Katherine endured mistreatment for three years as Julian's wife, sacrificing everything for love. But when his sister drugged her and sent her to a client's bed, Katherine finally snapped. She left behind divorce papers, walking away from the toxic marriage. Years later, Katherine returned as a radiant star with the world at her feet. When Julian saw her again, he couldn't ignore the uncanny resemblance between her new love and himself. He had been nothing but a stand-in for someone else. Desperate to make sense of the past, Julian pressed Katherine, asking, "Did I mean nothing to you?"
Should a woman always give her first time to someone she loves?
The moment the sharp pain ripped through her, Katherine Clarke realized that her chance for that was gone for good.
Faced with a stranger forcing himself on her, she cried so hard her vision blurred. Her instincts told her to run, but her weak, disoriented body couldn't move. All she could do was give in to the nightmare and sink into despair.
When she finally accepted there was no escape, she clenched her jaw and tried to hide how scared she was. Her voice was dry and broken as she muttered, "At least use protection."
The man on top of her stopped for just a second but didn't say a word. Instead, his actions became even more violent.
She didn't know how much time had passed before it ended. Completely worn out, she lost consciousness.
The next morning, when she woke up, the suite was quiet and empty. The messy bed and the pain in her body told her clearly-it hadn't been a nightmare. It had really happened.
It had all been planned. What was supposed to be a regular business dinner turned out to be a trap. She'd been given drink after drink until she could barely stay awake, then sent to that room to be taken advantage of.
Last night, when she realized she had been set up, in her half-conscious state, she had thought of Julian Nash-her husband-who had just come back from a business trip. She messaged him again and again, calling nonstop. When he finally answered, his voice was cold and distant. "I'm busy. Call the cops."
Even now, his words kept ringing in her ears.
With just a few words, he had crushed all the love they'd shared and what little pride she had left.
A bitter laugh slipped out as the pain in her heart turned numb. She slowly pushed the blanket off and got out of bed.
Just then, a business card slid off the bed and fell to the floor.
She stopped in her tracks. She picked it up slowly, and the second she saw the logo, her blood ran cold.
It was from Nash Group.
The room had been dark, and she never saw the man's face. But out of all the things she could've imagined, she never thought the man from last night would be connected to Julian's company.
Could Julian have had something to do with this?
......
When Katherine got back home, she saw a pair of shoes she knew too well-Julian was back. She paused, took a breath, and headed upstairs.
Julian came out of the bathroom, wearing a clean bathrobe. Even in something so simple, his natural confidence and sharp looks stood out. His hair was damp, his features sharp, and he carried himself with that usual cool distance.
His gaze landed on Katherine, and a faint frown formed between his brows. The look in his eyes was cold and distant. Maybe even filled with scorn. "What is it?" he asked flatly.
Katherine just looked at him.
They never should've ended up together. Their worlds had always been miles apart. Three years ago, when Julian's father had been dying, she was the bone marrow donor who saved him. In exchange, he promised to grant her one wish.
She used that wish to marry Julian.
Back then, she had been young and foolish. She thought she could make it work-that even a man who was emotionally closed off could be opened up over time.
But to Julian, she was nothing more than an opportunist.
He resented her. For three years, he expected her to wait on him and care for him, all the while never truly seeing her as his wife.
And Katherine had taken it all without complaint.
After her family fell apart, holding on to Julian hadn't just been about needing a roof-it was about love. She wanted him to love her. So, no matter how cold he was, she kept finding ways to convince herself it was okay.
But after last night, she had nothing left to give.
She still didn't know if Julian had anything to do with what happened. But she had a feeling that it had something to do with his family. She had walked into this house ready to confront him, but just standing here, looking at him, she already knew. This would only end with her pride in pieces.
Her voice came out rough, strained from everything she'd been through. "Julian..."
But he didn't even glance at her. He walked straight to the closet, reaching for the shirt and tie Katherine had prepared for him, like it was just another morning.
With his back to her, his tone was cold and careless. "Stop standing there. Go make breakfast. I'm heading out in half an hour."
Katherine didn't move. She stood her ground, her voice quiet but steady. "Julian, let's get a divorce."
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Emma is excited. She will turn 18 and shift. She can't wait to become a wolf and help her pack. Her brother is Beta, and she wants to help him. She is hoping to find her mate. She is hoping it will be her friend, Jacob. They love each other, and they get along really well. She is excited and ready for everything life has to offer. Emma is surprised when her mate turns out to be the Alpha of her pack. But her happiness about finding her mate didn't last long. Her mate rejected her for a stronger she-wolf. That she-wolf hates Emma and wants to get rid of her, but that isn't the only thing Emma has to deal with. Emma finds out that she is not an ordinary wolf and that there are people who want to use her. They are dangerous. They will do everything to get what they want. They will hurt and kill. What will Emma do? Will her mate regret rejecting her? Will her mate save her from the people around them?
Doing a part-time job in a speakeasy bar, Wendy got drunk unexpectedly. When she woke up, she found that she was regarded as a call girl and lost her virginity. After having a one-night stand with Charlie, an incredibly handsome man, Wendy threw out two hundred dollars to defend her own dignity. However, Wendy's arrogant actions annoyed Charlie, who grabbed Wendy back to bed repeatedly for revenge. "What do you want?" Wendy was annoyed. "Be responsible for what I did to you." Charlie smiled. "But how?" Wendy continued. "By keeping sleeping with you."
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?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Emberly, an esteemed scientist of the Imperial Federation, took her own life after completing important research. She was reborn, and just like in her first life, she was born into a wealthy family. She could’ve lived a carefree and prosperous life. However, the babies got mixed up in the hospital and she was taken home by another family from the countryside. Her foster parents later found out the truth and brought her to her real family, but they didn’t like her. Her evil adopted sister even loathed her. She was framed and ultimately, she died in prison. But in her next life, she refused to stay a coward and swore she would take revenge on all who wronged her. She would only care about those who were truly good to her and turn a blind eye to her heartless family. In one life, she had once experienced darkness and been trampled upon like an ant. In another, she had stood on top of the world. This time, she only wished to live for herself. As if a switch had gone on inside of her, she suddenly became the best at everything she put her mind to. He won the math contest, topped the college entrance exams, and solved an age old question... Later, she garnered countless scientific research achievements. People who had once slandered her and looked down on her cried bitterly and begged her for a patent authorization. She just sneered at them. No way! This was a world without faith, but the world put their faith in her. Austin, the heir to a powerful aristocratic family in the imperial capital, was cold-hearted and decisive. He scared anyone who laid eyes on him. Unbeknownst to everyone, he doted on one woman: Emberly. Nobody knew that his desire for her grew stronger with every passing day. She brought light to his originally dull and gloomy life.