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"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
I was getting married today!
However, my newly wedded husband was dead.
Yep, you didn't hear me wrong. I would become a widow right after the wedding.
I knew, this sounded incredible.
But, it was true.
My biological father asked me to marry a dead man to protect his other daughter.
To understand how I got here, we need to go back a few years...
I had no parents, and was raised by my uncle since I could remember things.
A few months ago, the Smith family, wealthy in the city, suddenly found me.
They said that I was a Smith by blood. They also said that I had fallen into the wrong hand because of the fire in the hospital where I was born.
Like Cinderella, I became Miss Kelly Smith overnight.
However, this fact didn't change my life.
They told me my mother had died in that fire in the hospital.
My father soon got married with his current wife.
The girl, who had taken my place for years, was their beloved daughter.
I was a tool for the Smith family to play up to the Brown family.
So even on the day of the wedding, they didn't show up.
They sent a housekeeper over. The housekeeper gave me a golden velvet jewelry box and said, "Miss Kelly, this is a wedding gift from Mrs. Smith. Please take it!"
A necklace, which seemed to be of great value, was in the jewelry box. The pendant was an orchid gem with countless small diamonds around it. I didn't know much about jewelry, but this necklace looked expensive.
"Thank you."
I took the necklace and put it on my neck.
Perhaps, my father and stepmother loved me.
They just didn't know how to get along with me.
I was still in a daze when the car stopped at the gate of the Brown family.
The magnificent building was like a castle described in books. The driver led me into the house. I saw a large coffin in the living room. The coffin, made of obsidian, looked horrible against the light.
A white-haired old man greeted me.
He wore a black suit with a white flower pinned on his left lapel. I couldn't tell whether the expression on his face was happy or sad.
"Nice to meet you," I said hesitantly.
"Madam, you may call me Joey, the butler here. Please keep Master company tonight. Let him feel the joy of wedding."
After that, Joey raised his wrinkled hand and pressed hard on the corners of his eyes to wipe those, invisible tears.
I stood by the coffin and felt the situation ironic.
The butler couldn't shed a drop of tear for Carroll Brown.
However, he asked me, who had never met Carroll before today, to company him.
Did the Brown family really think that an outsider like me cared about Carroll more than them?
Many people looked at me when I walked into the house.
They heard Joey and then began a heated discussion.
"Is she the wife of the dead Mr. Carroll?"
"Watch your mouth. This is a posthumous marriage, but it doesn't mean she has to die with Mr. Carroll. She'll be Mrs. Brown anyway."
"The Brown family is so ridiculous. Mr. Carroll is dead, so what's the point of his getting married? I feel sorry for this girl!"
The discussion gradually turned in another direction, and the crowd began to speak evil of Carroll and felt sorry for me.
It seemed that Mr. Carroll was not popular.
None of these mourners were sad for his death.
Therefore, I thought that Mr. Carroll and I were of the same kind.
I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat for this glance.
The man in the portrait was the most handsome one I had ever seen. He was more gorgeous than the superstars in Hollywood.
He had beautiful eyebrows, bright eyes, fair skin, and a deeply lined face.
However, his expression was a bit cold.
Nobody dared to get close to him for his intimidating aura.
"Ahem." Joey coughed softly.
Only then did the crowd shut up. They said the usual pleasantries and then left with some excuses.
Joey said to me with fake grief on his face, "Madam, I'll have to leave you now."
I looked at Joey in shock. "Will I be alone here?"
"Yes, you will have to stay alone here. Mr. Carroll owns this house, so the others can't come here at will. You will have to pray for Mr. Carroll here tonight."
Before I retorted, Joey had left.
I could change nothing.
Therefore, I sat near the coffin.
I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel.
After one glance at the pitch-black coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed.
"Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?"
"I do."
A low male voice suddenly came from behind, so I quickly turned my head.
I saw a tall man in white shirt leaning against the door.
The man was undeniably handsome, with a roguish charm that seemed effortless. He had casually tucked the hem of his shirt into his pants, leaving three buttons undone, a style that added to his allure.
Then...
His face!
I looked at the man and then at the portrait.
The two faces were exactly the same!
"Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!"
Ugh.
My mouth was fully stuffed by the pastry in the male hand, and then I was picked up like a chick.
"If you alert the bodyguards, I'll kill you."
The man gripped my neck and didn't let go of it until I nodded.
"You're warm."
I murmured because of the lingering warmth on my neck left by the man, "You... Are you a human?"
"Nonsense." Carroll shot a contemptuous glance at me and then crooked his finger at the man behind me. " Jason, open the coffin."
Jason came over and quickly pried open the coffin.
There was nothing inside the coffin.
I became slack jawed. Why was the coffin empty?
"How impatient they are!"
Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
He fixed his eyes on the coffin. His big hand returned to my neck since there was no response from me.
"Do you like to join my show?"
I felt oppression and couldn't think at all.
Show?
With the pastry in my mouth, I couldn't say anything. I sped up my chewing and then said, "Yes."
The sweetness melted in my mouth. The delicious pastry energized me, so I added, "Then your pastries will be mine."
Carroll loosened the grip on my neck, let go of me, and then asked in a cold voice, "Are you a gluttonous rat?"
"No, I'm human. A starving human."
I was thin and petite but didn't look like a rat, did I?
Carroll lifted my chin with his hand, which was bigger than my face. He looked at me carefully and then said, "Well, your face is pale. You look more like a ghost than me."
"I've been a bit underfed," I retorted, rolling my eyes at his teasing tone before stepping away and grabbing another pastry.
Then, I said with a sweet smile, "May I have another piece, Mr. Carroll? Your pastries are simply divine."
Sharon was a common college student who dreamed of being a journalist. Two years ago, her father had a car accident, and the expensive medical expenses almost drove her insane. Stanley, an overbearing president, helped her get rid of the predicament. After that, she married him, and he was in charge of all her father's medical expenses. Every night, he often got drunk and called another woman's name when he was making out with his wife. Who was this woman? And why did he marry her? It seemed she didn't have the right to ask these questions even though she was his wife. She didn't know these answers until the woman her husband called every night showed in front of her...
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
"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?"
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?