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"You have no right to ask me such questions," Ava said, almost immediately. "This whole marriage thing is only on paper, remember? It doesn't give you any claim on my personal life. I am not your property, Jace!" "The contract is still on! Fake or not, I own you Ava and I do have every damn right to ask!" Jace cuts in, his voice low and dangerous. "Now, tell me - who was that guy with you at the bar??" ****** In a storm of betrayal, obligation, and unexpected twists, Avalynn finds herself entangled in a contract marriage with Jace Malvis, the heir to a powerful business empire. As their relationship evolves from a facade to something more, secrets unravel, revealing hidden connections that change everything. With the truth finally emerging, Avalynn must navigate love, family, and her own identity. Can she find true happiness amidst the chaos, or will the demons of the past haunt her future?
Avalynn shut the large door to the living room behind her as she made her way upstairs, heading for her room. She was tired from the day's work as it was very hectic at the restaurant today, being a Friday.
"Just a little more time Amelia, I'm still waiting for the right time to tell her," Avalynn heard this familiar voice say as she passed through Amelia's room.
She halted for a moment as she became interested and pressed her ears to the door.
"The right time?? So when is the right time Dylan? I cannot handle this anymore. Don't you see the way she stares at you??" She heard Amelia respond.
Avalynn's heart skipped. Dylan? No way. Dylan.. what was.. no. In Amelia's room? Did she mishear? Her heart started hammering so fiercely in her chest like a pestle striking a mortar.
"Okay okay, I will break it off with her tomorrow. I was done with her since I met you anyway. I'll pick you over and over again Amelia" She heard Dylan say again.
Avalynn stumbled backwards a bit, panting so hard and loud as she heard the door to Amelia room open. She instantly dropped her bag and hurried down the stairs into the living room.
She couldn't handle it, she couldn't bear to see Dylan's face.
She refused to accept it and couldn't believe it either. Dylan and Amelia..having an affair??! No way!
While she was sprinting with her heart pounding in her chest and tears clouding her eyes, she struck a familiar figure.
"Watch where you're going illegitimate!" Marvy, her youngest step sister responded.
Avalynn stopped, staring downwards, with her hands held backwards. It seemed like her heart would jump out of her chest as tears streamed freely down her face.
"Did you see a ghost" Marvy inquired, displaying no trace of empathy even when she noticed that Ava was in tears.
Avalynn couldn't keep it in any longer. She collapsed to the ground and began weeping.
"Why? Why? Whyyyy?? Just what did I do so wrong?" She mumbled amidst crying.
"Will you stop disturbing the peace of the house, you fool?!" It was Amelia.
Avalynn glanced in the voice's direction and saw Dylan locking hands with Amelia. In as much as she was an illegitimate child, that was her blood. How could Dylan do this to her?
"How could you?" The words slipped her lips as she disregarded Amelia's remarks, rose and moved towards Dylan staring at him.
"Dylan, please tell me this is a prank.. this isn't happening. You are doing this on purpose to trick me right?"
Dylan grinned, he turned to Amelia who was already staring up at him, he drew her face close with her chin and gave her a very deep passionate kiss right there in front of Avalynn.
Pecking Amelia's cheeks, he turned to face Avalynn with the sneer still on his face, "Does it still look like a trick to you.... Avalynn?"
Avalynn couldn't tell whether it was her heart or time that stopped. Everything suddenly stood still. The only thing she could hear was her hammering pulse. They were thumping so fast and loud, she felt like she could drop dead right there.
No, no, this isn't happening.
"Dylan, this is what I get? This is what I get for loving you selflessly for three years? You...you.. you said..you said you loved me. You always said that.. you.."
"Oh shut your trap, you slut! Dylan is mine now can't you see? And for your information..." Amelia opened her fingers to display the gorgeous ring set on her middle finger. "We are engaged"
Taking a few steps backwards, Avalynn turned towards the main entrance and ran out as quickly as her skinny long gorgeous legs could take her. She didn't know where she was headed, she simply continued running as she allowed the tears flow freely from her eyes as her throat tightened.
She had been running for a few minutes and was running out of breath. She stopped and sat on the floor. She didn't know what was going on yet. Was she dreaming or...? She pinched herself severally but she didn't wake up anywhere. She was there. It's real. Dylan dumped her for her stepsister, a girl she introduced him to not even up to five months yet. What exactly happened and how?
Dylan showed no evidence of falling out of love at all. He had even been the one who was more in love in the relationship. She equally loved him too but had a hectic life to fully concentrate on a romantic relationship. Was that why he left her? But no. Could Dylan really do this to her? He was going to ...
Wait, he engaged Amelia already?
Ava wasn't having it anymore, she was practically going mad. She glanced opposite her and her eyes met a very bright neon light, like a club? She moved towards the light. It was a club. She didn't think twice as she hurried inside.
The blaring music invaded her head. Felt like one thing she needed at that time. She glanced around and there were so many lovely females and attractive men dancing. Happy individuals. She thought to herself as she moved towards the bar counter.
At the bar counter, there was a man sitting alone there, he appeared tall, unarguably handsome, at least, judging from the side view she observed. Their eyes met and shifted to the bartender.
"Can I have vodka please?" She managed to whisper.
"Sure." The bar man answered, moving to the counter and pulling out a huge bottle of Vodka. "It's $100 and pay before having your order tonight," he stated as he put the bottle on the counter table.
"$100? Omg why is it so expensive? And pay before order?" Avalynn asked, growing agitated. She needed to guzzle this alcohol as fast as possible!
"Yes, I'm sorry. It's an order." the bar guy replied.
Avalynn signed, evidently annoyed. She didn't even come with her bag. F*ck what was she thinking. Some tears were almost dropping from her eyes, she used the back of her hand to wipe them off. Not here, she mumbled to herself. She withdrew, turning to go.
"If you don't mind, I'd pay for the drink" She heard the guy her eyes had caught as she entered.
She stopped abruptly and looked towards him, their eyes connected. He was incredibly handsome. The club lights didn't let her see the color of his eyes yet but he looked expensive and rich too.
She took a long breath, typically, she should decline this but no, she was going to run insane if she didn't drink alcohol that night.
"I'd really appreciate it," She remarked to him, heading back to the counter.
"Tyler Wills broke my heart and now, he's back to pick up the pieces, but I built walls he can't climb... or can he?" --- Samantha Blake, a rising star in New York's design world, thought she left her broken past behind. But when a big lie messes up her life, she has to face Tyler Wills, the man she once loved and lost. As secrets come out and enemies show up, Samantha must deal with a mix of lies and desire. Will she find the strength to forgive and get her future back, or will the past ruin everything she cares about?
"They were torn apart by secrets. Can love bring them back together?" ********** Marie, the secret heiress of the Smith Group, marries Max, the boy she loved as a child, even though her grandfather doesn't want her to. Lena, Max's adopted sister, has a bad past and an obsession that makes them unhappy. Lying and not trusting cause broken hearts and deception. After a miscarriage makes the truth clear, Marie leaves to start over with the help of her grandfather and Dave, who is her grandpa's adopted son. Lena's jealousy drives her to plan dangerous things when her feelings for Max come back. To get her happy ending back, Marie has to find out the truth about how her parents died and trick her enemies. Will her enemies win, or will she be able to overcome betrayal and take her proper place?
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
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.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
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.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?