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Alice was an orphan, adopted by the Thomas family at a young age. As a child, whenever she was bullied, she would curl up in the pearwood wardrobe. That was until Charles found her and pulled her out. They lived as siblings for many years, with Alice being cherished and raised by him like a precious gem. Over the course of ten years, a love, hidden in the corners of their hearts, grew uncontrollably. It wasn't until the humid summer of her nineteenth year, in her room, that Charles personally put a star necklace around her neck- "Alice, do me a favor." ... He asked Alice to seduce Stuart, the heir of The William family, to ruin his engagement and prevent him from marrying the eldest daughter of the Green family. Alice agreed. Everyone said that Stuart, the head of The William family, was like a poisonous thorn-deep, calculating, ruthless, and sinister. At a cruise ship banquet, the young girl, holding her skirt, stumbled into his room... Stuart pinned her to the head of the bed, his fingers tracing the star necklace at her collarbone: "This gift from Charles, how many layers of wrapping do you want me to take off?" Later, he personally unwrapped the "gift." Day and night, they sank deeper and deeper into obsession, unable to escape. ... Three months later, Stuart announced his engagement, and all of London was in an uproar! The man who had always been indifferent to women, obsessed with studying human anatomy, and willing to break off his parents' arranged engagement... was actually getting married? At the engagement party, Stuart tore off the star necklace Charles had given her, carelessly tossed it aside, and placed a Graff pink diamond necklace around Alice's neck- "Did it hurt when I threw it away?" Alice didn't answer. She grabbed Stuart's tie, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him. The guests screamed, and the reporters snapped photos frantically. Alice's eyes narrowed, and she turned her head toward the guests- In the crowd, Charles, who had "gotten what he wanted," tightly gripped his wine glass. His dark eyes... were cold enough to freeze.
Alice opened the locker door, and a clear sapphire bracelet slid out.
Before she could react, a girl exclaimed, "Elizabeth's bracelet, you stole it!"
"..."
In just one morning, rumors of Alice stealing the bracelet quickly spread throughout the entire academy.
This "Tears of the Stars" bracelet was a gift from Elizabeth's father to her for her eighteenth birthday. It was auctioned at Ston's Auction House for thirty-six million, attracting media attention and becoming a hot topic.
With such a precious item stolen, if the accusation stuck, Alice would likely spend the rest of her life behind bars-both this life, the next, and the one after that...
Fortunately, the academy had yet to inform the police, taking Charles's position into consideration.
After all, Alice had grown up with The Thomas family. Though she was a sponsored student, she had been by Charles's side for eight years. Everyone knew how much Charles adored his "sister," despite not being biologically related.
A group of teachers, directors, and board members questioned Alice for the entire morning.
She explained tirelessly, but no one believed her innocence.
The dean, always skilled at smoothing over issues, said, "Alice, the women's changing room has no surveillance. Although we trust your character..."
"But in front of so many people, we all saw the bracelet fall out of your locker. It's hard to explain."
"It's okay. Since the bracelet has been found, I don't want to hold Alice accountable," Elizabeth, the owner of the bracelet, graciously said, "I believe she didn't do it on purpose. It was probably just a moment of carelessness. There's no need to involve the police. She should just apologize, and it'll be over."
Everyone turned to look at Alice in the corner.
She stood alone by the door, dressed in a school uniform just like Elizabeth, with a blazer and a white shirt inside.
Her thick black hair was casually tied up into a small bun, with a playful wave at the tips.
Her face was calm.
If it were anyone else, they would have been trembling with fear at such a situation, but she remained unflustered.
Her mental fortitude was too strong.
......
Actually, it was impossible for Alice not to be anxious inside.
From the beginning, this was a one-sided trial. She explained, but no one believed her.
Without investigation, they immediately pushed her into apologizing.
Alice was very clear that she could not let them sweep this under the rug.
A theft of such a huge amount would draw the police, and with that, media attention. The Thomas family's reputation would be at stake.
Apologizing would be equivalent to admitting the theft, and she might be kicked out of The Thomas family.
Alice didn't want to leave The Thomas family. She didn't want to return to the poor, crime-ridden fishing village, where every night she would be watched by disgusting, lecherous old men. She didn't want to live in constant fear.
She could not back down and admit to something she didn't do.
"I didn't steal anything." She looked around and calmly gazed at them. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do."
At such a moment, she couldn't show weakness, or she'd be bullied to death.
"Still stubborn? The bracelet fell out of your locker. How do you prove you didn't steal it?"
Alice looked at Elizabeth's group of friends, "I have no way to prove it, so we should call the police and let them investigate."
The school leaders exchanged glances. They didn't want to call the police.
If this became a big deal, it would affect the school's reputation and the relationship between The Green family and The Thomas family.
The situation seemed to reach a deadlock.
The dean looked helplessly at the owner of the bracelet, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth didn't want to offend Charles, so she immediately said, "This is just a small issue. There's no need to involve the police. Since Alice insists she didn't steal it, I'll believe her. Maybe she just found it. Anyway, it's been returned, and that's enough. Everyone, please disperse."
Thanks to Elizabeth's graciousness, the matter was finally brushed aside.
Some students still muttered behind her back,
"Doesn't she need to apologize for what she did?" "Mr. Charles spoils her. With all her designer clothes, why would she steal something?" "She's probably too shallow." "She's lucky that Elizabeth is so kind-hearted. If it were anyone else, she'd be in jail by now."
Alice coldly looked at the people around her, fully aware that here, she wouldn't get any fair treatment.
After the crowd dispersed, the counselor informed Alice that the school would discipline her.
Heaton Academy was London's top noble school-a cradle for entrepreneurs, politicians, and world-class artists.
Such a prestigious institution would never allow a "rotten apple" to spoil the whole bunch.
If she couldn't prove her innocence before the punishment was handed down, she would be expelled.
Alice knew it would be hard to prove her innocence, but she had to try.
This incident happened while Charles was abroad. The school knew her relationship with Charles but still didn't want to investigate the truth thoroughly. They were just going along with the flow and preparing to "discipline" her.
There was undoubtedly someone behind the scenes, scheming to frame her and drive her away.
She wasn't one to be easily manipulated.
......
Alice caught up with Elizabeth in the Duke's Hall and smiled.
"Elizabeth, thank you earlier. If it weren't for your generosity, I might have been sent to the police."
Her friends seemed to admire how she stood firm earlier in the dean's office, adamantly denying the theft and insisting on proving her innocence. But now, she suddenly switched to thanking Elizabeth as if she were a life-saver.
Elizabeth had always been good at accepting gratitude.
"It's fine," she patted Alice on the shoulder, smiling. "It's all over. Let's pretend it never happened."
"Hmm, I want to ask, how did you realize the bracelet was missing?"
"Don't ask if you already know," one of Elizabeth's friends mocked. "You stole Elizabeth's bracelet and now you're asking how it disappeared? Are you still trying to argue?"
Alice ignored the side remarks, earnestly looking at Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, please, I need to know."
Elizabeth thought for a moment before replying, "It was during dance class. I took off the bracelet and put it in my pocket. When I returned to the classroom, it was gone."
"Is it possible... it fell out and someone else picked it up?"
"I've already explained to the teachers. Even if you picked it up and didn't want to return it, it's fine. I won't pursue the matter," Elizabeth said with a pitying look. "But, you know, Alice, sometimes one should know when to stop, right?"
Picking something up and not returning it was indeed different from stealing, but Alice didn't understand what "knowing when to stop" meant.
If she hadn't done it, she wouldn't admit to it.
"Elizabeth, after you put the bracelet in your pocket and before you noticed it was gone, where did you go?"
Seeing that Alice was still stubbornly "pretending ignorance," Elizabeth's face turned colder. "The dance studio and the beautiful drink shop."
"Got it. Thanks."
After Alice left, some girls around Elizabeth commented, "Elizabeth, she stole your jewelry, and you're still talking to her like this?"
Elizabeth gently touched the fine blue bracelet on her wrist. "One mistake can lead to a lifetime of regret. It's sad she's so stubborn and unwilling to repent."
"Society will teach her a lesson," one of her friends sneered. "I still don't understand how someone like Charles can keep her by his side."
......
In Washington, USA.
After the meeting, Charles took out his phone and saw the photo sent by his friend Joyce.
The girl in the photo stood alone in the corner of the dean's office, pale and thin, with flawless skin and sharp, delicate features. There was a small, seductive red mark on her neck.
A rare beauty.
Over the years, Charles had truly "raised" her like a flower.
Joyce's voice message carried a hint of teasing, "Brother Charles, your little follower is in trouble. Shouldn't you come back?"
"I've known for a while." Charles replied calmly.
"Are you really going to sit this out? Every time she's been in trouble, haven't you always rushed to be her protector?"
"Why don't you rush down and show me how it's done?" Charles looked out at the Pentagon, its shape barely visible through the haze of sunset, and said in a calm voice, "If she can't solve this little issue on her own, she doesn't deserve to stay by my side."
......
In the dimming evening, rain fell softly, the streets dark, and raindrops scattered in the air, blown by the wind.
The weather reminded Alice of the time when she first came to London with Charles.
A poor girl from a fishing island, who had been taken in and raised by the wealthy Thomas family.
All because of Charles's mercy.
At her most helpless moment, she had encountered the kindest of saviors.
Now, she didn't have much time. If she didn't clear her name, she might be sent back to that poor, miserable island, with no future ahead.
Alice arrived at the entrance of the "Beautiful Drink Shop."
She suspected that the people who framed her didn't have the courage to directly search Elizabeth's pocket.
Most likely, the bracelet fell out, was picked up by someone, and then framed her.
It wasn't a particularly clever scheme.
Everything seemed to have happened by chance.
Previously, Alice had already tried to access the surveillance footage from the classroom but was denied.
No one would risk offending the other wealthy students at Heaton Academy just to clear a poor sponsored student like her.
The footage from the drink shop might hold a clue.
She entered the shop, saying she had left important exam materials behind and asked to check the surveillance footage.
The shop staff refused.
Alice even offered a sum of fifty thousand London pounds, but the staff remained unmoved, almost as if they had a personal grudge against money.
It was strange.
If money couldn't buy this favor, it must have been offered at a higher price by someone else.
Alice didn't have much money. Everything she had was earned through hard work, little by little.
Charles bought her designer clothes and bags, but her allowance was not substantial.
If she had more money, it might make her think of other things, but in terms of living expenses, she was far behind the other rich kids.
So, she couldn't outbid those who were framing her.
She walked out of the drink shop without leaving immediately, instead glancing around cautiously.
The rain fell lightly, pedestrians walked in small groups, umbrellas in hand.
Every now and then, someone would glance at her oddly. She didn't carry an umbrella, and the rain dampened her bangs.
Maybe it was because she had been bullied since childhood, but she gave off a vulnerable, harmless vibe, one that easily triggered a sense of protection in men.
A few boys even came over and asked if she needed an umbrella.
Alice declined.
What she needed wasn't an umbrella.
She suspected that the people who framed her were following her. Seeing her come out of the drink shop, they would likely go back in to confirm the loyalty of the shop staff.
All she needed to do was wait for the right moment.
Alice stood in the rain, walked across the street to the park, and stepped into the lush bushes, looking for a good spot to observe.
Just as she crouched down, she saw, two meters away, a girl holding a knife, the thin blade pressed against her wrist.
The girl was trembling, fearfully.
Choosing to commit suicide here? Not a bad choice of location.
The two of them made eye contact.
The girl expected Alice to stop her, but Alice simply blinked, then turned her head away.
"..."
A little awkward.
Alice ignored her and crouched down, not caring about the rain soaking her skirt or the mud staining her little shoes.
Two minutes later, she looked at the girl again, as though urging her to hurry up and not delay her own business.
The girl bit her lip. She clearly couldn't bring herself to cut her wrist. Instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a video message.
"Stuart, if you don't delete those videos, I'll die right in front of you!"
In the video, almost no one could be seen.
Only the cold white light of the lab was blinding.
Then, a voice, indifferent and dismissive, came from the video. "I'm watching."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
He is aloof and abstinent; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his pedestal step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that the wealthy man who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé... He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her half-sister's mother. Now, the grudge is set in stone...
At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
Andy, staring at the man in front of her, felt her mind go blank, oddly thirsty. Her body instinctively leaned into his, subconsciously craving more, yet with an undercurrent of nervousness and unease. "Andy, are you going to pay for me?" Andy wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, the pressure increasing, suppressing the sounds rising from her throat. "I'll give you a discount." Charlie's body was solid, like a silent presence enveloping her, mixed with a familiar and intoxicating scent. "Charlie, you didn't turn off the light..." Now tinted with desire, his features remained striking, yet their invasiveness seemed to intensify. "Turn off the light?" His voice was deep, tinged with a trace of amusement. "Then how would you still see me?" The story begins with Andy, curious to finally see the legendary, breathtakingly beautiful star of the club. To her surprise, the irresistibly charming "star" turns out to be the owner of the club. Yet, she bluntly states her intention to pay for his company. Charlie, "This is a club, not a brothel." Later, by a twist of fate, Andy ends up sharing an apartment with Charlie, a high school classmate she once rejected. Their peaceful routine comes to an end one night when Andy learns from Charlie that she has been sleepwalking recently. Feeling a little embarrassed and unsure how to react, Andy asks, "Last night was the first time you saw me sleepwalking, right?" Charlie replies lazily, "There was another time." Andy falls silent for two seconds before hesitantly asking, "Did I... do anything?" "You suddenly ran out and hugged me." "?" Charlie raises an eyebrow and casually adds, "And you kissed me, touching me over."
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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!"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?