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Zara thought she had everything-a loving fiancé, a future full of promise, and a place in a world that seemed so perfect. But when betrayal strikes from the one person she trusted most, her world shatters, and she's left questioning everything she thought she knew. In a tangled web of lies, family secrets, and power struggles, Zara is forced to navigate a dangerous path where love isn't as pure as it seems, and trust is a fragile thing. As Michael tries to protect her from the truth, Zara's world unravels in unexpected ways, revealing dark secrets that change everything. Can Zara rise from the ashes of her shattered world, or will she be consumed by the very betrayal that tore her life apart?
Zara's POV:
My heart skipped a beat as Michael's words hit me like a freight train. "We're done," he said, his voice cold, like he was speaking to a stranger. The shock must have been visible on my face because I felt my stomach drop. Done? What was he talking about?
"Michael, what do you mean we are done?" I asked, my voice shaking, a tremor running through my hands. I could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I forced myself to hold it in. I couldn't understand. We'd been together for three years. Everything had been fine. At least, I thought it had been fine. What changed?
He turned away from me, facing the window, his back straight, his posture rigid. "Listen to me, Zara," he said, his voice flat, like he was explaining something simple. "I'm done with this relationship. It's not working."
The words didn't make sense. I took a step closer to him, my legs feeling heavy as though the weight of his words had planted me to the spot. "Michael, what are you talking about?" I asked again, this time with more urgency. "We've been fine for three years, so why now? Why are you doing this?"
He didn't look at me. Instead, he took a deep breath and stood up, walking across the room like it was nothing. The space between us felt miles apart, even though we were standing in the same room. "Just pack your things and leave," he said, his voice cold and final.
I couldn't believe it. I reached out instinctively, my hand catching his mid-air. "Michael, no. You love me. You said you did. We were fine, you were happy, we were happy-" My voice faltered, and I stopped, searching his eyes, trying to find some trace of the man I knew, the man who once promised me forever. But there was nothing. His eyes-those eyes I thought I knew-were distant, cold.
He pulled his hand away from mine, his face contorting with disgust, like he was disgusted by me. My chest tightened. My heart felt like it was going to stop beating. "Get yourself together, Zara," he said, his words sharp and unfeeling. "Don't you get it? This can't work out between us."
But it had worked for three years. I couldn't understand it. What had changed? I was desperate now. I needed answers. "But we've been fine for three years, Michael!" I said, my voice rising in frustration, my hands shaking. "What happened? What changed?"
He didn't answer me right away. He only stood there, rubbing his face like he couldn't even look at me. My heart raced. What was going on? Why was he acting like this? I needed him to tell me the truth.
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked, my voice breaking as the fear started to creep in. "Michael, please, you're all I've got. You're my family. Don't do this to me." I reached for him again, desperate to make him understand, but he stepped back, avoiding my touch.
"Please, Michael," I begged, dropping to my knees in front of him. Tears flooded my eyes, hot and painful. I couldn't believe this was happening. I had something to tell him, something happy. I was going to share something that would change everything, but now... now this? "I don't want to lose you," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I fought to keep my breath steady. "I don't want to lose what we had. What did I do wrong?"
I looked up at him, hoping to see some hint of affection, some softness, some glimmer of the man I loved. But it wasn't there. He stood over me, cold and distant, his face expressionless.
He sighed and helped me to my feet, his touch gentle but distant. "I have a wife, Zara," he said, his voice low.
The world stopped. I couldn't breathe. "A wife?" The word barely left my lips, a whisper, a stammer. "What do you mean you have a wife? You never mentioned anything about her. Why now?"
His eyes avoided mine as he spoke again, his voice quieter. "She went abroad to finish her studies. She's coming back today, and I can't let her find you here."
I felt like the floor had fallen out beneath me. My heart shattered, the pieces falling in slow motion. Why did you save me, then? The question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. "Why did you keep me? You could have let me die. Why did you choose to keep me around?"
The pain in my chest intensified with every word I said. I wanted to scream, to make him understand how much he had hurt me, but all I could do was whisper, "You promised... You promised you'd love me forever."
The words hung in the air, unanswered.
I stood frozen, my breath hitching in my throat as Michael scoffed. The sound was sharp, laced with something cruel. He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a sneer.
"What were you thinking?" he asked, his voice dripping with disgust. "That I would marry a lowlife like you?"
My heart clenched. His words sliced through me, each one more painful than the last.
"You are a nobody, for crying out loud, Zara," he continued, his gaze hard and unrelenting. "You don't have what it takes. Let me be frank with you-I stayed with you out of pity, okay? I never loved you. I just didn't want to watch you jump down that cliff, Do you understand that now?"
I shook my head, my lips trembling as I
tried to speak. "But-"
"Please, Zara," he cut me off sharply. "Go pack your things and leave my house."
I felt the air leave my lungs. My hands clenched into fists as a wave of panic surged through me. "Where do you want me to go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Michael sighed, exasperated, and turned away. "I don't care. I just don't want to see you again."
He walked toward the stairs, his back rigid, his decision final.
I crumpled onto the cold floor, my body trembling as hot tears spilled down my cheeks. This was it. The end. After everything, he was throwing me away like I was nothing.
I gasped for breath, my chest heaving. "Michael... I'm pregnant," I choked out, my voice breaking.
His steps faltered. He stopped mid-stride, his back stiffening. Slowly, he turned his head, his expression unreadable.
"What did you just say?"
Camille's life has been marked by betrayal, loss, and manipulation. After years of being used by those she trusted most, including her stepsister Bella and the man she once loved, Raymond, Camille's world shatters. But from the ashes of her pain rises a fierce, determined woman. As Camille uncovers the truth about her lineage, a legacy of wealth, power, and love awaits her. With the support of the few who truly care for her, Camille embarks on a journey of revenge and self-discovery. But in the pursuit of justice, she must confront the haunting secrets of her past, and decide how far she's willing to go to claim the life and the future that were stolen from her.
I am sorry, Alexa; I just had to do it. It was at this point that it dawned on me that I was poisoned by the only person I trusted on earth. I fell flat to the ground and I was crawling with my tummy, trying to reach the door. I felt a warm sensation down my legs and when I looked back, I saw blood flowing out of me. At this point, I couldn't tell if my babies were gone. Life was never rosy for Alexa. She agreed to marry Lex for five years but after the contract was signed, life became a living hell for her. She was poisoned by the person she trusted the most. Will she lose her triplet or her life? Here lie love, hate, and sacrifices to be made for the people she loves.
In order to save the life of her grandmother, samantha signed a marriage Contract with a wealthy and powerful man. little did she expect her heart to be captured by another, she finds herself torned between the duty she pledged and the love she can't deny. Will she follow the path of her heart or stay by the bound of contract forever longing for the passion she would never have.
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!"
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?”
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
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!”
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!"
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."