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In public, he was a ruthless and terrifying business demon, but in private, he was a devoted wife-doting man. He indulged her every whim, clearing all obstacles for her, allowing her to do as she pleased, and spoiling her beyond reason at the slightest provocation. He said, "Cathy, in the past, you didn't have the luxury to be willful. From today onward, you do." She smiled sweetly. "Mr. Owen, I'm clinging to you for life." "My honor, Mrs. Owen." To save her family, Cathy had no choice but to enter into a fake marriage with Roderick, helping him secretly meet with his lover, Tracy, while enduring Tracy's humiliation. She had long grown used to such treatment-it was, after all, just a financial transaction. But what she never expected was that, by sheer coincidence, Roderick's greatest and most feared rival, Anthony, actually wanted to keep her as his mistress. And the most shocking part? She was still, at least in name, Roderick's wife... and Anthony was rumored to be Roderick's uncle.
Slap! A crisp slap echoed through the room.
Tracy, dressed in a mini skirt, teetering on fifteen-centimeter-high heels, and wearing heavy yet artful makeup, crossed her arms and looked down with an air of superiority.
Cathy, standing in front of her in a simple white wedding dress, hadn't even figured out what had just happened.
"Why did you slap me?"
Tracy stared at Cathy's bare, porcelain-like skin-smooth and flawless, even without makeup. That face drove her insane with jealousy.
"I just wanted to remind you-though I can't marry Roderick, you're nothing more than a mere shield for us. Your marriage is fake, so don't even think about getting any funny ideas!"
Being slapped for no reason, Cathy stared coldly at the woman in front of her, who looked as smug as a hen that had just laid an egg.
No matter how furious she was, she had taken the money, and now she had to deal with the trouble that came with it.
Taking a deep breath, Cathy silently reminded herself to endure-to hold back.
"Miss White, I'm fully aware that this is merely a contractual arrangement. Besides, I already have someone I love, and it's not Roderick. Once the contract ends, I will leave Roderick cleanly, with no lingering ties."
Even though Cathy had reassured her, no woman could feel secure seeing such a face by her man's side.
"Good. Consider this slap a warning-so you don't forget your place. A woman like you, who would do anything for money... who knows what you might try to pull..."
Tracy was about to continue her mockery when a knock on the door interrupted her.
"Miss Turner, are you ready?"
The deep, clear male voice belonged to Roderick. Tracy shot Cathy a glare.
"I don't want Roderick hearing anything unnecessary. Remember your role-you're nothing but a paid actress."
Cathy clenched the fabric of her dress, forcing herself to maintain the grace she was expected to uphold.
"Miss White, I don't have the habit of gossiping."
"Good. Touch up your left cheek so no one notices."
With that, Tracy strutted away on her high heels, swaying her hips seductively.
The door opened, and in an instant, Tracy's voice softened, turning sweet and gentle.
"Roderick, Miss Turner is still doing her makeup. Even though this is just a formality, the details still matter. Otherwise, your family might start suspecting."
"Why are all the makeup artists outside?"
"Miss Turner prefers doing her own makeup. Let's wait outside."
The door closed. Cathy stared at her reflection in the mirror, then slammed her fist against the vanity.
From the very first time she had met Roderick, he had made things crystal clear:
"I already have someone I love. Marrying you is just to shut my family up.
I know the Turner family is struggling financially. I'll pay twenty million. If you agree, we'll get married, but we won't register it legally. The wedding will be low-key. Any issues?"
The Turner family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Thinking of her parents, Cathy had no reason to refuse.
"Thirty million. I agree to all your conditions."
"Fine. Thirty million."
"Deal. I won't interfere in your personal life, and I'll play the role of Mrs. Smith in public. But you are not allowed to touch me."
"That's exactly what I wanted."
This marriage was nothing more than a transaction. He didn't love her, and she didn't love him.
But she hadn't expected someone to give her such a harsh "welcome gift" right from the start.
Yes, she was in it for the money-but in Tracy's eyes, that made her a woman without dignity.
Two silent tears slid down her cheeks.
What Cathy didn't know was that the mirror in front of her was actually a two-way mirror.
On the other side, a handsome man with golden hair and piercing blue eyes held a cigarette in one hand, resting his head on the other in a lazy posture.
Watching the fragile yet stubborn woman who had nowhere to vent her emotions, the man curled his lips into a devilish smirk.
"What a poor little thing."
The gentle twilight cast a soft glow on Alexander's face. His striking features seemed sculpted by the gods. He was the same age as Sunny's dad, Lucas, and yet why was Alexander so gorgeous and young? Sunny had always believed her father Lucas was already impossibly handsome. But compared to Alexander, her dad suddenly seemed dimmed. "Uncle Alexander, what are you doing here?" Alexander replied gently, "Waiting for someone."Sunny tilted her head. "Who are you waiting for?"Alexander said softly, "Someone who may never come." There was a faint sadness in his eyes as he spoke, and something about it pierced Sunny' s heart. A wave of sorrow surged through her, tightening her throat and bringing tears. Sunny asked, "If the one is never coming back, why keep waiting?"Alexander looked at her and said seriously, "Because I promised her I would." Alexander then asked, "Sunny, have you ever fallen in love with someone?"Sunny answered,"Nope. My dad doesn't let me date early."Alexander smiled faintly."I did. I fell in love young."Sunny looked at him curiously, and Alexander added with a subtle smile,"Loving her was the happiest thing in my life. She means my world." Before turning twenty, Sunny had always been the apple of her billionaire father Lucas's eyes, until he was ruined overnight by his nemesis, trillionaire Alexander, the cold-blooded rising king of Chicago. Not only did this ruthless tycoon destroy Lucas's corporation, he even took Lucas's daughter Sunny back to his luxurious mansion...Then came an accident, and Sunny was back to the time when her father Lucas was still a teenager. She watched, stunned, as her father laughed wildly, hanging out with a group of reckless boys. And there he was, gripping Alexander by the collar, patting his cheek,"Admit it, Alexander, you lost, huh?" Everyone at school knew there were two people you couldn't mess with. Lucas, the heir to a powerful family, arrogant, fierce, born to be bad; Alexander, stunning, silent, stoic, with fists as hard as steel and bones even harder. They were sworn enemies. Lately, the school prince Lucas had a teenage girl trailing behind him, named Sunny, who looked 90% like him, always following in his footsteps. One day, Lucas, completely exasperated, shoved some cash into her hands. Lucas, "This is the last time. Stop following me. We are almost the same age. I can never be your dad!" Sunny was in tears, "Dad..." After that, Sunny really stopped following him. And Lucas found himself weirdly missing Sunny. Until he saw his archenemy Alexander pinning Sunny to the wall, asking coldly, "Do you like me?"Sunny blushed. "Y-yes... I do." Lucas gaped. His Sunny, dated with his nemesis Alexander? He was so furious he nearly exploded. Alexander smirked, "Admit it, Lucas, Sunny likes me, not you." Lucas, "..."
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, "..."
"Rose, do you have to be this shameless?" He yanked her hair tighter, forcing her to lift her face. She stared straight into his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, I'm shameless. But what, you think you're any better? Talking about marriage one minute and pounding into me like crazy the next. We're just a pair of filthy lovers, aren't we? So stop pretending to be so righteous!" Alexander is aloof and arrogant; 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 throne step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that CEO Alexander 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 stepmother. Her mind remained clear at all times. Now, her goal was no longer as simple as forcing Alexander to call off the engagement. Her desire had grown. She wanted to possess him completely-body and soul-to conquer him, to make him entirely hers. Only his powerful status and background could truly help her reclaim everything she had lost. She had always known what he wanted. She had always known how to provoke his anger, make him compromise, lure him into indulgence, make him lose himself-until he became a puppet of her.
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!
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
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?
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!