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BOOK TITLE: Through the ashes;A love rekindled. GENRE: Billionaire romance TROPE: Contract marriage,betrayal,second chance. SETTING: San Francisco SYNOPSIS Emma Wesseling's life is turned upside down when her indifferent father arranges her marriage to Evan Juniper, the notorious heir of the Lotus Leaf Group. Forced into a loveless union to fulfill a family deal, Emma faces humiliation and emotional torment as Evan parades his infidelity. Cast out of her marriage by Evan due to the schemes of her sister,she is at her lowest when Alex comes in, helping her to heal and in the process rekindle the dying embers of love in her. However,her past comes back to haunt her as Evan tries to shatter her new found joy. Will he succeed? Find out more in this soul stirring tale of love and betrayal! CHARACTERIZATION EMMA WESSELING: The daughter of pharmaceutical mogul Wesselling Farrow. Standing at just 5'8 the 22 year old is an absolute stunner. With her ice blue eyes,aface that could topple nations and a perfect figure she is every man's desire. She is an intelligent lady who has a tender heart towards all. This tenderness however often leads to her getting the shorter end of the stick. EVAN JUNIPER: (Male lead) Heir of the famous and influential Lotus leaf group,Evan is your typical 25 year old second generation playboy. Handsome and reckless he is utterly infuriated when he to marry Emma. He is abusive and eventually breaks the contract between them,a decision he later comes to regret. ALEXANDER MOCHI: A Self made billionaire and CEO of the Mochi group. He was the one that helped Emma through her toughest times. He later marries her when they discover that they have a lot in common. He loves her dearly and does everything to take care of her. LAURA WESSELLING: Emma's stepsister. She is the major disrupter of Emma's life due to the envy and jealousy she has towards her. Together with her mother they hatch various evil plans in order to make Emma's life miserable. PLOT The story kicks off at the dining table inside the Wesseling estate . The Wesseling family patriarch,Laura and her stepmother are seated at the table having dinner,while discussing in hushed tones. Emma as usual is cast away to the side though she also makes efforts to hide her presence. Done with dinner Emma is about to head to her room when the Wesseling patriarch tells her to wait back before announcing indifferently that she is getting married to the heir of the Lotus leaf group:Evan Juniper,as part of fulfilling his quota of their agreement. She tries to object to this sudden arrangement as Evan is notoriously promiscuous but is shut down by her father who deals her a slap. Her stepmother and sister gloat at her misfortune causing her to realise it's a plan of theirs. She calls her bosom friend,Emily,who consoles her as she is also helpless. A week later she signs the marriage contract that's skewed with various inequalities. After signing the contract,the representatives of the two families leave the room to Evan and Emma on the basis of getting to know each other. Evan pins Emma against the wall accusing her of ruining his life. She tries to explain but is roughned up by Evan who threatens her,telling her not to ever think that he'll love her before leaving the room. She tears up as she laments her fate. A month later she gets engaged to Evan in the most lavish way possible. INCITING INCIDENCE They've been married for three months now with Evan doing as he said. He treats her like a total stranfer yet is extremely possessive about her. She tries various methods to make the relationship work as per her friends advice though none works. It's also now that she knows why Evan has a terrible reputation;he's an extreme womanizer even going as far as bringing the women home to have sex with on her matrimonial bed. She tries to confront him but is always too timid to do so. She has tried telling her father but he's always shrugging her off. She consults her best friend,Emily who emboldens her to confront him. On getting home that night she does confront him,a plan which goes awry as Evan is drunk. In a moment of lust they both share a night of passion for the first time in the past three months. The next day there is a difference in how Evan treats her. After their passionate session the barriers between the two of them seem to have been broken as Evan reduces his rate of womanizing while paying her more attention. Emma is excited as this is great news. She tells Emily and her father who is surprised at this and for the first time since her mother's death apologizes to her. Unknown to her,this piece of good news makes Laura jealous. She is envious that Evan is actually falling for Emma as she expects her to suffer from him. In her jealousy she and her mother hatch a plan where to implicate Emma and snatch Evan in the process. One early morning after seeing Evan off to work,Emma feels nause
The dining room of the Wesseling estate was grand,something common with influential families. Well....too grand if you asked me though. The long mahogany table gleamed under the chandelier's golden reflection, and the polished silverware reflected the intricate patterns of the porcelain plates. Expensive paintings hung neatly on the walls,adding yet another layer to the pomp.
Everything was perfectly placed, yet nothing about it felt comforting to me. In my opinion,it exuded a feeling of coldness and detachment,a lifeless performance-just like the people seated around it.
I sat in my usual spot;at the far end of the table, quietly picking at the peas on my plate. It was safer this way, staying in the shadows, keeping my head down. My father and his wife, Glenn sat at the other end whispering to each other, their heads tilted slightly towards one another.
I simply called her Glenn because the thought of calling her mother was too generous. She was nothing of the sort!
Occasionally, She would glance at me, her lips curling into a smug little smirk, and I would look away, pretending not to notice. She was definitely cooking up something. Definitely!
Laura, Glenn's daughter and my so-called stepsister, was seated beside her mother, as poised as ever. She was the golden child, after all. Everything about her was perfect-her posture, her manicured nails, even the way she laughed lightly at Father's occasional comments. It was like she had been rehearsing for this role her whole life.
And me? I was just the outsider. The one they couldn't get rid of but didn't know what to do with.
I stabbed at another pea,my thoughts wandering to a time when this house had felt warm. When my mother was alive. She had been the glue that held everything together-my father, our home, and my happiness. Back then, I had been cherished, secure, seen.
But cancer took her from me three years ago, and with her went everything I thought was permanent. Glenn and Laura had moved in not long after. Glenn, the hidden mistress. Laura, the illegitimate child. Their presence turned my world upside down, but the worst betrayal was my father's. He welcomed them in, and suddenly I was the stranger.
Over the years though I had learnt to coexist with them by making my existence.....forgettable.
I was still ruminating in my mind when Glenn's forsaken voice shook me out of my reverie. It seemed that they'd finalized their discussion.
"You know,Henry,"she said,her voice laced with feigned sweetness. "..it's high time Emma started contributing to the family. Don't you agree?"
Immediately she said this I felt like the air around me suddenly got a bit colder. Instinctively,I could smell something nasty in the air. I wanted to ask what she meant when Laura chimed in before I could respond. "She's right, Dad. It doesn't make sense for her to sit around doing nothing all day. I mean, I'm in full support of this." Her voice was light and sweet.It made my stomach churn.
I gripped my fork tighter, biting back the urge to hurl it across the table. Of course Laura supported it. Anything Glenn wanted, Laura would echo like a well-trained parrot.
Swallowing down my anger,I watched my father as I awaited his response. For Glenn to bring this up he definitely had to have a hand in it.
He seemed...unbothered by all the discussions as he didn't respond immediately. Instead,he finished his meal,dabbing at the corners of his mouth before leaning into the chair. The silence stretched uncomfortably for a while only being broken by the sound of cutleries on metalware. I couldn't help but loose my appetite as the silence drew on aware that whatever they had planned out was going to be extremely nasty.
" I think I'll be leaving now."
Standing up,I decided to leave the table for the solitude of my room only to be stopped by my father immediately I stood up.
"Not yet," my father said his tone sharp. "..sit down."
I wanted to protest but one look from him and I instantly froze. Slowly,I sank back into the chair,my pulse quickening. I could see both Glenn and Laura exchange glances as they smirked.
Seated,my father turned his gaze towards me. I tried to glean whatever I could from his face but his expression was as unreadable as usual. The weight of his stare suddenly made me dread what he was about to say next.
"You're getting married." he said,his tone flat like he was just commenting on the weather.
"I'm..I'm ..what?" I couldn't help but stutter as I found it absolutely absurd.
I couldn't help but blink a few times to ensure I didn't mishear him.
"You're getting married." He repeated,which was rare before he continued." To Evan Juniper of the Lotus leaf group."
Immediately he said this I could see my entire world crumbling in front of me.
Evan Juniper! This was a name that was synonymous with notoriety. Heir to the pharmaceutical gaint Lotus leaf,Evan was a well known playboy,with enough scandals to fill a magazine's gossip column. Women flocked to him,men envied him and anyone with a bit of sense stayed far from him. And I was supposed to marry HIM!
"Bu,but....why?" I asked,my voice shaky.
My dad furrowed his brows,seemingly annoyed at my questions but he answered anyway. It's an arrangement,Emma. One that benefits this family. The Wesseling name will rise alongside the Junipers. This,is what's best for everyone."
"For everyone?" my voice rose slightly as I started to panic."Father,I don't even know him! Furthermore,his reputation...."
THWAK!
My head snapped to the side as the sound of his palm hitting my face echoed in the dining. "Don't you dare raise your voice against me! He said coldly. "You would do as you're told. This is not a request."
Tears welled up in my eyes but I held them back,refusing to let them fall. The room was suffocating and my chest felt tight with anger and humiliation. I could feel the mocking gazes of the stepmom and daughter duo,their glee palpable.
Oh, Emma."Glenn said,her voice dripping with false sympathy."You should be grateful. A man like Evan Juniper? Quite a catch for someone like you."
"Definitely,"Laura chimed in with a mocking laugh. He's rich,handsome,and charming....well when he's not busy chasing other women. You're lucky he's even agreeing to this."
I couldn't help but bite my lips as their plain mockery made me sick.
"Go to your room." My father ordered,dismissing me like you would a servant. I felt like yelling at them,asking why I was to be the sacrificial offering. Why couldn't Laura marry him. They really fit well as she was also of the same caliber. I felt like defying them,saying no to their faces.
Sadly,I wasn't brave enough.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?