Blurb: It was out of a nightmare, a betrayal of the highest order. Damien's, hair was disheveled, his body entwined with another woman, they were both naked and slick with sweat. The intimacy of it was unmistakable, the mingling of their breaths, a moment never to be seen. "What the hell?!" Damien's voice finally boomed within the breaking, suffocating silence. Assuring herself that she was no longer alone, the woman tried to cover her body as she struggled to do so. There was a flicker of panic in her eyes. "Get the hell out of here!" he roared, his face twisted in anger. Noah Miller's life took a tumultuous turn after Mr. Miller's sudden demise, forcing her to form an unexpected alliance with the Andersons, long-time rivals. This unconventional alliance is a result of a contract marriage, despite Noah's heart still belonging to her first love, who was presumed dead after a failed kidney transplant two years ago. Will Noah be able to navigate the complexities of her new life with the Andersons and her husband, or will the sudden reappearance of her supposedly deceased first love alter the course of her life once again?
Noah's fingers ran through the edge of the documents in front of her, hands pausing on the smooth paper as if trying to carry its weight. She had been staring at the same pages for what felt like hours. The words came in and out of focus before her eyes, a mixture of legal terms and conditions that would change everything. Her late father's office, once a place of comfort, felt different now. The rich, dark wood of the desk, the leather chairs, the shelves lined with books, everything seemed to close in on her.
Sebastian stood by the window, his arms crossed, his face a mix of concern and frustration. The afternoon sunlight was in, causing a long shadow across the room. He sighed, breaking the silence that was between them.
"We could still go with Len's offer," he said, his voice laced with doubt, almost pleading. "Selling off might be easier."
Noah lifted her gaze from the papers, meeting her brother's worried expression. Her chest tightened. She uncrossed her legs and leaned back in the chair, the leather lay softly beneath her. "This is the best option, Seb." The words left her mouth with more force than she intended. "We have to save the company. Dad would've done the same."
Though her words were meant to ease her brother's guilt, he wished he could do more and not just watch his older sister sell off her happiness and possibly her freedom as well. She wasn't sure if her father would be proud of her for making this choice.
Sebastian's shoulders fell as he looked at her, his mouth open slightly like he wanted to argue but couldn't find the words. He ran a hand through his hair, a sigh leaving his lips. "I just- I wish there was another way."
Sebastian picked up the phone on the desk and dialed. "Mrs. Elena, can you have Mr. David prepare the car? We're leaving in ten minutes."
Noah's heart pounded in her chest, a steady beat that matched the ticking clock on the wall. The meeting with Damien Anderson was ahead like a storm cloud on the horizon. She could almost feel the temperature l of the room where the contract would be signed, the tension that would fill the space between them.
As they left the office, Sebastian's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering. "Yes, this is Sebastian. I understand, sir... Tomorrow was the plan, but- Yes, I'll be there in an hour. Thank you."
Noah watched as her brother's face change from surprise to frustrated . "What's going on?" she asked, even though she could already sense the answer.
"My professor needs my thesis today," Sebastian replied, his voice tight with apology. "He came back early, and if I don't hand it in, I'll miss the deadline."
Her heart sank. The prospect of facing Damien alone was discouraging. She wanted to tell her brother to stay, to help her ease the burden. But instead, she nodded, offering him a reassuring smile she didn't feel. "Go. You need to finish school. I'll be fine."
Sebastian hesitated, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. "Are you sure?"
"I can handle it," Noah said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Don't worry about me."
He left reluctantly, the sound of his footsteps echoed down the hallway as he hurried to his car. Noah stood alone in front of the elevator, the weight of the upcoming meeting on her mind.
Memories of her past encounters with Damien flickered through her mind, each one a reminder of how different they were-different in principles, in business, in everything.
The ride to Anderson Enterprise was a fast one, the cityscape sliding by in a mixture of steel and glass. Noah's thoughts were all over the place as she tried to predict how the meeting would go. Damien Anderson was as enigmatic as he was powerful, and the idea of aligning her family's future with his felt like stepping into a minefield.
Is everything alright, ma'am?" Mr. David's voice cut through her thoughts as they pulled up in front of the towering Anderson building.
Noah blinked, pulling herself back to the present. "Yes," she said, though the word felt empty.
Then as she stepped out of the car, its sleek glass reflected the cloudy sky. It was a testament to the Anderson family's wealth and ambition, a stark contrast to the warmth of her father's company. She squared her shoulders, forcing herself admired the architectural work, though the pit in her stomach remained.
Inside, the receptionist greeted her with a warm smile, the kind of practiced politeness that always comes with the job. "Welcome to Anderson Enterprise, Miss Miller."
Noah returned the smile, though hers didn't quite reach her eyes. She followed a young man to the elevator, her heels clicking against the tilled floor. Everything about this place screamed power and value, from the clean surfaces to the perfectly arranged furniture.
As the elevator ascended, she tried to slow her breathing. The ding of the elevator doors opening did pull her back to reality. The young man led her down a long, quiet corridor to a set of double doors. He paused, turning to her with a nod. "He's been expecting you."
Noah stood outside Damien's office, staring at the dark wood doors that separated her from the man who could change the course of her life. She took a moment to adjust her black dress, fingers shook a little as she smoothed the fabric. This was it. The moment she'd been anticipating with fear and preparing for in equal measure.
With a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked. The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, followed by a pause that seemed to extend on forever.
Then, a voice-low, commanding-called from within. "Come in."
Laura thought she had died as the last thing she remembers was the one guy she had loved, staring at her with hatred in his eyes and a dagger to her chest, only to wake up two years before, when he hadn't shown her his true colors. The moon goddess had given her another chance, and that she was grateful for it. In her past life, she had made mistakes by being too kind and naive and trusting those who she shouldn't have. She had been betrayed and hurt, and lost everything she had, including her life; but with this second chance, she swears to get revenge on those evil people, including her self-acclaimed bestie, Sonia, and the so-called love of her life, Alex. Knowing everything this time around, she came with her revenge serving cold. The only thing she didn't expect was that her true mate was the man she had least expected, especially one who she had hurt in her past life. Would she be able to get her revenge with the second chance granted to her by the moon goddess? or will she fail and become a blood-tasty rogue?
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.”
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
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!”