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Vanessa Hughes, a resolute and self-supporting lady who is proud of her humble roots, is forced into an arranged marriage with Cathan Hartwell, a ruthless billionaire who makes it crystal clear that it isn't about love but about power. Cathan sees Vanessa as someone outspoken who is unimpressed by his wealth and refuses to let him control her. What starts as a tense, loveless marriage quickly grows more complicated as Cathan begins to see Vanessa's quiet strength and fierce loyalty crack his cold exterior, and Vanessa falls for him gradually. But Vanessa isn't willing to open her heart to a man who makes her feel inferior about herself. Will pride keep them apart, or will love bring them together to overcome their challenges?
The atmosphere was thick with the scent of baked bread and the scent of rain as it had just rained. Vanessa washed her hands while taking tissue from her apron to wipe her hands as she stepped out of the bakery store where she worked part-time for her uncle.
Her phone had been buzzing, and it was buzzing again; she brought it out from her back pocket to see seven missed calls from her paternal uncle. She could feel her belly tightening as she saw the caller ID because calls from her uncle were rarely good news.
It wasn't up to twenty seconds after she had unlocked her phone when a black car pulled up at the front of the bakery where she stood. A man in a tuxedo stepped out, eyes hidden behind dark glasses with an earphone at the left side of his ear.
"Vanessa Hughes?"
She paused for some seconds before replying. "Yes?"
"I've been sent by Mr. Cathan Hartwell to pick you up because your presence is requested at the Hartwell's estate immediately."
Her heart sank.
Cathan Hartwell! The name alone made the hair on her body stand. The cold billionaire heir whose icy demeanor and dignified presence filled any room he walked into. She had met him once, at his mother's mansion, when she had gone to serve as a waitress for his mom's birthday party. He hadn't looked at her twice, except to give her a demeaning look for accidentally crashing into the coupe glasses that had been stacked up on each other.
And now he was summoning her, something just didn't feel right about it.
She shook her head as she said to the man, "Tell him I don't do deliveries anymore."
The man didn't bat an eye as he said, "This is not a request, it's an order."
Vanessa sat stiffly on the red cushion, her gaze darting around the grand hall of the Hartwell's estate. Tiled floors, glass doors, gold chandeliers., the walls lined with exquisite paintings worth more than her family's bakery. She felt like a misplaced silver coin amidst gold bars, but as she heard footsteps approaching, she sat upright to boost her confidence, as she didn't want to be looked down on by Cathan for the second time.
Then he entered.
Cathan Hartwell. Every fiber of his being him screamed power, poise, tailored tuxedo, and icy demeanor. He walked in like the room belonged to him. After all, it did belong to him.
He spared her a quick glance before turning to address her uncle.
"Let's make this quick," Cathan said, his voice like ice. "I have a flight in an hour."
Summoning boldness, Vanessa stood up. "What is this about?"
Her uncle smiled nervously. "Vanessa, sit. I have news for you."
She didn't sit.
Cathan finally looked at her as he said "We're getting married."
Silence.
Vanessa gasped. "What ?"
"The paperwork is being prepared," he continued flatly. "You'll be well compensated. It is a contract marriage. It will benefit both families."
She let out a dry laugh. "You're not being serious."
"I am always serious," Cathan replied.
Her voice rose. "Why choose me?"
He didn't hesitate. "Because your family owes my company, and because I don't see you as a threat. You won't interfere with my life or company. All I need is a name on a paper."
Vanessa's chest tightened. Her uncle reached for her hand, but she refused his hand and stepped back.
"You don't need a wife," she said. "You require a puppet."
Cathan's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"You think I will agree to the marriage just because you are a billionaire?"
"No," he said simply. "I think you will agree because your family needs you to."
That statement stung her more than a bee's sting would. But deep down, she knew that he was right. Her family was drowning in debt since the bakery sales declined, and her younger brother's school fees were months behind. Truly her uncle's business was failing, and it was only a matter of time before the bakery would shut down.
She looked away, swallowing the spittle in her throat.
"I will think about it," she said, her voice low.
"You have twenty- four hours to think," Cathan replied, already turning to leave. "After that, the offer is gone."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"