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A forced marriage. A forgotten heiress. It's a game where survival means becoming Queen, not Pawn. Flora Grey – a young woman once abandoned by her father; she and her older brother drifted for over a decade in poverty. With her mother gone and her identity erased, the name "Flora" became a forgotten disgrace amidst the glittering elite. But when the family plunges into crisis, the callous father from her past coldly forces her to return, compelling her to marry Derek Blackwood – the nominal heir to the Arnold Group – as a final gambit to salvage the family fortune. However, what seemed like a mere transactional marriage was the beginning of a fateful game. Derek is far more complex than his indifferent facade suggests. And Flora? She is no longer the obedient doll, letting others pull her strings. Returning from the depths of society, carrying scars, resentment, and a fierce will to survive, Flora is determined never to let anyone control her again. She wants to live. She wants to protect her brother. And if she's been forced onto the chessboard, she intends to become the Queen-never content to remain a Pawn.
Vincent High School had a girl everyone knew - the name Flora Selena sent ripples wherever people heard it.
Anyone who saw her avoided her. Few people liked her, but even fewer dared to show it.
Because Flora is crazy, she will strangle anyone who dares to oppose her. In tenth grade, Flora was the new student. She clashed with a teacher and beat him up so severely he landed in the hospital. Still, the school didn't dare expel her. Rumour had it she had robust backing.
Flora dyed her hair, painted her nails, put on sharp makeup, and always wore skirts an inch taller than the other female students. From fighting to smoking to skipping class, there was nothing she wouldn't do. Compared to those troublemaking boys, she was a step above.
And even with a reputation like that, the boys welcomed her - because Flora was stunning. She had a kind of mad beauty - the kind that made heads turn again and again.
When Flora turned 18, on her graduation day, she received shocking news. Her father, Otis, wanted her to marry a man nine years her senior: a chronically ill, utterly useless member of the Arnold clan named Derek Arnold.
Of course, the reason Otis gave was very reasonable and very similar to the novels that Flora often read. Their Selena family was in a difficult situation, needing the help of the Arnold family to support them. But of course, there was no such thing as charity without profit; the price they offered was to buy a wife for their incompetent nephew.
The heroine would bite her lip, hold back tears, and marry the guy out of duty in those stories.
But Flora? Hell no.
She would never lower her head. Moreover, why the hell should she care about the Selena family's fate? Every night, she clasped her hands and prayed to God for them to die quickly. There is no way she would sacrifice herself to save them.
And Otis? That man dared to call himself her father?
No. He was the one Flora hated most in the world. She hated him so much she couldn't stand the surname Selena. She would've changed it long ago if it hadn't been for her mother's wish.
The air was thick and tense in the Selena family's dining room.
No one could eat - except Flora. She ate with gusto, ignoring the stares around her. She needed to be full, to have the energy to battle this family.
Otis watched her for a while before slamming his fork onto the table. The sound was quite loud, but it didn't affect Flora. She calmly turned to the maid.
"Aunt Mary, bring me another bowl of fish soup."
"Flora!" Otis cleared his throat, "Have you thought about what I told you two days ago?"
Flora poked at the bacon on the table, her red lips curled up, "I have."
Otis exchanged a hopeful glance with Anna. His voice tightened. "So... will you help save the family?"
Flora raised her eyes. She chuckled at the two people's anticipation, causing Otis to fantasise. He thought that she had agreed, so he smiled at her.
But Flora was just about to pour ice water on his delusions.
"Why would I do something so boring?" she said flatly. "Don't get it twisted. I came back to eat because it was my mother's death anniversary. I have no interest in helping you."
Her gaze locked on Otis, colder and colder. Otis also felt guilty; he coughed a few times and said. "There have been so many things going on in the company recently, I almost forgot..."
"You never remember", Flora said coldly; under the light, her red hair stood out even more. "If you don't remember, then let me remind you why my mother had to jump off the building..."
Otis and Anna's faces turned pale.
Alice couldn't stand it either; she frowned and pulled out a chair. "Every time you come back, this house is in chaos, and we can't even eat in peace."
Flora's eyes flashed, and she smiled. "If you're that annoying, get lost; I'm talking to him; it's not your turn to speak up, a brat."
"Alright, you two, stop arguing..." Anna grabbed Alice's hand, stopping her daughter from continuing. "It's been so long since your sister came home. Don't make her angry."
"What, sister? I don't want some spoiled brat for a sister." Alice scowled, but under Anna's warning gaze, she gritted her teeth and fell silent.
Flora opened her handbag, pulled out a bright red lipstick, and slowly applied it to her lips. Then she sneered, "Auntie, how about this-you sell your beloved daughter to the Arnold family instead. That way, this dying family of yours might survive. Not a bad idea, right?"
Anna's face stiffened, pretending to be calm as she spoke. "You know how to joke. Our Alice is only fifteen; she's still just a child. Compared to Derek, the gap is a bit big..."
"Oh..." Flora drawled, her captivating eyes narrowing slightly. "Still a child, is she? Funny, I heard your daughter is fooling around with her teacher at school; that man seems to be..." She turned to Otis, mockery brimming in her eyes, unable to suppress a laugh. "Only five years younger than you."
Otis's eyes turned red with anger, and as soon as he heard that, he turned to question Alice. "Is your sister right?"
Alice trembled like a frightened puppy. She didn't dare look at Otis, only glaring daggers at Flora.
Anna knew that Otis had a hot temper, afraid that he would hit Alice, so she immediately spoke up to relieve the situation. "Enough, enough! That's nonsense. You're only hearing Flora's side of the story. How could our Alice possibly do something like that?"
Alice's face was pale, her lips moving. "That's right... Dad, I don't have..."
Finding it tedious, Flora kicked back her chair and stood. Her icy gaze swept over each of them, a venomous smile spreading across her lips. "May this family crumble soon, and may you all die without a grave! And frankly, the only reason I'm alive is because my mother fought tooth and nail to keep me. So you have no right whatsoever, old man."
"You ungrateful brat! Talking to your father like that? I raised you, and this is how you repay me?" Otis wanted to raise his hand to slap her, but Flora was no longer a little girl for him to beat at will. She grabbed Otis's arm; each word was as sharp as a knife. "Aside from grudgingly giving me life, what else have you ever given me?"
Otis had a history of heart problems; he was provoked to such fury that his lips turned white, and his whole body trembled, barely able to stand. Anna rushed to support him, crocodile tears streaming down her face. "Don't get upset! Every time you get angry, your condition flares up. It's bad for your health."
Otis's trembling finger pointed at Flora. "Ungrateful wretch... If you leave today. I'll consider myself daughterless..."
Flora crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping dismissively around the house before she spoke nonchalantly. "That was my intention exactly."
With that, she grabbed her purse, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she walked away, back straight. She ignored Otis's stream of curses, never looking back.
Heaven only knew how much she loathed this place they called home.
The first time Claire meets Derek in a bar, she takes the initiative to approach and ask him questions. "Can you sleep with me for a night? I'll pay you." After the fun ends, Claire gives Derek some money and wants to end it with him. Cold as he usually treats women he doesn't like. But again, they meet in an ironic situation. She is a substitute, and Derek is her husband. The first thing he said to her was. "Stop acting; how does this gentle look suit you? You can fool people with this docile look. But did you know, your cold and indifferent eyes have denounced it with me? You are a heartless person." Claire replied sarcastically. "I almost didn't recognize you either; this sick look doesn't suit you either. You and hot girls are much more suitable."
Lucasta is an orphan girl, who accidentally becomes the princess of a billionaire family, then suddenly becomes empty-handed. The ups and downs of life and betrayal from loved ones have made Lucasta change his personality to become thorny and cold. What's worse than losing everything, love, and money? A career is hindered by others; love is appropriated by others. What can a little girl like Lucasta do? When she was at a stalemate, she accidentally met Andrew, known as the king of the entertainment industry with ultimate power. One night's fate led Andrew to promise to help Lucasta win the halo peak. And from that moment, Andrew fell in love with Lucasta and pursued her. But now it was she who refused that love. Can Andrew do anything to win Lucasta's heart, and how does she get rid of the pain of betrayal?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.