Chapter 1 A life of struggles

The Poor Girl Who Married a Billionaire

The sun had barely risen when Elena Carter rolled out of bed, her body aching from another sleepless night. The tiny apartment she shared with her sick mother was freezing, the heating barely working. She pulled on her worn-out coat, kissed her mother on the forehead, and whispered, "I'll be back soon, Mama."

Elena had been struggling for as long as she could remember. Her father had abandoned them when she was just a child, leaving her mother to work multiple jobs until illness took over. Now, it was Elena's turn to take care of both of them. She worked as a waitress at a small diner in the city, earning barely enough to cover rent and medication.

As she stepped outside, the cold morning air bit at her skin. She tightened her scarf and hurried to the bus stop, knowing she couldn't afford to be late again. Mr. Grayson, the diner owner, had already warned her about tardiness, and losing this job wasn't an option.

At the Diner

The small bell above the door jingled as Elena entered the diner, greeted by the smell of coffee and freshly baked bread. She tied her apron and got to work immediately, serving customers with her usual warm smile despite the exhaustion weighing on her.

"Elena, table five!" called out her coworker, Lisa.

She hurried over with a tray, only to be met with an arrogant-looking man in a designer suit. He barely glanced at the menu before saying, "Black coffee. No sugar."

Elena nodded, though something about him irritated her. There was a coldness in his eyes, a sense of entitlement. She turned on her heel, rolling her eyes as she went to prepare his order.

"He's hot, though," Lisa whispered with a smirk. "Too bad he looks like he doesn't know what kindness is."

Elena chuckled. "Yeah, well, rich people rarely do."

She returned with his coffee, setting it down carefully. "Here you go, sir."

The man finally looked up, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, something flickered in his expression-surprise, maybe curiosity-but it was gone in an instant.

"Thank you," he said, his voice deep and smooth.

Elena simply nodded and walked away. She had no time to entertain thoughts about a rich stranger. She had bigger problems to worry about.

A Day of Bad Luck

The day passed in a blur of orders and dishes. By the time her shift ended, Elena was exhausted. She checked her phone-no missed calls from her mother's doctor, which was a relief. But as she counted her tips, her heart sank. It still wasn't enough.

Sighing, she grabbed her bag and stepped outside. That's when she saw the same man from earlier standing near a sleek black car, talking on his phone. His expression was serious, almost irritated.

Elena paid him no mind and hurried to catch the bus. But as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone-hard.

"Watch where you're going!" a woman snapped.

Elena gasped as her bag slipped from her shoulder, its contents spilling onto the sidewalk. Her tips, the little money she had, scattered on the ground.

"Oh no," she whispered, scrambling to pick it up.

People walked by without stopping, stepping over her coins and bills like they were trash. Tears stung her eyes.

Then, a shadow loomed over her. She looked up, startled, as the rich man crouched beside her, helping her gather her money.

"You should be more careful," he said, handing her the last bill.

Elena blinked in shock. Why would someone like him bother helping her?

"Th-thank you," she stammered, embarrassed.

He nodded and stood, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Do you always carry your money like that?"

She sighed. "It's all I have."

Something in his expression changed, but before she could figure it out, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" she called after him.

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"I didn't catch your name," she said hesitantly.

He glanced over his shoulder, his blue eyes glinting under the streetlight. "Adrian Blackwood."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Elena standing there, her heart racing for reasons she didn't understand.

You'll also like

Comeback Of The Adored Heiress

Brittany

4.9

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.

The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Earvin Garner

4.6

Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town's richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. "Way to go, honey!"

Get Back The Abandoned Luna

PENRELIEVER

4.0

The night I discovered my husband's whore was carrying his heir, I smiled for the cameras-and plotted his ruin. Scarlett was born a queen-heir to a powerful legacy, Luna of the Dark Moon Pack by blood and by sacrifice. She gave everything to Alexander: her love, her loyalty, her life. In return, he paraded his mistress before their pack... and dared to call it duty. But Scarlett won't be another broken woman weeping in the shadows. She'll wear her crown of thorns with pride, tear down every lie built around her, and when she strikes, it will be glorious. The Alpha forgot that the woman he betrayed is far more dangerous than the girl who once loved him.

The Phantom Heiress: Rising From The Shadows

Quint Shroyer

5.0

Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...

Rebirth of the Broken Luna: A Second Chance at Luna's Heart

Audrey C Leilani

4.5

Luna has tried her best to make her forced marriage to Xen work for the sake of their child. But with Riley and Sophia- Xen's ex-girlfriend and her son in the picture. She fights a losing battle. Ollie, Xen's son is neglected by his father for a very long time and he is also suffering from a mysterious sickness that's draining his life force. When his last wish to have his dad come to his 5th birthday party is dashed by his failure to show up, Ollie dies in an accident after seeing his father celebrate Riley's birthday with Sophia and it's displayed on the big advertising boards that fill the city. Ollie dies and Luna follows after, unable to bear the grief, dying in her mate's hands cursing him and begging for a second chance to save her son. Luna gets the opportunity and is woken up in the past, exactly one year to the day Sophia and Riley show up. But this time around, Luna is willing to get rid of everyone and anyone even her mate if he steps in her way to save her son.

Rejected Heiress: My Heartless Family's Regret

Cassandra

5.0

For seventeen years, I was the pride of the Carlisle family, the perfect daughter destined to inherit an empire. But that life ended the moment a DNA report slid across my father’s mahogany desk. The paper proved I was a stranger. Vanessa, the girl sobbing in the corner, was the real biological daughter they had been searching for. "You need to leave. Tonight. Before the press gets wind of this. Before the stock prices dip." My father’s voice was as cold as flint. My mother wouldn't even look at me, staring out the window at the gardens as if I were already a ghost. Just like that, I was erased. I left behind the Birkin bags and the diamonds, throwing my Centurion Card into a crystal bowl with a clatter that echoed like a gunshot. I walked out into the cold night and climbed into a rusted Ford Taurus driven by a man I had never met—my biological father. I went from a mansion to a fourth-floor walk-up in Queens that smelled of laundry detergent and struggle. My new siblings looked at me with a mix of fear and disgust, waiting for the "fallen princess" to break. They expected me to beg for my old life back, to crumble without the luxury I’d known since birth. But they didn't know the truth. I had spent years training in a shark tank, honing survival skills they couldn't imagine. While Richard Carlisle froze my trust funds to starve me out, my net worth was climbing by millions on an encrypted trading app. They thought they were throwing me to the wolves. They didn't realize they were just letting me off my leash. As the Carlisles prepared to debut Vanessa at the Manhattan Arts Gala, I was already making my move. "Get dressed. We're going to a party."

The poor girl who marry a billionaire

Contents