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I had chased after Ethan Quinn for five years, and he finally agreed to marry me. Two months before the wedding, I was in a terrible car accident. I tried calling him three times, but each time he hung up on me. Why? Because one of his childhood friends had suggested he pull away for a while, thinking it would make me less clingy. When I finally crawled out of the wreckage, I was covered in bruises, my right arm completely shattered. It was then that I truly understood-some things just can't be forced. But he... he started waiting outside my door every day, his eyes red, asking me to give him five years in return.
When I was rushed to the hospital, my clothes were torn, and my body was covered in wounds.
The doctor sighed as he examined me. After such a long delay in treatment, it was likely my right hand couldn't be saved.
If only I had come sooner...
I stared blankly at the hospital ceiling, absorbing the doctor's grim words. My right hand had suffered a compound fracture, and the chances of recovery were slim. I might never be able to paint again.
Tears welled up, streaming down my face, as a deep sense of despair slowly crept through my entire body. Why couldn't I just learn to let go?
What was Ethan Quinn doing right now?
Maybe he'd opened a bottle of red wine last night, celebrating the fact that I wasn't pestering him. Or perhaps he was sitting at the piano with some childhood friend, enjoying a quiet, intimate moment. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. At least I wouldn't be in the way anymore.
Then, my phone rang. It was Ethan Quinn.
I slowly closed my eyes. This time, it was time to let go.
Ethan stormed into my hospital room, his clothes perfectly pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. He frowned when he saw me, his gaze cold, like an aloof deity looking down from above. "What's this game you're playing? Why didn't you pick up my call?"
"Is this really why you're upset?" His voice cut through my pain. "I told you I was busy. Why can't you understand that?"
His words tore open the wound that was still bleeding inside me.
For a moment, my numb heart seemed to stir, like it could feel again. He didn't even ask how I was. Without a second thought, he had already judged me. Even now, lying here covered in injuries, I still couldn't get a rise out of him. After all, it had been five years. And yet, one word from Ethan still unraveled me.
I gazed at him, sorrow welling in my chest, unable to speak. My eyes brimmed with tears-eyes that seemed to plead, but were also resigned.
The sterile white walls around me reflected his indifference, and the sharp scent of antiseptic mocked my futile efforts.
Maybe Ethan had never seen me like this before. He looked slightly uncomfortable. "You should rest. Don't forget about the international art exhibition next week. I have to get back to practice."
He added, "The international piano competition is really important to me, so don't bother me during this time."
With that, he turned and left without a single glance back, never once asking about my injuries.
I watched Ethan hurry away, a cold shiver running through me. I couldn't find my voice. This was the boy I'd chased for five years.
Tears fell uncontrollably. I had once naively believed that my sincerity and passion would touch Ethan, that it would make him turn back to me.
The international piano competition was important to him. His childhood friends were important to him. But what was I?
I had once believed that persistence would be rewarded, just like my dedication to painting. But reality had struck me hard-it wasn't true that everything would have a happy ending just because you stuck with it. My sincerity had meant nothing to him. So why had he promised me anything? Why had he given me hope?
As the sun set, I curled up on the bed, trembling, feeling as though I had returned to that night-alone, trapped in the car, unconscious for who knows how long, feeling as if I might die.
Before I lost consciousness, I made a call. I thought of Ethan first, but even after passing out for the entire night, no help came.
Maybe I had been wrong from the start. I was always the one forcing things, just like with my art career-there was no place for me in fate's plan.
After five days of treatment, my body began to heal, except for my hand.
The doctor recommended I go to a better private hospital for further treatment. I laughed bitterly. I couldn't afford that.
I left the hospital and returned to my apartment, where the cramped room was filled with paintings.
It was at the graduation party five years ago that I first fell for Ethan. Since then, his image had appeared in every one of my paintings.
The whole room was filled with works related to Ethan. Over the years, it felt like I had been living in his world, slowly losing myself along the way.
I was wrongly accused of killing Alpha Darius's younger sister. To atone, Darius keeps me by his side, treating me like a prostitute and constantly humiliating me. I believed that one day he would discover the truth and see how much I truly love him. But until the day I die, he continues to hate me.
I've been married to CEO Jasper for two years, and for those two years, he's been cheating. Night after night, he brought home a new mistress, and still had the audacity to call me disgusting. Fine, if I disgust you, then let's get a divorce! I threw the signed divorce papers in his face. But instead of letting go, he clung to me like a stubborn piece of taffy. No matter where I went, he followed. I had enough. "Hi, boss, what exactly do you want from me?" His sincere reply: "Please, give me the chance to earn back your love."
They had been together for two years, and he had been cheating for just as long. She loved him deeply, so she put up with it time and time again. But his behavior grew more unbearable with each passing day-bringing his mistress home to spend the night, treating her like she was nothing more than an eyesore, a nuisance. Fine. If she was truly that disgusting to him, then it was time to end this chapter between them. She threw a contract in his face, but instead of walking away, he clung to her like sticky syrup. Wherever she went, he followed. Finally, fed up, she turned to him and asked, "What do you want from me?" With intense affection in his eyes, he replied, "I want you to mark me."
For the ten years I stood by Alpha Victor's side, I confessed my feelings to him over and over. He went through girlfriend after girlfriend, but I was never the one he picked. Then, one day, he said, "Jump, and I'll make you my luna." I agreed, but as I fell, my head hit something hard, and I lost my memory. When I woke up, I looked at the man in front of me and asked, "Who are you? Where's Alpha Alexander?"
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
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.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."