When Owen Wraxall returns to Los Angeles, his focus is on finding his long-lost twin, but fate introduces him to Ophelia Loxley, a young woman desperate to reclaim her family's former status. Their whirlwind romance culminates in a marriage meant to heal old wounds, but instead, it opens new ones. As betrayal poisons their union, Owen and Ophelia become entangled in a dangerous web of lies, manipulation, and power struggles. In a city where wealth hides corruption and love teeters on the edge of destruction, Ophelia must confront her past while Owen wrestles with the demons driving his cruelty. When buried secrets resurface and the shadows of their choices threaten to consume them, both must ask: Is redemption possible, or is the cost of truth too steep to bear? In When Love Turned Sour, love isn't the savior-it's the battlefield.
==OPHELIA==
My thumb hesitated above the 'Record' button on my phone, while my fingers shook, unwilling to calm down. I saw a reflection on the screen of a face that looked pale, hollow, and nearly unrecognizable. When did I turn into this unfamiliar person? The faint silhouette of a person I once recognised, now obscured and smudged by suffering.
A part of me desired to halt, to cast the phone away, and simply bring everything to an end. However, the words in my throat fought to be let out. I struggled to even murmur, "Owen, my husband..." Feeling his name in my chest like a sharp knife that wouldn't come out, causing a silent, lingering ache. I could still perceive his icy gaze, the manner in which he would stare at me, as though he preferred my absence, as though I was only a hindrance in his existence.
"It has been five months." I spoke in a trembling voice, barely louder than a whisper. "Five months spent attempting to understand the cause of the problem. The reason he transformed into a monster. How he turned into this hollow husk, a person I can't even identify anymore." I tried to force a fake smile, but it faltered and turned into a bitter chuckle instead.
"My parents also acted like they didn't notice anything," I whispered wearily, my voice heavy with tiredness and bitterness. For them, this marriage was like a fairy tale, an ideal situation that restored their previous social standing. I experienced a scorching sensation in my throat-the discomfort of tears I had suppressed for too long. "They believed I had at last discovered joy."
"I made an attempt. I made a great effort to meet expectations, to fulfill my father's wishes, to satisfy Owen's desires, in the hope that he might eventually acknowledge me." I struggled to control my shaky voice and clenched my teeth, determined to stay calm as I tightly squeezed my fists, feeling my nails digging into my palms to steady myself. "No matter what effort I exerted, it was always inadequate. I had disappeared from my own life."
"I simply desire for this agony to cease... I wish for everything to come to a halt."
I clicked 'Upload' quickly, unable to stop myself, observing as the video vanished into the vastness of the internet, taking all the hidden parts of myself with it. I was unsure if it would be noticed or if anyone would show interest. It didn't matter.
I glanced over at the rope resting on the table. I sensed a lack of feeling, like all emotions had flowed out, leaving a serene, vacant exterior. Almost without thinking, I grabbed the rope and felt its texture anchor me as I wrapped it around the beam, securing it with an unfamiliar sense of calm. I got on the chair and stared at the ground below me. This marked the conclusion of the suffering, the hopes, and the constant pursuit of a life that never belonged to me.
I let out a final, brief breath before kicking the chair away.
===============
I slowly emerged, feeling cold and confusion creeping through my mind like fog. My eyes were too burdened to lift, my fatigue pulling my body down, along with a mysterious heaviness, as if I were suspended in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness.
Intense fluorescent lights seared my eyes as they blinked open, cutting through the fog. Everything surrounding me felt sanitised, remote, and overly illuminated. I felt a shadow next to me, and gentle fingers delicately covered my hand.
"Where...am I?" My voice was barely audible, hoarse, and rough, each word causing discomfort in my sore throat.
A nurse's face appeared, showing a soft expression filled with sympathy. "You're in a safe place," she whispered, gently squeezing my hand for reassurance. "It has been 48 hours since you were admitted while unconscious. You are now better."
"48 hours." The words floated in the air, seeming surreal and without heaviness.
How can I continue to exist in this physical form I believed I had moved on from? I felt my chest constrict and my throat fill with unidentified emotions. I looked away from her stare, unable to handle the affection in her gaze-that compassion.
After she departed, the heavy, engulfing silence weighed on me like all the burdens I had attempted to escape from.
"Even death rejected me." I whispered.
Shortly after, the door opened once more, and I prepared myself for yet another nurse or doctor. Instead, a female police officer walked in, her gaze unwavering but caring.
"Mrs. Wraxall." She spoke in a calm tone, her voice oddly comforting. "I'm Officer Garrett."
I moved with difficulty, every muscle sore, which made my motion sluggish. "What is it that you want?" I had a harsh tone in my voice, with words that were not meant to sound that way.
Officer Garrett moved closer, her facial expression becoming gentler. "I've come to look into the video you uploaded on the internet," she said softly. "It has been going viral, and people... well, people are concerned about you."
The words hit like a punch, empty and confusing. "Worried?"
I wanted to let out a bitter, hollow laugh, but it ended up getting stuck in my throat and emerging as a strangled noise. "Why are you attempting to deceive me?" I whispered, my tone heavy with resentment. "Nobody cares!"
She maintained her unyielding gaze, a subtle comprehension evident in her eyes. "Sometimes people don't realise until it's too late," she said gently. "But now that you have been offered the attention. If you're ready to converse, we're ready to listen."
I averted my gaze, looking at my hands while feeling the familiar heaviness settling on me, weighing on my bones. What can I say that would make a difference? The isolation, the deceit, and the wounds that had been inflicted remained present and piercing.
I balled up my hands, turning my face. "I'm not sure if..." I whispered, my voice fading as the words felt too delicate to complete, too hesitant.
Officer Garrett remained, her presence stable and steadfast, indicating she would stay until necessary.
Within that quietness, an unresolved decision approached.
I opened my mouth to let the words pour out-
Raised in a world where her parents are always away on business trips, she was free to live recklessly from her teenage years onward. With no one around to set boundaries, she dives headfirst into a life of wild indulgence, driven by the need for freedom and thrill. SEX CHRONICLES follows the journey of a young woman who lives on her own terms, indulging in every temptation that comes her way. It's a raw, unfiltered exploration of a life lived recklessly, where love, lust, and consequences are tangled together in a world of unrestrained passion.
Ivory had a night of passion with her step-brother, Leo, on the eve of her father's wedding. She believes her secret was safe. The next Monday, a scandal breaks out that puts her father's shares and position in jeopardy, so she was persuaded to marry Leo to save the family reputation. Weeks later, Ivory's father dies mysteriously, and her world is turned upside down which raises a dark and very dangerous reality. With her life turned into something she never wanted or expected. Will she unravel the mystery behind her father's demise and find a way to reclaim life?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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?"
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
RIEKA She was a naive, chubby, wolfless werewolf, maltreated by her mate to the point where she loses her sanity and womb, her crime was being chubby and less attractive than her peers. GABRIEL He was a handsome, strong willed womanizer, who happens to a hybrid ALPHA prince, the person he loves the most is his kid brother RALPH. He has searched high and low for a mate he could never find. What will happen when he finds out that his beloved brother's ex wife, happens to be his long awaited mate, who was maltreated and is currently mentally unstable? Will he forgive his brother for hurting his mate? or will blood flow?