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"Our marriage is nothing but something based on a sheet of paper, no more than a deal to help me grow my company." He said cold heartedly as he stared into her eyes. Denise had been forced into marriage with an arrogant billionaire CEO and he makes it clear to her that to him, the marriage was only a deal to fetch him money. Since it would help her family too, she married him but little did they expect that love would intervene and make a change to their story.
Denise POV
He was everything I ever needed, his touch, his kisses, his affection and his soothing voice.
I wrapped my arms around him as we kissed wildly under the moonlight, my face flushing red as he twirled my tongue to his taste.
The cool breeze brushed against us mildly, witnessing our passionate kiss.
When he terminated the kiss, he leaned his head closer as we exchanged breaths.
His arms around my waist as my body pinned closer to him, I absorbed the feel of him.
His eyes, intensively gaze at me as he swallows hard. I felt warmth coursing through me.
"I don't want to let go" he mutters, locking his fingers with mine.
I let out a sided smile and whispered.
"I'll be back, it's the only to introduce you to the family first."
He wore a doleful face and sucked his breath. Uncertainty was etched on his face. My family was his biggest fear.
"Do you think they'd like me?"
I placed a finger on his lips to shush him. We've got to be positive. I know the basis of my financial status. He doesn't match, but my family would want my happiness.
I just had to convince them to make them realize that he wasn't a gold digger, and we were inseparable.
Recently, my parents invited me to a feast and I can't go with Ivan yet, but I need to stop that opportunity.
I stepped a bit from Ivan as he held my hand firmly, not wanting me to move. He was tensed, his eyes didn't hide how nervous he was.
The chauffeur opposite us honked at us, possibly fed up by the romantic gesture we shared.
A reminder that time wasn't on our side.
"I'll be back, I promise, and we'll get married" I whispered, waving my fingers at his face.
I had to encourage him, to give hope that I'd be back in his arms.
His engagement ring was stuck on my index finger and he chuckled. His handsome face brightens.
"Yes my love, and we'll live happily ever after" he assured, letting go of my hand as I paced majestically towards the car.
We waved each other goodbye... perhaps if I had never left, there would have been an 'us'.
Here I am, at the family dinner, my hands trembling with remembrance of leaving Ivan behind.
We were in the garden, the beautiful roses cascading onto the wall created around us, the evening breeze crossed my skin.
The sweet floral scent could only make me think of Ivan. The rest of the family had yet to attend the dinner and the table had me and my parents.
The table was served with different delicacies which were savoring and tempting, but I lost my appetite.
All I thought about was how to give a proper speech about the man who stole my heart.
I couldn't even roll out a word as it felt as though I was at a crossroad having no decision to make.
It seems as though my appearance triggered a sense of anxiety.
They welcomed me warmly at first. I thought all was okay, but not until dinner was served that they decided to break the news to me.
"You're getting married Denise!" Mom exclaimed, her excitement overwhelming and I lowered my eyes to the ring on me.
Wow, they found out already. My face flushed red as I was a bit shy. I haven't even introduced Ivan yet.
Suddenly, I regained my appetite and took a fork to try the pasta first.
"I told you love him, she'd love him. "See how glad she looks," mom furthers, brushing my father's shoulder.
However, my father's cold expression hasn't changed. He adjusted his glasses and leaned his head forward.
I almost uttered Ivan into the discussion when his cocky voice announced:
"He is Lucas Benjamin, a refined man who holds the top rank in the chart, and he sent in a proposal".
The fork dropped from my hand and the smile left my eyes. Sadness engulfed me.
"What!" I panicked as my breath thickened while my eyes scrolled at them. It was so hard to believe the words he spewed.
"Isn't that wonderful Denise!" "Oh we are so fortunate to be chosen!" Mom exclaimed with a cheesy grin like she had won a trophy.
I shook my head, trying to assess the whole scenario playing out. Father was busy on his phone, certainly checking the stock exchange, while mom kept praising this mysterious Lucas.
"No! "I'm not marrying him, I love someone else... that's why I'm here" I replied, trying not to raise my voice, and father suddenly scoffed.
He placed his phone down and faced me, anger etched on his forehead.
"Don't throw this opportunity for your stupidity" he barked, and I shuddered, almost losing my breath.
I tightened my fist, exhaled softly and tried to control my anger which had clouded my eyes as tears.
Mother had her eyes on me, waiting for a response after father had warned me.
"I'm not getting married to him!" I retort, glaring at my father. I rose up from the chair, not wanting to participate in this forsaking dinner.
I'd be returning to Ivan. I don't need their blessings to be with him.
"Ivan...is that his name?" Dad suddenly muttered, and I froze where I stood. A sickening wave wells up in my stomach as sweat beads on my forehead.
Whenever he makes such a statement, it means danger lurks by. Fear stole the very air out of me.
"How about I have his head offered on a platter of gold?" He calmly utters, and I rolled my eyes to look at him.
A devilish smile escaped his lips and I feared for the unimaginable. Dad was dangerous and he played with lives.
If I reject this marriage, I might lose Ivan, and I'm stuck. My heart sagged over the weight of emotions lurking inside me.
"So what's your decision?" mom's voice jerked me to reality. Their eyes are gawping at me as if they've taken the soul I once had.
I was wrong, they were never after my happiness but theirs.
I widened my eyes with fear, my face turned pale as my body was tensed. I couldn't even move.
For a moment, time stopped, I was lost, and I couldn't believe I'd be forced to get married to a man I barely knew.
"I believe that's a yes," my father added, and I felt like suffocating. There's no way I can convince them about my relationship with Ivan.
They know, and his life will be at risk!
"Get ready, tomorrow's the wedding".
"Dad!" I screamed, but he took his phone, crossed his legs, ignoring me again. He doesn't care.
My mom tried to make me see reasons why this engagement must work.
It's the only way they could strengthen their position in the business world. They don't care what comes after, but for the fame, I'd be the sacrificial lamb.
I lowered my eyes to my stomach. I was pregnant with his child. I intended to surprise him when I returned, but it seems that would be impossible.
***
"Have you ever found yourself in a complicated situation, have you ever been sold by your family, rejected by your mates for another woman, or worse, discovered you are an abomination to the world that needs to be eradicated?" I doubt that. ........ The royal family issued a notice seeking a breeder for their twin sons, rumored to be Lycan terrorists known for their cruelty and abuse towards women. Due to these terrifying rumors, many women refused to apply for the position or volunteer themselves, but unfortunately, Vespera got unlucky. She was sold to the royal family as the breeder for the twins, couldn't endure their level of mistreatment and ran away with her unborn child. But now, they were already obsessed with her and were willing to do everything, whatever it would take to have her back, but aren't they too late? On the run, she bumps into a second-chance mate, who becomes addicted to her, and discovers a hidden truth about her name and identity, leading her down to a path she never thought existed.
Our marriage is nothing but something based on a sheet of paper, no more than a deal to help me grow my company." He said cold heartedly as he stared into her eyes. Denise had been forced into marriage with an arrogant billionaire CEO and he makes it clear to her that to him, the marriage was only a deal to fetch him money. Since it would help her family too, she married him but little did they expect that love would intervene and make a change to their story.
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!
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
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?”
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.