Ariana was forced to marry into the Anderson family. As a result of the union, everyone expected her to have a baby with her new husband. However, it turned out that her new husband, Theodore, was actually in a coma! Was Ariana doomed to live a life no different from that of a widow? Unexpectedly, her comatose husband regained consciousness on the day after their wedding! Theodore opened his eyes and looked at her coldly. "Who are you?" "I'm your ... wife," Ariana answered in a trance. Hearing this, Theodore looked extremely upset. "I don't recall getting married. This marriage doesn't count. I'll get my lawyer to handle the divorce procedures." If it weren't for the fact that his family stopped him from divorcing Ariana, the latter would've become an outcast the day after she got married. Later, she conceived a child and wanted to leave in secret, but Theodore caught wind of her plans and disagreed. Ariana looked at him stubbornly. "You don't even like me. You pick on me all the time. What's the point of our marriage? I want a divorce!" All of a sudden, Theodore's arrogance disappeared and he pulled her into a warm embrace. "You're my wife, and you're mine now. Don't even think about divorcing me!"
"Miss Edwards, I'll need your signature here," the lawyer requested, extending the consent form for the insemination surgery to Ariana Edwards.
Ariana perched on the sofa, gripping the pen in her hand without realizing it.
The surgery was set for tomorrow, and today was supposed to be her wedding day.
The donor? None other than Theodore Anderson, the eldest son of the Anderson family head, who was also meant to be the groom at this grand wedding.
But fate had thrown a wrench into the works. Theodore had been reduced to a vegetable three months back, courtesy of a car wreck, leaving him unable to attend his own wedding ceremony.
Word on the street was that Theodore's days were numbered.
The Anderson family, with their focus on wealth and lineage, persisted in having offspring so that their family fortune could be inherited. Therefore, Darian Anderson, Theodore's father, eagerly wanted him to have a baby before he died, intending to use Theodore's stored sperm from previous years to impregnate Ariana.
Ariana gazed at the agreement before her, her face tense, and a flicker of subtle anxiety danced in her clear eyes.
"I'm sorry. I need a moment to go through this carefully. Could you give me a moment alone?" she requested, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
The lawyer hesitated briefly before nodding and exiting the room, leaving Ariana to grapple with her thoughts.
Alone, Ariana set the contract aside and reached for her phone, dialing her boyfriend's number.
Yes, she had a boyfriend, a fact known only to a select few!
And coincidentally, her boyfriend happened to be Jasper Anderson, Theodore's half-brother from another mother.
This wedding was not what it seemed but a scheme devised by Jasper.
A month ago, Ariana's father passed away, leaving her at the mercy of her stepmother, Glenda Edwards, who seized the family property and cast Ariana out, even confiscating her late mother's belongings.
In her darkest hour, Jasper extended a helping hand, proposing that Ariana enter into a sham marriage with Theodore and try to sabotage the surgery later. With Theodore's demise, Jasper would ascend as the sole heir of the Anderson empire.
He promised to marry Ariana once their plan bore fruit and aid her in reclaiming her mother's possessions.
Reluctantly, Ariana acquiesced to Jasper's plan. But as the pivotal moment drew near, regret gnawed at her conscience. There was no way she could go through such a thing.
With Jasper unreachable by phone, Ariana's anxiety escalated. She paced the room frantically before sneaking searching for him.
Fearful of being discovered, she forewent the elevator, opting instead to descend the stairs barefoot.
As she neared the lounge at the end of the corridor, her steps faltered.
The slightly ajar door to this room emanated flirtatious laughter.
"Jasper, stay a while longer with me. Ariana won't come looking for you anytime soon," a voice cooed seductively.
Ariana's heart skipped a beat. Peering through the crack in the door, she beheld a sight that shattered her world.
Her stepsister, Brielle Edwards, was entwined in a scandalous embrace with none other than Jasper, her beloved boyfriend!
"I fear Ariana might have second thoughts and bolt from the wedding. I can't rest easy without keeping an eye on her," Jasper remarked impatiently, attempting to disentangle himself from Brielle's grasp.
But Brielle persisted, capturing Jasper's lips in a fervent kiss. "Worry not, my love. Ariana is putty in your hands. Besides, we still hold her mother's heirlooms hostage. She wouldn't dare defy us."
"You have a point there." Rolling over, Jasper pinned Brielle under him and planted a quick kiss on her lips. "I thank you, sweetie. When I have this plan finished, I'll get rid of that worthless woman! I only want you..."
The scene grew uglier by the moment, with only soft moans and heavy breathing echoing in the room.
Ariana's legs gave out beneath her. She staggered back several steps.
So Jasper had played her all along! His declarations of love were just a facade, a mask for manipulation and deceit! Tears streamed down her cheeks as the bitter truth suffocated her.
She gripped her skirt tightly, teeth grinding in fury as she listened to the sounds in the room.
She swore she wouldn't dance to Brielle and Jasper's tune! If they aimed to seize control of the Anderson family, she'd have none of it!
Ariana wiped her tears, slipped on her heels, and made her way back to her room, her decision clear as she signed the consent form.
She'd be Theodore's wife, and she'd watch those schemers burn in hell!
-
In the softly lit Anderson Mansion that night.
As the wedding concluded, Ariana was escorted to Theodore's room by the butler.
It was the first time she'd laid eyes on Theodore, her new husband.
According to Jasper, Theodore was a man with a nasty temper, an odd personality, and was ruthless even to his own kin. All the worst descriptors were used, including "ugly."
Ariana had prepared herself for the worst, but she was taken aback by Theodore's exceptional handsomeness. Even in his illness, he couldn't hide the noble air about him, his refined features speaking of aristocracy.
She stood by the bed, observing Theodore's exquisite face, filled with doubt.
Were all of Jasper's words just rubbish?
Just then, the door swung open forcefully. Jasper stumbled in, drunk, a bottle of alcohol in hand, his voice booming without an ounce of respect for Theodore.
"Aria, I'm sorry. I was swamped today and missed your call, neglecting you."
It wasn't the time to reveal everything yet, so Ariana had to stomach the nausea and Jasper's insincere kindness, pretending to be placated. "It's fine, Jasper. I'm not blaming you."
Jasper took a swig of his drink, his smile oozing confidence. "I knew it. You love me so much that you won't hold it against me."
Ariana clenched her fists, frustration pulsing through her. "It's late now. Can't we talk about this tomorrow..."
But before she could finish, she watched Jasper lock the door and plunge the room into darkness, advancing towards her slowly.
Ariana backed away cautiously. "Jasper, what are you doing?"
"This moment is too precious to waste," Jasper said with a sinister grin, the stench of alcohol thick around him as he moved closer. "Think about it, Aria. If you bear my child, they can inherit the family property as well!"
He was utterly disregarding Theodore. How dare he try to assault her, who now was already Theodore's wife, in Theodore's room!
"Let go of me!" Ariana struggled, but just as she thought Jasper was going to get his way, she saw Jasper freeze in place.
Confused, she raised her head, only to see Jasper staring behind her, his face contorted in terror.
"Theodore..."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
“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?”
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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.