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?
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Leanna's life had been full of hardships until her Uncle Nate, who wasn't related to her, offered her a home. She fell deeply in love with Nate, but as he was about to get married, he ruthlessly sent her abroad. In response, Leanna immersed herself in the study of andrology. When she came back, she was renowned for her work on solving problems like impotence, premature ejaculation, and infertility. One day, Nate trapped her in her bedroom. "Seeing various men every day, huh? Why don't you check me out and see if I have any problems?" Leanna laughed slyly and quickly unbuckled his belt. "Is that why you're engaged but not married? Having trouble in the bedroom?" "Wanna try it out for yourself?" "No thanks. I’m not interested in experimenting with you."
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.