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„What the hell? What do you mean, I need to be married to get the heritage?" „I mean: you have to be married to get the heritage. Your Grandmother wanted you to have a wife. She wanted you to settle down. Have a sweet little family." „Me? Didn't she know me at all?" „I think she knew you the best." Which is true I think. Anyway. Me? Married? I'm the biggest Playboy around. Don't get me wrong. I love women. I love them all. To much to just settle for one. But the heritage we speak of. It's huuuuge. Like 5 billion dollar huge. Worth it to marry. But „Who the hell am I supposed to marry?" I know enough women. But really they're just golddiggas. No one I want to be married. „Buy one." That idea doesn't even sound to bad.
Gregs POV
It's raining. How cliche. I stare out of the window of my BMW but can't seem to bring myself to get out.
„Sir?" I ignore my driver Sven and watch the people walk over the cemetery. All dressed in black dresses or black suits. Faces blank or in tears. I doubt they are real. My grandma was a bitch. Bossy, manipulative, way to direct und always right. She loved to be right so she made sure she was. At all costs. I can't say she was a nice person. But she was all the familiy I had.
She raised me, taught me right and wrong - not that I give a shit - supported me.
Sure, there are my parent. A father who I humiliate by mere existence, and my mother who is nothing more than a golddigga who thought my Dad would leave his wife, when she gets pregnant. He didn't. And she didn't want the child she was getting. She wasn't ready to raise me. My grandma was. She had the money, she had the time and she loved me from day one. Not that she said so. But I know it anyway. Mom's now married to some rich guy in texas. Didn't see her in years. Dad lives a few street from my own house. I don't see him though. We live in agreement to not connect with each other.
So, yes. My grandma was my only family. And now she lies burried in a dark grave while people lie and say what a good person she was. She wasn't. She insulted who she wanted to, she pursued her own goals at any costs. She walked over corpses if she had to. Or just wanted to.
„Sir? Shall we leave?" Sven asks. I sigh. „No" I take my umbrelle and get out of the car to say goodby to the only woman who loved me. The only person I loved.
Millies POV
„Fuck!" Fuck fuck fuck fuck!
„Whats the matter?" Nora, my flatmate, asks. She walks behind me and stares at the letter in my hands. Reads it. Realizes what it means. Reacts. „Fuck"
„What the hell am I supposed to do now? 10 days? How am I gonne find a job in 10 days when I didn't find one in the last 30 days?"
„What do you wanna do now?"
„Marry someone?" I joke. But Nora really seems to think about it.
„Gosh, Nora. I do not marry someone?"
„Why not?" she shrugs.
„Because...who should I marry? I don't have a boyfriend." Hadn't one in quite a while. But that's not the matter right now. „I have to find a job or it goes right back to Canada in ten days. Seems like I have to work as a waitress nonetheless." I throw the letter on the tiny table before me and lean back at the sofa.
„I'm sorry. And just because your boss was an ass."
„Do you think I should have just...you know." Tears fill my eyes. I really really don't want go back to Canada. There waits nothing for me. Only sorrow and grief.
„No!" Nora shouts in my ear. „Are you crazy? Of course not! This man was a big fat ass and you definitely did the right thing by quitting." She sits besides me and pulls me in a tight hug.
„It would have been only a kiss." I speak in her neck. She's right and I know it. I just don't wanna go back to Canada. But I wrote so many applications and got no answers. Seems nobody needs an accountant right now. „He would have wanted more and you know that." Nora presses me closer. „I know" I murmur. 10 days, I think. I have ten days to land a job or I can wave the USA goodbye.
Gregs POV
„What the fucking hell? Are you kidding me? She wrote what in her testament?"
„To get your heritage you have to marry and stay married for at least a year." I shout Tyler, my lawyer, an angry look.
„What?" He asks.
„I heard you the first time."
„Then why did you ask?"
I shake my head. „Is there anything I can do about this?"
„Give up the heritage?" He shrugs. But hell no! We don't talk about a few bucks here. My grandma wasn't some poor old witch. She was one of the richest woman in New York. She was a rich lady who married an even richer guy, who did build an empire! An empire I own now. The Hewitt Corporation. We own big shopping malls in 45 states in the USA beneath several other smaller companies and brands. Sure, I don't need the money. I have more than I could spend in a lifetime. But I know who gets the money if I reject it. Maybe it's petty of me but I don't begrudge him anything. My dad broke with Grandma when she said she want to raise me. So when she got too old to run the company she made me her CEO. I'm rather sure Dad hates me for this even more than he did before. But objectively I was the better choice. My father don't know how to handle money, how to lead a company. He would have brought Hewitt Corporation down in a year. Or even less. He has enough money though that he and his family can live a luxurious live. He got a little subsidiary when grandpa died. I pace in the room. „I won't give up the heritage."
„I guessed as much"
„Rather do I marry then watching my father getting her money. He didn't even show up at her funeral."
„Really? Thought I saw him" Tylor frowns.
„Well, I didn't. Neither my so called siblings." I have a big brother und a little sister. I've never meet either of them personally. Two years ago Sarah tried to reach out to me. She wrote me an email. I never bothered to reply and she never tried again. Maybe that is a dick move but I'm no one to forgive easily. They didn't care for me or grandma the years before. They don't have to care now.
„Do they even know their grandma?" Taylor asks.
„They knew her. So there's nothing I can do to get the heritage out of dads reach without marring?" i come back to the topic.
„No. It's either you or dad. You get it if you marry. He gets it if you don't. It's as easy as this."
„Son of a bitch. Who the hell am I supposed to marry? Didn't she know me at all? Me? Marring? What the fuck!"
„Cursing won't save you. And don't tell me you don't know enough women." he raises his eyebrows
„Of course I know a lot. But none I would marry. They're just random golddigging girls I date to pass the time. Women can't be trusted and I never planned to marry. They trick you into things you don't wanna do."
„Maybe you can pay someone."
„Pay for what?" I sink into the chair across from Taylors desk. His office is small but he has stile. He's our family lawyer since his dad passed away five years ago. He was young but eager to make himself a name. And he reached his goal sooner than we all thought.
„Pay for a wife." i pause. How can he say something like that as if he talks about buying milk in the store next door?
„Excuse me?"
„Pay someone to marry you. Make a contract. One year marriage in exchange for 1 Millilon Dollar. Or 2 miilion or whatever you're willing to pay. After a year you divorce her and she isn't about to talk to anybody about the fake marriage. She can't get more money from you because of the contract."
„Why do you sound like a pro?" I look at him skeptically. He shrugs. "You're not my only client with problems like that."
"Aha." I think about it for a moment. "And do you know where to find such a woman?"
"Why should I. Am I an agency? I only gave you some input. The rest is on you."
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."