"A second chance at life... but at what cost?" When Isabelle's world shatters, she gets the impossible-a chance to start over. But with this new beginning comes a storm of dark secrets: an ex-boyfriend who won't let her go, a boss who may be her greatest ally or her biggest betrayal, and the truth about her family that changes everything. Can Isabelle outsmart those who would destroy her and find the love and freedom she craves?
ISABELLE
This is a nightmare.
It has to be.
The office is bustling with noise, but my world is as silent as a graveyard as I stare at the TV, watching the anchor's voice drone on.
"Renowned heir and millionaire, Andrew Cole is officially engaged to Evelyn Carter..."
I can't move, can't breathe, not when my whole world is combusting before my eyes.
What the hell is happening?
Trying to make sense of it, I blink, shake my head and look again.
The image on the screen is so clear. Andrew's arm wrapped around Evelyn, both of them smiling like they have just won a lottery.
The anchor's voice drifts in and out, but I can't focus on anything except the image.
I can't breathe.
This isn't happening.
This can't be bloody happening.
"Miss Reynolds?" a voice cuts through the fog in my mind. "What's going on?"
Jake Montero, my ever demanding boss whom I would normally not risk offending.
I don't bother to answer him now, though.
My mind is incapable of making sense of anything right now
"Miss Reynolds? I am talking to you.*
Again, I don't respond.
Instead, I rush to my feet, my chair crashing against the desk, but I don't care. I grab my bag, ignoring his confused call, and rush out of the office.
"There has to be some explanation for this," I mutter to myself. "They wouldn't, it doesn't... It has to be a lie. It has to be."
I'm not thinking straight, that was for sure.
I just couldn't wrap my head round the fact that I just got dumped and played.
My feet are moving before I even realize it, but I know where I'm headed. Our apartment. I can't let this be real. I need to see it with my own eyes.
The streets blur as I drive, but I don't care about the rain, the traffic. Nothing matters except reaching Evelyn and Andrew. They have to explain themselves.
By the time I pull up to the apartment I share with Evelyn, my heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might burst out of my chest.
I don't even bother with the umbrella, allowing the rain to drench me as I rush to the door.
The moment I step inside, the sight I see stops me dead.
Andrew is here.
He isn't supposed to be here
Hw is supposed to be in france.
Studying for his business degree.
But here he is
Sitting on our couch.
His arm draped lazily over Evelyn's shoulders, both of them laughing like they don't have a care in the world.
I slam the door shut, the sound echoing like a gunshot and they look up instantly and instead of guilt or surprise, there's amusement in their eyes.
"Well, look who finally showed up," Evelyn drawls, her lips curling into a smug smile.
"What the hell is this?" My voice cracks, but I don't care. I'm too angry, too confused, too hurt.
Andrew leans back, his expression cold. "It's exactly what it looks like, Isabella. Don't make this harder on yourself."
"Harder on myself?" I step forward, the rage bubbling up inside me.
"You're engaged? To her? My best friend? My roommate?"
Evelyn stands up, crossing her arms. "Oh, please, Isabella. Don't act so shocked. You had to know this was coming."
I look at her, my chest heaving. "You're my best friend, Evelyn. How could I know this was coming?! How could you do this to me?"
She laughs, the sound sharp and mocking.
"Best friend? Let's not kid ourselves, Belle. You were a convenience. A charity case. Do you really think someone like me would stick around someone like you for friendship?"
Her words hit me like a slap. I turn to Andrew, desperate for some kind of explanation. "And you? What's your excuse?"
He shrugs, his gaze bored.
"There's no excuse, Belle, Evelyn's right. You're not who you used to be. You've fallen so far, and frankly, I don't see a future with you anymore."
I stumble back, shaking my head. "You don't see a future with me? After everything we've been through? After everything I've done for you?"
Andrew stands, his towering frame making me feel small. "You're a bankrupt, destitute orphan, Isabella. You've got nothing to offer me anymore. Evelyn, on the other hand..." He looks at her, his eyes dark with something that makes my stomach turn. "She understands what I need. She's not holding me back."
I feel like the air has been sucked out of the room. My heart shatters into pieces that I can't even begin to pick up. "You're disgusting," I whisper, my voice trembling.
He steps closer, his tone mocking. "Face it, love, You're nothing now. No money, no power, no family. You're just a washed-up shell of the girl I used to know."
"Get out of my apartment!" I scream, my voice raw.
Evelyn smirks. "Your apartment? Sweetheart, you seem to forget which one of us is paying the bulk of this place. A word of advice, you should start packing your things."
Her words are the final blow. I can't take it anymore. Tears stream down my face as I turn and bolt out the door, the rain soaking me within seconds.
I don't know where I'm going. I just know I need to get away.
I climb into my car, my hands shaking as I grip the steering wheel as the rain lashes against the windshield, and my vision is blurred from the tears spilling down my cheeks.
The words echo in my mind: You're nothing now. A bankrupt, destitute orphan.
I slam my foot on the gas, my breathing ragged. The streets blur as I drive, my emotions a chaotic mess of anger, pain, and betrayal.
Even as the rain gets heavier, and the road ahead becomes a smear of lights and shadows I still try to focus, but it's too much.
Then, out of nowhere.....headlights.
I don't even have time to react. The sound of screeching tires fills my ears, followed by the deafening crash of metal on metal.
And everything goes black.
"How do you move your body like this,hmm?", he whispered into my ears, making me shiver. I laughed "Don't tell me you can't handle it". "I wouldn't say that if I were you", he replied Follow me', he said as he led me through the crowd. Amelia, a café worker, goes clubbing after being persuaded by her friend, she had an eventful night with a stranger she couldn't even ask for his name, but couldn't stop invading her thoughts. Their paths crossed at a wrong location and she found out she had fallen in love with the famous Italian mafia boss, which then triggers her hatred for him due to some past events. Will she be able to bring herself to hate him even though she hated who he was? Would she accept her new life after she learns the truth about her family after been lied to for years?
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
During her three years of marriage with Brendan, Adeline had become as humble as dust itself. However, what she got in return wasn't love and affection, but endless indifference and disdain. Worse yet, when the woman in Brendan's heart suddenly showed up, he further distanced himself from her. Finally, Adeline couldn't stand it anymore and asked for a divorce. After all, why should she stay with such a cold, distant man? The next one would surely be better. Brendan watched as his ex-wife left with her luggage in tow. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he made a bet with his friends. "She'll definitely regret leaving and will come crawling back to me in no time." After hearing about this bet, Adeline sneered. "Dream on!" A few days later, Brendan ran into his ex-wife in a bar. It turned out she was celebrating her divorce. Not long after, he noticed that the damned woman seemed to have a new suitor. Brendan was starting to panic. The woman who had clung to him for three years suddenly didn't seem to give a damn about him. What was he going to do?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.