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One night changed everything, and neither of them realized it. Years ago, they had one-night sex, the girl was drunk and her face blurred by booze and dim lighting. She went on to raise her daughter alone. He, a successful billionaire with his past put behind him. Now, fate puts them back together, he try to pretend and hide the truth that unites them. As they work together, sparks fly, as do questions. Could it be that he is the father of her child? And if the truth comes out, will it bring them together or tear them apart forever? How do you confront the past when it is right in front of you?
Chapter One
Sophia
I put the glass to my lips; the beer tasted harsh, cold, and sharp, scorching my throat as it slipped down. I wasn't concerned. I wasn't drinking for the taste or the buzz. I was drinking to forget, to block out the never-ending cycle of failures replaying in my head.
It was the last day of the networking event, which was packed with ambitious entrepreneurs. After three days of prospects, contacts, and success stories, here I was, slouched at a table alone, nursing my disappointment.
I remembered the several unsuccessful job interviews and the string of rejections; the offers that weren't rejections were nearly as bad-meek offers that barely made enough money to keep oneself afloat. Offers like "You are not worth more than this."
my stomach turn as I Pour the remainder of the Heineken into my glass and letting a few droplets fall onto the table.
The speakers shared their personal success stories, including how they inherited businesses or received financial support from their parents. Even though they discussed the dangers they took, they always had a backup plan. I didn't. They had been given opportunities. What had I got? Nothing.
If my father's business hadn't been hijacked by that cruel millionaire, I'd be in a completely different situation. I could have taken over, rebuilt it, and expanded it into something larger. But that dream had died along with my parents. Now all I had was shattered fragments of hope and no means to put them back together.
Who was I kidding when I said I wanted to start my own business without money? Nobody wanted to invest in me. Nobody believed in me.
I used to dream big. I believed that an MBA would be the key to unlocking a future in which I was not only successful but also respected. A future in which I would restore the legacy my father had left behind. But all those dreams seemed so far away now. Everything has slipped out of my hold after my father's company was taken away from us.
I wanted to start over. Build my own firm and reclaim the glory that had been taken away. But, how could I? How could I start something from scratch if no one believed in me enough to invest? When each door I knocked on remained closed?
I stared at my empty glass, the cold, crushing emptiness within me growing heavier. 'What's the point?' My chest constricted. 'What am I doing here?'
My black outfit, which had once made me feel strong and capable, now seemed like a joke. A facade to hide the gaping hole where my confidence once was.
The celebration was buzzing with activity all around me. Laughter, music, and clinking glasses-the kind of party I should have taken part in. But I was not. I was invisible.
I observed them-young, wealthy, and connected-people who had never had to worry about failure. They may fail a thousand times and yet find someone to catch them. I had no one. I was all alone.
I poured another glass, the alcohol overflowing over the rim and my hand trembling. I stared at the liquid, wondering if drowning in it would relieve the strangling sensation inside my chest. 'So, what is the point?' I couldn't stop thinking. 'No one even noticed I'm here.
I stood up, my legs shaky, the alcohol already clouding my judgment. 'I'm going to dance,' I told myself, hoping that the movement would help me get rid of my depression. But my body felt strange, heavy, and detached from my thinking. My heart raced, the combination of adrenaline and drink propelling me toward the crowd. Perhaps if I just moved, I'd feel less imprisoned and... lost.
I took a step forward, and the entire room swirled. The floor shifted beneath me, and before I knew it, I was falling. A hand sprang out, catching me before I touched the ground-strong and hard, but too firm.
I blinked, staring up into blue eyes that appeared to devour me whole. He was tall, immaculately dressed, and smiled slowly and deliberately. "You look like you've had quite the night," he murmured, his voice smooth as silk but with a tinge that made my skin tingle.
I managed a laugh, but it was hollow, even for me. "Something like that," I murmured, my speech slurred slightly.
He stepped in too close, his perfume strong and overbearing. "Mind if I join you?" His eyes never left mine; they were too keen and acute. Alarm bells went off in the back of my head, but the drink drowned them out. I nodded, not trusting my ability to talk.
"I'm Jackson," he replied, giving a hand that I unwillingly accepted. His hold was solid, almost too firm, as he drew me to the dance floor. "Sophia," I said quietly, my voice barely audible above the throbbing sound.
My ideas were dispersed and slipped away like sand through my fingers. But I still felt something-an anxiety crawling up my spine, warning me as my body followed him. I tried to resist, but the wine was drawing me down, dulling everything except his presence.
The music changed to a slower tempo, and Jackson drew me closer, sliding his arm around my waist. The contact was not comfortable; it felt possessive, as if he was holding me in place. "Relax," he said softly, his breath hot against my ear. "You're fine." But I wasn't okay.
The warmth of his hand pushed against the small of my back sent a shiver down my spine, and for a second, I wanted to shove him away. I should. I knew I should. But my limbs felt heavy and reluctant, and the wine made it easy to simply go along.
"I'm not used to this," I admitted, hoping to shrug it off, but my voice cracked. I was too tired and exhausted to fight it. Maybe it was just easier to delegate control for a while.
"I can tell," Jackson muttered, his hand moving lower and tighter. My breath caught, and I attempted to pull back, but his arm held me steady, and his smile never wavered.
My thoughts shouted at me, telling me there was something wrong and that I needed to stop this. But it felt like I was locked inside my own body, a puppet with tangled strings. I didn't have control anymore. Perhaps I didn't want to be. Maybe I was just tired of battling. Too tired of failure.
The lights darkened more, and the music settled into a slow, pulsating beat. Jackson's eyes glittered in the dim light, and his hand slid up, fingers brushing against my arm in a way that made my skin crawl. "You need to loosen up," he whispered quietly, drawing me closer and tightening his hold again.
No. The word rang in my head, but my mouth wouldn't say it. My legs felt like lead, and my mind were a blur. I needed to say something and move, but I couldn't. It was easier to let him lead me, to fall into the haze rather than fight my way out.
"I think I need to sit down," I murmured as the room spun again. I tried to back away, but Jackson's grip remained tight. "You're fine," he said, his tone firm and almost authoritative. "Just a little more."
Something chilly curled in my stomach, yet my limbs did not react. I wanted to run, scream, but my body was betraying me, the alcohol binding me to this spot. Before I knew it, Jackson was bringing me to the door, his arm still tight around my waist.
As we reached the threshold, my vision clouded, and the room's borders faded. The chilly air from the corridor hit me like a slap, but it wasn't enough to clear the cloud. My heart raced, each beat a warning I couldn't ignore.
The elevator doors swung shut behind us, trapping me inside alongside him. And all of a sudden, the weight of my decisions, everything I had let slide away, came crashing down around me.
I was in, over my head. There was no way out.
Alexander Brookes was once a rising star in the competitive world of business, until the love of his life, Alessia , left for Paris, crushing his hopes. Diverting into depression and frequent drunkenness, he gave in to his father's opinion , marrying Camilla-a woman he hardly knows-in a loveless arrangement intended to save his reputation. For three years, their marriage has been frigid, but when Alessia unexpectedly returns, Alex's addiction reignites, blinding him to the love that has gradually built between him and Camilla. Camilla realizes she is pregnant, a secret that might change everything, just as their lives cross paths again. As Alex battles his problems and accepts the consequences of his decisions, Alessia's envy leads to a catastrophic kidnapping of Camilla's child, forcing him and Camilla to collaborate. In a high-stakes game of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, will Alex find the courage to recover his life and become the father and partner they deserve? AFTER MY EX-WIFE is a story of second chance, tenacity, and enduring family relationships, demonstrating that sometimes the way to love is paved with heartache.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
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.
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!"
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.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!