My life was simple and happy until my cousin moved in with me. My parents gradually treated her with more affection than their own daughter, and my best friend admired and obeyed her. My boyfriend blushed whenever he looked at her, treating her like a goddess. All she needed to do was smile sweetly, and she could easily take everything away from me. Later, I learned that she is referred to in this world as- "The Female Lead."
My life was simple and happy until my cousin moved in.
My parents gradually came to treat her more like their own daughter than they did me. Meanwhile, my best friend admired her as if she were some kind of superstar. Even worse, my boyfriend would blush every time he caught a glimpse of her, treating her as if she were the girl of his dreams.
With just a sweet smile, she could easily take everything from me.
Later, I found out that in this world, she was known as the "center of attention."
1.
I didn't receive any gifts for my twentieth birthday.
When I returned home from shopping, hoping for a surprise. However, I wasn't greeted by the usual balloons, flowers and cake. which my family would always prepared every year.
Instead, I found them gathered around a stranger, chatting attentively.
The girl standing at the center turned around at the sound of the door opening. As she saw me, she gave a sweet smile to show her friendliness.
"Stephanie? Hi, do you remember me? I'm your Cousin, Claire."
"Crash-"
A cup shattered on the floor, its pieces scattering everywhere.
Claire stood still, and as a result, a shard of ceramic cut her bare ankle.
I sighed; she played her same old trick again.
Clothes getting cut, falling down stairs or fainting on flat ground-this was the thirteenth incident happened on her this month.
"Claire! Are you fine? Oh dear, what happened?"
Mom rushed over at the sound, panicking even more when she saw the broken pieces and Claire's bleeding ankle. She hurried to fetch the first aid kit.
"Stephanie! What's wrong with you? Can't you just be cautious with the cup?"
While carefully taking care of Claire's wound, Mom scolded me without even asking about the cause.
Even without being aware of the details, whenever Claire and I were both there, she would always put the blame on me.
"Claire dropped the cup herself. I was just passing by. It's not my fault."
I tried to explain, even knowing it was futile.
"So you mean Claire dropped the club herself?"
As expected, she continued with frown. "Then why didn't you help Claire with the cup? Don't you know she's tired? Stephanie! How could you be so selfish? Forget what I've taught you?"
I took a deep breath to suppress my fury, "Mom, I'm exhausted as well. Why is it me who has to do that? Besides, she's been resting at home all day long. How could she be tired? Can't you be a bit more reasonable?"
"Don't stir the pot, alright? I have always been reasonable! Stephanie, can't you just behave yourself?"
Mom glowered at me. "How did you become so heartless? You didn't even show the slightest bit of sympathy when she got injured."
I was shocked. "Mom! Listen to yourself! Are you serious???"
"You know, Claire is struggling with health issue, easily got tired. Since she's living with you, shouldn't you take care of her?"
Claire coughed weakly, and Mom quickly crouched down to comfort her with concern.
"Auntie, don't blame Stephanie. It's not her fault..."
Yet her expression clearly said the otherwise.
"Sweetheart, just let me have a check. Do you want to go to the hospital? Scar is not your thing!"
Mom was so distressed that she wished it were she who had been injured. I stared at Claire's minor wound, not knowing what to say.
"Stephanie! If this happens again, you'll have to make breakfast yourself!"
I stood there watching as Mom helped the frail Claire out the door, heading for the hospital for a little scratch. I was totally speechless.
Her attention was completely focused on Claire, not even once did she spare a glance at me.
"I am not kidding. I need to do something before it's too late. My mom's is getting more and more weird."
At school, I went straight to my best friend Kaelyn, recounting the whole incident in one breath before grabbing her water bottle and drinking it all.
After hearing my story, she widened her eyes. "Jesus Christ! Could she be under a spell or something? Maybe witchcraft."
I deadpanned. "I wish she were under a spell, which still got solution."
Ever since Claire moved in, my parents have seemed like entirely different people. They had always been reasonable and gentle, they go completely off the rails when it comes to Claire.
Even more bizarrely, they have become vigilant towards me, as if I were a thief or a gangster who would plot against Claire.
Since she arrived, I haven't even spoken much to her.
At first, I didn't take it seriously, but the situation has only worsened.
Apart from the matters related to Claire, everything else appeared to be normal. Mom still enjoyed playing cards, favored using chili peppers while cooking, and watched TV shows at eight every night. In terms of Dad, he still loved chess, sneaking a drink now and then, and going fishing at six every evening.
When Claire wasn't around, they treated me the same as before. Mom loved to embrace me warmly and kiss my cheek affectionately, and Dad would secretly give me money to buy things I liked.
Once, when Claire got back home, I witnessed my parents, who had been smiling just a moment before, suddenly neglected me and then warmly welcome Claire.
Even now, I still couldn't understand how they could just suddenly change their attitude upside down.
"Stephanie, where's your cousin from? Could she be from a place called Salem?"
Kaelyn leaned forward intently, her expression one of absolute conviction. "I did some research yesterday. People of Salem have the power to make you fall in love with whoever they desire and turn you into nothing more than a puppet at their mercy!
I thought about it carefully. "Probably not. Her family is from the neighboring state, and I've never seen her have any connection with this Salem thing."
She was even scared by a small spider once, and I got scolded by my parents for nothing.
"Then could she have cast some spell?"
Kaelyn rubbed her chin, frowning, lost in thought.
"This is really too bizarre. Maybe you should find someone who is familiar with occultism to conduct an analysis."
Would it be helpful? I didn't know. Before things went completely sideways, I could chalk it up to my parents simply indulging this cousin. But now, I was afraid things were running out of control.
However, before Kaelyn and I could find someone to help us make sense of their strange behavior, another incident occurred - Claire transferred to our school.
And my bestie Kaelyn, after Claire's transfer, swiftly switched to Claire's side.
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.”
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!