Three years of marriage brought nothing but a thorn to my heart. My child was critically ill and in need of treatment. My husband didn't care and even called me unfaithful. In my desperation, I sold my body and soul in exchange for the recovery of my child. His name was Benjamin. Dominating the underworld and influencing politics, he was like a poppy that impressed, captivated, broke, and disillusioned me. He said that different from the others who approached me only for sex, he wanted every part of me. He also said that I was his only one and that nothing in this world could compare with me. Then he told me that these were all lies. I told him that these were true to me.
Emma
"Happy birthday, Emma." My mom hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, but our moment was cut short when my father cleared his throat.
"I believe it is my turn to hug my little girl," Dad said with a grin. He held his arms out and I gladly wrapped my arms around his waist. "Happy birthday, Sweet-pea," Dad mumbled into my hair.
I mumbled a thank you into his chest. "I have to finish cooking," Mom said, dismissing herself.
"My little girl is growing up," Dad said while hugging me tighter. "You have become a very beautiful, smart, and kind young woman. I am so proud of you. You will be an amazing Queen."
I pulled away from him and looked in his eyes. I saw nothing but honesty and pride. Pride in me. I shed a few tears of joy, happiness, and relief. Relief that my father believes in me. "Mommy! Daddy made Emacry!" Two little arms wrapped around my legs. "You shouldn't cry on your birthday. You have to be happy." Matthew, my younger brother, frowned at me.
I scooped him up and planted him on my hip. "I am happy. I have happy tears," I told him. He stared at me with a look of disbelief on his face.
"I know what will make you happy!" he motioned for me to move closer. I put my ear towards his face and he cupped my ear with his small hand. "Mommy said not to tell you, but she making chocolate waffles for breakfast. And she got whipped cream," Matthew whispered.
I put him back on the ground a ruffled his hair. "I am very happy now!" I exclaimed with a smile on my face. Matthew cheered and hugged my legs.
"Matthew. Why don't you help Mommy set the table," Dad suggested. Matthew nodded and ran away to the kitchen. When Matthew was out of the room, my father turned to me. "You and Ryan are leaving at dawn tomorrow," he informed me. I nodded in response and walked to the kitchen as he trailed behind me.
"Ema! I got you a special plate!" Matthew exclaimed. He took my hand into both of his and pulled me to the dining table. He stopped in front of a chair and started pointing at the table. "Mommy said that you made that plate when you were little."
I looked at the plate and smiled at the memory. In sixth grade, my teacher told us to design our plate with something that defines who we are. No one understood what she meant, so the class ended up coloring their plate however they wanted to. But I drew a crown. The crown that would be my future. My mother's crown. The Queen crown. Its always been my dream to be just like my mother. A strong Queen.
"I remember that. You said that you couldn't wait to be a big girl, so you could wear your mother's crown," Dad said, peaking over my shoulder.
"Yeah. You told me that I had to wait. Cause Daddy still needed his little princess," I said, remembering my father's exact words.
"Mommy, can we eat now? I'm hungry," Matthew pouted, cutting off our nostalgic moment. Dad chuckled and took a seat.
I ruffled Matthew's hair. "Come one, squirt. You can sit next to the birthday girl." His pout was replaced with a face-splitting grin. He quickly pulled out the chair next to mine and sat down.
"Chocolate waffles for the birthday girl!" Mom said while walking to the kitchen. She held a platter filled with square chocolate waffles. She put them in the center of the table and we all took a few waffles.
"Ema. Can you help me?" Matthew said, from next to me.
"With what buddy?" I asked, not looking at him, but at the heavenly breakfast in front of me. My stomach growled sensing the delicious meal.
"I made a mess," Matthew said quietly. I turned and immediately burst into laughter. Whipped cream and cherries. There was a cherry floating inside of his juice and his whole plate was covered in whipped cream. There was even chocolate syrup on the table. Kids are a force to be reckoned with. I have no idea how they do things like this.
"No more whipped cream!" Mom scolded Matthew, when he held the bottle inside his mouth.
Dad chuckled and took the bottle away from him. "More for me," Dad put some whipped cream in his mouth and Matthew pouted. I scooped some whipped cream off of his plate and dabbed it on the tip of his nose.
"Hey!" Matthew rubbed the cream off his nose. It just made the cream spread; so it looked like he put on sunblock, but didn't rub it in all the way. He looked at me with his lips jutted out and his eyes narrowed. I laughed so hard, I started clutching my sides. Tears formed in my eyes, blurring my vision. My laughter died down and I wiped my face.
I was about to start devouring my waffles, but they were gone. "What the heck?!" I exclaimed. My mom started laughing, and Dad tried covering his laugh with a cough. "Where are my waffles?!"
Dad pointed at Matthew, who was happily eating my food. Matthew looked straight at me, and took another bite. "Very yummy," he said with his mouth full. I cringed at the sight. Mom handed me another plate and I put another waffle on it.
We ate breakfast and laughed at each other. It was one of those rare moments that you wish would last forever. But it won't. Tomorrow, I won't be able to do this. Tomorrow, I'm leaving with Ryan.
Tomorrow, I have to find my mate, the new King.
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."
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."
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
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?