Olivia thought her life was going to be perfect after she was adopted at a legal age by the Brookes couple, who were well-known businessmen in New York. She later found out that the reason for her adoption was only for a marriage agreement because the Brookes couple only had a male child and needed a female child to fulfil their end of the bargain. Things got worse for Olivia when she realized her fiance, Kellan hated her to the core and had another woman in his life, and she had no choice but to go through with the marriage. Will Olivia be able to survive all the troubles she would go through in the hands of Kellan and his girlfriend who would do anything to get rid of her?
"You are called in the matron's office," Jane, one of the new intakes at the orphanage said to me."Do you know the reason why you were called?
I shrugged in response
"Are you not curious??" she asked again.
Smiling at the short but lovely girl in front of me I asked her, "Why should I be curious?"
Rolling her eyes, she said, "You are the least curious person I have ever known,"
Glancing and smiling at the girl as she dangles on the chair. My phone buzzed again with a text, it was a request to come to the matron's office as well.
Packing my books together, I waved to Mr Bars, our library attendant.
The stroll across the orphanage library to the matron's office only took me a few minutes. When I arrived, the secretary had told me to wait a moment.
I looked at some of the art paintings the children had made on the orphanage walls while waiting and smiled; they were talented. 'pft..unlike you, right?' my subconscious said to me.
The door to the matron's office opened, and the cool and always collected Victoria Wyatt presented herself. A beautiful yet bold woman, at the age of fifty-something years, she still had a lovely figure and warm eyes.
She remains unchanged just like she had been when I was brought to the orphanage fifteen years ago.
"Livia, how are you today?" she asked me.
"I'm good, Mrs Vicky," I replied to her with the same energy.
She had always preferred the nickname.
Adjusting her eyeglasses she continued, "I want you to meet Mr John Brooke and Mrs Eva Brooke. They own the famous Queens construction company."
I stopped in my tracks noticing for the first time that there had been more than two people in the office. I looked over at two people sitting across the matron in shock.
Queens Construction is one of the largest construction companies in London, and they only work on high-end projects from construction to designing buildings.
They had branches in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles as well as African countries.
Indeed it was John!!.
Skipping the woman emitting warm and motherly vibes I lunged for the man, clinging unto him and damping his clothes with my tears.
Oh God! it's too hard to control my emotions... The tears were coming in waves. I noticed the woman had also joined the hug. the matron must have noticed the look of surprise on my face.
"Well, I think this is an emotional moment," Mrs Vicky flustered, adjusting her glasses once again, she continued, "Livia, Mr Brooke here has been sponsoring your education for the past three years."
The Brooke's are very generous. They are the main reason we can keep our doors open for more children. They have been the orphanage's biggest sponsor and supporters.
"He wanted to keep it anonymous from you which is why we didn't tell you about him before now."
Shocked and blanked is what can describe my feelings at the moment.
"The Brookes became our sponsor ten years ago, but now it is a family affair; their son also helps with raising our annual fundraiser."
I couldn't make out all that Mrs Vicky was saying, and all I could mutter was, "Huh...yes...oh."
"The Brooke's are here to adopt you legally now that you are of legal age."
Then, at that moment, I knew I did not want to live in the past anymore..what more hurt would it do?
Everyone at the orphanage knows it is very uncommon to be adopted at eighteen; yes, at legal age, it's indeed not.
Most of us get to attend college through scholarships or sponsorship.
Looking at the signed legal papers in front of me with bold letters of my new name, OLIVIA BROOKE, I knew it was either the warm woman looking at me with glassy yet exciting eyes or John, whom I had never felt safe with, even if it was for a short moment that made me did it.
I looked across the table at my new parents, and I felt unexplainable emotions overwhelming me.
Not knowing how to start any conversation with the woman yet. Would it be ok to call her my mother now?
I cleared my throat..and coughed. "Hmm, Mrs Brooke?"
She replied, "Don't you think Mrs Brooke sounds too old for me darling? I don't want my mother-in-law's name." She chuckled. "Call me mom okay?" She held my hand. giving it a gentle and loving squeeze.
She looked like a mother hen.. lifting my eyes back at her I smiled.
"Hmm...do you want to adopt me?" I asked again, rubbing my ears, a habit of mine when I'm nervous.
Silence descended after asking her the question without saying anything; she stood up and rounded the seat to where I was and sat beside me.
"Olivia, I would do anything to have a smart girl like you as my daughter...and now you are not only a Brooke by name, you have an amazing father too as well as an elder brother who would always protect you," she started.
"John had told me to keep things simple so as not to overwhelm you, and I can say I am very proud of you, and of course, you are a beauty just like me, your mother."
That was the confirmation I needed before I signed my name on the papers and left with them.
I stepped out of the car with my new parents at the restaurant I was told we would be dining at. Looking at the exterior design of the restaurant there is no doubt it is one of the Queens' investments.
Dressed in a sky blue free gown that had a cowl neck revealing one shoulder and pink peep toe heels that accented my legs and my hair had been done in soft waves that fell on my shoulders. The look created an image of youth and innocence, making me look soft, classic, and pampered.
I knew I needed all the confidence I could get, dining in a restaurant filled with billionaires and first-class citizens of the country, and dining with one as a family.
"Your mother has pictures of you throughout the house," John said, looking at Eva as she settled down beside him in the booth.
"Oh stop it John..are you exposing me now?" she replied teasingly
"Livia, I can tell you that none of these pictures did Justice to your beauty. Your Grandmother also said we look alike." She grinned from ear to ear.
"Really?" I said, amazed at the piece of information. Is that even possible? I muttered slowly.
"Livia, I think we should go shopping tomorrow, do you have anything in mind? Just tell me whatever you want, mommy will get it for you."
"Huh..i...hmmm," I stuttered not knowing what to say
"Eva, take it easy with the girl," John replied, taking a sip of the champagne in the glass cup. I didn't even remember when the waitress had come back with our orders.
Taking a sip of the cold chilled drink, I know not its name myself ...I looked around the restaurant and noticed for the first time that we were in one of the private booths of the restaurant.
Sitting here together with people to call my parents still feels surreal.
But then, nothing could go wrong this time right??
Lorena Calvino Alessandro Moravia was the devil and I've caught his eye.i was supposed to marry his son Alessandro Moravia She has no business in my world,I have too many enemies.The Moravia crime family had status,power and wealth,she was the only thing I wanted.
In a union of benefit,Ronald Hoffman weds Emily Adair to secure his family's inheritance but under the guise of their arranged marriage , Ronald and Emily harboured secrects His hidden past and she, an unyielding taste for power. As they tackle the treacherous terrain of family opposition and their own desires, they must face the darkness of their own motivation . Will their marriage of benefit become alove match?
22 years old Zara Klein was forced to marry, and produce an heir for 41-year-old Kai Adler, who has three months left to live; to save her father's company from bankruptcy. She had to keep up with Kai's inhumane treatment, got pregnant with his child and quietly anticipated his death. But their lives took a drastic turn when Kai miraculously got cured of his illness.
"Do you Aria Carter Stephenson take Dave Micheal Mendez to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish in times of good health and bad health, rich and poor till death do you part?" My fingers tightened on my gown as I turned to the side, searching through the crowd. I locked eyes with my brother who had a blank expression. "Aria?" The priest called my attention. Taking a deep breath, I turned back to look at Dave. "No, I don't." Aria Stephenson is a small-town girl who got an opportunity to work as a fashion designer in a big clothing company with the hope of making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Dave Mendez is a playboy who was given the chance to take over his father's company which happens to be the same company Aria got employed in. Instead of trying to impress his father, Dave got distracted by a certain hazel-eyed girl. They ended up falling in love like every other love story but what happens when a buried secret comes out and breaks them apart?
What do you do when your sister's ex-boyfriend whom she dumped turns out to be a Spanish prince and chooses to marry to get revenge on her?
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.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
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."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"