Being born a billionaire did not make Tristan Quartararo's life happy. The tragic deaths of both his parents filled him with a deep sense of vengeance. Raised by his uncle, Raphael Shadow, Tristan grew into a powerful and influential man in the business world. Using his wealth and handsome charm, Tristan seeks to attract Olivia Walters, the daughter of Rudolf Walters, who is believed to be responsible for his parents' deaths. To win Olivia's heart, Tristan acts like an angel. But once he successfully marries her, he transforms into a terrifying devil, ready to destroy the Walters family completely. Will Tristan be able to fulfill his dream of revenge? Especially after Rudolf Walters reveals another secret about Raphael Shadow, who is not as good as Tristan thought? And what will happen to his relationship with Olivia once he learns about all the sacrifices she has made?
In a luxurious cemetery, a teenage boy sat silently with teary eyes. His hand reached out, continually wiping the gray tombstone inscribed with the name Andreas John Quartararo.
"Enough, Tristan. Don't be sad. Mama is sure Papa is happy in heaven."
The beautiful woman named Gracia Quartararo looked strong. Although her cheeks were still wet from tears, she tried to appear strong in front of her son. It certainly wasn't easy. Especially since she had lost her beloved husband in a car accident some time ago. The man who smiled brightly that morning, asking for permission to go to work, had to come home lifeless.
"Mama will always take care of you. I promise to stay by your side until we grow old."
Gracia kept trying to strengthen her child's heart so he wouldn't be consumed by sadness. She knew her son was very close to her husband. More so because Andreas was the father Tristan admired so much.
However, a promise remained a promise. Exactly three months after Andreas passed away, it was Gracia's turn to leave Tristan forever. The beautiful woman reportedly suffered a heart attack during an important meeting at her office. One can imagine how shattered Tristan's heart was, not yet twenty years old, having to lose both parents in such a short time. At his young age, he was forced to survive in a harsh world.
"Tristan, don't cry. You're not alone in this world. There's still Uncle Raphael who will take care of you. I promise I will never leave you."
Tristan, who had been looking down, immediately looked up. With a sad expression, the young man shook his head slowly. When Andreas died, he managed to hold back his tears, but this time he couldn't anymore. The clear crystals flowed down his cheeks. He didn't care if people thought he was weak or whatever.
"Don't make any promises to me, Uncle. It's enough that Papa and Mama left me. I don't want everyone I love to leave me one by one."
"No." Raphael shook his head and then extended his right hand, patting Tristan's shoulder repeatedly, trying to strengthen his heart so he wouldn't be consumed by sadness. "I promise I won't die before making you successful. I've decided to help you conquer the world. To make Leighton Corporations, which Andreas worked so hard to build, successful and thriving again. Moreover, you must also get back at those who have wronged your family."
Tristan's hand clenched tightly. Raphael's words had successfully ignited his emotions. His uncle was right. He couldn't dwell in sadness any longer. He had to rise. Because after this, a heavy task awaited him.
In front of his parents' tombstones, Tristan promised himself that he would become a successful and unbeatable person. Once he achieved everything, he would settle the score with those who had destroyed his family like this.
"Sooner or later, I will make them pay for everything, Uncle. I will make the Walters family suffer as much as I do now."
Raphael smirked. The corner of his lips lifted high.
"Of course, Tristan. You deserve to do that. Even after the fatal accident that killed your father, Rudolf Walters hasn't shown his face to even apologize. Maybe his whole family has fled abroad." He then patted Tristan's shoulder gently and continued to encourage him.
"From now on, I promise to always be by your side. I'll turn you into a truly tough man in business and daily life."
Then, Raphael stood up first. Moments later, he extended his hand, asking Tristan to rise from his seat. They both decided to leave the cemetery complex, heading to Tristan's home to prepare for all the plans that had been meticulously arranged.
***
**Several Years Later**
Flashbulbs immediately went off as Tristan and Raphael entered the auditorium in the Leighton Corporation building. All the journalists seemed to be competing to cover the induction process of the new CEO who would lead the largest construction company in the United Kingdom.
Tristan, dressed in a navy suit, sat calmly next to Raphael. Not a hint of nervousness appeared on his handsome face.
After years of studying, interning, and directly participating in various tenders with Raphael, Tristan continually worked to convince all the shareholders and company executives. At the age of just 30, he was striving to prove to everyone that he truly deserved the position his father once held.
After two general shareholder meetings, it was finally agreed that Tristan was indeed fit for the position. Today, he would be officially inaugurated by the commissioners to start performing his duties as expected.
"Tristan Quartararo, congratulations on your inauguration today."
Everyone seemed to offer congratulations. This included Tristan's three friends, who had taken the time to come and meet him in his office.
"Thank you. I'm glad you are here to support me. I thought you were serious when you said you wouldn't come to congratulate me the other day."
Tristan then accepted hugs from each of his three friends before inviting them to sit on the sofa.
"That was Edward's idea," pointed out Kenzi. "That damn playboy wanted to surprise you."
Edward immediately clicked his tongue and handed over the cake box he had been holding. "Oh, come on, Nick. Why are you so talkative? Wasn't this our idea together? Why are you making me the main culprit now?"
"But you were the one who suggested it, weren't you?" Nicholas retorted. "You came up with the idea. In fact, you insisted earlier that Kenzi and I pick you up and accompany you to buy the cake for Tristan."
"Really?" Tristan asked, wanting confirmation. He looked at each of his friends in disbelief. Often joking around, he never expected his friends to act so sweetly.
"Well... alright. I admit it. Nicholas is telling the truth."
While scratching his non-itchy neck, Edward finally admitted what Nicholas had said. Among the three friends, he was the closest to Tristan since the beginning of their friendship. They did everything together. Edward even considered Tristan like a brother. Kenzi and Nicholas often called them twins.
"I did drag them both to meet you. Besides, we should congratulate you on your achievement today. Honestly, I am personally very proud of you."
"Thank you once again for everything you have given me."
"So, how was your inauguration today? I saw in the news that your company's stock price rose significantly after you were officially appointed as the new CEO," Kenzi said, with a hint of admiration in his voice. As a fellow young CEO, he was naturally proud of what his friend had achieved.
Tristan nodded. While cutting the cake Edward had brought, he responded to Kenzi's question casually.
"I was also very surprised. This is an incredible achievement for me as a beginner. I didn't know the inauguration would even affect the company's stock price. The commissioners also discussed it."
"That means the public has been eagerly awaiting your presence," Nicholas added seriously. "It seems they are interested in all the breakthroughs and strides you've made recently. I must admit, all the brilliant ideas you've shown have brought fresh air to this business."
The three then chose to enjoy the cake Tristan had just cut and offered. While eating, they continued to discuss various topics casually.
"By the way, is there no small party?" Edward asked while taking a bite of his cake.
It had always been a tradition for them to celebrate something with a party, whether it was large or a private gathering with close friends.
"Oh my, you're right. I've been so busy these past few days that I didn't think about it. But how about we have the party tonight?"
Kenzi put his cake plate on the table, grabbed a cup of tea, and sipped the drink. After finishing, he nodded in agreement with the idea Tristan had just proposed.
"I agree. Let's celebrate at the American Bar."
"Yes, Kenzi is right. The American Bar is a suitable place for us to celebrate all this," Nicholas chimed in.
"But, can we bring partners tonight?" Edward asked cautiously. "I mean, will tonight's party be just us as usual, or can we bring female friends too?"
"Of course. I'm also curious to see which woman you'll bring this time," Tristan replied, seemingly familiar with Edward's habit of frequently changing partners.
As agreed, the four friends decided to gather at the American Bar at eight o'clock that night. This time, Tristan brought Kimberly, Raphael's daughter, to accompany him.
After making reservations and ordering appetizers, Tristan saw Kenzi arrive first at the event with his girlfriend, Tita. Shortly after, Nicholas followed, bringing his fiancée, Claire.
"We're not late, are we?" Kenzi asked as he pulled out a chair and invited his girlfriend to sit.
"Don't worry. Kimberly and I just arrived 10 minutes ago," Tristan replied. Then he sat down and began the conversation.
"Tristan, congratulations on your achievement today. I know this gift is modest, but at least Nicholas and I are sincere in giving it to you," Claire said as she handed him a black gift box.
"Oh my, there's no need to go to the trouble. I'm already very grateful that you came," Tristan said.
Amid their conversation, Edward, who had been awaited, finally arrived. With a smile, he immediately approached with the woman he had brought.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late. I had to pick up the gift first," Edward said as he handed over the item he was carrying-a box containing a watch that he specially gave to his friend. "Once again, happy birthday, Tristan. I hope this year all your unrealized dreams come true."
Tristan, who was standing at the time, hugged Edward with emotion. When he released the hug, his focus immediately turned to the beautiful woman Edward had brought.
"Ed, aren't you going to introduce the beautiful woman next to you?"
"Oh, right. I almost forgot," Edward replied. He then turned to the woman standing next to him. "Everyone, let me introduce you to the beautiful Olivia Walters."
Tristan gazed intently into the brown eyes before him. Moments later, he extended his hand with a meaningful smile. The name Edward had just mentioned seemed familiar to him.
"Tristan Quartararo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Bella Stone has never imagine in her life intended or aspired to rent out her womb to anyone. Due to a necessity, she reluctantly agrees to carry the future baby, the seed of the famous model and entrepreneur couple, Julia Estelle and Edward Darkwood. Bella thinks everything will go smoothly. In her imagination, after carrying and giving birth, she will receive a lot of money and be able to leave. However, who would have thought that because of one night's mistake, Bella and Edward accidentally got involved. Worse still, Bella ends up carrying his seed without Julia's knowledge. So, can Bella keep this significant secret tightly sealed and continue pretending that the baby she is carrying is the result of Julia and Edward's seed? And when the baby she is carrying eventually comes into the world, will Bella be willing to simply give her baby to Julia?
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Ashton Wolf is a renowned contractor who initially married Miranda Stone. At one point, his wife's condition weakened due to her long-standing battle with stage four brain gland cancer, with a prognosis that she wouldn't survive much longer. Realizing that her time was limited, Miranda insisted that Ashton marry again. The choice fell upon Alice Ashborne, Miranda's step-sister, who was currently a senior college student. Ashton vehemently rejected this request. Apart from the significant age difference, he had no intention of marrying a girl he clearly did not love. However, under Miranda's pressure, even to the point of threats and demands for an immediate divorce, Ashton found himself unable to refuse and eventually accepted the request to marry Alice as soon as possible. Throughout their marriage, Ashton made a conscious effort to maintain distance. He deliberately kept the news of his remarriage from people outside, trying to conceal the fact that he had married again. Despite Alice's evident effort to graciously embrace married life and be a devoted wife, Ashton remained displeased and continued to keep his heart closed. To add to the complexities of their marriage, someone from the past resurfaced, throwing Ashton and Alice's lives into further turmoil. This situation left them grappling with a dilemma—whether to continue fighting for their marriage or to bring it to an end.
Repeated disappointments and even being deceived by the woman he deeply loved turned Randy Anthony Walters into a playboy. Randy is determined not to engage in serious relationships anymore due to the trauma of always being played. His mother, Verona Walters, stressed by her son's behavior, took matters into her own hands and decided to find a suitable female prospective daughter-in-law according to her preferences. She presented Randy with several candidates to choose from. In the end, her son chose a young girl named Gea Rose Donovan. Among many candidates, Randy intentionally chose Gea, who is still a student and 12 years older than him. Randy thought that by marrying a much younger girl, he could control and handle his wife as he pleased, making her obedient. However, Randy's assumption turned out to be wrong. Once they got married, Gea revealed many surprises to him. Not to mention, there is a big secret that this woman has been tightly guarding, and Randy eventually discovers it. So, will their marriage go smoothly, or will it end in the middle of the road?
Being a billionaire and having good looks are not guarantees that Nicholas Alistair's love story will unfold smoothly. Feeling very disappointed because his previous fiancée had betrayed him, Nicholas closed himself off and acted aloof. He believed that women were creatures to be avoided. However, this caught the attention of an assistant named Kimberly. She, who had just taken up the position of Nicholas's private assistant, harbored a secret love. The cool and indifferent attitude displayed by Nicholas posed a significant challenge for the young woman in her quest to win her boss's heart. Can Kimberly, a young woman full of secrets, thaw Nicholas's heart as effectively as the ice in Antarctica?"
Beautiful, independent, and possessing nearly everything in the world, Veronica Ashborne life is so perfect. However, the life she's been leading suddenly changes when Veronica is arranged by her father to be married to Darwin Walters. For Veronica, marriage is something sacred. Although she hasn't yet gotten to know Darwin's personality, in her naivety, she believes that love will gradually grow between them. However, Darwin doesn't think the same way. He marries Veronica out of necessity. He even openly shows Veronica that he's still involved with another woman. Without caring, he brings Vivian Storm, his former lover, to the house. Veronica swallows her tears and pain. She erases them perfectly in front of everyone. She covers up Darwin's every flaw so that he remains the perfect husband in the eyes of everyone praying for their marriage. Including both of their parents. For her, giving chances and forgiveness are necessary to keep living. But if the mistakes keep being repeated, is forgiveness still necessary? Or will it eventually freeze the heart of Veronica Ashborne the recipient of it all? And with the presence of Sean Galael, Veronica's heart becomes conflicted in the end.
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
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?
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Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
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?"
On her wedding night, Natalie's stepmother set her up to marry Jarvis, a disfigured and disabled man. Fortunately, she managed to escape, but little did she know that later she would fall for the man she was betrothed to.Jarvis pretended to be a poor man, but he didn't think that he'd fall head over heels for this woman.Their life went on until one day, Natalie found out her boyfriend's little secret."Huh? How could you have billions of dollars' worth of assets?" she asked in disbelief.Jarvis didn’t know how to respond.Being met with silence, she gritted her teeth angrily. "They said that you couldn't walk, but as far as I can see, you're strong enough to run a marathon."Still, he remained silent.Natalie continued, "They even said that you only have a few years to live. What about now?"Finally, Jarvis opened his mouth to explain. "Honey, this is all just a misunderstanding. Please calm down. Think about the baby.""Jarvis Braxton!"The man knelt down immediately.