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Mia thought she had it all-until her husband shattered her world with a single signature. Replaced by his secretary, she's left with nothing but the sting of betrayal and the weight of her mother's crumbling estate. Just as her life unravels, Alexander Wolfe-her ex-husband's ruthless rival-steps in with an unexpected proposition. Alexander offers Mia a lifeline, but at what cost? Beneath his cold and calculating demeanor lies an agenda as enigmatic as the man himself. As Mia is drawn into Alexander's world of power, secrets, and seduction, she discovers that the price of survival may be more than she bargained for. When betrayal runs deep and love feels like the ultimate risk, can Mia uncover the truth before her heart becomes the ultimate casualty?
Mia paced back and forth in the expansive living room, the soft click of her heels echoing on the marble floor as she directed the event planners. The decorators moved with practiced precision, draping soft, pastel-colored fabrics over the chairs and adjusting floral arrangements of lilies and roses on the dining table.
"Check the symmetry on that centerpiece," she called, her voice firm but not unkind. Her sharp gaze darted to the floral arrangements where soft lilies and roses were artfully intertwined. "No, not like that. The lilies should face outward," she called, her eyes scrutinizing the arrangement. "And don't forget the candles-white, not cream. They need to match the theme perfectly."
The catering staff entered with trays of hors d'oeuvres, and Mia gestured toward the dining area. "Set those on the side table for now, but keep the champagne chilled. I don't want anything out until Ethan gets here."
"Yes, Mrs. Stone," one of the staff responded, nodding as they hurried to follow her instructions.
Mia glanced at the clock on the wall, her stomach fluttering with anticipation. This wasn't just any anniversary; it marked five years since she and Ethan had said their vows. It had been a quiet ceremony, born out of a business contract neither was it publicly acknowledged, but it was still their day. Despite their unconventional start and Ethan's aloofness, she was determined to make this evening special.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. Fishing it out of her pocket, she saw Ethan's name flashing on the screen. A warm smile spread across her lips as she answered.
"Hi, Ethan," she greeted, her tone light with excitement.
"Where are you?" Ethan's voice came through, dry and detached.
Her brow furrowed slightly at his tone, but she quickly masked her concern. "I'm at home," she replied, carefully avoiding any mention of the surprise she was orchestrating.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice holding a strange edge.
"Nothing much," she said, her voice laced with cheer. "Just... waiting for you."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, filled with the faint hum of background noise. Then, a burst of laughter erupted, followed by a familiar voice-female, light, and unmistakably Jenna's.
"Is that Jenna?" Mia asked, her smile faltering.
Ethan's response was dismissive, neither denying or affirming. "I'm busy, Mia. I'll be home soon."
Her grip on the phone tightened, but she forced herself to sound unaffected. "Alright. I'll see you then."
Before hanging up, Ethan added, "I have something to announce when I get back."
Her breath hitched. "Oh? What is it?"
"You'll find out soon enough," he said curtly before the line went dead.
Mia stared at her phone, unease curling in her chest. Something about his tone, paired with Jenna's laughter in the background, unsettled her. Shaking her head, she pushed the thought aside. This was their anniversary-she couldn't let her doubts ruin the night.
Forty-five minutes later, the hum of an engine broke the silence. Mia hurried to the window, her heart leaping as she saw Ethan's sleek black car pulling into the driveway. The security guards opened the gate, smiling and waving as they wished him a happy anniversary.
Ethan's response was barely audible, but the scoff that followed went unnoticed by Mia.
As the car rolled into the garage, Mia smoothed down her dress, adjusting the delicate pearl necklace around her neck. She wanted everything to be perfect when he walked in.
But then she saw it-a second figure in the car. A woman.
Meanwhile, the passenger door opened, and Jenna stepped out, her laughter ringing through the quiet evening air. Mia froze, her mind racing as she watched Ethan and Jenna exchange a glance through the window.
"You really think she'll take it well?" Jenna asked, her tone amused.
Ethan smirked, shutting the car door with a sharp click. "Whether she takes it or not doesn't concern me. She'll find out soon enough."
Jenna's hand moved to her stomach, and she smiled. "I'm just saying, you might want to break it to her gently. After all, it is your wedding anniversary."
Ethan snorted, stepping closer to her. "Gently? Please. Mia's tough. She'll survive."
Mia's heart sank, her hands trembling as she stepped back from the window. The world seemed to tilt as her mind struggled to process what she'd just seen.
The sound of the front door opening echoed through the house. Ethan and Jenna were here. Mia turned to face the living room, the beautiful decorations now feeling like a mockery of her efforts.
Her heart raced as she heard their footsteps approaching, Jenna's light laughter blending with Ethan's deeper voice. Whatever announcement Ethan had to make, Mia knew it had a lot to do with Jenna and her stomach and it was about to shatter everything.
The door to the main living room creaked open, and there they stood. Jenna's hand was still resting on her stomach, her gaze locking with Mia's in a way that felt both triumphant and pitying. Mia felt the blood drain from her face. Her knees wobbled as Jenna's hand moved over her stomach again. She couldn't be... no, it wasn't possible. Ethan stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Mia," he began, his voice unnervingly calm. "We need to talk."
Mia's knees threatened to give way, but she forced herself to stand tall. "What's going on, Ethan?"
Jenna smirked, her hand once again moving to her stomach. "Oh, Ethan, just tell her already. She deserves to know."
Ethan shot her a warning glance before turning back to Mia. "Sit down, Mia," he said, gesturing to the couch.
"I'd rather stand," Mia replied, her arms crossed.
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Fine."
He paused, and for a fleeting moment, Mia thought she saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But then his jaw tightened, and his usual mask of indifference returned.
"I didn't want you to find out like this," he began, his voice cool and measured. "But there's no point in delaying it any longer."
Mia's pulse quickened. "Find out what?"
Jenna stepped forward, her smile widening. "About us."
Phoenix Gunnar, an assassin with no conscience, is forced to take on a mission she never wanted-to kill August Grey, the secret boss of a powerful underground faction. But when her target turns the tables and captures her instead, Phoenix is thrust into a world of power, dominance, and twisted lust. She may have been sent to kill him, but now she's trapped in his arms, torn between duty, vengeance, and a passion that's impossible to resist.
Emilia Harper never expected her life to turn into a soap opera. Married to Damian, a man who was supposed to marry her twin sister Isabella, Emilia's life is a web of resentment, betrayal, and cold indifference. Though she never loved Damian, she respected their union-until she found him in bed with Isabella for the fifth time and this time around on their wedding anniversary. Heartbroken and furious, Emilia seeks refuge in a karaoke bar, drowning her pain in the music and a night with a handsome stranger. The next day, she realizes she's made a mistake and flees the country. Five years later, Emilia returns, now a world-renowned designer and mother to two celebrity children. She has one goal: to divorce Damian and be free of her past. But fate has other plans. The man from that night turns out to be Alexander Donovan-Damian's powerful billionaire uncle, the real head of the Harper family fortune. Now Alexander has set his sights on the one woman who was always meant to be his. And he's determined to claim her for himself-while Damian watches everything he thought he owned crumble to pieces.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
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."
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.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”