On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
In the dimly lit, opulent private cinema, the most exclusive jewelry auction was being broadcast live.
The rich cadence of the auctioneer's voice echoed through the room. "One million, going once, going twice-"
Alicia Bennett barely registered the words, her thoughts entirely consumed by the man under her.
His intensity overwhelmed her, driving her to sink her teeth into his shoulder in a desperate attempt to brace herself against the onslaught.
The man merely grunted in response, neither stopping nor slowing down.
"Loosen up, will you?" he rasped, voice thick with strain as he tightened his grip around her waist, commanding her body to bend to his will.
Alicia, still biting the man's shoulder, paused.
Slowly, she eased her jaw, her teeth releasing their hold.
Just as the apology began to form on her lips, he let out a low, almost teasing laugh. "That's not the part I asked you to loosen."
Alicia froze, heat rushing to her cheeks.
The apology withering in her throat, replaced by a searing embarrassment that turned her skin crimson.
But the intensity between them only grew fiercer as time passed, their bodies entangled in a battle of passion and control.
The auctioneer's gavel fell. "Sold for ten million! Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Joshua Yates!"
The name struck Alicia like a lightning bolt.
Her body instantly went rigid, something that the man couldn't help but notice. His movements paused as his eyes, half-lidded with satisfaction, flicked lazily toward the screen.
The camera zoomed in on Joshua Yates's face, every detail of his familiar features displayed in perfect clarity.
"Joshua Yates, the second son of the Yates family... an acquaintance perhaps?" he drawled, the corners of his mouth tugging into a sly smile as he playfully nibbled Alicia's earlobe.
Alicia's frown deepened. The last thing she wanted was to discuss it.
"Is gossip part of your services too?" she snapped, her voice cold, laced with irritation.
He chuckled softly at her retort, the sound reverberating in the space between them.
Services?
He didn't bother denying it. Instead, his grip on her waist tightened further, his movements growing more relentless, his rhythm chaotic and untamed, as if challenging her.
The room seemed to pulse with their passionate desires, the air thick with lust, their ragged breaths merging into one. Together, they reached a breathless crescendo.
When it was over, Alicia took advantage of the man's time in the shower and quietly made her escape.
She fished out a stack of banknotes from her purse and left them on the chair. Then she inched her way towards the door, quiet as a mouse, wincing at the soreness in her nether regions.
When Caden Ward finally emerged from the bathroom, his gaze instantly fell on the neat stack of dollar bills waiting for him on the chair. Amusement flickered in his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Casually, he reached for a cigarette, lighting it leisurely before sinking into the chair, his fingers toying with the crisp notes.
Moments later, his assistant, Hank Ford, burst into the room, clearly on edge.
The faint, unmistakable scent of sex still hung heavy in the air, making Hank's scalp prickle with discomfort. "Er, apologies, Mr. Ward. I let my guard down. Give me a moment, and I'll have her brought back immediately."
They had just returned to the country, taking every precaution. And yet, a woman had managed to slip through the cracks of their security.
Caden exhaled a lazy stream of smoke, his features calm, almost indifferent.
"No need. I was... a willing participant."
Hank's eyes widened in shock.
Only then did he notice the faint red marks decorating Caden's chest.
Hank's vision started to spin. In all the time he'd known Caden, the man had never slept with a woman, not even for a casual one night stand.
There were even rumors that Caden might suffer from some secret ailment, which was why he had never been with a woman.
Yet now, those whispers seemed to evaporate in the face of this unexpected turn of events.
Before Hank could make sense of it, Caden's deep voice pulled him back to reality. "I want you to look into Joshua's personal life. Have the report on my desk in half an hour."
Tonight, Alicia had stumbled into his room, feverish and desperate.
It was obvious she'd been drugged.
And just like that, all his years of restraint and abstinence fell apart the moment he took her into his arms.
And then came the revelation- Alicia was still a virgin.
Two years of marriage to Joshua...
Yet she was still untouched?
The memory of last night's passion stirred something in him, and his lips curled into a satisfied smile.
The unexpected always had a way of intriguing him.
But as he reflected, one thing became abundantly clear-Alicia had no idea who she'd been with due to the drug's effects.
...
By the time Alicia returned home, the first light of dawn filtered through the windows.
Only then did she realize how long she had been out. She paused at the door, gnashing her teeth angrily.
Even after she had pushed herself to the brink of collapse, he refused to let her go, as though his stamina was never-ending.
Who was supposed to be the client here?
But before she could dwell any further, her phone rang. It was her bestie, Monica Flynn, calling.
"Alicia!" Monica practically screeched from the other end of the line, her voice high-pitched with worry. "How are you now?"
Alicia exhaled deeply, kicking off her shoes carelessly. "I've been better," she murmured.
Monica's anger bubbled over, her words sharp and unrelenting. "Joshua's such a piece of shit! He's beyond disgusting! If he doesn't want to stay married, he should just grow a spine and divorce you already! What kind of sick man would scheme against his own wife?"
The sharp pain of betrayal shot through Alicia's chest.
Yesterday was their second anniversary. Joshua had texted her, suggesting they celebrate. Daring to hope he had changed, she had dressed up to the nine's, only to be met with disappointment and a drug-laced drink that sent her spiraling into a night of confusion and chaos.
Was Joshua really the mastermind behind this?
Swallowing the bitterness that tried clawing its way to the surface, Alicia forced herself to climb the stairs, her movements slow and weary. "It's fine, Monica. I'll handle it."
Monica, ever protective, wasn't convinced. "'Handle it'? What do you mean you'll handle it? Just say the word, and I'll be over in a heartbeat. I'll even put on my sharpest heels, ready to kick him in the nuts!"
Alicia couldn't help the small, tired smile that tugged at her lips, though her heart still felt heavy.
Monica's tone suddenly shifted, curiosity sparking in her voice. "But, seriously, who was that guy you were with last night?"
Alicia froze mid-step, a bad feeling creeping up her spine. "Didn't you hire that male escort for me?" she asked uneasily.
"I did call one," Monica said, her voice suddenly serious. "But you never showed up. He texted me this morning, saying he waited all night and didn't see you. So... who were you with?"
Alicia's breath hitched as the realization slammed into her.
Before she could respond, the door to her bedroom creaked open.
She lifted her gaze, and almost instantly, her stomach dropped. There, fresh from a shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, stood Joshua. His damp hair clung to his forehead as he stared down at her, his voice low, menacing.
"What male escort?"
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
The kiss grew more passionate as he felt her warm supple body pressing against his chest. He couldn't believe how soft she was. He was gentler this time, making love to her with a slow, languorous pace, pausing now and then to check the expression on her face. Kira was. transported. She no longer felt the fabric of the sheets underneath her. One moment, she was floating in the air, cuddled by cotton candy clouds. The next, she'd become one with a dinghy, bobbing up and down with the undulating waves. His scent enveloped her. He was on top of her, using his arms to support his weight and avoid crushing her. She snuggled up closer to him, safe and snug, cocooned in his warmth. Kira had always marvelled at Austyn's stamina, but he outdid himself tonight. In the midst of overwhelming rapture, Kira still had the presence of mind to broach the subject she'd been meaning to bring up. 'My dad's medical bills.' Austyn paused. He frowned as he looked into those beseeching eyes. 'It'll be taken care of by the end of business day tomorrow,' he said with a bit of an edge in his voice. Kira breathed out. ****** She is a 21-year-old college student who dreams of becoming a journalist. He is the heir of the McCarthy family and president of a business empire. She is bright-eyed and vivacious, a glass-half-full kind of gal. When life throws her a curveball, she knocks it out of the park. He is the archetypal alpha male, aggressive and domineering. Endowed with both brains and brawn, he steamrolls over his enemies and rules his company with an iron fist. The two would never have crossed paths if not for a cruel twist of fate. Kira's world was turned upside down when her father was hospitalised after a car accident. The medical bills were astronomical. Austyn McCarthy offered her a way out. The price: becoming his contract wife. At night, he consummated their marriage but called out another woman's name. Who was she? Why did Austyn marry Kira if he was in love with someone else? Kira was his lawful wife, but she had no right to ask these questions. Then one day, the woman showed up in front of her.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.