Abandoned as a baby, Trevor Rowe is no stranger to rejection, but he hits rock bottom when he finds out his partner's betrayal. Just trying to get by, he encounters a stranger, and his life turns around for good. Or for bad? Will his new found life and fortune be his undoing, or will he rise above it all and thrive?
CHAPTER 1: AT THE FUNERAL.
"For crying out loud, can't you even pretend that we're okay, even at your aunt's funeral?" Trevor was frustrated, but he said those words biting down his lips, to not be audible before the already gazing onlookers.
She had already created a scene.
He couldn't believe that his wife, Elizabeth Smith, could embarrass him at such a place where everyone is to sober up and pay his last respect to the dead.
That didn't matter to her anyway.
She did what she did, embarrassing not just Trevor, but herself also. Folks close to them were used to her bickering, but to do so in front of total strangers, meant her disdain for her husband ran deep.
Embarrassed and frustrated, Trevor walked away from his wife going outside the front porch, he sat down, taking deep sigh as his head hung low.
'How could she have said she wished I was the one being buried.' He reminisced on what she said a while ago.
His heart ached, lost in his thoughts, as a hand was placed on his left shoulder. In fright, he snapped out of his wandering thoughts.
Before he could look, the person already bent low to sit beside him. It was his friend, Paul. "That was harsh of her to have said such. What a nerve!" Paul said, trying to console his friend, looking forward as though he stared at something.
Normally, Trevor would have tried defending her but this time, he was grieved. Trevor could still see folks mumbling words in whispers, as they turned in his direction, throwing glances at him. He knew that they were talking about him.
'What were they saying?' He thought to himself.
"Are you sure you want to be here now?" Paul asked Trevor, this time looking at him.
"I'll stay a bit," Trevor replied.
A waiter passed by them, and Paul signaled him with a finger, beckoning on him to give them a glass of wine each. Paul smiled in appreciation to the waiter as he took the glasses of wine, offering Trevor one of it. But he declined.
"Hey, they say 'A merry heart does good like medicine', so you better take this drink." Paul said trying to cheer Trevor up.
"We're at a funeral. There's no reason to be merry." Trevor said, still refusing to take the drink.
"Dude, take this drink." Paul insisted.
Nonchalantly, Trevor accepted the drink, gulping it down like a man parched with thirst, wandering the desert.
"How did we get this way? We used to be together. What happened to us Paul, what happened?" Trevor tried holding back his tears from rolling down his surprisingly smooth skin. He didn't want to further prove to folks that he was a sissy. He took a deep breath, holding in the tears.
"I don't know Trev. Stuff like this happens at some point in our life." Paul spoke incoherently, he didn't know what to say or how to console the distraught heart of his friend. What he said really didn't matter to Trevor, just his support by being present with him was all he needed.
"Uncle Trevor." A little girl ran towards him gleaning with excitement, and fell into his bosom. It was Paul's daughter, Michelle.
"Hey sweetie. Where have you been?" Trevor asked. She was indeed a sight for sore eyes.
"I was with mom, then I went play with the other kids." Michelle replied, childishly in his arms. But then, isn't she just a child being a child?
Michelle's innocence was just so pure, and it made Trevor wish that life could just be so simple. He found temporal solace in the presence of the little girl, and the distraction she afforded him.
Standing up from his seated position, he took her up in his arms and walked in to the house. The burial had already been done, so everyone were at liberty to help themselves to a buffet of meal prepared by caterers. Getting to where the food was placed, he placed her gently on the floor to stand by herself, as he helped himself to some meal, and so did Michelle.
Paul joined them, as he also served himself. "Where's your mom?" He asked his daughter concerned that she may not have eaten yet.
"I don't know where she is." Michelle said munching on her meal.
"Let me go find her." He left Trevor and his daughter in search of his wife.
From a corner, Elizabeth saw Trevor with Michelle. She was envious of the genuine smile and happiness he expressed, playfully feeding and being fed by the little girl. That sight made her think.
'This is what I always wanted.' She snapped out of her thought and continued conversing with her relatives, the children of her deceased aunt.
"What is he still doing here? I thought he left already when he walked away from you." Mrs. Smith, Elizabeth's mother said with disdain that was noticeable by those who beheld her countenance.
"I don't know mum." Elizabeth said rolling her eyes, shrugging it off as though Trevor wasn't worth talking about.
"A mistake for a husband, that's what he is. I can't believe you ever saw anything good in him." Mrs. Smith snarled frowningly. If it was up to her, she'd have him kicked out that vicinity. She loathed him, maybe even more than her daughter.
Trevor raised his head looking sideways, as he locked gaze with Mrs. Smith. He smiled at her in salutation, but she made no gesture in acknowledgement. All he saw was the disdain. He shrugged it off thinking, 'Oh well, it is what it is.'
Mrs. Smith elegantly walked gracefully towards Trevor, putting on a smile as she greeted folks who were offering their condolences for her loss. She was always good at putting up a good act when necessary, as occasion demanded.
"So, you're still around? I thought you wouldn't come in the first place." Mrs. Smith said looking away, still smiling and waving at folks who looked her way. Trevor remained silent. "I guess since you're jobless and have nothing doing, you could make it." This she said looking straight at him, smiling though, but it was still her acting skills playing out, masking the true disdain deep within her for her son in-law, Trevor.
"Mrs. Smith, I am here out of respect for your sister, Sally." Trevor said calmly as he sent Michelle away, so as not to be witness anything foul, in case it did.
"Don't you dare say that name!" She said sternly this time, after already landing a slap on his cheek, unable to contain her displeasure. "You think I don't remember how you hated her? What respect do you have for her? You're just here to rub it off on her one final time."
The room got awfully quiet. She was already creating a scene.
Trevor was in shock, and at the same time further embarrassed. The little moment of solace Michelle afforded him was whisked away.
"Ma'am, I have never hated your sister. We may not have seen eye to eye and had our differences, but I never hated her." Trevor said in his defense. But Mrs. Smith laughed hysterically to mock Trevor.
"I wish it was you being buried today." Mrs. Smith reiterated what her daughter had said to Trevor.
Hurt deeply at that statement, Trevor stormed out of the house. That was the last straw. He had had enough of the embarrassment. Elizabeth just stood there watching him walk out of the house. Visitors who hadn't seen them since their wedding day were thrown aback, and they were left to wonder what the hell was going on.
"Trevor. Hey buddy, wait up." Paul ran up to Trevor who was already by the road, headed down the street.
Trevor couldn't tell what he felt. He was angry, heart broken, embarrassed. He couldn't even say what ailed him. He just knew he had to skedaddle, leaving that place. It was a place of mourning, but it seems his pain ran deeper than they who actually lost someone.
"Trevor, where are going?" Paul asked as he caught up with Trevor.
"Anywhere but here." Trevor said angrily, as he kept walking briskly.
Paul stood in front of him, blocking his way, "Trev, I know you're hurt, but I don't want you to do something irrational."
"In all your years of knowing me, growing up as kids, have I ever been one who had outbursts of rage?" Trevor said taking in a deep breath, looking intently at his friend, trying not to transfer aggression to his friend.
"I know you don't, bu- "
"I just want to be left alone." Trevor interrupted.
"Alright buddy. So where will you go to?" Paul asked really concerned.
"I just need to get out of here." Trevor said walking away from Paul, and everyone.
Paul walked back to the house fuming. He got his daughter and wife and left the house. Elizabeth and her mother went on as though there had not been an altercation between them and Trevor. Paul looked at them on his way out, and shook his head frowning in utter disappointment at them.
Grabbing a glass of wine, Mrs. Smith walked up to her daughter, Elizabeth. "Good riddance." She smiled at her daughter, as they both toasted, Elizabeth smiling back at her mother.
Having suffered betrayal and injustice from the ones he trusted when he was most vulnerable, Michael Belsky shuts his heart from the subject of love, fully embracing a heritage of violence, affluence, and power, making him a force to be reckoned with in the business and underworld. With his rise to eminence, was also the rise of enemies. By virtue of an old agreement, Michael is compelled to take for himself a bride, but he chooses a stranger, Ivana, in defiance of his father, as she felt indebted to him. With time, Michael found himself falling helplessly for the cheerful and upbeat Ivana. But little did they both know that they both had secrets, and their lives were intertwined way before they ever met. Will their secrets and past come in between the love they've built, breaking them apart? Or will they draw strength and be even more bonded in love, facing the challenges that they encounter?
It wouldn't be out of terms to say that the life of the billionaire playboy, Trevor Munroe, was rudely interrupted on a fateful night, by a stranger. But falling in love with that stranger was the least thing he could ever imagine, even in his wildest fantasy. But such was the complication he found himself in. And being given an ultimatum by his father, he is left with no choice but to dance to the tone he had set. With time, secrets gets revealed and truths are laid bare. Will this love stand the test of time as loyalties are tried? Was all this but just a game? And did fate bring them together to tear them apart?
Discharged from the military, Ray Lee finds himself as the bodyguard to the daughter of a wealthy man. He meets a lady whom he discovers he shares a similar past. Will they join forces to avenge their past predicament, or will they choose to move on?
A scorned and timid son-in-law of a small family, loving and pampering his wife, was all he wanted to do. Acknowledgement and care from his wife and family, was all he needed and wanted. What did he do when he didn't get what he needed? He endured, all because he was sold off to marriage but had to deal with it. One night, he stumbled on his wife and foster brother and saw what was meant to be kept hidden, but do they really want to keep their acts hidden? He became lost and felt betrayed, he wandered around and finally got to the only place he finds solace. After that night, he changed. He became stinkingly rich and divorced his wife. Wondering how this is a fairy tale? But it was no fairy tale, because with riches came it's tribulations. He had to hone his skills and became extremely cold hearted, controlling the largest mafia group in New York, with a chain of legal businesses. He became a killing machine, trampling his enemies and his ex-wife, wanting to find peace but he couldn't find peace. It was a completely new life for him. What happens when a new ray of light, shines on to his dark world? Will he embrace it? Or will he remain cold-hearted?
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
During her three years of marriage with Brendan, Adeline had become as humble as dust itself. However, what she got in return wasn't love and affection, but endless indifference and disdain. Worse yet, when the woman in Brendan's heart suddenly showed up, he further distanced himself from her. Finally, Adeline couldn't stand it anymore and asked for a divorce. After all, why should she stay with such a cold, distant man? The next one would surely be better. Brendan watched as his ex-wife left with her luggage in tow. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he made a bet with his friends. "She'll definitely regret leaving and will come crawling back to me in no time." After hearing about this bet, Adeline sneered. "Dream on!" A few days later, Brendan ran into his ex-wife in a bar. It turned out she was celebrating her divorce. Not long after, he noticed that the damned woman seemed to have a new suitor. Brendan was starting to panic. The woman who had clung to him for three years suddenly didn't seem to give a damn about him. What was he going to do?
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
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."
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.