Ximena Lavigne's life is turned upside down when she discovers she's been betrothed to the charming but unknown Hugo De León. Despite her protests, her parents insist on the marriage. As Ximena navigates this complicated situation, she meets Jayden Knights, a mysterious and charismatic young man with a troubled past tied to her father. Meanwhile, her loyal bodyguard and best friend, Carlos, harbors secret feelings for her. Further complicating matters is Walter Briggs, a man who has loved Ximena since childhood and now seeks her hand in marriage. Torn between duty, desire, and her own dreams, Ximena must choose between the path laid out for her and forging her own destiny. Will she succumb to the expectations of those around her, or will she find the courage to follow her heart?
Paris 6:45pm
The autumn breeze blew over her face as she watched from the rooftop, the flowers gently swaying in the breeze. Closing her eyes, she savoured the moment with relish wishing her life would be as calm as the breeze. The sun was setting already and the sky was yellow. She managed a smile as she looked at the horizon. Her face grew solemn on remembering the conversation she had with her father minutes ago. It was one thing being the heiress to the Lavigne Empire and another thing to be nagged about it. All her life, for as long as she could remember, her parents always rang it in her ears that she was the heiress and she should always act like one.
At age sixteen, she'd started attending conference meetings and was in charge of one of her father's companies in Paris. It was very hectic combining school work with the company's work but her parents didn't seem to mind. She hardly had time for herself or to make friends, not that her allowed her to anyway. They were the ones choosing who would and who wouldn't be her friend. Every decision of her life was made by her parents.
Now twenty two, Ciara Ximena Lavigne was in charge of three companies, a hotel and a restaurant. Her father, Armando Lavigne, a French man was a very powerful man who had companies, hotels and restaurants in Paris, America, Spain and Italy. Armando was a very wealthy man. He got married to an American, Nora.
Ximena slicked her ginger red hair- which she'd gotten from her father- back with her palm and let out a frustrated sigh. She remembered the urgency in her father's voice when he'd asked her to come to America. And from the sound of his voice, it didn't look like she'd return to Paris any time soon.
"Mena!" A voice called breaking into her thoughts.
She recognized the voice immediately and turned swiftly to see her seventeen -year- old sister, Jasmine Zuri Lavigne.
"Zuri! You're back. What kept you? Practicals? " Ximena said brightening up a bit.
"You got it. We had tons of practicals today. I was looking for you when I arrived. You weren't in your room or in the study so I figured you might be here. And I was right. You love watching the sunset," Zuri beamed walking towards her.
"Yeah! Right," Xinena said with her smile wearing off.
"What's wrong Mena? You don't seem happy," Zuri said sitting opposite her.
If there was anyone Ximena cared about the most in the world, it was Zuri, her younger sister. Zuri was the only one who understood her. The only one who shared her sorrows and joy with her. And sometimes the one who advised her. Ximena couldn't bear to see her hurt or in pain especially when their mother, Nora Lavigne yells at her.
"Dad called," Ximena finally said.
"What did he say?"
"We're going to America in two days."
"What?" Zuri's eyes dilated. "Why? Did he mention the reason?"
"Non. You know how father is. He refused to tell me the reason. He just said it was urgent and that we shouldn't delay," Ximena said.
"I know I've always wanted to visit America, but I didn't expect it to be this way," Zuri said with a frown.
Ximena had been to America but once. And she was five then. She'd gone there when Zuri was born, spent a couple days and they both flew back to Paris with their parents.
"We don't have a choice, Zuri. Dad has a reason. It'd better be a good one. I'm really gonna miss Paris, my home."
"Me too," Zuri said. "Aunt Maya will miss us too."
Ximena smiled wryly. Her fingers curled around the glass cup in front of her which contained cocktail. She lifted it to her lips and gulped down its entire content.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
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!
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.