For twenty six year old Harley Richmond, Edward Crane was just the rich kind godfather who sponsored her at the orphanage after the death of her parents when she was only ten. Now celebrating her daughter's fifth birthday, Hailey and Edward were confronted by Edward's son Casper who had followed his father when he said he was going on a business trip. "Casper the woman's daughter looks like you and she is definitely your father's mistress." His friend Justine had told him two years ago when he had seen Edward and Hailey together with her daughter Orla for the first time. Last year he had seen him again the same date as the previous year at the same hotel. This year Casper had decided to catch his father red handed. "So, dad this is what you have been up to, spending your time with this girl not even caring for your own dying wife." "It's not what you think son. Hailey is not my mistress and Orla is not my daughter" "She surely looks like me dad.......and if she is not your daughter then whose daughter is she......? Could she be Casper's daughter but how......? If so, what is he going to do?......Will there be any more surprises...?
'My baby is not a mistake......my baby is not a mistake.' Hailey thought to herself when her daughter Orla excitedly asked her mother to hurry up.
Edward Crane, the man Orla referred to as her grandfather had just arrived to take them out since it was her fifth birthday. Edward had gone to Hailey's neat two bedroom apartment.
The apartment in this secure complex belonged to LD Technologies Co the company that Hailey worked for as head of the Human Resources department. The twenty six year old had only been in that post for six months. Before that she was working for another company in the human resources department but not holding a higher position.
"I'm coming baby girl." Hailey grabbed her purse and rushed down the stairs to her daughter and the man she referred to as her godfather.
"Edward, it's always good to see you." She smiled and gave her godfather a kiss on the cheek.
"Good to see you too Hailey. We better hurry up and not disappoint someone here." Edward held Orla's tiny hand and the three got out of the apartment and headed for Edward's car which was parked in the complex car park.
Hailey's parents were killed in a car crush when she was ten. She was sent to an orphanage as none of her parents' relatives wanted to look after her.
Edward supported the orphanage and Hailey was introduced to him by Dorothy Plum the director of the orphanage. Hailey was told that Edward was the godfather who had pledged to take care of her education and all her needs.
Hailey was grateful to Edward as most of the children in the orphanage were not so lucky to have a sponsor like him. She only spent time at the orphanage during school holidays since Edward paid for her expensive boarding school. He also paid for her studies at a top university.
Fifty seven year old Edward was the chairman of Crane Group and two years ago made his now twenty nine year old son Casper the CEO of the Crane Group. His wife had been battling with cancer and he was hopeful now that she was in remission.
He built his fortune from scratch years back and his only son Casper was a senior executive in the company until he made him CEO. He made the decision as he wanted to dedicate his time to his wife who was battling with cancer then.
Edward opened the door for the back seat and carefully put the little girl in her seat whilst Hailey watched her excited daughter.
He opened the front passenger door and her goddaughter got in and fastened her seat belt as Edward went to open the driver door and got in. They started their journey to the exclusive hotel Edward had made reservations earlier on.
"I can't believe we have kept this tradition of the three of us having a meal on Orla's birthday." Hailey remembered when they started the tradition when Orla was three.
"How can I miss my granddaughter's birthday?" He said smiling at his goddaughter.
When Orla was four, Hailey deliberately didn't remind Edward as she wanted to find out if he would remember on his own. Edward called her when he was a few minutes away and they had laughed about it when she told him that she had waited to see if he was going to remember.
Upon reaching the hotel Edward, parked his car and quickly got out and helped Orla getting out of the car. Lilly a cheerful waitress welcomed them and led them to their reserved table and pulled the chair for Orla to sit on.
Edward pulled out the chair for Hailey to sit and he in turn took his seat next the birthday girl. There were served their meal and they started enjoying and chatting.
"How is Lynn these days?" Hailey asked about Edward's wife whom she had never met but knew that she had been battling with cancer.
"She has good and bad days but it's much better these days now that she is in remission." He replied checking whether Orla was eating her food.
They continued chatting about different topics and Edward was pleased that his goddaughter was enjoying her new job.
He later signalled Lilly to bring the birthday cake for the birthday girl. Lilly placed the cake on the table after the other waiters had cleared the table. Hailey as always hugged Edward and thanked him. Lilly and some of the waiters joined Hailey and Edward singing happy birthday to Orla.
The little girl was now giggling and clapping her hands when they were singing for her.
"Orla it's now time to cut your cake." Lilly helped Orla to cut her cake and helped her to share.
She had been working at the hotel for four years and was now witnessing this yearly tradition for the third time. The three waiters left the three to enjoy the rest of their celebrations.
"Well...well....well Chairman Crane, celebrating this young girl's birthday with her young mother when your wife is dying." Hailey turned as she heard a male voice and the clapping of hands.
She recognised the man as Edward's only son Casper who pulled a chair and sat next to Orla. Hailey was now observing father and son and could see that Edward was in total shock seeing his son.
Listening to Casper's statement, Hailey tried not to panic as she felt that she didn't do anything wrong. Casper was now staring at Hailey condescendingly and he immediately focused his attention on the little girl.
"My name is Casper Crane and what is your name young lady and how old are you?" He asked and kept his eyes on Orla. Hailey was now shaking her head as she had now seen what was happening.
'Oh...he thinks I'm his father's mistress.' She laughed internally.
"My name is Orla Richmond and I'm five years old." She said still smiling.
Turning onto Hailey Casper's eyes were now filled with hatred.
"Did he tell you that my mother was dying and be ready to take her place? Hmm......? You will be a fool to believe him because she beat the cancer." He was looking at her straight in the eyes.
Edward was calm and he was worried about Orla witnessing nasty exchanges between the adults.
"It's not what you think Casper. You got it totally wrong." Edward tried to make his son understand
With eyes filled with anger Casper shouted at his father. "Ok dad what is it, three years in a row seen in this hotel this same date with this woman and her daughter?"
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What could go wrong when you have got a computer geek friend like Trevor who can fix everything? Candice was happy that her stepmother's plan to marry her off to an older rich man had failed. The marriage certificate she produced was proof of her marriage to her secret boyfriend. The husband according to Trevor was a gay man who would never dream of getting married. Everything was going to be deleted after a year and nobody would know even the husband. Now one evening a handsome stranger stood at Candice's door looking for Candice Stevens. "I'm sorry…. you have the wrong person I'm Candice Walters. "That was before you got married. I'm Clive Stevens your husband. Immediately Clive started playing the husband role without giving Candice a chance to explain herself. Is he going to let it go or does he have other plans for Candice?
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Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
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."
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."
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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.