"Stay away from me; I'm not the man for you." How did those words transform into "I can't live without her"? Dive into this unique love story to uncover the truth. Vivian Carter is forced into an arranged marriage with a man she's never met, under the threat of devastating consequences to the only person she truly loves if she disobeys her controlling father and stepmother. Mario Houston, a billionaire with his own empire, embodies the classic bad boy who always gets his way. But when Vivian enters his life and starts calling him out on his behavior, will he rise to the challenge and become a better man-or spiral even further into his dark ways?
I pulled the sleeves up on my glimmering dress as tears went up in my eyes. I was getting married a moment to be remembered, but all I felt was alone in an empty room, surrounded by not a single familiar face. I had never felt more alone than on my wedding day.
"Too fast", I repeated as my helpers straightened out my dress. This day was the day when I would feel loved and happy, but all I felt was alone.
I fell into the corner as I slowly grasped what I was going to become in a couple of everlasting hours. A wife. A wife of a man who not only loathed her but was disgusted by her. They tried to apply makeup to my rosy, red cheeks as my mascara kept spilling down my face along with my tears.
In the corner of my eye, I saw a little girl picking off the flowers of the bouquet on the table. I was left to have a few minutes to gather myself and then put on a strong face while a stranger walked me down the aisle.
The little girl approached me as she saw a tear running down the side of my cheek
"Why are you crying", she whispered to avoid the hearing of the others.
"I'm very happy", I said as she smiled and hugged my figure the wedding director came in and saw me all ready to walk down an aisle where I knew no one, even the man I was marrying.
"All happy tears, smile", she said as she fixed my slouching shoulders upright and saw the lines on my face from the draining mascara.
"Let's get some waterproof mascara", she said as she grabbed a brush and applied foundation to my black lines of sadness. They applied it with patience as I knew that was something I didn't have.
"Everything will be okay", the correspondent assured me as she fixed my dress and made sure everything was in place. She straightened my sterling silver necklace and straightened out my full-length veil.
Was I ready to give away my first kiss to a man I didn't even know, I wanted the whole deal I wanted love, romance a happily ever after. I wanted magic, something that this relationship could never uphold.
"Miss Carter?", The director swooped her hands in front of me trying to bring me back to reality, a place I wanted to escape.
"Yes", I said interrupting my heavenly dreams of love and magic, something that I could never experience.
"Are you ready", she asked as that was my last resort of running away, of course, I had nowhere to go that I'd be free, from my father.
"Uh. yes", I whispered as the people started pouring out the little girl quickly gathered her rose petals in a mini basket and skipped out of the peach room and into the line of the arrangement of my wedding.
I peeked at the gate ahead of us as it was pulled wide open I heard an organ and a harp playing on in serene harmony. The people piled in one after the other some hand in hand.
Should I be happier? I'm getting married, right? I've wanted this since I planned out my dream wedding in my binder since I was 6.
I heard an echo from the silent church behind me as a voice said "Excuse me" and "Pardon me", I turned to see it was Mario's Dad rushing towards me.
"Vivian, you look stunning", he said as a tear escaped my eyes, all I wanted was for my mother to be here. His fatherly love reminded me of the love I had never had. Mario's father was a sweet soul who knew the reputation of his playboy son.
"I didn't see your parents in the corridors, could they not make it", He asked as if I expected them to be there.
I shook my head "They couldn't make it, but they said they'd drop by soon", I said in the reassurance of the plan of our businesses.
"I'm sorry they can't be here but you have Delylah and I here", he said as I thanked him for his kind manner, he slowly tucked his hand undermine as the music grew louder and everyone in the pews rose.
I walked in gracefully hiding my tears with a pleasing smile, we walked with ease and grace as I looked straight ahead I saw the man who made this happen, only now he was smiling, I think it's normal to smile on your wedding day, but we weren't normal, we were far from normal.
Mario stood there grinning at me in a clean black suit with the look of it, it cost around the price of a mansion. He smirked at me as he saw me stumble on the train of my dress as Mario's dad tried to steady me I tripped on the lower length.
I searched the pews for anyone I knew and saw no one except the little girl in the second row looking down at her empty basket.
My parents never showed and I can't say I'm not surprised, I mean they married me off to a stranger after kicking me to the curb, is this what I deserve? As my parents put it "Yes this is what you deserve for being a bitch, and a brat" I was their only daughter and all I wanted in life was to escape the parties and the makeup and the banquets all I wanted was to be free.
Mario went into my mind again as we neared the podium, I felt my knees quiver and my mouth get dry. I started blushing madly after I saw his smile, his smile attracted the audience it was radiant and handsome. He was just overall the hottest guy I've ever seen and let me tell you I haven't seen a lot.
His father kissed my cheek as Mario reached down for my hand, looking all chivalrous. I put my manicured hand in his hand as he squeezed it. I stepped up the podium as his hand guided me to where I needed to stand. I stood as his hand on my hand would move a bit, he was quite helpful. As the ceremony began, I saw his piercing hazel eyes staring into mine. The ceremony went on and on until it came to the final part.
"Mario Houston, do you take Vivian Carter as your wife, to cherish and love, to protect and to be there for one another, if you do say 'I do'? "
Mario looked into my eyes as I imagined him taking off running, for the hills. But he surprised me "I do", he said as he squeezed my hand.
"Vivian Carter, do you take Mario Houston to be your husband, to love and
to cherish, to protect in all times if you do say 'I do'", the priest said as it dawned on me. I would be trapped in a loveless marriage. Would I be safe, yes? And in the world, it's protection, not love.
"I.. do", the words flew out of my mouth as I saw the glance from Mario.
"You may now kiss the bride", the priest said as his face floated towards mine. He leaned in as his lips brushed against mine and he indulged himself in my mouth. I felt fireworks as our lips touched and as his fingers trailed up my cheeks, wiping away my last tear of the night.
He let go of me suddenly as the crowd roared and everyone stood up and clapped for quite a performance. But that was only something Mario, his family and I knew about.
As I saw tears pile up on faces in the pews I imagined my mother being here walking me down the aisle hand in hand. She would
tell me everything would be okay and that she would always be there.
"Vivian", Mario said as he took my hand and hurried me down the aisle. The crowds filed out of their pew to see us get in a limo and drive away. We walked out of the church as cameras flashed away, as the guards blocked us we rushed to the car. He opened the door for me as I climbed into the spacious limo. He shut the door and lost his smile he crept to the back as I sat next to the books and candy.
Who could ever read in the car? If I did I would barf my throat out.
"Get changed, into this you can't go into the party in your wedding dress", he threw me a pressed down the dress. He flung it across the spread-out limo, expecting me to catch it.
"I can't change here", I hesitated as he stared at me like a crazy person. He gave a light laugh, as I possibly couldn't understand what was so amusing for him.
"Why not", he put his phone down. I finally had his attention off that tiny piece of technology.
"Cause you're right there and I need help taking this dress off it's not that easy", I said as a light laugh escaped his mouth.
"It's not like I'm looking", he said as he made me feel unwanted. He gave me a light chuckle as he just shook his head in disbelief.
"Can we stop please at Lorelai Boutique ", I called out to the driver as he pulled into an old boutique parking lot. Luckily it was on the way from the venue.
"Where are you going, we're going to be late", he called out to me as I ran into the boutique. Without another second I felt right back at home just looking through the window at the vibrant hand-sewn dresses on white mannequins.
"Don't defy me Nessa submit yourself to me." he said in a threatening voice. She was shocked at how stubborn he is and not even trying to understand her vulnerability. "No I'll never do this. I don't want this, please." She cried out this time joining her hands in front of him and also trying to clutch her dress. "You have to because I bought you and I can do whatever I want with you." He evilly smirked while gazing up and down at her and her gaze again went to her cleavage and now she was looking like a irresistible temptress to him without doing anything. "Please you are not my soulmate, my forever love." she said sobbing out again trying to make him understand. 'What is this nonsense soulmate or forever love?' he thought and scoffed loudly. These things are nothing to him and now it will not matter for her too because he the one who will matter for her now. He strode towards her and held her jaw in a tight grip and gritted his teeth. "There is nothing like that. Forever is a lie and even there is something like this I'll be that for you. " He spat at her aggressively not even liking a bit that she will be with someone else. "No leave me please I beg you." she pleaded him again and now it made him go crazy knowing why she is resisting him because she thinks he is not his soulmate or his lover. Even if any soulmate of her is out there he will not let him be alive. He will kill him with his own bare hands and give him that much painful death that any man will think hundred times to even lay their eyes on her. "Yes you will beg me to don't stop after I'll fuck you till your submission." He said and left her jaw throwing her on the bed. *** An innocent girl Vanessa Orwell is abducted and sold to the Italian mafia boss. Morgan Price the Italian mafia boss bought and kept her with him without her will. But her everything starts attracting him towards her. What will he do when suddenly he starts feeling something for her?
Tiara meets Leandro just as her life seems to be falling into place. She's a confident young artist who recently opened her own art studio in the heart of New York City. One night, Leandro saves her from an attack, and everything she thought she knew about her life starts to unravel. She knows he's dangerous, but she can't resist the pull of the mysterious, captivating man. There's something about him that fascinates her-and he may hold secrets about a past she never even knew existed. Leandro, on the other hand, was only looking for a front to hide his illegal weapons trade when he stumbled into Tiara's gallery. Falling for the bold, dark-haired artist was never part of the plan. Yet, despite his belief that women are only weaknesses in the life of a Mafia Don, he finds himself drawn to her fiery spirit and unable to let her go. Can their love survive the chaos of Leandro's criminal world, or will Tiara become another casualty of his dangerous life? Book contains strong language and mature themes.
"Kill me," she rasped, her voice hoarse. It was confusing; didn't she want this, didn't she want me? What an actress. My laughter turned bitter. "That would be too easy," I smirked before letting go of her neck and dropping her to the floor. I crouched down, grabbed her chin, and forced her to look at me. "I’m going to torture you, destroy you, but never kill you. After all, you'll have to sleep with me eventually. You are my wife now," he mocked me cruelly. Jennifer Nelson, the fearless Russian capo's perfect and pure daughter, finds her life changed when she's married off to form a treaty. Her new husband, Alexander Alfonso, is known worldwide, especially to her. The treaty wasn't the only reason he married her—he wanted revenge. Eight years have passed; has anything changed? She didn't expect to last long in the marriage. How far will she go to survive? Does she even want to? Alexander Alfonso, the ruthless Italian capo, is known for his cruelty. After something devastating happens to him, it haunts him for eight years until he gets the perfect chance to make the person responsible pay. He thinks he knows everything about her, but all his studying might be wasted when she reveals her truth. Even the most evil people have a traumatic story that shaped them. How far will he go to make her pay? Does he even want to after learning the truth? TW: This story contains triggering topics of many sorts.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.