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Brittany Anderson is a young lady who has done nothing but made her father's company remain in the top three list of companies in the whole of America. The time to make a bigger sacrifice came, and that was to marry Ace Miller, a young CEO in America. What happens when Brittany is arranged to marry him, to make her claim what was rightfully hers? He was once the reason behind her smiles each day, but all of a sudden, became her nightmare. What possibly went wrong? She has agreed to marry him even when they both had a sour past together, but that wasn't enough to get what she wanted. She still needed to make more sacrifices and, this time, something greater than getting married to him. Would she come out successful? Or would she allow her anger ruin all that she has worked for? Would she still let her hatred from the past lead her? Or would she let go of the past and let the present lead? What happens when secrets, lies, betrayals began to reveal itself, leaving everyone guilty, including Brittany? Let's find out......
~Brittany's POV
My eyes were glued to the gigantic mirror in front of me as I stared at my reflection in a daze.
"My lady, could you please move your head a little to the left?"
"My lady?" The makeup artist called out again, pausing for a moment when I didn't bulge, and I glanced at her through the mirror.
"Leave." I uttered instead.
My gaze was hostile towards her, but I cared less at the moment.
"My lady, we don't have much time........"
"Leave this instant, I want to be left alone." I shut her up immediately, also referring to the workers she came along with.
I heard her sigh beside me. She bowed slightly to me before walking out of the room with her co-workers.
A tiring sigh escaped my lips as I heard the door close behind me. I glanced at myself again in the mirror and a lady looking down in the dumps was staring back at me.
She was dressed in an elegant white sleeveless wedding dress, her face beautified with makeup, but it didn't hide the pain.
Her face lacked emotions even if the makeup was perfectly made, but there were hints of pain in her eyes.
Staring back at the lady in the mirror, I was convinced that she wasn't happy about what today was.
Today being my wedding day gave me all the creeps and I couldn't help but to think of the reason I was not happy when I was supposed to be over the moon.
I heard a knock on the door and I spared a glance to see my mom coming in.
"Oh my goodness!" She shrieked as she halt for a while.
"Your hair is still undone?!" She added in horror.
"Why the hell did you send out the makeup artist when she wasn't finished?" She asked again and walked to where I was.
I didn't answer, and I wasn't ready to give an answer to that.
"Mom?" My voice came out softly as I called her attention.
"Am I really doing this?"
She heaved a low sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Yes, you have to get married and today is the day, so braze up yourself." She let out in another deep sigh and took her hand from my shoulder.
And that was it!
Tears gathered in my eyes that it made it hard to even see my reflection in the mirror.
It seemed like Mom noticed this because in the next second, she turned away from me.
"I will get the makeup artist back into the room. This time, don't send her out. We don't have much time left." With this said, she walked out of the room, leaving me to my tortuous fate.
A drop of tears rolled down my left cheek, then another rolled down my right cheek, and I let the rest fall.
I wasn't concerned about the makeup in the first place, neither was I going to care now.
Maybe, if I cried, all the pain and anger that I felt within would reduce, if not vanish.
The door opened again and this time, it was the makeup artist and her colleagues.
"I'll like to continue from where I stopped, my lady." She uttered and signalled the other girls to probably continue.
I didn't hinder any of them, instead I let them do their job. They probably had their job doubled by now because I could have ruined the makeup on my face with the tears.
Thank goodness none of them complained, else I would have as well lashed out on them this instant.
AT THE ALTAR*
"Do you, Ace Miller, take Brittany Anderson to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish, till death do you part?" The priest read out the marital vow, and the hall became dead silence that if a pin were to fall, it would be heard.
"Yes." He replied and I glanced at him.
He was staring directly at me with a smirk that was almost invisible. If not that I've known this man for long, then I would have also been ignorant.
I let out a small scoff.
Such guts! He still had the nerve to smirk to my face?
What the hell am I even putting myself into?
Would I really be happy if I got married to this butt face standing in front of me?
Well, that name wasn't entirely true, but he deserved it after everything he did to me in the past.
"Everything you thought happened between us were all just your imagination and being that you were a fool, you didn't realize that." Those words resounded in my head, almost bringing me to tears, but I held it all in.
There were all still fresh in my head and even the scene, just as if it were yesterday, but unfortunately, it'd been years already.
I couldn't break down again, not in front of him or in a public like this.
I glanced at him again, and he was raising a brow at me.
I wish I could spit on his face right now and see a frown instead of the bright look on his damn face.
He brought his face closer to mine and I took my head back a little, but that didn't stop him.
"Why don't you answer to the vow before you begin to zone off on the altar?" He scoffed out in a smile that I knew was fake.
Wait a minute! It seemed like the priest had read the vow to me already, but I was yet to reply.
I glanced at the congregation to see their gaze fixed on me. The hall was as quiet as a burial ground, with everyone's attention on me and maybe the man in front of me.
I turned to the priest, and he wasn't left out either.
He noticed I was now staring at him and attempted to read out the vow again.
"I heard you the first time." I lied and gulped down nothing.
What was the point of repeating when every words was filled with lies?
Yes, none of the love promised in the vow were true. So, why bother letting him waste his time in the first place?
Without hesitating any further and my face holding a very straight look, I uttered loudly, "No, I don't."
I heard a few murmurs from the congregation, but I couldn't help but feel less concerned.
"I am not ready to accept him as my husband..." I went further to say boldly, staring at the man in front of me.
He was staring back at me with mouth wide agape and I could feel his surging shock within our distance.
That shouldn't be the case already because I was about to give him the shockest news he'd heard today.
"So, I hereby cancel this wedding." I continued in between gritted teeth.
There was an uproar in the congregation.
I saw my parents sprang up from their seats, and I guess there was definitely a shocked look on their faces too.
~~~~~~
I watched my dad pace round the living room. Anger was written all over him, and I made sure to give a lot of space between us.
We were at home already after the huge commotion I had caused in the church. My father was the first to stomp out, followed by mom, and they left even before I got outside.
I didn't know what happened to the other people around, especially the man who was the reason I created this mess in the first place.
No matter how I try to think back to what I did in the church and I wanted to badly regret, a part of me couldn't help but feel proud of myself.
My gaze fell to an empty couch when I could no longer hold mom's harsh gaze. She was sitting on one of the couches while staring at me directly.
I flinched back instantly when I saw a vase flying in my direction. Luckily, it crashed before it got to where I stood, not far from me.
I turned to where the vase was thrown from, and I saw my dad breathing heavily, his dark squinted eyes staring daggers at me.
Goodness! Was dad trying to kill me?
"What was that stupid act you played at the altar?" He roared with his nostrils flaring up.
"I'm sorry, dad, but I had to."
My voice came out quiet and bold.
"You had to?" He repeated and chuckled.
"Yes dad, I did what I felt was right at the moment."
I was standing my ground on this and wouldn't allow his expression or actions intimidate me anymore.
My happiness was all that mattered, even if they didn't matter to him.
"What you felt?" He yelled and tried to march towards me, but mom was quick to hold him back, thankfully.
"How dare you bring in feelings into this?" His voice was louder than earlier.
I had definitely triggered more anger in him.
"Because what I feel matters a lot, dad. I can't live with a man whom I don't even see my happiness within many years to come."
"Do you even know what this marriage is about? This was meant to strengthen our relationship with the Millers, but you ruined it all." The tone behind each of the words was filled with anger and spite which were obviously for me.
But I expected it. I knew he was going to throw tantrums but I wished it would all end soon as I least thought he'd also want to kill me like he attempted earlier.
"I'm sorry." My head fell in a bow immediately.
Even though I was already burning inside with rage, I still apologized, not because I wronged him but to maybe put an end to all this drama.
"Sorry? Well, you would be when I am done with you."
"Dear, please take it easy on her. She will handle this mess, I will make sure of that." My mom butted in.
I lifted my gaze up immediately and mom was staring at me fiercely.
What did she mean?
"Really? Then she better acts fast else she should be ready to pay back every penny I spent on her because I would disown her." He spat out in between gritted teeth then stomped out of the house.
My mom shot me a glare, and she also left to her room upstairs without saying a word to me.
I heard a chuckle and I glanced at the bar to see Lora, my half-sister sitting on one of the stood chairs with a smile, more like a smirk on her face.
She was the least of my problems right now.
But wait, did dad really mean what he just said?
“I won't get married to him, and none of you will make me!” She blurted out in anger and despise. “I won't let you and father do the same thing you did years back.” She said, trying not to break down in tears as she clenched her knuckles into a fist. ~ What would you do when after so many years of being away from your family and friends, and then you come back home only to be forced into a marriage? This was the case of Lillian Blake, a young and beautiful lady whose world got shattered when her father forced her to marry a man she knows nothing about. What will happen now that Lillian finally get married to him against her will? Married to a man who knows nothing about love, how would she cope? Will she be able to fit into the Mafia's house, where nothing like love exists apart from the one the family as a whole have for one another? What happens when feelings that weren't supposed to be, arise? Will she be able to tame him? When forces arise and danger lurks around, would she be able to shield herself?
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
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?"
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."