Two not-so-ordinary people living in a completely different world met by accident. Two people having opposite personalities, collided by debt... ohh, let's just say 'fate'. And two unfamiliar faces in an unfamiliar relationship... *** "I want you to keep this in mind, Rafi, I married you not because I love you, but because I had no choice at that time. So, don't take the role as my wife seriously as we were just married on paper. You can do whatever you want all day and I don't care just... (he paused)... just don't go my way and know how to put yourself in the right place! Do you understand?" "Whoa! Is this man eating rudeness every freaking day? He didn't even blink, Fodgodsake!" *** Meet Liam Clarkson, one of the hunky handsome bachelors of his generation. To make the word simple, a Greek God. But, behind the jaw-dropping suit and smile is the rude, self-centered, cold, and arrogant businessman who devours everything that goes against his way. And representing... Rafi Gonzalez, an independent, simple, yet beautiful free-spirited woman who believes in the saying, "When life gives you lemons, ask for salt and tequila--- oops--- make lemonade." A woman who simply living in her dreams. But, who would have thought that the simple, carefree life she's living would turn into a roller coaster of disasters the moment she met the arrogant Liam who eventually became her husband. The man she never imagined becoming her husband not even in her sweetest dreams, but holy fate intervened, so it has become a nightmare. Oh, how long will she be able to put up with his not-so-good behavior? And in a world full of differences and unfamiliarity, how long can these two stubborn individuals stand up for their opposing egos and perspectives? Could they survive or could they eventually fall in love?
Kringgg... Kringgg... Kringgg...
"Argh!" In a half-closed eyes, I tapped the annoying device called an alarm clock on top of the bedside table. "How I wish the night had been longer than the day," I muttered.
And with a loud, long sigh, I tried to open my eyes and adjusted to the sudden brightness coming from the huge glass window on the left side of my bed.
I checked the time from the annoying clock and it's only 7:00 in the morning, but because I have a meeting with my talent manager, I think I have no choice but to get up and do my morning routine. I hate mornings. I'm not a morning person. Sometimes, I just have no choice but to pull myself out of the bed because I'm a part-time model... a commercial model, a product endorser to be exact. One of the things my so-called husband doesn't know about me.
Hmm... yes, I'm married and it just happened almost two months ago. A grand wedding? No, it was just a very simple civil wedding which was attended only by my parents, two of my friends, some relatives of my husband, and of course, his grandfather who sat in a wheelchair was also present. The person behind everything or should I say the reason why our so-called wedding took place. And about the other details, well I'll tell you the next time.
I'm Rafi, by the way... Rafaela Gonzalez, in short, Rafi, but since I'm already married, I am now Rafaela Gonzalez Clarkson. I'm 26 years old, a woman living in her simple dreams... but that was before our wedding happened. Well, it's not that I can't do the things that I want to do, but because there are now people watching my every move.
Wearing my floral spaghetti strap top and white denim shorts, I finally got out of my room and headed downstairs, and went straight to the kitchen.
But I was just walking into the huge dining area and my jaws dropped as well as my mood. It's because I saw the person ignoring me for almost two months... my husband. I'm used to it, I mean, his behavior. The thing I'm not used to is seeing him in the kitchen when I wake in the morning because he used to leave the house at 6:00 and came home at 10:00 and sometimes at 11:00 in the evening. And not to mention that today is Monday.
Maybe he had just finished his breakfast as his both hands are now occupied by the newspaper.
Oh, by the way, meet my 'husband', Liam Samuel Jones Clarkson, but all his relatives including me called him 'Liam'. I'm sure you want to find out how he looks and what he does in life. Hmm... well, he's kinda handsome --- fine --- he's really handsome!
And like the Greek God in fantasy movies, he also has broad shoulders, well-built muscles, a toned chest (actually, I haven't seen him in person shirtless, only in magazines as he's been featured as the youngest billionaire and top-earning CEO according to Forbes). He also has a sharp jawline, pointed nose, and ohh... just imagine Henry Cavill (the superman), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Jaime Dornan (Christian Grey) in one.
Isn't he handsome? Yes, he is, the problem is that he has 'some' attitude problems... in short, bipolar. We always pretend we don't know each other inside the house as if our presence didn't exist for each other. I just don't know outside or in public as we haven't seen each other in public since the day of our wedding. And another thing, he loves to keep his voice for himself... he would speak when he wants and when he does, I always try to avoid him or move away as far as much as possible from him as I don't want to hear his rants especially when our housemaids have done something he doesn't like.
'Haist!'-
So, even though confusion struck the outer layer of my brain for a few seconds, I managed to compose myself, went straight to the fridge, and ignored him as we did in those times we saw each other around the house.
Singing softly my favorite Carol Banawa song 'Till it's time, I took all the pancake ingredients from the fridge and start cooking I had never seen him just a while ago and his presence 'doesn't exist.
"🎶One day you came and oh, you are so near me. I smiled and then you turned and didn't see me. How am I supposed to get to meet you? What should I do? You're in my dreams I feel it seems that you don't feel it quite the way I do.🎶"
Turning around the table's direction, I saw that he lowered the magazine and is now looking at me, but I continued the song and pretended to be oblivious of his dominant stares. Hmm... I don't care what he thinks. I clearly remember what he told me the night after the wedding that I can do 'whatever I want'... and now that I want to sing... I don't care what thinks.
"🎶You're in my mind almost all the time. Every single minute all I do is think of you. And deep inside, in this heart of mine, I have to go on wishing 'till it's time. Yeah... hey... ohh.🎶"
The moment I finished the song is the moment he stood up, took his plate and silverware, and slowly walked over the sink.
But of course, since I'm unaffected by his presence, I continued humming the last part of the song which is 'yeah... hey... ohh. But then I stopped when he got my attention.
With a serious face, he told me...
"You know what, why don't you just go and scream outside since you seemed to love exercising your vocal cords?" Sarcasm was woven into his voice but I just smiled.
"Oh, thanks, but no thanks. I have already practiced my vocal cords earlier while I was taking a bath, so I think that's enough." I shrugged.
He didn't say anything, but I didn't miss his sharp intake of breath as if he was just controlling his temper.
-'Ahah... I guess he didn't expect my come back!'- I laughed mentally behind him when he ignored me completely.
But then he was just taking a few steps away from me when he turned around.
"Tss! So annoying!"
He snorted, whispering the last part, but I still heard it all.
"Oh, yeah, you're right, I'm pretty annoying and there's nothing you can do about it." I muttered under my breath with a chuckle and decided to continue the song where I ended a while ago."🎶Yes, deep inside in this heart of mine, I have to go on wishing 'till it's time🎶."
I have no idea why he's still home at this hour. He's wearing a business suit, so I'm sure he's going to work, I just don't know what delayed him this time.
After finishing the most delicious chocolate pancakes in town--- of course, made by myself--- I called the attention of our housekeepers and asked them if they already had breakfast.
But since they haven't eaten yet, I asked them to stop what they're doing so we can have breakfast together.
Honestly, I treat them as friends more than housemaids. Maybe because I grew up in a simple family so I hadn't experienced having servants around me so I really appreciate their efforts. Not to mention that my adoptive parents taught me how to be kind and appreciate all the things around me whether they are big or small, especially the people who continue to make my character and personality grow.
Ahm... yes, I'm an adopted child. Rafaela or Rafi, my parents' biological child died when she was only three years old due to leukemia, and three months after losing her, they found me in a train station in Cincinnati.
Even though there was their strong desire to keep me to pacify their grief over the loss of their only child, the heart of being parents still occurred and they couldn't bear not to inform the authorities about me.
But a month has passed, two and three... no one came looking for me nor asked about me, so without second thoughts, they took me and brought me with them on their way home. They took care of me, loved me, and treated me like their own.
And even though I knew that the name they gave me was the name of their lost child, they never made me feel that I was just a second place, second best, or a replacement for the real Rafi. They loved me and gave everything parents should have given to their children. And because of that, I appreciate all their love and effort to raise me and I believe that I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for them.
~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~`~~~~~~
The story begins in the next chapter...
I hope you enjoy it and please let me know your thoughts about the characters and the story by posting your comments in the comments section. Thank you.
Love,
Jaycelle Anne Rodriguez
A great marriage doesn't happen when the "perfect couple" gets together. It happens when an imperfect couple gets together and learns to enjoy each other's differences. Six individuals with different personalities. Three imperfect couples who have been asked to be together... let's find out their stories. Will they fall in love with each other or will they eventually abandon their marriage? ~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~ Cold, rude, arrogant and narcissistic. This is how Sophia Yzabelle describes the man she married, Daniel Kelley. Due to her traumatic past and seeking justice, she agreed to marry him despite his rude personality. They hate each other from the very beginning but have had no choice but to get married as they both need the agreement for their own benefits. The question is how long could they stand facing each other? Will they eventually admit their feelings or will they continue to be stubborn towards each other? * * * Despite having everything she needs in life, it doesn't stop Madielyn Davis for completing her bucket list of dreams. So she applied for a job as a Personal Assistant to the CEO. Little did she know that her rude yet handsome boss, Gabriel Wilsons, will offer her a life-changing deal and that is to become his wife for a year. Uhm... marrying someone who doesn't love you back is hard, but how about marrying someone for an agreement and the reason---he just wants to get his ex-girlfriend back, isn't it more painful. Yes, it is, but she still agreed to marry him because she believed she could still change his mind for the revenge he's planning for his ex-girlfriend. But something happened during the process as she ended up falling in love with him. Will Gabriel be able to return Madi's love or will he prefer the person he loved first? * * * When she turned 18, a free-spirited young woman, Arrianna Angela, signed the most stupid contract and arrangement in her life. And that's marrying her brother's best friend and first love, Alexander Jonathan Smith. But here's the twist... he's rich, handsome but one of the certified womanizers in town. But what they didn't know is not only the contract they signed can be called stupid, but so is she, who still found herself deeply in love with him even though he left her alone in their marriage for four years. And now that he's back, can she still believe the man who made her feel worthless for a long time or like the past years she's been waiting, she would still accept and continue to love him despite everything that's happened?
"Why did you do that? Why the hell did you do that? Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me? I don't like you and how many times do I have to shout it in front of you just to make you understand that I don't like you? I don't love you and that's the last thing I will ever do!" They say words cut deeper and harder than knives. A knife can be pulled out but words are embedded into our soul. It leaves unseen and long-lasting scars. But guess what? She knew it, yet she wanted to take a sip of her sorrows and drink from her trapped bleeding heart. ~~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~~ It all started 8 years ago when she met him and fell in love with him. The problem was that he already has a girlfriend and he doesn't like her. But a stubborn and spoiled brat Samantha Soriano couldn't accept it. So she made a decision and planned everything to make Luke Marcuz Williams be her man. But fate didn't seem to cooperate with her stupid plan as it failed her, in which she ended up trapped with him in an arranged marriage. A marriage wherein everyone's eyes were perfect, full of love and respect, but in reality, it seemed like hell. He made her life a living hell. They didn't know that behind those smiles painted on her lips, tears flowed silently... and behind those laughs she was sharing, pain and sorrow were hidden carefully. Until she learned to let go and learned the truth that he will never start loving her, no matter what she does. But... What if everything suddenly changed after four years? What if he started showing the care and love he should have done 4 years ago, will she be willing to forget everything that happened and leave them behind? And if she realizes she has never really forgotten him, will she be willing to give him a chance this time or will she be ready to be with the man who once caused her pain?
A SEQUEL of CONTRACTUALLY MARRIED *Arrianna Angela/Rian and Alexander Jonathan/Alex *Sophia Ysabelle/Sophia/Belle and Daniel/Dani ~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~ Sophia Ysabelle, 26 years old, accepted the life changing deal of marrying the famous billionaire, Daniel Kelley, not for his money but for his name. They have different reasons for marrying each other. Daniel needs a woman to pretend as his wife to get the biggest investment for their company, that will lead them to the top grossing company in the whole state of California. While Sophia needs someone 'powerful' on her back while still seeking justice for what happened to her in the past. But there is a big problem between the two of them, they couldn't stand alone in one place facing each other. Daniel is a cold and arrogant billionaire with a smile as precious as diamond, and who already put her under his judgement from the very first time they met. And Sophia is a stubborn yet resilient woman who never backs down from anyone's judgement, not even from her future husband's rudeness. But in the end, will she tell him her real reason for marrying him? When he finds out the truth, will he continue to judge her? Will he be able to protect her from her dark past or he will just remain cold and arrogant husband towards her? "Never judge someone without knowing the whole story. You may think you understand, but you don't" *Rian* ~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~
He has all the traits that you wished for your dream man to have. Power, money, perfection, handsomeness and a body like a Greek God. But he's inlove. He's inlove with her. For him, she was the completion of his dream, a perfect wife and a mother to be with his children. He would give her everything including his own life. He would sacrifice his world for her. But she left him. She betrayed him. She broke his heart into pieces. And he turned into a cold, heartless, rude and an arrogant billionaire, who would do everything to show her that she's no longer important into his life. Even though the truth is the opposite of what he is doing. His heart still aching for her. And that's when he met me. I applied as his Personal Assistant to fulfill my bucket list of dreams. To explore my life and experience everything. He offered me a deal. He asked me to marry him just to show his ex that he already moved on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "She's pregnant." He blurted out and i almost stumbled on where i am standing. I just gripped the backrest of the couch to support my weight. The pain creeping in my heart is unbearable but i managed to stay calm. "Wow! Congratulations!" I said faking my excitement as i remembered him saying... -cheating would not be the reason to break our marriage- of course i couldn't accuse him of this as 'cheating' because she was the real reason why we are pretending as a couple. He still love her. He's still inlove with her. And that's when i made the biggest decision in my life. Taking all my strength and a piece of my heart that still hanging on a thin rope... I left him. Taking also my biggest secret in me... that i've already fallen inlove with him. And somehow i learned a lesson; 'Loving someone who doesn't love you back isn't as hard as loving someone who still inlove with his ex and who only uses you to get her back again into his life..'
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
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.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."