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"What if I don't fall in love with you?" she asked apprehensively. Instead, his lips curved into a small smile that messed with her chest. "You will" he replied confidently and she knew at that moment that she already had. --------------------------------------------- A loveless marriage. Her parents' mysterious death. Dangerous secrets. Zaria Williams would do anything to find out who caused her parents' death and why. Taking over their company and ending her loveless marriage after disappearing for one year was the first step. With her two brothers as the last of her family, Zaria is further pulled into a web of dangerous secrets and dangerous territories even without having any idea of it. And there was only one reason, he protected her without question, without a word, without she even having an idea of it.
Zaria sat on the left side of the bed staring outside the window, there was really nothing to look at except the rows of houses opposite hers. The estate was as silent as a graveyard, it always was; and even more so at night. She had no doubts that any of the houses could be throwing parties but no one would have any idea since all the houses were equipped with soundproof systems.
She turned and took another glance at the empty bed. Even though she already knew that he wouldn't return that night, she was a little hopeful in her heart. She hoped that something would happen and he would come home. But as much as she hoped; she knew better.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside drawer and she stretched her arm to reach for it. Her eyebrows pulled together slowly when she realized that it was a message from an unknown number. She clicked the message open and upon seeing the picture in the message inbox, she gulped unconsciously.
Tears rushed to her eyes but Zaria pressed her lips together willing herself not to let a single tear fall. She knew that she was back and that was why for the past month, her husband hadn't visited or slept in his own house not more than two times. She knew that while he stayed away from his home, he spent ample time with her but she was too scared to bring it up in case he got angry and asked for a divorce. The thought made cold sweat form on her back. For what it was, she couldn't afford to lose him.
She sniffed quietly while dialing his number and pressing the phone to her ears and just as she expected, her call went to voicemail. Pursing her lips again, she summoned up courage and called his assistant. The latter picked up the call at the second ring.
"Hello," Zaria greeted quietly.
"Good evening Mrs. McConnell" the assistant's polite yet distant voice retracted into Zaria's ears and Zaria debated whether to ask her question or not. She didn't know what Logan must have told his secretary but each and every time they came into contact, the latter always treated her with a very polite but distant attitude that never failed to make her feel awkward.
"Mrs. McConnell?" the assistant called when Zaria didn't say anything and Zaria was immediately jolted back to the present.
"Err.... Er.... I called Logan a few minutes ago and my calls went to voicemail. I wanted to ask if he was working late" Zaria replied and there was a moment of silence.
"Mr. McConnell is at the hospital" the assistant replied and Zaria swallowed her saliva.
"Hospital? Is someone ill?" Zaria asked despite knowing the answer.
"Miss Peterson is ill and Mr. President is accompanying her" the assistant replied.
"Oh," Zaria muttered quietly, fighting every urge in her not to let any of her tears spill down her cheeks.
"Could I get the name of the hospital? I'd like to send Miss Peterson some fruits and if possible check up on her too" Zaria added; dropping the call as soon as the assistant said she would text her the address.
Sick? Accompanying her? How dumb did they think she was?
The phone in her hand buzzed again and Zaria glanced at it to see that it was a message from the assistant. It was the address of the hospital, she quickly texted the secretary a thank you and dropped the phone on the bed. She sniffed and got up from the bed, walking towards her wardrobe while changing into a simple blouse and pants. She picked up her coat and walked out of the room towards the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, she was able to collate a small basket of fruits. A glance at the desolate kitchen once again reminded Zaria of how pathetic she was. She loved cooking, she enjoyed it and she loved cooking for him but not even once, had he tasted her food. Every single time she thought he would come home and make a huge dinner; he either came home too late or didn't even come home at all.
Zaria pushed her thoughts aside while walking out of the house. She got into the car and put the basket of fruits in the passage seat and she hadn't gotten to start the car when her phone started buzzing loudly in her pockets once again. She brought out her phone and immediately gulped upon seeing the caller ID. She picked up the call and pressed her phone to her ears.
"Zaria" a deep male voice drifted into her ears and for some reason; Zaria wanted to burst into tears right there and then.
"Hey, Theodore" Zaria greeted, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
"Don't give me that tone Zaria. I know what's going on with you. Just because I am not in the country doesn't mean I am oblivious to everything that's going on okay?" Theodore replied and Zaria pursed her lips.
"I'll be back in three days. They are making a move again; I have to be there" Theodore added and Zaria kept quiet, refusing to say the words that her elder brother wanted to hear.
"Zaria" Theodore called quietly and softer this time.
"I'll call you back Theodore," Zaria said, cutting off whatever Theodore wanted to say.
"Stay safe Za," Theodore said after a moment of silence and ended the call. Dropping her phone on the seat beside her; Zaria started the car and drove out of the house.
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The moment Zaria stepped into the ward, she already that the fact that she was ill was a total lie. No one would be ill with rosy cheeks and energetic yells. The lady seating on the bed finished her video call and turned to the door to find Zaria standing there. A flash of surprise ran through her eyes but it was soon replaced with a bright smile.
"Don't tell me Logan asked you to bring me fruits? He already bought a lot yesterday" she started and Zaria unconsciously clenched her fists while the lady continued relaxing in her bed.
"When Logan comes back from the washroom you really have to thank him for me. He's been a real sweetheart these days. He moved me to a VIP ward the moment I said the noise from other patients was making me unable to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night and was craving ice cream, he drove out in the middle of the night to get it for me. He even paid my hospital bills!" the lady continued with a huge smile on her face.
"I don't know where else I would have seen such a sweet childhood friend you know" she added; playing with her fingers while watching Zaria's reaction.
"When he heard that I caught a cold, he was really worried and left a meeting to run all the way here just to check up on me. C'mon, there's no sweeter childhood friend anywhere" she continued maintaining a bright smile on her face. She knew everything she was saying would annoy and irritate her, no woman would want her husband fawning over another woman and being at her beck and call while he ignored her.
Zaria hadn't even noticed that she was clenching her fists so hard that her nails were digging into her palms and they were already becoming bloodied. As much as she hated to admit it; she knew that she was right. Logan had barely sent two glances at her when she fainted but just because his childhood sweetheart had gotten cold, he had left an important meeting and stayed with her for so long. She used to think that maybe Logan wasn't affectionate to anyone but here was the evidence that he was affectionate but it was only for one person.
"I may not know what you want or what you like or whatnot but you have shown me that you want out of this marriage and that's one thing that I know I'm going to help you with it" Callum replied and Athaliah smiled mirthlessly. "That is what you want. That's what you've always wanted. You are the one who went to work on our wedding night without saying a word to me. You are the one who leaves the house before I wake up and come back when I'm asleep. You are the one who treats me like a plague, someone you can't stand for a long time, and you've done that for two years Callum and now you dare to stand in front of me and tell me I showed you I wanted out of this marriage" Athaliah said shaking her head. "How dare you?" she shot at him. **************************** Bound by a marriage forged in the crucible of misunderstanding, Athaliah and Callum found themselves tethered to a union neither of them wanted. Athaliah' compelled by familial duty and Callum, driven by his grandfather's desire. The union was doomed to crumble and fail. Within a mere two years, after his grandfather's death, the ties that bond them together snapped, and with two signatures, their paths were set separate and different from each other. Fate, that fickle mistress, intervened years later, bringing them back to each other's orbit igniting the spark and electric connection anew and the both of them dared to grasp at the second chance fate had offered. But then again, history began to repeat itself, patterns began to replay, and Athaliah and Callum are faced with their shared past, forced to confront the ghosts of their past. With new revelations and unfolding layers of complexity, the fabric of their relationship was stretching thin, and Athaliah's perception is shattered after unearthing a scared truth.
Samantha McCartney is turned into the laughing stock of her family when her childhood crush and soon-to-be husband a wedding ring on her younger sister's instead of her on their wedding day. Devastated and heartbroken, Samantha gets drunk and ends up having a one-night stand with someone she had only seen on TV and more; happened to be the estranged stepbrother of her childhood crush.
THE MONTELLE FAMILY SERIES (BOOK ONE) “Julian?” the latter called out in shock and surprise as Julian sucked in a breadth and turned to face the latter maintaining his flat expression. “When did you come back?” the latter asked again. The question instantly made a plethora of memories wash over Julian. He discovered he could remember everything that happened that day clearly as if it had happened the previous day. He remembered every word and everything that had happened and they seemed to suck the air of his lungs and as his legs almost turned to powder. His trust was broken and his so called loved ones betrayed him. Not even one of them remained; they had all taken his side and left him stranded and all alone. With his father's threat of giving his company to charity if he didn’t come home; Julian Montelle is forced to abandon the life he had built for himself in Hong Kong. Coming back to the place that held the worst and horrid memories for him wasn’t an option but for some unknown reason. Julian found himself getting on a plane and getting back to take back his rightful heritage and property. This time around, he came back to take revenge on everyone who had something to do with what happened back then and who had abandoned him. And as well this time around, he wasn't alone and had someone who stood beside him without any questions.
When Gianna Emerson best friend gets dumped by her boyfriend; Gianna is determined to make him go through the same pain and hurt he made her best friend go through. Get close to him, make him fall in love with her and then mercilessly dump him. It was the most perfect and flawless plan except that it didn’t involve Gianna falling helplessly in love with him. What’s more, her Favourite rule of friend is “though shall not fall in love with your friend’s ex”
Since when they were little, Gabriella Armani had developed a huge crush on her elder brother’s best friend but the latter had never given her attention or even treated her like her a girl, he had always treated her like a younger sister; much to Gabriella’s annoyance. After severally promising to marry him when she grew up, she left the country or her studies. Never in his life did Kiley imagine that a point in his life, he would start to see Gabriella Armani as woman and not as the younger sister who followed him everywhere.
Despite being an easy target for bullies; Tessa O’Bailey never got bullied. The bullies weren’t scared of her but they never touched her either. And Tessa had no idea why but she was glad, at least she could now do whatever she wanted but when she somehow got into detention with the school’s bad boy, it didn’t take long for her to realize why.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
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.
Eveline married Shane, an obstetrician, at the age of 24. Two years later, when she was five months pregnant, Shane aborted the baby himself and proceeded to divorce her. It was during these dark times that Eveline met Derek. He treated her tenderly and gave her warmth like she had never known before. He also caused her the greatest pain she ever had to endure. Eveline only grew stronger after everything she experienced, but would she be able to bear the truth when it was finally revealed? Who was Derek behind his charismatic facade? And what would Eveline do once she found out the answer?
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?