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When waitress Isla saves Arden from a tampered drink, she sparking a thrilling chain of events. But as their connection deepens, Rex Norman's ruthless ambition threatens to tear them apart. As dark secrets from their pasts begin to surface, will Isla and Arden's relationship survive the deadly games of the wealthy and influential Norman family?
Isla
As I wove through the crowded dance floor, the infectious energy of the hip-hop track threatened to distract me from my task. Clutching the tray of drinks, I allowed myself a fleeting moment of envy, wondering when I'd be able to shed my responsibilities and lose myself in the music like the joyful strangers around me.
My world shattered when my parents died in a car accident during my junior high school years. That fateful day, my siblings and I took the bus to school, unaware of the devastating news awaiting us. After school, I received the heartbreaking news that changed everything.
Suddenly, I became the primary breadwinner for my family, balancing part-time jobs with my education. Life became a constant struggle, but I persevered to support my younger siblings.
Soon after, I endured a horrific experience - kidnapped, drugged, and raped. The fragmented memories still haunt me to this day. I felt cursed, like the unluckiest person alive. The drugs blurred my recollection of the perpetrator's face, leaving me with unresolved anger.
With no trusted adult to confide in, I relied on myself. My paternal uncle showed occasional interest in my siblings and me, but ultimately, I took responsibility for my own well-being. I decided to become the adult I needed, taking charge of my life.
I thrived to gain a college scholarship. Now, I'm determined to finish college with good grades to secure a well-paying job and live a perfect life, forgetting about my life's turmoil.
As I searched for the table that ordered the drinks I was carrying, I was suddenly bumped from behind. The tray flew out of my hands, and the glasses crashed to the floor. 'Shit!' I cursed, feeling my face flush with annoyance. Those drinks were expensive, and now they were wasted. I turned, prepared to confront the careless person who had collided with me.
As I turned around, I met the gaze of the most stunning man I'd ever seen. He stood tall, exuding confidence through his chiseled physique. His raven-black hair was perfectly messy, framing his angular face. Piercing green eyes sparkled like emeralds, leaving me breathless. My heart skipped a beat, my body numb. The music faded into the background as my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
He spoke, but I couldn't hear the words over the pounding in my chest. Instead, I read his lips, apologizing for the collision.
Oh my goodness, those lips! Bright pink, small, and irresistibly succulent. Totally kissable. What's wrong with me?! I mentally screamed, shocked by my sudden attraction.
But reality slapped me back to attention. I was in trouble – big time. At Vintage Club, customer satisfaction reigns supreme. Now, how would I afford to pay for and replace the spilled drinks? My anxiety spiked. This was a disaster.
A girl slipped in behind him, wrapping her arms around his. He lit up with a warm smile, clearly glad to see her. She whispered something in his ear, and he chuckled.
I couldn't help but size her up. She was stunning – slender and beautiful . But it was the way she gazed at him, beaming like a lovestruck teenager, that made me raise an eyebrow.
'Maybe she's his girlfriend,' I thought
She gently brushed a stray lock from his face, her touch tender. I felt a pang of disappointment, which caught me off guard. What was I expecting, anyway?
Her gaze remained fixed on him, oblivious to my presence – and the mess at their feet. It irked me that she noticed a single stray hair on his face but ignored me entirely.
That strand of hair had been perfect... at least to met, but she casually rearranged it. "Mr. Handsome's" warm smile at her only intensified my feelings of invisibility.
I felt like an awkward third wheel, an unwanted spectator to their intimate moment.
Well, he needs to pay for the spilled drinks. He already apologized, which means he acknowledges it's his fault... and it definitely is! I waved my hand in front of his chiseled face to snap him back to attention. The lady also turned to me, her expression blank.
"My apologies..." he said, dipping his hand into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and handed me a wad of dollar notes. "This should cover everything. Once again, sorry for the hassle."
I accepted the money, mouthing a silent "Thank you."
As they walked away, I couldn't help but notice the woman clinging to him, her hand grasping his as if her life depended on it. I scoffed, annoyed at myself. What was wrong with me, feeling jealous over a complete stranger? He hadn't even shown the slightest interest in me.
I bit my lip, shaking off the thought.
Focus, Isla!
Arden
I'd never set foot in a club before. The loud music and wild dancing were a far cry from my introverted personality. But, my colleagues insisted on celebrating my double promotion at work with a night out. And why not? I'd earned it. My hard work had paid off, and I knew my capabilities were impressive – not to be underestimated.
That clumsy encounter with the waitress seemed like a bad omen, as if the universe was nudging me to leave. Honestly, I didn't want to be here either. If not for Stephanie's persistence, I would have skipped this altogether. Today was her birthday, and she'd asked for my presence, not gifts. I would have opted for flowers or a thoughtful dress, but she valued my company.
Stephanie and I went way back to high school, and fate had brought us together again as colleagues. My recent promotion would soon create a professional gap between us, but emotionally, she remained close. As an only child, I'd always treated her like the younger sister I never had, cherishing her deeply.
I was raised by my single mother, Grace. Growing up, I often wondered about my father's identity and appearance, as I didn't resemble my mother. My curiosity only deepened with time.
As a child, my mother would promise to reveal the truth when I was older. But now that I'm grown, she responds with tears and defensiveness, asking if she hasn't been good enough for me, whenever I inquire.
I've learned to stop asking, but the longing to know remains. Deep down, I'm still madly curious about the man who contributed to my existence.
"Ah, there they are," I said to Stephanie, nodding toward our colleagues, who were waving at us from the table I'd been trying to locate.
"What took you so long?" Dan, the youngest among us, asked.
Before I could respond, Stephanie chimed in, "He got lost and bumped into a waitress!" She gestured dramatically. "But all's well now. Let's groove into the night!" She raised her hands in excitement, her smile infectious.
"Your trousers, man, they're stained," Caleb, an acquaintance pointed out.
"Damn!" I muttered, only then noticing the drink splatters on my pants. This was one of my favorite pairs.
Stephanie gasped, "Oh no!" and quickly pulled out a small towel from her bag. She began dabbing at the stain, but I intervened.
"Let me handle it. I'll just clean it off in the restroom."
"What would you like to drink?" she asked, distracting me from the mishap. "We'll place the order before you return."
"Scotch, please," I replied, standing up to navigate through the crowd to the washroom.
I washed off the stain, whispering, "Hope this night doesn't get worse." As I stepped out, a hand pulled me into the alley, hiding me from the party crowd. With my back against the wall, my gaze locked with the unexpected detainer's bright blue eyes.
Vengeance fuels Antonio, a powerful Italian mafia boss, after his twin brother's brutal murder. Posing as teacher "Charlie," he navigates Chicago's treacherous underworld. But when Shirley, a beautiful and rebellious student, faces public humiliation, Antonio's mission takes an unexpected turn. Can he balance his thirst for revenge whilst his growing feelings for Shirley?
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”