After a night of passion, Callan dropped a bombshell. "She's returned. I think we should divorce." Lacey felt devastated, realizing that her three years of devotion had been nothing but futile self-deception. She had believed Callan craved her body, so she strived to meet his every desire in an attempt to overshadow the person he truly yearned for. Despite her efforts, their relationship ended in divorce. Concealing her turmoil, Lacey left decisively. However, Callan halted her and asked with red-rimmed eyes, "Who is this man you call out for in your dreams every night?"
In the master bedroom of the Owen family's villa, two figures were entwined passionately.
As Callan Owen let out a deep growl, he and his wife, Lacey Owen, both collapsed onto the pristine bed.
Afterwards, he planted a tender kiss on her forehead before heading to the bathroom.
Lacey slowly opened her eyes, her gaze full of desire following the man.
Callan had been insatiable that day, making love to her on the sofa, in the bathroom, and finally on the bed.
Lacey thought about their undeniable chemistry in bed and felt her cheeks warm up.
Suddenly, the phone beside the bed rang.
With a slight frown, Lacey reached for it, unlocked the screen, and checked the message.
The message contained a photo of a couple dining together.
But Lacey's expression turned to stone when she recognized the people in the photo.
The man was her husband, Callan!
And the woman with him...
Her phone beeped again with a new message from the same sender.
"Lacey, after three years with Callan, it's time for you to return him to me, right?"
Lacey's hands shook uncontrollably.
It had been three years, and now the woman returned.
Staring at the image of her husband cozying up to another woman made her heart sink. Despite it being summer, a cold chill enveloped her.
The sender was Sylvia Barnes, Callan's former fiancee and the woman he truly loved.
Lacey's union with Callan was nothing more than a contract.
Three years prior, her adoptive mother suffered a heart attack and desperately needed surgery. Lacey's path crossed with Nadia Owen, Callan's grandmother, near the hospital, which led to their acquaintance.
Nadia's intervention enabled her foster mother to undergo the necessary surgery. Consequently, Lacey married Callan, who was in a deep coma following an accident and was at risk of permanent paralysis.
By some miracle, Callan recovered after three years, during which Lacey cared for him devotedly.
Over those years, she grew to love him, witnessing his struggles and resilience daily.
As for Sylvia, she had abandoned Callan at his lowest, opting to pursue her career abroad.
Lacey had convinced herself that Callan and Sylvia were a closed chapter. Yet, to her dismay, Callan met with Sylvia for dinner the moment she returned from overseas.
Was he really so eager to reconnect with her?
Lacey's heart sank as she stared at the photograph.
Over the last three years, Sylvia's name had been a constant echo, revealing how deeply Callan cherished her.
Lacey had been in denial, but the truth was clear now.
Despite being his wife for three years, she couldn't outshine the memories of Sylvia, who still held a place in his heart.
The sound of running water stopped. Callan emerged in a bathrobe and approached Lacey, who sat frozen on the bed.
"What's on your mind?"
Lacey hastily hid her phone and shook her head in response.
Callan embraced her, his head leaning in, his breath warm and damp on her ear.
Just moments ago, their connection felt right. But now, the image from the photo made her feel repulsed.
Struggling to maintain composure, she pushed Callan back and questioned, "Callan, can a couple be happy if one harbors feelings for someone else?"
The desire in his expression vanished.
His gaze intensified, filled with confusion. He scrutinized her before responding. "What are you implying?"
One harbors feelings for someone else? Was Lacey suggesting she was unhappy because she had feelings for another?
Taking a deep breath, Lacey confronted him with a steady gaze. "Have you seen Sylvia recently?"
Callan's reaction was a mix of surprise and complexity.
After a pause, he admitted, "Yes. She's returned. I think we should divorce."
Lacey felt a pang of heartache.
Though she braced herself for such a moment, the reality of his words was unbearable, mixing bitterness and sorrow.
Inhaling deeply, she replied with firmness, "Alright."
Callan detected a hint of resignation in her tone.
Was she so ready to let go?
Could it be because of that man?
With a surge of frustration, Callan's hand tightened into a fist.
He asked her sternly, "Lacey, did our marriage mean anything to you?"
"What's the point of discussing this now?" Lacey, struggling with her emotions, didn't catch the shift in Callan's expression.
With the return of his old flame, Callan's decision to leave her for another was clear. Did her feelings even matter now?
Lacey silently dressed and started to pack her belongings, fighting back tears.
Observing her actions, Callan's expression turned sour. "Are you in such a hurry to go?"
Perhaps she was anxious to be with the man she loved.
Lacey stopped momentarily.
She longed to show him the message from Sylvia, to expose the truth, yet she restrained herself.
Facing him, she retorted with a mocking laugh, "Look who's talking."
With those words, she grabbed her suitcase and left the room, swallowing her sadness and disgrace.
As she neared the door, Callan's voice halted her. "Lacey, does Christopher Hewitt mean that much to you?"
The mention of Christopher after so long made her heart jolt.
Lacey felt overwhelmed, flooded with memories she wished to forget.
Christopher had saved her once but then vanished. His fate was unknown. How could she simply move on from him?
Overcome with grief, Lacey found herself unable to speak.
Callan interpreted her silence as confirmation. Mocking his own folly, he muttered, "You're free now, Lacey."
Turning to face him one last time, Lacey realized those were the words he should hear from her.
She had shared three years of her life with Callan. With the divorce, he was now free to pursue the woman he truly loved.
Struggling with her emotions, Lacey replied, "The same goes for you."
With those words, she turned and walked away.
Callan watched her leave, his fists clenching and unclenching in a mix of emotions.
His gaze hardened, and he let go of his tension, heading towards his study.
As Lacey descended the stairs, she couldn't help but glance back.
The hallway was deserted, leaving her feeling profoundly let down.
A bitter laugh escaped her. What was she hoping for?
Gripping her suitcase firmly, she was about to exit when a disdainful voice called out, "Lacey, you're leaving, I see?"
Lacey glanced over her shoulder.
It was Dolores Owen, Callan's mother.
With a scornful look, Dolores remarked, "Of course, now that Sylvia is here, what chance do you stand?"
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. "It's time to reveal your true identity, darling."
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
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?"
Traversing back to the ancient Prime Martial World from modern age, Austin finds himself in a younger body as he wakes up. Yet, the young man he possesses was a miserable dimwit, what a bummer! But it doesn’t matter as his mind is sound and clear. Possessing this younger and stronger body, he will fight his way to become the God of martial arts, and rule the whole Martial World!
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
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."