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"Marry me, or watch your best friend rot in jail." Lila never imagined her culinary skills would lead her into the arms of a mafia heir. But after winning the prestigious "Gifted Hands" contest, she's thrust into a nightmarish marriage with Axel Blackwood, a man determined to soften his brutal image. Coerced by her father's debt and her best friend's imprisonment, Lila agrees to the union. As public fascination grows with their high-profile wedding, secrets unravel, and Lila's unexpected pregnancy fuels suspicion and betrayal. In a world where trust is a luxury, can Lila and Axel find a way to navigate their dark reality, or will it destroy them both?
"Will they be supportive of me coming in and taking on a leadership role?"
Axel leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The culinary world is competitive, Lila. There will always be those who feel threatened by new talent. But I believe in your abilities, and I think you have what it takes to earn their respect."
Lila nodded slowly. "I understand. I just want to make sure I'm walking into a supportive environment."
Axel's smile returned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You'll have my full support, Lila. And I'm confident you'll win over the team."
As Lila left the Roberts Group headquarters, she felt a mixture of excitement and unease. Axel's offer was tempting, but there were too many unanswered questions. She decided to take Danielle's advice and trust her instincts. She needed more time to think.
That evening, Lila met with Danielle at their favorite café. Over cups of coffee, she recounted her meeting with Axel and her lingering doubts.
"It sounds like a fantastic opportunity, Lila," Danielle said thoughtfully. "But I get why you're hesitant. Maybe you should talk to someone who has worked there before."
"That's a great idea," Lila agreed. "Do you know anyone?"
"I might," Danielle said, pulling out her phone. "Let me make a few calls."
While Danielle made her calls, Lila sipped her coffee and tried to calm her racing thoughts. The idea of working at the Roberts Group was exhilarating, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
After a few minutes, Danielle hung up the phone and smiled. "I got you a meeting with a former chef from the Roberts Group. Her name is Emily, and she said she'd be happy to talk to you."
"Thank you, Dani," Lila said, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend's support. "You're the best."
The next day, Lila met Emily at a small bistro downtown. Emily was warm and approachable, and Lila immediately felt at ease with her.
"I worked at the Roberts Group for three years," Emily said as they sat down. "It was a great experience in many ways, but it wasn't without its challenges."
"What kind of challenges?" Lila asked, leaning forward.
"The competition is fierce," Emily explained. "There's a lot of pressure to perform, and not everyone is welcoming to new talent. But if you can handle the pressure, it's a great place to grow and learn."
Lila nodded, taking in Emily's words. "Did you ever feel like there was something... off about the place?"
Emily hesitated, then nodded slowly. "There were times when things felt a bit... secretive. Axel is a brilliant chef, but he's also very controlling. He likes things done his way, and he doesn't always share his plans with the team."
Lila's unease grew. "Do you think it's worth it?"
Emily smiled softly. "Only you can decide that, Lila. If you think you can handle the pressure and the competition, it could be a great opportunity. But trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, don't ignore it."
After their meeting, Lila felt more conflicted than ever. She appreciated Emily's honesty, but it didn't make her decision any easier. She decided to take a few days to think it over and weigh her options.
That night, as she lay in bed, Lila thought about her mom and the dream they'd shared. She wanted to make her proud and achieve something great. But she also wanted to stay true to herself and her values.
The next morning, Lila woke up with a sense of clarity. She knew what she had to do. She called Axel and arranged another meeting, this time to give him her final decision.
When she arrived at his office, Axel greeted her with a smile. "Have you made a decision, Lila?"
"I have," she said, taking a deep breath. "I appreciate the offer, Axel, but I need to decline."
Axel's smile faltered. "May I ask why?"
"I have some concerns about the environment at the Roberts Group," Lila said carefully. "I need to be in a place where I feel supported and valued, and I'm not sure that's the case here."
Axel's expression hardened, but he nodded. "I understand. I'm disappointed, but I respect your decision."
As Lila left the Roberts Group headquarters, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She knew she'd made the right choice. She might not have the prestigious position, but she had her integrity, and that was worth more to her.
Over the next few weeks, Lila focused on her own projects. She worked on new recipes, collaborated with local chefs, and even started planning a pop-up restaurant. Her success in the Gifted Hands contest had opened many doors, and she was determined to make the most of them.
Throughout it all, Danielle was by her side, offering support and encouragement. Their friendship grew stronger, and Lila knew she could always count on Danielle.
One evening, as they were working on a new menu together, Lila received a call from an unknown number. She answered hesitantly, but the voice on the other end was friendly and familiar.
"Hello, Lila. This is Chef Green from the Gifted Hands contest. How are you?"
"Chef Green, it's great to hear from you," Lila said, smiling. "I'm doing well, thank you."
"I have a proposition for you, Lila," Chef Green said. "How would you like to join our team as a guest chef for our next season?"
Lila's heart skipped a beat. "That sounds amazing, Chef Green. I'd love to."
"Excellent," Chef Green said warmly. "I'll send you the details, and we can discuss everything further."
As Lila hung up the phone, she turned to Danielle with a beaming smile. "I'm going to be a guest chef on the Gifted Hands contest!"
Danielle squealed with excitement and hugged Lila tightly. "That's incredible, Lila! You deserve this."
Lila felt a surge of happiness and excitement. She had found a way to pursue her dreams without compromising her values. And with her best friend by her side, she knew she could achieve anything.
As she looked ahead to the future, Lila felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was ready to take on whatever challenges came her way, knowing that she had the support and strength to overcome them. And with each new opportunity, she would continue to honor her mom's memory and the dream they had shared.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
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?”
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.