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Giselle Lambert was the obsession of the youngest mafia in history, a man courted by countless women eager to be his bride. He was so influential that he could gift Giselle the entire island of Sicily. Yet, her days were consumed with plans to flee from his overpowering clutches. She ran, and he pursued without hesitation, reclaiming her to his side time and again. "Come and please me!" His voice could strike terror into the bravest souls, but Giselle was a fierce wildcat not easily cowed. Each time, she fought and fled, and each time, he used all of New York City to ensnare her: "Giselle, isn't this golden cage spacious enough? Please, stop running."
July in Brooklyn, New York, was oppressively hot and sticky.
"Grandma, you need to keep up with your treatments. I'll be back tomorrow."
Giselle had been at the hospital all day, her skin soaked with the scent of disinfectant.
When she returned to her neighborhood, she was puzzled to see a luxury car parked in her rundown old district.
Upon entering her home, two men in black seized her, one on each side.
"What are you doing!" Giselle screamed, "Help-"
Before she could finish, a hood was slipped over her head, silencing her.
After the roar of a helicopter and a dizzying journey, Giselle was pushed off the aircraft, her hood yanked off, making her squint in the bright light.
She found herself under a massive gold-leaf dome, surrounded by Raphael's masterful paintings and pure white wool carpets, the epitome of opulence.
A man of striking and fierce beauty sat on a genuine leather sofa, watching her intently. His shirt collar open, revealing well-defined, tanned muscles, he radiated the power of a predatory leopard.
"Come here," he commanded, tapping on his marble table with his index finger.
Giselle remained stationary, eyeing the man warily, like a startled deer.
Noticing her shivering, Henry Jefferson chuckled dryly and turned up the thermostat.
"Too delicate. How have you survived these months on the run?"
"Do I need to physically bring you here?" he asked impatiently as she stood frozen.
Slowly, Giselle approached him, her throat tight, avoiding his gaze.
The tension in the air was palpable, ready to snap at any moment.
Giselle licked her dry lips, "I will not go back with you."
Henry's patience snapped; he grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap, his large hand clasping her neck, the other tilting her chin up to force her to meet his eyes.
"Say that again." His voice was laced with a threat.
"I won't-"
Before she could complete her refusal, Henry tightened his grip, pinning her down on the sofa, his body pressing against hers.
The air conditioning blasted cold air, but Giselle's ears and neck felt like they were on fire.
Henry's gaze traced the delicate features of her face, his hand feeling the softness of her neck.
Unable to resist, he pecked at her lips, relishing the long-missed softness that brought him both relaxation and satisfaction.
He leaned in to kiss her, but Giselle desperately turned her head away; the kiss landed on her neck instead.
This action enraged Henry, and he forcefully captured her lips, leaving Giselle struggling for breath.
"Don't do this... ," Giselle, unable to free herself, resorted to stalling, "Let's talk."
"Talk?" Henry sneered, "About your next attempt to flee?"
"Giselle, why not discuss your grandmother's illness? The medical bills are over a million; can you afford that?"
"You! You've been monitoring me!"
Her mother had died early, leaving her grandmother as her only family.
Her grandmother's heart condition had worsened over the years, requiring expensive surgeries almost like buying extra time.
This time the situation was dire; she hadn't yet gathered the funds for the upcoming surgery. If missing the optimal surgery time, even gods couldn't save her.
"Marry me, and the medical bills will be paid immediately. I'll arrange for you to move to the Upper East Side."
"I don't need it!"
Without a second thought, Giselle rejected him outright.
Rejected again, Henry suddenly calmed, sitting up to inquire, "What's the success rate of the surgery?"
At a regular hospital, the success rate was a mere 10%.
Meaning, her grandmother was likely not to survive the surgery.
Giselle remained silent; Henry continued, "At the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the success rate is 90%."
Giselle clenched her fists.
"I'll arrange the top specialists and facilities," Henry offered, dangling even more tempting conditions.
Giselle trembled slightly, her large doe eyes filled with despair.
Unfortunately for her, Henry's hand began to wander restlessly along her side.
The calloused thumb grazed her soft skin, sending a shiver through her.
Without a reply from her, Henry lost patience, lifting her shirt slightly, his warm, dry hand moving upwards along her side.
Giselle's body shook uncontrollably, although this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, she was still terrified, "Let me go, this is rape!"
Henry pinned her down, his lips on hers muffling her protests, his deep eyes full of possessive desire: "Then go ahead and sue me."
"Alex, can I take a break for a few days?" Olivia Hall asked. Alex Adams grabbed Olivia and threw her onto the bed as he said, "Don't forget about our contract. You don't get to say no to me." In order to save her mother, Olivia had sold herself to a stranger. Although Alex was rumored to be cold-hearted and uninterested in women, he made Olivia sleep with him every night. Olivia thought sadly, 'I am only doing this for money.' After paying off her mother's medical bills, Olivia quietly left Alex and buried this memory deep down her heart. However, the arrogant Alex refused to let her go. He found her and said hysterically, "You are the lover of a Mafia, you are not allowed to leave as you wish."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!