I once had a dream of finding my mate and living a peaceful life with him. But the ruthless Alpha broke my dream. I thought the Beta was the best man in the world. But it turned out... Lie and truth, how could I tell the difference?
It was raining heavily when I got off work, but I had no time to wait for the rain to stop. I had to go back in time, or there would be severe punishment waiting for me. Last time I was less than five minutes late, and I was beaten so badly that I nearly couldn't lie down on the bed for a week. I didn't want to experience it again.
When I got home, my clothes were soaked. But I didn't go upstairs to change my clothes. Instead, I walked into the living room directly. Gerardo, Kaylie, and Frida were sitting in the living room.
Gerardo was my uncle, my father's younger brother. After my father died, he became the Alpha of Oneal. Kaylie was his wife, and Frida was their younger daughter.
Seeing me come in, Kaylie immediately questioned me with dissatisfaction, "Where have you been? Don't you know the time?"
I lowered my head. "Sorry. It's raining..."
"Stop finding excuses," Frida interrupted me. "And don't show that face again, like you are wronged. I'm really tired of it."
I stopped saying anything. Frida never liked me. No matter what I said or did, she just didn't like me. And so did Kaylie. If it had been a few years ago, I would have explained that I really didn't intend to. But that would irritate them, and eventually, Gerardo would get mad and beat me. And there was still punishment waiting for me after I got beaten.
So, for years, I had learned not to retort or explain. Silence was the best way to get me out of such circumstances. They would have let me go after the reprimand if I had been lucky.
It seemed that I was lucky this time. They didn't want to keep me there long.
"Go wash the dishes. Since you are late home, you don't deserve to have dinner." Kaylie didn't continue but sent me to the kitchen.
I thanked her and immediately ran into the kitchen. Staying in the living room made me unable to breathe. I didn't have time to think of why Kaylie had been so kind and let me go easily because there were a lot of dishes waiting for me to wash.
They didn't intend to wait for me for dinner at all. They knew when I got off work. Even if I did my best to rush home after work, I could never catch up with the dinner. But every time, they said it was because I hung around after work that I didn't have dinner. I could only eat some bread after I finished all the cleaning.
My clothes were still wet, and I shivered. I was hungry, tired, and cold. I was exhausted, but I knew I could not be able to take a warm bath until I finished all the work.
I began to sing. Every time I felt bad or exhausted, I sang. Singing made me feel good. It pumped me up so that I could hang in there. My mother used to say my voice was kissed by Moon Goddess. She taught me a lot of songs. Her voice was beautiful too, and we always sang together. But after she died, Gerardo and Kaylie didn't like my singing. I got beaten every time they heard me sing. So I rarely sang. But I was too tired to hold on. I couldn't help but sing a song my mother had taught me before. It gave me strength.
"I knew it. You pretend to be innocent, but this is how you hook up others."
I was frightened and turned around. Rangel stood next to the door, staring at me with his wretched smile. He sized me up and down.
I suddenly realized that my t-shirt was semi-transparent because of the rain and stuck on my body. I felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." I wished Rangel could leave as soon as possible.
But he didn't intend to leave. Instead, he walked toward me.
"I didn't realize you were a big girl now." Rangel was getting closer and closer.
I was scared and didn't know what to do. He was the last one I wanted to meet in the house. He always looked at me with a strange expression, like he was looking at his prey. I got out to work early in the morning and came back late, trying to dodge him. Just now, I didn't see him in the living room. I thought he was out and was relieved. But I didn't expect him to come to the kitchen.
"Would you please excuse me? I still have a lot of work to do." I wanted to step backward, but the sink prevented me.
"Why are you so scared? You will like it." Rangel suddenly reached out his hands and pulled me toward him. He grabbed my wrist so that I couldn't get away. He lowered his head and approached the curl of my neck. I could feel his breath spray on my skin.
My whole body tightened. I used all my strength to try to push him away but failed. He was very strong.
"What are you doing?" It was Frida. I swore that I had never been so glad to see her.
"Mom told you to stay away from her, Rangel. She's a slut." Frida was furious.
Rangel released me reluctantly and turned to Frida with an I-don't-care expression. "Why are you here?" He was annoyed.
"Dad wants Cora to his study."
"Fuck! Now?"
"Yes. Dad said it was urgent."
"You are lucky today." Rangel gave me a ferocious stare and walked out of the kitchen.
I let out a sigh of relief. I had no idea why Gerardo wanted to see me. It was abnormal for him to ask me to go to his study after dinner. But I was still glad that I could get rid of Rangel.
"Mom is right. You are a slut. But you won't be able to seduce anyone soon." Frida glanced at me with disgust and turned around to leave.
I didn't understand what she meant, but I didn't ask. I knew she would not tell me anyway. I just followed her to Gerardo's study.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"