Trapped in an empty office late at night, Ella is certain no one will come to her rescue until a mysterious stranger appears. That man is Jason Theal, a seductive billionaire with a dark past and dangerous secrets. Drawn into his world of wealth and shadows, Ella discovers a sinister underbelly of betrayal and power. But as she unravels Jason's deadly ties, she realizes her own life is at stake in a game where trust is a luxury and survival is everything.
The early sun shone through the gaps in the ancient wooden shutters, struggling to light up the dim attic space. Emma moaned and turned around, dragging the worn-out blanket over her head in a hopeless effort to shield herself from the persistent daylight. All she desired was a few extra minutes of sleep. However, it was not meant to happen.
Young lady! "Stop being a couch potato and get up, there are tasks waiting for you!" Downstairs came the loud and condescending voice of Mrs. Wilson.
Despite being a twenty three years old woman with a full time job at a news network, you might expect her to have the weekend off to relax, but that's not the case in the Wilson household. In the eyes of the rest of her family, she was simply a household helper responsible for maintaining the house in perfect condition.
Emily let out a sigh. Ella stated that she was facing another day of exhausting work ahead, without any breaks in sight.
Reluctantly, she threw the blanket aside and sat up, wincing from her bruised muscles protesting the movement. God, when will this horrifying experience come to an end?
With daylight slowly entering through dirty windows, Emily hastily washed and got dressed, preparing herself for whatever the new day may bring. Below, a tired young couple sat with worn-out expressions at the tiny kitchen table, hardly noticing her cordial hello. Eager to get away from the oppressive atmosphere of her new foster home, she grabbed some stale cereal for herself.
Her foster mother enjoyed finding reasons to punish her, whether they were actual or perceived offenses. A week ago, Ella accidentally burned the toast and as a result, her foster mother punished her by giving her lashes on her back, which were just starting to heal.
After putting on the same worn-out dress she wore yesterday, Emily headed downstairs.
Ella noted to herself that the aroma of sizzling bacon drifting from the kitchen caused her stomach to rumble with hunger.
However, she was aware that it was hopeless to expect anything more than a stale crust of bread for breakfast. Luxuries like those were not intended for unwanted children such as her.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Wilson was cooking eggs and toast as her children sat enjoying their breakfast. Ella's foster brother, John Wilson, glared at Ella as she came in, his cold eyes filled with malicious amusement.
"He sneered through a mouthful of food, acknowledging the person who had finally decided to show up,".
Mrs. Wilson turned towards Ella. "You've been lazy for too long, girl. It's time to get moving!" I need all the laundry in the backyard taken care of before sunset or there will be consequences. And don't try to be lazy, I will be monitoring your progress as well.
She nodded quietly and went to fetch the large wicker basket overflowing with soiled clothes. While carrying it outside, she listened to her foster brother sarcastically shout, "Make sure you don't overexert yourself, we wouldn't want you keeling over from the strain!"
"Where is that dumb girl?", a husky voice called from upstairs, causing fear to cross Ella's face. The only person who was aware was none other than Mr. Wilson, the Man of the house.
"Why hasn't my laundry been done yet? Tomorrow is Monday and, unlike you, we as men in society need to dress professionally."
"I apologize, I will ensure it is prepared by tomorrow," Ella stated, avoiding making eye contact with her foster father.
Ella spent hours scrubbing and beating clothes clean against the washboard in the hot summer sun. By noon, she was in immense pain in her back and her hands were sore and bleeding, yet she continued on.
Around noon, there was a short break when the neighbor's dog Carl came over, wagging his tail hopefully.
She stopped to rub the dog's ears, smiling sadly. Carl, you are my only friend. I desire to escape with you to the countryside and not turn back.
However, it did not happen. As the sun started to go down, Mrs. Wilson stepped outside to check on how well Ella was doing. It's about time you completed it, you lazy girl. Bring the basket in and start supper before relaxing your tired arms.
She pulled the heavy basket inside, feeling weighed down by despair in her heart. For how much longer could she continue to exist in this never-ending horror? While chopping vegetables for the stew, she noticed a glint outside the kitchen window.
Moving nearer, she gazed into the approaching darkness. She briefly believed she glimpsed a red blur among the dark corners of the garden. However, when she blinked and glanced once more, there was nothing present.
Could tiredness be making my brain deceive me? Was there something or someone lurking in the dark shadows observing me? She questioned herself. As the evening was getting more darker, Ella actually felt a shiver run down her back. Without her knowing, the small life she led was on the verge of transforming beyond her own wildest dreams...
Ella finished the laundry as night approached and then began preparing dinner in the kitchen. Mrs. Wilson and her children were in the next dining room, loudly evaluating all of Ella's actions.
Finish cooking the stew quickly.
"Quickly finish preparing that stew, young lady!" A man toils the entire day and expects his dinner to be served promptly. Mrs. Wilson expressed her annoyance abruptly.
I apologize, ma'am, it will only take a few more minutes. Emily responded in a hushed tone while she stirred the pot.
John sneered as he turned to his younger brother Mark in the dining room and bet him five bucks she would burn it again. I can smell something that seems to be on fire already!
She attempted to disregard the teasing and concentrate on her assignment. While getting vegetables from the pantry, she saw a mouse quickly run past her, making her gasp in shock.
This caused the Wilsons to burst into a fresh round of giggles."Unable to deal with a small mouse, so weak!" John mocked. It's not surprising that no one desired a girl who was so worthless.
Her fists tightened at her sides, but she stayed silent, aware that any response would only escalate the situation. She told herself that in just a couple more years, she would finally be able to escape from this place. If she could make it through that period of time.
At last, the stew was cooked. While Ella was scooping food into bowls, Mrs. Wilson came into the kitchen with a stern look in her eye. Show me your arms, young lady.
Her slender arms, sore and pink from the day's work, were stretched out. Mrs. Wilson firmly held one, her thumb pushing into a new blister, making Emily gasp from the pain.
Not firm enough yet. We need to focus on making you stronger. Mrs. Wilson spoke with cruelty before letting go of her arm. "Quickly eat your food before it cools down."
During the tense meal, she followed instructions and kept her head down while enduring the family's taunting. As the night covered the world around her, she imagined about the uncertainties of tomorrow and questioned if she had the strength to face whatever challenges may actually come her way.
Ella got a text from an unknown sender asking, "Do you want to be a billionaire?" Ella was confused and in doubt. She wondered if her brothers were playing a prank on her or if it was just a text mistake. Regardless, she was determined to uncover the truth, feeling a glimmer of hope in her otherwise bleak life.
Nora James was supposed to get married to her long-time fiancé Finn Clayton, but what happens when she gets involved in a one-night stand with a stranger and Finn happens to know about it? Will Finn forgive her, and will they end up married, or will Nora end up pregnant without anyone by her side?
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Eliana was framed by her best friend and her fiance into sleeping with a boy toy in the club and getting impregnated by him. Five years after she had given birth to twins, she returned home and worked under the Moran Group, where she met the CEO-- Maurice. Maurice was a brilliant businessman who did his job well. But in order to stay under the radar, he lived a double life. One as Maurice, and one as Preston. Fate brought the two together again, roping them in on an exciting love story. It all became more complicated when Eliana faced Preston, the man she had slept with before, once again. Now that she was being pursued by two men, how could she ever choose? When would Eliana uncover the secret of Maurice's identity? When was Maurice going to know that he already had two children of his own? How would Eliana face this man when the truth came to light one day? Come and find out.
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?"
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…"
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.