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"Marriage was never on Ariana's mind. Living a lifetime with a man, residing in the dream home, having children who resembled her, and a partner - these were all beautiful daydreams that other girls might entertain, but not her. Ariana decided to live a single life and enjoy the rest of her days alone. However, what if she was compelled to step into her twin sister's shoes, who disappeared right before the wedding, and marry a man she didn't know? While some might consider her lucky to marry the CEO of an international venture company, Ariana didn't feel that way. So, will the marriage proceed as planned by the people pressuring her? Or will it turn out differently?"
I stared at that luxurious house. The house that caused my mother to leave me and my father. A house like a palace but filled with monsters inside. I smiled bitterly. If only my father hadn't forced me to come here to deliver the wedding gift. I didn't want to come on my own.
I exhaled and got out of the car. How long had it been since I last saw the woman who was supposed to be my mother? A year? Two years? Ah, yes. Fifteen years. Once again, I smiled bitterly. I didn't hate my "mother," or more accurately, my father forbade me from hating her. A wicked woman who took my sister and left my father just because he went bankrupt and hit rock bottom.
My father, a good man, always forgiving but ultimately abandoned. Sorry, I'm not a gentle-hearted girl like my father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Because even though my father instilled goodness in me, I grew up to be a cunning girl like my mother.
The servants looked at me with their mouths agape. Why? Are you surprised? Of course, they would be shocked to see me, the famous bride-to-be known for being gentle, loving, and ethical, walking freely. Hmm, one more fact I need to tell you. My sister and I are twins. Identical twins. I, the older one, was born five minutes before her, the obedient and gentle girl.
Ugh. I even want to spit on her. Like mother, like daughter. See, even when we were ten years old, my younger twin knew what would benefit her more. Living with a poor and miserable father or choosing to leave with her mother and prepare for a more comfortable life. Hate? No. My father said I shouldn't hate. "It will only rot your heart," he always said.
Okay, I won't hate. But if I feel disgusted? Is that okay?
My stiletto tapped the marble floor with a resounding echo. Only in my ears, of course, given the crowd's noise; it couldn't possibly be quiet, right?
The large teakwood door with intricate carvings swung wide open, and the bustling sounds of servants moving around with their decorations filled the air. With confidence, I entered the magnificent house, searching for someone I hoped I could still recognize after not seeing her for nearly a third of my life.
"Mommy, that's Karen!" A young boy pointed towards me. I glanced in his direction. Judging by his stature, he might be around 10 or 11 years old. His shout made several adults turn their gaze towards me. Smile? I'm not a friendly person. Sorry about that. My smiles are expensive.
"Sorry, I'm not Karenina," I replied cynically. "I'm here to find Mrs. Caitlyn," I said flatly.
A beautiful woman with a well-maintained face, an undoubtedly expensive and sleek dress, looked in my direction. "Ariana..." she whispered softly. Apparently, she still remembered my name. Should I smile? Or laugh?
With a quick yet graceful movement, the woman approached, extending her arms as if to hug me. But I recoiled. Sorry, it's just a reflex. To me, she was more like a germ to be avoided than a 'Mother' to be loved.
"Don't. Dare. Approach. And touch me," I said, enunciating each syllable. The woman froze. So did the people around. "I didn't come here to be warmly welcomed. I just came to deliver this." I handed over a gift, a check left by my father for my sister. Where's my twin? I didn't see her.
The woman in front of me reached for the paper, then began to cry softly. Sad? My heart had gone numb a long time ago. That's why I didn't feel touched at all. "Alright. My business here is done. I have to go." I turned to leave.
"Wait," she pleaded. I paused for a moment. "Please, Ariana. Please, Mama." She begged softly. I turned to look at her. She gazed at me with hopeful eyes. "Ka-Karen. She's gone. Please help Mama." She asked again.
"Gone?" I asked cynically. "Your daughter is missing? So, what's that got to do with me?" I turned away again, but someone held me back. I tried to push them away roughly. There was a crash and gasps of surprise filled my ears. Then something bumped into me. I stumbled, but luckily, I had good balance. I only staggered a couple of steps.
"Why are you being rough with Mommy!" the boy shouted angrily, looking at me. I saw a man already helping the woman.
"Can't you see they're fine, your Mommy, I mean. Instead of bumping into me like an angry rabbit, why don't you help her stand? Good child?" I replied with sarcasm. The boy looked at me with fear. Sorry, I'll say it again; I'm not a gentle girl. And I don't like troublesome things.
"Ariana. I beg you, please help me. Just this once." She begged with a whimper.
"Why should I help you? You were gone for fifteen years, and now, shamelessly, you're asking for my help? 'I have no connection with you and your father anymore. My daughter is only Karenina. Whatever happens to your father, I no longer care.' Those were your words back then, Madam. So, I'm sorry. I have no business with you and your daughter." I turned and walked away. But once again, someone held me back. This time, they grabbed my leg. What was this? The selfish woman was begging to me now? What kind of drama was she trying to pull off?
"I beg you. Please help me. Karenina is gone. She ran away while her wedding is tomorrow. Ariana, please help me. I begs you"
"I've already told you that I'm nobody to you. You have no right to ask anything of me. Not even the smallest help is appropriate."
"I will pay you, whatever you want," the voice came from the man who had helped the woman and was now being begged by her.
"How much can you pay?"
"Whatever you want. Or whatever you ask for," he replied confidently. A smile appeared on his face.
"Anything?" I challenged. The man's face lit up even more, nodding eagerly. "Anything," he replied assuredly.
"What if I ask for your child's heart as a replacement for the request your wife made?" I asked. The man furrowed his brow. The woman's grip on my leg weakened. "Why? You said you were willing to give 'anything,' right? Doesn't that mean you'd ask for something important to you? So, in return, I'm asking for something you consider important as well," I replied with a warm smile I could offer.
"Ariana..." my mother sighed. I crouched in front of her, aligning my face with her beautiful yet age-weathered face, which still appeared youthful due to expensive treatments.
"Why should I help you? You said 'anything' to me. Doesn't that mean you'd ask for something important to you? So, in exchange, I'm asking for something you consider important too." I answered with a warm smile I could muster.
She turned to look at me with her golden eyes, exactly like mine. I offered the warmest smile I could muster. "I'm sorry, ma'am. But I'm not the poor girl you abandoned back then. So, if you offer money to me, it means nothing to me. Even if I'm still poor right now, I won't accept a single cent you offer." I stood up, letting my voice grow louder. "Dignity?" I shifted my gaze to the man in front of me and the woman now crying at my feet. "To hell with dignity. We lost that when you left us, begging and pleading for you to come back. And your dignity? It's your business. Not mine." And without further ado, I chose to leave.
"Believe me, destiny won't run away. Even if you drown in the Congo River and parts of your body are eaten by Goliath Tigerfish, if she's meant for you, she'll accept you just the way you are." ~ Gladwin Hampton ~ "If it's truly meant to be, it won't go anywhere. Even if we run to the ends of the earth to avoid it, God will always provide a way to bring His creatures together. But... we can choose to avoid it if there's a chance." ~ Bella ~
To fulfil her desire to study in Manhattan, Elara Fulton is forced to accept her mother's condition to stay at Adaline Quirino's residence while Elara hates Adaline's youngest son Rayyan Quirino. Rayyan, Elara's step-uncle who is seven years older than Elara, is a playboy. He changed lovers as easily as he changed clothes. Elara hates and curses her uncle's behaviour and believes that she will get a husband with a good and loyal character, not a playboy like Rayyan. But the problem arises when Rayyan deliberately mentions that Elara is his fiancée. Initially, Rayyan used that status to stay away from the woman who was pursuing him. But who would have thought that Rayyan's words would make Rayyan and Elara's family decide that they should get married as soon as possible. How is their story? Don't forget to rate and comment positively.
Altezza Quirino, a young Italian-American billionaire, desired to have offspring. However, his girlfriend of the past six years consistently rejected his marriage proposals, providing various reasons that eventually led Altezza to give up and decide to part ways. Adaline Scott, a young woman facing difficulties due to her mother's ailing health, sought a loan from the company to save her mother's life. However, the loan offered was too substantial, leading her superior to propose an alternative: borrowing directly from the Chief Operating Officer, Altezza Quirino. Altezza agreed to assist Adaline, but with the condition that she must marry him and provide him with unlimited offspring. "I will help you by saving your mother's life, and in return, you will give me another life, a child for me." - Altezza Quirino
Ignazio Quirino's first marriage had to end because his wife Gretta died not long after giving birth due to cancer. Gretta's death broke Ignazio's heart, so he chose to run away from his family, leaving behind a baby he never even named. Five years it was passed. Due to Ignazio's father's health condition, Antony Quirino, Ignazio finally returned. Still, he did not dare to show himself because he felt too ashamed of his selfish actions in the past. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claire Quirino asked Olivia Grint, the girl she had trusted to look after her grandson, to help Ignazio get close to Gianna, whose biological daughter is now five. But who would have thought that Ignazio and Olivia would be attracted to each other? Not to mention the presence of the late Gretta's sister, who suddenly claims she is more suitable as a mother for Hanna, a new problem for Ignazio and Olivia's love, which has just grown. Who will Ignazio choose? Olivia or his late wife's sister?
One Side Love Story Nathaniel Chayton is Haisley Smith's first love and teenage obsession. For Nathaniel's sake, Haisley studied hard to follow Nathaniel to the country where the man lived. Years passed, and Haisley managed to achieve her dream. When she was able to live under the same roof as Nathan, instead of successfully getting the man's love and attention, Haisley was disappointed because it turned out that Nathan was in a serious relationship with a beautiful woman named Loretta. Nathan's attitude seemed cold and evil towards Haisley, and Haisley's pessimism about being able to conquer Nathan made her give up. But when she said that, Nathan suddenly became impulsive as if he didn't want Haisley to leave him, but at the same time, the man also couldn't leave his girlfriend. How does the story end? Keep reading because you will get lots of surprises in it.
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.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
During her three years of marriage with Brendan, Adeline had become as humble as dust itself. However, what she got in return wasn't love and affection, but endless indifference and disdain. Worse yet, when the woman in Brendan's heart suddenly showed up, he further distanced himself from her. Finally, Adeline couldn't stand it anymore and asked for a divorce. After all, why should she stay with such a cold, distant man? The next one would surely be better. Brendan watched as his ex-wife left with her luggage in tow. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he made a bet with his friends. "She'll definitely regret leaving and will come crawling back to me in no time." After hearing about this bet, Adeline sneered. "Dream on!" A few days later, Brendan ran into his ex-wife in a bar. It turned out she was celebrating her divorce. Not long after, he noticed that the damned woman seemed to have a new suitor. Brendan was starting to panic. The woman who had clung to him for three years suddenly didn't seem to give a damn about him. What was he going to do?
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."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."