What ties connect her past to her wedding night of a forced marriage with this stranger?
" You will be wed to the Earl of Valthems in a fortnight"
The announcement caused Blair's face to go pale. Horrified, she sat still, at loss for words. If it had been any other person, she would have accused him of jesting, but her father, the Earl of Winrook, never jested, talk more of such a matter. He would grin, yes, but those grins were even more frightening than his frowns, like a wolf flashing its teeth before and attack.
" The wedding will take place in the countryside", he went on. " I've asked..
" I don't want to", Blair said, finally finding her voice though still trembling.
Her father paused but then continued as if she hadn't uttered a word. " I've asked your Aunt, Lady Monique, and your sister, Beryl to see to the preparations. I'll be dropping by at..."
" Father, I don't want to be wed, I don't even know the Earl of Valthems", she spoke louder this time getting on her feet.
" Well you seemed to have enjoyed his company last night ", he pointed out stone faced. Blair frowned.
Indeed she had enjoyed dancing with the Earl last night at Lord Edward's ball. He was a good dancer after all and never stepped on her shoes, which was more than she could say about more than half of the young gentlemen in the county. He was a good listener too and even quite amusing.
Now, she no longer found him so. He probably acted wonderful on purpose to charm her, and what a fool she had turned out to be, falling for his charms . If only she had known then, that he was plotting to marry her, she wouldn't have dancer with him at all!
" You WILL marry the Earl of Valthems, what you wish is of no importance", her father said with a tone of finality.
" Do you not care for my happiness? I am your daughter!"
" Yes, you are my daughter and you will do as I say. Do you think this is the first time a woman is being wed to a man not of her choosing?"
She stared at him defiantly, her jaw clenched and her eyebrows narrowed. She had a lot of things to say, she wanted to scream but instead she just picked up the hems of her skirt and marched out of the room.
" I don't recall dismissing you, or do you want to be sent to bed without any supper?"
She ignored him.
" You should the grateful, the Earl of Valthems..."
The rest of the sentence remained in the study, behind the door which she pushed shut with such strength that the chandelier in the hall shook. She didn't care, as she made her way up to the staircase with a scowl on her face.
Grateful for what? For being given away like a pig to the butcher, with her opinion being of no significance? Her gowns were chosen for her. Her meals. Her books. Her friends. Must her husband be chosen for her too? She was aware of how rare love marriages were in the county. Still, she had hoped to choose her husband, or at least be consulted on the matter.She was twenty two after all and not some teenager. In fact she had begun to wonder if she was going to remain a spinster like her Aunt Marinette.
She never wanted to be a spinster. She thought they were all pretentious, pretending to be fortunate that they had not ended up marrying, pretending they were strong enough to have been able to resist a man's charms, when they actually secretly pined for a man's touch.
Yes, she had always dreamed of marrying and having kids and watching them play in the garden while she knitted or sipped tea. But not like this.
When Jennie gets invited to the wedding of the gorgeous, rich ,sexy and outrightly perfect high school frenemy, Latesha Bogart, she has to do everything to prove that her life isn't in fact as miserable as it already is. This includes a whole list of lies and a hired fiancé, will she be able to pull it off? Or will the thin string holding her facade together, rip right in the middle of everything?
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!"
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?
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.