JUST ONE RECORDED NIGHTSTAND WITH A STRANGER.. was all Adeline intended in using as a scandal for her arranged wedding to be called off.. However, fate had other plans.. She ended up getting pregnant for the stranger whom she already parted ways with.. Years later,Just when she resigned herself to solo parenthood, she meets her baby's father who now has no memories of her nor the nightstand.. But that's not the worst of it.. He turned out to be the lover her ruthless female boss was always talking about.. Passion re-ignites.. Secrets explode.. Rivalry intensifies.. Hatred darkens and Adeline's tangled emotions mirror the chaos.. Can love's complexity surpass this?..
•CHAPTER ONE•
A wedding to undo..
Thump.. Thump.. Thump..
My heart pounded wildly as a crippling horror overwhelmed me like a cold flu. Trembling hands portrayed my shock and a headache from nowhere intensified the distress in me..
What is more nightmarish than having a shocking discovery exactly three days to your wedding?..
'Project Elysium relies on Adeline's DNA. Her rare gene is suitable for the creation of the apocalypse serum. All that remains is extracting her blood..'
Those lines in the letter I was holding echoed in my head like it had been read out to me..
I couldn't help being breathless..
"My arranged wedding is solely to satisfy the selfish intentions of my father in-law!!" I screamed inwardly in both horror and shock..
I knew my father in-law, Gerald Bills was a genetic engineer but... using my blood for the creation of an apocalypse serum?!!
"My life is at risk!" I mumbled breathlessly as the words he said to me a few weeks ago echoed in my head..
"My son, Xander, would be returning to California on the agreed wedding date and you'll be meeting him at the altar.."
I really thought I'd experienced the worst thing when my father betrothed me to a man I haven't even met before, but what is this realization compared to the betrothal?!..
"Adele?.." I heard a familiar voice say from the door and I quickly slipped the paper into my pockets, turning towards the door quickly.
As expected, Jemimah walked in. She was my betrothed fiance's younger sister and was used to shortening my name.
Was she aware of her father's plans too?...
"Hi Jemimah.."
"Dad informed me of your presence when I called" she said and with a forced smile, I nodded.
"Yeah. I came to give him the bill of expenses drafted by the event planner and since he wasn't home, he asked me to drop it in the letter box in his study room" I explained, trying my best not to show the hatred I'd now grown for their family in the last one minute.
"Oh, okay. I need to show you something" she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out of the room.
"Your shoes got delivered already and you need to try them on" she said as we walked towards the ballroom located at the end of the lobby..
"Oh Adeline, all thanks to your curiosity to know what's written in the hundreds of letters in that box, else you wouldn't have known this!" A voice in me winced and I pressed my lips together.
"Dad had been so careless to arrange a wedding for me to marry a devil's son. This wedding mustn't be held!I can't lose my life to some deadly creation that's even dangerous to the world!" I thought.
"Zara heels as demanded.." Jemimah smiled as she pulled me to a seat in the room, unsealing the shoe box.
The shoe fitted me perfectly but I didn't like it a single bit, certainly because of my new discovery.
"You'll surely make a good bride Adele" she smiled, staring at the elegance of the shoes in my feet.
"Of course but definitely not to your brother or family," I replied within me.
"I need to get going now, I have to meet the fashion designer to wear my dress and confirm its fitting before the designs are being finalized" I said, getting up and pulling off the shoes.
"Oh dear, I would have loved to come with you but I haven't made dad's meal yet and you know the maids don't make his meals" she said and I nodded.
"It's fine, no qualms" my response contrasted with the 'I don't want your company, either' on my mind.
I left their house after forcing myself to give her a warm embrace and on getting to the parking lot, I wasted no time in driving out immediately.
My heart didn't for a second stop racing and I could feel my body shivering lightly at the dread the discovery gave..
How could Gerald be this cruel?!..
My best friend's call came in before I could dial her number and without hesitation, I swiped green..
"Babe?" I called in a questioning tone on hearing her sniffs.
"You aren't crying, are you?" I asked, driving with one hand like a pro.
"Frank is preparing to send me divorce papers" she said, crying out loud and I gasped immediately, forgetting my own problems for a minute.
"What? Why?" I questioned all at once.
For crying out loud, she got married just six months ago!
"He got pictures of my intimacy with a man" she said and I gasped again
"What?!"
"I was drugged I swear" she sobbed.
"When I got sane, I met myself naked but with no one around and when Frank came home, he showed me the pictures of all I senselessly did with the strange man. My marriage is about to be dissolved, Adeline. It was a set up!" she cried.
Her words sparked something within me at that instant..
"Pictures of her intimacy with a stranger could ruin her marriage?" I found myself saying in a whisper.
And immediately, an epiphany struck, causing my eyes to widen..
"I can literally sabotage my wedding too!" I gasped.
"Huh?.." I heard her voice but I wasn't even bothered by her words, all I was focused on was the idea in my mind..
"All I need to do is to fabricate similar evidence and find a way to send it to my so-called fiance who has never even bothered to communicate when I didn't, then this whole wedding is canceled.. " I thought.
Perfect!
"..after all, we haven't met nor grown feelings yet, all I did was to obey my dad by agreeing to the betrothal since I had no love life and because I wanted my marriage to improve my family's financial status." I thought again.
"Adeline, aren't you going to say anything" her words snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Oh.. uhn.. I'm sorry, I –" my stutter was interrupted by a sudden jolt that made my heart sink.
"Damn!" I cussed, throwing off my phone immediately without even ending the call.
I turned off the car engine and opened the car without hesitation, alighting quickly.
I'd been so distracted by my thoughts that I didn't notice myself driving out of my lane until I bumped into someone's car.
"Are you nuts!" a young guy cussed as he alighted from the black sedan car which I'd just bumped into..
I sighed, realizing the effect of the bumping. It was a glaring scratch on the car's pristine surface and the destruction of its full light bulb.
"I'm sorry, I was so distracted and –"
"So distracted that you stupidly moved out of your lane?" The tall guy interrupted and I rolled my eyes.
What the hell!
"I'm not stupid, okay?" I replied, scoffing at nature's decision to bless such an arrogant guy with such cuteness.
Other road users fixed their gazes on us and made me feel embarrassed.
"So what? You're dumb?!" he scoffed and I instantly got pissed.
"I just apologized, what more do you want huh? Stop raining insults like they are anthems!" I retorted, scowling at him and he scoffed again.
"Do you realize that you just ruined my car? Huh!" he yelled and I sighed.
"And I said sorry, what else should I do!" I raised my voice too. I wasn't a fan of arrogant men so his personality annoyed me.
"Pay for a new one" he replied quickly, almost interrupting.
I raised my brows.
"Buy you a new car?" I asked to be sure I hadn't heard him wrongly.
"You heard me," he replied with an unfriendly expression.
I scoffed for the third time. Was he insane?
"Where the hell am I supposed to get that kind of money from? I'm even still paying my car's debt!" I said and he smirked.
"Does it look like I care? When you knew how weak your financial strength is, why didn't you drive like a normal person?" he bluntly spoke again.
"A mistake Mr. Arrogant, M I S T A K E!" I spelt.
"I can only afford to pay for its repair, I only damaged the front part, not the whole car, okay!" I added without any hint of soberness. He didn't deserve any bit of it after all.
"I demand for a new car, you can have this if you want" he said, pointing to his car.
I sighed frustratingly.
"I thought the number of mad people in the country had reduced already, why does he still exist?" I mumbled.
"I don't have such money" I said simply.
"Then sell off every valuables you have to pay" he raised his voice for the umpteenth time this evening..
"I can't sell my properties because of you," I said firmly.
"Then pay with a service, just do something!" he replied and I raised my brows immediately.
'A service?'
"Does he mean a nightstand?" I thought, remembering that men usually termed it that way.
Wait..
I gasped.
"Is this an opportunity from the heavens to get some pictures to sabotage my wedding?" I thought, widening my eyes even more.
Oh my..
"Do you do virgins 'cause I'm still one?" I jolted out of my thoughts and I saw his eyes widen.
His expression meant two things..
"Are you – " he scoffed. He didn't speak loudly nor yell this time.
"I'm talking about you working for me for a particular period of time" he said, clarifying his previous statement.
I bit my lip, mouthing an 'ohh'
"No Adele, you can't let this opportunity slide, you should use him for the scandal" a voice in me whispered.
I breathed..
"I can always satisfy your sexual desires. I'm fine with whatever number of rounds you demand for, that's the only service I can render"my lips moved before I could realize.
He stared at me speechlessly and feeling satisfied with his silence, I smirked.
"I'll take your silence as a Yes" I said, trying not to be ashamed.
Silence.
..and with that, I spoke again.
"Royal hotels, 8pm tonight. I'll be waiting at the reception"
•BLURB• My sole intention was to sabotage my arranged marriage by sparking a scandal. I slept with someone to make this work, expecting no consequences. However, fate had other plans.. I realized I was pregnant after we already parted ways. Years later, just when I resigned myself to solo parenthood, my paths crossed with his again but this time, he had no memories of me nor that night.. The twist? He's the lover my ruthless female boss has always been talking about. What's this crack in my heart?.. These butterflies in my belly whenever we meet?.. I have his baby, but he's getting married soon! Can love's complexity surpass this?..
Claire Fanie believed she and Jona Harrow were soulmates, destined to be together as the Luna and alpha of their pack. They represented hope and unity, meant to lead people towards strength and harmony. Everything changes in a moment. Then Jona rejects her love and breaks her forever, destroying Claire's world to pieces. Claire has been betrayed by the one she loved, and her best friend, Laura Jossie, and now finds herself in the wild, where she must battle her greatest fears alone. Free from her identity, by night and day she must wrestle with the darkness that threatens to swallow her spirit; she'll survive the brutal elements for eleven days. Wild beasts and the haunting echoes of her past test her resilience every day. The girl who had once so desperately wanted to be accepted becomes a fierce survivor. When she returns to the village, Claire isn't who she used to be, not just in appearance, but in the way she acts. She's been hardened by the trials in the wild and hardened her - scars visible and hidden. The home she returns to, however, is no longer welcoming. People hear whispers about her and rumors, and they poison the minds of those who used to be her family. Claire thinks she might get away, but it soon begins to unravel the truth and there are lies and betrayal at the core of it all. As she confronts the reality of her shattered relationships, she faces a pivotal question: will the weight of her past devour her completely, or will she regain her fate and the love she once believed to be set in her past? This is the story of Claire in a kingdom besieged by doubt, lies, and love across these lines. The lines between friend and foe are blurred, and she must learn how to truly become a Luna again. To do so, she must embrace the strength inside her first and face the darkness that lies ahead. Claire's story is all about her fascinating journey of self-discovery, love, and redemption, and every choice she makes could be for salvation or destruction.
The world of Kae Thompson shattered when Lucas Ross, who was supposed to be her true mate and future Alpha, rejected her on her 21st birthday. Kae was devastated, making decisions to leave the pack and build a new life in the city. Five years later, Kae thrives as a freelance journalist, but her werewolf nature remains dormant. Lucas, the alpha of the BloodMoon pack, appears with a revealing shocking truth. Lucas's rejection was forced by his father's dying wish, protecting her from an ancient prophecy: "The Alpha's Mate" will bring destruction or salvation". As Kae and Lucas navigate their growing feelings for each other they must confront the true meaning of the prophecy. Will Kae forgive Luca's past rejections and accept her destiny? And what secrets lie hidden in the prophecy? Will Kae's werewolf nature be her salvation or downfall? And what were the Alpha's mistakes?
In New Haven, emotions aren't just felt-they're controlled and sold. Kira, one of the city's top emotion engineers, makes her living by creating emotions for others, but her own heart feels empty. Everything changes when she crosses paths with Aether, a rebel who's determined to destroy the system that took everything from him.At first, their connection is full of hate. Kira sees Aether as a threat, and Aether blames people like Kira for turning emotions into a tool for control. But as they're forced to work together, their hatred starts to turn into something much deeper.However, in a world where feelings are manipulated, love is a dangerous thing. Kira's rival, Selene, will do anything to keep them apart, while the mysterious Puppet Master-the one pulling the strings behind New Haven's emotion trade-won't let anyone disrupt his control.Now, Kira and Aether must decide if their love can survive in a world where every emotion has a price, or if it will be shattered by the very forces they're fighting against.
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.