Signing her life away for her goals seemed easy at first for Sophia Crux, but she soon gets entangled in a web of complications, and as unwanted feelings start arising for a man meant to be nothing but a step closer to her goals, she has to find a way out. But things take a turn when Alexander Black refuses to let her go.
Xander Black's POV
"Mum" I called as I strode into the house, my eyes searching for the 4'7 woman, who acts like she's 6'5
"In the kitchen," she said in a singsong voice and my lips tugged up into a smile. I changed the direction of my steps and walked into the kitchen.
I shook my head when I saw the mess the kitchen had turned into from the numerous dishes she already prepared, and the others that were still cooking. I shook my head again, rolling up my sleeves, I walked into the kitchen and began to clean up.
"You prepared a whole feast when it's just the two of us having dinner?" She let out a laugh and from my peripheral vision, I saw her shrug.
"What can I say? I still enjoy cooking and gladly eating the meal after." The memory of her forcing Dad to eat the random dishes she'd make flashed through my mind, and I smiled. "And you know, it wouldn't just be the both of us if you just..."
"Mum" I cut her off in a warning tone
"Get married" she finished and I let out a sigh. "You're getting old, Xander, and so am I. I want to see my daughter-in-law, and carry my grandchildren before I die"
"You're not dying anytime soon" I sharply cut in and she dropped the spatula on the desk, the clanging sound of it echoed in the kitchen and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"You don't know that for sure, Xander. I can die any mi..."
"Mum!"
A deafening silence settled in for a few minutes before she broke it with a loud sigh. "All I want is to carry my grandchildren, Xander. That shouldn't be a big deal"
"Let's have this conversation later, Mum," I said and resumed my work silently. Once I was done washing the dishes and cleaning up the counters, I crept out of the kitchen to my old room.
I always spend the night here whenever I visit for dinner, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I wouldn't be spending the night here today. I massaged my temples and collapsed on my bed.
Marriage has been the cause of bickering between my mum and I ever since my dad died, but her tone today felt different. She spoke as if she was daring me to say no.
"You are most likely imagining things, Xander." The words had barely left my lips when I heard her beckoning me to come down for dinner.
I deliberated on just staying in and giving her an excuse as to why I can't come down, and just bury myself in work but this is the only time I get to see her. Heaving a deep breath, I stood up from the bed, mentally preparing myself for the bickering I was sure would happen as I walked downstairs, however...
We had a silent dinner.
My mum didn't say a word to me except when she would ask me to pass something or ask me if I wanted more, and the silence was scarier and more uncomfortable than the back and forth I expected.
"Mum, are you okay? You haven't said a proper sentence to me." I started once we were done cleaning up.
She stared at me blankly but the corners of her lips tugged up in what I guess was a smile as she placed a brown envelope on the table.
I raised a brow while my eyes darted from the envelope to her face, and when I made no effort to open it after a while, she pushed it closer to me.
My brows scrunched together, forming crease lines on my forehead as I reached out for the envelope and opened it. My eyes took in its contents, and when I was done, I dropped it back on the table.
"Why?" I asked and her smile widened, this time with a hint of genuineness in them.
"Those are my company shares, 25%, making me the 3rd highest shareholder of the company"
"I'm aware, Mum"
"Good. I'm sure you are also aware that they are meant to go to you after my...." The sentence trailed off and I bobbed my head. "Well, I've changed my mind"
For a solid minute, all that rang in my ears and my head was the sound of an annoying bell. "What!?"
"You heard me right, Alexander Pope Black." My eyes widened and an involuntary scoff escaped my lips. "I am only to give you my shares if I deem you worthy of them. You don't automatically get it just because you are my son"
"Mum!" She raised a brow, and I ran my hands down my face. "What do you mean mum? I have single-handedly handled the company since Dad's death, I reinvented myself and the company. The company's profit has increased by 95% since Dad's death and is currently one of the top companies in the country. Have I..."
"As the CEO and the highest shareholder, you are simply doing your duty. As for my requirement, you are yet to fulfil that"
"Mum, you can't be serious," I said, leaning towards her but she stared back at me blankly. "You can't possibly be blackmailing me right now to get married!"
"You will keep your voice down when you speak to me, and I am in no way blackmailing you. I am simply stating my demand, which I expect to be fulfilled within 3 months, and if you are thinking of an excuse along the lines of 'Where will I find a decent girl within this time frame' you can stop that now, there is a perfect candidate for you."
"Mum!" She stared at me unblinking and I threw my head back, breathing out through my lips. "And if I fail to meet your demands?"
"I will sell the shares to your cousin, I'm sure you wouldn't mind losing your title to him"
"You can't possibly be serious mum, Draco and his father have had their eyes on the company for ages. You can't give it up to them..."
The creaking sound as she stood up from the chair cut me short, and I instantly stood to my feet. "I am quite tired, Xander, and I will be retiring for the night."
"Mum!" I called after her as she turned her back on me.
"You are dismissed. Come back when you have my daughter-in-law, good night" I couldn't get another word in before she walked out on me.
After being betrayed and exploited by her ex-husband, Jenna is left helpless and thirsty for revenge. She however stumbles upon Xavier, the richest man in the state, and In a bold move, she offers to buy him and his services for a year. Intrigued by the strange woman's boldness, Xavier agrees to her deal, but in exchange, he wants her to be his bride instead. Blinded by the need for revenge, she agrees, but little did she know she had walked into a trap laid by the devil.
After her sister ran away, Lily Morgan is set up as a replacement and is married off to Asher Allard to be a token of a successful contract. Blinded by her love for him, she goes through 5 years of an unrequited love marriage, where she is as good as invisible to her husband. However, her sister returns 5 years later, hooked to the arms of the man she has loved by the side for years, this breaks her heart and forces to accept the truth she has long denied. She serves him divorce papers, and only then does Asher realize he wants her to remain by his side forever. He blackmails her with the marriage contract she signed, and demands she stays for one more year as stated in the contract. Lily's heart runs cold at the selfishness of his actions, and she gives in with the intentions of making him pay, but he is determined to find a way to keep her beside him forever. Will Asher Allard, a billionaire known to be capable of anything be successful in warming up the icy heart of the woman who once loved him?
When a marriage is the only option left for Alexandro Rodrigo to gain custody of his son, he presents a deal to Aurora Dobre; a broke writer trying to keep a roof over her head in the large city of New York, with one important rule, she disappears after 2 years. But things take a unique turn when the years draw closer, and too much has already gone on for either of them to leave. However a threat to her life and that of the people that she holds close to her heart, forces Aurora to make a choice.
In a world of werewolves, where Alphas marry into Alpha families to form alliances and grow their strength, Annha Selene has to shove her feelings aside and get married to a Beta, Drystan, after being rejected by his Alpha,just for the sake of her pack. But she soon begins to question her choice when realizes she got married to an unusual Werewolf. A breed that even the werewolves call a beast. In her quest of accepting her new fate and falling in love, she discovers tales and secrets she never thought existed.
Zale Harris, the inscrutable and powerful CEO of the Harris empire is put in a state of crisis when he was told he had only one year left to live. Determined to have an heir to his empire and fulfil his parents' wish of having a grandchild, he sets out in the search of a bride. But his motives take a different turn when his Ex, Aria Smith, shows up to the interview with a child in her arms. Stuck between fulfilling his dying wishes and getting the answers to the question he's held inside him for years, he eembarks on a marriage of many possibilities with his EX..
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
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!"
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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.