Following the betrayal of her boyfriend and adoptive sister, Vanessa found herself pregnant without any knowledge of her baby's father. And five years later, she never deterred from her goal of finding her real parents. But her quest was interrupted when she met Alfred Whittaker, the president of G.I conglomerate and the most revered tycoon in the city. Not only did Alfred claim custody of her baby, but he also wanted her to marry him, to go against every logic she had ever constructed around herself. And as the path to achieving her dreams became narrower, she was left with no choice but to confront her fears; to marry Alfred. ~~~ As Vanessa navigates through life with Alfred, more contending forces stand in her way. What if the answer to her quest lies within his family? And what if those answers will the catalyst for the strength of their bond or its destruction?
~ At Silver Sky Hotel ~
The hotel stood in the heart of Sterling City, glowing with lights and sparkling with different decorations.
For tonight's celebration of the birthday party organized by Whittaker's household, the wealthiest family in town, the whole hotel was occupied by every socialite in the city.
Luxury cars streamed inside like flies, and huge banners of the birthday girl hung at every post of the hotel.
Inside the grandest hall of the hotel, Vanessa stood by a wide table that was full of various pastries.
With measured precision, she layered the cupcakes one after the other, forming a grand pyramid shape.
She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she go about her job with rapt attention, blocking out the chatters and laughter of the guests as the place bustled harmoniously.
Tonight, if Vanessa did her job perfectly, she could only imagine the amount of paycheck she would receive.
It would be double her lifetime savings, no, in fact, triple.
And that would make things easier for Vanessa.
With that money, she believed that the end to her years of search would finally come to an end.
As Vanessa carried on with her work, she couldn't help but have a lingering feeling in her heart that something was amiss.
However, she was determined to finish her job without any distractions, so she shoved the thought aside.
But the interruption was inevitable. Vanessa was just about to place the last cupcake on the pyramid when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Oh, my goodness." She jumped and quickly caught the cupcake before it fell to the floor.
"Relax, Nessa." It was Drake, her best friend. "You've been working yourself out for three days straight. You have to get some rest, let me take over."
"I appreciate your kindness, Drake." Vanessa shook her head and picked up a tray filled with cupcakes to make another pyramid. "But nothing can go wrong, I have to make sure of it. And you see these people?" She lowered her voice and glanced at the crowd. "We have to make a good impression. Who knows? We might land a deal like this one."
Vanessa couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the message that she had been hired as a pastry chef for this birthday party.
It had been the talk of the town for some weeks now. And she decided to try her luck and applied for the job. And miraculously, she got a last-minute call three days ago that she had been hired. And Vanessa couldn't have been happier.
"Also, we can't afford to make any mistakes," she added.
Drake folded his hands across his chest and gave her a helpless look. "Don't you think you're taking this money-making thing too far?"
"Definitely not." Vanessa's tone was affirmative.
Drake sighed and shook his head at that.
"By the way..." She paused and straightened up all of a sudden. Her gaze swept across the crowd and her brows furrowed.
"Looking for something?" Drake's lips quirked up at the sides. He seemed to know what was going on in her mind even though Vanessa couldn't pinpoint that nagging feeling.
Vanessa nodded absentmindedly, then the realization dawned on her and her eyes flew wide. "Where is Mara?" Her eyes darted once more across the crowded room and she panicked.
No wonder she had that feeling that she had forgotten something.
"How should I know?" Drake shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. "She was here with you moments ago." He picked up a cupcake and munched at it. "She's probably somewhere in this grand hall making friends."
Drake's words only made Vanessa's worry increase. She dropped the tray and didn't stop looking around the place.
And confirming that her baby wasn't among the crowd, she grabbed her bag from a nearby chair.
"Shit! Don't just stand there." She snatched the cupcake from Drake's hand and dropped it. "Quick, let's search for her."
And she was off in a random direction before Drake could react.
~~~
In another hall inside the hotel...
It wasn't as big and crowded as the other hall.
Here, every bachelor and bachelorette in the social circle was present.
Although they were also here for the birthday party, as business multitudes, an occasion like this was an opportunity to mingle and make connections.
And as this party was hosted by the Whitakers family, even those that weren't invited had wriggled their way into this party, as this was one of the rare occasions they were likely to be acquainted with Alfred Whittaker, the most revered business tycoon in the circle.
Alfred sat on a couch, one arm sprayed across the headrest and he held a wine glass in his other hand.
His eyelids were half-closed and as he sipped his wine leisurely, no one dared to step near him, probably because of the dark aura emanating from him, or because of the two bulky guards standing by his sides. Or maybe because, just moments ago, one of the ladies who were brazen enough attempted to make a pass at him and got hauled out of the hall by his bodyguards as a result.
The people maintained their distance and only threw compliments at him from afar.
"Ah, Mr. Crawford, I heard you launched a silk factory some weeks back."
Two guys were standing not far from where Alfred sat, engaging in a conversation.
"Absolutely! I made sure it was all over the media," Mr. Crawford replied.
"But I heard you only produce a limited quantity of silk per day," said the other man. "Compared to the largest silk industry in town, I can tell you're lacking behind by thousands of miles."
"Of course." Mr. Crawford gave a dry laugh. "G.I industry is the largest producer of silk in the whole country, a lackey like me can only hold candles for them. Also, I don't think I am competent enough to handle such complex business, if only I could get a collaboration or something of sorts, I am sure it will bring immense benefits to both parties."
Caught between a web of lies and deceit, Kiara found herself questioning her reality and everything around her. The man she loved not only abandoned her and her child, but she also found out that he had another family~ a more perfect family. For five years, he was the only man in her heart. After their wedding, she'd literally transformed herself into his slave with his happiness and satisfaction her only goal. Yet, her loyalty and love were repaid with betrayal, heartbreak, and rejection. Realizing that she wasted her love on the wrong person, Kiara changed her mission. She wasn't going to be the same weak and docile heiress whom everyone ordered around. She was the queen of the Storm Empire, and it just so happened that Killian Reid was going to bow at her feet someday.
Kimmy loved Harry with all her heart for many years, but he was always indifferent. She gave up everything – family, friends, career, and dignity in the hope that someday he would love her back. However, Harry cruelly rejected her when his first love returned. "I was with you because you look a bit like her," he said while leaving. Kimmy was just a substitute. Determined to move on, Kimmy left him. He thought he would be satisfied after her leaving, but he found that he missed her madly. After the rejection, fate brought them back together. When they met each other again, Harry found out Kimmy had a hidden identity. When a new man appeared in her life, he got jealous. To his astonishment, he realized that she was his first love all along. It was all a big misunderstanding. How could he get her back, and would she give him a second chance? Or would she choose the other man?
After being rejected by her mate, Aurora is given a second chance by the Moon Goddess. However, her new mate turns out to be Alpha Jordan of the Blossom Pack, who is rumored to have been denied a mate by the Moon Goddess due to his past deeds. Aurora is torn between accepting her fate and rejecting Alpha Jordan. But when a secret about her identity is revealed, which holds the key to redeeming the Alpha, she must decide whether to embrace her destiny or reject it. Will she choose to accept her fate and help the Alpha, or will she reject him and forge her own path?
On her 18th birthday, Lily’s dreams of love and acceptance is shattered when the Alpha she’s long admired rejects her due to her Omega status. Heartbroken and humiliated, Lily tries to move on, but her gaze still lingers on the Alpha. Just as she thinks all hope is lost, the identical twins sweep into her life, vying for her affection and attention. Torn between their charming advances and her lingering feelings for the Alpha, Lily must navigate a complicated web of love, loyalty, and family obligations. When her father forces her into an arranged marriage, Lily must make a choice: will she follow her heart and risk everything for the twins’ love, or will she conform to societal expectations and miss out on true love? Meanwhile, the Alpha begins to realize what he's lost, but will it be too late to win back Lily’s heart?
Everyone said Sophia was going to suck Caleb dry during their first months of marriage because their marriage was an hasty one. Caleb didn't believe in that as he was so in love with his woman. But few months later, The Document that held the secret to his Multi Million company went missing. Without hesitation, Caleb pointed an accusing finger at Sophia and forced her to sign a divorce paper. Two years later, Sophia is back to the city for the first time and Caleb went on his knees. Marry me again, Sophia?
When Victoria became the secretary of the most ruthless billionaire in the city, she never expected anything more than keeping up with her strict boss. Reynold Turner is a single father and his kids badly wanted a Mummy. One day, the twins bumped into the clumsy secretary and they both announced, “Daddy, we want her to be our Mummy.”
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
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?
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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.
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
After five years of marriage, my husband is always absent on my birthday. No gifts, no blessings. He said, "I've given you the money, buy whatever you want." But he started preparing for Fiona's birthday half a month in advance. He said, "She's different, she only has me." As the sole survivor of a unexpected fire, he has been heartbroken for over a decade. Watching Fiona in Moments holding a cake and kissing his face. I slowly commented. 【Just this useless person, I'm giving him to you.】