Gem Herrington, an orphan living with her uncle's power hungry family is forced into marrying Marcello Macdon of the wealthy Macdon family. At first, she and Marcello a resistant to the idea, but circumstances and pressure make them fold to the idea. She has had a hard life but still maintained her strong will which she makes use of in her marriage to this mysterious man. Their marriage becomes a series of problems from external love interests to internal betrayals and extreme conflicts even among the newly weds. Her life which she thought would get better after marrying rich, only becomes harder. She begins falling in love with Marcello, something she never thought would happen. She is forced to make tough decisions, as is Marcello. With their new love gasping for breath, will it survive the simultaneous attacks on all front?
"Gem, in this world where the Herrington family find themselves, we love to win and we will do whatever it takes to win. Now the ball is in your court, Gem, play well." Mr George Herrington, Gem's Uncle, instructed her firmly.
"I don't understand," Gem stammered.
"What don't you understand, child!" Mrs Herrington's eyes widened in anger. "That your mother refused to listen to her family, then ran away from home and came back with a two years old rag. And the next thing she was lowered to the ground and..."
"You really don't have to bring that up, honey." Mr Herrington cut in.
"No, let me finish, George dear. Now listen clearly, Gem. You ain't nothing but trash, my husband and I took care of you and you are not going to turn your back on your blood. You are going to marry Marcello Mac Macdon! Let that stick in your head!"
"Wait! Pa, you didn't bring me here to the Macdon's 40th anniversary to tell me I was going to marry one of the Macdons." Gem voiced after realizing what was going on.
"I hate that she calls my dad, pa." Georgia, Gem's cousin muttered, crossing one of her legs over the other with her eyes fixed on her iPad.
"Honey, I thought you told her." Mr Herrington turned to his wife.
"I was busy dear, finding the perfect dress for her tonight." She replied to her husband and then said to Gem with a serious tone. "Get your shit together Gem, everything is set."
Gem averted her eyes to the crowd, scanning the room nervously. She had no idea who her mysterious fiance was or what he looked like.
Then, Mrs Herrington brought out a diamond ring from her purse. "Good heavens! I almost forgot. Put this on, do that under the table so no one gets to see. Most eyes are on the Herringtons family, we should wear more smiles. It's a big night for us."
"The Macdons are a prominent family," Gem pointed out. "Why is Georgia not the one getting engaged?" Her curiosity boomed.
"Jeez! Gem!" Georgia exclaimed angrily.
"Smile, baby, people are watching." Mrs Herrington rubbed Georgia's hand smoothly and turned to Gem. "No more questions, Gem! You are not getting engaged. You are already engaged! Mac will announce to the public tonight about his son's engagement," she added.
Gem's eyes widened in shock and her heart sank at the words of Mrs Herrington. How was she engaged and wasn't even aware?
"And the Macdon's family will be joining this table soon when they are done with greeting their guests. Gem, It is an honor for the Macdon to choose to marry from the Herringtons. In return we get to do business together, growth, expansion and you would get the perfect life you always wanted." Mr Herrington stated.
"That's enough, George, we should go mingle now. Leave the silly child." Mrs Herrington declared and both her and her husband found their way to the crowd.
"Georgia, what's going on? Does all this make any sense to you? I mean, why are you not the one getting married?"
"The rumor was traded for free, so I will just tell you anyway. I hear Marcello is a mad man and I can't marry a mad man. He will ruin my modeling career." Georgia said.
"A mad man?" Gem was in a maze.
"They said he acts strange, like one with mental illness but hasn't been diagnosed with any. He is the first son though, but he won't be let to continue the Macdon legacy. He has a life of his own in Paris and his mother was worried he would die a lonely man. So see it as a good thing, because you don't have a choice." Georgia spoke in a condescending tone.
"Why must the wife be from the Herringtons?"
"We are powerful, brilliant and strong women. Except for your mother–" Her words shifted when she glanced over her shoulder, "here comes the Macdon and my parents behind."
"What does Marcello look like?" Gem whispered.
"Shut up, Gem." Georgia stood up, bent over and whispered into Gem's ear, "I heard he is ugly and looks like an ape." She giggled, "don't worry," she sat down then turned facing her as she covered her lips from the crowd with her hand. "You guys will make the best couple, who knows?" She laughed as she removed her hand, placing it gently on the table.
The Macdons and the Herringtons got to the table, exchanged graceful greetings and embraces and took their seats around the table. The Macdon men were accustomed to command respect and admiration wherever they went. All eyes turned to witness the meeting of these two titans of society.
"Hi, I'm Marcello, I heard you are Gem and we are engaged. So I will be sitting beside you." Marcello said, then settled down.
The discipline instilled in Gem kept her mouth from dropping open.
Was this very dangerous looking man in black tie, with his hair color the same as her silver purse and burning blue eyes going to end up being her husband? She bet she was going to be battling with different mistresses in Paris. But doesn't she have a choice?
"Oh my God, he is cute." Georgia whispered to herself.
"Didn't you say he was ugly?" Gem asks her whispering.
"Hmm hmm" Georgia cleared her throat. "But he is still mad, is he not?" And mad men can't be reliable." She whispered into Gem's ear again. "Oh do tell how it feels to sleep with a mad man. I know you can't wait to get into his bed." She laughs as she turns and sits properly.
Georgia was trying to get Gem and she was succeeding because the expression on Gem's face was getting worse.
"Why don't you marry him since you're so desperate to find out." Gem replied calmly, trying not to show her anger.
"Uhmm!!" Georgia exclaimed angrily, drawing attention. "Georgia behave" her mom said in-between her teeth. Georgia forcely smiled trying to reduce the attention focused on her. With this Gem felt a little satisfied and whispered to herself. 'So much for someone who wants attention' she smiled. It was the first time she smiled that night.
It was time for Mr Macdon to give his speech. He climbed the stage and everyone applauded. He began his speech.
"Are you okay with this?" Gem whispered to Marcello.
"With what?" He gave her a cold smile and shifted his gaze back to his father, who was giving Macdon's 40th anniversary speech.
Gem, trying to understand his cold attitude, didn't really understand the situation. "He is very cold and composed. Why would anyone say that he is mad." She whispered to herself.
"What are you saying? Better keep it low before everyone will think that you're also mad." Georgia Said in an annoying mocking voice as she smiled wickedly at Gem.
Georgia's voice was so loud that Marcello heard her but ignored it and was still gazing at his father without blinking.
"... and it's a big night of course, my son, Marcello Macdon is joining us today after seven years and he's engaged to the beautiful Miss Gem Herrington."
More applause came from the crowd. Then Marcello stood up and removed the engagement ring from his finger and dropped it on the table.
"What are you up to, Marcello? Please sit down." Mrs Macdon whispered.
"I'm doing something concerning the engagement." Marcello voiced out.
"You are not to interrupt, Marcello, please sit down, please." Mrs Macdon pleaded.
"I told you he is a mad man, here we go." Georgia uttered in a mocking tone to Gem.
"I'm not engaged to Miss Gem Herrington and I will not marry her!" He yelled.
"See, he is worse than mad." Georgia whispered to Gem laughing.
"Shut up Georgia" Gem said, trying so hard not to show her anger. She didn't even know why she was angry but she believed that the situation alone annoys her so much that she hates the fact that all this is happening to her. It has always been bad but not this worse. How could they make her marry a mad man, she wondered to herself.
"Marcello, listen to your father," his mother pleaded as she held his hands.
A sudden hush fell over the audience indicating their shock at the outburst. Some reacted in gasps, murmurs of surprise while others exchanged puzzled glances and whispered to one another, trying to understand what just happened.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
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."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”