Michael William was praised by everyone as the most powerful Lycan King. However, with his extraordinary appearance and talents, he could not avoid the sympathy and suspicion from others. He was not only adept at ruling but also possessed a cold, ruthless, and cruel nature when necessary. Due to a misunderstanding, he once decided to kidnap Zoey Anderson, a weak and delicate maiden in the palace. Although she always tried to escape from his grasp and endured torture, her life became more tragic than ever under such a cruel ruler. But despite the suffering and abuse, there was something strange-why did her presence touch the heart of anyone, even just a little, causing them pain? While the falling petals had meaning, the compassionate heart of a powerful king was shattered by her. So, could his heart ever be mended after all of this?
Zoey's POV:
- "Zoey, promise me you'll return in five hours, okay?"
Liam Anderson looked at me anxiously, continuously giving me all sorts of instructions.
I listened and nodded repeatedly, not forgetting to adjust my belongings one last time for assurance.
He always treated me like a little girl, even though I had just turned 17 this year.
Our parents had passed away after the devastating flood that swept through recently, leaving only the two of us to rely on each other to survive.
The town of Jollibee had become much more desolate than before, its few residents living quietly like soulless bodies.
Poverty had shrouded the countryside for decades.
Liam would regularly make trips to the capital city every seven days to work as a helper in various eateries.
They only paid a few coins a day, but it was enough to cover the daily meals for the two of us.
Since I was young, I had learned a bit of medicine from my father, so I would go to the forest every morning to look for new herbs and return by dusk.
Over time, I managed to gather a decent amount of herbs, which could be sold for a few dozen coins.
Thinking it through, today I decided to take my basket and head to the capital.
Liam was still very worried, believing that for a frail young girl like me, who couldn't even tie up a chicken, traveling to the capital was extremely difficult.
I just chuckled, patted my chest confidently, and reassured him:
- I promise I'll come back safe and sound for you, alright?
With that, I turned, grabbed the carefully wrapped basket of herbs, and quickly headed to the door.
Suddenly, Liam grabbed my hand, looked at me thoughtfully, and said:
~ It would be best if you disguised yourself as a boy for my peace of mind.
The capital is a complicated place, full of all kinds of people. If you go there as you are now, trouble is bound to find you if you're unlucky.
Realizing he was right and wanting to put Liam at ease, I returned to the room, tied my hair up high, and put on Liam's clothes.
Only then did he smile in satisfaction.
After saying goodbye, I eagerly set off for the capital.
Since I was little, I had only visited the capital twice when I was four.
Back then, my father also went to the capital to sell herbs, and after much pleading and crying, he finally let me go with him.
The bustling, crowded, and beautiful capital was in stark contrast to our remote, desolate town of Jollibee, making me incredibly excited.
I loved the big, round, sweet candied fruit skewers the most, and I wondered if, after all these years, they still tasted the same as they did back then.
The surrounding scenery was fresh, and the earthy smell occasionally hit my nose, making me sneeze several times.
The path to the capital passed through a dense, damp forest.
I was a bit scared but quickly pulled myself together.
Few people ventured into this forest because it had few medicinal plants but countless bugs.
If one happened to be bitten, their body would be covered in itchy rashes.
Following the forest trail, I picked up a branch from the edge to use as a walking stick to prevent slipping.
The morning dew made the path slippery, and the moss-covered ground was even harder to navigate.
Occasionally, I came across faint footprints-could they be Liam's? Thinking of Liam made me smile.
At this moment, he was probably worrying about me.
When I return, I'll buy him a new pair of shoes; his daily-worn cloth shoes were worn out at the heels.
He would surely be very happy.
Sitting by the edge of the forest to rest for a while, I suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves.
I glanced around-was someone else here? The sound of hooves grew closer, so I hurriedly hid in a dense bush nearby.
A moment later, more than a dozen men appeared, chasing one another.
They all wielded sharp swords, some with blood dripping from them, their eyes fierce and darting around as if searching for something.
I clapped a hand over my mouth, my body trembling, trying to stay as silent as possible, while my mind kept lamenting: "The heavens are so cruel to me!"
The man at the head of the group, whom I assumed was the leader because he wore different armor from the others and exuded an aura of authority, had sharp, cold eyes that were as icy as they were cunning. A strange red mole marked the center of his forehead.
He spoke in a deep, hoarse voice:
~ Bring him out here!
Immediately, another man grabbed a black-clad man by the collar and threw him to the ground at the leader's feet.
The man was terrified, clasping his hands repeatedly, drenched in sweat, pleading desperately:
- Prince...! Spare me, please...! I beg you...!
The prince smirked mockingly:
- You conspired with the Empress Dowager to plot behind my back, and you think I would spare one of her lackeys?
Then, with a wave of his hand, the pitiful man was killed instantly with a single slash.
I was truly horrified; it was the first time I had witnessed such a gruesome scene in my life.
This forest was desolate, yet they had dragged the man here to kill him, proving they wanted to keep the matter absolutely secret.
I just wanted to get out of there as fast as I could; if they discovered I was there, they would surely kill me to silence me.
"Rustle, rustle!" I turned toward the sound coming from beside me and saw a large snake, which had somehow appeared, with its mouth open and ready to strike.
I screamed loudly and leaped out of the bush where I had been hiding.
The group of cruel men turned to me in shock, their eyes burning with anger.
Unlucky.
Because I moved too abruptly, the cloth tying my hair slipped off, causing my hair to fall loose.
I stepped backward while keeping my eyes on them.
The sharp, piercing eyes of the prince fixed on me, as if he intended to crush me.
Zoey, oh Zoey, you're in deep trouble now!
I didn't have time to think; the only option was to run. Using all my strength, I sprinted away as fast as I could to escape.
Contrary to what I expected, there were no sounds of horses following me.
What I didn't know was that he didn't chase after me because, from that moment, he was certain I would never be able to escape him.
Not for the rest of my life.
The event just now left me utterly terrified, but fortunately, I managed to get away.
Once out of the forest, I tied my hair back up, straightened my clothes, and headed into the capital.
The crowd grew thicker, people jostling one another more and more.
I carried my basket of herbs, happily making my way to the city gates.
A few guards were already stationed there for inspections.
They lifted my basket, checked it thoroughly, then handed it back to me.
Once inside the city, I looked around in awe.
Carts moved slowly along the road carrying goods, while the cries of street vendors calling for customers occasionally rang out.
I searched for a place selling candied fruit skewers.
Oh, how I craved them.
With one in my mouth, joy filled my heart, a feeling so strange and wonderful.
- Umm, madam, may I ask, is there a place in this market that buys herbs?
I asked a young woman who was engrossed in picking out fabrics nearby.
The woman, with a lovely face, smiled warmly and pointed to the end of the market:
- At the end of the market is Beta Thomas's pharmacy.
Otis and Mei had known each other since college but broke up before graduating. Both of them ran off to places thousands of miles apart, thinking they would never cross paths again. Yet, fate had other plans, and they ended up becoming roommates. The moment Otis pushed the door open and saw Mei sitting on the sofa, he froze. "You look like my ex-girlfriend." Mei immediately jumped up, stomping her foot in frustration. "I am your ex-girlfriend!!!"
1. Ophelia always believed she would be with Finnian. At the age of eight, they became step-siblings and faced the hardest times of their lives together. Finnian once promised, "Ophelia, wait for me to succeed, and I will marry you." But on her birthday, he publicly announced his relationship with the famous actress, Eamon. 2. The man she had waited for all these years found someone new, while her family's business teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. Ophelia stood amidst the storm-not only were there those waiting to see her fail, but others with malicious intentions biding their time to strike. But what everyone expected didn't happen. Instead of succumbing to despair, Ophelia stunned everyone by organizing a grand wedding that shook Selista. The Radcliffe family, the most prestigious family in Dolasiats, hosted an extravagant wedding in Selista for their beloved daughter-in-law and sole heir, Logan. In an instant, Selista became the gathering spot for more than half of Dolasiats' elites. No one could figure out which lady from Selista had such incredible fortune. When Ophelia appeared in a pristine, dazzling white wedding gown that captivated every gaze, the entire audience was stunned. Finnian, attending the wedding, dropped the wine glass he was holding. It shattered to pieces on the ground. 3. Ophelia knew full well that this marriage was not stable; it was merely a transaction of benefits and could end with each going their separate ways. But Logan had given her so much. After registering their marriage, she gradually made concessions, fulfilling his every demand. From moving in under the same roof, to sharing the same bedroom, and then... Each night, he was possessive, indulgent. She could no longer endure it. Her eyes turned red, and she trembled as she protested, "Can you restrain yourself a little?" The man leaned down, kissed her damp hair, and in a husky voice coaxed her gently at her ear, "Be good and call me husband*."
At her own engagement party, she was betrayed by her best friend, making her a laughingstock in front of everyone. With no other choice, and being a person with pride, she couldn't just walk away humiliated. So, she impulsively grabbed someone to salvage the situation. Unexpectedly, the man she happened to pull was none other than the cold and fearsome CEO of RS, someone everyone dreads to cross paths with. But she wasn't the innocent, defenseless white lotus people saw on the surface. Just wait and see-who would prove to be stronger!
Once, there was a kind-hearted young girl who saved the life of a little beggar boy. Amid hunger, bitter cold, and the overwhelming sense of despair, the girl drove away a pack of stray dogs that threatened the boy and gave him a box of chocolates she loved dearly. This simple act planted a seed that would blossom sixteen years later. The boy, now grown, returned to find the girl who had once saved him, silently protecting her in the guise of a naive, seemingly useless husband.
Calista Whitaker and Dorian Blackwood were childhood sweethearts, engaged for a long time. But just when the crucial moment approached, an unexpected twist occurred- On the day of the engagement, Dorian's affair was unexpectedly exposed. While the marriage alliance between the two families hung in the balance, a weary yet striking man appeared, his gaze both proud and leisurely, skimming over their clasped hands. Alpha Zephyr introduced him flamboyantly as another son of his. Despite his youth, he had already taken control early on and now held the lifeblood of the Blue Moon pack in his hands. As Dorian scrambled for an opportunity to explain, news of the broken engagement spread across the city, yet no one knew that Eamon Blackwood had secretly arranged a meeting with Calista. The man casually tossed her a tempting proposition: "Miss Whitaker, would you mind if the groom were to change?" -Would you like to turn this half-baked victory into a guaranteed triumph and become my accomplice?
After three years, Natalie and Nicolas divorced, and the entire Venom mocked her for being abandoned by her wealthy husband. Six years later, Natalie returned to her country with her twin children, transforming herself into an internationally renowned miracle doctor. Countless admirers pursued her, wanting to marry her. Admirer number one: "Miss Richart, do your little ones need a father? What do you think of me? If you agree, I will definitely treat them as my own." Admirer number two: "Dr. Richart, from the first moment I saw you, I was captivated by your beauty and talent. I vow to love you with all my heart for the rest of my life. CEO William didn't value you because he was blind, but I will never leave or abandon you!"
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
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!"
"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!
"Get undressed and wait for me in bed. Keep your legs open until I finish my shower," he commanded with the power of his Alpha status and as her mate. She wanted to resist. "Do you think I'm the same Luna you forced in the past? I refuse to submit to you. I won't let you touch me." He growled softly, feeling a hot desire for her. She was no longer the unattractive Luna he remembered - she was gorgeous. He wanted to devour her with his tongue. He pulled her close and pushed her onto the bed, licking the back of her ear, making her moan in pleasure. He whispered, "I won't touch your body. Just your p*ssy until you beg for more." He used to be next in line for Alpha and was under the control of his grandfather, the Alpha king. He had to accept mating with the woman he disliked the most - the daughter of one of the most powerful Alphas in the werewolf kingdom. If he didn't, he might lose his chance at being Alpha king after his grandfather's death. He thought he was mateless at the time. He didn't choose to mate with the unattractive woman, so he cheated on her day and night. But, one drunken night, he lost control and slept with her. Later, he forced her to break their mating bond. But, he discovered she was carrying his triplets. He forced her to be his mate again, or she wouldn't see her children again. Six years later, he was no longer weak. He was the Alpha king of werewolves.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.