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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.
ZARA'S POV
My father and I sat in the back seat of his car, parked inside Standesamt Mitte in Berlin, awaiting the arrival of the Adlers. The marriage registration was scheduled for 15:00, and it was already 14:00.
"There must be other ways of saving the company; do I have to do this?" I turned to my father, who had been silent since our arrival.
He sighed heavily, "That's not the only issue; you'll be marrying a man old enough to be your uncle," he grasped my hands, his expression grave as he met my gaze, "But desperate times call for desperate measures, Zara. This marriage is our only option to avoid bankruptcy and homelessness."
Tears began streaming down my cheeks as the weight of the situation sunk in. "But why me?" I protested softly. "What about Lena? She's older; she could handle this much better than me."
His expression suddenly hardened, and he dropped my hand, signalling my breach of an unspoken line.
"You, Zara, know exactly why. Your sister is instrumental to the company," he countered sternly, "And frankly, I don't trust anyone else with this-not even you."
His words stung, revealing the harsh truth: I was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb protecting the favoured child.
"Zara, your sister has sacrificed a lot for us; now it's your turn to contribute. Fulfill this obligation by marrying him. It won't be for long; he's not expected to live much longer, and once it's over, you'll have your freedom. Lena will take over as CEO, and you'll be promoted to managing director."
I sank deeper into the seat, a sense of resignation washing over me as I exhaled deeply, closing my eyes to the bleak reality.
Our tense silence was broken when Lena joined us in the car, her presence a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere. "They're here," my father announced as two cars pulled up alongside ours. We stepped out to meet them.
Kai's mother emerged from the first vehicle, her youthful vigour belying her age. Kai exited the second car, dressed impeccably in an all-white suit.
As we approached, Mrs. Adler embraced me warmly and then introduced me to Kai. Despite months of arrangement discussions, this was our first actual meeting.
Standing next to him, my 5'6" stature felt particularly short. He was impressively built, with medium-toned, luminous skin that made his well-styled black hair and striking features stand out even more.
His chiselled jaw, strong nose, and well-defined lips could easily rival classical sculptures. Despite being 41, his presence was commanding, yet there was an undeniable gentleness in his eyes.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his green eyes piercing into my amber ones with an intensity that both unnerved and captivated me.
"Uh, yes, yes," I stuttered, momentarily lost in his gaze, which contrasted so sharply with the ruthless businessman reputation that preceded him.
As we proceeded with the marriage registration and exchanged rings, I was taken aback by his unexpected kindness and gentility, which belied his fierce public persona.
After the ceremony, I turned to my sister first, embracing her tightly. "I'm sorry you had to go through this. It's my fault for not keeping a tighter rein on the company's finances," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
I reassured her as I wiped away her tears, "We agreed to this because Mrs Adler promised significant financial support if one of us marries her son and bears his child before his impending death. Focus on the company and ensure my sacrifice counts for something. He seems more personable than the rumours suggested, so perhaps these next few months won't be as dreadful as we feared."
Returning her embrace, she sobbed, "I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too," I whispered back, our bond sealed by shared adversity since our mother's early departure left us to navigate our father's cold pragmatism and the burdens of family expectations.
As Kai departed to attend to business, Madam Tess, the housekeeper, showed me to my room-a well-appointed space that would serve as my sanctuary or cage, depending on how one viewed it. Left alone, I dined by myself, Kai's absence extending well into the evening.
Later, as I lay reading, Madam Tess informed me of Kai's return, requesting my presence in his room-a summons that set my nerves on edge. "Why does he want to see me in his room?" I pondered aloud.
"Perhaps he just wishes to speak," I reassured myself, though the fluttering in my stomach suggested otherwise.
With a mixture of apprehension and a need to assert some control, I entered his room without knocking, only to find Kai shirtless, an unexpected sight that halted me in my tracks.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry. I should have knocked," I stammered, turning to leave.
"No, it's fine, come in," he said calmly, stopping me.
As I turned back, our eyes met, and the world around us seemed to pause. In a moment that felt both reckless and inevitable, he drew me close, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that was surprisingly tender yet desperate.
The connection was instantaneous, overwhelming my senses as he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the bed where passion and reservation blurred in a dance as old as time.
His actions spoke of a man who knew this might be his last chance at intimacy, his urgency underscored by the raw honesty of our situation.
As he undressed us both, his touch was paradoxically gentle, a contrast to the forceful life he was known to lead. When he entered me, the initial pain gave way to a rush of pleasure that overwhelmed all thoughts of duty and consequence.
Together, we reached a crescendo, a moment of escape from the roles we were forced to play, only to be shattered by his subsequent withdrawal and cold dismissal.
"Get out of my room," he ordered abruptly, his earlier warmth replaced by an icy detachment.
"Excuse me?" I said, my voice a mix of confusion and indignity as I clutched the sheet to my chest.
"You heard me. Get out," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
As I left his room, the complex layers of our encounter left me reeling-trapped in a marriage that was both a contract and a confrontation with unexpected depths of emotion.
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?
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?
"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?
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?
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."