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•BLURB• My sole intention was to sabotage my arranged marriage by sparking a scandal. I slept with someone to make this work, expecting no consequences. However, fate had other plans.. I realized I was pregnant after we already parted ways. Years later, just when I resigned myself to solo parenthood, my paths crossed with his again but this time, he had no memories of me nor that night.. The twist? He's the lover my ruthless female boss has always been talking about. What's this crack in my heart?.. These butterflies in my belly whenever we meet?.. I have his baby, but he's getting married soon! Can love's complexity surpass this?..
•CHAPTER ONE•
A wedding to undo..
Frozen in shock, I felt my eyes turning on their own with my breath caught in my throat. The room's warmth were no where to be found and all it was replaced with were the icy chills that seeped mercilessly into my bones.
Could anything be more shattering and nightmarish than stumbling upon a shocking truth exactly three days to your wedding?..
Just when the wedding you've been dreaming of is less than 72 hours away!!!!!!
My hands quivered as I stared at the lines in the letter I was holding.
'Since we couldn't afford to pay our debts, we've agreed to your alternative proposal – Give out our only daughter's hand in marriage to you. However, we need to deceive her into thinking she's marrying your son. She'ld never consent to marry someone of your age sir. I know you have no son but getting pictures of someone young and handsome will do. All we have to do is declare his false trip and convince her that he'll be coming home on the agreed wedding day'
Those dreadful words echoed in my head like it had been read out to me..
I couldn't be wrong!, That handwriting belonged to my father.
His damn signature is another evidence that the letter was his!!
"My parents are marrying me off to a man old enough to be my grandpa and not his son as they had claimed!" I screamed inwardly in both horror and shock..
"They had lied to me all this while" my lips shivered.
No..
Nooo!!
Someone wake me from this dream!..
I knew Gerald had no wife but I never knew about his intentions to marry me!.
Damn, I was his daughter's age mate!
My breathlessness intensified and my head began getting filled with glimpses of memories of how I'd spent my time admiring pictures of Gerald Bills' so-called son who doesn't even exist..
Oh yeah, the picture owner exist but the mentality that he was my groom had been an illusion I never suspected!
Arrgh!
"That old hag is my groom!" my mind worsened matters by recounting..
Oh heavens.. this can't be real!
So what?..
My boasting to my friends were useless?!
Wait.. the calls! They've all been with Gerald who possibly changed his voice systematically..!
"No wonder he had always refused a video call!.."
I grabbed my cloth tight, feeling my heart's terrible racing as everything began getting clear in my messed head..
"I'm doomed!" I mumbled breathlessly as the words dad said to me a few weeks ago rang in my head..
"It's no longer a news that we are indebted to the Bills family. The only alternative is to have a permanent merge with them and so, you'll be getting married to Gerald Bills only son, Derek to cover up our debts. " he had slipped the picture of the most handsome man I'd ever seen in my hands..
And the stupid me had jumped on the offer, smiling sheepishly like a bloated goat and thinking I'd gotten the tall, rich and handsome man of my dreams!
How could dad do this to me?..
Even mum?!
"My son, Derek would be returning to Russia on the agreed wedding date and you'll be meeting him at the altar.."
I'd been blinded by excitement and some damn feelings I grew that Gerald Bills words never bothered me.
"Gawd..." I gulped hard, grunting in disgust as I thought of his yellowed-teeth and irritating coughs..
That old man has been my groom all this while!,
Arrgh!
"Adele?.." I suddenly heard a familiar voice say from the door and I quickly slipped the paper into my pockets, turning towards the door.
There was no way I was going to expose my discovery..!
Not until I successfully stop the wedding from holding..
As expected, Jemimah walked in. She was my supposed to be my sister in-law, Gerald's daughter.
Apparently, she was aware of the mischief!...
I mean, she was the only child of her father!
"Hi Jemimah.." I forced myself to fake a smile
"Dad informed me of your presence when I called" she said and still with the forced smile, I nodded.
"Yeah. I came to give him the bill of expenses drafted by the event planner and since he wasn't home, he asked me to drop it in the letter box in his study room" I explained, trying my best not to show the hatred I'd now grown for their family in the last one minute.
"Oh, okay. I need to show you something" she replied, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out of the room.
"Your shoes got delivered already and you need to try them on" she informed as we walked towards a room located at the end of the lobby..
To hell with the damn shoes, I'm definitely not going to walk down the aisle to wed an old man!.
"Oh Adeline, all thanks to your curiosity to know what's written in at least, one of the hundreds of letters in that box, else you wouldn't have known this!" A voice in me winced and I pressed my lips together.
"Dad and mum must pay for this. This wedding mustn't be held!" I thought.
"Zara heels as demanded.." Jemimah smiled as she pulled me to a seat in the room, unsealing the shoe box.
The shoe fitted me perfectly but surprisingly, I didn't like it a single bit, certainly because of my new discovery.
"You'll surely make a good bride Adele" she smiled, staring at the elegance of the shoes in my feet.
"Of course but definitely not to your father, never!," I replied within me.
"I need to get going now, I have to meet the fashion designer to wear my dress and confirm its fitting before the designs are being finalized" I informed, getting up and pulling off the shoes.
My discovery made the house seem suffocating to me and I just couldn't wait to be out..
"Oh dear, I would have loved to come with you but I just got back and I haven't made dad's meal yet. He doesn't eat from the maids you know" she pouted childishly and I nodded..
"It's fine, no qualms" my response contrasted with the 'I don't want your company, either' on my mind.
I left their house after forcing myself to give her a warm embrace and on getting to the parking lot, I wasted no time in driving out immediately.
My heart didn't for a second stop racing and I could feel my body shivering lightly at the feeling the discovery gave..
How could everyone be this mischievous?!..
I couldn't dial anyone's number, not even my best friend's because the discovery was so embarrassing.
All I could do was drive with tears streaming down my face..
..and then, turn on the music to have some beats ram inside my messed skull.
I was shattered, pained and broken. My mind worsened matters by reminding me of the letter's content and how my efforts to have a better wedding had gone in vain..
"Unlucky me.."
The music suddenly stopped after a while and switched to the breaking news session but I wasn't listening until a part of the journalist's words attracted me.
"... and has now declared that his marriage of ten years be divorced due to his wife's infidelity sex video that went viral and threatened to destroy his reputation"
I knitted my brows, while a little part of me wondered why those words refused to stop re-echoing in my head.
"Wait.." I suddenly muttered aloud, losing my focus on the road in bits.
"Divorce.."
"Infidelity video.." I muttered again
".. went viral" my eyes slowly widened as an idea popped into my head.
Oh my..!
"I can stop the wedding by making a sex video of mine go viral!!. He'll definitely want to cancel the wedding because of his threatened reputation!" my gaze expanded more.
"Perfect!!" I screamed out a bit, laughing out loud and wiping my fucking tears.
Damn!
Why didn't I think of this before?
"I can do it right?.. having a nightstand with someone is better than being forever trapped with an old man!. I can do it!" I nodded, smiling sheepishly.
At this point, my mind was literally not on the road where I was driving. My brain was the only thing doing the job.
"But what happens to your own reputation? You're definitely not going to disgrace yourself publicly, will you?" a haunting question suddenly came and my smile slowly faded ..
I sighed in defeat..
"Messed up.." I hissed, driving with one hand as I waved off the plan.
My phone beeped a few seconds later and i looked to check it, ready to transfer aggression to anything unworthy of my attention.
"To hell with you all"
I hissed again, tossing it away on seeing that it was a message from a business group. Dad had added me to the group to help him on an ongoing project with his investors and yes, Gerald was also included.
"It's high time I left the group. Dad can't keep using me as a pawn!" I sighed out, picking the device again..
But then, a voice came around..
"What about sending the video to this group? It's better than making it go viral on social media. Gerald's business partners are there and it will definitely threaten his reputation.. no one would like to attend his wedding"
My eyes flew madly wide..
Wait..
"Oh heavens, why am I this smart?!!!!" ..
"Perfect!!!!!" I grinned, giggling.
"You know what, I need to drive to the hotel now, I need an escort for the task tonight!" I said out, taking a sharp turn thoughtlessly..
And that was it..
The foolish action of mine that made me hit a car.
"Fuck!" I shrieked at the loud bang..
Claire Fanie believed she and Jona Harrow were soulmates, destined to be together as the Luna and alpha of their pack. They represented hope and unity, meant to lead people towards strength and harmony. Everything changes in a moment. Then Jona rejects her love and breaks her forever, destroying Claire's world to pieces. Claire has been betrayed by the one she loved, and her best friend, Laura Jossie‌, and now finds herself in the wild, where she must battle her greatest fears alone. Free from her identity, by night and day she must wrestle with the darkness that threatens to swallow her spirit; she'll survive the brutal elements for eleven days. Wild beasts and the haunting echoes of her past test her resilience every day. The girl who had once so desperately wanted to be accepted becomes a fierce survivor. When she returns to the village, Claire isn't who she used to be, not just in appearance, but in the way she acts. She's been hardened by the trials in the wild and hardened her - scars visible and hidden. The home she returns to, however, is no longer welcoming. People hear whispers about her and rumors, and they poison the minds of those who used to be her family. Claire thinks she might get away, but it soon begins to unravel the truth and there are lies and betrayal at the core of it all. As she confronts the reality of her shattered relationships, she faces a pivotal question: will the weight of her past devour her completely, or will she regain her fate and the love she once believed to be set in her past? This is the story of Claire in a kingdom besieged by doubt, lies, and love across these lines. The lines between friend and foe are blurred, and she must learn how to truly become a Luna again. To do so, she must embrace the strength inside her first and face the darkness that lies ahead. Claire's story is all about her fascinating journey of self-discovery, love, and redemption, and every choice she makes could be for salvation or destruction.
The world of Kae Thompson shattered when Lucas Ross, who was supposed to be her true mate and future Alpha, rejected her on her 21st birthday. Kae was devastated, making decisions to leave the pack and build a new life in the city. Five years later, Kae thrives as a freelance journalist, but her werewolf nature remains dormant. Lucas, the alpha of the BloodMoon pack, appears with a revealing shocking truth. Lucas's rejection was forced by his father's dying wish, protecting her from an ancient prophecy: "The Alpha's Mate" will bring destruction or salvation". As Kae and Lucas navigate their growing feelings for each other they must confront the true meaning of the prophecy. Will Kae forgive Luca's past rejections and accept her destiny? And what secrets lie hidden in the prophecy? Will Kae's werewolf nature be her salvation or downfall? And what were the Alpha's mistakes?
In New Haven, emotions aren't just felt-they're controlled and sold. Kira, one of the city's top emotion engineers, makes her living by creating emotions for others, but her own heart feels empty. Everything changes when she crosses paths with Aether, a rebel who's determined to destroy the system that took everything from him.At first, their connection is full of hate. Kira sees Aether as a threat, and Aether blames people like Kira for turning emotions into a tool for control. But as they're forced to work together, their hatred starts to turn into something much deeper.However, in a world where feelings are manipulated, love is a dangerous thing. Kira's rival, Selene, will do anything to keep them apart, while the mysterious Puppet Master-the one pulling the strings behind New Haven's emotion trade-won't let anyone disrupt his control.Now, Kira and Aether must decide if their love can survive in a world where every emotion has a price, or if it will be shattered by the very forces they're fighting against.
JUST ONE RECORDED NIGHTSTAND WITH A STRANGER.. was all Adeline intended in using as a scandal for her arranged wedding to be called off.. However, fate had other plans.. She ended up getting pregnant for the stranger whom she already parted ways with.. Years later,Just when she resigned herself to solo parenthood, she meets her baby's father who now has no memories of her nor the nightstand.. But that's not the worst of it.. He turned out to be the lover her ruthless female boss was always talking about.. Passion re-ignites.. Secrets explode.. Rivalry intensifies.. Hatred darkens and Adeline's tangled emotions mirror the chaos.. Can love's complexity surpass this?..
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
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."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.