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Nora James was supposed to get married to her long-time fiancé Finn Clayton, but what happens when she gets involved in a one-night stand with a stranger and Finn happens to know about it? Will Finn forgive her, and will they end up married, or will Nora end up pregnant without anyone by her side?
Nora's POV
It was the eve of New Year's Day. I entered the city of New York via car. I haven't been here in three years. The honking of the car at the careless drivers.
"I'm finally home," I said to myself.
I was supposed to be back by the first half of the month, but I had told nobody that I was returning this soon. Probably to surprise them.
"We're here, Madame." The Uber driver had said something to me, bringing me out of my deep thoughts.
"Finally." My eyes widened as I looked at the tall building in front of her. It was her family gathering, apparently the birthday of her grandfather.
"A perfect time and opportunity to surprise them all," I said to myself as I took out her suitcase from the back of the car, laid off the Uber driver, and went to the door.
I took a deep breath as I pulled the door open.
*Happy birthday to I heard everyone's chorus and then turned in her direction.
Whoa! I exclaimed, clapping my hands and getting ready for a hug, but nothing came of it.
Everyone stood there in shock as they watched me make a fool of myself. I was lost. It was not what I had anticipated.
"No hugs?" I asked but got no answer.
"Why are you back so soon?" My mother squeezed her face into a light frown.
"What? Am I supposed not to be back?" Her heart clenched in pain. I was expecting a hug or kiss or anything at all, but they stood there transfixed for a moment, confused as to whether I was the one standing there.
The door creaked open, and Finn walked in with a bouquet. Seeing the long brown hair and model-like physique, he knew instantly that it was me.
"Nora?" His mouth fell open in shock as he yelled for her to turn and obey his instructions.
"Why are you home so early?" He asked, confusing her more.
"Is everyone here not happy to see me?" "I can equally return to school," I murmur. I was so angry and hurt that I kicked the table and started to climb the stairs, crying all the way.
"Were they not happy to see me? I knew they had always been strict with me, but I figured they must have softened a little bit if I returned home earlier.
I had a twin sister, Kora, who seemed to be my nemesis growing up, but I still, in fact, missed her.
"Why are you back so early?" A voice said it by the door, making me flinch. I raised my head.
"Kora? What are you doing there? You scared me." I asked, looking at Kora, who stood by the door, looking at me.
Kora James was the splitting image of me, or you could say we were identical twins. Growing up side by side with each other, Kora was always the loved one, while I faced a lot.
"You showed up unannounced, and you expect everyone to welcome you with open arms?" Kora questioned.
The look on her face gave it away to me that, as usual, I was not welcomed here anymore. It was more like her presence was not needed.
"Did I spoil the surprise they had for me?" He asked herself, but got no answer.
"Am I no longer welcome here?" I asked, my gaze fixed on Kora in confusion.
"You know what?" Kora plastered a fake smile on her face.
I am in fact happy to see you here." She says this with her lips curling into a small smile.
I felt relaxed, and at least one out of everyone was happy to see me.
"You know what would lighten up those moods?" Kora asked as I looked at my sister with much enthusiasm.
"No, do you?" I asked,
"A little bit of partying, you need to distress. You could go with me. Kora said, glancing at me.
The look on my face was my reply to the suggestion. I didn't want to go, but my wild sister was making an effort to make me feel comfortable; I just couldn't turn her down. Besides, it's not like I was wanted at home anyway.
Waiting for my final answer, I looked at Kora before sighing.
"Fine, if you say so." I finally consented.
"Great!" She says, hugging me tightly,
"This is going to be a great time," Kora grinned, and I relaxed.
"But no alcohol. You know I have zero tolerance when it comes to alcohol." I reminded her, but I was not sure if she heard me.
"Sure." She says she was dragging me outside; she had already booked a ride for us both. For some reason, I was not comfortable with the sudden likeness of Kora.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She looked at me and smiled when I asked again.
"I'm definitely okay." She replied,
......
We got to the bar, and the loud music and dim lights fitted perfectly with the decor of the bar. People were dancing and rocking themselves.
"Hey girls!!!" While her friends were dancing across the bar, Kora called out to them.
"Oh goodness gracious," I breathe out, rubbing my forehead.
Heaven knows this is not my kind of space at all.
I went over to the counter, and the bartender looked at me with a warm smile on his face, which I found awkward.
Let me have a glass of apple juice, please. He gave me a look when I said something to him. "You look tired," he says. I gave a weak smile. Why wouldn't I be tired? I just returned from school, and boom! I was dragged to a party.
He served my drink, which I gulped down in one go. I sat there as I searched the room, looking for Kora with my eyes, but the room was too dim. Just then, I began to feel lightheaded.
"Ouch!" I rubbed my head. It began pounding, and just then my vision became blurred. I looked up to see Kora walking up to me.
"Hey, how are you doing, Nora?" She asked at that moment, and I gradually became black.
Trapped in an empty office late at night, Ella is certain no one will come to her rescue until a mysterious stranger appears. That man is Jason Theal, a seductive billionaire with a dark past and dangerous secrets. Drawn into his world of wealth and shadows, Ella discovers a sinister underbelly of betrayal and power. But as she unravels Jason's deadly ties, she realizes her own life is at stake in a game where trust is a luxury and survival is everything.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
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!"
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."