"After a one-night stand, billionaire Leonard Lincoln was unaware that he had a five-year-old daughter. What happens when they meet again, and Leonard discovers that Diana Smith, his ex-coworker and ex-friend, lied to him and kept his daughter a secret?
"Mommy, you will come to see my performance today Right?" The five-year-old girl gazed at me with her hands clasped and an imploring look.
"Barbara, you kno-" I murmured while tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears. But she stopped me. "Mommy, no!" You usually say this, and it's my last play, mother! "Please," she whispered, as I sighed.
"Baby you know that whatever I do is for you, right?" I inquired, touching her cheeks softly, and she nodded. "But please mommy, just this once, I need you because it's a big play and many important people are coming," she murmured with puppy eyes.
"All right, baby, I'm coming," I murmured as she yelled.
"THANKYOU! "Thank you, Ma!" She shouted leaping and embraced me.
"I love you ma!!" She kissed my cheek and whispered, "You know I love you more, Barb." I replied, "Now get ready, love."
We entered the room, I removed her clothing, and she smiled as she entered the bathroom. After getting dressed, Barbara and I exited.
"B, stay close" I said as I usually do. "I know ma" she responded, taking hold of my dress as I shut the door. I held her hands and we got out as the others gazed at us.
The neighborhood we lived in was not safe for me or Barbara, with frequent fights, rapes, and predatory behavior. However, it was the only option I could afford at the time.
After a few stops on the bus, I held Barbara's hand as we entered her school. "Nervous?" I questioned her as I held her hands. "A bit, because it's a big event, but really excited since you're here," she responded, gazing up at me.
"I'm sorry, baby," I murmured regretfully. "I know ma, it's alright," she answered, and I smiled. I don't know how she grew up to be so understanding at just 5 years old.
Amelia exclaimed, "Barb!" and ran to embrace her. Barbara smiled and added, "Mommy is here today." Amelia hugged me.
"Hey baby, where's your parents?" I asked her,they were waiting with the crowd.I smiled and said, "Baby, I'm going right now, okay?" As Barb nodded, I wished her good luck and kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks ma" she said. "Good luck to you too Amelia; you both will do a good job" I remarked as they both grinned and waved away.
I entered the auditorium and found it quite busy. Cameras were stationed throughout the theater, and the first seats had VIPs.
As I scanned the crowd, I noticed my two greatest friends seated together. I smiled and said, "Excuse me, may I pass," and they both looked up at me with big eyes.
"Diana!" Both George and Larisa rose up, staring at me.
"Bitch! "You didn't tell me you were coming." Larisa remarked while hugging me.
"Change in plans, I couldn't miss it, she wanted me here" I replied as I hugged George.
"D, you missed many plays, you did right today by coming here and hey, it's about time since the three of us are together, without the kids and outside of our house or yours" George stated as he took the seat next to the right, forcing me to sit between him and Larisa.
I sat between them till Larisa looked at me and I said, "Hey! I would have suggested you could take my place and sit alongside your husband, but no, I'd prefer not to be a third wheel today, and I'm also the reason you two are together." I said with a tongue out, "Oh God, you have a child, Diana." Larisa said, giggling.
"I'm 26, babe, still a child," I responded, smiling.
"Shhh, the play is starting," George whispered, putting his hand on my lips before I could say anything.
Barbara's performance as Little Red Riding Hood received enthusiastic applause from the audience and earned them an award for the best play. The show raised a significant amount of money for charity.
Amelia was greeted by her parents, who hugged her and congratulated her. "You did fantastically!" I murmured, bringing her into a hug
"Thank you auntie D!" She smiled joyfully and asked, "Have you seen Barb?" I inquired as I looked around. "Yeah, she was talking to a man over there," she pointed.
"A man?" I questioned, glancing at George and Larisa.
"Let's go congratulate her," Larisa remarked to Amelia as they followed me. I was standing in front of Barb, who had a man kneeling in front of her as they spoke and laughed.
I couldn't see who the man was since he had his back to me.
"Barb baby" I cleared my throat before I spoke.
"MA!" Barbara shouted and hugged me firmly. "I'm so proud of you, baby!" Congratulations, I responded. "Baby?" I heard a voice say before I glanced up and encountered the eyes of someone I hadn't seen in over six years.
His looks didn't alter much, and he was still attractive, but he had matured. "Leo?" I said, surprised.
"Leo?!" Larisa remarked wide-eyed as her mouth hung open, looking at me worriedly.
I quickly felt someone slip their hand around my waist, and I knew it was George.
"D..Diana?" Leo said confusedly.
"Stop eye-fucking me, little one." Jax's voice was loud and clear through the mind link. I watch as he never looks at me but continues to laugh away with his pack members. How did he know I was completely checking him out? "Unless you want me to actually fuck you, then I think you should stop." I blush furiously and look down towards my feet. "Sorry," I say timidly through the mind link. Jaxon Harper watched as his mate was brutally killed in front of him. Not being able to cope without her, he becomes cold and lifeless. Ava White was kidnapped and held captive by a rival pack for two years. Abused and broken, she has no hope for life. Finally escaping, their paths cross. What happens when he is given a second chance with love? This just might be the perfect escape for both of them.
My human best friend Carlie Rose has been crushing on Daniel Bensen for two years now. I've begun to notice how he looks at her when we're in class or when we walk down the hall together. I came to the conclusion that he likes her, but I was so wrong. I soon realized that he hadn't been looking at my charming best friend but at plain old me. And the reason for that is simple. He's my mate.
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
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!"
Stella Judd worked hard for her entire life, in return, she only got endless deception and oppression and died without dignity. However, she was reborn with time turning back. She vowed to never again let anyone who had bullied her get anything out of her. She got away from a very vicious family and got rich by her own hands. Nevertheless, she felt in love with a cripple. Although he was a cripple, Stella wanted to protect her husband and live in peace, but she didn't expect that her crippled husband suddenly turned into the distinguished Prime Minister! What's more, not only he was not lame anymore, but also he walked with her through life and death.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
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."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.