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Erica had fallen in love with a man she believed would give her the love she had been longing for. Troy Sandoval was a mysterious man who appeared out of nowhere and ruined her life. He first showed his genuine care; he courted her, and it happened quickly enough that Erica wasn't aware that she was falling further into Troy's bait. Soon after they married, Troy turned into something Erica had never expected. Troy became brutal and mocked her since Troy's main goal is to seek vengeance for his brother, Rix, who is still in an induced coma. He believed Erica was accountable for the tragedy that happened to Rix. Rix has been Erica's long-term suitor, and the young, innocent lady repeatedly rejects Rix's feelings. She continually told Rix to keep himself away from her, but Rix stayed adamant. Erica didn't want to give him false hope, given that she had no love for him. This is the reason she managed to stay away from Rix. He's only a friend to her. But one day, Rix called Erica and threatened to kill himself if she failed to show up for his birthday party. Erica had no idea Rix and Troy were siblings and very close to each other. Erica agreed to Rix's request since she knew exactly what this guy was capable of. But unfortunately, Erica was unable to arrive at the meeting place due to an unexpected situation. An incident that will change their lives and turn her life like living hell and misery into Troy's arms. Is it right that she kept that incident from Troy? What if she said it a little early? Will she still experience hell? Or will Troy truly love her if he finds out the truth?
ERICA's POV
The people applauded, gazing at us in admiration. We had just finished our garden wedding and it wasn't attended by many guests; only our close acquaintances, friends, and family. I'm incredibly happy right now because I finally married the person I love the most and will cherish for a lifetime. Troy Sandoval.
I love Troy so much. That's why I didn't hesitate to say yes when he proposed to me. We've been together as a couple for almost a year, and we haven't encountered any problems. Every day, he makes me feel special.
Troy is caring, kind, and, most importantly, very thoughtful. That's how I got to know him during our nearly year-long relationship, which is why I quickly fell in love with him. Through him, I found my dream guy, the kind of man who is enough for me. So, here we are now, officially married, and I'm now Mrs. Sandoval and my dream came true.
After the ceremony, we headed straight to one of the hotels owned by SGC (Sandoval Group of Companies) where our wedding reception would take place. We were in a convoy, and some visitors followed us. We sat quietly inside the car; perhaps he was tired, so I let him relax for a while. We didn't even discuss where we would go for our honeymoon. Maybe we'll talk about it after this.
Days, weeks, and months passed, and our married life with Troy was going well. Of course, occasional arguments were inevitable, which is normal for couples. He was often not at home; when he wasn't attending business meetings, he was on business trips. I always understood him; maybe his job was that important. It's not easy being the Chairman of SGC. He always came home tired, and sometimes he couldn't help but be in a bad mood.
But today was different. It felt like I was talking to a completely different Troy. He had just come home from the office.
"Oh Babe, you're here already. Why did you come home early, are you tired?" I asked him, approaching and giving him a kiss and a hug but he didn't even look at me. He wore a frown and furrowed his brows.
"Babe, is there something wrong?" I asked again, but he didn't react. He just stood there staring at me as if I had done something wrong but I ignored it.
"Change your clothes," I told him as I unbuttoned his shirt one by one and suddenly, he spoke.
"Bitch!" He said with no brake.
I was halted because of what he said. He grabbed chin and lifted it to look at him.
"Haven't you been wanting to know your place in my life for a long time? I'll answer that now so you'll know and remember it. A Bitch. That's it!" He uttered with anger, maintaining his grip on my chin.
I pushed him away because I couldn't comprehend the words he was saying. I couldn't understand him now. Yes, sometimes I had questioned him how much he loved me and what place I had in his life when we argued because it seemed like he had changed and become different. When I asked him, he wouldn't answer me; he would just turn away and avoid me.
"Are you satisfied with my answer?" He added.
Then he pushed me, and I fell onto the bed.
"Troy, why? What did I do wrong? Did I make a mistake, why are you so angry with me?!" I asked with confusion. But instead of answering me, he turned away and quickly left the room without even glancing at my direction. I cried silently and buried my face in the pillow, hoping no one would hear me.
I thought about what I had done, but I couldn't think of a reason for him to be so angry and say hurtful words to me. Until I drifted off into my thoughts.
3RD PERSON POV
Troy was currently drinking in the library when his cellphone rang. "What is it?" He asked the person on the line.
"Mr. Chairman, as a well-known figure in the entrepreneurial field, there are rumors that you're planning to start a new business. Is that true? What kind of business is my friend thinking of starting this time?"
"Can it wait, Ryan? Not now; let's talk another day, okay?"
"W-wait." He didn't hear Ryan's next words because he hung up the phone. Ryan was one of the shareholders of SGC and also his friend.
He downed the remaining bottle of alcohol. He was in a bad mood now.
After leaving the office, he went straight to the hospital to visit his brother. But the doctor said there was still no progress, so he took out his frustration on Erica.
ERICA's POV
When I woke up, I quickly went downstairs and saw that Troy was already leaving the library. I approached him thinking he was in a good mood already.
"Um, babe, maybe you're just tired, or perhaps you've had a tough day at the office. Come on, I'll give you a massage," I offered. I was about to place my hand on his shoulder when, unexpectedly, he seized my waist and kissed me abruptly, as if he were venting his frustration. His actions left me deeply puzzled, but I chose to dismiss them. I had missed him, so I kissed him back, tasting the hint of alcohol on his lips. Had he been drinking? However, he promptly pushed me away and gave me a bitter look.
"Do you know how important it is for a person to have self-knowledge? I'm sure you know what your position is. Remember your identity. You're not my wife! You're just my maid!"
When he said that, it felt like daggers stabbing into my heart, one by one. He didn't even think twice before he said those words. It's like he doesn't care whether I'll get hurt or not. A pang of pain struck me, and the memory of his wedding vows flashed through my mind. Did he forget those words?
"Troy, how can you say that? I'm your wife! Don't you have any pity for me?" I asked him bravely.
"You've turned my heart into steel. Have you ever heard of steel having emotions?" He responded. I was confused by what he was saying. I had no idea why he was so angry.
"So now your heart is made of steel? Since when, huh? Troy, what's the problem?! Why don't you want to tell me?" I asked repeatedly, almost dropping my tears.
He didn't answer me because his attention was diverted to the door when someone knocked.
"Who's that?!" He yelled.
"It's me, boss." Dino's response came from outside of the door; maybe he was scared of his master and could sense his bad mood.
"Get out!" Troy ordered.
"Boss, the doctor said he's slowly regaining consciousness," Dino added.
Troy was shocked by Dino's statement and quickly left the house without even looking back or saying goodbye.
"Troy!" I called out to him, but it seemed he didn't hear me. I heaved a sigh and will wait again until he comes home. But who was Dino referring to? Why did Troy react with such sudden concern? Is he hiding something from me?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
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.”