"Why do you think this ugly woman is my queen, Annalise?" he blurted out, his tone indifferent. Instantly, a pang of regret coursed through him, but he refused to retract his words. His petty side took over, and he couldn't bring himself to admit how her beauty enchanted him. Marilyn remained silent, her hazel eyes revealing the hurt he had inflicted. "No! Natalí would never choose such an unworthy queen for me. She looks so old," he scoffed, casting Marilyn another disgusted look. Only the goddess chooses the true queen, and only chosen can wield the power of her tears. But an Oath to the goddess must be fulfilled no matter what. After being in a loveless and a childless marriage for eight years, Marilyn suddenly found out that her husband wasn't her true husband and she must marry the King of Nayak if she wants a child of her own. Will she follow her path as the goddess chosen? Or will she stay in an abusive marriage and continue to endure insult because she is barren?
Prologue:
"All you do is eat, sleep, and laze around the house. I am tired of that, you barren woman!" My husband, Lord Patrick Gattar, shouted as he forcefully grabbed my hair. Pain shot through every inch of my scalp, and my eyes welled up with tears. He dragged me across the room, pinning me against the wall. I couldn't plead; I tried to speak, but no words emerged. Pleading would only lead to more beatings, worse than before.
I could feel my pale skin reddening as he tightened his grip on my hair. Tears streamed down my face, and I bit my lip to stifle my cries of pain. He released me briefly and then-
Smack.
His palm struck my face, and I couldn't hold back the sobs any longer. Servants watched with pity or smirks, and I couldn't blame them. The lady of the proud House of Gattar was being humiliated by her husband in the most degrading way possible. I didn't blame them for their expressions.
"Useless wench! Why are you dolled up? Hoping to entice me to waste my seed inside you again, huh?" He taunted, pouring salt on my wounds. He breathed heavily as he ruthlessly removed the silver hairpin from my bun, surely taking countless strands of hair with it. My hair fell, and he ripped away other accessories.
"I don't want to see this on you ever again! No rouge! No accessories! No jewelry. I want to see the ugly ogre I married. The ogre who won't give me an heir!" He shoved me away, and I crashed hard onto the unforgiving floor. The fancy rug and multiple layers of my dress did nothing to cushion the fall. Every part of my body ached as my sobs grew louder.
I sobbed, not only from the physical pain but from the emotional torment inflicted by the man I had fallen in love with a decade ago. The man who once cherished me and promised me the world had transformed into a monster because I couldn't bear him a child. My eight-year-long marriage remained childless.
Miss Marilyn Rusé, once renowned as the golden maiden of Ruqgu. That was my nickname when I was sixteen-the most beautiful maiden in the entire city. Marrying into a powerful family like Gattar was expected, given my background.
The House of Rusé ranked among Ruqgu's five most prestigious families, and I was their beloved daughter, pampered and spoiled to excess. Abuse was a foreign concept during my upbringing, and I was too noble to mistreat anyone, even servants. While my friends bullied their servants and slave girls, I befriended them, raised by a maid myself. I lost my mother at a tender age, and servants became my family. When I turned ten, Eria, my handmaid, became my best friend.
At sixteen, I was betrothed to Lord Patrick of the House of Gattar. We were childhood friends, and love blossomed, hastening our marriage. Recollections of his former kindness fueled my hope amidst the torment.
Initially, he stood by me in the face of our childless years, defending me against the branch families who bullied me. However, as our marriage reached its fifth year without a child, he resorted to desperate measures. He filled me with fertility herbs, hired countless doctors, and forced me to ingest endless concoctions that practically became my daily sustenance.
Now, he had reached his breaking point, morphing into a hateful stranger. I wondered at times if he ever truly loved me. He drank excessively, abused me, and frequented brothels, leaving me untouched for months. When he did desire me, it was a violent, unwanted act. He taunted me mercilessly about my barrenness, weaving the word 'barren' into every sentence.
If his younger brothers welcomed a child, he'd get drunk, lash out at me, and take me forcefully throughout the night. I couldn't leave the Gattar Manor; news of my barrenness and his actions had spread throughout Ruqgu. I accepted my fate, trusting Eria to manage my businesses. She went to the market and tended to the cosmetics shop I had established with my dowry. If I couldn't bear a child, at least my finances thrived.
Eria offered me a sympathetic look as my husband stormed out of the room. The two servants hesitantly opened the door and left, fearing becoming his next targets. He paid them no heed; his primary victim was me.
Eria moved closer, dismissing the servants with a stern glare. She couldn't do that earlier; my husband delighted in having them witness his cruelty. He chased them away only when he wanted me against my will.
As for me, I no longer knew how to cry. Eria ran her fingers through my hair in a soothing gesture while I stared blankly ahead.
"It won't always be like this, Lina. I promise," she assured me, enfolding me in her comforting embrace.
"This is my destiny, Eria. I have nowhere to turn. The House of Rusé has forsaken me. You don't understand; I'm alone," I replied, my voice void of emotion. I had become a hollow shell, devoid of feeling.
"Before Lord Patrick arrived earlier, I had a message for you," she said in a hushed tone, her eyes scanning for any prying ears.
"A message? What kind of message could possibly change my barrenness? I'm exhausted. Keep your message, Eria," I said, rising slowly with her assistance. She guided me to my vanity table, where I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.
"She claims to have the solution to your problems," Eria revealed, leaving me bewildered as she massaged my temples.
"Who is she?"
Eria's words hung in the air, shrouding the room in suspense. My curiosity overcame my despair, if only for a moment."Who is she, Eria?" I asked again, my voice steadier this time.
Eria hesitated for a second before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "I met her on my way to the market this morning, She is from Nayak and she claims to know your mother"
" She knows my mother? she is From Nayak? How did she know about my predicament?" I murmured confused about the entire situation. Why would a total stranger be interested in me?
Eria's gaze bore into mine with unwavering determination. "She has heard of your plight, Lina. She believes she can help you, offer you a chance to break free from this torment."
I almost laughed but I didn't, I trust Eria but this? I'm not so sure.
"Eria, what if this is some kind of trick or deception?" I voiced my fears, unable to fully silence the nagging doubts.Eria's gaze bore into mine, unwavering in its sincerity. "I believe in her, Lina. And if there's even a chance that she can change your fate, isn't it worth the risk?"
" How can I meet her" I asked.
Eria's lips curled into a sly smile. "She gave me this," she whispered, revealing a small, ornate envelope concealed within the folds of her dress. The envelope bore an intricate seal, unlike anything I had ever seen.
" We are to meet her before midnight. my lady"
I never expected that this mysterious stranger would alter the course of my life. But will I truly find a solution, or will my situation worsen?
-
“ I don't see the reason why you won't sign the fucking divorce papers!” He said after taking a deep breath, he placed the papers on the table. She only shrugged her shoulders in response. His mind was everything but stable. “ Oh I will” She said with a cheeky smile and he sighed in relief. “ Really?” His eyes lit up. “ One one condition” She raised a finger at him with a shit eating grin. “ I'll do anything to go back to being a bachelor” He said almost desperately. “ Sleep with me” Marriage has always being a bad news to the number one playboy billionaire, Daniel Smith He hated the idea of commitment, what will happen when his father signs a deal to get a bride for him? A crazy one at that.
"Who are you? You don't even know me. Why are you helping me?" I asked, and he just went back to his straight, expressionless face. "I'm D..... You are?" he asked, and suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine. It must be because he looked like a cold-hearted person; maybe the chills were coming from him. Or maybe because I couldn't even get past the first letter of his name. Why won't I remember his name? What happened to me? What did my brother do? Why won't I remember the name of my mate?! Mated to the Beta of her pack, Diana struggles with sleepless nights as a Stranger visits her dreams every night showing her proofs that her life in the pack might be a lie and her mate may not be her true mate.
“ What do you want us to be? Sophie your friends pointed it out clearly that I'm obviously too old for you” He ran his hand through his hair. Frustrated, he took a deep breath so he won't scare the only piece of sanity in his life. “ But do you want to be more than my sugar daddy?” she asked again. After being thrown to debt by her father, Sophie was forced to look for a way out for herself which lead her to finding a sugar daddy. But what do you think will happen when an inexperienced virgin cross paths with a recently divorced billionaire in her city?
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
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."