Years ago, Isabella eloped with her secret lover after getting pregnant. Not only did this ruin her reputation, but it also made her then-boyfriend, Claud, the city's laughingstock. Five years passed. Claud was declared the powerful successor of his family's company, the GL Group. The day he returned was the beginning of Isabella's woes. Claud was indifferent and ruthless, while Isabella was stubborn and fickle. The two continued to torment each other. Things went on like this until something dire happened: somebody had kidnapped Isabella! She was locked in a dilapidated boat for three days and nights while the kidnapper demanded an outrageous ransom. But nobody came to save her. She was on the verge of losing all hope when a man covered in blood showed up. He stretched his hand to the dying Isabella and whispered, "Don't you get it? You can't live without me."
In Okmore.
Layers of grey and fluffy clouds decorated the eastern sky. Soon after, it began to rain heavily.
Squalls were slamming fiercely against the windows. Stepping onto the three pregnancy test reports scattered across the floor, the man in the room said, "Tell me! Who is the baby's father?" His expression was terrifying.
The girl shook her head. She really didn't know!
Claud Lambert was furious. "Isabella McCoy, we've been together for so long. How did I treat you?"
How did he treat her?
Tears streamed down the corners of Isabella's eyes. All this while, Claud had showered her with passionate love and affection. He was always good to her.
Besides, he cherished and respected her. They never ever had sex despite being with each other for so long. He wanted to wait until she was ready.
"Why aren't you saying anything? I thought you're always expressive? Are you feeling guilty?"
"No!"
Isabella's breaths were turning heavy. She extended her hands and pinched his arm, trying to free herself from his grip.
Staring at the color draining from her face, Claud didn't have the heart to kill his beloved woman after all. The moment he let go of her, Isabella slumped to the floor and started to cough violently.
Claud unbuttoned his shirt and asked again, "When did you hook up with that man?"
When Isabella was back to her senses, she yelled at him in despair, "I've never betrayed you. Not even once! I have no idea why I'm pregnant! Isn't the Lambert family powerful? Go ahead and investigate! Prove to everyone that your girlfriend is innocent."
Isabella was pregnant, but she insisted saying she didn't know how she got herself into that state. It was too ridiculous. No one would believe it, not even herself, let alone Claud.
"You're saying this because you know I'm never going to find out the truth, aren't you?"
When Claud heard about the news back then, he had sent his people to dig into it. Yet, he found nothing. There was nothing about her checking into hotel rooms and sleeping with other men. There wasn't even any suspicious men around her.
However, her being pregnant was the truth. Two of the three pregnancy tests were done in Claud's presence. He watched from the doctor drew her blood and everything else, to the reports were printed out. There was no way the reports could be fabricated.
Staring at him, Isabella felt her heart had been shattered. "Claud, are you not willing to even trust me?"
Drops of tears coursed down the chin of the girl, who had just turned 19. A sharp pang of disappointment streaked across her flawless face, but she wasn't giving in.
Claud was frustrated. Turning around, he kicked the chair that was near to him. It flung off and smashed against the wall, breaking into pieces.
Isabella was startled. Shudders ran down her spine. It was the first time for her to see him like this.
After a while, he turned and flashed her a sharp glare laced with killing intent. "Isabella, you better pray hard I never find that man. If there is a day where I find out who he is..." Claud didn't continue with the rest of his sentence, but his wrath had made it clear.
After recomposing himself, his rage faded away. He bent and gently carried the girl from the floor, just like how it was when they were in their love bubble.
Isabelle wasn't accepting the sudden change in his behavior. Such a kind of person wasn't giving her any sense of security. "Let go of me!"
"No, Bella. You took the initiative to approach me. You have no right to push me away."
Indeed, she was well aware of it. Hence, she couldn't defy but allow him to put her on the sofa.
Crouching before her, Claud gazed at her deeply. "You can't keep this child."
She let out a soft gasp. However, she didn't say anything.
"Stay with me..."
When she was touched by his words, he added, "I have to hide you from the world."
He would definitely find that man through her. At that time, no one could protect him, not even Isabella.
Isabella's smile froze on her face.
She couldn't believe what she heard. She was the daughter of Averie McCoy, the mayor of Okmore! She was also Claud's official girlfriend. And now, he was going to hide her like he was ashamed of her?
"No way!" she said.
Upon hearing her rejection, Claud didn't reveal any of his emotions. He gently wiped the tears on her face. "Bella, don't push me."
"Keeping me by your side is just your way of taking revenge on me, right?"
Of course, she knew he was never a kind person. Isabella just never thought Claud could be this ruthless.
Pulling her delicate chin closer to him, he uttered, "Bella, I'm protecting you. Everyone in Okmore knows you've betrayed me. As long as you continue being by my side as my woman, no one would dare to hurt you."
"I can protect myself!" Isabella retorted. She wasn't a weak woman.
The man smiled, radiating a sense of sympathy. "Be a good girl, will you?"
Averie McCoy was now the head of the McCoy family. She preferred boys over girls. How could Isabella protect herself when she wasn't even favored in the McCoy family?
"No, I don't agree!"
Claud's eyes darkened when she wasn't submitting herself to him. Standing up, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of her room. "You don't have a say in this!"
She was frantic with fear. "Where are you taking me?"
"To abort that bastard child in your belly!"
The word "bastard" angered her. She gave her all to break free from his control. "Claud, since you don't believe me, then let's break up!"
Expressionless, he glanced at her. "You'd rather choose to break up with me than to abort that child?"
Claud believed he had already been very benevolent to Isabella. Why weren't she appreciating any of it?
"Whatever you think."
She was tired of explaining. After doing it for two days, there wasn't anyone who was willing to believe that she didn't betray Claud.
"Isabella McCoy!"
She didn't give him a chance to speak. "I'm leaving now."
Looking at the girl's retreating figure, Claud became very gloomy. She was getting more and more disobedient.
Even if it was raining outside, she still decided to leave his residence. Standing in the rain, she looked back at the villa. Flashes of their sweet memories reminisced at the back of her mind.
However, before she could get in the car, she was escorted back inside by several bodyguards.
Just like that, she was forced to stay in the villa. However, Claud was nowhere to be found.
As the night fell, Isabella lay on the bed, feeling both mentally and physically exhausted. She closed her eyes and rubbed her lower abdomen with her hand, immersing in her own thoughts.
Where did it go wrong? Why was she pregnant?
Firstly, she didn't lose her memory. Secondly, she had never got drunk and been taken advantage of. Simply put, she didn't have sex with anyone. Yet, why was there a baby in her belly all of a sudden?
She was only 19 years old and had just started her college life. It might sound ridiculous, but did someone cast a spell on her?
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
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..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Carrying a child left Adeline trapped in marriage to the ruthless and unhinged Waylon, and everyone doubted she'd survive to see the baby's first breath. Filled with dread but determined, she carefully won him over and soon became his lethal obsession. Yet on the day she planned to escape, Waylon drove their car to a cliff's edge, foot hovering over the gas. "I'm sorry, love—did you just say divorce?" His fingers skimmed her cheek, his tone a deadly whisper. "Defy me, and you pay." Later, drenched in blood and rain, he knelt before her, trembling, and pleaded, "Tell me how to keep you here."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"