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Heartbroken and deceived by her ex-boyfriend, Mark, Ella has to live with her Aunt and her daughter who treat her like shit. Mark ran away with his high school sweetheart, leaving Ella with nothing but debt. Ella gets in trouble for messing with Edmund Fox and now out of the blue, he's forcing her to sign a marriage contract. Edmund makes Ella's Aunt kick her out of the house, so she's left with no other choice then signing the contract papers. Edmund Fox is the heir of the country's biggest law firm and news channel, he loves his bachelor life but his father wants him to get married to his friend's daughter, Harper. Edmund tries to trick his father since he doesn't want to marry Harper, who's obsessed with him. Edmund accidently gets Ella involved in his plan, and now his father wants him to get married to her or else he'll donate everything he owns to charity. Edmund isn't going to see his years of hard work get donated to charity, so he makes Ella sign the marriage contract. Now Ella has to stay with Edmund for a year in this marriage of convenience, so she can pay her debt and Edmund can get his company back.
Ella's POV
"Please, just give me some time. I'll pay back all the debt in three months," I beg, with my knees on the ground, my head down and bruises all over my face. From the corner of my eye, I see one of the three men approaching me, I don't dare to look up. All three of them had tattoos all over their bodies and you don't mess with those kind of people.
"You better pay us every single penny your boyfriend borrowed," he said as he grabbed my hair and squeezed my face with full force, " or you can also choose to pay us back with your body," he smirked at me and the two behind him laughed at his statement. At that moment I felt like they were vultures, ready to tear my body apart as they desired.
I felt disgusted but I was no position to fight, my ribs felt like they broke from all the beating I endured. One woman against three men, it would have been a clean fight.
"I-l promise you'll get your money back," I struggled to speak.
I could hear all three of them laughing, their voices increasing. It's getting harder to breath and I gasp for some air.
"ELLA! WAKE UP, YOU USELESS WHORE," I hear someone shouting.
I slowly open my eyes, still adjusting to the bright light coming from the window.
"You think you're living in a hotel. Get up now, start cleaning the counter and open the shop. You also have some deliveries to make," Aunt Maggie handed me keys in one hand and cleaner soap in other.
I have been living with her since my boyfriend ran away with his ex-girlfriend. That damn bastard, he's the only reason I'm living like this even after having a law degree.
My boyfriend, Mark Raymond, was my classmate in law school. He was quite famous for being handsome but had no brains. Mark used to hit on me every time he got a chance, I played hard to get at first as I thought he was just a playboy who was going to break my heart eventually and I had my own big dreams to achieve.
Mark kept trying and after 2 years I said yes to being his girlfriend. I truly loved him, but I didn't know he had other plans.
He wanted to open a law firm together and I was happy that was finally thinking about bringing things to the next level, the day I thought he was going to propose me was the day he left me in debt and my account bankrupt. He not only took a loan from bank but also burrowed money from the loan sharks.
I had no money, my license got cancelled and no place to live. I was basically homeless for two weeks but then I found out about my mother's cousin, Aunt Maggie, from the orphanage.
Let me tell you, Aunt Maggie wasn't very happy to see me. I had nothing to offer her except myself so I begged her to let me live in her house and in return I offered her to look after café she owned. That's how I became a delivery girl, even after having a degree in law. Aunt Maggie didn't pay me much so I had to work hard, making deliveries during the day and working as a cleaner in a bar at night. Sometimes I felt like I wasn't a human anymore, but just a working robot.
"Nikki, your breakfast's ready," I say in a low voice. Nikki is Aunt Maggie's daughter. Ever since I came here, Nikki disapproved of me. I wish I could just smack her face one day for making me do all her chores and college work. She doesn't treat me like a human, I am just a mere slave to her.
Nikki takes her sleep mask off and the first thing she does instead of giving me a proper reply is she picks up the mirror form the side table and checks her face.
"Did you make my lemon tea as I told you," she replies still staring at herself in the mirror.
"Yes I made it exactly like you wanted."
"And what about my assignment?"
"All done. I pulled an all nighter just to complete it."
"If I don't get an A+ this time , you're going to have to take the responsibility. Do you understand."
I could have done a lot of things in that moment but I decided to just smile and nod. Nikki gives me a disgusted look before gesturing me to leave.
I open up the café and start to clean and set the tables while thinking about all the debt I have to pay because of my dear boyfriend, Mark. I curse him under my breath, even his name leaves a distaste on my tongue.
Mark was great in bed though, it would be a lie if I said otherwise. He made me feel all sorts of things, gave me all he pleasure I wanted when he thirsted inside me, I begged him for more. Sometimes I miss the sex we had but I won't ever forgive that piece of shit. One day I'll find him and I'm going to make him pay for everything.
While I'm organizing the stock, I hear someone enter from the front door.
"Are you open?" a woman asks in a low voice, I turn towards him to reply and my face glows up with joy and I forget all my worries after seeing Nora, my best friend. We've been friends for years now, she's the only one I have left now.
Nora is the only family I have. We met in the Sunrise Orphan home, her parents abandoned her while my parents died in a car accident when I was eight.
I remember glimpses of my childhood memories, but the only thing I have left of my parents is a locket and a picture of mom, dad and me standing in front of a Ferris Wheel. I know my parents loved me, I meant the world to them but my world collapsed after their accident.
Nora was the reason I survived, she's my soul sister. Even after she got adopted by a family, she never broke contact with me.
"I've asked you a million times, Ella. Leave your crazy Aunt Maggie and come live with us," Nora says as he hands me a cookie.
"I can't Nora, you know that," I give her a sad smile. I don't want to bother Nora or her new family, I don't want to worry her.
I have no idea how I'm going to pay my debt back, I've only two months left and I have barely saved any money. The only thing that can save me now is a miracle.
“Don’t waste my fucking time. Do you want to come with us or would you like to get shot just like him? The choice is yours,” Adam says slamming the wall with his fist right beside Mariah’s head. Mariah closes her eyes as he is so close to her and she thought he was going to hit him. Mariah got goosebumps in that moment. She nods and says she’ll come. She takes a deep sigh when she realizes Adam isn’t around anymore. Mariah is shocked and thinks that she should’ve never come to the party. She should’ve just stayed at home. Mariah is a doctor who accidently gets invovled with the most feared mafia boss, Adam Alston. What are the odds of them falling in love with each other and will they be able to accept each other with all their differences.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
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.
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."