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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.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?