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"What are you hiding, Mr. Blackwood?" Julian closed the gap in a heartbeat, leaving no space between them. She gasped, forced to tilt her head to meet his intense stare. "I. Have. Nothing. To hide," he said, voice cold, his gaze never wavering. The air crackled between them, charged and heavy. Anger lingered, but something else-something sharp and undeniable-hung there, too, just beneath the surface. Neither dared to acknowledge it. •°•°•°•°•°•°•° With her father's health fading fast, struggling artist Leslie Harrison feels trapped, helpless to give him the care he needs. In a desperate twist, she finds herself caught in a marriage of convenience with billionaire Julian Blackwood, a man who thrives on control and keeps his heart locked tight. But Leslie sees through his icy demeanor, sensing there's more beneath the surface. As emotions get tangled and secrets begin to slip, their bond is tested in ways neither expected. Can Leslie help Julian face the shadows of his past, or will they pull him under?
"Any luck, Larry?" Leslie said over the phone, her fingers clenched around the device in hope and anticipation.
"I'm so sorry, Leslie," a voice rang out through the phone. "The gallery owner complained that your art was too avant-garde and not suitable for the theme of her art show, so she wouldn't bother showcasing any of them."
"Really, not even one?" she pressed on, clinging to the last string of hope she had left.
"Not even one. I'm so sorry. Look, I gotta go now. They need me back here."
She closed her eyes in disappointment and whispered, "It's okay. Thanks, Larry. Talk to you soon." She hung up shortly afterwards and sighed heavily, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. This was the fourth time her art was rejected from being showcased in an art show. Disappointment had become a daily phenomenon for her ever since she received devastating news about her father's cancer three months ago. She stood up with her shoulders still slumped and smoothed out the non-existent crease from her pale blue gown, then walked briskly to the doctor's office where he was waiting for her.
"Good day to you, Miss Harrison."
"Hello, doctor. How is my dad's treatment going?"
"Oh, I should be asking you the same, Miss Harrison," the doctor said in a gentle yet firm voice. "You haven't been forthcoming with his bills, and this hospital runs on bills. We can't go further with his treatment without payment."
The tears she fought so hard to keep under control filled her eyes to the brim. "I'm trying, doctor. It's... it's hard, you know. I'm all he has and he's all I have. I don't have any relatives I can ask for the money, so please bear with me for a little while."
The doctor's face softened, and he said kindly, "I know, Miss Harrison, and I commend you for showing up for your dad like this. But this is a message directly from the hospital board. They already found out that I proceeded to treat your father on multiple occasions without proper payment being made, and they threatened to have me arrested for breaking the code of conduct of the hospital. My hands are tied here," he said and sighed sadly.
"It's okay, doctor. I understand you're just doing your duty," she said and wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffling softly. "I'll try my best to raise the money for his next treatment. Thank you so much for your kindness and for bending the rules of the hospital for my dad."
The doctor smiled fondly and said, "I mean, rules are meant to be broken, are they not?"
"Yes," she responded with a sad smile. "Yes, they are. I'll take your leave now." She rose and said goodbye before leaving his office.
---
Gregory Harrison's ward was located in ward 34A at the northwest side of the hospital. It was one of the top wards in the hospital, booked and dedicated to catering to the needs of the elites of New York. Leslie had spent almost all her life savings to secure him a spot here. Leslie walked briskly to her dad's ward, holding a plastic bag containing his favourite chicken soup from his favourite diner downtown. She reached the ward and stopped to look at her dad through the small oval glass of the door. The man that had been a strong pillar of support for her all her life was now a shadow of his former self, with sunken eyes and an even more sunken face. He lay there asleep and tired at the same time.
She entered inside quietly so as not to disturb him and placed the plastic bag on the table, switched on the humidifier, and reduced the temperature of the AC.
"Leslie, my girl," a weak voice sounded across the room.
"Dad," Leslie cried out softly and rushed in for a hug but stopped midway, fearing that she might squash him.
"What's wrong? Don't want to give your old guy a hug?" he asked quizzically.
"It's not that, Dad. I'm afraid I might crush you," she said softly, her eyes filled with love for the man.
"Oh, c'mon. A little huggy hug never hurt anyone. Now come over here before I come to you," he said in an amused tone.
"Fine," she said and rolled her eyes playfully at him while hugging him like her life depended on it.
He hugged her back with the same intensity and said in a grumpy voice, "We haven't seen each other much this week."
"I know, Dad, but it's you who is to be blamed. You're always sleeping anytime I come over," she said and pouted playfully.
"Ahh, that's right. You know what? I think we should blame the doctor for injecting me with so many sleeping pills. I'm sleepy 95% of the time now," he said, raising his voice in exasperation.
"Yes, yes, Dad. It's not your fault. Let's blame it on the doctor," she said with a genuine smile playing at her lips for the first time that day. She was always happy whenever she was with her dad despite the circumstances.
Her dad noticed and said brightly, "There's my happy girl. Always remain happy and not gloomy, okay? Dad's gonna be alright."
The pain, disappointment, and frustration she'd been holding back resurfaced, and she clung to her dad's emaciated body and sobbed loudly for the first time in months. "How can everything be okay, Dad? Just how?" she sobbed.
"Shh, shh, shh, it's okay, my dear. Let it all out," he said in his most gentle voice.
She sniffled loudly and narrated all the bad luck and frustrations she'd been encountering recently.
"It's going to be fine, my dear. Just calm down," he soothed.
She finally calmed down a little and continued, "The deadline for the treatment is in five days, Dad. I can't raise such an amount in so little time, and this treatment is essential for you so that we can take the next step towards your surgery. What can I do, Dad?" she yelled, feeling disgusted with herself for not being able to provide for her dad in his time of need.
A feminine voice tinged with a touch of smug satisfaction rang out, "I believe I can be of assistance."
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?"
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
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?
I'm a Luna. After three years of marriage to Alpha Nathaniel Blackwood, I'm finally pregnant with his pup. But he's unclaimed me for his first love. I'm leaving the pack with this secret, praying he never finds out. Nathaniel Blackwood is a handsome, powerful Alpha. In a world where humans and werewolves coexist, he has it all: a billion-dollar empire, untold power, a massive pack, and, most importantly, the perfect Luna. But the return of his first love shattered our marriage. When he finds out the secret I've been hiding, will he regret rejecting me? Will I ever be able to forgive him? Dive into this gripping serialized novel to find out more-Enjoy the ride!
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.