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Caught between a web of lies and deceit, Kiara found herself questioning her reality and everything around her. The man she loved not only abandoned her and her child, but she also found out that he had another family~ a more perfect family. For five years, he was the only man in her heart. After their wedding, she'd literally transformed herself into his slave with his happiness and satisfaction her only goal. Yet, her loyalty and love were repaid with betrayal, heartbreak, and rejection. Realizing that she wasted her love on the wrong person, Kiara changed her mission. She wasn't going to be the same weak and docile heiress whom everyone ordered around. She was the queen of the Storm Empire, and it just so happened that Killian Reid was going to bow at her feet someday.
'Kiara, I'll be back... I promise.'
Would he?
Weren't her dreams becoming too wild recently?
Killian never said goodbye whenever he left.
His business trips could take days, weeks, or even months, but he never told her goodbye.
Kiara only always knew about his trips from his assistant.
Wasn't this dream an irony to her reality?
Wasn't Killian being too affectionate in this dream?
Was this a sign that better days were coming?
"Mommy..."
The tiny voice of a child gradually pulled her away from her sleep, bringing her back to reality... to the hospital's ward.
Kiara fluttered her eyelids, rubbing the sleep off her eyes.
Opening her eyes to the sight of her daughter lying on the bed, she tried to force a smile, to look normal.
If only her heart was strong enough not to break each time at the sight of her baby looking so frail and pale.
"Hey, Baby..." She reached out to stroke her raven black hair, a stark resemblance to Killian's hair.
Having the same thick brows and thin lips, Lily could look exactly like her father if she didn't have Kiara's oval face and round eyes.
"When's Daddy coming, Mommy?" She murmured, her lips pursing. "I miss Daddy."
Kiara did too.
Strangely, Killian didn't answer her phone calls.
Ever since Lily's illness acted up and she was brought to the hospital three days ago, not an hour passed by without her trying to reach him on the phone.
The phone would ring until it stopped. However, he never called back.
"Baby, remember I told you that Daddy needs to work hard." Kiara's lips ached from faking a smile.
But she couldn't break down now. Not in their daughter's presence.
The last thing she wanted was her baby sensing something was off.
She'd rather have her believing they were a perfect family.
"Daddy's currently busy and can't come home now."
"You always said that, Mommy." Lily sighed, gloom spreading across her face.
The glimmer in her eyes was long gone, and the more days that passed, the more her eyes dimmed. "Daddy doesn't need to make more money. I just wanna hug him."
Her eyes watered up.
She was about to cry again.
Kiara couldn't stand it.
She feared that if she spent another minute here, she'd break down from seeing her daughter in this state.
Sometimes, she hated herself, and sometimes, she hated him.
But Killian had been very busy ever since his father passed away a year ago and he had to assume the president's position of RK Business Empire.
He'd made her know that he wouldn't have time for them.
She couldn't be any more understanding.
"It's okay, Mommy..." Just like hers, her daughter's smile was broken and weak. "I know Daddy loves me. When he comes back, I'll tell him that I love him too."
Kiara chuckled.
Who was she kidding?
Lily was only three years old but with an IQ of a genius.
She was only deluding herself, thinking her baby didn't know what was going on.
Her sad smile revealed it all.
Unable to hold back her tears, Kiara leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. Then her baby whispered, "I love you too, Mommy. I love you and Daddy."
"Mmm." Kiara choked on her sobs. "We both love you, Baby."
But she couldn't remain sitting there.
Fearing she'd burst into sobs, she left the ward, looking for the nearest washroom.
She could use the bathroom inside the ward, but then, her baby would hear her cry and that would only break her already weak heart further.
"Mrs. Reid, are you alright?" She bumped into the nurse on her way, almost crashing into the medication cart.
Kiara stood up straight, composing herself. "I- I'm fine."
"I'm about to change Lily's drip-"
"Please go ahead, I'll be right back." She cut the nurse, hurrying in the opposite direction.
She didn't need to go far.
She wasn't supposed to cry.
Her daughter needed her by her side,
But,
If only Killian could answer her calls.
If only he could spare a minute to at least speak with his daughter on the phone.
For a three-year-old, she was already going through a lot. Funny how the little girl always preferred her Daddy's company.
Leaning against the wall in the hallway that led to the washroom, Kiara dialed his number again.
The phone rang as usual. He didn't answer.
She tried three more times. Killian didn't answer the phone.
Who else could she reach out to?
Even his assistant's line was switched off.
Slowly, a foreboding feeling rose in her heart.
What if something bad had happened to him?
Was that why he didn't answer his phone?
Was that why she was feeling this sudden intense emptiness in her chest?
Strange.
She had to be positive.
Nothing of such would ever happen.
If anything went wrong with his trip, it would have been broadcast on the media by now.
Shoving those horrible thoughts aside, Kiara pulled herself together and walked away.
She hadn't taken three steps yet when the corner of her eyes caught the sight of a familiar figure.
Was that Killian?
The tall figure that just strode out of the elevator was definitely her husband.
She couldn't see his face properly because his back was to her, but that deadly aura screamed of his presence.
He appeared to be in a rush.
Was he coming for them- for Lily?
Did he hear about her illness?
Weird though.
Killian was going in the opposite direction, his footsteps hasty.
Kiara called out his name but he didn't seem to hear her.
Their daughter's ward was in a different hallway.
Was he given the wrong room number?
Her heart coming back alive with the hope that Lily would soon smile again, Kiara hurried after him.
By the time she caught up with him, she was already gasping for breath.
He was so fast!
Was he so worried about their daughter?
"Killian-"
"Killian."
She trailed off because someone else called out his name at the same time she did.
A young lady came out of the ward he stopped at, running straight into his arms. "What took you so long?"
"Why did you bring him here?" His deep voice had an irritated tone to it. "I told you not to bring him here."
"I had no choice, Killian, please don't blame me!" The lady sobbed. "This is the best Pediatric Hospital in the country. Do you want us to lose our son?"
Married to the man who saved her life, Jessica paid him back with love and kindness. However, the return of his ex shattered the happiness she had managed to build in their home. One night, she caught her husband cheating on her with her best friend, Tania. He never loved her; his marriage to her was because of their one-night stand. Jessica wanted a divorce, but pregnancy kicked in. And when she returned to the city a few years later, Caspian was on his feet, begging her to help his company rise again. Would Jessica let go of the past and help him because of their son? She isn't the weak girl from a few years ago; she is now a powerful woman whom Caspian must bow down to.
Kimmy loved Harry with all her heart for many years, but he was always indifferent. She gave up everything – family, friends, career, and dignity in the hope that someday he would love her back. However, Harry cruelly rejected her when his first love returned. "I was with you because you look a bit like her," he said while leaving. Kimmy was just a substitute. Determined to move on, Kimmy left him. He thought he would be satisfied after her leaving, but he found that he missed her madly. After the rejection, fate brought them back together. When they met each other again, Harry found out Kimmy had a hidden identity. When a new man appeared in her life, he got jealous. To his astonishment, he realized that she was his first love all along. It was all a big misunderstanding. How could he get her back, and would she give him a second chance? Or would she choose the other man?
After being rejected by her mate, Aurora is given a second chance by the Moon Goddess. However, her new mate turns out to be Alpha Jordan of the Blossom Pack, who is rumored to have been denied a mate by the Moon Goddess due to his past deeds. Aurora is torn between accepting her fate and rejecting Alpha Jordan. But when a secret about her identity is revealed, which holds the key to redeeming the Alpha, she must decide whether to embrace her destiny or reject it. Will she choose to accept her fate and help the Alpha, or will she reject him and forge her own path?
On her 18th birthday, Lily’s dreams of love and acceptance is shattered when the Alpha she’s long admired rejects her due to her Omega status. Heartbroken and humiliated, Lily tries to move on, but her gaze still lingers on the Alpha. Just as she thinks all hope is lost, the identical twins sweep into her life, vying for her affection and attention. Torn between their charming advances and her lingering feelings for the Alpha, Lily must navigate a complicated web of love, loyalty, and family obligations. When her father forces her into an arranged marriage, Lily must make a choice: will she follow her heart and risk everything for the twins’ love, or will she conform to societal expectations and miss out on true love? Meanwhile, the Alpha begins to realize what he's lost, but will it be too late to win back Lily’s heart?
Everyone said Sophia was going to suck Caleb dry during their first months of marriage because their marriage was an hasty one. Caleb didn't believe in that as he was so in love with his woman. But few months later, The Document that held the secret to his Multi Million company went missing. Without hesitation, Caleb pointed an accusing finger at Sophia and forced her to sign a divorce paper. Two years later, Sophia is back to the city for the first time and Caleb went on his knees. Marry me again, Sophia?
When Victoria became the secretary of the most ruthless billionaire in the city, she never expected anything more than keeping up with her strict boss. Reynold Turner is a single father and his kids badly wanted a Mummy. One day, the twins bumped into the clumsy secretary and they both announced, “Daddy, we want her to be our Mummy.”
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."