Lovers
Mia's head spun, and time seemed to stand still for a moment. Her whole body shook violently, and her teeth clattered uncontrollably.
She clenched her hands into fists, digging her fingernails into the flat of her palms.
With a cracked voice, she asked in disbelief, "What did you just say?"
Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she desperately hoped that his words wouldn't break her heart again.
"I'm sorry, Mia. I can't do this again," he uttered, his voice low and calm, but the words reverberated loudly in her head.
The tears she had been fighting so hard to hold back broke loose, streaming down her face.
Mia sobbed uncontrollably while Max watched her in utter silence.
Suddenly, the weather changed, and it started to drizzle. Even nature seemed to share her sorrow.
Max and she had known each other for more than half their lives. They practically grew up together. Even as kids, they had harbored feelings for each other, and at the age of fourteen, Max had asked her to be his girlfriend. She accepted without hesitation.
Mia's heart wrenched, and she felt as if her life was being squeezed out of her. Her world revolved around him; how could she live without him?
She had noticed the change in his attitude long before this moment. He hardly had time for her. He was always busy. If she didn't initiate contact, he wouldn't bother looking for her.
Even when they were together, he seemed eager to leave.
She had observed everything and had done her best to hold on to him, to salvage their relationship.
She saw this breakup coming, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. She had tried her utmost best to prevent it, but here they were.
She continued to cry, her heart aching with every sob.
If only she had known what he wanted to say, she wouldn't have stepped out of the dorm to meet him.
It was already late at night, and she was about to go to bed when she received a message on her phone, telling her to come outside. It was from him.
Surprised and excited because he had initiated contact for the first time in a while, she hopped off her bunk bed and looked at herself in the mirror, running her fingers through her midnight black hair.
"Where are you going?" her bunkmate and best friend, Martha, keenly asked.
Martha was always curious about everything concerning her best friend, so Mia replied without holding anything back. "Max is here-I'll be right back."
She grinned, displaying a neat row of white teeth.
Slipping on a pair of flip flops, she rushed out without waiting for Martha's response.
But when she stepped out into the cold to meet her boyfriend, the expression on his face drained all color from hers.
He looked restless and impatient, and the moment he spoke, "Let's break up," Mia's heart shattered.
***
Mia cried for a while until her head started to ache terribly.
Sniffing, she looked up into his eyes. The eyes that once held love and endearment for her were now empty. He looked at her emotionlessly, and her heart constricted tightly in her chest. This wasn't the Max she knew.
Sniffling, she asked in a hoarse voice, "Who?"
A sweet, melodious voice suddenly came from behind Mia. "Max? Is that you?"
Max looked past Mia, and his eyes lit up.
Mia noticed that the same eyes that had looked at her with emptiness were now filled with admiration. He used to look at her that way...
Instinctively, she turned around in the direction of the
voice and saw a silhouette approaching them.
It was dark, and the light was dim. She squinted her eyes, trying to figure out who it was. As the person drew nearer, their form became clearer.
"Martha?" Mia's voice trembled when she saw her best friend standing beside her.
Thank God. She heaved a heavy sigh, and fresh tears began to pour from her eyes. "Martha, Max is breaking up with me."
"Please, plead with him on my behalf. He's my life; I can't live without him. I really can't," she cried helplessly, her whole body quivering. "Please..."
"Oh, Mia." Martha's face filled with concern, and she closed the space between them.
She drew Mia's head to her shoulder and began to pat her head. "Poor thing."
Martha sighed, while the girl cried uncontrollably, staining her dress.
"Max, why would you do such a thing?" Martha asked calmly, staring directly into Max's eyes.
Mia sniffled, her crying subsiding slightly. Now that her best friend was here, she would help Mia talk to Max and sort everything out. She sighed, sobbing softly.
Thank goodness she had Martha.
Max panicked as soon as he heard Martha's statement. Wasn't this what...
"I told you to let me know when you were about to tell her. How can you break her heart like this?" Martha scolded, her voice calm.
Martha's words sank in, and Mia lifted her head from Martha's shoulder.
"You knew?" Her voice quivered with disbelief. "Martha, you knew he was going to break up with me?"
Max let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I texted you as soon as I got here," he replied to Martha.
Martha gave him a sad smile before turning to face Mia. "Mia, I'm sorry-but yes, I knew. I'm so sorry." Her expression turned somber.
Martha shook her head, denying the truth. This couldn't be real. Her best friend couldn't have known. She tried to calm herself, but the truth was glaring at her.
"You knew, Martha? Why didn't you tell me?" Mia sobbed.
If the breakup news had shattered her heart, the words she heard next completely shattered her.
"I didn't tell you because I'm the one Max is in love with."
"We tried to suppress our love for each other, but it just wouldn't die. That's why we decided to tell you."
"We didn't want to keep you in the dark any longer." Martha began to sob.
Mia stood in a daze for a couple of seconds. She couldn't comprehend the words her best friend was speaking.
A wave of nausea washed over her. "Wh-what... did you just say?" she stuttered.
Martha's voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Mia. I'm really sorry. We couldn't help it; it's a natural feeling. We can't cheat nature." She wailed.
Mia stopped crying at that moment. She stood still, her eyes empty, void of emotion. Slowly, she raised her hand and pointed her finger at Martha, then at Max. She chuckled, a sound devoid of sanity, and turned around. With staggering steps, she began to walk back into the dorm.
"Mia!" Max called out, attempting to go after her.
Although he no longer loved her, he couldn't bear to see her like this.
But right at that moment, Martha's wailing grew louder. Max halted, his footsteps freezing, and rushed to her side.
"Why are you crying?" Max furrowed his brow, genuine concern etched on his
face.
"Mia hates me now," Martha sobbed between her tears.
"Don't think that way, Martha. She'll understand. It couldn't be helped-it can't be helped," he comforted her, wrapping his arms around her.
Martha clung to him, holding him tightly, and continued to cry.
Max bit his lower lip, hating to see her in pain. "Wipe your tears. I'll take you to Domino's."
She sniffled, and her tears ceased immediately. She loved Domino's so much. "Look at how much power your words have over me. So, you think I'm a glutton..." She pouted her lips playfully.
Max laughed. "No," he said, and she playfully hit his chest.
"But what about Mia?" she hesitated.
Max pursed his lips. "She'll be fine. She'll understand."
Mia Thomson, an eighteen-year-old high school student, is heartbroken when she learns her longtime boyfriend has fallen for her best friend. Overwhelmed, she collapses and is rushed to the hospital. There, she unexpectedly encounters Shawn Mandez, the CEO of Beats Corporation, who urgently needs a spouse. Despite her predicament, Mia decides to help him out, only to be swiftly served divorced by him immediately after they finish signing their marriage certificate: “I’ll have my personal assistant send you the divorce papers," the CEO, who was not a man of many words, uttered coldly. Right at this moment, a sleek black Maybach pulled up in front of them. Without sparing the girl as little as a second glance, the demi-god stepped into the luxurious car and it soon disappeared out of sight. Mia was stunned.
"Hi, I’m Ethan Moore. You're mine from this moment onward," he declares, holding the car door open for her. “What?—” Elizabeth exclaims. “Get in the car,” Ethan commands, unfazed by her protest. “What—I don’t even know who you are—you think having a baritone voice can make you stand in front of me and spout rubbish from that godforsaken thing you call a mouth?!” Elizabeth's irritation is palpable. Ethan smirks. Nice, she’s got a sharp tongue—he likes sharp tongue. Turning to the nearest bodyguard, he orders, “get her in the car.” Meeting Elizabeth's gaze, he adds, “if she resists, throw her in the trunk.” .............................................. Pressured by his parents to marry, Ethan Moore is forced to kidnap a stranger. He offers her a deal to pose as his wife whenever necessary. *** All Elizabeth Claire wants is to escape the clutches of the crazed billionaire who kidnapped her. She tries various tricks to break free, but her attempts are thwarted when…
"Hi, I’m Ethan Moore. You're mine from this moment onward," he declares, holding the car door open for her. “What?—” Elizabeth exclaims. “Get in the car,” Ethan commands, unfazed by her protest. “What—I don’t even know who you are—you think having a baritone voice can make you stand in front of me and spout rubbish from that godforsaken thing you call a mouth?!” Elizabeth's irritation is palpable. Ethan smirks. Nice, she’s got a sharp tongue—he likes sharp tongue. Turning to the nearest bodyguard, he orders, “get her in the car.” Meeting Elizabeth's gaze, he adds, “if she resists, throw her in the trunk.” .............................................. Pressured by his parents to marry, Ethan Moore is forced to kidnap a stranger. He offers her a deal to pose as his wife whenever necessary. *** All Elizabeth Claire wants is to escape the clutches of the crazed billionaire who kidnapped her. She tries various tricks to break free, but her attempts are thwarted when…
Ameera was suddenly hit by a billionaire’s car and went into coma for three months. When she woke up, she realized that she’d not only lost her pregnancy, but even her fiancé was getting married to her manager in a couple of days. Her life was over. Her career as a model was over. The billionaire had ruined her and she despised him for it. She wanted revenge—and she would get it. She decided to sign a contract with him, and when she does, she’s met with the unexpected. Akurrrrr!
He's the most influential in South Korea, She has five part-time jobs. When fate brings them together, they don't start on good terms. *** Emily Chen gets hit by Joel Manchester —the CEO of Empire World Corporation. He helps her to the hospital and offers her money, as compensation for the accident, and to shut her up about it. But she rejects his money and asks for something else. Any idea what her request is? Come along, now!
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
"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!
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"