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 8

Sophia’s POV

⁓August 25, 2025: Dimitri & Lena’s Wedding Day⁓

It’s exactly one week since my failed attempt at running away. One week since my second and best kiss ever. One week since I got reintroduced to Alexander Thorne as his fiancée.

And one week of receiving large rose bouquets from him daily. It’s a garden in my bedroom.

I didn’t get scolded as he promised.

I remained at home, mostly in my bedroom, being the good and praiseworthy daughter as usual, of course, after my mom confirmed my non-existent boyfriend didn’t take what I should be saving for my wedding night with Alexander.

My parents—my mom especially—believe he’s the best man any woman can ask for. She counts me the luckiest and herself the luckiest mother. He could do no wrong in their eyes.

In my eyes, I’m not sure yet.

Because he’s looking at me now from across the room, and the look in his eyes tells me he wants to do everything wrong to me.

His gaze pins me, dark and unyielding, despite the happiness floating in the air at this wedding reception, despite his involvement in the couple’s activities since he’s one of Dimitri’s best men.

A wave of heat floods through me. And one-week-old memories begin bleeding into my mind: the feel of his lips on mine, the feel of his piercings against me, his hands on me, his scent, his dark, enticing gaze… The delicious taste of his mouth.

I still crave it in my sleep.

“Alex, focus!” Dimitri’s cheerful voice rings across the gorgeous hall.

I drop my gaze quickly and pick up my champagne glass, sipping. I’m the cause of his distraction.

When I raise my head, his eyes are back on the golden rope they’re all pulling in a tug-of-war.

A precious smile is plastered on his face as he stands behind Dimitri. Dark hair falls over his eyes. He’s so beautifully made. His deep blue suit fits him majestically; he should be jailed for looking so good.

He mutters something to the person behind him, Lucio, the second best man, and they all laugh, pulling even harder.

Team Dimitri vs Team Lena. Five against Five.

Team Dimitri: Dimitri, Alexander, Lucio, and the rest of the men in their circle. One is absent.

Team Lena: Lena (the most beautiful woman and wife I’ve ever met), Emily (her best friend and maid of honor), Barbara, and the rest of the ladies in their circle.

Lucio and Emily actually got married yesterday, and along with Lena, they’re the only three outside the circle—all older, wealthier, and partly way out of my league socially. Thanks to Dimitri, I get to hang out with them.

The ladies pull harder, failing miserably yet still trying and laughing. Anybody can tell the guys are being easy on them.

The hall echoes with loud cheers, and I can’t help but join in.

“Team Lena!” I cheer, clapping my hands in excitement.

The winning side gets a million dollars. If the ladies win, Dimitri pays. If the guys win, Alexander pays since the game was his idea.

“You fraudsters are way stronger!” Barbara yells, pulling the end of her side. “It’s unfair!”

“Get another lady,” Dimitri replies, staring at his woman like she’s a prized jewel.

I read Lena’s lips in this moment, “Let us win,” she mouths to her husband, giggling.

“Saw that.” Alexander voices behind Dimitri.

“Sophia?!”

My ears tingle, and immediately, my eyes travel to Barbara.

“Sophia, join us!”

“M-me?” I stutter, pointing a finger at myself.

“YES!” The ladies chant desperately.

My cheeks burn, and naturally, my eyes meet Alexander’s gaze.

A perfect smirk forms on his lips before he throws the most heart-fluttering wink at me.

My heart skips a beat.

“SOPHIA?!” They plead again.

I drop my glass and purse on the cocktail table and hurry to join them.

“Hello, Sophia,” Barbara greets, making room for me. “It’s been a minute.”

“Good evening, Barbara,” I smile at her.

“Your shoes…” she mutters, and we both stare at my René Caovilla Chandelier Sandals.

“Um…”

“As long as you don’t fall.” She says with urgency, turning serious.

I grip the rope. Now five against six.

“Brace up, Sweetie,” Candace says in front of me. “That money is paying for my new Porsche.”

I give her a nod, feeling the thrill buzz through me.

And in 3, 2, 1, we begin pulling again.

I’m yanked forward so hard my breath escapes in a shocked gasp.

My toes curl desperately inside my sandals as I pull, fighting not to end up face flat on the ground.

Suddenly, the guys start coming toward us, tilting.

“Yes!” Candace hisses, pulling harder than anyone else.

“They’re letting us win,” Barbara admits.

“Who cares?” Candace replies. “Pull the fu—ing rope!”

I pull, marching backward with my heels. My arm and fist muscles clench.

Cheers echo. And in a minute, the guys slowly let go, making sure we don’t fall as we pull the rope to our side.

The room erupts in screams and claps.

My smile stretches wide as I’m dragged into a group hug.

“We’re all giving Sophia fifteen grand each,” Barbara says, panting as she strokes my back.

Warmth moves across my face when they all agree with excitement. I wasn’t expecting anything.

“Thank you,” I mutter, catching my breath.

Before we disperse, I say hearty congratulations to Lena. The last time I saw her, she was wreaking havoc. Ended up ruining New Year’s Eve for everyone. It’s good to see her happy again.

She and Dimitri had the roughest year; we’re all just grateful they’re in a better place now.

I take another drink from a waiter’s tray and return to my table.

The first thing I do is scan the room for Alexander. He vanished so suddenly.

I keep scanning as Lena and Dimitri are invited to the dance floor, but he’s nowhere in sight.

Coos fly across the room.

“Aw…” I murmur, staring as Dimitri wraps an arm around Lena’s waist.

He pulls her close, and my eyes water because Lena starts crying.

They’ve been through so much.

I look around, and I’m not the only one fighting tears. The church wedding was even worse. A feast of water works; I was no exception. It was a lovely ceremony—the kind that makes you believe in love.

The lights in the room dim completely, and only a spotlight shines on the couple.

I take out my phone and start filming them, dabbing tears at the inner corners of my eyes.

Love is something I’ve only dreamed about. It never came, so I poured my affection into something else—studying. And being so good at it that I could go far away from my parents’ ever-controlling presence.

The one guy I had a major crush on for years and believed was my love got engaged earlier this year. So, no luck in love.

Dimitri suddenly kisses Lena, and the roof is raised.

Squealing, heat spreads to my neck, and I stop filming.

They don’t stop kissing; all tongues, no brakes.

The guests go crazy, feasting and cheering.

And suddenly,

“Hello, Beautiful,”

My breath hitches.

Alexander moves close, exploiting the darkness of the room.

I stay still, feeling the heat from his body caressing me from behind.

He brings his face close to my ear, lips hovering, warm breath brushing me.

I blink, curling my fingers nervously as I picture his perfect face.

“Good to see you,” he murmurs and kisses the skin behind my ear. “Received my roses?”

I give him a slow nod, noting the butterflies awakening in me. “Thank you. They were - they were pretty.”

“Anything for my wife-to-be…”

I drop my gaze, feeling warm inside instead of defensive like I was a week ago.

Since finding out he’s the one I’ve been set up with, the words ‘husband, marriage, couple, wedding, and fiancé’ don’t trigger me anymore.

He grows quiet. Then slowly, he pulls me against him.

I drag in a shaky breath, heat blooming beneath my skin.

Worry pounds in my head—worry that someone might see us despite the darkness. But he curves an arm around my stomach, ensuring there’s no space left between us.

My head swims. I shut my eyes and open them again. They stay on the couple, still kissing and slow-dancing in the middle of the room.

Watching them now, my body pressed against a warm brick wall who smells so delicious, I think of other things—the other things I’m not ready for yet.

“How much did you get from the tug of war?” He says against my right ear.

“Seventy-five.”

“You’ll get one-twenty-five tomorrow. I’ll send it as a gift.”

Words fail me.

He’s giving me money already? $125k?!

“Told your parents I’ll bring you home,” he continues softly, moving his other hand to wrap around me.

A sigh escapes me as I close my eyes, feeling. Indulging. I’ve never felt anything like this before—never felt anyone take over my senses so effortlessly.

“I wanna spend some time with you, Sophia.”

Unconsciously, I lean into him, head against his chest.

His chest rises against my back in a deep inhale, and in a second, he plants a kiss on my neck.

My head tilts against him.

“Let’s go to my penthouse… We’ll have that house tour… and do other things.”

Other things like what? But I keep my thoughts to myself.

“Meet me at the garage in five minutes.” He whispers, voice heavy with lure.

When he slips away, I start breathing again.

My chest pounds.

The lights come on, and he’s gone. Life keeps moving like I wasn’t just seduced in the dark.

I put a shaky palm over my forehead, glancing at Dimitri still dancing with his bride.

There’s no time to think. I just really wanna find out what ‘other things’ mean.

I grab my purse and turn around, quietly finding the exit.

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 8

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