"We have nothing together, Richard, the moment I signed that paper, I made sure to cut all of our ties" I reminded him, a smile creeping on my face He chuckled, running his tongue on his lower lips, a glint in his eyes, "You will always be mine, Reina, because I am going to ruin any other relationship you intend on going in" *************** On a day meant to be the most important day of her life, Reina is left heartbroken when she is slammed with a divorce by her husband, left with no choice but to give in, she flees with her unborn children, going off to live a new life, all seems to be going well until he showed up years later, wanting her and his kids back, How was she supposed to know that her mischievous kids were going to side with their father? Thrown into a new world, they are forced to make things work, but would they be able to? With the arrival of her childhood lover? And how broken he had left her?
Reina's POV
I sniffed in as low grunts and the sound of skin slapping against skin pierced through my ear, I could feel my heart shredding into tiny bits I knew wouldn't be recoverable as I listened on, squeezing hard on the door knob, I tried all that I could not to let myself immerse in the sea of thoughts that threatened to take me away with it, I kept trying, trying to be strong, but It appeared that I wasn't trying enough, where exactly had I gone wrong in all of this?
Beads of tears cascaded down my face and I bit on my lips until I could feel the metallic taste of blood which was mixed with salt.
" Madam, I told you not to come in but still, you refused to heed my warnings" the secretary admonished me as the moans and grunts got worse, and I was forced to take a step backwards, pulling my hands away from the knob as though I had been scalded by something hot. I loved him far too much to let another woman take him away from me.
I wasn't going to let it happen, although our marriage had been arranged. I had always wanted him, I had loved him when I had seen him walk into the compound and the way his face had lit up with a smile on it when he saw me had melted my heart, making it hitch when our eyes met.
I gulped in, squeezing the paper tightly, the main reason I was here. I blinked away the tears that threatened to drop before flashing a smile at the secretary, who was fidgeting and looked worried.
" Do not let him know I was here" I clenched my fist before turning around on my heels and walking out of the office.
"But...." I glared at her, hoping she would get the message and when she nodded, I sauntered away, trying as hard as I could to stay strong even when my leg almost gave way underneath me until I was in the elevator.
I leaned against the side, letting down all the tears that had brimmed in my eyes, I was heartbroken and tired, I guess this was what I got for being over-excited, for not wanting to keep the news to myself, for thinking that Richard would be excited to know we were finally expecting our kids. After trying so hard for years.
I placed a handkerchief over my mouth when the elevator dinged, my heels clicking on the marble tiles as I made my way out of his company, the same one I had helped him build, the very same one I had given him all of my shares when he was about losing it all, perhaps was this my fate? To keep getting hurt? By the same man I loved?
"Madam" the driver took a step forward but halted when I raised a finger out to him, stopping him from coming forward.
Every one of them at home had the same look on their faces when they saw me, like they were sympathetic. Was I being foolish, holding on to a man who never wanted me? Or was it bad that I loved him that much?
" The cake?" I asked as I placed a foot into the car, watching as he gingerly stepped in, before turning on the ignition.
" A little party is being thrown at a home in honor of you and the chairman has sent a little gift for you"
" The chairman," I chuckled softly before scoffing out,
The one who I had heard banging hard into a stranger? Somehow, I couldn't stop myself from wondering if he had the same look on his face as he had when he was fucking me, or would it be different?
I loosened my grip around the paper I was holding, before dipping it into my bag.
I exhaled deeply when the car rolled into a stop before a magnifying glass house, one that was mine and Richard's and would be the children as well.
I knew what I wanted to do, I would keep shut about this because I did not want anything to happen to the children, I had grown up with both of my parents, and they deserved that also, they needed to know what it felt like to grow up with both parents by their side.
"Reina" Nina shrieked excitedly when I placed my feet out, a wide smile on her face before jumping on my body.
" You have to be careful, Nina, you do not want to hurt me and...." My eyes strayed to my stomach when she yelped out, but I placed a palm on her lips.
" Does that mean I will be a godmother soon? How far gone are you? Gosh, I am so happy for you Reina, I know how hard you have been trying and now, you have your little bundles of joy" she said with teary eyes,
I flashed a smile at her, letting her wrap her hands around mine, as we walked into the house.
" Does Richard know? Have you told him?"
The smile on my face faltered as fast as it came, and I shook my head "I will let him know when he is back from work and...''
"Work...work...work...what exactly is wrong with him? Today is your twenty-fourth birthday and since you both got married, he has never attended any, and..."
I slipped my legs into the flip-flop the maid had placed down, handing her my bag.
" He sends me gifts,Nina, and they tell me how much he wants to be here, but he is occupied with work"
" Gifts aren't his presence Reina, When exactly are you going to talk about that with him? Let him know that he has to buckle up,how much longer are you going to make excuses for him...we both know..."
Her voice trailed to the background as I let my eyes run through the room I was in,
Everything was done already, decorations were everywhere, just like it has been for the last four years, A little tiny cake was left in the middle and his gift, but still, he wasn't here, his presence was missing just like always.
"Are you okay?" Nina asked immediately as I stood in front of the table.
I pulled her into my arms, hoping that I would get succor from them.
" I am tired, Nina," I confessed to her as tears slipped through my eyes.
My heart seemed to have gone cold, and I was finding it hard to breathe. "Of everything, he is hardly ever around and... I do not want him to go... he is barely even a husband to me, do you think he would love them? Our kids?"
She pushed me away slightly, her hands caressing my stomach gently, "Then get a divorce,"
I wriggled her hands off me, taking a step backward" You are joking,right? Because I do not understand why you would suggest that, you know that..."
" That you love him..."she intercepted me, rolling her eyes to the side,
" I do, but still don't you think it would be better if you got a divorce, You will always have my support"
"Get out" I gestured at the door to her, fuming in anger, this had to be it, how could she think of suggesting something that outrageous to me?
" What? You do not mean that, do you?"
" Get out, Nina, how could you? Of all things, how could you tell me to get a divorce when you know how much I love him? How..." I tried to calm down, I was raising my voice and it wouldn't help.
She shook her head at me, before picking up her bag, taking a last glance at me, "I hope you wouldn't regret your decision,"
" Shit, what have I done?" I ran a hand through my hair, watching her walk away. The sound of the revving engine resonated in my ear before it became distinct.
I crumbled to the ground, as everything seemed to shatter around me, she was gone, wasn't she?
I lifted my head when I heard approaching footsteps, his musky scent drifted into my nostrils.
"Richard...?" I whispered out, as he got closer, my heart flipped with joy as he approached me
Was he really here for my birthday? Finally, was everything going to be alright?
"Reina" he ran his gaze around the room I was in, before fixing them on me.
I waited for him to say the word, to wish me happy birthday, and when he bit on his lips before staring at me, my heart flipped because I knew I had hoped for too much.
" Let's get divorced, Reina" he whispered to me,
It is against the bro code to nurture feelings about one's friend's sister, but in the case of Josh, was that really it? For years, Lina has nurtured feelings for her brother's best friend, ones that she knew she had to keep at bay, but with them being in senior high, and with her feelings raging out, she found herself doing everything possible to get his attention, but would she be able to, when she suddenly found herself with a love interest? Josh had his well tucked in, tried so hard not to break bro code but all of his rationality seemed to have flown out the window when he found a pest lurking around Lina, and wanting to claim her as his. He had done everything to keep the pests away, but it seemed he hadn't done enough. With his obsession, and crave for her skyrocketing over the top, he finds not just his friendship with her brother threatened but his pack as well. What had held him back was a thin line threatening to snap at any time, but would he let it? What decision would he take? When odds are against him?
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
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.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.