Desperate to save her ailing mother, Ella attends a masked party with a friend, lured by the promise of earning money. At the event, she experiences her first sexual encounter with a masked man, only to learn that her mother has passed away. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, Ella contemplates ending her own life. In a twist of fate, Ella saves the life of a wealthy woman, Mrs. Anderson, who turns out to be the grandmother of a successful businessman. Grateful for Ella's heroism, Mrs. Anderson arranges for her grandson to marry Ella, initiating plans for the wedding. But Ella faces a daunting challenge: she is pregnant by an unknown man. As she navigates the complexities of this arranged marriage, she must grapple with the secrets of her past and the uncertainty of her future. Will she uncover the identity of the father and find her own path to happiness amidst the tangled web of relationships and expectations?
ELLA
I pressed my forehead against the cold glass looking into the ICU, trying to steady the trembling in my hands. Through the transparent barrier, my mother lay down surrounded by a bunch of machines, their rhythmic beeping the only sound in the room. Tubes and wires impaled parts of her fragile body, connecting her to the devices that seemed to mock me with their multiple beeping. I wanted her to wake up, tell me that everything would be alright and that I should focus on my life. Her chest rose and fell in time with the ventilator, but it was the only movement, the only sign that she was still here with me.
I watched a nurse walk up to me with a pained smile. Surely, she was aware of my suffering.
"You can get changed and go in to see your mother now." She smiled. I wanted to reciprocate the gesture but I didn't have it in me.
I got changed and walked into the room. Slowly and carefully, I sat by her bedside. I lifted one of her hands by the wrist and kissed it. Remembering how the last time that she was awake, we had finally decided to make bread that had carrots in it. I laughed at the memory.
"Mum, remember how you disagreed that carrots don't belong in bread dough? But you still agreed to make it," I sniffled. Holding back the tears.
"All because I wouldn't shut up about carrot cake and carrot bread being similar," My laughter was pained.
The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking my pained silence. Mum's face, once full of life, looked so pale and fragile. The oxygen mask covered her mouth, making her breathing shallow and labored. Had she always been breathing so hard since I came into the room?
I clenched her fists, trying to hold back more tears that threatened to spill. Something was wrong.
"Mum?"
What was going on?
The door to the room swung open, and a team of doctors rushed in. Soon, I was being ejected from the room by two elder nurses who had pitiable expressions on their faces.
"You need to leave the room miss, your mother will be alright." They reassured while sitting me down. They left almost immediately.
My tears finally came down like a waterfall. I stood up, placing my head on the glass window and watching as they tried to keep her alive. Still in this world with me.
I wanted to scream, to shatter the glass that separated us, as if that could break the spell that kept her imprisoned in that unmoving body. But I knew it was useless. I was as powerless as she was, standing here in the hallway with nothing to do but watch and wait as the doctors did their best.
The main doctor with Marud written on his name tag, approached me. He was a tall man with a stern expression. Looking at him made me fear the worst.
"Miss Fitzgerald? We need to act fast," he said, his voice calm but urgent.
"Act fast?" I was confused now. What did he mean? "Is my mum dying?"
"Your mother just had another heart attack. We're doing everything we can to stabilize her, but there's something else you need to know." He clenched his notepad.
My heart pounded in my chest, I could hear it with my breath catching in my throat.
"What is it?" I choked out, my voice barely a whisper.
"The tests we ran earlier revealed that your mother's kidneys are failing," the doctor continued. "She needs a transplant as soon as possible. Without it, her chances of survival are very slim. For now, she'll be placed on dialysis three times a week. Her heart condition will also be monitored to manage any incoming attacks"
The world felt like it was spinning around me. This couldn't be happening. Not now, not when we were just beginning to mend our fractured relationship after we lost Dad.
"There will be more of that?" My chest heaved.
"We hope not, but there are high chances of it. She needs that transplant soon, as it is the root cause."
"A kidney transplant? How much is it? How much time do we have?"
"We will put her on dialysis to buy some time," the doctor explained, "but dialysis is only a temporary solution. We need to start looking for a donor immediately. And there's another matter we would have to overcome."
I knew it and could sense the weight of what he was about to say. It was my main handicap at the moment.
"The cost," I murmured, my voice trembling. It was almost too hard to speak.
Doctor Marud nodded, a sympathetic look in his eyes.
"Yes. The surgery, the post-operative care, and the medications. It's all very expensive. You'll need to bring a significant amount of money."
My mind was racing. How could I come up with that kind of money? I had some savings, but it was nothing near what a transplant would cost.
"How much are we talking about?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"The money might be higher than fifty to hundred thousand dollars," the doctor replied. "That's depending on complications and the duration of her stay in the ICU."
I felt the ground tip and my knees gave in. Doctor Marud helped me to the chair. I could barely keep mum alive with the little money I had, and now I have to somehow find a way to pay for a life-saving transplant?
"I don't have that kind of money," I cried. "What am I supposed to do?"
"The dialysis would help but somehow, you'd have to find a way to pay the fees to commence with the surgery. That's the only way for Mrs. Fitzgerald to survive."
The doctor said there was still hope, but his voice was tinged with the kind of detachment that only comes from delivering bad news too many times. I didn't believe him. How could I, when every passing second seemed to take my mum further away from me?
I nodded numbly, my mind clouded with the thought of loans, selling what little we had at home, and calling a few friends for help. There were no extended relatives that would render financial aid.
''I'll figure something out," I forced a smile, more for myself as encouragement than for the doctor. A single thought kept running through my mind.
'How am I going to do this alone?'
She was a diamond covered by ashes.... King Dakota was known as the most Powerful Alpha King of all times - more powerful than any other King that had ruled from his lineage. He was cold hearted, introverted and dangerous in anger. Cursed by the Moon goddess, King Dakota had to get married to three wives all in search of a male child that would become his heir, but it was impossible as the curse would only let his wives bear she -wolves. But on a different day, the King meets a lady who offends him and as a punishment, he took her home as his fourth wife. Her name was Shilah. Shilah was a powerless wolf and as a result, was disregarded and intimidated by all. But, when she begins to do things that the King had never felt for years, he began to wonder who she really was. Slowly, she crawled her way into his icy heart and turned out to be something nobody ever expected - a storm.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
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.
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!