In a world where family bonds are both a shield and a weapon, Serena Zhang's life revolves around protecting her younger brother at any cost. She sacrifices her own desires, surrendering control over her fate to ensure his safety and well-being. But when a heart-wrenching truth shatters her world, Serena discovers she has been a pawn in a twisted game of deceit. Betrayed and fueled by a thirst for vengeance, Serena strikes a deal with her family's rivals. Enter Nicholas Chen who decides to work with Serena and while they claimed to hate each other, they never expected that there is a thin line between love and hate and what secrets could Nicholas be hiding from Serena? Read to find out
Chapter 1
For Serena, there was only one thing pushing her forward. She would have given up many times but she had to persevere. One of the times she would have given up was when she found that her tuition was no longer being paid for by her family. She had tried calling them and even sending messages but still no one had replied to her so she took matters into her own hands because she knew that if she failed to keep her end of the bargain she had struck with her family her brother would suffer the consequences. To pay for tuition She decided to work at a cafe.
The cafe had a rustic feeling and made her feel at home. There was just something about the design that reminded her of her home country China. Maybe it was because it had a decoration that she suspected was from her country. Another thing she loved about the cafe was the fact that she could design to her heart's content, especially when she wasn't on duty. But even with that, for every advantage, there is a disadvantage and one of those regarding the cafes she was working in was the fact that every man who walked into the cafe tried to hit on her. She had no idea if it was such a common thing in the UK and also, most times, it had to do with the fact that she was Asian like the man who was currently in the cafe.
"Are you Asian?"
Serena fought hard not to roll her eyes at something so obvious. Her looks were of a very typical Asian female although her eye colour was a bit different because her mother was not Asian, but every other thing about her screamed Asian. Her father's genes were dominant.
Serena had straight black hair. Her eyes were a blue colour and she had a mole just beneath her left eye. Her nose was perfectly shaped and her lips were heart-shaped. Each feature suited her face perfectly. She was currently wearing a white long sleeve and a black skirt as was the dress code for workers in the cafe when the blonde-haired man walked in.
His teeth had a black colour that made her wonder just what he had been doing to make it look like that. He wore a raincoat due to the weather and he gave her a leering look.
Even with how annoyed Serena was at the situation, she had to control her rage and smile at the man. Besides, when it came to businesses, the customers were always right and she knew how wrong it would be for her to lift a hand first. She could be charged with battery for hitting him, or assault for intending to hit him bringing down the reputation of the cafe which was just now having a steady influx of customers.
"Yes," Serena said to the man replying to his previous question.
The man licked his lips. "How about me and you go out sometime?"
"Sorry, but I'm busy." She told him.
"Come on. You can take some time off from serving coffee. I reckon it's not as good as the time you are going to spend with me." He told her.
Serena smiled at the man and gave him the coffee he asked for. She was very certain serving coffee would be more entertaining than spending time with someone like him. And besides, this was the last time she was working here. She was done with her education and it was finally time to return home. Serena was happy because there was one person she was sure would be excited to see her return home; Lucas, her brother.
"I'm sorry but I'm going to have to turn you down. Maybe some other time." Serena said to him with a smile that was more fake than the emergency call she was about to make if he kept on pestering her.
Although, lucky for her, there was no need to do something that extreme because the man seemed to take her reason at face value and he willingly left the cafe.
Serena heaved a sigh of relief as the man walked out of the cafe with a limp she had not noticed. She was very lucky. Sometimes, they become rude because she gives them excuses. Serena heard a small chuckle from her coworker which quickly transformed into a sigh and turned to her coworker who watched her with watery eyes.
"I'm going to miss you," Amara said to her with a sad smile.
Serena did not make a lot of friends because of how reserved she was but there was just something about Amara. Maybe it was the fact that the black girl who happened to be her junior I'm university was very friendly and wouldn't receive any from Amara when she suggested they should be friends and Serena had been unable to refuse the girl.
"I know and that's why we have the internet," Serena said to her with a smile.
Amara laughed. "Would it hurt you to be straightforward and just say you would miss me too?"
Serena shrugged. "That's not how I do things so I can't do that if not it would mess with my image."
Amara chuckled and moved in for a hug. "At least text me when you get there okay?"
Serena hugged her back. She appreciated the fact that there was at least one person she could relate to during her stay. There was someone else but it's been three years since she last spoke with him.
"I have a request for you," Serena said to Amara who released her from the hug.
"I'm curious."
"Remember that person I talked about?" She asked Amara.
Amara released a sigh. "Serena, I told you to forget him. How do we trust someone who always wears a hoodie and face mask when he speaks to us? He was always trying to be mysterious."
"I know. But I can't deny that he was the first person to stretch out a hand when I was in need. I don't know if you'll ... .no if I'll ever see him again but on the rare chance that he walks into this cafe once more, could you give him something for me?"
Amara sighed. "You always speak a lot when it comes to this person."
Serena laughed. "Would you at least help me?"
"You know I will. But I can't give you the hope that he would show up though." Amara told her.
"I know. I know, but just do this for me."
"What am I giving him?" Amara asked her.
Serena hurriedly opened her bag and brought out a brown envelope. It wasn't one filled with letters. And it was a bit larger.
"What exactly is in this thing?" Amara asked her.
Serena blushed. "It's a secret."
Amara chuckled. "Duly noted."
There was no time to continue their conversation because they had more customers coming into the cafe. Serena had little time to say goodbye to Amara because she had to hurry home to ensure all her things were in order. She still has some last-minute packing to do.
After ensuring that her things were packed, Serena made some finishing touches to a design but it still wasn't giving her what she wanted so she closed up her sketchbook. Before going to bed, she sent a message to the same person she had given the letter to.
'I don't know when we'll see each other again, it's not goodbye yet...I hope.'
She did not wait to see if it was delivered. There could be a chance that he was no longer using the number she had sent the message to but she wasn't ready to face that harsh reality yet.
Morning came faster than expected and Serena had her bath, her body humming with excitement at the idea of seeing her brother. She knew she was going to face some drastic changes because one of the clauses of the deals she had signed with her family was that in return for providing for her brother's medical expenses, she was going to study abroad, and when she finally came back, she was going to get married to whoever her family chose for her. She had no idea how they would choose or who the person would be but she was determined to face the hard reality of her life if it was going to save her brother's life. Nothing was going to stop her from saving him.
Serena lost track of how long the plane ride was, but one thing she did notice was how she was more comfortable travelling back to her country than she was when she was travelling out of the country. She had informed her family of her return to the country but she had no idea that they would send a driver to pick her up and he wasn't a driver she knew. But it wasn't like she cared. She was on her way to finally meet her brother.
It was supposed to be a one night stand but it turned into more. Ethan After one night with her, there was no way I was going to forget about her. I dreamt of her every night. Her curves, her accent, her beautiful eyes, everything. Who would have thought that the woman I dreamt about would show up in my workplace. As much as I want her, I have to be cautious. I was the new CEO and any mistake I made would not be taken lightly which was why as much as I wanted her to be known to the world, out relationship had to be a secret. I thought I gave her everything, I really thought so but why is she gone? Why did she leave me when I was at my lowest? Alexandra Ethan had been the rebound after I found out my ex was gay. But he was a rebound I could not get out of my head. And as lucky would have it, we ended up working in the same company. It turns out my fantasies about him were off the mark because in one word, he was a jerk. But that did not stop me from falling for him even if our relationship couldn't be exposed to the world. I love Ethan but he doesn't love what I can give him. He needs to focus on his job and I need to do what's best for the family he would never come to know. This is our story, our beginning and end.
Three years ago, our divorce was finalised. Three years ago, he walked out on not only me but our future together and now the past has brought us back together. I'm being haunted by the mistakes Benji made in the past.Mistakes who have now taken our daughter. No matter how much I hate to admit it, I need Benji's help. I cannot fight this alone and maybe a little part of me also hopes that we could settle our differences and comeback together because if there is one thing I would admit, it's the fact that I never stopped loving Benji and I could not stop living Benji. This is the second story in the enemies but lovers series. This is Benji and Echo's story
Two people who made a mistake in the past. This same couple cannot still admit that they still have feelings for each other and that they had made a mistake when they decided to break up. While the issue may seem so easy, no body wants to go back to the person who cheated on them especially when the other person feels their partner cheated on them. They both feel the other cheated on them and one was caught in the act. How do Riley and Ash fight through everything holding them apart as they try to battle with their incessant feelings for each other? And what exactly had Riley said to Ash to make him seek help from a cougar while she sought help from a different male? Read to find out.
The Templeton's and those from the Silver family have always been at odds with each other. This hatred passed down to their descendants. Emma and Brandon have always hated each other. They wanted nothing to do with each other but a drunken night leads to an entanglement in the sheets and they came to an agreement to keep on pleasuring the other until one of them gets tired or plans on getting married. Emma calls it off after finding out she was getting married and it is not until after one month did she find out that she was pregnant and the father was her archnemesis. How will her family react when they find out? And how will Brandon react when he finds out she was pregnant with his child? This is the first story in the Enemies but Lovers series.
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
“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?”
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?”
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.