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BLURB. Catherine Mckellen, just graduated from college and has lined her goals - working hard and building up her father's company and living her best life as a single independent woman. Her dreams and goals suddenly come to a hault when her Father's company begins to crumble bit by bit. Catherine is forced to make a sacrifice for her family's happiness. She has no other option than to get married to a man whom she knows nothing about and moves in with a man who doesn't have any regard for her. Dive in and discover how they both deal with each other's striking differences as they both live under the same roof. Will they be able to put up with each other?
"Look woman, you know what I hate in this life? It's pretense and fake tears. What are you waiting for? Sign the damn papers so I can get out of here! I have better and much more important things to do. I am a businessman and don't have time to waste on pretense and fake tears!"
Catherine stared at the man in front of her, the man who was to be her husband, bewildered at what she was seeing.
This was supposed to be an official marriage as both families had wanted them, but here she was, stunned and presented with what her husband-to-be called a fake marriage: a contract marriage.
She couldn't understand what this was that she found tears dropping from her eyes. Did her parents know that this was what she would come to meet?
She was going to live as a ghost to her husband; to who she was supposed to be able to call her home.
William's voice was icy as he spoke, his eyes fixed on hers with an unreadable expression.
"What? Do you think I will make this official? You're insanely dreaming. I'm only doing this because of what it holds. You should thank me for even agreeing to this. And I know it's what you also want."
That was not true, it was not what she wanted. She had only agreed to marry him, a stranger, just because her father had made this arrangement.
She wanted to voice out her anger, but also came to a second thought: he might disagree with the marriage if she did. If that happens, her parents will be so disappointed in her.
Fine, if it is what he wanted; then so be it.
He handed her the contract, his movements professional and precise.
Catherine's hands trembled as she took the pen, her heart racing with anxiety. She scanned the document, the words blurring together on the page.
That one clause caught her eyes, making her heart drum tremendously: The parties agree to maintain a strictly platonic relationship, with no physical intimacy or romantic involvement whatsoever.
This writing imprinted in black and white was written in glaring bold letters.
She felt a pang of discomfort but knew she had no choice. She was doing this for her family, for their business, for their company not to go bankrupt.
With a shaky hand, she penned down her signature.
William added his signature, his expression unchanging. "Good. Now, let's get one thing clear. This marriage is a sham. We will only pretend to be husband and wife in public, and within the view of my parents and yours too. Not just them but the entire public, but in private, we'll maintain our distance. Do you understand me?"
"Ye–Yes," Catherine nodded, feeling a chill run down her spine. He didn't have to over-emphasize it, did he? Every word was clear and had been documented in her mind already!
She knew what she was getting into. Looking at it in a good sense, it was better this way after all, since their marriage was based on a loveless agreement – a loveless, passionless marriage of convenience.
She had no other option but to do it, even as it tore her heart to pieces just signing the papers.
With the contract signed, William stood up, his eyes cold and detached.
Catherine stared blankly unsure of what next movement to make.
"The pictures. Do I have to say everything?" William indicated, feeling irritated.
Yes, that was true; they were also supposed to take beautiful fake pictures as a newly wedded couple. Yes, they were couples now; newly wedded husband and wife!
Catherine couldn't help but laugh inwardly. What a world for her. What was supposed to be the happy time of her life turned out like this.
She wiped her tears and adjusted her looks, trying to look as sweet as she was supposed to.
She felt his strong hands pull her closer to him, making her gasp silently, more shivers running down her spine. This was not good; he managed to make her heart thumb with his hands wrapped on her waist and him looking down at her.
He was handsome, indeed, a well-created man. After taking several fake beautiful pictures, he quickly took a distance from her.
"Make sure that no one finds out our marriage is fake. Do you understand me?" He said in a deep tone that shocked her more; a tone that explained it all.
So their parents didn't know about this fake marriage, They were not supposed to know. It clarified her questions; her parents didn't know.
She swallowed hard and also accepted everything was just better this way.
"And make sure you wipe those tears, it irks me to see it on your face." He scoffed.
She ignored his statement as he stormed out, with her trailing behind like a sheep.
Outside the venue was a fleet of cars parked in a light, waiting to take the bride and groom to the Bentley mansion. Catherine's parents stood outside waiting for her, "There she comes, our angel." Mckellen pitched.
As her eyes cast on them, the need to let her tears fall came, but she shouldn't. She needed to appear strong. And then, her mind went on a flashback.
That morning, the morning light sipped in through the window where it kissed the face of the awaiting bride, Catherine Mckellen. Feeling proud of her best friend, Felice said, "You look beautiful, Catherine."
Despite being the bride, Catherine did not look as proud as Felice complimented her. She sighed, regretting her decision to consent to the marriage even though it was for her father's benefit and his company.
All she could think about was what the marriage would be like. She never would have imagined herself getting married to a total stranger, but there she was, sitting in a stunning wedding gown, getting ready for her wedding.
Felice put her hand on her shoulders and said to her, staring at her through the mirror, "You are going to look even more stunning once we are done with the hair. The hairstylist is here. You are doing great, my love." Felice smiled encouragingly at her.
Much as Felice was there trying to encourage her and make her stop those tears from falling off her face, she couldn't; Catherine's tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she lost control of her emotions.
"Ma'am, I know you are happy today, but those happy tears will only smear your makeup." The hairstylist pitched in.
"Tears of joy?!" Felice hurried over right away and said, "I heard tears," noticing Catherine in tears.
"Oh, my dear Catherine, please calm down. I promise you, everything will work out." Felice began to worry for her friend. She comforted her with a hug and let the hairstylist continue his job.
The door opened and Catherine saw her father walk in.
"Catherine,"
She turned away from him, feeling her wedding gown crumple under her intense grip on it.
"You're going to ruin your dress, don't embarrass yourself that way." Her father sighed and moved forward.
"I'm sorry it has to come this way. Do not think that I ha..."
"Dad please, I'm better off not talked to. I'm doing this anyway. There's no point in sounding comforting to me, so please, leave me alone now."
Catherine was disappointed, they should have at least sat down and discussed this first, but they went behind her and made the arrangements already and left her with no other option than to accept.
"Cathe..."
"Leave!" Catherine's voice was stern as she finally burst into tears, leaving her father speechless as he turned to leave.
"Stop it, okay," Felice was wiping her tears again until the ruined makeup was amended.
And then, after some minutes, here she was, standing before them, holding hands with a total stranger, one she had never been able to get close to, not to talk of having feelings for him. And now they were married, a fake marriage they were not supposed to know.
She snapped out of her thoughts when her mother came rushing to her.
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
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!
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
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?