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Alexander Arlan Ainsley is a successful young business owner. Many women try to get close to him, but he never responds because, according to him, they are only after his wealth. Alex's bitter heart without love melts because he accidentally meets Arletta McDowell, so his rigid attitude changes one hundred and eighty degrees towards her. Alex even vows to have the girl, even though the target refuses because she already has a lover. He gets even more excited after finding out Arletta is still a virgin. How will Alex's and Arletta's story continue? Does the handsome man get into the girl's heart without any obstacles? Will there be a happy ending to Alex's struggle?
Arletta Jessica McDowell POV
I was in a yellow taxi, occasionally looking at the scenery in the window. For some unknown reason, my heart was beating faster, as if to hint that something bad was about to happen. Let's hope that never happened to me.
I heard a familiar voice that coincided with this yellow cab stopping because of the red light. I quickly opened my bag and searched for the object that was the source of the sound I had been hearing. When I got it, I saw a familiar name on the screen.
"What does Dad want? It is like he can't believe I am going to his office," I muttered, exasperated.
I pressed a green phone-shaped icon and put the phone to my right ear. The yellow cab was still stopped, and I could see that quite a few cars had also stopped. The sunlight was streaming into the cab, so I felt too dazzled to look ahead.
Me: "Hello, Dad?"
I hope Dad did not ask for weird things, because I was really annoyed by his over-the-top behavior!
Dad: "Hello. Where are you, Lizzy?"
Me: "I am in a yellow cab, Dad. I will be right there."
If I had not said that, Dad would have thought that I was just pretending. How could a man like him be my biological father, anyway? How annoying!
Dad: "Are you still far away?"
I could only roll my eyes, annoyed by the ridiculous question. Did he know that it takes time to get to his office area and there was a probably that I can get stuck in traffic?
Me: "I do not think it is too far, but there is a red light here, so the yellow cab has to stop. If there is no traffic, it will probably take about twenty minutes to get there."
Dad: "Okay. When you get here, just go straight to the ninth floor."
Oh, please. What Dad said was too much, as if I had never been to his office!
Me: "Sure, Dad. I will."
Dad: "Okay."
I was very relieved, because Dad ended the phone call right away. Well, that was better, because I did not want to make small talk with him. The traffic light, which had been red, now turned green, so all the cars, including the taxi I was in, were running as before.
"Why was I asked to come to Dad's office, anyway? What kind of important business is it that I have to go there? It is a good thing I am not working part-time today." I complained in a low voice.
Yeah. Today was supposed to be a nice rest day, but it turned into hell because my dad forced me to go to the office for no apparent reason. Huh! I would better try to enjoy this trip, even though I was really sick of it.
I put the phone back into the bag and did not forget to close it properly so that the items in there would not fall out. My heart was beating fast again as if to signal me to stay alert and not let my guard down.
"Why am I like this? Oh my God, I hope everything is okay."
***
Twenty minutes later, this yellow cab finally stopped in front of a fairly grand office building. I opened my bag and pulled out a few bills from my wallet according to the meter. After that, I paid the fare to the driver and then got off as soon as possible.
The sun was shining so brightly that I felt uncomfortable, so I rushed into the building without thinking. When I got to the lobby, I saw only a few people, and it was not very crowded. This was astonishing, but I did not have time to observe my surroundings, as I had to get to the elevator as soon as possible so that I could go to the ninth floor.
From the main lobby, I immediately turned to the left, and there were many elevators. I saw a few people already standing in front of the elevator doors and soon the doors opened, so they got in. "Damn! I was too late!"
I had to walk faster because I did not want to experience the same thing. I stopped in front of the elevator doors where no one else was and immediately looked at the screen that displayed the number seventeen, so it was still a long way to get to the first floor. Before I could press the button, I saw that a hand had pressed it first.
I was both relieved and curious, so I glanced to the right. As it turned out, there was a man wearing a formal suit. Not only that, he was so tall that I had to lift my face up to see his face clearly. The man had brown-blonde hair and a solid jaw.
Oh, my God! He is so handsome! Hey, Lizzy! You already have a lover, so you should not be looking at other men's good looks. Be faithful to your lover! My mind reprimanded me, so as soon as possible I gasped and then turned my face towards the elevator door.
It was a good thing that the stranger was not angry with me because I had looked at him. I had to focus on my original goal of meeting Dad and not be distracted by anything else, including the presence of the opposite sex.
Soon, the elevator doors opened, and we entered. Again, the man in the black suit pressed the button first, and I did the same after he was done. The elevator doors automatically closed and then moved upwards. I could feel the silence, but it was a very natural thing to happen.
Suddenly the elevator stopped moving, and even the lights turned off by themselves. Suddenly, the terrible memory of being locked in a cramped, dark room for a long time came back, and the panic attack was unavoidable.
"I am scared! I am scared!"
Spontaneously I squatted down while holding my head, then cried because I could not stand this situation. God, it was only fitting that before I got to this office building; I had a strange premonition that this was what was going to happen to me!
I heard the man's voice muttering in annoyance, "Tsk. Why did the power go out? Doesn't this building have a generator?"
I did not care about anything else and continued to cry because I hated being in a condition that made my phobia flare up. If I got to the office, I had to get angry with Dad and blame him for what had happened to me in the elevator!
I had not stopped crying yet, as fear still overwhelmed me. When would this torture end? Mom, help me!
"Are you okay, Miss?" The same male voice came back, but I ignored it. The terrible memory kept haunting me, so I could not think clearly.
I felt something touch my shoulder, but wait a minute. It was not a normal touch, but the guy was actually hugging! Who the hell did he think he was? I struggled with all my might, not wanting to be treated like that by a strange man.
"Let me go! Leave me alone!"
***
"No matter what happens to you, never marry a mortal, even if your life is at stake!" "But why—" “No buts! Just carry out my orders without arguing!” Goddess Atvertha has been warned by her mother, Goddess Avtexia, to stay away from the mortal nation — a dirty, brutal, and murderous nation. The moon goddess just tried to obey, although inwardly she felt strange at the warning. Goddess Atvertha's heart began to waver when she met a man who was dying in the forest. She, who has never known love, now feels a strange flutter in her heart. What about the fate of the Moon Goddess after that encounter? Who is that stranger man and what will happen to the two of them?
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
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."
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."