I know this is stupid! Marry a man who hates you to the heavens--- he hates your twin, and he thinks you are still your twin. Thank you! But I had to do this for Papa, Mama, and Nicky. When I saw my twin, I could just switch up with her. After all, Bennet is angry with him, he will suffer from that man's anger. I was stretched when I heard the wedding march inside the church. Hmmm. It seems like that was the signal for me to shake my head when I realized and just run away. But because I wasn't in the mood, I stepped into the church to the melodious sound of the bamboo organ. I need to be married. It's a pity that Papa suffered. Since I am completely orphaned, no one will take me to the altar. Just myself. I didn't even know anyone who attended. They are great people, Bennet's friends and business partners in business. I do not care about them. I'm not the type of person who likes to socialize. Nicky loves it, and as I keep saying... I AM NOT NICKY.
Cole's POV
I know this is foolish! To marry a man who despises you to the heavens – he despises your twin, and he believes you are still your twin. Thank you! However, I had to do this for Papa, Mama, and Nicky. When I caught sight of my twin, I could easily switch with her. Besides, Bennet is angry with him; he will suffer the consequences of that man's anger.
I was on edge when I heard the wedding march playing inside the church. Hmmm. It seemed like the cue for me to shake my head and bolt, but because I wasn't in the mood, I stepped into the church amidst the melodious sound of the bamboo organ.
I needed to get married. It's a pity that Papa endured so much.
Since I am entirely orphaned, no one will escort me down the aisle. Just myself. I don't even recognize anyone in attendance. They are all fine people, Bennet's friends and business partners. I couldn't care less about them. I'm not the type to enjoy socializing. Nicky loves it, and as I keep saying... I AM NOT NICKY.
The entire church is elegantly arranged. That hellish Bennet must have paid for it. He's just trying to show off his "WEDDING OF THE CENTURY." Sheesh! Some media outlets even covered the wedding. Sheesh! If I were there, they would have understood the situation differently and not this pointless marriage.
I gazed straight ahead in the church. I fixed my attention on the man awaiting me at the altar...
Bennet Michael Leofwin, a renowned Filipino businessman and billionaire.
What I know is that he's only 26 years old but has already established a business empire – RedSphere Inc – a multinational corporation headquartered in Silicon Valley, America. He's half Filipino, half demon, and also part Spanish. He hails from the esteemed Leofwin family.
I care little for him; my twin Nicky is dead to him. I was even in the middle of grappling with a tiger in Africa when I received Nicky's email announcing that Bennet was her boyfriend. Then, polar bears were chasing me in the Arctic Circle when news arrived that they had broken up. And my twin was utterly heartbroken.
After that, I heard nothing from him. I believed Nicky might have even taken her own life. When I returned from Afghanistan, this is what awaited me – Bennet and his indecent proposal.
Amusing, isn't it?
I had still believed Bennet to be a kind individual due to his offer to aid Papa's company. It turned out he had an ulterior motive. Shh!
He intends to make my life a living hell? Huh! We'll see about that! I've been far away, traveled many places. I've encountered and faced various kinds of monsters. I've wrestled with wild gorillas and had pythons slither over me. As a wildlife photographer for Geo Magazine, courage is my investment. To me, Bennet is just a lion...
A handsome and fierce lion.
Perhaps he can be tamed easily.
I continued walking down the aisle. There's no turning back now. Let's meet the lion king in his den and face the consequences. Eaten alive? Just a jest. If he dares to strike me, I'll break his jaw, he'll see.
I walked and walked some more. Alright, Cole, keep walking... walk. Damn it! Why is this church aisle so long? I'm exhausted! Especially with these heels taller than the Eiffel Tower. I don't wear heels. Who can afford such luxuries? I might as well hit his forehead with that heel and at least strike back.
After an eternity, I finally reached the end where Bennet stood with a smile.
Fake! Gotcha! That smile might fool others, but I know he's imagining how he'll torment me after marriage.
Beside Bennet stood his best man, Lukas Leofwin – Bennet's nephew. The handsome man also wore a genuine smile, unlike his uncle.
"Hello Nicky, or should I say Aunt Nicky?" Lukas greeted.
"Not yet," I retorted. "We're not married, remember? Save your congratulations; we might jinx it!"
Lukas chuckled. Bennet shot me a meaningful look. I merely raised an eyebrow in response.
Bennet took my hand and guided me to the altar. I was aware that all eyes were on us as we faced the priest to exchange our vows. I could still hear the murmurs around us.
"Cole's fortunate, right?"
"Yes, absolutely. He's got Bennet!"
"Hmph! I have a feeling Bennet had no choice after his true love, Kelly, passed away. I don't know why he settled for Nicky when I'm here. I would have been a better choice!"
I wished I could throw my shoe at the person speaking, but I restrained myself.
Or maybe I should just aim my heel at Bennet. There's that smile again. Addicted, perhaps? After he threatened me, now he's offering me a candy-coated smile? Ridiculous!
As we took our positions in front of the priest, I struggled to comprehend what the people around us were saying. Even the priest's words seemed incomprehensible. My brain had switched off.
Blah blah blah blah blah.
That's all I could hear. I scratched my head; the priest's ceremony felt excessively long, and my patience was wearing thin. I'm not usually impolite, especially not with priests. It's just that, in my view, Bennet was the one who deserved to be insulted after revealing his reasons for this wedding. So I couldn't care less if I displayed bad manners.
I felt my hair becoming disheveled, but I brushed it off. What if I looked disarrayed? People would criticize Bennet, not me. Hehehe. He married a lunatic.
After a while, Bennet nudged me, and I turned to him. He raised an eyebrow slightly, and I stopped myself from swearing because his appeal seemed to increase by a hundredfold. I didn't react when he lifted his hand and untangled my hair. His gentle fingers raked through my hair, sending shivers down my spine.
Hail Mary! What's with his touch? Does he have an electric current running through his fingers?
"Don't play the fool, Nicky. Don't embarrass me, or you'll regret it..." he whispered softly but intensely.
Jerk!
"It's touching that you're concerned. I don't intend to embarrass you. I'm just dealing with a stray louse in my hair..." I whispered with a grin.
Suppressing a laugh, I watched as Bennet turned to me with an inscrutable expression.
Haha!
"I, Riccardo Saviano, future Alpha of the Grey Shadow Moon Pack, reject you, Artemisia Guerrieri, Daughter of Alpha Franco of the Blood Moon Pack, as my mate and future Luna." One single sentence. One stupid single sentence was all it took to disintegrate my life. And the day of my birthday, on which this sentence was audaciously uttered to me, I lost the love of my life, my future mate, and my wolf, all at once. As I'm still assembling the pieces of my shattered heart years later, there they come. Like lightning out of a crystal blue sky. My Mates. But wait... If I am mated to triplets, how come I'm about to be mated to 5 gorgeous men? *** TW: explicit and foul language; spicy content; explicit sex scenes ***
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
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.
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"