Cailey had managed to outlive her husband, becoming a young widow. Then, at his funeral, she found herself at risk of being evicted from her home. In a bid to secure her share of the estate, Cailey decided to seduce her stepson and bear him a child. Unfortunately, he saw right through her tricks. "I'm not as gullible as my father." No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to win the man over. Cailey had no choice but to change her plans. But then, one night, the same stepson suddenly pinned her against the wall. "You want something from me? Beg for it."
The first time Cailey Morris met Michael Morris was at her late husband's funeral. That day, a fierce snowstorm had swept through the city.
A servant held a black umbrella over Cailey, who was wearing a black dress and clutching a white handkerchief. Her eyes were red and swollen from tears, and her presence evoked a fragile beauty reminiscent of a flower caught in a downpour.
The Morris family was one of the most esteemed in Leson. As expected, nearly every notable figure in town attended the funeral.
"Mrs. Morris, my condolences," a young man dressed in a black suit said as he approached Cailey to pay his respects.
He extended his hand and, with a touch of refined grace, kissed the back of her hand.
Cailey's hand was slender, its soft texture accentuated by the heavy lace enveloping it. Her beauty was undeniable. More than mere beauty, her features carried a poignant allure.
Her wet eyelashes and eyes shimmered like gentle waves, her lips tender and rosy. The tip of her nose was reddened from crying, adding a delicate charm that was impossible to ignore.
It was clear why her late husband had lavished fortunes to marry her and kept her hidden from the world's eyes, unwilling to share her beauty with others.
Standing against the harsh wind and snow, Cailey appeared almost ethereal, as if she might dissolve into the elements at any moment.
The young man, who had just kissed her hand, was one of many captivated by her.
She was stunning, after all.
The young man couldn't resist the urge to draw nearer under the guise of offering condolences.
He did not release her hand, his grip tightening ever so slightly.
Panic flashed across Cailey's face as she tried to withdraw her hand, but the young man's hold only strengthened as he stepped closer.
His gaze lingered on her delicate features before he leaned in. "Mrs. Morris, should you ever feel lonely, I am more than willing to keep you company," he whispered.
Tears welled in Cailey's eyes, rolling down her cheeks like pearls.
She quickly bowed her head, seemingly fearful that other guests might notice her distress. Her lips trembled as she fought back tears, evoking deep sympathy.
Everyone was aware that with Bobby Morris' death, the family's wealth would transfer to his younger brother, Laurence Morris.
Now a childless widow, Cailey faced the prospect of being cast out by the Morris family.
The young man grew bolder in the face of Cailey's silence, his hand creeping further up her arm.
"Sir, please... don't do this." Cailey finally spoke.
Despite the clear rejection, her soft yet alluring voice made it sound like she wasn't entirely unwilling.
Driven by lust, the young man moved closer. The umbrella concealed his actions, so his hand boldly ventured further.
"Sir..." Cailey's tone sharpened, signaling firm resistance.
Before she could complete her protest, a tall figure intervened, stepping between them to separate the two.
Cailey trembled as she looked up through her tear-stained eyes. Her gaze met a pair of cold, arrogant eyes.
Startled, Cailey felt like the man could see right into her soul.
The young man, frustrated at the interruption, frowned. "You..." he said, only to be cut off.
"Cailey," the newcomer said to Cailey, disregarding the young man behind him. His voice was deep and commanding. "Please accept my condolences."
The young man was left speechless, words caught in his throat.
The surrounding guests, who had been discreetly watching the exchange, shared in the shock.
Even Cailey was momentarily taken aback, tears still clinging to her lashes. Amid the snow and wind, she gazed at the man.
His tall, commanding presence seemed to dwarf her. His stern expression and striking features were similar to her late husband's.
Suddenly, she recalled her husband mentioning an illegitimate son he hadn't seen in years.
"Michael Morris..." Cailey murmured.
"Yes." The man's brow lifted slightly as he nodded with a dignified air. "I am Michael Morris."
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
When they met again, Jason cast aside his paranoia and pride, warmly embracing Chelsey. "Please, come back to me?" For three years, she had been his secretary by day and his companion by night. Chelsey had always complied with his requests, like an obedient pet. However, when Jason declared his plans to marry another, she chose to stop loving him and to let go. But life took unexpected turns. His unyielding pursuit, her pregnancy, and her mother's greed gradually pushed her to the brink. Eventually, she endured tremendous suffering. Five years later, when she returned, she was no longer the woman she once was. Yet he had spiraled into five years of chaos.
“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?”
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"
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?"
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?