... I'll come to your study. I have to get dressed for my fiancé's arrival."

He's quiet.

I sniffle.

"I'll be waiting."

"Mm," I mumble loud enough, choking in pain.

Seconds pass as I remain in the same spot, eyes welling up, and waiting for him to leave.

I hear him leave finally, and my heart crumbles. The tears spill out now; I don't hold them back.

He said he was truly sorry. He said he was doing it for me. But he also promised the fourth was the last one, yet he betrayed me.

His company has gone bankrupt, and they're giving me away to a stranger to save it. I'm no savior; I'm just a girl who wants a life of her own.

Buzzing with determination, I flick my tears and resume my escape. I turn the doorknob, opening the door slightly to peek.

Noise from downstairs floats to my ears. I inhale the feast my mom and the cooks are preparing for the heartless fool coming to propose.

The coast is clear.

Quietly, I pull my suitcase with me and slip out of my room.

My dad's study is downstairs.

But I wheel my suitcase across the hallway to his bedroom. There's a secret exit out of this mansion. Or cage. It leads to our backyard.

I push the wall in my father's closet; it opens to a dark passage. I move in, and the wall closes in on me.

My phone vibrates. I reach for it, about to turn on the flashlight, but my dad has texted.

LOML: {Your mom and I love you so dearly.}

My heart drops.

I halt, hesitating for a moment.

Tears slip down my cheeks. My chest caves painfully. But I'm picking myself. I have to.

I may not know what I want yet, but I know it's not this.

Shunning every voice in my head, I descend the murky stairs. I push the door and step outside, feeling the cool night air caress my face.

I keep walking, dragging my suitcase swiftly. It trails a path. I'll be gone before anyone discovers it.

When I get to the large beech tree in our backyard, I pause and unlock my phone. The tree is tall enough to be seen from outside the walls.

There's already a text from Layla's friend: {I just have to wait where the beech tree is, right?}

Me: {Yes. I'm gonna climb over the wall now. Are you here already?}

Layla's friend: {Okay. I can see the tree}

I turn off my flashlight, return my phone to my purse, then zip it shut.

Quickly, I step out of my shoes and throw them over the wall.

I pick up my suitcase. It almost sends me crashing to the floor, yet I manage to drag it up two sturdy branches.

Now, it sits on my shoulder, unsteady. I gasp for air as I think of how to send it over without falling off the tree.

A whimper slips out of my trembling lips. I push the suitcase with all my might, plastering myself against branches while clinging on for dear life.

The suitcase slips suddenly.

My breath catches. I grip the tree.

And in a second, it hits the ground hard. The edges splinter. It bursts open, pouring out clothes and jewelry.

A rush of nausea hits me.

I'm going to be sick.

My pulse rings in my head. I tremble on the tree, losing my mind.

I have to leave my suitcase behind.

"I'm here," A deep voice reaches my ears.

I shut my eyes tight, fighting a retch. My legs shake. Sweat drips down my skin as if I've been in an oven.

"Are you there?" Layla's friend speaks again.

My phone starts vibrating nonstop. My heart skips, goosebumps forming all over me. It has to be my mom calling. I know it.

I decide immediately, pulling my weight up the tree and onto the wall, climbing with desperation.

Pain radiates from my core. Something sharp scrapes against my thighs and arms. I breathe shakily. But there's no going back.

"Y-you have to catch me," I voice my fear as a painful lump forms in my throat. I guess I don't want to die after all.

"Trust me."

Do I have a choice?

I throw my legs over first.

My breath stutters. My chest pounds. I shut my eyes.

And in a minute, I let go of the wall, releasing myself onto Layla's friend.

The wind engulfs me as I drop.

And thud!

He catches me. With effortless strength. Squashed against him. And still standing firm without moving a foot.

I'm panting, shaking uncontrollably in his grip. My hair is in my face. Yet my eyes flick open to see who's caught me.

"Were you trying to run away from me?" He utters in my face, lips shifting into a smirk-a charming yet terrifying one.

My pulse slams. Fear paralyzes me as I stare into dark, familiar eyes.

He's not Layla's friend. I can tell instantly because I know this person.

"A-Alexander?" I gasp.

"Hello, Sophia,"

My breath seizes.

"Escaping, I see..." he murmurs, brushing hair from my face, "And here I was, looking forward to dinner with my bride."

Continue to next part

Apex Bloom This is the definitive "Rags to Riches" journey of a woman who was treated as disposable, only to return and conquer the most dangerous man in the underworld. Apex Bloom isn't just a title; it is Franco's survival game-a lethal, high-stakes gauntlet designed to chew up the weak and spit out the broken. Lolita wasn't supposed to survive it; she was supposed to be another casualty. Instead, she broke the game and took the man who created it. The Disposal Lolita begins as a woman discarded. Betrayed by her husband, Lyle, she is stripped of everything and thrown into the gutters of London. She is left with nothing but her wits in a world designed to erase her. Lyle didn't just leave her; he disposed of her like a spent asset, assuming she would quietly disappear. He was wrong. Entering the Game: Franco Rossi In the wreckage of her life, Lolita is forced into the Apex Bloom-the brutal survival game orchestrated by Franco Rossi. Franco is the underworld's apex predator, a man who believes in a world of absolute Darwinian ruthlessness. His game is designed to test the limits of human endurance, and he expects Lolita to be a pawn, a victim, or a fleeting distraction. Breaking the Architect Lolita doesn't just play Franco's game; she dismantles it. Using her brilliant mind and a newfound, weaponised confidence, she turns the Bloom into her own instrument of ascent. But her most calculated victory is over Franco himself. Through an intoxicating display of dominant power and erotic prowess, Lolita targets the man behind the machine. She doesn't just win; she breaks Franco's stoic, masculine code, forcing a full surrender of his will. She seduces the power away from the enforcer, turning the architect of the game into her most devoted subject. She proves that her dominance isn't just about force-it's about a total, soul-deep conquest that leaves the city's most dangerous man kneeling at her feet. The Rags to Riches Ascent The journey from a discarded wife to the Queen of the Apex Bloom is paved with the ruin of those who underestimated her. Lolita uses her sexuality and her intellect as twin blades, seizing the wealth and the territories of the men who thought they were players. By the time the dust settles, she has achieved unimaginable riches and undisputed authority, standing at the head of an empire built on the shattered remains of Franco's former life. The Final Sovereignty The book concludes with Lolita standing at the absolute summit. Her marriage to Franco in the Cotswolds is the ultimate victory lap-a coronation where the man who once ran the game now serves its new Queen. They are bound by blood and law, but it is Lolita who holds the reins. The story ends with The Syndicate, the global masters of the underworld, watching in shock. They thought they were dealing with another street-level syndicate; instead, they have found a woman who took the most lethal survival game in existence and made it her own.

Adventure Mafia Romance

9.1

FRACTURED Goodness

9.1

Amélie Rousseau grows up believing that honesty, hard work, and faith will save her from poverty. Paris proves her wrong. Despite her brilliance, every door stays closed-until the day Clara Duval, the woman Amélie once helped, steals her future through lies, favors, and corruption. When Amélie dares to speak up, the system silences her and laughs. That is when Monsieur Lefèvre offers her a way out. Under his guidance, Amélie learns the true language of power-deception, loyalty, and sacrifice. One lie leads to another, and soon she rises in the same world that once rejected her. But Julien Moreau, the man who loves the girl she used to be, watches her change. At the height of her success, Amélie must choose: destroy Julien to protect her empire, or expose the corruption and lose everything. Because in Paris, goodness is not free- and survival always demands a price.

Action Adventure LitRPG

7.6

He Denied My Brother's Last Journey

7.6

My billionaire boyfriend refused to loan me fifty thousand dollars to bring my brother' s body home. Three days later, I found his assistant wearing my silk robe in our penthouse. That was the moment I decided to marry my childhood friend instead. For eight years, I was Callen House' s dirty little secret. I accepted the shadows, believing his "Relationship Protocols" were just the quirks of a tech genius. But when my brother died tragically overseas, Callen didn't offer comfort. He offered me a corporate loan application, which his assistant, Daniella, promptly denied. While I was drowning in grief, Jaren stepped in. He paid for the repatriation without hesitation, proving what real love actually looked like. I went to Callen' s apartment to end things, only to find Daniella there, sporting a fresh hickey and a smug grin. The truth came out like a landslide. She hadn't just stolen my boyfriend; she had been intercepting my bonuses and sabotaging my career for years. And Callen? He defended her. He called me a liability and threatened to ruin me if I made a scene. So I didn't just quit. I sent a picture of me and Jaren to the company group chat with a caption that silenced the entire office. "I' m getting married. And it' s not to Callen House."

Adventure Modern Romance

8.9

Heina: The Red Demon Dragon

8.9

Suddenly, it was his turn to gasp. Fear. Shock. Disbelief. I couldn't tell, but he released my hand like it was some poisonous object. He turned away from me, towards the boys. "We are doomed. She will bring an end to us all." ********************************************************************** She's plus sized She's partially blind A nerd with brains...and bullies Her name... isn't a name. It's a curse. She's a curse A curse living in the human world And someone followed her there - her greatest bully. She hates her birthdays, they are her nightmares. But her eighteenth birthday turns out to be her worse - finding out the man she's called 'dad' all these years isn't her dad. And his biological twin sons are her destined mates. But that's not the problem. She is. She's the dragon that shouldn't be let to live. She's a doom to the dragon tribe...even to her own mates. Now, every dragon wants her dead. And the witches' clan want her powerful blood. The only people who can protect her, are the very people her demon dragon wants to destroy! Dive into this paranormal fantasy and follow Heina on a journey of self-discovery, character growth and unleashing powers that will ruin everything and everyone... including her mates.

Adventure Fantasy Horror

7.1

Hot For My New Stepbrother

7.1

I never should have let my mother hold my future hostage. She paid my tuition with his father's money. Locked my birth certificate, my transcripts, every scrap of paper I need to survive in a safe I'll never open. And the one thing I had left of my dad, his old watch, she dangled like a noose. Run, and I lose my education. Fight, and I lose the last piece of the man who actually loved me. So I moved into the Hunters' mansion. Into the lair of the boy who spent years making my life hell. Chase Hunter. Six-foot-five of pure venom wrapped in muscle and money. The senior who cornered me in empty hallways, who whispered filth in my ear just to watch me flinch, who smiled that sharp, cruel smile every time I broke a little more. I thought graduation meant freedom from him. I was wrong. Now he's my stepbrother. He hates that I'm here. Hates my mother for sinking her claws into his father. Hates me most of all, for breathing his air, for walking his halls, for daring to exist where he can reach me. But hate isn't clean anymore. It's tangled up in heat. In the way his grey eyes strip me bare every time they land on me. In the way his hand closes around my throat, not to hurt, but to own. In the way he punishes me over his lap, in his car, against walls, until I'm shaking and soaked and furious at myself for wanting more. He calls me Little Lamb like it's poison on his tongue. I call him every name I can think of under my breath. How long until we stop fighting the deadly inferno raging between us and finally let it consume us both?

Action Adventure Modern

7.0

Rebirth of the Luckiest Failure

7.0

Kael Draven died in the most humiliating way possible. Run over... while trying to save a piece of fried chicken. But death was not the end. When he opens his eyes, Kael finds himself reborn in a world of magic, monsters, and powerful mages. There is only one problem. He is the weakest mage in the academy. No talent. No skills. No magic that actually works. But just when everything seems hopeless, Kael discovers something strange. His luck... is completely broken. Spells miss him by accident. Enemies defeat themselves. Disasters turn into miracles. Every mistake somehow becomes a perfect victory. People start to notice. A genius. A hidden master. A terrifying prodigy. The more Kael tries to explain, the worse the misunderstandings become. "I tripped," Kael insists. "They call it flawless execution." As rumors spread and powerful enemies begin to watch him, Kael is pulled into conflicts far beyond his understanding. From academy duels to world-shaking wars, his so-called "luck" begins to reveal something far more dangerous. Because this power is not random. And Kael might not be its first owner. Now hunted by those who fear him, trusted by those who believe in him, and followed by a mysterious silver-haired mage who refuses to look away... Kael must survive a world that thinks he is a genius. Even if he knows the truth. "I am not strong," Kael says. The world disagrees.

Adventure Fantasy Young Adult

Married To The Thorn In My Flesh

Chapter 1

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