Nicholas stood at the altar, unaware that his bride-to-be, Mia's supposed friend, had orchestrated their marriage solely to drain his wealth and vanish. Tired of her parents' constant pressure and enticed by Nicholas's wealth, Mia reluctantly agreed to take her friend's place. But as she locked eyes with Nicholas, her heart sank - he was the same person who had bullied and tormented her in high school, her bitterest enemy.
**Mia's POV**
I found myself lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, seeking refuge from the incessant ringing of my phone-an unwelcome reminder of the pressures awaiting me at home. It seemed like every time I sought solace with Charlotte, her world of carefree indulgence stood in stark contrast to the turmoil I faced.
"Mia! Mia!" Charlotte's voice sliced through my reverie, snapping me back to the present moment.
"What is it now? Why are you shouting my name? Do I owe you something?" I snapped back, my frustration bubbling over like an unchecked storm.
"Seriously? Your phone's been buzzing non-stop since you got here yesterday, and you haven't picked up once. Please tell me it's not your parents again," Charlotte's voice held a note of concern, her eyes searching mine for answers.
"Why are you asking me? Did they send you here too? Why is everyone in my life so damn irritating?" I groaned, rising abruptly from the couch and pacing across the living room.
"I get it now! Another showdown with your parents about marriage?" Charlotte followed me, a sympathetic smile playing on her lips.
"Yes! I'm fed up with their constant badgering. Is marriage some kind of compulsory life sentence now? I refuse to be trapped by some guy hiding behind that institution. Once I save enough for my own place, I'm out of that damn house. Let's see if they continue their silly marriage talks then," I spat out bitterly, my words laced with defiance and the pent-up anger of years.
"I understand why they're pushing you. If only you had a boyfriend, they might be more patient," Charlotte offered tentatively, her voice softening as she tried to bridge the gap between us.
"I can't do that. I've sworn off guys after what my ex did to me," I admitted quietly, the memory of past heartbreak casting a long shadow over my resolve.
"I hear you. Been there, burned by that. But maybe if you just pretend, find a guy like mine to toy with, it might appease your parents," Charlotte suggested cautiously, testing the waters with her unconventional advice.
"No way. You're braver than I am, and I have a conscience. If I tried that, guilt would eat me alive. Pretending is not my forte," I shook my head firmly, knowing my principles wouldn't bend even under parental pressure.
Before our conversation could delve any deeper, Charlotte's phone buzzed insistently, breaking the tension between us.
"Who's that? I hope it's not my mom trying to check up on me through you," I asked sharply, wary of any intrusion from my own family.
"No, it's the devil himself-my ATM, my boyfriend," Charlotte grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with amusement at the nickname she had bestowed upon him.
"Really? Answer it. Let's hear what he has to say," I urged, curiosity getting the better of me as I wondered what kind of person could earn such a title from Charlotte.
"Nope, not in the mood for his mundane chit-chat," she dismissed casually, waving off the call with a flick of her hand.
"Mundane chit-chat? Then why bother? Just dump him. You've got your own job and money," I said, a twinge of envy seeping into my voice as I contemplated Charlotte's seemingly carefree attitude towards relationships.
"Sure, I have a job. What about you? Still depending on your parents for everything?" Charlotte countered, her tone sharpening as she defended her choices.
"At least I'm not tied down. Anyway, answer it and spare the poor guy," I sighed, the contrast between our lives weighing heavily on my mind.
"Fine," she relented reluctantly, picking up the call with a half-hearted smile that failed to reach her eyes.
As Charlotte delved into conversation, I wandered off, seeking a moment's respite from the chaos of our discussion. Eventually, I found my own phone, its screen aglow with a text from my mom. Reading it aloud, the words carried both a glimmer of hope and a tinge of futility.
"'Please, do whatever you want. We miss you and won't pressure you anymore. Come back home,'" I recited aloud, the familiar plea stirring up a mixture of guilt and longing within me.
I let the phone slip from my fingers, sinking onto the nearest chair, overwhelmed by the weight of my own decisions. My mother's promises felt hollow, echoes of previous assurances that had crumbled under the weight of familial expectations.
I couldn't think straight. Returning home now meant enduring more lectures about my career prospects, enduring endless dinner table discussions about marriage. Perhaps leaving for good was the solution, despite their apologies and empty promises.
"Mia! Mia!" Charlotte's voice pierced through my thoughts once more, drawing me back to the present.
"She's probably coming to brag about what her billionaire boyfriend said. I'm tired of hearing about everything he does," I thought bitterly, my frustration mounting once again at the stark contrast between our lives.
"What now? Why are you calling my name again?" I snapped at Charlotte, my patience wearing thin under the weight of my own insecurities.
"Guess what?" Charlotte's eyes danced with excitement, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"What? Is your billionaire boyfriend buying you another car? Why should I care when I've got my own problems?" I retorted, unable to hide the bitterness that crept into my voice.
"Nope. Get ready, we're going to a party. Nicholas, my human ATM, is planning a surprise bash for me," she giggled, her excitement infectious despite my reluctance.
"What? Why is he throwing a party if there's no special occasion?" I frowned, bewildered by the extravagance of Nicholas's gestures.
"This is why I tell you, find a wealthy guy who'll pamper you like a princess," she teased, her words stinging with a hint of truth that I couldn't ignore.
"Whatever. I'm not going anywhere. I have my own life to figure out," I muttered defiantly, retreating into Charlotte's room to collect my thoughts away from her relentless optimism.
New story Alert💃💃💃 The rejected prince You are not my son!!! This is what the king always says to his first son all because he is blind, Even though he is blind he have the power to read people's mind....He has been blind since birth. King Xander is known to be wicked and fierce.... Liam has been suffering, even though he is a prince….his mother is dead while he has a step mother and step Brothers,they always lock him up in a room all because the king does not want people to know he has a son who is blind. His step mother really hated him,she has tried severally to kill Liam but all was in vain because Liam is not an ordinary human. Will his step mother still be able to conquer him? Find out in this intriguing story.
Meet Annabelle orlando she is from a poor family,one day she got into trouble with Daniel,and Daniel told her before she can be free from him he must get married to him. Daniel Carter is from a wealthy family,he is the most popular in town,and his parents told him he must get married before his next birthday,so he met Annabelle and told her to marry him. Will Annabelle agree to marry a stranger?? Find out in this mind blowing story. And don't forget to grab your popcorn
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to 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.
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
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?”
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."