Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman-lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love-until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
"Lena, your husband still hasn't answered your calls, has he?" Maia Gordon asked with concern.
Lena Dixon detected her colleague's unspoken pity.
Each unanswered ring seemed to hollow her out further, dragging Lena deeper into the bleak realization.
Just two days ago, Lena had visited an art gallery to oversee preparations for her husband's upcoming exhibit. Without warning, the ceiling had collapsed, leaving her trapped beneath debris for agonizing hours, desperately calling her husband Theo Haynes without response.
When rescuers finally freed her, she was drenched in her own blood, her shoulder shattered so gravely it required metal screws to hold it together. Even now, every beat of her heart echoed painfully in her wounded shoulder.
Lena stared at the dark screen of her phone. Her face looked ghostly pale, fingers trembling uncontrollably from lingering trauma.
But the deepest pain wasn't from her physical injuries. It came from the icy realization stabbing through her heart.
Whenever Lena desperately needed Theo, he always vanished.
Witnessing Lena's quiet suffering, Maia couldn't hold back her frustration. "What's wrong with your husband, anyway? You could've died, yet he can't even call you back after two days? You're getting discharged, and he is yet to show up. You might as well be single at this rate."
With quiet sarcasm, Lena murmured, "He's probably too tied up."
Theo always used work as a shield-too occupied, always unavailable.
Three years spent married to him, and all Lena had gained was an empty title, one she clung to foolishly.
Maia's tone sharpened. "Too tied up to even answer his phone? That's not busy-that's cold-hearted."
Her words sliced Lena deeply, cutting through the last remnants of her illusions.
Lena swallowed her bitterness, forcing a smile far more painful than tears.
Suddenly, Maia gasped, her eyes widening at something on her phone. "Oh, wow. Lena, look-seems like the ever-elusive Mr. Haynes took an international flight just to attend his girl's art exhibition. Dropped everything just for her."
A chill clawed up Lena's spine.
Maia handed over the phone, openly scoffing, "Take a good look at Mr. Haynes. Compare him with your husband. You nearly died, and your husband didn't even care to answer a single call. Lena, why are you still holding onto someone like him?"
Lena stared wordlessly, frozen by the screen's glow.
Maia had no idea-the Mr. Haynes she spoke of was Lena's cold-hearted husband.
At that instant, Lena's carefully crafted delusions shattered. Theo's supposed business trip was a total lie. He had traveled halfway around the world for his first love, Violet Ford.
Back then, Theo and Violet had seemed destined to marry.
Then a car crash robbed Theo of his sight, and Violet fled abroad, leaving him at his most vulnerable.
During his darkest days, Lena remained faithfully beside him. Everyone mocked her loyalty, but she ignored their ridicule, believing her devotion would someday earn her Theo's genuine affection.
After regaining his eyesight, Theo had offered her nothing but a marriage of convenience.
As she looked now at the warm affection in Theo's eyes as he greeted Violet at the airport, Lena's stomach twisted painfully.
"Romance Confirmed? Haynes Group CEO Welcomes Artist Vee at Airport."
Reading the headline destroyed Lena's last fragment of hope.
Artist Vee, whose exhibition Lena had painstakingly organized, was none other than Violet herself.
All along, Lena had organized an event for Theo's true love, and it nearly cost her her own life.
While she had been trapped and scared under the rubble, Theo had met Violet, reigniting their lost flame. Lena felt as if the knife in her heart had twisted deeper.
Oblivious to Lena's reaction, Maia commented on the photo. "Look at his expression-so gentle and warm. I heard they were college sweethearts. Maybe they've finally found their way back together. They really look perfect together."
Quietly and bitterly, Lena laughed. "You're right-they're perfect."
She handed back Maia's phone without another word, then quietly left, heading home.
...
Theo didn't return home until long past midnight.
As soon as he stepped inside, an unfamiliar irritation rose within him.
Usually, Lena left a welcoming glow, no matter how late he returned. But darkness now blanketed the house, creating a sense of emptiness.
Bothered by the unusual atmosphere, Theo climbed the stairs and entered the master bedroom.
In the dim moonlight, Lena's small frame lay curled beneath the sheets.
The instant the door creaked, Lena opened her eyes, wide awake.
An unfamiliar scent filled the air, sweetly pungent perfume she didn't recognize. She guessed it was Violet's.
A burning pain surged through Lena's chest. Thankfully, darkness masked her distress.
Theo lay down beside her. Quietly, Lena reached for him, slipping her hand beneath his shirt.
She traced his warm abdomen, moving downward, lower still.
Theo's breath hitched sharply. Abruptly, he grabbed her wrist, voice tight with tension. "What are you trying to do, Lena?"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
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."
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.