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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?
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.