Leanna's life had been full of hardships until her Uncle Nate, who wasn't related to her, offered her a home. She fell deeply in love with Nate, but as he was about to get married, he ruthlessly sent her abroad. In response, Leanna immersed herself in the study of andrology. When she came back, she was renowned for her work on solving problems like impotence, premature ejaculation, and infertility. One day, Nate trapped her in her bedroom. "Seeing various men every day, huh? Why don't you check me out and see if I have any problems?" Leanna laughed slyly and quickly unbuckled his belt. "Is that why you're engaged but not married? Having trouble in the bedroom?" "Wanna try it out for yourself?" "No thanks. I'm not interested in experimenting with you."
Leanna Powell burst through the door, a folder in her hand.
Just as she was about to yell, the sounds from the bedroom halted her, altering her facial expression instantly.
"Nate, be careful... It's too much for me..."
She heard the voice of a woman whose moans intensified.
At twenty, Leanna was no stranger to what these sounds usually meant.
Yet, in this villa, it was just her and her uncle, Nate Holland. She refused to believe he was the one that made the woman moan in the bedroom.
The folder fell from her grip, papers scattering everywhere, as Leanna hastened to the bedroom door and flung it open.
Inside, the light was faint, a man's back visible, moving in a steady rhythm, his lower half obscured by a thin quilt. The man's face was out of view.
Just by seeing his back, she knew it was her uncle.
Underneath him, a woman appeared to be in the throes of immense pleasure.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Leanna picked up a shoe by the door and threw it at them, shouting, "Nate, I hate you!"
Then, she bolted from the room.
After she slammed the gate of this villa, Nate sat up, tossing aside the quilt.
His upper body was bare, but he was wearing pants.
Lighting a cigarette, he inhaled deeply and exhaled, the smoke blurring his attractive features. His eyes were cold and menacing, showing no lust.
The woman sat up, too, clad only in her bra. She reached for Nate's waist with a seductive smile. "Let's not let this upset us. Shall we go on?"
Nate looked at her unemotionally and ordered sharply, "Leave now."
The woman hesitated, longing to turn their staged act into reality, having made it to Nate's bed.
"Nate," she whispered, tracing her fingers along his waist.
In this city, Elesmond, Nate Holland's authority was unmatched. His commands were seldom challenged, and those who did often faced severe consequences. Without a second thought, Nate shoved the woman off the bed.
"Darren, escort her out."
"Understood, boss."
The woman put up a fight but eventually, Darren Willis, his assistant, escorted her out. Standing beside the bed, Darren reported, "Sir, Miss Leanna left for her friend Maisie's house. She hasn't signed the papers for traveling abroad yet."
"Bring them to her and ensure she signs them. She will."
"Understood, sir."
After leaving the villa, Leanna headed straight to her best friend, Maisie Fowler.
At this moment, she sobbed on Maisie's shoulder, saying, "Maisie, how could he do this to me?"
Maisie consoled her, "Leanna, remember he's your uncle. A romantic relationship isn't possible. Plus, he's thirty. It's natural for him to want a partner or even start a family. You must move on from your feelings."
Leanna, feeling wronged, protested, "But he isn't my biological uncle."
"Even so, he's the one who raised you. To the world, he's your uncle, and you two are family," Maisie reminded her.
Leanna became quiet, contemplating.
Maisie's words hit. Denying their familial connection made little sense when everyone viewed them as family.
Their lives were entwined, barring any chance of a different kind of relationship.
Leanna remembered fleeing from her abusive uncle and aunt at sixteen, seeking refuge with the Holland family.
Her grandfather had once said that Colten Holland, the former head of the esteemed Holland family, owed him a favor and could be approached for help in tough times.
However, when she found herself in the grand hall of the Holland family, she discovered that Colten had retired and isolated himself, no longer residing there.
Sitting in the living room, she caught the critical eye of Kristy Holland, the new wife of the current head of the Holland family.
In the grand reception area, young Leanna felt out of place, twiddling her thumbs as Kristy, with a look of scorn, ordered the maid to hand her a hundred dollars and dismiss her.
Just as Leanna's cheeks turned red with humiliation and she was about to reject the money and storm off, a scornful and derisive voice echoed, saying, "Mrs. Holland, is your generosity only for the show when my father's around? Why can't the Holland family take care of a young girl? What's the fuss about? Making a scene over this seems unnecessary."
Leanna glanced up in surprise and spotted a chilly man standing on the stairs.
Dressed in a gray suit, he stood with his arms folded, watching them from above like he was amused by the scene.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
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.”
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"