It was the worst thing that could ever happen to Core. Her boss handed her a horrible assignment---an interview with her husband, a prominent figure in the city's entertainment circle, regarding the gossips surrounding him. Core was the bride whom Winson had spent thirty million dollars on. Her father had personally pushed her into Winson's arms. She couldn't keep her dignity or her self-esteem in front of this man. Her only goal, for now, was to make enough money to pay off her debts. She had to buy back her freedom from him. Regardless of her efforts, he kept her close to him using all kinds of tricks. He wanted her trapped with him for the rest of her life.
Cora Xi stared at her boss with her eyes wide in shock.
'Why is he asking me to interview my husband?' she wondered anxiously.
No one in her company knew that Winson Chu, CEO of the Winson Media, was her husband...on paper, at least.
But even though their marriage was only nominal, it didn't mean that she liked watching him be dissolute.
She hesitated for a few seconds, wondering how to refuse the task. However, the editor-in-chief ignored her expression and said seriously, "You know that Winson is a prominent figure in our city's entertainment circle. It's very important to complete this task. It would be even better if you can get Winson to introduce his lover."
Then, he handed her a note and waved her off, dismissing her from his office. Cora Xi sighed and walked out of the office with a sullen expression on her face.
Thinking back now, she remembered that as soon as she had arrived at the company this morning, she had heard a group of people gossiping about Winson Chu.
Recently, the paparazzi had caught Winson Chu spending the night with a mystery woman. Photos of the two of them had popped up all over the internet, causing a great uproar.
All the media outlets had flocked to Winson Chu to get a comment from him, but he had unexpectedly chosen the Starry Newspaper for an exclusive interview.
"Cora! Earth to Cora!"
Cora Xi, who was lost in her thoughts, snapped back to reality upon hearing a man calling her. She looked up and saw her colleague, Bruce He.
"Finally. It's time to go, Cora.
Let's go," said Bruce He.
Cora Xi smiled lightly, trying to put her worries aside. Since she and Winson Chu were destined to cross paths again, she could only grit her teeth and move forward. She quickly grabbed her things and followed Bruce He to the main road, where they flagged down a cab and headed to their destination together.
"Have we reached, Cora?" Bruce He asked with a gasp when the car finally rolled to a stop.
Amused by his words, Cora Xi teased him, "It's just a villa. Why are you so surprised?"
Bruce He widened his eyes in awe. "It's not a villa. It's a palace!"
Cora Xi shook her head with a smile, feeling much more relaxed after the car ride.
"Let's go," she said, getting out of the car. With a polite and restrained smile on her face, she steadily walked towards the villa.
As they slowly walked past the gate, they noticed tall sculptures on both sides of the gate, which stood there as if they were guarding the villa.
Taking a deep breath, Cora Xi rang the doorbell.
Soon, a young man in a suit and leather shoes opened the door.
"Please come in. He is waiting for you two in the living room," he said politely, his eyes lingering on Cora Xi's face for a moment.
Cora Xi noticed his gaze, of course, but she pretended not to. This young man's name was John Cheng, and he was Winson Chu's right-hand man. Naturally, she knew him very well. She also knew that he had a bad impression of her.
Nevertheless, she smiled indifferently and walked into the room with her head held high.
The living room was done up with tasteful antique decor that would take away the breath of anyone who walked in. Winson Chu sprawled lazily on the sofa in the middle of the room. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and the corners of his lips were turned up into the smallest of smiles.
Even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time, the enchanting image of Winson hadn't faded away in Cora's mind.
She sighed in her heart, but on the outside, she put on a serious expression, trying to be as professional as possible. "Hello, Mr. Chu, I am..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Winson interrupted her. "Where is my wife?"
He stared at Cora's prudish and old-fashioned clothes with obvious disgust in his eyes. As for her face, he didn't recognize it at all.
His question took Cora by surprise, and she stayed silent, biting her lower lip in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"Sir, this is Miss Cora," John Cheng answered with a flustered expression on his face.
With a bitter smile, Cora took off her black-framed glasses and calmly asked, "Mr. Chu, why did you ask to see me?"
Bruce was so nervous and stunned that his hands started sweating, coating the camera that he was holding. He looked back and forth between Cora and Winson with evident surprise in his eyes.
Cora quietly looked at Winson for a reaction. They hadn't seen each other for almost five years.
The last time she had seen him was when she had moved out of this magnificent cage to work alone. If it hadn't been for this interview, she might never have taken the initiative to see him again.
After all, she was the bride that Winson had spent thirty million dollars on. Her father had personally pushed her into Winson's arms. In front of this man, she had neither dignity nor self-esteem. As far as she was concerned, it was better not to face him.
Her only goal for the time being was to make enough money to pay off her debts. Only in that way could she really gain freedom.
Seeing that Winson stayed silent, Cora smiled, "Mr. Chu, you've taken great efforts to see me. There must be a reason."
Winson frowned slightly as if he was very dissatisfied with her. Ignoring her question, he said, "Your clothes are really unappealing to look at."
"Why did you want to see me, Mr. Chu?" Cora repeated firmly, though the smile on her face had gotten even more forced after hearing his words.
John Cheng winked at Winson so many times that he almost felt one side of his face cramp up. It was only then that Winson managed to restrain himself. He leaned back and said in a bored voice, "You have to move back today. My parents will arrive tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Cora's smile disappeared in an instant.
Although she wanted to refuse, she couldn't say no.
She had no right to refuse the creditor's request. What was more, Winson's parents had always been nice to her and treated her like their own daughter.
Besides, as long as she could get through one more month, the five-year period they had agreed upon would come to an end. After that, she would be free! That was the agreement they had made when they had gotten married.
As Cora recalled that, she felt a bit relieved. She put on her glasses and said expressionlessly, "Can we start the interview now, Mr. Chu?"
Winson snorted. "Of course."
Cora took out the note that her editor-in-chief had given her, and felt astonished when she read it.
'What the hell is it? Are these actual questions for the interview?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
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."
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."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."