R-18 STORY: Joy Deveas, who seeks love and affection from her parents but couldn't give it to her. She needs to survive in order for her to live. She is running away from her problems and she thought that a new environment would be a safe place for her not until college came. She will fly high to survive and fight for her dreams to come true.
"I would like to thank everyone who attends this event tonight. I am not here in front of you without all of your works and efforts. I was with you when I built this company. You made me what I am right now. I dedicated this company to all of you. Thank you very much, and let's work hard to achieve our goals!"
Everyone stood up and applauded after I said my speech. I smiled sweetly in front of the cameras before I went down off the stage and went back to my seat. Some of the business persons came to congratulate me. I thanked them and accompanied them a little. I felt so happy today. All of my dreams came true! Right now, I am already a successful businesswoman.
"I envy you for being so workaholic. I mean, you became a flight attendant for three executive years and now you already have your own business. How is that even possible?" I laughed at one of the businesswomen that talked to me.
"Well, it's just a strategy in life. I just set my goals and achieved what I want."
What I said is true. I was just dreaming then and I just fulfilled the dreams I wanted. It's because I am determined to be successful for myself and also I want to prove to everyone that I can be on the top.
"Miss Deveas! Congratulations on your new achievement! You look more stunning." I smiled again, but this time it was another businessman that talked to me. "Thank you, Mr. Marky. I hope you're enjoying the dinner?"
"Yes, of course!"
I excused myself to go to my friends' table. Some were my business partners and some already have their own professional jobs.
"I can't believe that you are already on top, Joy! I mean, who would have thought that the war freak Joy during high school and college would be successful like this, right?" Brielle said proudly. I sat on the sofa and grabbed a bottle of wine. "Heck year, But I believed in her, I know that she achieved all of her dreams," Sheryll added. I drank my wine first before talking.
"Guys, it's just me," I bragged. We laughed because of that. How I missed the good old days wherein we always chill and have bonding. We still can do it now but it's not just like before.
"So now, what is your next goal girl?" Trisha asked. I think first before answering her question, "Hmm, I am planning to have branches in different places."
Since this building was my first ever branch, I am aiming to have more branches all over the country. I have my own hotel with a bar and restaurant. It's a restaurant from 8am to 9pm then 10pm until midnight is a bar. The restaurant was located on the first floor while the bar is located on the second floor of the building. My bar is very spacious and the designs are really admiring. I spent millions to build this. The third floor is a gym then fourth floor to eighth floor are rooms of the hotel.
"How about a boyfriend? Don't tell us that you still haven't thought about that. Girl, you're already 28 years old! Maybe you thought you were still young?" Jane teased so I rolled my eyes at her.
"I'm still so lazy to flirt." They laughed to my answer, "Because of that, you will grow old as single, stupid!"
I just ignored them since they won't stop teasing me if I will continue to talk to them. The opening of my business will be tomorrow and tonight is the opening party. I went to the restaurant to check if everything was ready for our first day tomorrow.
I asked the head chef if the menu was already set and he said that everything was ready. Next is the bar, I checked if all the liquors are completed and they said yes.
"How about the bartenders?" I asked, while looking around the place.
"Ah, yes Ma'am Joy, I already hired two bartenders." The manager answered, her name is Jezreel.
"What are their names?"
"Caleb Gonzales and Prince Alejandro, Ma'am Joy."
My eyes immediately widened when I heard the names that Jezreel mentioned. "What the fuck? Did I head you wrong? What is the first name again?" I am still shocked, I hope she said it wrong.
"Caleb Gonzales and--"
I cut her off. I rubbed my forehead. Is he joking with me? Why would he apply to my own bar? "Did you interview them?" I asked again. Jezreel was already confused about my reaction.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Has no one else applied as a bartender?"
"There are many who applied to this position, Ma'am. But they are the only two who have a good background and are qualified for this job. The others were--" I immediately stopped her from speaking, "Okay fine. Thank you." I left the place after that.
Why am I even worrying? Maybe he doesn't have any job to work with that's why he applied to my bar. Also, I don't always come at my bar so there's no chance we would meet. Ugh! The audacity to work in my own bar after what happened years ago. Is there nothing left to him?
"I heard my phone ringing and saw that Mr. Jaa was calling me. I immediately answered the call, "Hello?"
["I'll see you tomorrow at your bar in the afternoon.']
"Okay! Thank you."
I am so excited that finally, I will be able to meet him in person. It's been years and yet I still don't know who he is in person and what is the reason why he's always helping me throughout the years that passed. Thankfully, he agreed to meet me in person.
After the event, I went straight to my condo. I saw my two sisters there. Next to me is already 24 years old and still taking up a medical course while the youngest is still in high school, 16 years old. "Did you guys already eat?" I asked.
"Not yet, Kate doesn't want to cook our food!" Tin complaint, she is my youngest sister. I rolled my eyes, "How about you? You're already in tenth grade and yet you still don't know how to cook?" I glared at her.
She stopped watching on Netflix and went to the kitchen, "I am always wrong here," she rants.
"Maybe Kate was busy in her reviews. You don't have anything to do so you should be the one cooking your food."
Dixie got out from her room, "Oh? The event was already done? How was it?" she asked. I sat on the sofa and removed my heels, "It went good."
"So are we already rich? As in super rich? When are you going to buy me a car?" Tin asked so I stared at her, "I will buy Kate a car first and you will get your when you turned 18," I answered. She just pouted her lips and continued cooking.
Kate sat beside me, looking so serious. "What is it?" I asked. She sighed before answering me, "Daddy sent us again a letter."
"What does it say?"
"I haven't opened it yet. Read it first and it has money inside the envelope." I laughed because of that. Maybe they still wasn't aware that we don't need their money anymore. We are already richer than them.
"I'll handle it. I will give back their money and I will probably add more to it. I think they need money more than us." I said before going to my room. Memories came back to my mind. They tortured me by hurting me physically and emotionally when I was in their hands. I am still thinking on how I survived and did things because I was desperate.
What exactly is a parent's duty? Will they hurt you because they discipline you and love you? Are they hurting you because you are wrong? Or are you hurting because they are always tired and you all turn to you? Everything that happened to me since college, I overcame through it. I did my best to change myself. To change for the better. And here I am now, successful with my life. I don't need any help. I can be successful on my own.
I don't need money from my parents. I want their love for me. But it's too late.... they are too late to give love and affection to their daughter. I've already survived my life.
I was so desperate that I even prayed for a miracle to happen in my life. Who would have thought that a time machine really exists in this world? I managed to go back to the past but it didn't change anything, my life became worse because of my own decisions. But I stayed and face the challenges that I need to overcome and right now, I am not regretting my decisions anymore. Because it led me to where I am right now. I am already successful enough to handle my own life. And I must say that I've learned my lesson and every page of my life is worth it and meaningful.
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."
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
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.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.