Suffering immense loss leads Lainey down a journey through the past, as she attempts to figure out what all of this means for her future. Looking towards the present, she is faced with the highs and the lows that had led her to the beauty of it all.
Sitting in the white rocking chair on an old wrap around porch, Lainey smiled as her two children rushed past her, ready to play with the last bit of sunlight left. Their resilience never ceased to amaze her. The rocking chairs were the first thing purchased after an offer was put in for the house. Lainey knew just what the porch needed and these chairs have been a staple ever since. She ran her fingers across the arm of the chair, the grooves from the chipped paint adding a roughness to her hands. She added a mental note that they needed to be sanded down and repainted.
Her blonde curls hung just below her shoulders, bouncing slightly in the breeze. The day had worn on her, yet she continued to smile through the small talk and the questions. Sitting down now, by herself, being able to breathe for the first time today, she truly took in her surroundings. The past 15 years led up to where she was right now, whether or not it was truly where she wanted to be.
She sighed as she watched her two children playing in the sunflower fields. The sun was setting just above the mountain landscape, the melting snow leading into the spring flowers. They had worked so hard for this life, the outcome would always be unknown. She smiled to herself as she saw Holden pick up a flower and hand it to his little sister, her blonde curls blowing in the slight breeze.
"I had always prayed she would have your curls." A sigh of relief escaped Lainey's mouth as she smelled Christian's scent in the breeze. She felt a familiar hand on her shoulder and she looked over to see her best friend of 15 years. Christian had always been Lainey's dream. Even when they had met when he was 15 and the most awkward person she had ever met. But the awkwardness led to an endearment for him that she would never be able to shake.
As she looked at him now, she looked at how the years had taken their toll on him. She noticed the laugh lines that weren't there many years ago. The bags under his eyes that she could never seem to encourage him to do anything about seemed lighter today. He seemed almost ethereal, too perfect. Yet, she had always felt this way towards him. Despite his earlier awkwardness, Christian grew into a charming young man and Lainey never truly understood what made him choose her.
"Can you believe we built this life together?" She whispered silently, hoping it was loud enough for him to hear. "Holden and Harper are the best gifts you could have ever given me." She continued, her gaze returning to the twins as they frolicked about. She watched as Jed, their Bernese Mountain Dog trailed behind the two kids, always ready to protect them when needed. They knew that as the sun continued to set, they would need to head back to the porch where their mother stood.
"Continue to take in the beauty of it all." Christian's wide smile was engraved in her memory. She would be able to recall it even when she wasn't looking at him. Holden and Harper started to make their way back to the house as the sun that was slightly above the mountains continued to descend. Holden was a carbon copy of his father, his light brown hair hanging just above his shoulders. He refused to cut it any shorter than that and Christian was his biggest advocate for keeping it long. Harper on the other hand, was a mix between Lainey and Christian, with her blonde curls and green eyes, she easily hit the 50/50 mark in the genetics lottery.
Lainey's smile grew as her children got closer. She took a deep breath as she turned to look back at Christian, but as fast as he came, he was gone.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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.
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."