Carrie Zaverelli was hated by her entire family and despised by the one boy she truly loved. On the night of her birthday, her father murdered her for seeing him kill a man in cold blood. Years later she's back with a plan, to avenge her death and tear down her family and she won't spare anyone including her first love.
This day made me long for a home outside the walls of my house. Where I don't have to pretend like I don't exist, that everything is okay and that I love the silver tiara that is currently seated on my head. It's funny how everyone surrounding and cheering me on did not notice my tears put out the candles before my breath found the courage to do so.
Birthdays for other sixteen-year-olds was a total bliss but not even the lavish party thrown for me could drown my sorrow. I shove a large piece of cake into my mouth, moaning as the sweet velvet hit my taste buds.
"You sound like a dying whale" my brother's voice interrupts my inner turmoil making me groan. The last thing I needed was someone witnessing my mini breakdown. I love my brother very much, but this was bad timing.
"Go away Thomas" I push him away slightly even though I know it'll have no effect on his huge frame. This only makes him move closer to me before wrapping his arms around me.
"You know I hate seeing you like this" He said into my hair while being careful not to tip over my tiara.
"Don't make this awkward Tom. I'm just a birthday girl trying to eat all this cake" I said and shove a much larger piece of cake into my mouth.
"Has Drew wished you yet?" he asked. My heart sank already knowing the answer was in the negative. I'm sure my brother didn't want to upset me, but I couldn't help the sadness that spread across my chest.
"I'm sure he hasn't. That best friend of mine is an idiot" he scoffed, glancing over to where he was sitting on the couch with Cassie. Both were holding hands while trying to open all her presents which was laughable really because they couldn't get the gift wraps off that way. They looked rather stupid to me.
"He's with the better twin. It's not like I expect him to" I said and shrugged.
"You're the better one" he told me with a stern look "You deserve better anyway, that punk certainly does not deserve you".
"Thank you, Tom" I said, finally returning his hug "But I need you to leave me alone under this table and go mingle with all the businesspeople mum invited. You know she'll get mad if you leave her side for just a minute".
"I hate that you're right. This feels more like a business meeting than a birthday" He looked down at the plate in my hands with a frown "Try not to fill up your entire tummy, I have something planned later for just the two of us" he kissed the side of my head making me sigh in contentment.
"I know" I told him laughing "The big balloons I saw in the gazebo gave it all away".
"You just can't ever be surprised, can you?" he patted my head before finally leaving under the table making me wonder how he stayed that long under the table without having cramps in his legs.
I stuffed another cake into my mouth and looked to the couch where Drew was kissing Cassie which made me look away when the familiar hurt in my chest made itself known. It would've been better if Cassie weren't my twin sister so I wouldn't have to watch her with the boy I was in love with.
Birthdays sucked, or maybe it was just mine. I got up from under the table when I ran out of cakes only to bump into someone. Mum. My eyes widened when the last bit of cake I was holding smeared her designer black dress. I waited for the inevitable.
"You should've remained under the table where you belong" she screamed getting the attention of all the guests around. "Try not to let anyone see you, God knows what a sore sight you are" She said, before walking off, her heels making a clinging sound when it kissed the floor.
I saw Cassie look up at me from the corner of my eyes, but she made no move. It was no surprise this was a disaster for me, like other days before it. I grab the stupid tiara throwing it to the floor on my way out. Funny for me to think a birthday would make my parents pay more attention to me. My fat legs make me walk slowly to the back of our large house near the pool which was a big contrast to the way I imagined storming out of the house in my head.
"Don't come any closer!" a voice snarled, making me stop in my tracks. I scowled at Don when he raised his big head.
"This is my house so I can go wherever I want" I told him, pulling my shoes off my aching feet and sitting at the far end of the pool. Safely away from him.
"A house nobody wants you in" he said, before puffing the cigarette I only just noticed he was holding between his fingers.
I hated Don, I hated him even more because what he said was true and we both knew it. He was nothing like his older brother. Drew was soft, kind, loving, his eyes shone in the sun like he was some god in his former life whereas Don was...Don. Cold hearted, cared about no one, not even himself.
"My parents care about me Don, I wish I could say the same about you" I told him fiercely trying to hide how the truth of what he said was hurting me.
"At least no one threw a birthday for me then not even spare me a glance". He kept his face away from me. I was about to speak when he splashed his side of the pool making water hit my face and wet my gown. The space between us was obviously not safe enough.
"What did you do that for?" I hissed at him trying to wiggle water out of my hair which proved harder than trying to lose all the extra weight I had gained over the years.
"You're ugly Carrie, don't try to pretend otherwise. There's a reason my brother is in there kissing Cassie and not you" he pointed his index finger towards me as hot tears graced my cheeks. I cleaned it up with the back of my hand thinking of all the ways I could kill him. I stood up abruptly, marching to his hunched form and expressionless eyes.
I was about to push him in the pool when he grabbed me and pushed me into the bush behind him. I was about to scream in terror when his hand clamped over my mouth. He pointed at the far end of the pool where I had been seated when I saw my father walk in with Don's father as the dragged a bloodied man with them.
I watched the man beg for his life as my father played with a knife, swishing it in the air as if preparing the man that was knelt on the floor for what was to come.
The three men spoke in hushed voices making it impossible to hear what they were saying. The man on the floor suddenly started shaking his head back and forth. I watched my father with wide eyes as he brought the knife down before slicing through the man's neck severing his head completely.
It was an image that would forever remain in my head. The man's head sputtered blood everywhere and I watched it roll into the pool, turning it red in a matter of seconds. I shrieked unable to contain the horror I just witnessed making both men turn in our direction.
Don groaned from where he was beside me when he realized that I had just blown our cover. He turned me abruptly towards him and grabbed my face as our fathers walked closer to our hiding place. Before I could realize what he was doing he kissed me.
His soft lips caressed mine sending a peculiar tinge down my entire body. He tilted my head so he could have better access. He bit my lip just as the plants covering us was shoved out of the way.
"Father" Don said when he detached himself from me "Didn't realize you guys were here". My father glared at me, his eyes not leaving me once when he grabbed me by the neck. I watched him as he pulled me out, Don calling out to him.
My father's eyes did not look the same, a dark pool had replaced it and all the love that used to grace his face was nowhere to be found. I looked back at Don helplessly unable to wrap my head around what was happening when my vision started to go black but not before I saw the panic on Don's face.
Mourning the death of his fiancée in an explosion that was meant for him, Damien discovers that he has a child with his ex-girlfriend Lauren who had broken up with him and married their childhood friend, Nathan. He goes back to his hometown to search for answers and bumps into Lauren in his parent’s home. She accuses him of breaking up with her and refuses to let him take their child. In search of the truth Damien discovers that Nathan had cloned him and used his clone to break up with Lauren so he could get married to her. Will Lauren believe all that Damien is about to reveal or will she shatter Damien’s dream of having a complete family with her?
It's been years since Naya left the United States with tears, a broken heart and no father. But now, the President wants her back to protect his son, Tan and her first true love. This is her one chance at finding her father's killer and finally finding a home she can call her own. There is only one problem, she has to stay with Tan in his dorm room which has a no girls rule. Disguising herself as a boy and living with Tan thrusts her into a world of lies, more heartbreaks, secrets and drama.
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
For the whole 17 years of her existence, Alana did not know the word freedom and happiness having been confined in the basement of her family's house accused of killing her own mother. She's beaten, cursed at, and barely survived from crumbs of food thrown at her. She thought this is her final destiny and has accepted the bitter fate of her life not until the night of her 18th birthday, a mysterious alpha appeared at her door telling her that she is the long-lost daughter of the alpha king and claiming her as his mate he's been looking for several years now.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."