After being jailed because her husband, Jackson Watson, framed her, Fiona went back home to meet her son and her hated husband, only to find out that her best friend had taken her place of being the madam of their marital home. Worse, she discovered Jackson had forged her signature to steal her company, just like he had done to imprison her two years ago! Being served a divorce paper was just an icing on the cake. Betrayed, furious, and broken, she signed the divorce paper and swore to herself. "You took everything from me, Jackson. Now, watch me take back what's mine." At her lowest point of life, kicked off her marital home with just her son with her, she met Ethan Miller, a world-class lawyer who offered his help. But would a renowned lawyer take pity on a divorced woman without asking for anything back? What would happen when Fiona found out that Ethan wasn't the man she thought him to be and that he had a motive to get close to her? Would it be like Jackson all over again? Leaving her heartbroken with nothing else? Would she follow in her dad's footsteps and become the most influential CEO with just her son by her side? Or would she forgive him when he begged her back?
Have you ever regretted making a decision?
The decision I made seven years ago got me into this, and I regret it.
The heavy prison gates creaked open, and sunlight shone a blinding white directly on Fiona Robison's tear-filled eyes.
Two years. Two years stolen and wasted on a crime she didn't commit. She has finally been released. Yet, it wasn't pure joy that filled her. It was a bitter cocktail of longing, disgust, and hatred. All of this for two different people.
She clutched the worn photograph in her pocket-the image of her son, Rowan Watson, his gap-toothed grin-a glaring contrast to the harsh reality that she had experienced in prison.
Taking a shaky breath, she hailed a cab, ignoring the tremor in her voice.
"Tanglin," she rasped, the word a foreign taste on her tongue.
She highlighted in front of a sprawling mansion with a big iron gate. Despite the steely resolve hardening within her, a tremor ran through her hand as she fished out a crumpled twenty-dollar bill for the fare.
"Here," she mumbled, her voice rough.
"Thanks, lady," the driver grunted, barely sparing her a glance as he zoomed off in his cab.
Stepping into the house, she held her eyes closed and took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of her home that had now become foreign to her nostrils.
"Home at last," she murmured.
Suddenly, a blur of brown and blue shot through the opened door, with a high-pitched sound shattering the air. Before she could react, a small body collided with her legs, wrapping tiny arms around her waist.
"Mama!"
Looking down, Fiona felt a sob rise in her throat, and at the same time, her heart was filled with joy, seeing Rowan clinging to her like a lifeline. He was four years and six months old when she left for prison, and now he was a far cry from the gap-toothed boy in the photograph-his hair, a mess of windblown brown curls, framed a face streaked with dirt and tears, his bright blue eyes mirroring her own silver gray. He was the one for whom Fiona felt a longing.
"Mama!" He cried again, his voice thick with emotion. "You came back!"
Fiona dropped to her knees, engulfing him in a tight hug. The fabric of his clothes felt rough against her sallow skin. Tears, long held back, streamed down her face, hot and salty.
"I'm here, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Mama's here now." She patted him slightly.
Rowan clung to her, his small body trembling. Even at six and a half years old, the confusion and pain of her absence were etched on his face. Fiona rocked him gently, her heart overflowing with a cocktail of love, relief, and simmering anger directed at Jackson Watson, her husband, who never came to see her in prison, not to mention bringing Rowan to check on her.
She pulled back, wiping away his tears with her calloused thumbs. "Look at you! You've gotten so big," she beamed, tracing the dirt smudged on his cheek.
Rowan sniffled, a wide, wobbly grin splitting his face. "I missed you, mama."
"I missed you more, Row. More than you can ever imagine." She cupped his baby-fat cheeks.
"I told Dad that I wanted to come to where you were, but he said he was busy and couldn't leave work," Rowan blurted as a matter of fact.
Fiona's heart clenched, hearing that her husband couldn't leave his work to come check her up in prison for a whole two years when he was the reason why she had served a jail term. She gulped down nothing in her throat.
"Where is dad?" Fiona asked, getting to her feet as she held onto Rowan's hand. One would think that Rowan would disappear if she ever let go of his hand.
"They are in the lounge," Rowan responded, gesturing in the lounge's direction.
Fiona's hand tightened around Rowan's as a cold dread pooled in the pit of her stomach as she searched her memories for any company Jackson must have gotten because they don't normally have visitors except for Jackson's mother and his sister, who often visit them.
"They?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Rowan nodded again, his innocent eyes searching hers with a huge grin on his face.
Taking a deep breath, Fiona steeled herself and brushed off the thought that was running through her head. Confusing herself that it must be her mother-in-law or perhaps her sister-in-law. With her chin held high, they walked towards the lounge, her heart pounding slightly against her ribs.
The lounge door swung open, revealing a scene that ripped the breath from her lungs. Jackson, looking more handsome with his styled, dark brown hair, sat on a plush couch, his arm wrapped possessively around a woman with a protruded baby bump. She was pregnant.
Well, it wasn't just any woman-it was Alaina Preston, Fiona's best friend, the one she had confided in about her troubles with Jackson.
Before Fiona went to prison, she could perceive scents of women on his clothes, and she could ask him about it, but he always assured her it was because he mingled with business associates, and it was nothing to worry about.
A wave of nausea washed over Fiona. The scene felt as if a whole bucket of ice was poured on her head, drenching her. Her gaze darted between Jackson's cold hazel eyes and Alaina's carefully painted face, a mask of betrayal hiding what Fiona knew once was genuine friendship and love.
"Fiona," Jackson drawled, his voice dripping with mock surprise. "We weren't expecting you so soon. So... It's been two years." He said it sarcastically.
Before Fiona could speak, Alaina stood up, her designer dress swishing around her legs. Her sharp green eyes fixed on Fiona, and a practiced smile appeared on her face-the same smile she uses when greeting Fiona.
"Looks like we've got a visitor. Well, you're welcome," she purred, extending a perfectly manicured hand.
The word slammed into Fiona like a physical blow.
In her own home?
The house she bought with her hard-earned money?
A visitor?
Rage ignited within her, like a volcano ready to erupt. But this wasn't a prison. This was her life, as well as her home. She wouldn't crumble.
With a dangerous gaze, Fiona ignored Alaina's outstretched hand.
She scoffed. "Jackson," she called, her voice dangerously low. "Do I really deserve this from you?" Her voice echoed, betraying her emotions as she tried hard not to break herself. Even though she felt like the ground was closing in on her, but not in front of them. She wouldn't give them that impression.
"You left me in prison for two damn years. I suffered because of the crime you committed. I was beaten and tortured by other inmates for what I knew nothing about," she bawled, as tears won the battle against her.
Jackson snickered as a sly smile found its way to his face. "Fiona, what did you expect me to do? Wait for you? An ex-convict?" He aircoated the last word.
Fiona's heart shattered like a broken mirror, hearing Jackson call her an ex-convict.
"You don't expect me to live under the same roof with you when you've slept and mixed up with other criminals like you are in prison," Jackson snorted coldly, his voice void of emotions and love that he had always shown Fiona years back.
Fiona gasped. "You called me a criminal?" Her teary eyes widened in surprise, not believing Jackson would utter such despite the fact that he had committed the crime that led her to prison. Well, what was she expecting?
A small, sad smile curled up on Fiona's face. Her reaction stunned Jackson and Alaina, who were expecting her to break down with what Jackon had said, but little did they know that she doesn't give a f*ck about them anymore. The only thing that broke her was Alaina, whom she never expected to meet with her husband, and to top it all, she was pregnant. Obviously for him.
She gulped down the bitterness clinging in her throat. "Jackson, you don't deserve me, nor do you deserve the luxurious life I have given you." Her voice was strong and unwavering.
"Well, since I am back now, I would like to take back what's mine. The company I put you in charge of a few years back because you were jobless. The company you invaded the taxes and made me take the blame," she demanded, trying hard to gain composure over her inner turmoil.
Just as Jackson was about to respond to Fiona, a feminine voice laced with disgust reverberated through the walls of the lounge.
"Who do you think you are?"
"Are you insinuating that my son ran the company down when you were the culprit?"
“I break all ties with you today, Callista Stone, Omega of the Wolfsong Dominion pack. I hate that I love you.” “Take her deep inside the woods and execute her; go and never return!” Those words were the beginning of Callista Stone’s, the Omega of the Wolfsong Dominion pack, pain, and never-ending struggles. Callista Stone, once beloved and the sweetheart of the cold-hearted soon-to-be Alpha, Cassius Ironclaw, saw her world crumble with just a few damning words. *** She finds solace in the hand of a rival pack alpha, Tristan Logan. “Are you not going to reject me?” Callista probed, waiting expectantly for Alpha Tristan's reply. “Why should I reject the mate I have been longing to meet?” Tristan quizzed, raising his brow slightly. *** Brace yourself for a thrilling adventure as she navigates treacherous obstacles, defies expectations, and unleashes her wrath upon those who wronged her. Prepare for a story of empowerment, redemption, and the unstoppable strength of the Alpha Queen!
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.