Everyone wrote Ryann off after she was abandoned by her adoptive parents. But she shocked all her haters by marrying into the Edwards family and living a life they could only dream of. "I heard Ryann baby-trapped Mr. Edwards. How did he fall for that?" "It's no secret that Mr. Edwards already has a woman in his heart. He's going to make life a living hell for Ryann!" The people who thought bad about their union soon got the greatest shocker of their lives. They saw the ruthless and cold businessman who was feared by many showering Ryann with undiluted affection in public. He looked deeply in love with her. All those who once bullied Ryann went into hiding, fearing the wrath that was about to come their way. Would Ryann forgive them for the years of pain they caused her?
In a presidential suite of a hotel.
"No..."
Slender fingers gripped the edge of a vast, snow-white bed, straining to pull her body forward to break free.
She nearly made it-
Out of nowhere, a firm arm encircled her waist, pulling her back again.
His kiss was intense and full of passion. As she melted into his tender touch, her rationale vanished.
On the beautifully adorned wall, their shadows merged.
Two months later.
Ryann Murphy perched at the edge of her bed, a pregnancy test stick clasped in her hand.
The two red bars on the stick shone brighter than the midday sun.
Her mind was in a whirl.
It took her quite some time to regain her composure.
She was pregnant and unmarried...
She never anticipated such a dreadful turn in her life!
And she was just twenty years old!
"Meow!"
The soft sound of a cat snapped her back to the present.
"Coco, what do you think I should do?"
Ryann was on the verge of tears, clutching the little cat, stroking its snow-white fur.
When her fingers brushed its hairless tail, her expression twisted in anger.
This hairless tail was the trigger for all the chaos.
Of course, Coco wasn't to blame.
The true culprit was Phyllis Murphy!
If Coco hadn't been mistreated by Phyllis, its tail hair scorched by her, Ryann wouldn't have been blinded by anger and followed Phyllis to the hotel in a fury. And if she hadn't caught Phyllis in a compromising situation with her boyfriend, Ryann wouldn't have acted in vengeance and made a wrong choice.
Acting on impulse had only compounded her troubles.
Ryann deeply regretted her choice.
Then, a knock at the door broke her train of thought.
Ryann, taken aback, quickly tucked the pregnancy test stick under the quilt.
At the door stood the housemaid, Melinda Singh.
"Miss Murphy, Mrs. Murphy wants you downstairs. She has something to discuss with you."
Melinda's demeanor was frosty.
Her words carried a hint of sarcasm.
Ryann responded in a monotone voice, "Okay, I'll come down."
In the living room.
Lynda Murphy and Phyllis were cozily seated next to each other, sharing fruit and exchanging warm smiles.
When Lynda saw Ryann, her smile disappeared.
This sight made Ryann feel a pang of sadness.
Lynda had once been a kind and affectionate mother to her, too.
But everything changed six months ago when Phyllis, her biological daughter, returned home. Ryann, the adopted daughter, suddenly found herself out of favor.
Lynda's warmth towards her turned to indifference.
"Please, sit down."
Ryann sat in an armchair and waited silently for Lynda to speak.
"I wanted to discuss something with you, so I asked you to come downstairs."
Though Lynda called it a discussion, her voice was stern. "As you know, Phyllis' and Alexander's grandfathers planned their marriage twenty years ago. But Phyllis went missing, and you, fortunately, took her place to be engaged to Alexander. Now that Phyllis is back, it's time to rectify this mistake."
Ryann bit her lower lip.
In Lynda's view, it appeared that an engagement was nothing more than a game, with the engaged parties subject to change at any moment.
Whenever Lynda required Ryann's presence, she showered her with kindness. But once Ryann no longer had use for her, she turned a cold shoulder.
Ryann, holding back tears, looked at the smug girl beside Lynda. "Phyllis and Alexander have been dating for ages. This is not a discussion. It's a declaration."
Phyllis's expression shifted.
Lynda was caught off guard, not expecting Ryann to be aware of this and embarrass them now.
With a stern face, Lynda scolded, "What's with your attitude? Are you blaming us? Phyllis was supposed to be engaged to Alexander. Even this declaration is a courtesy from us!"
After saying that, she noticed Ryann bowing her head in silence. Lynda believed that her words had intimidated Ryann.
Lynda's face softened slightly. She lifted her chin with pride and said with feigned kindness, "Of course, to make amends, we've found another fine man for you. He is the second son of the head of the Ward family, quite the handsome fellow. I believe you two would be an ideal match. We have come to an arrangement. You can go and register your marriage with him tomorrow."
Tomorrow?
Ryann lifted her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But I haven't even finished school yet!"
"What's the problem? There is no rule against marrying while in college! You're of age for marriage. It's time for you to get married now!"
Ryann turned away. "I've heard that man from the Ward family is a notorious womanizer with many scandals. I refuse to marry him."
Having her marry someone like that was not compensation, but humiliation!
Bang!
Lynda slammed her hand on the table angrily. "What's wrong with a womanizer? You are just an adopted daughter in the Murphy family, not a real one. A womanizer is more than enough for you! To show their sincerity, the Ward family has deposited ten million dollars into our account. Whether you like it or not, you're marrying him tomorrow! If not, don't blame me for freezing your bank card! Don't assume I'm unaware of you secretly covering Stella Cooper's medical expenses."
Lynda was sure that Ryann would yield.
She was aware of Ryann's vulnerability.
Ryann's hands balled into tight fists.
Stella, who directed an orphanage, had lovingly looked after Ryann until she was three.
Ryann felt deeply indebted to her.
Later, Ryann was adopted by the Murphy family. Lynda was grieving for the loss of her daughter, sought solace, and found it in Ryann.
Ryann bore a slight resemblance to Phyllis, which led to her being chosen.
Despite this, Ryann frequently visited Stella at the orphanage.
Six months ago, Stella received a diagnosis of stomach cancer and required hospitalization. However, she had dedicated her youth and finances to those homeless children for years. How could she possibly afford her treatment now?
Learning of Stella's issue, Ryann secretly used her funds to cover Stella's medical expenses.
Stella couldn't survive without the funds necessary for her treatment, so Ryann had no choice but to agree to the marriage.
The next day, at the city hall.
"Achoo!"
Ryann kept sneezing.
She glanced at the man beside her, adorned in vibrant attire. His perfume was so overpowering that she found it unbearable.
What made it even more unbearable was that he hadn't ceased his phone conversation since he arrived and stood in line with her.
He continued to flirt with the woman on the other end of the line.
He was on the verge of marrying Ryann, yet he displayed no respect for her.
Ryann felt like a heavy stone was crushing her heart.
Was she destined to marry such a man?
No, she couldn't do it!
Overwhelmed, Ryann bolted out.
The man, phone still in hand, looked at her in confusion. "Hey, where are you going?"
Ryann didn't respond; she dashed out of the city hall.
She nearly collided with a sleek black luxury car.
"Screech-"
The luxury car suddenly stopped, its front end just a few inches from her thighs.
Ryann's legs turned weak and numb, causing her to collapse onto the ground.
She had nearly been hit by the car...
"Are you alright?" The driver swung open the door, stepped out of the car, and peered down at her.
He exuded an air of dominance and authority.
His voice sounded eerily familiar.
Dazed, Ryann lifted her head. As she saw the man's face, her eyes widened in shock.
The man wore a sharp suit and leather shoes, appearing immaculate and handsome. His dark eyes were as piercing as an eagle's gaze.
The afternoon sun cast a glow on him.
It was him!
Memories of that wild night two months ago and the pregnancy test stick flashed through Ryann's mind.
When the man turned to get into the car, Ryann reached out, grasping his hand, and blurted out, "I'm pregnant!"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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!”
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"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.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.