After losing both parents to a brutal clan clash, Ophelia detested the mafias, their guns, and the consistent outbreak of war. Ophelia harbors a deep hatred for the mafias and the violent deaths they bring to Comali. Making it impossible for her to wish for a life there. Finding solace in the church, she grows up to become an ordained nun. Striving to leave Comali to California, facilitated by Rev Father Carter. Her ultimate goal was to escape the chaos of Comali and start anew in California. Ophelia's preparation for life abroad leads her to take on odd jobs that challenge her faith and devotion in God. But when a good deed turns her entire plan around, blowing it up in smoke. It forces her encounter with the Mafia boss to be inevitable. Will she manage to leave Comali after forming bonds and learning the truth? Will she be able to turn her animosity into affection for those she holds dear?.
The church bell chummed across the vast area of Comali. I rolled on the bed, unbearably uncomfortable, trying to figure out the best position that could help me get some more sleep. My neck ached and the pulsing feeling in my head grew louder. Checking the clock on the wall, it was 5:36am. The sun hadn't come up yet and Carissa snoring could be heard beyond the tin walls separating her room and mine.
Seating up, I looked around, recognizing that I was still at the brothel. Damn, my back felt extremely sore, I think I might have overdone it last night. The desperation for money can make you do things that are beyond you. Struggling to get up, my legs felt weak and the soreness grew intense. Ignoring them, I hurriedly dressed up to leave for the day. My shift was over and I had nothing more to do till the day after tomorrow. The Blum parlor was still as energetic as ever, customers never got tired of coming over to get their money sucked dry by greedy hostesses, including myself.
Marching over to Madam Juana's office, I calmly passed through a hallway full of groans and murmurs from both men and women combined, passionately having sex, as well as the smell of orgasms and sexual moans that I have grown accustomed to. Knocking at Madam Juana's door, I endured, waiting to get a "come in" before pushing the door open. My legs were still shaky from last night.
Madam Juana sat proudly at her table. Casually smoking a pipe between her teeth while greedily counting money she got from enslaving us hostesses. Her slender face showed an atom of disgust at the sight of me. Ignoring her unwavering sentiment, I casually walked over to Madame Juana's table and dropped my own share of the money I had made the night before.
Five men in the span of 11 hours, a hard day's work I would say. Madam Juana picked the money, a cunning grin flashed across her face, unhurriedly counting to make sure it was the right amount. Her obsession with money would be the death of her. Seeing that there wasn't any trickery she tossed a small container of drugs at me.
"Your share for the month. Use it wisely. Don't come to me complaining about expecting an unwanted baby"
"Yes madam"
I begged myself not to roll my eyes, please God, help me to behave.
"Get out!"
In a heartbeat, I was out of her office and down the hallway again. Deep down, I knew she hated me and could not stand the sight of me. Thankfully, the feeling is mutual. I made my way to the ground floor. The music playing was now more audible. Women showcasing their cleavages, attractive collarbones, beautiful dresses and heavy make-ups, all trying to woo men with their seductive words. Little girls serving drinks to distracted older men caressing another woman's boobs, some others ass.
"Elia?!"
Someone called out to me among the crowd.
"Elia? Elia, over here."
It didn't take long to recognize who she was.
"The hell kaila!"
A petite woman with glowing fair skin dressed in green pushed her way through the crowd to approach me. Breathing heavily, her cheeks grew red and her smile took my heart away. Dragging Kaila towards the front door, bumping into people and not minding who they were on the way outside. I didn't waste time before yanking Kaila into a crushing hug. The fear I had forgotten so easily came back, tears stinging my eyes.
"Oh my God! fuck Kaila, where have you been "
Pulling away, Kaila was already breaking into tears.
"Did you miss me? "
She giggled, cleaning her tears.
"When Carai told me madam took you away because you got pregnant, I barged into her office and threatened her."
"Elia are you crazy, you would have gotten yourself beaten up again"
"Do I look like I care, nobody is taking you away from me"
Subconsciously I examined Kaila, she looked skinner and pale. Her stomach still looked the same, and her eyes looked bulgy. Her hazel eyes didn't seem as lively and as hopeful as they used to be.
"The baby..."
Kaila began, as if reading my mind
"The baby got removed Elia, madam Juana had the baby removed with my womb"
My eyes widened, the hair at the back of my neck stood up as if I had just seen a ghost. Kaila was sure she heard a growl coming from me.
"Elia look at me "
Placing both her hands on my face, she pulled mine towards hers.
"Elia, I'm okay, I'm not hurt. The procedure was long but endurable, you have nothing to worry about"
I think I'm going to cry again
"You shouldn't be here Kaila, you shouldn't be doing this"
"Neither should you Ophelia, I won't allow my best friend and sister carry her cross alone "
Placing my hands on Kaila's small soft hands that were on my cheeks, I snuggled in them like a child. They were warm and felt like home.
"I promise, Kaila, we're going to get out of here, one way or another"
Kaila pulled me into a hug again.
"Speaking of cross, it's almost 6am, shouldn't you be in the church by now? "
"Oh shitt !!"
I exclaimed, I'm going to have an ear full from Reverend Mother again.
"I'll be back tonight, promise me you won't let madam bully you "
"Get going dummy, I'll be alright"
Giving Kaila a peck on the cheek. I took to my heels, running, waving back at Kaila who waved at me too. The alleyways were quiet and abandoned like a ghost town. Only my running footsteps could be heard as they echoed.
The bells chummed again for the second time signaling that the service was about to start. I don't think I have enough time to dress as my habit and join the rest. Should I just fake being sick or lie that I'm on my period. Reverend Mother would ask to see the blood again or take me to the infirmary. I think the nurse doesn't like me either.
Standing in front of the monastery. I stared up at the rope hanging from the window of my room 7 feet away from me. Hastily I mounted myself on a huge stone and jumped high enough to get hold of the rope, climbing as quickly as I could.
The St. Seraphina Monastery was a stoned and overly big building that had just three floors. It was unreasonably wide due to the new sisters coming in from all over the world after the church got recognized 4 years ago.
Looming on the first floor, I peeped into Father Carter's office, the window was left open and the inside had a scent like honey and lemon just like Father Carters. He smells really nice. Unexpectedly, the door handle wiggled, followed by a click. Quickly I hoisted myself past the second floor before reaching my room. It was a complete mess. Why didn't I clean up before leaving? God, I have another complaint to hear from Reverend Mother.
Scaling into my room I landed with a thud, and bumped my head that was already throbbing bad enough. Now I'm going to have a scar on top of that.
Stomping footsteps came from down the hallway, it could only belong to one person. Quickly undressing, I hopped into my bed and covered myself up.
"Opheliaaaaaa!"
Rev mother screamed my name at the top of her lungs like an anthem. Two of her lackies followed suit behind her.
"You lazy ungrateful child, why are you still sleeping? You missed the morning devotional prayers again. "
Pretending to yawn, I sat up and stared at her. The blanket dropped down and revealed me only wearing my bra. The lackeys scowled their faces like some pack of hyena. They were ugly enough without squeezing them but now they look horrid.
"Why don't you wear a nightgown, sleeping like that is so unsightly."
"Forgive me Reverend Mother, I was too tired to take off my inner wears and decided to sleep that way"
I came down the bed, showing my full nudity, the girls covered their eyes like innocent children and Reverend Mother looked displeased. As expected, I was too sexy for them to handle.
"And what is with your room, you sleep here for free and yet you keep it untidy. Have you forgotten cleanliness is..."
"...next to godliness in the sight of God "
I finished up her sentence. She looked dissatisfied.
"I've made my complaint to Father Teller already, you'll get your punishment from him. I've had it with you"
So have I Reverend Mother, so have I.
"Dress up quickly and don't forget to cover your face. It truly is unbecoming to look at"
"Understood Reverend mother "
Clicking her teeths she strolled out, the girls gave me the sting eyes and floored behind her slamming the door.
"Just rip the door out, will you"
I screamed from behind, if they heard me or not I truly didn't care. Suddenly I feel irritated.
Taking my blanket from the floor I took my time cleaning up my room. I do admit I've been living like a pig and it really is unbecoming of me but I don't care, it's my room. It's my comfort zone and I love my space. Reverend mother is always poking her nose in my life, in everybody's business not minding that even if we are nuns we do like our privacy. It's not like I can't masturbate in God's house, not like I do by the way.
It took about 10 minutes to get my clothes off the floor and flood them into my drawers. I didn't have much to show for in the convent. Most of my luggages is at the brothel so I'm not worried. Entering my bathroom, the standing mirror stared at me as I stared back.
The nuns never really liked my skin, each one of them in the Abby looked at me with disdain and disgust, I was that cockroach you would find in a nasty looking kitchen. It's been 8 years. 8 good years and I'm still that dunk found in a cat's litter box. I just can't wait for Father Carter to approve my dispatch to another convent, maybe they wouldn't be as racist as these people are. I could take Kaila with me and she could live a decent life, get a good job and watch over herself more. While I could devote more to God without feeling all guilty.
Staring harder into the mirror I tried to memorize myself, my thick thighs and slender waist. I don't have big enough boobs like Ronica or a fair golden skin like Kaila. My boobs were just the size of a small cup and my skin, dark chocolate brown. I wasn't black like the people of Marley, I don't know why they referred me to that. Maybe it was a thought out insult. I can't figure it out.
Sister Melody cursed me once about my amber cognac eyes, saying they look exactly like Asmodus from the seven demons of hell. Honestly, I can't get enough of these people around here. I find my central chromic eyes quite beautiful. The amber cloud surrounding my pupil submerged in a sea of bright brown, almost reddish, was like a rainbow to me after a heavy rain.
My hair is rubber-like in texture and bounced quite a lot. Turning around to inspect the length of my hair, which by the way reached the middle of my back. I saw the black bruise left by my previous customer around the left region of my lower back, a menace that one. I pray to God that he never comes back to the Blum parlor ever again, else I'll kill him myself.
The warm bath was nice and refreshing, all the sweat and blood and aching I felt washed down the drainage pipes. I feel like a whole me again, at least the me I'm familiar with.
After drying myself up, I stood idle in the middle of my room. Tempted not to put on my tunic without my inner wears I decided to respect God and just obey his command. Besides, I don't want Reverend Mother to inspect my tunic and not see me wearing my panties.
Nonchalantly, I strolled to the simple wooden wardrobe. Reached for the first piece of my habit; the tunic. Slipping my arms through the long loose sleeves, then pulled it over my head, letting the fabric fall to my ankles. It was soft, plain and modest.
Next was my white coif, a close-fitting cap. The struggle I get with putting this on is uncalled for. Soon I'll be told to cut my hair because of how duffled up it looks like. Carefully, I tucked my hair beneath it, ensuring every strand was hidden. The coif fit snugly around my head, securing my hair and providing a base for the veil.
Then the wimple followed. Wrapping the cloth around my neck and chin, fastening it securely. The wimple framed my face, making me look as innocent and modest as possible and adding a sense of humility to my aura.
I took the scapular next, a long piece of cloth that draped over my shoulders and hung down to my knees, both in front and back. Adjusting it until it lay smoothly over the tunic.
The veil came next, a piece of fabric that would cover my head and fall over my shoulders. Draping it carefully over the coif, adjusting it until it sat just right.
Wrapping a simple rope belt around my waist, I firmly tied it. From the cincture, my black marble-like rosary hung on my neck dangling.
Finally, slipping in a very simple, sturdy leather black shoes, I stood fully dressed in my habit, admiring myself in the mirror. I liked myself best dressed in a habit. Pausing for a moment, I took the black netted veil to cover my face before giving myself in for a silent prayer. Making my vows before reaching the door, opening my way into the steadily busy hall full of nuns passing one another.
Framed for a crime she didn't commit, Quincy Tucker has lost everything-her father, her inheritance, and her family's legacy, now in the clutches of a scheming stepmother. With nowhere else to turn to, she strikes a deal with her father's rival, the richest bachelor who is twice her age. Well known for his high sex drive and merciless ambition, Reed Morales. Reed Morales, the man of every woman's dreams. With his dashingly good looks, over flowing wealth and his unhinged deminure, every woman wanted him. They both agree to a contract marriage, driven by their shared hunger for revenge. Their clashing personalities ignite a forbidden attraction that's impossible to ignore. As they navigate high-stakes schemes and uncover buried secrets, they realize their tragic pasts are more intertwined than they knew.
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
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?