Ethan always viewed Nyla as a compulsive liar, while she saw him as aloof and insensitive. Nyla had cherished the notion that she was dear to Ethan, yet she felt coldly rejected when she realized her place in his heart was insignificant. No longer trying to break through his coldness, she stepped back, only for him to alter his approach unexpectedly. She challenged him, "If you trust me so little, why keep me around?" Ethan, who had once carried himself with pride, now stood before her with a humble plea. "Nyla, I've made mistakes. Please don't walk away from me."
The winters in Ulares were bone-chilling, but inside Cloudscape Mansion, the air was thick with warmth and passion.
"Ethan... take it easy..."
Nyla Green's voice wavered as she gripped the corners of the pillow. The dim glow of the bedside lamp painted her flushed cheeks in a soft, rosy hue, adding a playful intimacy to the moment.
"And how should you address me?" Ethan Brooks teased, his voice a low rumble as he leaned in, grazing her ear with his teeth. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine.
"Uncle Ethan... please..." she gasped, her voice catching as she curled into his embrace.
Ethan's lips quirked into a satisfied smirk. Her obedience always thrilled him, and her breathless pleas only added fuel to the fire.
It was a dynamic he relished. He loved when she called him that both in and outside the bedroom. It served as a reminder as well as a way to spice up their intimacy. Nyla always found herself with no choice but to address him that, embarrassed and annoyed.
Two weeks apart had only heightened Ethan's need for her. His business trip had been long, and he'd missed her body. Despite having had sex with Nyla many times, he still found her body irresistibly attractive. He naturally wouldn't settle for one round.
Sensing his desire, Nyla moved against him, her lithe body swaying as she sought to meet his needs.
"Being so eager tonight, aren't you?" Ethan murmured, his tone laced with amusement.
"Don't you like it when I'm eager?" Nyla whispered, her voice coy yet tinged with boldness. "Uncle Ethan... it's been a while since we tried something new."
He arched a brow, his grip tightening on her waist as he shifted their positions with ease. The hunger in his eyes was undeniable.
"Then don't disappoint me," he said, his voice thick with authority.
Nyla swallowed hard, her face turned away as she braced herself, determined to please him. She had a favor to ask tonight, and she knew Ethan wasn't the type to grant requests freely.
By the time their fevered exchange finally finished, the early hours of morning had crept in. Nyla lay tangled in the sheets, her skin marked with faint impressions of their passion, the cool air biting at her exposed legs.
She propped herself up as Ethan emerged from the bathroom moments later, his lean frame illuminated by the pale light. Droplets of water clung to his chest and slid down his chiseled abs, leaving little to the imagination.
He lit a cigarette, settling into the armchair by the window, his mood seemingly lighter than usual. "What is it you want?" he asked, exhaling a plume of smoke, his tone casual but sharp.
"Will you give me anything I ask for?" Nyla's voice was soft, hesitant, her hopeful gaze fixed on his sharp, handsome face.
"Depends on what it is," Ethan replied evenly.
"I want to be Mrs. Brooks."
The warmth in Ethan's expression disappeared, replaced by a glacial stare that sent a chill down her spine.
Nyla's heart sank as he let out a mocking laugh. He crushed the cigarette into the ashtray with deliberate force, as if snuffing out her boldness. "I've been too soft on you," he said coldly. "You think that gives you the right to ask for something like that?"
Nyla bit her lip, her hands trembling as she clenched the sheets. "Callie's back, isn't she? You're planning to marry her, aren't you?"
Callie Higgins-the name itself was enough to twist Nyla's gut. She was Ethan's first love-the woman who had once saved his life from kidnappers when he was eighteen. After the incident, their families agreed that Ethan and Callie would get engaged when the time was right.
Ethan's expression flickered, just for a moment, but it was enough for Nyla to know she'd struck a nerve. She'd been with him for two years; she knew him well.
"I just want a status. You know how hard it is for me in the Brooks family. Without protection, I-"
"Protection?" Ethan cut her off, his tone sharp. In a flash, he was in front of her, gripping her chin firmly. His dark eyes bored into hers, fierce and unyielding. "Do you think I don't see through you, Nyla? You think you're worthy of being Mrs. Brooks?"
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…"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
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."