"I finally know my place, Your Majesty. And that is not in your arms." - Isabel Archer "You shall not leave my side, Isabel. You are bound to me, body and soul." - King Lucian Devereux ~ Isabel is a commoner who has become a maidservant at the palace. Despite her status, the king, Lucian Devereux, falls in love with her, and she becomes his secret lover. But as their relationship flourishes, a rumor begins to spread that the king will marry a princess from another kingdom. As Isabel confronts Lucian directly, he confirms the gossip. She pleads with him not to marry the princess, but he rejects her plea, explaining that the marriage is for the kingdom's benefit. Heartbroken, Isabel who was only a mere servant, watches the man she loves marry another woman. When the new queen becomes pregnant with the king's child, the pain becomes unbearable. Isabel decides to leave the palace for good, hoping to forget the pain. But can she truly escape the grasp of the powerful and possessive king who notices her absence and begins to search for her?
Chapter 1: Dear Mother
The kingdom of Montebello awoke under a sky streaked with the hues of dawn. The golden light spilled into the busy slums where Isabel lived. As she completed her daily household chores, the warm morning sun touched her pale skin and her icy blue eyes sparkled with every splash of water as she stomped on the fabrics soaking in the wooden basin.
Despite her humble beginnings, Isabel embraced her life with gratitude, which was a fruition to the lessons her mother had imparted. Although Isabel was uneducated, she was wise enough to find joy in the simple things and never grumbled about their status in society's hierarchy. Her appreciation for her mother's sacrifices was boundless that she often expressed it in songs of love and gratitude during times of scarcity.
Her father was a subject shrouded in silence. A past her mother never spoke of, and Isabel never pressed. She understood enough to harbor a deep, personal hatred for the pain her existence had caused her mother. Yet, in her mother's eyes, there was no hint of resentment but only endless love and devotion for her daughter.
"Isabel, dear?" Teressa's sweet voice broke through her thoughts, bringing a smile to her face.
"Yes, Mother?" Isabel responded, looking up from her task.
Teressa approached, holding a bundle of blankets. "I thought you were almost done. I need these washed as well. Winter is coming."
Isabel nodded as her hands immediately moved efficiently. "I shall take care of it forthwith. Are you heading to work now?"
"Yes, dear. The pub shall be busy today," Teressa replied.
"Indeed? Is there a celebration of which I am unaware?" Isabel asked as her curiosity piqued.
Teressa chuckled, patting her daughter's shoulder. "One of the soldiers who frequents the pub is to be wed. The men are celebrating."
"That is wonderful news," Isabel said with a smile, kneeling to pick up a clothespin.
Teressa watched her daughter fondly. "One day, when you marry, your ceremony will be grander than all."
Caught off guard, Isabel stumbled, earning a laugh from her mother. "Mother, please. I do not wish to marry. I desire only to remain by your side."
"Goodness, Isabel. Life is lonely without a family of your own. You are my gift, the reason I rise no matter how many times I fall. Do the same when you are a mother," Teressa said, her voice filled with affection.
Isabel nodded although her heart resisted the idea. All she desired was a peaceful life with her mother, to give her the happiness she deserved, even if it meant sacrificing her own.
"Nevertheless, it is your life to decide," Teressa added playfully. "Though I do need someone to boss around."
"Mother!" Isabel retorted with a laugh.
"I shall be off then. Take care," Teressa said, kissing her daughter's forehead before leaving.
Isabel watched her mother go and took a deep breath before returning to her chores. The courtyard where she worked was alive with the sounds of the slums-children playing, vendors shouting, carts clattering on cobblestone streets.
By mid-day, Isabel had finished the laundry and moved on to other tasks. She swept their small living space, tidied up the sparse furniture, and prepared a simple meal for her mother's return. As she mended a tear in one of Teressa's old dresses, a knock at the door startled her.
She immediately stood up and opened the door to find Mrs. Hawthorne, their kind elderly neighbor, holding a loaf of fresh bread.
"Good afternoon, Isabel," Mrs. Hawthorne greeted warmly. "I baked too much this morning and thought you might like some."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hawthorne," Isabel replied gratefully, inviting her in.
As Mrs. Hawthorne stepped inside, she glanced around the tidy room. "You have been busy. How fares your mother?"
"She is at work, putting in extra hours," Isabel explained, setting the bread on the table.
Mrs. Hawthorne nodded with understanding in her eyes. "Your mother is a strong woman. And you, Isabel, are growing into a capable young lady."
Isabel blushed at the compliment. "I do what I can."
The afternoon wore on with Isabel and Mrs. Hawthorne conversing through various topics, from the latest news in the kingdom to tips on managing a household. The elderly woman's presence was comforting which reminded Isabel that even in the midst of hardship, there were still moments of kindness and community.
Eventually, Mrs. Hawthorne took her leave, and Isabel returned to her mending. The rhythm of the needle and thread was soothing and it allowed her mind to drift. She thought about her mother's words earlier that day. The notion of marriage was foreign to her desires, yet the conviction in her mother's voice made her wonder if there was more to life than the simple existence she cherished.
As the sun began its descent and casted long shadows across the courtyard, Isabel rose to prepare for her mother's return to ensure the small meal she had prepared was ready.
Just then, the door creaked open and Teressa stepped inside with her face weary but lit with a smile at the sight of her daughter.
"Welcome home, Mother," Isabel greeted warmly, taking her mother's cloak and hanging it by the door.
"Thank you, dear. The pub was indeed busy today," Teressa said, sinking into a chair with a sigh of relief.
"I have prepared a meal for us," Isabel announced, bringing the simple fare to the table. The two ate together and shared stories of their day.
As they finished their meal and made sure nothing was left on their plates, Isabel hesitated before speaking. "Mother, you spoke of marriage this morning. Do you truly wish for me to marry?"
Teressa looked at her daughter thoughtfully. "Isabel, I wish for you to have a life full of love and companionship. Marriage is one path to that. However, what I desire most is your happiness. If remaining by my side brings you joy, then that is enough for me."
Isabel nodded as her heart swelled with affection. "Your happiness is my greatest concern, Mother. I will think on your words."
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
"I'm a man and I want a child. If you can't give me that, then shut your mouth and just let me be." -Zachary Salazar "I need an heir, so if you're carrying my child, of course I'll take responsibility. But only if..." - Maximilian Klein ~ Evangeline who was diagnosed with infertility after marrying Zachary Salazar, discovers her husband's infidelity with her best friend, and is now expecting. And when she finally filed for divorce, it did not go as planned. Her husband refuses to let her go. But her problem does not end there as she ends up pregnant from a one night stand, and later on she discovers, that even her own brother was frightfully obsessed with her. How will she deal will all this chaos lurking in her life?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
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!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."