Are you not curious?
ALIYAH'S POV
I hoisted at the door for over five minutes. Holding slightly to the door knob as my heart keeps pounding harder like it would explode soon. The thoughts of what their reactions would be like scared me even more. Is risking this worth it? even with the urge to step in, my body felt paralyzed.
'You can do this.' I encouraged myself in what came out as a whisper and took deep breaths. Calming every fiber in me. then cleaned the sweat on my forehead and pushed the door.
It revealed them obviously doing something naughty but stopped what they were doing as soon as the door flipped and turned to my direction.
"You don't know how to knock?" Cora asked as she dropped her legs to the ground. And I stared away.
"I.... I'm sorry." I apologized.
Due to how scared I was, I totally forgot to even knock and thank God for me that they weren't naked else, a death sentence straight up. Even with the way they looked at me. I don't need a seer to me what would have happened. And they seem to be in a good mood.
"What a fatuous girl you are." Theodore cursed as he gave her a disgusting look.
"I'm sorr..." I was about apologizing again when he interrupted me.
"shut it. You're getting me upset the more!" He shouted and I shook in fear.
Maybe it was a wrong idea to come in. But its my life and I have a right to it, right?
"So, what is it you want?" Cora asked while arranging her clothes and I looked away.
"I... cam... I am..... to..." I paused. Trying to summon the bravery to tell them how I feel. It's better to say it now or forever I will have to hold my peace and, I can't be calm when my future is at task.
"Speak up." Cora said with her tone a bit higher than usual.
"I don't want to get married." It slipped off almost immediately and I lowered my head so as not to see their reactions.
Of course, I'm dead. No one needs to tell me that but, I can't get married to that man. He is too old and rude. All my life I have been taking orders, trying to impress them but not anymore.
"What?" Theodore furrowed his brow and got up. He picked his walking stick and approached me.
Cora followed from behind. He stood near me and raised his hand to hit me but was stopped by Cora. She shook her head and he let his hand fall.
"Aliyah, what did you say again about your marriage to Mr. Hilton?" She asked with a low tone and I got scared.
This can't be good.
I stepped backwards but she followed with a forced smile on her face.
"I... I said, I didn't want to get married..." Yet to finish my sentence when I felt pain on my cheek.
"After all we did for you." Another slap followed, "This is how you choose to repay us." I kept receiving aggressive slaps from her. She also slapped my left eyes, causing me to see darkness and tiny shinny stars.
She stopped suddenly and grabbed my hair so tight, pulling it so I can look up at her.
"You don't say what you want here. You are a nobody and you will remain so." She yelled and I nodded while crying.
It is too painful to endure.
Tears rolled down my chins as she kept pulling hard on my hair. And on the wooden chair near, she banged my head on it. I touched my mouth to see blood.
"Look at me." She ordered. And when I did, "You will get married to him or else, I will kill you." She threatened.
With her facial expression, I could tell she wasn't just saying. Also knowing what she is capable of, surely, the threat isn't to be overlooked.
"Yes, yes. I will marry him." I said loud enough for her to hear.
"Good." She smiled like an evil witch and walked away to join her husband who was sitting on the edge of their king size bed, cleaning his glasses.
I got up, not bothered to clean myself else, they would ask me to go outside and roll. They have done it before and since then, I dare not to dust off diets when around them. I quickly opened the door to leave when I heard Theodore say something to her, "She has to marry him. We can't afford lose this for anything." And I shut the door behind.
Huh? And why is it a must for me to marry him? What could it be? What are they hiding and why do they want me to marry that ugly old man?
My name is Aliyah and I live with my foster parents and siblings. My parents died when I was 13 years. Theodore and Cora adopted me, at first I was being loved and cared for but after the birth of their daughter, I became a shadow. Soon, I was turned into a maid and they cared less about me.
I don't know why they suddenly want me to get married when all the young gentlemen coming for my hand in marriage were humiliated. Some didn't want to let go but because of the constant embarrassment and humiliation, they stopped coming around.
Walking straight to my room, I bumped into Stephanie, my foster sister.
"It seems like you've made mum and dad angry as usual." She mocked with a nasty smile.
I didn't want to fight or argue so, I began to move away when a hand grabbed mine.
"Don't you dare walk away from me. I am still talking." She said, hitting my hand on the wall.
I groaned as tears threatened to come out. I looked up at her to see her lips curve a smile.
I can beat her and treat her like a trash too but I can't. The worst thing I can do is hurt her. They would kill me and lie. Bury me with no trace. I know they can.
"What do you want?" I asked her.
"Nothing. Just to see more of your blood." She said and started laughing like her mother before walking away.
Finally, I got to my room down stairs and hurried into the bathroom to check out my face. And there I saw a skinny girl with a cut on her lower lip and red bony cheek.
I gently washed my face and took medicine for the headache and pains. It was bound to happen after the long pulling of my hair. She even pulled out some of my hair out. I looked a mess and my heart ached.
I just want to die. I'm tired of everything. Why can't life be fair?
In my room, I have no chairs or bed. I look around and it's so small with nothing attractive. One window, one bulb and a bag to put in my clothes. Not like I have any fancy one. I took a bedsheet I hanged on the small rope in the room and spread it on the ground. Then, folded some of my clothes and laid on it. the clothes are there so I don't feel the hardness of the ground. Also, to prevent me from catching a cold.
While facing the ceiling, I closed my eyes, only to hear laughter coming from upstairs. Maybe they wanted me out of their lives. I couldn't stop the tears anymore as it rolled down. Dropping on the folded clothes I rested my head on.
My heart started to ache again as I tried to calm down. But questions kept ringing in my head, "Why me? Why can't I be happy? Why is happiness so far from my reach? Is my existence a crime?"
Eva's heart shattered when the man she loved, Brandon, left her for Kate, a model picked by his mother for marriage. She also faced humiliations and scorn from his family members. And just when she thought, she was alone in her crumbling world, a wealthy, handsome billionaire Carlos came into her life with an offer she couldn't refuse. As they struck a dealāa marriage lasting only a year. Eva saw an opportunity for revenge, while Carlos, sought a companion to appease his dying old grandfather who refused to give him the inheritance except he marries and the deadline was his deathbed which happened to be so close. What starts up as a transactional arrangement soon grew into something more passionate. Eva found herself entangled in a web of conflicting emotions. Despite her best efforts to resist, she couldn't deny the growing attraction she felt towards Carlos, nor could she ignore the lingering ache for Brandon again. Their memories together. And when Eva dared to believe in a future with Carlos, her past came crashing back with a vengeance. Brandon, consumed by jealousy and regrets, swore to reclaim what he had lost even while still married to Kate; setting the stage for a showdown of love, lust, and betrayal. Who will win? Life is a game after all.
Keren Wildlings, a twenty-three-year-old she-wolf who hasn't shape-shifted before, is forced to marry the most powerful, cold-hearted royal, The Alpha King, by her stepfather. She has no idea why, nor has she seen the Alpha King before. Events changed for her when she realized she was just a vessel to create a son for the Alpha King and would be disposed of afterwards. The Alpha King, Aarav Gerwulf, on the other hand, has no affection for her, so he stayed away. However, when he stayed with her until her birth, she thought he had realized the bond between them, but it was all a lie. He soon left again, and heartbroken, she ran off with her child. The barbaric, cold-hearted King sees his errors as a matter of course and plans to fix them. He shall bring her and their child back to his shelter, even though now she has been saved by his greatest enemy everāthe hunters. And what happens when his mistake leads to his son getting trained by Hunters such that he becomes his father's enemy and Keren, her powers hidden all this time?
Becky and her lover Cain were such a lovely couple. People envied their relationship and though, they had ups and downs, it didn't stop their love. But things changed after Becky got a new position at her home country, Croatia. And this time, the distance was much and due to work, they lacked a good communication. Cain and Becky's love got tested in a different way and the result would either separate them or build them but, a love triangle will be found. Will they end up together?
Maryanne had just suffered from a heartbreak caused by her ungrateful boyfriend. She gets an opportunity to leave the country with her boss but, his arrogant attitude gave her a second thought. How would she have known that agreeing to go there, would change her life forever? Everything started to change after one night they came back from a meeting, drunk. But the love triangle made it impossible as Maryanne didn't know of her boss's unknown fiancee. Will Maryanne find love this time? Or is the heartbreak going to repeat itself?
Loverina, a lonely girl trained by her poor grandmother, unexpectedly got into a messy shit with the heir of the Oscars family. To pay the price of her deeds, she was taken by the heir and turned into a pleasure slave. What power does a low class commoner have over such higher status. Just another version of Dark Romance with spice of Hatred, Violence, Authority, Love, Slavery and Family Ties
Zack and Sophia are like cat and mouse, they just can't stand each. Eventually, they fell in love but kept pretending. Sophia admirer Zack, turns out to be a famous billionaire, whose got a female bestie Angelina and Simon, his male best friend. Sophia so full of troubles and causes some for herself; goes homeless and to her rescue came Zack. The fact is, Zack always shows up at the right time, could this be destiny or he's stalking on her? Who's gonna fall first and what's the story like? Why is Sophia's life a mess and how did she get to meet the young billionaire Zack?
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wifeās countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. āLetās get married again.ā
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
On her wedding day, Khloeās sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didnāt commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrikās cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
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 statureāthe 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!"
āDrive this woman out!ā "Throw this woman into the sea!ā When he doesnāt know Debbie Nelsonās true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. āMr. Hilton, she is your wife,ā Carlosā secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, āwhy didnāt you tell me earlier?ā From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"