Ava's life is turned upside down when her father arranges for her to marry a stranger, Alex, in a bid to secure their family's future. However, things take a dramatic turn when Ava discovers that Alex is the same man who almost ran her over and yelled at her earlier. Despite their rocky start, they pretend to be friends in front of their fathers, but Ava is unsure what to make of Alex's true intentions. As they navigate their complicated situation, Ava must confront her own feelings and decide whether to follow her heart or her duty.
Standing in front of my dresser mirror, I was trying out a dress I bought from the mall a week ago. I'm a regular at the mall, always on the lookout for the latest trends and must-haves. My friends even joke that I should have my own personal shopping cart, considering how often I'm there. But hey, retail therapy is a thing, right? The problem is, my wardrobe is now bursting at the seams, and I'm running out of space to hang my new purchases.
As I twirled around, admiring the dress from different angles, I tripped on my own foot and landed on my butt with a thud. I stood up hurriedly, but my head spun, and I felt dizzy. I hadn't eaten lunch, and I often forget to eat altogether. It's not something I'm proud of, but I've struggled with anorexia for a while now. It's a constant battle, and some days are harder than others.
I lay down on my bed, letting out a loud groan of frustration. What do I do now? I'm bored out of my mind, and my usual distractions aren't cutting it. Watching movies and scrolling through Instagram, stalking hot celebrities and models, only goes so far. And by "so far," I mean until my mom barges into my room and catches me ogling half-naked men. That's always embarrassing.
I need something more, something exciting to shake off this monotony. But what? I've tried reading, but my attention span is shorter than ever. I've tried drawing, but my skills are lacking, to say the least. I've even tried cooking, but let's just say my creations are better suited for the trash can.
As I lay there, feeling sorry for myself, I hear my stomach growl. Maybe I should eat something. But what? And then I remember the dress I was trying on.
At the slight ping of my phone, I dropped the dress I was holding and took my phone, eager to see who was messaging me. I replied to a few messages here and there, my thumbs flying across the screen as I chatted with my friends. Just then, someone knocked on my door, and I saw a head popping in as I raised my head. I knew it wasn't my mother because she didn't need permission before she barged into my room - ugh, that woman! She always seemed to appear at the most inconvenient times, like she had a sixth sense for knowing when I was doing something I shouldn't be.
Smiling at the person in front of me, I flopped onto my bed as my sister, Mira, made her way into my room and shut the door behind her. "Mira" I said, taking in the sight of my sister. She stood there in her 5'0" auburn-haired, green-eyed, model-figure glory, looking like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine. I still remembered when I was younger and everyone used to fawn over her beauty. Hell, I nearly lost it when she got offers from the modeling industry, but I made my peace with it. After all, someone had to be the "ugly sister" in the family.
Mira plopped down beside me on the bed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What's up, sis?" she asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Don't you have a modelling gig to go for? Shouldn't you be in Paris anyway?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Mira travels all the time for her modeling career, and I was surprised she was still in town. Instead of answering, she dropped her suitcase and plopped down on my bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Didn't feel like going," she said, rolling her eyes dramatically. I chuckled, knowing that Mira's moods could change faster than the wind. "Where's Mum and Dad?" she asked, her eyebrows arching in curiosity.
"Out of the country," I replied, shrugging. "But they'll probably be back in a couple of hours." Mira nodded her head in understanding, her gaze drifting around my room.
"Ok, sis, I have to go now. I'm starving," she said, jumping up from the bed. "I'm prepping spaghetti. Would you like some?" she asked, already heading towards the door.
"Yes, please," I said, thankful I didn't have to cook. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking... sometimes. But today, I just couldn't muster up the energy. Besides, Mira's cooking was always better than mine.
As Mira disappeared into the kitchen, I heard the sound of pots and pans clanging, followed by the savory aroma of sizzling meat and tomatoes. My stomach growled in anticipation, and I settled back onto my bed, feeling grateful for my sister's company.
A few minutes later, Mira called me to come eat, and boy, was that food delicious! The aroma of freshly cooked spaghetti filled the air, making my stomach growl with anticipation. I savored each bite, enjoying the warmth and comfort of my sister's cooking.
Just as we finished eating, I went back and arranged the rest of my clothing when I heard Mom scream like a giddy teenage girl, "Girls!" I hurriedly put my clothes away before strutting downstairs and saw Mira hugging my mom, and I also joined in, wrapping my arms around both of them.
Just then, my father emerged from the front door, and I felt a mix of emotions. "Dad!" I squealed, trying to sound enthusiastic, and went to hug him. But, as usual, my dad was never cheery with me. I once overheard him talking to Mom, scratch that, they were screaming at each other, my dad telling my mom he never wanted a girl as a first child and I was a mistake. It hurts, I'm not gonna lie, some days I cry myself to sleep.
He gently patted my back, and smiled, but the smile wasn't reaching his eyes. "How are you?" he asked, his voice distant. "I'm good," I said, removing myself from him, trying to hide the hurt. I didn't want to make a scene, not today, not ever. I just wanted to pretend everything was fine, even when it wasn't.
Mira, sensing the tension, jumped in, chatting excitedly about her latest modeling gig, trying to distract us from the awkwardness.
As usual, Dad was happily chatting with Mira, leaving me standing alone, feeling like an outsider in my own family. He had his favorite, Mira, and I wasn't jealous, or at least I tried not to be. It just hurt, knowing that I could never measure up to her in his eyes.
After they had settled down, my father called me into his office, and I was shocked. We were never one to have a father-daughter conversation, at least not one that didn't involve him criticizing me or telling me what I was doing wrong. I quickly went up to his office, not wanting to annoy him or give him a reason to yell at me.
I knocked on the door softly, and I heard a rough voice, "Come in." I stood at the door, hesitating for a moment, before he motioned me to enter. I sat on a leather chair in front of him, trying to appear confident, but my heart was racing.
"You asked for me?" I said, trying to sound calm.
"Yes, Ava," he cleared his throat, and I knew that was a bad sign. He only used my full name when he was about to lecture me or tell me something I didn't want to hear.
"You're done with uni, right?" He asked me rhetorically, because he knows damn well that I have. I nodded my head slowly, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.
"Then you know what's next for you to do," he said calmly, but I knew that was the calm before the storm.
"The business?" I asked, looking around the room, hoping someone would intervene, but I was alone. He leaned forward, his eyes piercing.
"Yes, and something else," he said, his voice low and serious. I dreaded what he was about to say next, my mind racing with possibilities.
"My first child is supposed to inherit my company when I grow old," he started, his voice laced with disappointment. "I thought you were going to be a boy, but life has other plans," he sighed, shaking his head.
I felt a knot in my stomach, knowing that I was a disappointment to him. Nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
"You're getting married," he said, his words dropping like a bombshell.
Sofia Rossi: a twenty-year-old blind girl, although she doesn't look anything like her age, she's much smaller. She lives in Milan, where she meets Zain, a mafia boss. Her life becomes intertwined as she gets involved with him. Zain Ricci: a 23-year-old Mafia boss and Ceo of Ricci Holdings. He falls in love with Sofia at first sight, but tries to fight it and realises Sofia has built high walls around her.
Xavier and Emily have known each other since high school and used to be together but when Xavier moved to London for his basketball career, Emily was left behind in Italy. When Xavier moved away, Emily stopped messaging him as she didn't want to be a burden on him when he was pursuing his dreams. Xavier was angry that Emily stopped talking to him as he didn't know the reason she stopped messaging him so he told himself he didn't care about her but that was a lie. He loved her and she loved him too. What happens when Emily moves to London to become an actress and lives across the road from Xavier? Will they rekindle the love they have for each other? Or will they grow apart?
Dovey, a hardworking waitress, was barely scraping by, her meager tips and wages barely covering her rent and bills. Her life was a constant struggle, but she refused to give up. One fateful evening, her world collided with that of DeLuca, the enigmatic billionaire heir to the King's empire and New York's most sought-after bachelor. DeLuca's father, eager to secure an advantageous marriage, pressured his son into proposing to his friend's daughter, a union that would strengthen their business ties. Panicked, DeLuca fabricated a story, telling his father he was already seeing someone, a lie he hoped would buy him time. Fate, however, had other plans. The very next day, DeLuca walked into the quaint cafe where Dovey worked, his eyes locking onto hers as he ordered his coffee. And then, in a moment that would change everything, he asked her THE QUESTION: "Will you be my fake girlfriend, Dovey?" Little did they know, their pretend relationship would soon become a tangled web of love, lies, and longing...
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
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."
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.Â
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.