The only thing SALLY BRUSSEL could recall after a wild club party was being pushed to bed by a handsome demi Greek god. She rose up to see a tiny streak of blood on the bed. Then it dawned on her, that she had just lost her pride - her dignity as a woman. Disheveled and disoriented, she searched the whole room for a trace of the man who had defiled her but he had left already leaving no traces behind. With bitterness in her heart, she leaves the place with a promise to never forgive the man. She concluded that all men were scum and vowed to never have anything with a man. TWELVE YEARS LATER.... Her path crosses with a man whom she considers ungrateful and stern. A fiery love kindles between them. Their love is threatened when a deep secret is discovered. What would they do? Stay together or break apart?
SALLY
I just ended an hour and forty-five seconds call with Dad and Morgan. I can't help but smile broadly as I recall her chatty voice.
Morgan is the result of the one-night wild party I attended thirteen years ago. I threw my phone into my bag as I got into my old convertible, a second-hand model.
I cranked the engine, and it gave one loud, smoky sound before finally gliding down the dusty path. My life in the past thirteen years has been nothing short of goodness. After Morgan's birth, I moved to the bustling city to get started in life.
My little earnings from my job as a clerical staff in one of the prestigious companies in New York have been able to make life comfortable for my father, Morgan, Leslie, and me as well.
A soft beep sound drew my gaze to the dashboard. I was running low on gas and if I don't get a refill, I'll be stuck.
"Shoot!!!" I exclaimed through my teeth when the car started acting up. Luckily, I caught sight of a gas station a few meters away. Sucking in a breath and praying inwardly that the car doesn't stop running, I pedal towards the station. The car breaks down just at the entrance of the station.
I released a soft exhale and lowered my head on the steering wheel. I took some money from my purse, picked a can from the back seat, and jogged down to get some gas.
All done.
My gas tank is filled and I'm ready to continue my journey. It's the weekend, and I always spend the weekend with Dad and Morgan. Leslie comes home only on Sundays.
I decided to pull over at a mall and get some chocolate bars for Morgan and also a bottle of liquor for Dad.
"Good evening," I flashed a smile at the pretty, dark woman sitting behind the counter. She flashes a sweet smile in return.
Her eyes skate through the items I've got, and then she names the bills.
"That would cost €30," She smiles and I nod while digging through my bag for money.
I paid up and I made my way out. My phone chimed in my back pockets, almost startling me. I reached out for it.
My brows furrowed in curiosity, seeing 'Papa', a name which I have used to save Dad's contact.
Why was he calling again?
I just ended a call with him an hour ago, what could be so urgent. I wondered as the ringtone died down and the call ended.
The phone rang again as soon as the first call ended. This time around, I flew out of my skin cos it startled me.
The phone almost slipped off my fingers. My heartbeat accelerated tremendously as I struggled to catch my breath. I stared at the caller ID, It was Dad again.
"Get your shit out of the road!!!" A mad driver hollered aggressively at me. I didn't realize that I had gone into the road without looking. I was all lost in thoughts as I needed to cross over to the other side to get to my car.
I quickly muttered an apology which the driver didn't hear.
"What's up, Dad?" I answer the phone in a panicked tone. First, I hear unsteady breaths from the other end as though he was struggling to get something off his chest.
"Dad, What is going on?" The silence from the other end confirmed my fears. Something is up.
"Morgan.... I can't find Morgan," He finally responded. His voice was thicker and heavier. Things spun quickly around me as the news hit.
I felt a nauseous wave course through my whole body as my hands trembled.
"H... How is that possible? Where is Morgan, Dad?" I almost half-yelled.
My Dad starts sobbing, "I can't find Morgan. She left the house to go catch butterflies. It's past nine PM and she isn't back."
My ears twitched. Morgan doesn't stay out late. She always returns before 7pm whenever she goes for a butterfly hunt. Morgan's passionate love for butterflies is so extreme. I tried hard to keep my breath steady as I gave a short reply, "I'll be right there, Dad."
I hung up. The engines revved up and I quickly sped off. I drove at the highest speed. I felt fear and panic coursing through me as I drove down to the outskirts where my father lived with Morgan.
Immediately, I turned off the engine. I ran all the way to the doorway.
"Dad!!" I shrieked in fear and trudged into the house. My Dad sat on the old cushion looking all drenched and shriveled.
My heart crashed.
He lifted his head slowly. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw his sunken eyes. His face is tear-stained and drained.
"It is 9:54 Pm. Morgan isn't back," he spoke calmly but in a distressed tone. Lost for words, I drew him to an embrace as I let my own tears flow freely.
"We will find her, Dad."
"What if some wild beasts have..."
I couldn't let him complete his words. I placed my trembling hands over his mouth.
"Morgan is fine and safe, Dad," I spoke to him, reassuring him even when I was feeling unsure.
I was able to soothe my father and he was soon sleeping away. Although his face was still stained and pale. I pulled my phone out in an attempt to put a call across to the cops.
I hesitated at first because they would always insist that it lasted up to 24 hours before I could file a case. I let out a sigh as I paced about, allowing my gaze to stray off to the wall clock at times.
10: 15 pm. My chest rose heavily and I was soon losing my assurance.
I decided to step out and maybe call out to her. As soon as I stepped outside the house, a cool rushing wind slapped my skin hard. I shivered.
Morgan was out there in the cold without a hoodie or an overall.
Oh, the heavens keep her safe. I mumbled, placing my hands on my chest as I walked into the dark. I uttered silent prayers for her safety.
My lips had parted slightly, and I was about to yell out her name when I made out the figure of a tiny silhouette running towards me. Fear had its tight grip on me as I clutched my hands tightly.
I could hear loud pants as the image was only a few distance away from me. My feet stood still at a spot as my chest rose heavily.
The figure stopped running, bent over, and gasped unsteadily.
"M...M...Morgan?!" I stuttered. My eyes twitched as I tried to decipher the figure before me. Its features fit the features of Morgan.
Thin, long athletic legs, short brown hair, and quite a thin body frame. My heart leaped for joy. It was her.
"Sally!!" She says, maybe out of excitement, and ran into my arms, which were now flying and calling for her tiny form.
The thick scent of wood emanating from her hair hit my nostrils. Her thick cotton shirt had prickly twigs on it. Her hair looked disheveled with dry leaves on them.
"Oh, thank heavens!" I whispered as I caressed her hair making the leaves fall off bit by bit.
"Sally, there is a man in the woods!!" She said as soon as she caught her breath. Her eyes widened with terrifying fear.
"A man?"
"He is in a bad condition and could lose his breath.... We need to save him, Sally," She said, her gaze piercing into mine. She took my hands into hers. Her soft tiny hands held mine gently. Her gaze was so sincere and warm that I struggled to resist.
"Morgan....."
"Please, don't say no," She whined, throwing her hands around my neck.
Between duty and desire, Gina Washington chooses duty, sacrificing her dreams to save her family's crumbling legacy. Married off to a stranger, she is trapped in a gilded cage of manipulation and control, her heart slowly suffocating under the weight of expectation. But when her husband's cruelty pushes her to the brink, Gina seizes freedom, escaping with a secret that could change everything - a week-old pregnancy. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of her new reality, she meets Ethan, the brother of the man she left behind. His kindness and compassion cradle her shattered soul, and for the first time, Gina dares to dream of love. Yet, as past and present collide, a explosive rivalry between brothers threatens to destroy the fragile haven she's found - and the heart she's beginning to trust.
Avenging the loss of her clan and the death of her father was all Adeline Shanks, the Luna of the Moon Claw clan, could think about. Her twentieth birthday was around the corner, an age she had eagerly anticipated sharing with her father, the alpha. She had dreamed of his proud smile and the thoughtful gift he would bestow upon her. But on the eve of her birthday, hellish flames engulfed the entire clan. Adeline's world crumbled as she watched her home, her family and her father fall. The screams of her loved ones still echoed in her mind, haunting her. The acrid smell of smoke and char clung to her skin, a constant reminder of the devastation. As she stumbled through the ruins, Adeline's heart felt like it had been ripped apart. Her father's lifeless body lay before her, his warm eyes now cold and still. The weight of her grief threatened to consume her. She remembered his strong embrace, his guidance, and his unwavering love. The pain of losing him suffocated her. With a strong determination, Adeline vowed to honor her father's memory and seek revenge for his death. But fate's cruel twist awaited her: the killer was her mate, the one destined to be her life partner. Adeline faced an impossible choice: follow her heart or pursue her quest for justice.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!