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?
Sorting through the mail, my fingers closed around the thick, glossy envelope that screamed wedding invitation. I passed it to my roommate,
Darla who was sipping her coffee while grumbling about men who tie up the bar, then leave lousy tips when she refuses to hand over her phone number.
"Shocking news," I told her. "Another wedding invitation." She was scheduled to be a bridesmaid in eight weddings over the summer and had been invited to another five. It was costing her a fortune. Thus, the grumpy attitude as she detailed the night from bartending hell. She'd been moonlighting to pay for all the wedding costs. Affordable bridesmaids' dresses are the thing of fairy tales, apparently. But she'd created a wedding advice blog detailing her adventures, so she was making the best of it. "Did you get invited to this many weddings when you lived in Boston?"
She sighed. "Nope. But Springfield's my hometown, so I know lots of people here. Guess they were all waiting for me to move back before they got married." Darla held out her hand and took the envelope from me. She
looked at the front of it and laughed, tossing it back to me. "Sorry, Jennie, this one's for you."
I jumped back and let it drop to the floor with a thwack. Darla didn't mind standing up in weddings because she had no plans to get married. At least that's what she told me privately. It was another story on her blog.
I, on the other hand, should've been married by now, or at least had a close call, and hated going to weddings -reminding me that at age twenty nine, I'd never had the pleasure. I didn't even have anyone I could bring as a date. All this, and I had twenty thousand dollars in a savings account my mother had left me before she died, specifically set aside to throw the
wedding of my dreams. A wedding she'd never see. So yeah, I had a few good reasons to hate weddings.
Reluctantly, I picked up the envelope, and slid out the card. A trail of fine glitter and dried rose petals spilled out. I read the invitation and groaned. "No, no, no. Not Latesha Bogart. Anyone but Latesha Bogart." I was waiting for a dove to fly out of the envelope next, the way she did things.
Darla poured herself another cup of coffee and doused it with creamer.
"What's wrong with Latesha Bogart?"
I slumped onto the stool and propped my chin in my hand. "She was my number one frenemy in high school before the word was coined.
Anything I could do, she could do better."
"Latesha Bogart. Sounds familiar." She held out her hand and I passed her the invitation. Reading over the details, she nodded. "Didn't recognize the name at first. I'm in this wedding. She's marrying my cousin."
"Your cousin the brain surgeon?" My voice squeaked.
"Pediatric brain surgeon," she clarified. "Yes. Despite the gaggle of models and lawyers and beauty pageant queens following him, Latesha Bogart won the game."
I whimpered. "Why? Why her?"
"You haven't seen her in a while I take it."
I shook my head.
"She's gorgeous, her father's loaded, and she apparently does things in bed that are illegal in some states." Darla shrugged. "My cousin's a talker when he's drunk."
"She's also a natural blonde with a supermodel figure and the prettiest teeth I've ever seen." I stomped my foot. "Why isn't life fair?"
Darla shrugged. "So don't go."
"She'll think my life is so miserable I'm ashamed to show up."
Darla tucked her hair behind her ears, showing off the new blue streak she'd added after moving back home. Some people get tattoos to mark life milestones, Darla changes her hair. "But isn't it true? You were just telling me your dating life is so slow that you only shave your legs once a week."
I cringed, thinking about my prickly legs. "I can't let her know that!
Besides, there should be some perks to being single, right? Not having to shave every day is one of them." I went right for my stash of emergency chocolate in the cupboard by the fridge, then settled for a cookie when I
realized the chocolate was long gone. I looked for the shopping list stuck on the fridge so I could add chocolate. But chocolate was already on the list. I grabbed the last cookie and then jotted cookies on the list.
What ties connect her past to her wedding night of a forced marriage with this stranger?
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
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.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”