It had never always been this way. In fact, it had always been smooth and rosy, but everything changed when a mysterious stranger appeared. ☆ Daniel Jones agrees to go clubbing with his lousy roommate on a Friday night. To him, this is his first and last time in a club. However, the unexpected happens and he gets stuck with clubbing: he meets someone at the club who changes his life forever; someone who exposes him to raw emotions he never knew existed – emotions such as pain, hatred, jealousy and above all, LOVE in its intensity. The cool-headed, nerdy, and bookworm Daniel becomes a hot-tempered and violent man who would do anything to protect the woman he met in just one night – a night he would forever live to remember.
My eyes widened as the cold metal came in contact with my wrist. It took a minute before I could decipher what was happening. I stared in horror at the handcuff on my wrist and gasped when I was shoved a bit by the policeman beside me as he urged me to walk faster. Everything was happening rapidly and it felt like my brain was giving way; I could barely think and I felt my entire body go numb.
"I'm. . .I'm innocent," I managed to say but it seemed there was no rationale in this case and from the looks on the officers' faces, I knew I was pouring water into a basket; they didn't believe me and It didn't even help that the woman who had reported this case was fidgeting like she had seen a ghost; like I was a dreadful thing to behold.
"You have the right to remain silent otherwise, whatever you say will be used against you in the court of law." The officer beside me spoke as he ordered that my son be taken away from me. The little child had held unto my leg, crying at the top of his voice and when I tried to hold him, I was shoved once again as they led me down the stairs. I tried to speak but all I could do was whimper as thoughts of all that had happened some minutes ago filled my memory. I was yet to get over the event yet I was being driven into another trouble - bigger trouble. I still couldn't believe it had happened. I would have dismissed this as a nightmare but the blood on my hands was enough proof that it was reality. I was being arrested.
"You can't do this. Let me at least speak to my father," I tried to win them over but all I said fell on deaf ears as they pushed me into the van and drove off.
My eyes welled up as I shut my eyes. God knew I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was only trying to save my son. Why couldn't anyone understand that?
★ ★ ★
The creaking of the iron bars irritated me as I laid on the cold prison floor - the nauseating smell of the watery beans the officer had dropped for me not helping issues.
I still wondered who it was that prepared the meals at the prison yard. Perhaps, he or she didn't taste the meal before dishing it out for people to eat.
I sighed as I kicked the stainless steel that had been used to serve me, away from me.
I was alone yet again. Veronica had left me after wailing her eyes out. It didn't even help that I couldn't say a word to comfort her or even make some gestures at least. I had sat aloof like a rock instead and had watched her cry.
Though the locking fetters used to handcuff me when I was with Veronica had been taken off, I still felt the tingling sensation around my wrist; the marks they had left ever clear on my skin.
I peered at my skin through the dark but saw nothing. The small window by the side of the wall did little to brighten up the room.
Being in prison had made me appreciate little things like sunlight and fresh air which I had always taken for granted before.
There was nothing like freedom and no one should be confined to a tiny space like this. I wondered how I would have coped had my dad not been one of the prominent figures in town.
I had once walked past other cells and had seen how countless prisoners were locked up in a stuffy place with no air. At least, I had a room to myself unlike what I had seen back then.
A deep sigh escaped my lips when I heard some noise coming from another cell. It was a cry of agony and shivers went down my spine as I shut my eyes, listening to the cries go and on. I needed no one to explain to me what had happened.
It had always been that way and of recent, prisoners had been dying like fleas. I had only been in prison for two days and within that short duration, six men had collapsed and been buried.
One had happened while we were out for our periodic promenade the previous day. According to what I was told, the commandant had organised a periodic promenade for the prisoners.
Though the prisoners seemed to dread this - I now understood why - it was a moment to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful sunlight - rare gems I had come to appreciate.
While we were lined up before the commandant the previous day - a fierce-looking middle-aged man with an old fashioned helmet covering his bald head - one of the prisoners: a skinny looking old man who stammered a lot, was caught whispering words to his partner while the commandant was speaking.
According to how everyone had reacted, I knew it was a grave sin to speak when the commandant was. I was new here and so was taking note of everything.
I didn't want to get into trouble even when some of the officers that stood watch by my cell were unusually nice to me. One of the guards had promised I would be out soon and I did believe him - the son of a rich man wouldn't rot in jail, would he?
The two offenders that were caught talking were brought before the commandant and were asked to lie flat on the ground. A whip was passed to the grimacing commandant who raised the whip in the air with so much force and began lashing out painful strokes on the skin of the feeble old man who looked like he would pass out by mere shove of hands.
I had shut my eyes while the lashing went on; I couldn't bear to watch - not when the old man was wailing at the top of his voice.
Have you ever been disappointed and embarrassed at yourself? Then Maybe you might understand what Aiden had gone through when he couldn't shift into his wolf at the shapeshifting ceremony. he had failed not only himself but his mother and even the pack who trusted that he would be a strong wolf. For this reason, the great Alpha Lundamous threatened his daughter to reject the useless werewolf who is not worthy of her. But Adelia loves Aiden and rejecting him will be too much to bear. However, Alpha Lundamous is persistent and he swears to kill Aiden if he is not rejected. But what no one knows is that Aiden isn't one to be joked with, but one to be feared.
"You lack manners and I will teach you how to behave." She smirked and Liam had his eyebrow raised in confusion. "Since you will be working for me now, I guess you need to know my rules. Get a sheet of paper and start writing." "What?" Liam gasped. ★ ★ ★ Everything changes for Liam when Mr. Blaise hands over the company to his rude and spoilt daughter, Anastacia Blaise. Anastacia is the nightmare of every staff but Liam is determined to tame her, especially when he needs his job to take care of his old sick mother and younger sister. However, Anastacia is not called the witch for no reason. How long will Liam be able to cope with his new boss' ridiculous rules and demands?
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
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."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."