After serving three years for a crime I didn't commit, I discovered the devastating truth on my release day: Chase Grayson, my husband, had divorced and betrayed me, marrying my younger sister. Worse still, he sold me to Axel Blackwood, a powerful and feared stranger. Heartbroken and trapped in Axel's world of secrets and lies, I faced a new prison that threatened to consume me.
AVERY'S POV:
Today was the day. The day everything I'd sacrificed for-three years of isolation, shame, and clinging to hope-would finally be worth it. Today, Chase and I will be together again. I'd imagined it a thousand times, practically willed it into existence. He'd be there waiting, holding roses, his face soft and full of the love I'd convinced myself still lived beneath the hurt and resentment. It had to be there. He would be my reward for enduring it all.
The warden's voice cut through the waiting room. "Mrs. Avery Grayson!" Her voice loudly pulled me back from my daze.
"That's me," I blurted, jumping to my feet, my heart doing a little twirl dance. Today was the day I left behind everything-the concrete walls, the metal bars, the fluorescent lights, and that dull ache that had taken residence in my bones. I'd already showered, fixed my hair, and even put on a little makeup that one of the guards had snuck me. I wanted to look perfect. He'd appreciate the effort; he'd see that I'd held on, stayed loyal, kept the faith, kept my mouth shut. Even when it hurt. Even when he was the one making it hurt.
The warden held out a plain brown envelope, her eyes avoiding mine. My pulse quickened. It had to be something from Chase-a message, a keepsake, something personal to remind me that he hadn't forgotten me.
Eagerly, I tore open the envelope, the anticipation nearly buzzing through me. But when I finally pulled out its contents, they slipped through my fingers, fluttering to the floor like dead leaves.
Divorce papers.
And beneath them, another piece of thick, ivory card. A wedding invitation.
Chase Grayson and Astrid Russell.
That had to be a coincidence. Right? That the name on the invitation was the same as that of my sister's.
My younger sister. My flesh and blood.
I stared at the papers, willing the words to change, to mean something else. This had to be a sick joke. Chase was getting remarried? And to Astrid, of all people? No, no, this wasn't real. My chest felt tight, my pulse hammering through every vein.
"Avery Grayson," a guard's voice cut in, jolting me. "You're free to go."
Clutching the papers, I barely noticed the small bag they handed me with the few belongings I'd kept here. I bolted towards the gate, trying so hard to make meaning of everything.
Chase was waiting for me-he had to be. This was some misunderstanding, something that would be cleared up the moment I saw him. He wouldn't betray me. Not like this. He'd hurt me, yes-hurt me in every way a man could hurt a woman-but he'd never leave me. Chase had promised that he'd change. He'd written me letters, sent me small gifts. He wouldn't just... abandon me.
But as I stepped out into the bright, unkind light of freedom, reality hit me like a slap. There was no one there. No Chase. No flowers. Just a black SUV idling by the curb, windows tinted so dark I couldn't see inside.
A man in a crisp black suit approached, his expression unreadable behind sunglasses. He extended a gloved hand. "Mrs. Blackwood."
For a second, I thought he must be mistaking me for someone else. Maybe Chase sent one of his security guys to come pick me up since he couldn't come himself.
"Excuse me," I said, forcing a polite smile. "I'm Mrs. Grayson. I think you're expecting someone else."
His jaw tightened, and he held out a gloved hand as if to relieve me of my bag. "No, ma'am. I've come on behalf of Mr. Axel Blackwood. He's sent me to bring you home."
I almost laughed, the absurdity of it all washing over me in waves. "Look, I don't know what kind of joke this is, but I'm not Mrs. Blackwood. I'm Mrs. Grayson." My voice cracked a little, but I pushed on. "You're waiting for the wrong person."
"No, Mrs. Blackwood," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I am Mr. Blackwood's second-in-command. My name is Ryan Dren. My orders are to escort you to your new husband and your new home." His voice was cold and precise, as if he were reading from a script.
I looked around, half-expecting someone to jump out with a camera and yell, "Gotcha!" But the parking lot was empty, save for me and this suited stranger. Panic started to bubble up, prickling under my skin. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't how my story was supposed to end. I'd served my time. I'd sacrificed myself for Chase. I'd given up everything, and now... now I was being told I belonged to someone else?
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "You're wrong. Chase is coming. There's just been a misunderstanding.i have no idea who Mr. Blackwood or Whiteboard is. I've never heard of the name. And, I'm definitely married to Chase Grayson. No one else."
Ryan's expression didn't change, his face hard and impassive as stone. "If you'll come with me, ma'am," he said, his grip on my arm firm but not rough, steering me towards the SUV.
"I'm not going with you!" I pulled back, panic taking over as I tried to wrestle my arm free. But Ryan's hand was like a vice, unyielding. My breaths came quicker, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. "Let me go! Chase is coming, I know he is!"
"Mrs. Blackwood," Ryan's voice was low, warning. "I suggest you calm down."
At that moment, I knew I had no choice. My heart sank as he opened the car door and nudged me inside. The doors locked with a mechanical click, and the dark-tinted glass shut out the world.
We were driving before I even realized it. The city flashed in blurs and streaks, and all I could do was sit there, numbly staring at my trembling hands. But as Ryan's focus shifted momentarily to the road ahead, I saw my chance.
I threw myself against the door handle and stumbled into the street, nearly falling. Shouts erupted from the SUV, but I didn't look back. I just ran, feet hitting the pavement as I headed toward the only place that could make sense of this nightmare.
When I finally reached the Grayson mansion, my breath came in ragged gasps. And there, strung across the front entrance, were satin ribbons and elegant white lilies. Wedding decorations.
Inside, soft music and laughter drifted through the air. Guests moved about, dressed in formal clothes, oblivious to the storm raging inside me.
Indeed, there was a celebration going on, but not for me.
When billionaire CEO Ethan Asher hires the brilliant but unassuming Brandon Nate Daniel as his new Personal Assistant, neither expects a casual dare to ignite a passionate romance. As playful flirtations turn into undeniable passion, Ethan and Brandon find themselves entangled in a steamy, forbidden relationship that threatens to unravel their carefully constructed lives. With secrets surfacing and office politics heating up, they must decide if their love is worth risking everything.
"Part those legs for me, you little whore," Miles whispered in Meredith's ear. He entered a finger into her throbbing member before adding a second one. "You'll be the death of me, Miles," she moaned. "No, Meredith, you'll be the death of me. I never wanted to own something so badly until I met you. Now, I want to own every inch of your beautiful body." - The story of a girl who lost all hope when her long-time boyfriend decided to end things. She is subjected to taking care of a billionaire who underwent a heart transplant. Their encounter started as a whirlwind of chaos and hate for each other. Slowly, they began to fall in love until they couldn't deny their feelings. However, Meredith was in search of her missing brother she needed answers to his disappearance. Miles and Meredith's relationship is entwined and one of the soulmates. One holds the answers to so many unanswered questions. - Note: Don't forget to like, share and comment if you love the story.
Clyde stared at the young girl lying on the bed. His eyes lingered on her legs, dark bruises and cuts appearing all over her creamy skin. He didn't know what had caused her to do such a stupid thing, but he knew she was desperate for something. So desperate that she could risk her life. He didn't know what it was about, but he wondered if it was worth risking her life. She was pretty enough to be wanted
Freya Parrish was orphaned at age three by her family's rival pack, which forcefully took power from the Blue Moon Pack, murdering everyone except 'lucky Freya.' After the death of everyone in her pack, Freya was supposed to be the ruling Omega being the only survivor, but she suffered from amnesia, leaving Alpha Hero Ian at advantage. The Omegas were never seen as worthy or relevant. They were the bitches and their pack was the most fragile. This implicated anyone from their pack because their hate came naturally. Alpha Hero Ian turned Freya into a slave for his pack, the Blood Moon Pack. For some reason, everyone felt intimidated by Freya, even though she was fragile. This led to everyone to hate and maltreat her, including the Alpha's rude and spoilt son, Dante Ian. As the governing rule of the Blood Moon Pack states, 'All slaves must be set free on their eighteenth birthday,' Freya got sent far away into the human world without any orientation or shelter. Dante on his path took over as the Alpha after the death of his father. For him to become true after, he must also bond with his mate. Desperate to make his pack whole, he goes searching for his mate, which was no other than the girl who hates even the air that he breathes. Despite all the ugliness, is there a chance for Freya and Dante to put their past and differences aside for both packs? Being the only survivor, Freya needs to bear the child of a true Alpha to avoid the extinction of the Blue Moon Pack. “Forgiveness is a pricey pearl that cannot be handed out with ease. It takes more than love and mate bond to win this battle.”
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
To exact revenge on her treacherous fiancé, Yvonne enticed Clayton into a liaison that promised advantages for both. Yet, when Yvonne spotted a woman resembling her at Clayton’s side, she recognized she was nothing more than a substitute. Discovering Clayton’s upcoming wedding, she departed with a generous severance sum. “Clayton, this is truly the end,” she declared resolutely. On the very day Yvonne was set to marry someone else, Clayton showed up, desperation clear in his eyes as he dropped to his knees. “Yvonne, please, don’t go through with it. Don’t marry him.”
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
After a devastating divorce with the man she had been married to for over three years, Rachel thought her life was over. Her family disowned her, they wanted nothing to do with her anymore and she couldn't blame them. She had just divorced David Hart, one of the top successful bachelors in the country and heir to the Hart industries. But they would never understand that she didn't divorce him, he divorced her after she caught him cheating on her with her god-damned best friend! Rachel was just about to end everything by jumping off a bridge when she was saved by the most unexpected person. The boy she once bullied severally in highschool because he always wore ugly glass and was from a poor background, how come that glass make him so hot now? Why was he helping her get revenge on ex-husband who is trying to make her life even more miserable? And most important how did he get so handsome? What exactly does he want from her? ... No, you must want something, anything. If you can really help me get revenge on David and Lana, I can't just let you do it for free". Ethan went quiet for a while. I held my breath waiting for what his request might be. If it was something money could buy, I'll try my best to get it for him even though I was somehow broke right now. "You're right I do want something". He said after thinking for few minutes "What?" I asked slowly. " Until you get your revenge on David, Lana and every other person you want, you will live here". Live here as in...? " Wha... What are you saying? ". I stammered hoping he wasn't saying what I thought he was saying. I tried to step back but I missed a step and almost fell on the bed but Ethan caught me holding me in his muscular arms. Ethan moved his face closer to mine be was so close, our nose almost touched. " I want you to be with me! ".
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"