Take it off slowly, inch closer, tease and make 'em believe you're all theirs--Make it perfectly estatic. Abigail's code was as simple as they come, and had worked impeccably for years with her one and only rule: No touching. But when she pisses off a snob who didn't like it very much, it was up to a certain billionaire to save her from his covetous hands. Except, he isn't quite ready to let her go just yet.
"My mother got flowers today--the loveliest she's ever got. Too bad she wont be able to see them this time. She'd smile at them and rest them on the lounge table as a reminder that she was loved."
To everyone else, the speech was lovely, but to Abigail, she knew there was nothing but fervent mockery of the whole situation. She eyed the closed box with nothing but contempt. How could one woman be so foolish? So implicitly blind?
"I placed them beside her casket, because that's where she would want them. Open and bold for everyone to see, so that she could have a reason to love him." She said 'him' with so much venom, but the congregation only nodded in blind sympathy, as they knew not what was really in Abigail's heart.
Ever since her mother met Mark four years ago, no one but her had ever known what truly happened within the walls off the Jenison's house. To the outside world, Mark was the perfect husband, and her mother's never ending glee of marriage was never seen by the public as something she was suffering from.
She had only been six months into the marriage when Mark first laid his hands on her, and Abigail had called the police in pure fear for her mother's life.
To Abigail's surprise, the woman dismissed the accusations to the police, and scolded her about interfering in what wasn't 'her business'.
Abigail knew from then that this wouldn't be the marriage she had hoped for her mother after her father passed. Her loving dad would've been so disappointed in what her mother's love life had become.
The worst part was, that wasn't the only time.
But Mark with his charming smile, his endless money and his soothing, conniving tongue always found his way back on her mother's good side. When it became too much, he started bringing her flowers, jewels and diamonds every time they had a 'disagreement'. She would love the flowers the most, as she was always a florist by heart.
Mark never hesitated to make Abigail's mom 'happy' with the scented symbols of pain and wholly, being shadowed as an apology for whatever crime he had done to her the night before. They were all forgiven, in her mother's eyes at least, and after four years of begging, pleading and bawling to her mother to leave him, she never listened until she ultimately left forever.
Abi had found the flowers on the porch this morning before the funeral, at the house now void of all screams, shattering glass and Mark's presence since he vanished.
'I really did love your mother Abigail. I wish you could see that.'
She had flung the note in the fireplace, and was about to throw the flowers after them too. But then, she knew her mother would've kept them, until they withered away and died, just like her love for her, and ultimately her life.
"Nice aren't they?" Her humorless chuckle echoed in the small mic as all eyes flickered to the rested roses. "She would've loved them indeed. They were her hope after all, for a happy life one day." Expect, that day never came, she wanted to add, but decided against it when she realized that a hundred people's view on her mother would've been tarnished.
Let the dead be the dead. There was nothing she could do about it anymore.
Countless times, despite her mother's requests, she had reported the homely affair to the police. Nobody helped. Nobody looked. Nobody cared.
Now it was all too late, and for the mere peace of her own conscience, she had reported it one last time to the police, telling them that Mark had killed her mother. But Mark's lawyer pointed out that her mother had a 'failing heart', which was the cause of her death.
The saddest part was, she wasn't even lying.
"My mother got flowers today. And I hope she continues to smile at them as if they were her redemption. Surely, there isn't any force in this world greater than love," Abigail ended softly with her heart in a contradicting mess.
She didn't believe it one bit. She only said it for the sake of everyone, and her aunt who had asked her to share a few words of her 'mother's life'. Or lack of rather. She only did it out of respect for the mother she once knew, but lost four years ago.
There isn't any love in this world. It's greed, lust, submission and pleasure. Maybe in some perfect world, people are actually out there who knew about it, or better yet, felt it. But as for her, there was no love in her life after her father, and none to come ever again.
She was sure of it.
Abi placed the mic back in its holder as she made her leave from the pulpit. She didn't give the casket that much of a glance as she walked passed it, her heels clicking against the tiled church floor as she headed for her seat in the very back.
She kept her head straight, appreciating the gloom that the dark clouds provided, along with its showering downpour to wash away her past. Eyes lingered on her as she stepped passed each row, maybe in a scrutinizing, sympathetic or confused way. She wouldn't know though. She kept her head straight all the way to her empty bench, where she returned with her cold, stoic expression.
She pulled on her black dress as she listened to another lie of friends talking about what an 'open minded', and 'loving' person her mother used to be. Yet, it didn't matter anymore. There was no need for her bitterness on such a day.
So, for the rest of the day, Abigail accepted condolences, smiled where she was required, bid farewells and ultimately said goodbye to her mother and her past.
She strolled down the street with a single suitcase rolling behind her, and an image of a new life far away from where her darkest days were spent, and where her worst memories sat.
She vowed never to step foot into that's man's house again, and she burnt the money Mark had sent her out of pity. Guilt maybe?
She didn't care. She didn't want anything to do with him or his belongings, and she especially didn't want anything of her mother's to remind her of the dread she had to witness.
Hence, with all the clothes and belongings she had bought herself from her own money, along with her few belongings and her recently achieved degree in Marketing, she flagged a bus and set off to a new life she hoped she could find. Somewhere in the city, maybe?
She had no clue what she'd find or what she'd become, but she knew for certain that she was going to write her own story.
Surely, Mark was an evil, monstrous sorry excuse of a human being, but her mother was and always will be a coward who chose her abusive husband over her only life and daughter.
Let them bury her. Let her stay there in a box condemned to the earth forever. She placed her own self there.
At least she'll surely leave with her prized flowers.
The Most Powerful Man In The Russian Mafia Died Eight Years Ago, And Everything Has Been Chaos Since. Valentin Dominik Was The Very Cause Of This, With His Cruel, Heartless Uprising Of Schemes And Crimes. With No One Brave Enough To Challenge Him, He Thought He Was The Only King. What He Doesn't Expect, Is For The 'Alleged' Heir Of The Former Mafia King To Do Just That, With Her Claims Of Having A Right Way Of Running A Mafia. And When Their Paths Cross, Everything Changes.
Does life have to be so complicated? Zoey didn't think so, that is, until she receives a certain letter. When Zoey initiated her first shift on her 18th birthday, her life took a bizarre turn for what seemed like the better and the worst. She learnt something about herself that had been dangling over her head all her life, but she never understood until that moment. She vowed to learn the whole truth but she couldn't do it all alone, which left her at a dead end once again. Coincidentally not long after, she learns that her mate was the Alpha of the Truemoon Pack who automatically took a promiscuous adoration towards her. Niall helps his lost mate through all possible challenges and mountains, just so she could find those missing fragments about herself and be happy. But when she finds out the truth, will she be?
Four years ago, a 13 year old blackmailed me into friendship by holding my doughnut captive. We've been close ever since. But then, I noticed that I wanted to be more than just friends. I was in love with my best friend. Sadly, he didn't feel the same way. I thought my world was over. I was crushed. But to my utmost yet most delighted surprise, I just happened to fall into the arms of a certain bad-boy. Literally. He didn't just save me from what could've been a hell of a concussion that night. He saved my heart too. But hey, let's not get in over our heads now. It wasn't that easy. Not even close. After all, when two opposing worlds clash for the very first time, we cant just expect it to be all rainbows and sunshine. Now do we?
One mansion on the coast. One man. One woman. And something she thought could have never been. And it all started with what some might say was an ill-fated kidnapping. Every villain has a story; and his? Well, it captured her heart.
My name is Roxy Gilbert and I'm apart of The Silent Moon Pack. When I was two years old, we were attacked by a stronger and more powerful pack. They took our home, our people, our land and our dignity... And I'm getting it back. *** Roxy and her twin brother, Aiden, have been training their whole lives to go undercover as spies in the pack that overthrew them. Their aim is to figure out the pack's weak spots, get enough information as possible about them, and attack when they least expect it. What Roxy doesn't know is that her mate was the new Alpha of that very pack, which leaves her torn between betraying her pack or her mate. Who will she choose? Let the tests of trust, love and loyalty begin....
Luka was the best Alpha the Brightwater Pack ever had. That is, until he loses his mate and everything comes crashing down. Having lost everything he loved and his one real reason for living, he attempts suicide on a human territory, when Victoria intervenes and ruin his plans. She makes it her duty to help the man that 'couldn't be saved' after he constantly refuses her help. What happens when she uncovers his secrets one by one? Will Victoria give up on him, or will she surprise them both? Who would've thought that she could save him just in the nick of time? Or does she...
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."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
After a heated confrontation with her husband and mistress, Brianna was pushed down to stairs. She thought she would die but when she woke up again, she realized that she traveled back two years ago, when it was not late for her to correct her path. The first thing she needed to do when she was reborn was divorce that scum. She saved from the darkest time but he lied to her and murdered her in the end. This time, she would not repeat the same mistakes anymore. She would bring the glory of her family back and make those people who betrayed her pay the price! However, in the process of climbing up to the peak of her career, she met a very intimidating and handsome man who kept on messing with her head through his bold attitude. Brianna doesn't want to be involved with another man again, for she has proven to herself that they will just drag her down, but her constant incidents with him are slowly breaking the wall she built to protect her heart. Brianna will surely choose her career over a man this time, but it's possible to choose both, right? What if he hurt her too? No! She won't risk it but. "You have to run away from me, Bree. Coz I'm done running away, I'll chase you now."
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.