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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.
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"
Stella Judd worked hard for her entire life, in return, she only got endless deception and oppression and died without dignity. However, she was reborn with time turning back. She vowed to never again let anyone who had bullied her get anything out of her. She got away from a very vicious family and got rich by her own hands. Nevertheless, she felt in love with a cripple. Although he was a cripple, Stella wanted to protect her husband and live in peace, but she didn't expect that her crippled husband suddenly turned into the distinguished Prime Minister! What's more, not only he was not lame anymore, but also he walked with her through life and death.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.