/0/55860/coverbig.jpg?v=20240424191609)
Real love stories are not as beautiful as fairy tales. But that doesn't mean it will go wrong. It all depends on how people choose to live with it. Like Anna, an ordinary woman living an everyday life amidst the glittering life of Los Angeles was forced to bury her fairy tale wedding dream as the marriage order came. Moreover, she married the most desirable, handsome, young CEO, the successor to the Byrne business empire, David Byrne. A small mistake that totally changed their life. Could they live with that? Especially when one problem after another shook their loveless marriage.
Was this really what it felt to be a broken heart?
She felt endless sadness, and the will to live a day was nothing. Not to mention her tears like rain, unable to stop falling from her eyes. However, it was nothing compared to the reality that forced her to continue meeting the source of her pain. It felt like she wanted to disappear right away.
If she could, she would definitely do it. Unfortunately, she couldn't just do it. Giving up only for a guy seemed not right. In fact, she could have been enduring it all this time. This gonna be merely another part of her broken heart phase.
But was that true? Why did this hurt so much?
"You're not eating?"
A faint voice entered her ears. She heard it, or she thought she heard it. It was kinda confusing because her brain and body were out of sync. She wasn't even sure she really heard it. The surrounding voices sounded the same. Not clear.
"Anna."
If the first one was a male voice, the second was a female voice. The two people sitting next to each other stared at her in confusion. Anna had not changed her activities. The knife in her right hand and the fork in the left prepared to cut the steak but ended up nothing.
"Anna," the woman called again by slightly raising her voice. She had to do that to get the attention of her interlocutor back.
And it worked. Finally, Anna's long daydream about her broken heart was broken. She was forced to come back to reality. The harsh fact that she was with a happy couple required her to act happily throughout their meeting.
"Oh, Bec." She automatically called Rebecca's name out. "What did you say?" she asked after having thought about why Rebecca had called her and couldn't find the reason. Of course. She would become superhuman if she could focus on two things simultaneously.
"I didn't ask. It was Matt. He asked why you aren't eating." Rebecca sounded exasperated as she repeated the missed scene. How could Anna daydream in the middle of their dinner? Also, this was a crowded restaurant.
Anna's breath stopped when Rebecca said Matt's name. But, her follow-up sentence made Anna realize that this was not the right time to react that way. She had to stop her own stupidity. "Right, I'm having dinner." She muttered, which only could be heard by her. Yes, she was that careless, so she let her mind wander elsewhere after understanding the risks of agreeing to their dinner invitation.
"Why? Is something bothering you?" This time, it was Matt who asked her. He looked at Anna with worry etched on his face. Their old friendship was enough to tell Anna's habits. She was not usually like this. The Anna he knew was a talkative person.
"Just my job. They transferred me to take care of a new celebrity." Out of nowhere, a lie smoothly escaped Anna's lips. But that was not entirely a lie. It was a fact that she got a new job. The only lie was she didn't really think about that earlier.
"Who?" Rebecca immediately joined their new discussion. It seemed her annoyance had dissipated.
"Two new celebrities are entering the agency. But, I still don't know who will be assigned to me." Anna said as she continued eating. She put a piece of steak into her mouth.
"Who are they?" Apparently, Rebecca was still interested in the topic. It was understandable. Her job as an office worker barely allowed her to meet celebrities, unlike Anna. Anna was used to meeting them because she worked at an entertainment agency as a manager for celebrities.
"Kate Burton and Adam Green."
"Adam Green?" Rebecca repeated a name that her best friend had mentioned. "Is Adam Green at Lives On?" Cautiously she asked with enthusiasm hidden.
"Yeah. Being his manager will be so busy because he becomes popular after-"Suddenly, Anna's words came to a halt as consciousness hit her. "Ah, I forgot you're his fan." She remembered their conversation two weeks ago when she had accompanied her best friend to watch the series all night. No. Supposedly, she was forced to do it because how could she sleep when the television was still on in her room? This was what it was like to live in a simple apartment. There was no barrier between one area and another, which made her have to be patient to accept Rebecca's presence invading her precious rest time.
"So, is it really him?" Rebecca looked like she would jump out of her chair if she didn't remember it was a public place.
Anna nodded confidently. She saw Adam several times at her agency. And with the news of him joining there, his visit must be related to contract discussions.
Having managed to control herself, Rebecca changed the way she spoke. "May I stop by at your office?" She asked hopefully. If her job didn't allow her to meet her idol, she would take all the opportunities. And coincidentally, it came from her best friend.
"She's there to work, Bec. Not to take you on tour." Matt replied quickly. He was confused about women. Was it those much in idolizing actors?
"Relax, I won't bother her. I'll just come to see from afar."
"Still, you can't be there. It's an office."
"I said I won't interfere with her work. If you don't believe me, come with me."
A small chuckle escaped Anna's lips at their argument. Rebecca was like that. She would look for opportunities to see her idol up close, and Matt would always react the same way. A man who was tired of hearing his girlfriend's enthusiasm for celebrities.
Perhaps, that desire had not wholly disappeared. It was about joining in the glittering of the entertainment world. Oh, Rebecca used to be on several movie projects. With a well-proportioned body and a familiar face of a Latina woman-her mother is from Brazil-she got there even though she couldn't get the primary roles. She only got small scenes. But it didn't take long for her best friend to quit after realizing the fierce competition in that world.
"Okay, okay." In the end, Anna would mediate between them. She was amazed at how they had maintained their relationship for the past six years when they were still arguing over trivial matters. Moreover, they were getting married in two days. "I still don't know who I work for. But if it's Adam, I'll make ways for you to meet him." She ended it with a prudent decision.
"Oh, Anna." Rebecca put on an overly moved expression. Obviously, it was acting. "Thanks a lot. You're the best." However, her words were sincere.
Anna smiled at her behavior, which was, actually, not much different from hers. As Matt had often said, women were sometimes overly enthusiastic about their favorite idols. Likewise, with her. Years of getting into the entertainment world apparently did not make her immune to that. The proof was when she and Rebecca were crazy about an actor, Matt couldn't stand it and chose to be silent.
"You're too nice."
And his last comment slowly erased her broad smile. Presumably, Matt was right again. Anna was so kind that she could smile even when she should have cried. Her idol, the man she had loved for years, would marry Rebecca. It was definitely good news and also a source of her sadness. She had to end all her feelings for him, or else she would sink into her broken heart.
Carla thought finding her mate was the end of her life's journey. It turned out it was the beginning of her misery. Just because she couldn't bear a son, an heir, Ian Houston mistreated her and her daughter. She ran away only to fall into another Alpha's arms. Zurin Abrams, Alpha of Wild Fire Pack, lost his first mate on a Rogue attack. Five years later, he accidentally smelled Carla as her second mate. Thus, he determined to protect her from whatever chased her. Unfortunately, things never went easy on them. Ian was back and wanted to reclaim Carla. The war broke out, which led Carla to choose between two males. Zurin or Ian?
Hannah used to be a happy Luna. She lived her wonderful life with her destined mate, Eliot, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. But everything turned upside down when Eliot framed her for cheating on him and sleeping with a man. But she had never been unfaithful to her mate. Still, he insisted and forced her to abort their baby. Her misfortune didn't stop there. Her best friend betrayed her. She killed her to take her position as a new Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. Was it the end of her life? Hell, no! The goddess gave Hannah a second chance to right her fate. She would take revenge on everyone, which caused her life to be miserable. She promised they would pay for that!
"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?"
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.Â
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
"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.